Page 5 of The Wager
She waited for him to straighten and look her in the eye. When she was certain she had his undivided attention, she turned her back on the gentleman. Upon hearing the soft gasp from her aunt, she almost relented and turned to greet him properly, but then his words, ‘she is not handsome enough to warrant an introduction,’ echoed in her memory and her courage rose.
“Elizabeth, what is the meaning of this?” Uncle John demanded.
“Your horticulturally minded acquaintance does not believe us poor garden variety flowers warrant introductions.”
Before any of them could utter another word, she turned on her heel and quit the room.
“Fitzwilliam Darcy, what have you done?!”
Chapter Two
Gentlereaders,ithascome to the attention of this author that the elusive Lady E, beloved niece of the Marchioness, Lady C, publicly cut Mr. FD of Derbyshire at Lady M’s ball the other night. What did our most hunted bachelor of the season do to deserve such a public set-down?
FitzwilliamDarcy,whathaveyou done?
The outraged words of Lady Courtland rang like a peal over his head while he watched the lithe figure of Lady Elizabeth pass through the main doors of the ballroom.
“Fitzwilliam! I demand you answer me this instance!”
His head swiveled toward Lady Courtland and for the first time in his life, one of his favorite cousins from Derbyshire was not smiling at him. She stood glaring at him, her back ramrod straight. Immediately, he saw the familial resemblance to Lady Elizabeth.
“Without cause, I insulted your niece most grievously.”
The bald truth was laid before them. He would not prevaricate on this matter. He had behaved abominably.
“What did you say to her? I have never known Elizabeth to behave in such a rude manner. Her manners are always impeccable.”
“I said in her presence she was nothing but an ordinary garden flower and not handsome enough to warrant an introduction.”
Coming face to face with Lady Elizabeth allowed him to observe what he’d overlooked in his earlier fit ofpique. Although not classically beautiful, her doe-shaped eyes were a shade of dark green and her figure, what he’d seen of it as she quit the ballroom, was light and pleasing. She was more than handsome enough to warrant an introduction.
“You what!” This came from the marquis. “Even if you did not know Elizabeth, what gave you the right to speak in such a demeaning manner to any woman?”
“I had no right.”
Lady Courtland pulled herself to her full height, which barely reached his shoulder.
“Tomorrow you will attend our home and apologize to my niece.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Darcy,” the marquis said in a low voice. “You had better strengthen the fabric in the knees ofyourtrousers. Elizabeth is not known for relenting. She can hold onto a grudge like a child does her favorite doll.”
Darcy grimaced at how his earlier jibe about his cousin was turned back onto him. Indeed, he would have to beg forgiveness and very likely eat humble pie as well. He did not look forward to the morrow. It was at this time Ashton joined their somber group.
“Lord Courtland,” he said in greeting and pasted what Darcy knew to be a very fake smile on his face. “I wonder if you and Darcy would join me for a drink in the card room.” In an undertone, he continued. “We must stop the tittle-tattle which is springing up around us like weeds in an unkempt garden.”
Darcy nearly groaned. Of all the metaphors his cousin could have chosen, any reference to a garden would reignite Lady Courtland’s displeasure. Not that it had abated. The flames of her anger still burned bright.
“How interesting, Ashton, that you reference a garden. Were you, by chance, privy to a conversation Darcy had earlier about common garden flowers?”
Ashton cocked his head, giving his cousin a wary glance, unsure of how to answer.
“There may have been mention of flowers, which is not surprising, considering the beautiful array of English roses in attendance at Lady Montrose’s ball.”
“Give it up, Ash,” Darcy said in a tired voice. “Lord and Lady Courtland are aware of my rude comment concerning the young lady who bumped into me.”
“Is she the genesis of all this gossip? If so, I am heartily sorry I urged you to speak with her.”
