Page 3 of The Slipper Scandal
“Trouble, indeed,” Elizabeth murmured, stepping around the hedge and reaching again for her slipper. “Now, if you will just—”
But before she could retrieve it, a raucous chorus of laughter spilled from the direction of the steps.
Mr. Darcy tensed, and Elizabeth’s hand froze mid-reach.
And then, before either could react, Lord Ellington and his companions had poured into the garden.
“There he is!”
Elizabeth’s stomach plummeted, and just as she lurched forward to grab her slipper, Mr. Darcy’s hand fell to his side.
Lord Ellington hurried over to them, his eyes gleaming with delighted malice. He stopped abruptly at the sight before him, and Elizabeth could only imagine the scene through the blackguard’s eyes. Mr. Darcy, standing tall and imposing in the garden’s dim light and—most damningly—holding her slipper in his hand.
For a moment, silence hung in the cold night air.
Then Ellington let out a delighted laugh. “My word, Darcy, you astonish me.”
She watched as Mr. Darcy’s grip on her shoe tightened. His voice, when it came, was like steel wrapped in velvet. “You astonish me as well, Ellington. I had not thought you so lackingin manners as to hound Miss Bennet all the way out into the garden. I came to escort her back to her party.”
Elizabeth frowned. She had never given her pursuer her name, but Mr. Darcy just had.
Ellington waved a hand, unconcerned. “Oh, I quite lost interest once I heardyouhad followed her out.” His smirk widened. “But now I find I was mistaken. You were not following her, were you? You two had a planned assignation.”
“What?” cried Elizabeth, all indignation.
She was ignored.
“Playing hunt the slipper! At a ball!” Ellington crowed.
One of Ellington’s companions gave a mock gasp. “And all alone in the moonlight!”
“I find I must question my entire understanding of the man,” another added, sputtering with laughter.
Lord Ellington smiled, and Elizabeth shivered. “Darcy.” He tsked. “You work fast. And here I thought you too dignified for such debauchery.”
Elizabeth could barely contain her outrage. “This is ridiculous! I was running fromyou, you overbearing, pompous—”
Lord Ellington’s gaze flicked to her, his malicious smile deepening. “Absolutely scandalous. I knew you had it in you, my Athena.” He spread his hands. “By all means, tell us whatdoesexplain why dear, solemn Darcy is standing in a garden, cradling your slipper?”
The men enjoyed this very much. “What lady would wish to flee from a lord?” one cackled.
“Anytrue lady if the lord is Ellington,” Mr. Darcy answered, and Elizabeth shivered at the coldness of his tone. “You forget, Harstead, that I attend nearly all the same balls as his lordship, and he seems to have great difficulty finding a woman willing to accept his addresses at any of them. Perhaps he ought to revisit his approach.”
“Andpretendto be an honourable man such as you?” Lord Ellington inquired, enjoying this all very much indeed. “One who behaves with all propriety in the light of day but meets willing ladies in dark gardens where no one can see? At leastIam honest.”
Elizabeth held out her hand. “Mr. Darcy, please give me my shoe.”
Mr. Darcy did not move. His jaw was taut, his gaze fixed on Ellington.
She took an urgent step forward, lowering her voice. “Mr. Darcy, I do not require your protection. Give me my shoe.” She turned to glare at Lord Ellington and his friends. “I shall handle this.”
But even as she spoke, she knew it was too late.
Lord Ellington had already turned, murmuring something to his companions that sent another round of knowing chuckles through the group.
There it was. The plan to spread gossip. Elizabeth swallowed hard.
The damage had been done. This miscreant who had chased her away, who had caused her to hide in the first place—he had won. In the space of a single moment, she had gone from trying to avoid one scandal to stepping headlong into another.
