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Fitzwilliam had recognized the mischievous glint in Elizabeth’s eye as she bent down by the little girl. “I did indeed, Amelia but I suppose we might still return home for tea and biscuits when there is pleasant company, don’t you think? ”

There had followed a brief conversation about a particularly fine old oak at Pemberley well-formed for climbing. Darcy had promised Amelia that she might play there whenever she was in Derbyshire and had received a brilliant smile from Elizabeth that he would treasure for the rest of his life.

They had returned two nights later for a dinner.

Although Georgiana was not yet out, he had allowed her to attend after being assured that it would be a small party, mostly family.

In hindsight, he was glad that he had, not only for his own selfish need of his sister’s support but also to see her shyness melt away under the warm welcome of the Gardiners and Miss Bennet.

Several of Mrs. Gardiner’s Churchill cousins had attended, as well as a niece who was Georgiana’s age.

Darcy had been stunned when, after dinner, the two girls had performed an impromptu duet of pianoforte and violin.

Usually his sister was too shy to play for anyone beyond himself and Richard but here she was performing to a roomful of strangers and laughing at a missed note!

Almost immediately upon his arrival, Mrs. Gardiner’s uncle, Sir Edmund Churchill, had entered into a lively discussion with Darcy’s own Uncle James on the political implications of Europe’s trade with the Americas.

When the party was seated for dinner, the discussion expanded to include the entire table and Darcy was struck by how effortlessly Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth guided the conversation and involved everyone.

It was easily the most interesting dinner party he could remember in years; there was no discussion of fashions or gossip among the ladies and the men did not fall back upon horse racing or sport.

Instead, Fitzwilliam found himself stretching his intellect as he had not done since university; he felt like an old clock that had sat unused on the mantle for years but was finally wound up again and ticking, its works a bit gritty but running smoother every minute.

As they were farewelling their hosts, Darcy had spontaneously reached out to shake Mrs. Gardiner’s hand.

“Thank you—I do not know when I have spent a more enjoyable evening.” He had meant every word and the bright, happy smile that he had received from Elizabeth was an additional prize, making him realize how much his manners had improved in addition to his openness toward making new acquaintances from different walks of life.

Fitzwilliam had not had the opportunity for any private discourse with her but her ease in helping her aunt host the evening had reinforced his belief that Miss Elizabeth Bennet was in every way suited to be the next Darcy family matriarch.

Fitzwilliam desperately hoped that he was not about to destroy any good opinion Elizabeth might have developed over their last few meetings with a single burst of poor behavior.

When he attended the theatre alone or with Georgiana, he timed his arrival so that he could slip into his box just as the curtain was rising.

His sister was perfectly happy to remain in their box during intermissions so they would talk quietly, sometimes approached by relatives or a close friend but generally safe from the social maelstrom outside.

Tonight, however, he would be arriving well before the curtain went up and, moreover, with a young lady who was most definitely not his sister.

He could only hope that Lady Caroline Lamb and Lord Byron might have one of their increasingly public lovers’ spats, thereby distracting the gossips from the Derbyshire bachelor and his guests.

“Are you embarrassed to be seen with the Gardiners and Miss Bennet?” Georgiana’s question returned to him and Fitzwilliam was struck by the simple truth her words prompted.

He was not ashamed of the acquaintance in any way but he was so accustomed to guarding his privacy that it might appear so to others.

The carriage rolled to a halt just as Darcy was making a resolution.

Stepping down to the street, he took a deep breath and squared his shoulders.

Tonight, he would escort Elizabeth to the opera and he would make it clear to her and anyone who cared to look just how much he admired her. He was done with disguise.

Even as the butler was opening the front door, Fitzwilliam was greeted by the sight of a smiling Edward Gardiner.

“Mr. Darcy! Excellent, I do appreciate a man who is punctual. The ladies shall join us in just a minute. A clasp on Lizzy’s necklace broke and they are just repairing it.

Would you care for a drink while we wait? ”

Mr. Gardiner’s offer went unanswered as Darcy turned, hearing footsteps on the stairs, and was instantly rendered speechless.

Only distantly did he hear his host welcoming the ladies back and Mrs. Gardiner responding.

All of his senses were focused on Elizabeth, such that he heard the tiniest squeak of a floorboard under her slippers when she came to a halt at the base of the stairs.

Elizabeth had admitted earlier to her aunt that she felt beautiful in her new dress and the appreciative look in Mr. Darcy’s eyes as they swept over her brought a blush to her face.

To Fitzwilliam, her pink cheeks and sparkling eyes made her even more beautiful; the rose-colored silk set off her complexion to perfection and the simple pearl pendant hanging around her neck emphasized the creamy luster of her skin. He couldn’t help himself.

Darcy stepped forward and took Elizabeth’s hand, kissing it as he bowed deeply. “Miss Bennet, you are exceptionally beautiful tonight.”

It was a simple compliment but the intensity of his voice made Elizabeth shiver. “I thank you, kind sir.” Their eyes met and Darcy continued to hold her hand, forgetting his manners entirely.

The spell was broken when a maid approached with the ladies’ wraps and soon they were all stepping out into the night.

Darcy helped his guests into the carriage himself and was rewarded with another warm look from Elizabeth.

Conversation in the coach was genial as Mrs. Gardiner immediately inquired if their host had heard anything about the opera’s premiere in Naples the previous autumn.

This led to a discussion of other performances they had seen in London and Darcy even found himself admitting that he usually avoided opening nights.

Elizabeth grimaced as the two Gardiners laughed at her. Her uncle explained, “We took Elizabeth to the premiere of Mozart’s Magic Flute for her sixteenth birthday. The music was magnificent, but…”

Elizabeth couldn’t help but interrupt, her voice laced with the irritation she had felt years before.

“But the audience! Clapping at the wrong moments, peering out of their balconies to goggle at each other instead of attending to the performance! And not a single original opinion to be heard during the intermission!” she ended with a humph, providing Fitzwilliam with an amusing vision of Elizabeth at sixteen.

“Lizzy,” admonished her aunt with a smile. “That young man was only attempting to impress you.”

“By insisting that there were no allegories to enlightenment philosophy in Mozart’s story?”

“I don’t believe that the gentleman quite understood you were referring to Kant. Rather, he thought that you were speaking more literally about the new lighting fixtures in the theatre itself.”

“Oh,” said Elizabeth, clearly embarrassed that she could have so misinterpreted the conversation.

However she was soon laughing along with her relatives at the memory and they were joined by Darcy’s own deep chuckle.

She was still blinking at the handsome sight of his smile when the carriage slowed to a halt.

As the door to the carriage was opened on his side, Mr. Gardiner turned to grin at the others. “Well then, ready to run the gauntlet?” he quipped before stepping out and turning to assist his wife.

Darcy took the moment to shut his eyes and gather his strength, willing himself to be calm.

When he opened them, he was faced with the lovely sight of Elizabeth looking at him sympathetically from the opposite bench.

Stepping down from the carriage, he turned and offered his hand.

She accepted his assistance as if it were the most natural thing in the world to rest her gloved hand on his.

Speaking so softly that he had to bend down to hear her, she teased, “Shall we be quite safe here, Mr. Darcy? The crowd is looking a bit ravenous.”

Fitzwilliam couldn’t help himself. He tucked her hand securely around his arm and squared his shoulders proudly. “Well, shall we give them something to chew on?” And then, London Society was gifted with the previously unknown pleasure of Fitzwilliam Darcy’s full, dimpled smile.

Many were watching. The wealthy Derbyshire bachelor’s tall, handsome form was rarely sighted but much looked for.

To see him accompanying a fashionable couple (definitely not his family!) and escorting a lovely but unknown brunette (definitely not his sister!) was more than enough to set tongues wagging.

Luckily for Darcy, the light pressure of Miss Bennet’s hand on his arm was enough for him to feel as if he was walking on clouds.

The Gardiners greeted some acquaintances and he found himself listening attentively while Mrs. Gardiner made plans for a charity committee meeting with a countess who had approached her immediately.

When they finished, the elderly lady turned and, after exchanging cheek kisses with Elizabeth, greeted him with a warm smile.