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“I would like to have had him myself,” Mrs. Madison retorted, her pink blush complimenting her red hair. “I certainly would have tried a compromise, but he hardly attended any of the soirees during my debut year. Then he disappeared off the face of the earth, and Father insisted I accept Mr. Madison’s offer.” She sighed heavily. “I would have waited forever, if he had so much as smiled at me.”

“Any of us would have, Pauline.” Mrs. Harding interjected, unashamedly undressing Fitzwilliam Darcy with lustful eyes. Mrs. Harding, the wife of one of Mr. Darcy’s classmates from Cambridge, had been thrown in his company often before her marriage. Though quite pretty with light brown hair and hazel eyes, she had never been able to draw the attention of Mr. Darcy.

“I admit to being attracted to him, but we should not be voicing such thoughts,” Mrs. Martindale, a short strawberry blond responded, glancing about to see if anyone outside their circle was listening. “He is exceedingly handsome, but we are all married.”

“I may be married, Abigail, but I am not dead!” Mrs. Nicholson exclaimed, her blue eyes focusing on the cut of William’s breeches. “Besides,” she whispered knowingly, her gaze fixed, “it is the accepted custom in our society for men to take mistresses and for us to take lovers. Just because one is on a diet does not mean she cannot read the menu.” She giggled.

“Julia!” Mrs. Martindale cried, quickly lowering her voice as several people turned to look. “That is not something one should discuss in public.”

Julia Nicholson tossed her dark curls saucily. “You are correct, Abigail. I intend to find somewhere private to discuss it—with Mr. Darcy.” Abigail gasped as the others giggled.

“If you have no objection, I will too!” Mrs. Madison added. “I have not had a real man since I married.”

Mrs. Nicholson smirked. “The more the merrier, I always say.”

~~~*~~~

At that moment, another simpering mother stopped to address Richard and push her pretty daughter ahead of her in line. Said daughter, of course, ended up standing directly in front of William, and as she did, the wrap around her shoulders began a slow slide down her arms. Before long, it was obvious that she wore an extremely low cut dress. Also obvious was the fact that she was well-endowed, and William could not help but notice. Both women were delighted to see his gaze dip to her cleavage. Just as quickly though, he brought his eyes back to her face, discomfited as he coloured. In return, she brandished a most provocative smile.

Being a man of normal appetites, William was not immune to a pretty face. Accordingly, he conceded that her light blue eyes and dark auburn hair were pleasing, but the look in her eyes mirrored the other women he knew in the ton. She did not look away, and his posture became rigid at the suggestiveness in her gaze. Noticing his reluctance to speak, her mother abandoned her idle chitchat with Richard in an attempt to salvage the opportunity.

Stepping towards William without taking her leave of Richard, she pulled her daughter closer. Richard shook his head as she exclaimed, “Mr. Darcy, you remember my Henrietta? I am sure you were introduced at Lady Matlock’s home a few weeks ago. Your aunt asked her to entertain at the pianoforte, and she was pleased to sing as well. My daughter is very accomplished and will make some man a wonderful wife.”

“I am afraid I did not have the honour.” William stated flatly, cutting his eyes to the mother. “In fact, I do not remember ever making your acquaintance either, madam.”

Those within range of his voice began to titter, drawing Georgiana’s attention. Flustered, the woman’s hands fluttered as if she were about to fly and was only able to utter, “Oh ... oh.”

Evan and Richard tried not to laugh aloud at William’s put-down, though their shoulders were shaking. Each slid a hand over his mouth as Georgiana glared at them and leaned over to address William.

“Brother, would you move this way, please? I need to confer with you on a matter of some import.” With a huge sigh of relief, William bowed slightly to the women before him and stepped behind Richard and Evan to take the place next to his sister.

“Thank you,” he breathed, slipping his arm around her waist and giving her a slight hug before releasing her.

Georgiana tried not to smile too as she looked toward the next guests. She gave his arm a small squeeze. “You are welcome.”

~~~*~~~

After dinner, Richard stood at the ballroom entrance with William trying to decide which corner his cousin should occupy while he had his dance with Georgiana. As William looked about to find his sister and brother, Richard leaned in to whisper, “Enemy at three o’clock.”

William frowned. “Speak plainly. I am not in the mood for riddles.”

“Then, by all means, let me explain. Your classmate’s wife, Mrs. Harding, and the little hens with her are having a grand time ogling you—or parts of you. If you imagine this room is a pocket watch, and we are standing at six o’clock, then they are at three o’clock. From the looks of it, I suspect you will have more than one offer tonight and from the remark you made earlier, I just imagine you can handle them quite well!”

Without thinking, William looked in that direction, which caused the ladies’ murmurings to increase. They all seemed to be speaking at once and looking his way. “Good Lord, Richard! They are all married!”

“I hate to be the one to inform you, but married women do have affairs.” Richard raised an eyebrow when William shot a glare at him.

“I am not so naïve as to be ignorant of that fact, Cousin, but it repulses me. What kind of man do they think I am?”

“Apparently, a damned fine specimen!” Richard crowed with a smirk.

William valiantly attempted to restrain the smile threatening to curl his lips, but when Richard slapped his back, he lost his vaulted control. The steely reserve collapsed and a beautiful smile appeared with both dimples clearly visible. Quickly exiting onto a nearby balcony, both men laughed openly the minute they were out the door.

~~~*~~~

“Look! Oh, ladies, did you see!” Frances Madison turned back to her friends. “Is he not the handsomest man you have ever seen when he smiles? Oh, if only he would look at me like that!” She sighed, as did the others.

“It was worth the trip to Derbyshire just to see that man smile!” Her fantasy was interrupted by a firm hand on her shoulder, and the looks on the faces of her companions told the rest of the story.