Page 64 of Compromise & Consequence
“Ask away. Even he will not know.”
Georgiana looked at him from beneath her eyelashes.
“He will know. He always does.”
She was right. Richard always seemed to know.
“Let us join my bride so I may take her home at a decent hour.”
They returned to the drawing room and within the half hour, he and Elizabeth were tucked up snug and warm in one of his carriages heading for Darcy House but not before they had both promised to attend the theater next week as his uncle’s guest. After they disembarked from the carriage, before they’d reached the front entrance, he asked Elizabeth if she would join him for a nightcap before retiring for the evening. She said yes and met him in the library as soon as she had changed her outer footwear for house slippers.
“My aunt is quite taken with you,” he said as he handed her a glass of wine.”
“At first, she had no choice but to come to my defense as Miss Bingley declared, in a loud voice, that I was the trollop Mr. Darcyhad refused to marry after a failed compromise.”
“Miss Bingley said that? In public?”
“Oh, yes. In the only way she knows. Loudly.”
He shuddered. So many things had gone wrong since that night at Netherfield. Would it ever end? He gave a start when Elizabeth laid her hand on his forearm.
“She did not harm me, Mr. Darcy. I am inured to her waspish tongue and her tart manners. Even if we had not married, she could never touch my heart and soul. I refuse to give her that power.”
“You are a strong woman. I should have seen it sooner. I believe I inherently knew it, which is why I was so drawn to you.” He held her gaze for a long moment, then broke the tension by saying, “My aunt came to your defense?”
“She did. Miss Bingley had no idea your aunt was in the tea shop, hidden as she and Miss Darcy were by a pillar, but when Miss Bingley invoked the name of Darcy as well as the Earl of Matlock, she had no choice but to stem the tide of gossip.” She smiled at the memory. “I like your aunt very much.”
“She is formidable and will be your greatest ally.”
“Are you not my greatest ally?”
“Of course,” he stammered. “It’s just… when it comes to theton…”
“Mr. Darcy, I am but teasing. I know she is a formidable ally and I am grateful she has decided I am worth the effort.”
“You are more than worth the effort. I thought that before I even learned of your family history. I have not shown it, but I decidedly thought about it.”
“As we have only started to make amends, let us agree that you are trying to behave in a more gentlemanlike manner andI commend you. I am so glad you spoke with your sister this evening. Will she be staying at Matlock House for the next while?”
“Yes, I asked for a few weeks for us to gain ground in our friendship and she was more than willing to afford us some privacy. She is also well disposed to like you.”
“Wonderful.” She took a sip of wine. “Are there other topics you wish to canvas before we bid each other good night? Laundering issues, mayhap?”
He knew, by the heat on his cheeks, they had likely flushed a dark red.
“I apologize for what I inferred about bed linens to Aunt Catherine. It was not gentlemanly.”
“I…” She also flushed and her lashes fluttered down to sweep the top of her rosy cheeks. “I am sure you had your reasons.”
“I could not allow her to keep hinting you were not a maiden when you came to this marriage. It is the very least I could do.”
“I appreciate the sentiment and given time, I may be able to look your uncle and his sons in the eye.”
“Elizabeth, they are your staunchest supporters. Even Ashton, the reprobate likes you, and the viscount does not like anybody these days.”
“Then, I am honored.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying their wine.
