“We dare not, darling. My aunt would place our heads upon a platter should we steal away too early.”
At that moment, a young gentleman approached. “May I claim your next available, Mrs. Darcy?”
Before she rose with her husband for the first dance, her card stood entirely filled.
“Will you fare well, Elizabeth? With Lord Dunwich?”
“Surely he is not likely to lure me outdoors?”
“Why should such a thought enter your mind, darling?”
Anger flared in his eyes, and she dared not repeat the blackguard's words. She had no wish for Mr. Darcy to call the man out on her account.
Instead, she said, “He lacks principle, sir. He is no gentleman.”
“He did not threaten to abduct you, did he, Elizabeth?”
“No, sir, he did not. I merely feel uneasy in his company. You will keep watch over us lest he attempt to lure me into the gardens?”
“Yes. I shall keep as near you as possible. If he knows I am watching, he ought to conduct himself as a man of honor.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Their dance commenced. Elizabeth moved through the cotillion with ease and soon lost herself in the music and the figures. By the end of the dance, her eyes were bright with pleasure, and she was conversing happily with Mr. Darcy when a nervous young gentleman approached to claim her hand.
Elizabeth enjoyed all her dance partners and was laughing with Mr. Darcy at the edge of the dance floor when Lord Dunwich presented himself. He stood as tall as Mr. Darcy, and the two gentlemen faced one another in silence.
Lord Dunwich extended his hand toward Elizabeth. “Mrs. Darcy, this dance is mine.”
She released her husband’s arm and permitted his lordship to lead her back onto the floor.
“You dance beautifully, my dear. Never have I felt so entranced as when I watched you.”
Heat rose in her cheeks. “Sir, you will conduct yourself properly. I am a married woman.”
“Yes, you are, unfortunately for me. You ought to have waited for me, my girl. You do not know what you forfeit.”
“Sir, you will desist at once, or I shall leave you standing on the dance floor.”
“You dare not, Mrs. Darcy. Though you are a married woman, society will whisper. I am known to dally with married ladies. What conclusions will people draw?”
She fixed him with a glare.
“Bewitching. If you wish to preserve your fidelity to your husband, you will refrain from looking at me in precisely that manner.”
She lowered her eyes. Thankfully, the music commenced.
The quadrille brought Elizabeth repeatedly into Lord Dunwich’s orbit, and during the allemande, he bent nearer than propriety allowed. Awareness sharpened of the possessive firmness of his hand upon hers.
With effort, she maintained a careful distance between them. His low laugh sent a chill across her skin. “Your resistance acts as an enticement to me, Elizabeth.”
“My lord, you have no leave to use my Christian name. You will comport yourself as a gentleman.”
Amusement glittered in his eyes. “Yes, ma’am. I have declared it before, but I shall repeat myself. You are uniformly charming.”
After that, he fell silent and ceased provoking her. Since he danced with considerable skill, she found herself able to enjoy the dance once he resolved to conduct himself properly.
When the dance concluded, he released her hand and bowed. “I intended to lure you into the gardens and steal a kiss, but your husband has stalked us throughout the dance.”
