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“That is quite enough, Mrs. Madison. I believe it is time we danced.”

Twenty years her senior, Thurgood Madison was bald and almost as round as he was tall. The smile left her face as Frances placed her hand on her husband’s forearm, and he led her to the dance floor. Her great disappointment was promptly replaced with pleasure, however, when Mr. Darcy approached to stand next to her husband in line and Georgiana Ingram stood next to her, across from her brother. As the music began, Mrs. Madison raised her eyebrows towards the coterie observing her extreme fortune, and they acknowledged her good luck with nods of approval.

Perhaps if I am lucky, in this dance, we will change partners several times, and I shall have the opportunity to make my proposal.

~~~*~~~

William’s dance with Georgiana led to unavoidable dances with several wives and daughters from nearby estates. Afterward, two of his former classmates introduced their wives, and he felt obligated to dance with them as well. Having thoroughly exhausted every topic he could think to bring up in polite conversation, he had managed to retreat to the safety of a dark corner where Richard swiftly joined him.

Having just settled into his normal detached mien, William was beginning to relax a bit when he caught sight of a beautiful woman making her way across the room, eyes fixed on him. He groaned loud enough to attract Richard’s attention. He turned to study his cousin.

“What is the matter, Darce? You sound as though you are ill.”

“I may very well be shortly.”

Richard followed his gaze, and his thoughts flew to the time he had caught his cousin with this woman in his father’s library. “Oh, my Lord! I cannot believe she is back and has turned up here.”

Gwendolyn, Lady Waltham, now seven and thirty, was once the most beautiful woman in London, and she was still striking with her dark blond hair and cornflower blue eyes. At the time of Richard’s recollection, she was a recent widow of only seven and twenty. Even so, at that age, she was a seasoned huntress, and she had honed in on his handsome cousin for her next husband. Although he had just turned twenty, William was essentially an innocent when it came to women and had been ensnared by her schemes.

When George Darcy had learned of the affair, he had made quick work of rescuing his son, as well as shaming him for falling into her clutches. Not many months later, Mr. Darcy had died forcing Fitzwilliam to grow up overnight. Gwendolyn was left to move on to another—Lord Waltham—whom she married. She had moved to the southernmost part of Ireland, and as far as Richard knew, William had never dallied with another woman.

Now, Gwendolyn strolled directly to William as the conversations around them dwindled. Richard moved in closer to his cousin, an icy stare fixed on the intruder. Even those that were not old enough to remember the rumours of ten years before, realised that there must be something afoot and held their breath. “Mr. Darcy ... Fitzwilliam. I had the great pleasure of meeting Cecile Preston before I left London and learned that she was related to dear Georgiana. She said you had returned to England, and well, I just had to come tonight to welcome you back. I regret I was delayed by carriage trouble and have only just arrived.”

William managed to appear indifferent. “Lady Waltham, I hope you have been well.”

She held out her hand, and he hesitated before realising that everyone was waiting to see what he might do. Taking it, he bowed slightly over it without raising it to his lips. Gwendolyn was vexed but pretended not to notice as she continued.

“I am well, Fitzwilliam. I lived in Ireland until Lord Waltham died.” She raised her brows as if waiting for his reply, and when he said nothing, she leaned in to murmur in a low voice, “I must say, the young boy I knew has become a very handsome man. I have missed our,” she paused as her eyes travelled down his body, “friendship.”

Cecile Preston appeared beside them out of nowhere. “Gwendolyn, darling, I had no idea you would be here.” The venom in her voice was unmistakable. “However did you manage to get here so quickly, and if I remember correctly, without an invitation?”

The ice in Gwendolyn Waltham’s voice balanced the fire in her eyes. “I was invited, Cecile, dear, to accompany Lord and Lady Greenwich, Evan Ingram’s great aunt and uncle to Derbyshire. It is fortuitous that my aunt, who is leasing my estate just outside Lambton, and Lady Greenwich are best friends, is it not?” Not expecting an answer, she went on. “Lady Greenwich insisted that I attend the party with them.”

“I see.” Mrs. Preston declared, glaring first at the interloper and then at William. “I see.” She flounced away to Lady Gwendolyn’s chuckle.

“What a wallflower! It will be a miracle if she marries again!” She looked back to William and sobered at the look on his face. “Do not tell me you have feelings for that mousey little thing.”

“No, madam. I have no feelings for her or for you. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to find my sister.” He turned and walked away. Richard did not bother to hide his amusement as he followed.

Looking around to find every eye upon her, Gwendolyn’s lips curled into a determined smile as she walked in the opposite direction.

Humph! I do not give up so easily, darling. I am sure you have not forgotten our lessons.

A balcony

Looking into the clear night sky dotted with seemingly millions of stars, William sighed as he recalled last night. He had gone to Elizabeth’s room to make sure she was well and say goodnight. Instead of finding her abed, waiting his usual visit, he had found her on the balcony, dressed only in her nightgown, staring at these very stars.

“Elizabeth?” Her head turned, but she did not move. “You should not be out here dressed like that!”

She did not reply, only turning back to her study. He moved behind her, unbuttoning his coat and pulling her into the warmth of his body before folding the coat around her. She melted into him as always, and he had to fight his desire for more.

They stood that way for far too long as he talked of the constellations and stars, and she looked wherever he pointed in the velvety darkness. It took great effort for him to finally pick her up and bring her back into the house, depositing her on the bed. As she sank into the soft mattress and pillows, he kissed her forehead and began to massage first one cold foot, and then another, her eyes closing in response to the pleasurable feelings he elicited.

As her breath settled into a continuous rhythm, he watched the steady rise and fall of her chest for a bit, dreaming of a time when he could stay with her the entire night. Then standing, he pulled a blanket and the counterpane over her, tucking it in. He leaned in for one last kiss on the forehead, but paused. She looked so beautiful that instead he brushed her lips lightly with his. Unaware of the stolen kiss, she slept on.

“It is difficult at best to dance out here.”

He startled as Georgiana’s voice broke through his thoughts. William chuckled a little, though he kept staring into the darkness, refusing to face her. “I am glad to hear it, as I was hoping that was the case.”