Page 77 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

“The state of the horses he brought to Hyde Park could not have been his fault, Mama. He must have others taking care of them.” She sighed. “Nobody is perfect, Mama. You must agree with me. I cannot expect to interest anyone as gentlemanly or wealthy as Mr. Bingley or Mr. Lucas or Mr. Cage. And I would not wish for any of them. None of them ever made me weak in the knees, as I suspect I will be when I dance with Mr. Wickham tonight.”

She briefly thought of an impromptu dance that had made her weak in the knees, but she hastily pushed it away and looked at the miniature again and considered a possible future with Mr. Wickham.

“When should I tell him of my father, Mama? I think I will not tell him of my real father until the moment before Uncle signs the marriage settlement, should I decide in his favor. He should know about Papa Oliver, though. If I do not find a chance tonight, I will tell him the next time he calls, when we have more privacy. I do not expect he will mind, given his own father was a steward. He says his heart is already engaged, as well, which will make the knowledge less important. Still, I would like him to know before I allow my own heart to be touched.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Aunt Gardiner had several friends at Mrs. Humphrey’s ball and joined their welcoming circle almost immediately. This was a small event that Miss Bingley would never dream of attending, even had the hostess thought it right to invite her, but Elizabeth saw a few acquaintances approach her. She exchanged pleasantries with them until she was invited to dance. She had hoped Mr. Wickham would ask her for the first set, but she had not yet seen him.

Elizabeth danced two sets with tradesmen she had met the year before and was sipping her lemonade and breathing in its tartness when she heard a welcome sound and turned, surprised Mr. Wickham was so close. His voice was nearly a whisper.

“Please tell me your next set is free. Watching you dance with Mr. Smith for the past quarter hour was insupportable. I need to be your next partner, Miss Bennet.”

She blushed at the look in his eyes and nodded, unable to form a thought.

Mr. Wickham was a fine dancer, and she could not restrain her smile throughout their set. When the music slowed, she remembered she had two disagreeable tasks before her, to return the diamond comb and to tell him of Papa Oliver. She would return the comb first, as it weighed on her far more. She was worried she might lose it before she had a chance to return it.

Miss Bennet would make a charming wife. Wickham would be well-pleased to gaze at her sparkling eyes and delightful form every day. Or as often as he chose, at any rate. He would not neglect Minny, and he would often have the company of other women, but Miss Bennet was naïve enough to be unaware of his habits. He was getting closer to an acceptance of her hand, but something confused him.

“Why do you not wear my gift this evening, Eliza?” he asked as he escorted her to a dim space between candles. Easy to find, as this ball was not well-lit. Expense had clearly been spared on that front.

“Oh!” She swallowed, and he wondered why she appeared agitated.

Perhaps she was not ready for him to use her Christian name, but he was in a hurry to access her funds. She pulled the comb from the reticule hanging from her wrist and placed it in his gloved hand. He took the opportunity to hold her hand in his own, the comb between them. Of course, her relations had not let her wear the comb, so she had waited until reaching the ball. He softened his eyes in understanding.

“I thank you, but upon reflection, I have determined that I still feel as I did when first you gave it to me. It is very fine, but I cannot possibly accept it.”

His anger flared, but he hid it well. He lifted their joined hands and placed a lingering kiss on the back of her glove. When he saw the look in her eyes, he nearly proposed right then. Instead, he slowly slid his hand from hers, taking the comb with it. Though he considered returning it to Minny, as it would not do to lose such an expensive piece, he was close to obtaining Miss Bennet’s acceptance. He was sure of it. Gently, he placed the comb in her hair once more, his fingers brushing her cheek as he made his case.

“We have already discussed this, my pet. You are giving me the gift by allowing me to see the diamonds when I look at you. You must not return it again, not unless you are determined to shatter my heart.”

Wickham looked past Miss Bennet as he stroked down her jaw, and he stepped back, startled. What was Darcy doing here? And why did he look murderous as he approached?

“I must go to Bath for a few days,” he said hastily, “but you are to keep these diamonds safe for me while I am away, my pet.”

Before she acknowledged his words, he had retreated into the crowd and stood behind a large leafy plant to ensure Darcy did not see him. The man stopped walking and looked about; he had lost him. But then he continued on the same path, toward Miss Bennet. Would he attempt to steal this wealthy heiress from him? No, of course not. Darcy would never lower himself to think of a girl with an uncle in trade. He would marry not only an heiress but one with impeccable bloodlines and perfect connections.

Wickham withdrew from the ball. He would give Miss Bennet time to fall more deeply for him in his absence. Meanwhile, he would remove himself from Darcy’s notice. Meeting his former friend was always bothersome but even more so since that business with the Kympton living. He suspected Darcy owned a large portion of his debts now, so it would not be useful to upset the man. Instead, he would dote on Minny for a week or two.

After consulting with Bingley, Darcy had suspected he would see Wickham and Elizabeth together at this ball, which was why he had gone to such great lengths to obtain an invitation. He had not expected to see such an intimate exchange, however. Witnessing them dance had been bad enough, and Darcy had been relieved both dances in their set had kept them separate for most of the half hour. What came after, though, had him truly concerned for Elizabeth. Was he too late? Had she already given him her heart? Whether she had or not, he owed it to her to reveal Wickham’s perfidy.

He was almost in front of her, but she still gazed off to his left, in the direction Wickham had disappeared to moments after locking gazes with him. Darcy was now close enough to see diamonds glinting in the dim candlelight. This is what Wickham had placed in her hair? Why he had touched her skin? And she had allowed it!

How much had his sweet Elizabeth changed since he had thrown away her friendship, and could she ever be that girl again for him? Judging from the look on her still-unseeing face, she was troubled, as well. He could only wonder whether she shared any of his own reasons for concern.

“Miss Elizabeth, how do you do?” He tried to be gentle, knowing their recent encounters had been anything but affable.

“Mr. Darcy. This is a surprise. When last you approached me at a ball, I was out of my sphere, and tonight you are out of yours. What brings you to such a common entertainment?”

She did not sound angry, but was this more of Elizabeth’s bitterness against him, or did she think so little of herself? Perhaps she had come to face the reality of her position, as he had been forced to do. That would explain why he had not seen her anywhere last summer.

“I came in search of you.”

Her look of disbelief was not unexpected.

“I would ask you to honor me with a set, but I should not wish to force you to choose between an uncomfortable half hour with me or sitting out the remainder of the evening. Would you instead be so kind as to allow me to speak with you for a few minutes? We could move into a better-lit part of the room, perhaps in view of your chaperone.”

He had meant to assure her of his good intentions, but she appeared to take offense or was perhaps embarrassed to suspect he had seen her with Wickham. Her face reddened, and her fists clenched. Would she allow him to tell her what he must?