Page 10 of The Heir and Spare
He shook himself back to Miss Lilly’s nervous laugh. He could not be talking himself into pursuing a woman who was obviously not interested and was perhaps not even a nice person.
Miss Lilly was looking at him with wide expectant eyes.
“I apologize. A bit of woolgathering as I consider this very intriguing group.”
“Lord Devering was asking me about London.”
“Ah, I have been often. What would you like to know?”
Miss Elizabeth’s gaze from across the room fell on him. He felt it as a pleasant tingling sensation travelled to his chest. He caught her gaze and held it a moment. She had no less than three men vying for her attention, one actively telling her something. But the room quieted, and he suddenly wished more than anything to simply be at her side, that they could have a quiet corner and that the others would be less interested in her and more in each other.
He reluctantly dragged his attention back to his two companions. “I find London to be most enjoyable in the smaller seasons. I try to avoid the peak of the main season myself. But I can see how it might be preferable to others.”
Lord Devering nodded. “I, of course, must travel to London for the peak of the Season as Parliament is in session.”
Darcy smiled. “Too true. Excellent reminder. The very reason for the Season technically, is it not? All the families coming in with the lords to participate in Parliament?”
“I once heard of a miss in a neighboring town who went for the London Season. She had a sponsor in an aunt, and she was married that very season. To a lord.” Her eyes were wide in wonder at the notion, and then she swallowed as her face turned pink. “And you’re a lord as well. I must seem such a bumpkin to you both.”
Lord Devering then did a surprising thing. His eyes turned tender and he placed her hand in the crook of his arm. “I find you to be quite pleasant, refreshing.”
Darcy’s eyes widened but he nodded in approval. Excellent.
Lord Shackley, who had moved slightly to his left to participate in another conversation winked at him.
And that left Darcy to himself for a moment. He gravitated to the table with lemonade—which happened to be closer to Miss Elizabeth.
She cleared her throat as though it might be dry? He hoped. He hurried to the table, snatched up two lemonades and then approached her side.
None of the other men had noticed or thought to offer a beverage yet. Their loss. She stepped to the side to make space for him as if she knew he was coming. Gratified, he held out the cup. “I thought you might like a lemonade, Miss Elizabeth.”
Her smile brightened her face and was for once directed fully and solely at him. “I do indeed feel parched. Thank you.” She sipped the drink. “Much better.”
He did not quite preen, but he felt the victory of such a gallant delivery inside his chest from his head down to his toes.
Miss Elizabeth did the honors, and he was soon introduced to two new lords and a gentleman, all from Kensington area near his aunt’s estate, Rosings. But everything they said faded in his mind as soon as Miss Elizabeth moved closer to him. She did not quite place a hand on his arm, but she did turn to him as though they were together.
Interesting.
One of the men laughed overly loud. Was he talking of hunting?
Miss Elizabeth’s attention had drifted, and though he too wished to know more of the grouse available on Lord Shackley’s estate, he could see it was not a topic of interest to the ladies present. He held out his arm. “Might I beg a bit of your time with a turn about the room?”
Her grateful expression was reward enough. He decided that not only did he wish to see her smiling eyes but also the appreciative gleam again directed at him. This congenial side to Miss Elizabeth was almost enough for him to forget the disturbing and unhappy version that sometimes showed itself.
As soon as they were out of earshot, she squeezed his arm with her fingers. “Thank you. I did not know how to extricate myself. I think after many minutes of such discussion I had nothing more to add.” She shook her head. “And they were talking of me accompanying to hold their kills.” She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know much about the ladies of theTon, but do they really enjoy such an activity? And would they wish to accompany a man to watch him shoot birds and then hold them for him?”
Darcy snorted. “I could never imagine you doing such a thing. Why worry about what other women do?”
“I do not often concern myself but now I am curious.”
He thought for a moment. “I daresay there would be some who would do just about anything if they thought it would win them a man.” He chose his words carefully. “But at what cost?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, why attempt to win someone with false pretenses? Is not the goal to find compatibility? Would she then keep up her ruse for the rest of her life? Hardly not.”
Miss Elizabeth’s smile grew into a knowing grin. “I sense a sore subject.”
