Page 5 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

Jane laughed. “Did not Lydia say hawthorn blossoms signify a wedding or two?” Jane arched a brow. “Perhaps I shall find a husband in London this Season.”

“You sound very certain of your success.”

“Save Aunt Maddie’s letter, Lizzy. When I find my husband in London this Season, you shall owe me a new pair of gloves.”

“A pair of gloves? Whatever for? I made no wager with you, Jane dear.”

“No, but I saw the doubt on your face.”

“Very well. If you find yourself a husband while in London, I shall buy you a pair of gloves.”

Elizabeth tucked the letter from their beloved aunt between the blank pages at the back of her notebook and slipped the notebook into her desk drawer.

Chapter 2: Miss Ramsbury

The butler announced Mr. and Miss Ramsbury, and a stir of enthusiasm passed through the gentlemen. Darcy sought Richard's eye, but his cousin looked away with a faint smile, while Phillip looked positively delighted. Who could Miss Ramsbury be that even his world-weary older cousin took such notice?

The crowd parted to admit the two final guests, and Darcy immediately understood her appeal. She was a beauty. Lustrous copper red curls framed her face, much like Miss Caroline Bingley's, but there the resemblance ended. Her large green eyes and graceful figure were not her greatest attractions. She greeted the other young ladies, her rivals, with unaffected kindness. Her voice carried with quiet sweetness, and from the fragments of conversation that reached him, she appeared to possess both good sense and an easy wit. As he studied her, he decided she must be at least twenty, just barely of a suitable age for a man of his years.

Richard joined him and lowered his voice.

“Her fortune is considerable. Mamma says it amounts to forty thousand pounds. She hopes Phillip will win her hand, but I think she aims too high. Phillip's reputation as a man of gallantry will weigh heavily against him in that young lady's estimation. Rebecca says Miss Ramsbury means to marry for love and has little patience with gentlemen who trifle with ladies' affections or have a wandering eye.”

Darcy said, “What else does your sister have to say of this paragon of beauty?”

“Not much more. Rebecca writes infrequently, but she says a few gentlemen from her circle intend to come to London for the Season in hopes of winning that little beauty's hand.”

The two men watched as Phillip wandered away to flirt with a pretty young widow whom some believed to be his mistress.

Darcy looked to his cousin. “I believe Phillip will settle once he falls in love. He has spent too many years as the object of every lady's admiration, pursued and flattered wherever he goes. It is little wonder the poor fellow has become a bit jaded.”

Richard laughed.

“You are too generous with my brother, Darcy. You have endured just as much female attention these past ten years, but you have not become a notorious flirt like Phillip.”

Darcy chuckled.

“But I am not the heir to an earldom. Perhaps being born with a silver spoon in his mouth has proved too great a temptation for my cousin. It does not follow that he cannot reform for the love of a good woman.”

“Perhaps. But you make too many allowances for bad habits and weak principles. Phillip has had his own way far too long to abandon his pursuits simply because a beautiful woman has captured his attention. At two and thirty, I fear his habits are well established.”

Richard fell silent as the lady in question approached on her father's arm.

She was looking directly at Darcy.

A delicate blush spread across her cheeks.

Darcy stared. She was blushing because of him.

He glanced about the room in search of Phillip. Astonishingly, Miss Ramsbury and her father had passed his handsome, titled, and wealthy cousin without a second glance and now stood before him.

His mind went blank.

Darcy could not think of a single thing to say.

Richard came to his rescue.

“Darcy, I believe you have not yet had the pleasure of Mr. and Miss Ramsbury's acquaintance.”