Page 15 of The Slipper Scandal
This was duty too, of a sort. So why did he not feel trapped? Miss Bennet certainly did. She was a chess player? Very well. He too had always been good at strategy.
Fitzwilliam sighed, finishing his drink. “Youareenjoying this.”
Darcy did not deny it.
His cousin shook his head in disbelief. “She will not thank you for it.”
“She does not understand,” Darcy interrupted, voice quiet but firm. “Not truly. If I walk away now, she will be ruined. It would harm Miss Abernathy’s chances at a good marriage, at least until her family severs ties, and the one thing that gave Miss Bennet pause was when I inquired whether she had any unwed sisters.” He shook his head. “No, I would challenge any man who had unintentionally compromised Georgiana only to abandon her to such a fate, no matter how hard she pushed him away.”
Fitzwilliam’s teasing vanished. He exhaled slowly. “You would,” he agreed. “I wish you luck, cousin. You will need it.”
Darcy exhaled, a slow, measured breath. He both dreaded and anticipated their next bout. “Yes,” he murmured. “I believe I will.”
Chapter Five
Elizabeth sat at the dressing table as Lily, the Abernathys' lady's maid, twisted her dark curls into an elegant coiffure. The looking glass reflected her pensive expression, which she had been attempting to mask since the disastrous events of the masquerade ball the previous evening.
A light knock at the door preceded Arabella's entrance. Her dearest friend appeared in a gown of pale blue silk, her fair hair already perfectly arranged with pearls and two sapphire pins that caught the candlelight.
"Oh, how well you look, Lizzy," Arabella exclaimed, crossing to the dressing table. “I wish my hair curled as yours does.”
Elizabeth attempted a smile. "I shall never be your equal in looks, but Lily is to be commended for her skill in taming my wild locks.”
Arabella scoffed, and the maid smiled.
Her friend’s expression was both sympathetic and assessing. "Lily, might I assist Miss Bennet with her gown this evening?"
Lily bobbed a curtsy. "Of course, Miss Abernathy. I have pressed it and laid it upon the bed. Will there be anything else?"
"No, I thank you," Arabella replied. "We shall manage the rest."
When Lily had gone, Elizabeth rose from the dressing table.
“I do not want to marry because of an assumed compromise.” Elizabeth closed her eyes. “You of all people know why.”
Arabella touched her arm lightly as she walked past, and Elizabeth stopped. Her friend led her to the bed where her gown awaited and helped Elizabeth slip the dress on over her chemise and stays.
“Because of your parents?” she asked softly.
“Yes.”
Arabella finished with the gown and then picked up Elizabeth’s earrings. "Turn around, let me help you with these." As she fastened the first, she continued in a lower voice. "No one is taking advantage of Mr. Darcy here. He is offering.” She paused for a moment.
“All I know of him is that he did not immediately hand back my slipper, spoke my name when Lord Ellington would not otherwise have known it, and then he told everyone we were engaged! This entire mess is his fault!”
“Lizzy,” Arabella chided her.
Elizabeth sighed heavily. “Very well, it is notentirelyhis fault. The greater portion of the blame belongs to that reptilian Lord Ellington, and my own stupid curiosity. If I had not stopped to have a better look at that marble sculpture of Neptune, I would not have lost you to begin with.”
“Oh, was it nice?”
“Stunning.”
“I am sorry I missed it.” Arabella fastened the second earring, then stepped back to assess the effect. "You look beautiful."
Elizabeth sat abruptly. “I cannot do this. Please make my excuses to your mother. Tell her I have a headache.”
Her friend studied her for a moment. "You know,” she said slyly, her eyes brightening with sudden inspiration, “if you truly wish to avoid this marriage, you must convince him to withdraw his offer."
