by Jann Rowland
“To what do you attribute my vigilance, Miss?” asked he, knowing he should not be talking to her without a formal introduction.
“To the sincere desire to protect your nieces, I would suppose.” The woman turned to watch Alexander Darcy, who was dancing with a young woman of the neighborhood, following his form for a moment before her attention returned to Gardiner. “My cousin is many things—a flirt, a little too free with his money, not to mention far too careless about life itself. But he will not hurt your nieces. He is not a bad man, Mr. Gardiner.”
“You are Miss de Bourgh, correct?” asked Gardiner.
“I am,” replied she with a small curtsey. “It occurs to me that we are not yet known to each other. Then again, ballroom etiquette is far too stuffy. Would you not agree?”
Gardiner laughed in spite of himself. “Oh, aye. I could have one of my nieces introduce us, for I have not missed how friendly you have been to them all this evening.”
“Where would we obtain the excitement of illicit acts if we did that?”
Again, Gardiner released his mirth. “Yes, where, indeed.” For a moment, he turned back to the younger Darcy and eyed him as he laughed with his partner. “There is little enough to condemn in his behavior tonight; that is true.”
“I believe, Mr. Gardiner, you have little to fear. Even should Alexander forget himself enough to ask one of your nieces for her hand for a set, he would do so without a hint of impropriety.”
Gardiner snorted at the notion. “I think matters are a little too frosty between our families to contemplate such a notion.”
“And yet, if there was one who would contemplate it, that man would be Alexander.”
“You are visiting your Darcy relations at present?” asked Gardiner.
“Yes. Lady Anne Darcy was my mother’s sister, you see. Though my mother delights in requiring our family to wait on us in Kent, this year I determined I wished to come here.”
“Is there any particular reason?”
“Only the desire to leave Kent for a time,” replied Miss de Bourgh. “My mother seldom wishes to leave home, and since she considers me all but engaged to my cousin, she sees little reason to attend the season.”
That bit of new information pricked Gardiner’s interest. “Then she does not consider the importance of alliances and maintaining a presence among one’s peers. Excuse me, but you are engaged to one of your cousins?”
“If you listen to my mother, you would believe it to be so. But neither William nor I have ever taken mother’s assertions seriously, and William’s father is less inclined to it than we. But one does not contradict my mother.”
So Gardiner had heard if the rumors were to be believed. Gardiner snorted with amusement, noting the woman by his side gazing across the room at her mother, a hint of wryness hovering about her. Lady Catherine, it seemed, knew of her daughter’s present position, and did not like what she saw. It was also clear that Miss de Bourgh did not much care for her mother’s displeasure, for while she was looking at the elder woman, her eyebrow arched in challenge. While Lady Catherine’s countenance darkened at the sight, she made no move to separate them.
“It appears you are correct, Miss de Bourgh.” Gardiner paused and showed her a wolfish grin. “Does the possibility of contamination from associating with one of the detested Bennet clan not concern you? Though my surname is not the same, my sister is the present baroness, so I am close to the family.”
Miss de Bourgh returned his grin with equal amusement. “No more concerned than you are for one of the detested Darcy family. I am close to them too, for my mother is the late mistress’s sister.”
Mirth burst out between them, and Gardiner reflected that he had quite enjoyed this banter with Miss de Bourgh. There was something about her, some wry or ironic sense of the absurd which appealed to him. It was with this understanding he turned to give her more of his attention, and his interest in the dancing waned as a result.
They spoke for some time, canvassing subjects of interest to them both, and Gardiner found he had never been so entertained in a ballroom. The music ceased and the dance ended, and they hardly noticed when the next dance began and a new set of dancers took to the floor. Another five minutes into the next sets and Gardiner began to wonder about the relative benefits of asking this woman to dance.
Then he saw it. Nothing had prompted his glance out onto the dance floor, for it had been a reflex and nothing more. What he saw there filled him first with disbelief, then with anger. He flexed and unflexed his fists as his attention turned on the dancers to the exclusion of all else.
A gasp by his side alerted him to the fact that Miss de Bourgh had seen what he had seen, though he could not spare her a glance. Gardiner was turning toward the dancers when he felt a small hand grasp his arm and hold him back.
“Gently, Mr. Gardiner,” said she, her tone warning. “Nothing good will come of making a scene.”
“I will not allow this to continue, Miss de Bourgh,” said Gardiner. Though he was not in the mood for humor, a sudden thought made itself known, and he shot her a grin as sickly as the weak burst of dark amusement which had filled his breast. “It seems you were correct, Miss de Bourgh. He has summoned the audacity.”
Then with Miss de Bourgh following close behind, Gardiner moved to intercept the dancers.
Chapter XXI
When the commotion began, Elizabeth was standing on the side of the ballroom immersed in conversation with a friend. While she had not been solicited for every dance, Elizabeth had been active, though the one man with whom she wished to stand up was denied her. Still, she thought with some hope for the future, coming to know Anne de Bourgh was another bridge built between the two families, as was her uncle’s current position of easy conversation with the same woman.
Then the general noise of voices in the room rose to a crescendo and confusion reigned among the dancers as a commotion interrupted their movements. Elizabeth, uncertain what was happening, cast her gaze across the room, finding the tall form of her uncle at once, as he stood confronting a pair of revelers.
Her uncle’s harsh baritone rang out over the gathering, silencing the music and all conversation as he demanded: “What are you doing with my niece?”
Following his gaze and the eyes of every onlooker in the room, Elizabeth gasped when she saw Mr. Alexander Darcy. Across from him in the line, stood Lydia.
As the scene began to play out before her, Elizabeth hurried toward the hostilities, noting several others doing the same from other directions. Elizabeth could not reach them, however, before she heard Mr. Darcy’s response.
“Surely you cannot misunderstand our activity, Gardiner, for we are dancing.”
The insolence with which he retorted sent shivers up Elizabeth’s spine as she reached the combatants, the first of the family to do so. Unfortunately, however, she could not prevent Lydia’s equally impudent response.
“Upon my word, Uncle, you need not be so protective. What does one do at a ball other than dance?”
One glare from Uncle Gardiner silenced Lydia, though her defiance did not dim a jot. Before he could say another word, however, Lord Arundel, stepped forward and captured his daughter’s arm, even as the elder Mr. Darcy reached his son.
“Come away, Lydia,” said Lord Arundel. “You should not be dancing with Mr. Darcy, for there is no telling what mischief he might be contemplating.”
“Perhaps, Arundel,” said Mr. Darcy, his voice cracking like a whip, “you should concern yourself with your shameless daughter.”
“If you will excuse my saying so,” said Lord Arundel, “it is not my daughter who is reputed to be a rake. You will excuse me if I consider the possibility of mischief as being more likely to come from your son.”
Mr. Darcy’s countenance darkened. “That is the second time you have insulted Alexander. I have half a mind to call you out.”
“If you had any more than half a mind,” spat Lord Arundel, “you would use it to rein in yo
ur son!”
Elizabeth did not miss the rising sound of the whispers growing in volume around them. In desperation, she cast her eyes toward her love, beseeching him to interfere and defuse the situation. It seemed Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy had come to the same conclusion himself when their salvation approached from another source.
“That is enough!”
As one, the adversaries turned to see the earl standing nearby, glaring at them all. He was not pleased.
“Arundel, Darcy, I had thought the bounds of polite behavior would induce you both to leave your ridiculous quarrel behind when attending an event at my house. It seems I was mistaken.”
Both patriarchs wished to respond, and from the way they glared at each other, it was clear where each wished to lay the blame. It was fortunate that both mustered some well of discretion and refrained from open accusations.
“I will not have any more of this from any of you,” continued the earl, his gaze sweeping over them all. “My daughter has organized this event for all our neighbors. I will not have it ruined by the actions of a few malcontents.” Lord Chesterfield looked about and motioned to the musicians. “Let us begin the dancing again. Darcy, Arundel, I would have a word with you.”
Looking for all the world like naughty schoolboys caught in some prank, the two men followed the earl to the side of the room where he began to speak with them. The assorted Darcys and Bennets who had approached at the sound of the confrontation drifted off the floor, though Elizabeth noted her Uncle Edward coaxing his brother away from the scene. The music resumed, and the dancers began to move. Then the next crisis made itself known.
“I shall not allow this to continue,” snarled Uncle Gardiner as Lydia and Mr. Darcy continued their dance as if nothing had happened. No one misunderstood the hint of defiance in their postures.
“It would be best to let them be,” said Uncle Edward, holding his brother back.
“She should not be dancing with him!” hissed Uncle Gardiner.
To Elizabeth’s surprise, it was Miss de Bourgh who seemed the most effective in holding her uncle back. She joined Uncle Edward, touching Uncle Gardiner’s arm and drawing his attention to her.
“Let us watch them from here, Mr. Gardiner, for there is nothing else we can do. None of us wish to draw the earl’s ire yet again.”
The man Miss de Bourgh had referenced was still berating the two gentlemen, neither of whom appreciated being called out by their social superior. But Elizabeth noticed that neither was protesting their treatment either.
“They can get up to no mischief on the dance floor, and when the sets end, we may separate them. Come, Mr. Gardiner, it is for the best.”
At last, her uncle subsided, though Elizabeth noted he did not take his eyes from the couple for the rest of the dance. Kitty and Jane had been dancing the same set and Elizabeth did not think they had been close enough to understand what was happening. Mary stood by the side of the dance floor speaking to Mr. Collins in low tones, though Elizabeth could not understand what they were saying. It seemed the crisis had been averted for the moment, allowing Elizabeth to release a sigh of relief.
“It seems our families have provided ample fuel for the gossips tonight.”
Though startled by the voice, Elizabeth kept her composure, a glance to her right informing her Mr. Darcy had stepped next to her. As he was not looking at her, instead watching her sister and his brother with as much intensity as Mr. Gardiner, Elizabeth decided it was best to avoid drawing attention. Inside, however, she longed for him to take her into his arms and assure her all would be well.
“It seems we have, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth, though modulating her voice so only he could hear. “And for what? This is a dance at a ball given by persons of great standing and high character.”
“I agree with you,” said Mr. Darcy, “though if I am honest, I believe my brother might have shown better judgment.”
This time Elizabeth turned to look at the gentleman, her gaze searching. Mr. Darcy did not delay in answering.
“Considering a few choice words my father had for your family upon our arrival, he should have known Father would not appreciate such actions as this. It seems your uncle was in agreement.”
“But it is all so senseless! What harm can come to my sister in a ballroom? What harm could your brother come to dancing with the daughter of a baron?”
“Again, I do not disagree with you, Miss Elizabeth. In fact, ending this conflict is growing more urgent in my mind, before someone says or does something that truly sets us against each other.”
“I will never go against you,” said Elizabeth, hoping he could hear the fervency in her voice. She thought Mr. Darcy understood it, for he fixed her with a tender look, though understated to avoid drawing attention to them.
“And I promise I will love you forever.”
It was the first time either had raised the subject of love between them. A mist entered Elizabeth’s eyes, blurring her vision, a sob lodged itself in her throat, threatening to overwhelm her composure.
“I return my love with my whole heart,” Elizabeth managed to say.
The gentleman did not respond with words. Reaching out with one hand as unobtrusively as possible, he captured hers in his own and squeezed once before releasing it again. Overcome with emotion as she was, Elizabeth could not help the single tear which emerged from one eye and rolled down her cheek. As casually as she could, she reached up to wipe it away, determined to avoid giving anyone any sign of anything amiss.
While her heart was bursting with love for this man, she wondered if it would break apart into pieces. As events that night had demonstrated, no one in either family would accept their feelings for what they were. Was there any possibility of a future between them, or would this infernal feud continue to separate them, to pull them apart in fire and destruction? Elizabeth could see no hint of hope for the future, no possibility of resolution. What exquisite torture this was!
“It seems his lordship has had his say,” said Mr. Darcy, an imperceptible motion of his head drawing her attention to the side of the room.
In this, he appeared correct, for while Lord Chesterfield was nowhere in evidence, Mr. Darcy and Lord Arundel were standing near to each other, but clearly alone. Both men were stiff with anger and neither would look at the other though she thought each was so aware of the other’s presence that they might have been standing nose to nose. It was a sign of the circumstances between the two families, and a further testament to the hopelessness of the situation.
“Do not agonize over it, Miss Elizabeth,” said Mr. Darcy, seeming to sense her thoughts. “Do not lose heart. Come what may, I have faith we shall conquer all obstacles.”
“It warms my heart that you have such confidence, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth. “I confess, I have little myself.”
“Then you must trust in our love, Miss Elizabeth,” said Mr. Darcy, turning to her for the first time. “Believe in us. I will allow nothing to come between us—of that I assure you.”
Elizabeth searched his eyes for several moments before releasing a shuddering sigh of pent up emotion. “I do believe you, Mr. Darcy. I hope you can see some way forward, for I must confess I cannot.”
“Lizzy!” the stern voice of her father interrupted her tête-à-tête with Mr. Darcy. “Come away at once, Daughter, for I believe it is best we keep our distance.”
As surreptitiously as she could, Elizabeth cast Mr. Darcy an apologetic look before she joined her father. What she had not predicted was Mr. Darcy’s bow to her father.
“Of course, Lord Arundel. I cannot agree more. Let me, however, apologize for my brother’s impulsive behavior. Please know that I shall speak with him about it in the sternest possible fashion.”
While Lord Arundel peered at Mr. Darcy, attempting to see whether he was in earnest, at last, he gave a curt nod and turned to lead Elizabeth away. Elizabeth fixed the gentleman with one more look in appreciation before she lost sight of him.
A few moments later, the music faded away, and Mr. Gardiner stepped forward at once to take his youngest niece in hand. In doing so, he stepped close to Mr. Alexander Darcy and hissed something to him, which prompted a harsh glare and a retort from the younger gentleman. Uncle Gardiner paid him no heed, however, as he guided Lydia back to where the family had all gathered together.
“Oh, Lydia,” clucked Lady Margaret as she inspected her youngest as if she feared to find some damage. “Are you well, Daughter?”
“It was only a dance, Mama,” replied Lydia. “Mr. Darcy was a perfect gentleman—how could I have been in any danger on a dance floor?”
Elizabeth agreed with her sister, but the eldest members of the party were not impressed. Lady Margaret pursed her lips and frowned, but Uncle Gardiner was not about to remain silent.
“You are as aware of the history between our families as the rest of us,” said he. “It would be best if you exercised discretion, Lydia, for there is no telling what may happen.”
“And I saw you speaking with Miss Anne de Bourgh,” accused Lydia. “Should we not also take you to task for such misbehavior?”
“That is enough, Lydia,” interjected Lord Arundel. “Not only is your uncle an adult, but the de Bourghs are much further removed from this situation.”
“But they are still related to the Darcy family,” insisted Lydia.
“Papa,” said Elizabeth, “I must find I agree with Lydia. There is no danger in a ballroom. Is it not time for this silly dispute to end?”
“You may be correct,” replied Lord Arundel, “but this is not the fashion in which we should end it. There is too much opportunity for misunderstanding.”
“Would you have me refuse an offer to dance?” asked Lydia, petulance overflowing in her voice. “Then I must sit out for the rest of the evening.”
“I would ask you to avoid putting yourself in a situation where you must refuse,” snapped Lord Arundel. Lydia’s mutinous glare did not relent, but neither did her father’s.
“Lydia,” interjected Uncle Gardiner, “you must know of Mr. Darcy’s reputation in the district. Is that the kind of man with whom you wish to be connected?”
