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Had I met her at the Meryton assembly, no doubt I would have been tempted to remain in Hertfordshire a bit longer.

It would not do to let his aunt or his sister know how taken he was with Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s beauty. Darcy donned a stoic mask and approached the ladies once they were announced and inside the ballroom. One obligatory dance and he would be away from that place and away from the charming creature with the bewitching dark eyes who was too far below his social sphere even to contemplate what too much time in her company would portend. The sooner they danced, the sooner he would leave.

Georgiana greeted him with a broad smile. “Brother, I am so pleased you are here. I was afraid you had come and gone, given our delay.”

Darcy accepted his aunt’s proffered hand and raised it to his lips. “I feared you ladies had decided to forgo this soiree altogether, in favour of more illustrious company.”

Lady Matlock hushed him with a brush of her fan. “Do not be ridiculous, Nephew. It does not do to arrive too early—you would know that were you to attend to such details. Come, meet Georgiana’s friend from Hertfordshire.” She encouraged Elizabeth to her side. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, this is my nephew, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.”

Darcy slightly bowed. Elizabeth curtseyed. “It is a pleasure to meet you, sir. I have heard so much about you.”

Her ladyship said, “Indeed, and not from my niece, I understand. Miss Elizabeth tells me that you two have mutual friends in Hertfordshire as well.”

Darcy looked at his aunt, silently affirming her assertion. He returned his gaze to Elizabeth. “Pray there is room on your dance card for me.”

“Indeed, sir, as I only arrived, my dance card is empty.” She surrendered her card to him. Accepting it, he made his selection and handed it back to her.

Georgiana said, “I do not imagine you will be in want of partners for very long.”

Darcy accepted his sister’s proffered card. “Nor will you, dearest. You look exceedingly lovely tonight.”

When the dancing recommenced, Darcy offered Elizabeth his arm and escorted her to the middle of the dance floor. The touch of her hand upon his arm, as gentle as it was, sent a surge of power straight to his chest. They were walking close enough for him to appreciate the hint of lavender she wore. Funny how he had always thought it was a calming fragrance, and yet his senses were in an uproar. She showed no inclination to relinquish her light grip on his arm, and he was in no hurry to take his spot opposite her.

Is this the reason my friend Bingley has not returned to town for the Season? Do these Bennets have some magical potion to ensnare otherwise sensible men? Surely they did not; else their mother would not have to work so hard to find husbands for her daughters. He simply needed to get away from her. Taking his place opposite Elizabeth, he fought a losing battle in his desire not to stare at her.

Darcy sensed the danger in thinking too much about the woman standing across from him—her eyes staring, her lips slightly parted and enticing. How long will a set last anyway?

CHAPTER 6

A LADY’S IMAGINATION

Elizabeth’s adventurous spirit was heightened by the time of their arrival. While she looked forward to the gaiety a night at a London soiree afforded, the prospect of finally meeting Mr. Darcy held just as much intrigue. How one man could engender so much of derision and disdain, admiration and approbation in so many different people was increasingly puzzling, and Elizabeth thoroughly enjoyed a mystery.

There he stood. His likeness at Pemberley hardly does the gentleman justice.

Surely it was taken some years earlier, for Mr. Darcy was more handsome than she had supposed. Dressed in stark black and white, with broad shoulders and well-crafted arms and legs and standing more than six feet, he was taller than most of the gentlemen there. In comparing the man who now stood before her to the image she carried around in her mind, he had matured into adulthood in a manner that could only be described as exceedingly agreeable. What she had not been able to appreciate from his likeness was the brilliance of his eyes. She reminded herself not to stare. Nor did his likeness serve justice to his dark-brown hair. She could well imagine how soft it was.

What a thrill of awareness she had felt when she accepted his proffered arm, and he led her across the dance floor. Only after they had taken their places opposite each other did she relinquish his arm. How amazed she was at the honour he had bestowed in dancing with her, especially since he had danced with no one other than those from his own party at the Meryton assembly. Her friend Charlotte had expressly told her that she overheard him saying he hated to dance. Yet, he had made a deliberate effort to single her out within moments of her arrival and requested a set. She expected him to dance the first set with his sister, the next set with his aunt and then maybe he would get around to dancing with her—strictly out of obligation.

In appearance, the gentleman was the embodiment of perfection. That was the problem. He was too perfect. Recalling herself to her mission to satisfy her curiosity about Mr. Darcy’s character, Elizabeth finally noticed why her mother and sisters deemed the man a bit too haughty. He had not spoken a single word to her except to express his pleasure in engaging her for her first dance.

Pursuant to Elizabeth’s arrival in town, satisfying the social arrangements her aunt and uncle had made for her to get better acquainted with many of their friends was but one of the activities that filled her calendar. There was also shopping, in fact, a prodigious amount of shopping. Once her Aunt Gardiner learned of young Georgiana Darcy’s invitation for Elizabeth to be her guest at many of the upcoming balls, she saw fit to purchase several gowns, all the latest fashions, befitting grand soirees and private parties. Elizabeth had been exceedingly pleased to meet Georgiana’s aunt, Lady Matlock, although she had yet to meet any of Georgiana’s other relations. Until now.

They stood for some time without speaking a word. Elizabeth began to imagine their silence was to last through the two dances.

Why is he staring at me? Is that—is that a grimace? Surely he completed his inspection and found me wanting. Elizabeth’s busy mind now compelled her to question his motives.

Is he dancing with me merely to appease his sister? Were it the case that he was merely acting the part of the dutiful older brother and doing what he could to satisfy his sister, she would not fault him. But that did not mean she intended to allow his act of charity to go unchallenged. Suddenly fancying it would be a greater punishment to her taciturn partner to oblige him to talk, she made some slight observation on the dance. He replied and was again silent. After a pause of some minutes, she addressed him a second time. “It is your turn to say something, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some sort of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.”

He smiled. “Please tell me what you desire to hear me say, and I shall accommodate your wish.”

The perfect reply. Mr. Wickham had said the gentleman could be exceedingly pleasing when he chooses. Perfectly handsome in countenance and added to that, he moves with such grace and dignity. Excellent dance partner is on my list of admirable traits.

“Might I ask how you found Hertfordshire, Mr. Darcy?” Judging by your haste to return to London, one would imagine you found it quite objectionable. “I am sorry not to have made your acquaintance during your stay. However, I met the Bingleys. Miss Bingley speaks quite affectionately of you.” If anything might engender in him some evidence of excitability then surely it would be the mention of Miss Bingley, but Elizabeth read in his countenance nothing to give him away.

Darcy spoke not a word, and they were parted by the steps. When they reunited he said, “I trust you enjoyed your stay in Derbyshire. My sister said the two of you formed a steady correspondence after meeting at Pemberley.”

Is he insinuating I deliberately went out of my way to make Georgiana’s acquaintance?