Page 17 of Georgiana
“I shall pass, my dear.” Lady Matlock stood as well. “I have been tardy in my correspondence and it refuses to go away on its own. I will inform my staff to be wary of Sir Reginald as well.” She gave both Elizabeth and Georgiana a kiss on the cheek before exiting the room. Elizabeth turned to Darcy with a bright smile.
“And you, dear husband? Are you willing to traipse about the bushes in the park across the street with your sister and me?”
“You know I will.” Darcy glanced at Max. “You are welcome to join us, Adborough, but be prepared for more than a sedate stroll. Lizzy is used to rambling the grounds of Pemberley and finds the park too confining. You may find yourself circling the same grove of trees several times.”
“I am not that bad, Fitz.” Lizzy playfully swatted at his arm. “I’m quite content to walk only the perimeter today.”
Max relished the idea of some uninterrupted time with Georgiana, albeit under the watchful eye of her brother. “I believe I shall go with you. The day is yet young and the weather agreeable.”
Within fifteen minutes the four of them exited Darcy House and crossed the street to the park, several sturdy footmen following at a respectable distance. Upon Max’s quizzical look, Darcy said, “One can never be too careful.”
“I concur,” Max agreed with a nod. He then paused and waited for Georgiana while Darcy and Elizabeth followed.
“I understand your curtsy and first ball was a success.” He glanced down at Georgiana, wishing the brim of her bonnet wasn’t so wide. Although she looked lovely no matter what she wore, he wanted to see her face. To gauge her reaction to him.
“As I’ve never been presented, nor attended a full ball before, I rely on family to tell me whether it was a success, and my aunt is well pleased, so I guess it was.”
“I am glad for you. I wish nothing but good things for you, Miss Darcy.”
“Th… thank you.”
He noted her small stutter and knew from past experience she stumbled in her speech when nervous. To allay her nerves, good or bad, he began a gentle conversation about her time at Pemberley before coming to Town, which led to her telling him about the visit with Mrs. Sprague, one of their tenants.
“Her husband made this for me.” She reached into the pocket of her pelisse and brought out a carved cross. “They have so little, yet still took time to give me something before I left.”
“May I?” He held out his hand and she placed the cross into his palm. He turned it over and examined it carefully before handing it back. “The fact that your tenants think highly of you is commendable, Miss Darcy. You will be a fine mistress of an estate one day.”
And that estate will be mine.
As though she’d heard his thoughts, she raised startled eyes to his and with satisfaction he saw a blush rise on her cheeks. Just as quickly she lowered her gaze and tucked the cross back into her pocket. All too soon their walk ended and Max went home content, knowing he would see Miss Darcy at Lady Dalrymple’s ball in a few days time.
~~~~~
Georgiana smoothed the front of her dress in an attempt to calm her nerves while she waited for her next dance partner to make an appearance. The whole Darcy/Matlock clan attended Lady Dalrymple’s Ball along with what seemed like most of London’s beau monde. If success was rated on how crowded, on how uncomfortably hot, or on how loud a room could become, then Lady Dalrymple would be very pleased indeed.
However, it wasn’t the press of bodies that had nerves stretched tighter than a violin string, it was the ever-present Sir Reginald who’d sniffed her out like a basset hound almost as soon as she’d entered the house. Now that she was aware of his dire need of an heiress, she had no intention of giving him encouragement of any kind. Fortunately, she’d been able to stay one step ahead of him, but it seemed her luck had finally run out.
Darcy and Lizzy were dancing. Aunt and Uncle Matlock had been waylaid by Lord Patrick Grayson, who had some news of Cousin Richard, and her other cousin, Ash had made a bee line for the card room, bypassing the ball room completely. She was stranded on the edge of the dance floor and noted Sir Reginald beginning to skirt the edges toward her.
Carefully, she eased back and made to turn. If nothing else she could retire to the lady’s room and pretend to fix something on her gown. What she hadn’t counted on was Sir Reginald to cut directly across the floor and step into her path.
“Miss Darcy,” he simpered with a low bow in front of her.
“Sir Reginald, you surprised me.”
“I hope you mean that in a good way, Miss Darcy.” He reached for her gloved hand but she flicked open her fan and used it too cool her face. He had no choice but to drop his arm. “I have stopped by your home to pay my respects, but you have been one busy young woman. I did leave my card.”
His voice held censure as well as a touch of disappointment.
“I have been busy indeed, Sir Reginald. My aunt has a great many friends and wishes me to make their acquaintance. I’m sure you understand.”
Where was her family? She stopped herself from glancing around. It would not do to let Sir Reginald know she was uncomfortable in his presence. It would also not be wise for Sir Reginald to discover that one time, when he’d come by Darcy House, she was home and heard Hutchins outright lie and inform him the family was out. What amazed her even more was that Sir Reginald had the audacity to query their loyal butler as to where she and Lizzy had gone.
“May I have the next dance, Miss Darcy?”
“Thank you, Sir Reginald, but my card is full.”
She spoke a partial truth. Between family members, close friends, the Marquis of Trevayne, The Earl of Litchfield and the Earl of Dunleavy she has a surfeit of partners. The only exception being the very next dance and the supper set. She’d deliberately left those blank with the hope Maxwell would request her company for one of them.
