Page 7 of The Slipper Scandal
She paced the length of the retiring room. “Lascivious lords and overbearing gentlemen,” she raged, careful to keep her voice low enough so that anyone listening at the keyhole would be disappointed. “One wishing to compromise me, the other insisting upon saving me, with the conclusion being precisely the same!”
Arabella removed her Aphrodite mask and tossed it on the dressing table, then lifted a glass of champagne to her lips. “Not precisely.” She wore an infuriatingly amused smile.
Elizabeth strode to the far end of the retiring room, pivoted sharply, and stalked back again. “I am not some hapless maiden, swooning at the first sign of trouble,” she said with frustration. “I did not ask to be hunted through a ballroom, nor did I request a noble rescuer to swoop in and declare my future decided before hundreds of people.”
Her friend made a vague, agreeing sound in the back of her throat.
Elizabeth pressed her hands to her temples and exhaled through her nose. “I shall never marry a man like Lord Ellington—nor a man like Mr. Darcy, either.” She resumed pacing, voice brimming with righteous indignation.
Arabella arched a brow. “I do not see how you will avoid it, Lizzy. As you have just pointed out yourself, Mr. Darcy’s declaration was rather public.”
“I will just go home,” Elizabeth said. “You know how everyone there feels about Londoners, except perhaps the Lucases. They will hear my story and laugh.”
“But you cannot return to Longbourn until your family is home again.”
Elizabeth frowned. Her family had all gone north to spend the festive season with Aunt Gardiner’s family. Mamma had refused to allow her to cancel her season with Arabella, which had been planned for close to a year. She had unreasonably high hopes that Elizabeth would find a husband.
Well, she had. But she did not want him.
“You could ask Charlotte to take you in, but if she hears that you are avoiding a match, she might not leave you in peace.”
“And between her parents and Maria, everyone would hear the gossip. The Lucases are well-meaning but entirely indiscreet. I am not certain how Charlotte is their daughter.”
“You are your mother’s daughter, Lizzy. Is not your own situation rather similar to Charlotte’s?”
Elizabeth squeezed her eyelids closed and stood still, her fists clenched at her sides. “I concede the point.”
“I understand that you are upset now, my friend, but when you come to your senses, you will realise that this is not so terrible an event.”
“Not so terrible? Oh, Belle, he cannot wish to wed me any more than I wish to wed him. We only met this evening!” She threw herself into a chair, arms crossed over her chest.
“And yet, here we are.” Arabella swirled her champagne idly, watching her with maddening composure. “A ballroom full of witnesses, a very public declaration, and you seated before me like a woman awaiting her wedding settlements.”
Elizabeth made a strangled sound and stood immediately. “He announced an engagement without even asking me first!”
Arabella hummed, unimpressed. “Mr. Darcy is a very efficient man. He simply informed you at the same time as everyone else.”
Elizabeth stopped pacing. “That is not even remotely amusing.” She paused. “You do believe me? That nothing happened?”
Her friend straightened immediately, setting her glass aside. “Of course I do. I have known you since we were still in the nursery and exploring all the secret passages of Longbourn and Netherfield together. You are not that sort of woman.”
Elizabeth exhaled in relief. “Thank you.”
“Which may be the reason he was attracted to you so quickly.”
“Arabella.” She drew out the name in frustration.
“As for any scandal—" Arabella waved a hand—“you have been in town only a fortnight and met Mr. Darcy less than an hour ago. I am aware, as are my parents, that you have not been conducting a secret courtship.”
“Then you will help me explain things to your father?”
“Lizzy,” Arabella said slowly, “although I absolutely believe that you arebothinnocent of anything untoward, the rumours that reached our ears just before you reappeared in the ballroom were absolutely vile. Considering Mr. Darcy has offered himself in marriage to save your reputation, might accepting him not be worth a moment’s reflection?”
Elizabeth scoffed. “Reflection on what? I cannot marry a man simply because he is not Lord Ellington.”
“You are correct. He isnotLord Ellington,” Arabella agreed. “Mr. Darcy is a wealthy, exceptionally handsome man, and what is more, he is agoodone.”
“I was not aware you knew him so well.”
