Page 6 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

Heat rose up Darcy's neck, but he managed, “No, I have not had that pleasure.”

Richard performed the introductions and concluded, “You will be pleased to learn that Miss Ramsbury is an accomplished pianist.”

Darcy smiled at the young lady, whose cheeks still held a delicate blush.

“Shall we have the pleasure of hearing you this evening, Miss Ramsbury?”

“Yes, sir. I am included in tonight's program.”

He opened the program he held in his hand and searched for her name.

“Ah, here you are, ma'am. You are to sing Auld Robin Gray. That is a deeply affecting ballad, Miss Ramsbury. I look forward to your performance.”

Her eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Papa insisted upon it, sir. He has a great fondness for poignant tales of love and loss, though I confess I have always felt sorry for poor old Robin Gray. After all, he was kind and honorable toward his young wife.”

Darcy smiled.

“But what of the young lady herself, ma'am? Do you not feel for the poor girl who married from duty to save her family? And what of her heart, Miss Ramsbury?”

Helena Ramsbury laughed, and her father joined her.

“Mr. Darcy, I perceive that you have a romantic heart, just as Papa does. Perhaps my own mind inclines too much toward the practical than the sentimental.”

Darcy found himself captivated by the lovely young woman who stood before him, laughing. She had forgotten her reserve and now spoke with the ease of an old acquaintance. He realized that he, too, felt entirely at ease in her company, as though he had known her for years.

His aunt announced that the program was about to begin, and Darcy asked whether they might sit together.

Mr. Ramsbury inclined his head in agreement, and Darcy led the way to the front of the room, where he found four chairs nearest the pianoforte.

He smiled. “There now. I have found the best seats in the house. We shall sit beside the instrument.”

Richard chuckled. “Darcy, the room is not so large that we should be unable to hear Miss Ramsbury from any corner of it.”

Darcy looked down at the young lady, whose large green eyes were fixed upon him.

“That is true, Richard, but from here I shall have the best view of Miss Ramsbury.”

Her cheeks colored becomingly, and they continued to converse until Lady Helen, the Countess of Matlock, stepped forward to introduce the first performer.

Darcy had expected the musicale to prove rather tedious and had looked forward to it very little. Instead, Miss Ramsbury entertained him throughout the evening with her humorous remarks, spoken in tones meant for his ears alone. When her turn came to perform, he asked, his gaze resting upon her, “Do you require someone to turn the pages, Miss Ramsbury?”

A faint blush returned to her cheeks. “I do, sir.”

“May I have that honor, ma'am?”

“Yes, sir.”

They both rose. He offered her his arm and escorted her to the pianoforte. After moving the bench to her liking, he took his place beside her and turned the pages, his gaze seldom leaving her profile throughout the performance.

* * *

That evening, after the guests had departed and only the family remained in the drawing room, Lady Helen said, “Phillip, you made a poor showing this evening. You scarcely attempted to engage Miss Ramsbury in conversation.”

“Mamma, Miss Ramsbury is too young for me. She is twelve years my junior. I have seen too much of the world to be greatly captivated by her charms.”

Richard leaned toward Darcy and whispered, “And far too innocent.”