Page 58 of The Wager
"I may do that very thing at Lady Kildair's ball."
Chapter Sixteen
Positionednearalargecolumn and partially concealed by a potted leafy tree of unknown origin, Darcy observed Lady Kildair's ballroom gradually fill with guests.
“What am I doing here, Ash? This night has only begun and I already crave its ending. I should be in Hertfordshire, trying to steal a kiss from Elizabeth. No horse is worth this.”
Viscount Ashton, standing next to him, chuckled.
“I shall not tell Arion you no longer hold him in esteem. He may forgive you in five or ten years.”
“Heis a horse.”
“Of that, I am aware. I also know you have raised the ornery beast from the second he was born and it would gut you to give him up. This is but one night in your life. Five hours at the most if you dance the set before the supper set and the one immediately following. I think you can manage five measly hours.”
“Are we agreed that after the last required set, we shall quit the ball and without delay head for Hertfordshire?” Darcy slid a sideways glance at his cousin. “I have booked us a suite of rooms at The George for a month complete.”
Ash looked at him with surprise, then grinned.
“Sometimes, I like the way you think. Three weeks for the banns to be read, one week to plan the ceremony, and then we can whisk our respective brides off for a long wedding trip— What the deuce?”
At Ashton’s outburst, Darcy looked up to see what surprised his cousin, only to find his mouth nearly drop open. Framed within the ballroom entrance stood Elizabeth, dressed in a deep red gown that lovingly clung to her body in a way that made his knees go weak. Rubies and diamonds twinkled in her hair, around her wrist, and at her throat. Lady Elizabeth was letting thetonknow the Hamilton family was entering society in a manner befitting their rank, and he loved her for it.
His feet had a mind of their own and began moving toward her before his ingrained sense of reason caught up. A Darcy did not run across the ballroom floor like a crazed lunatic. However, seeing Elizabeth’s delighted smile had him toss his pride aside and he did, indeed, increase his pace.
“Lady Elizabeth,” he said and gave her an exquisitely formal bow.
“Mr. Darcy.”
He thought she’d give him a polite nod of the head, instead, she dipped into a graceful curtsy, giving him a tantalizing glimpse of herdécolletage. When his gaze lifted to her face, her one eyebrow twitched ever so slightly and he knew, without the aid of a reflecting glass, that the tips of his ears had reddened.
“You are everything lovely, my lady,” he said in a low voice. “I had not expected to see you until our return to Hertfordshire”
“My sister and I thought to surprise you.”
“You have succeeded spectacularly. I had just been complaining the evening was going to drag by and then you appeared like a goddess rising in one of my dreams.”
She blushed slightly and turned to Ashton, who stood bemused in front of his very own goddess dressed in blue.
“Good evening, Edmund,” Elizabeth said, her tone one of teasing.
Ashton pulled his attention away from Jane and greeted Elizabeth before saying, “Come, let us find a more conducive place to converse.”
The four of them proceeded to the far side of the ballroom and found a quiet alcove, soon joined by Lord and Lady Courtland. It took but a few minutes before Lady Courtland congratulated Darcy on mending his relationship with her niece.
“I will admit, Fitzwilliam, I was so disappointed in the way you met. I knew you would complement one another and your union has advantages for both of you. Her ease and liveliness with all manner of people will make you more approachable, while your education and knowledge of the world will expand her mind beyond the walls of her father’s bookroom. With you, she can become a powerful woman in her own right.”
“You and I both know that a man’s heart devises his way, but the Lord directs his path. I was too busy being proud and fussy to see what He had in mind for me.” Darcy looked over to see Elizabeth talking gaily with Ashton and marveled at the fact she had forgiven him for such boorish behavior. “I look forward to our future life together.”
“I am so happy for the both of you.”
Lady Courtland’s attention was caught by something over his shoulder and he half turned to see who or what it was. Cutting through the growing crowd strode a tall and broad-shouldered young man. He towered over nearly everyone, including Darcy, who was not small in stature. Given the gentleman’s vivid green eyes and familiar smile, Darcy correctly assumed he was Trenton Hamilton, the oft-talked-about Earl of Tiverton.
“You made it in time.”
Elizabeth held out her hand for her brother to take in his.
“I did, although it was a near thing, Bertie’s sister by marriage took forever to get ready. Thankfully, I had my carriage ready, so he and I came on our own,” the earl said before he bussed his aunt on the cheek and greeted everyone in their group, stopping when he came to Ashton and Darcy.
