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A nother ball. Darcy had not been so active in town for any previous season. Only the opportunity to dance with Lady Elizabeth could have stirred him thus.

He huffed a rueful smile as his coach drove him to the Worthington town house. The avaricious mamas had congregated noisily. They’d thought Darcy must have determined to finally take a bride, and they had their eligible daughters strut and preen in front of him.

He sighed. He’d taken the occasional dance with other young ladies, to try to hide the fact of his dancing with Elizabeth. But today, Richard sat beside him, and he knew his cousin’s sharp eyes would be more observant than even the most determined mama present.

But it didn’t signify. If Richard knew, then he would be sympathetic to Darcy’s plight — he might even have a good suggestion to help him excise her from his mind. But although Darcy knew he had little chance, he held onto his faint hope like a drowning man.

The duke had not refused to allow him to request a dance with Lady Elizabeth at the balls they attended, and Darcy had been careful not to inflame the situation by requesting one of the significant sets, or a second set; or even by standing near her and engaging her in conversation, no matter his own heart’s desire.

He smiled slightly out of the window. He thought she enjoyed their dances, seeming to be more relaxed at the more recent balls. Darcy carefully followed her conversational topics, and didn’t enquire closely about her life and activities.

“So, what are you planning this evening, Darcy, with that smug smile?” Richard had noticed, and Darcy grimaced ruefully.

“Every ball is the same, is it not, Richard?”

His cousin brushed off his words. “The last one I went to was the Osborne ball, as you know. But Mother tells me you have attended very many this season. She is beside herself with pleasure that you seem to have finally decided to find a wife and settle down.” He raised an eyebrow at Darcy.

“But I saw you approach the Osborne daughter. You must be quite addled.”

Darcy turned back to the window. He would not rise to the bait. He shrugged to his cousin, and took a deep breath. “I dance with a number of young ladies at each ball, I’ll have you know. And your mother has seen it at those she has attended.”

As soon as they were there and he saw Lady Elizabeth standing beside her aunt, he left Richard and approached her.

“Good evening, Lady Elizabeth, Lady Cecilia,” he bowed, and smiled.

She looked delightful this evening, a soft flush on her cheeks. Was she happy to see him?

“I wonder if you might have a dance free that I might request from you, Lady Elizabeth?”

She looked down, suddenly appearing a little shy of him. “I have saved the third for you, Mr. Darcy.” She lifted her dance card.

He swallowed, his cravat impossibly tight. “I am honoured, my lady.” He wrote his name on the card, noting that many of her dances had already been taken, and he looked up and smiled. “I think you have a busy evening ahead of you, madam.”

She glanced at her aunt before answering him. “My father asked me to reserve a number of dances for gentlemen he wishes me to meet,” she said quietly, and Darcy’s heart dropped as fast as it had risen.

“Then I am doubly honoured that you ensured there was a dance free for me,” he murmured.

He turned to her aunt. “Might I have the honour of a dance with you also, my lady?”

Her look of surprise gave way to a wry expression. “In this, you have the choice of a number of dances, Mr. Darcy.”

He felt mischievous. “Even the first?”

Beside her, Lady Elizabeth laughed. “I think you are being perverse, Mr. Darcy. Aunt Cecilia will tell you nothing about me.”

He gave her an injured look. “I was not intending to ask, Lady Elizabeth. I was going to discuss Consall Hall and the rest of the Bailey family.”

Lady Elizabeth’s eyes flashed. “That is reassuring. And here comes my cousin for the first, so I will take my leave of you until the third.”

Darcy bowed. “I will anticipate it with pleasure, madam.”

He glanced at Lord Robert’s face. The man seemed cheerful enough, though he didn’t look particularly enchanted to see his cousin. Darcy had to hope there were no other suitable men who had engaged her heart.

He turned to Lady Cecilia and offered his hand. She placed hers lightly on his, and he led her to the dance floor, ignoring Richard’s astonished gaze.

She danced in the stately manner expected of a lady of her age, and he tried to think of a conversational topic not too closely connected with her niece.

“I think Elizabeth finds your dances quite restful, Mr. Darcy.” Lady Cecilia didn’t seem to think she was under the same strictures Lady Elizabeth had implied he was.

“I am glad,” he replied carefully. “My wish is for her to be happy.” He must not talk of her; he would never be able to dissemble if she asked of what they’d spoken.

“I think you might be finding the season a trifle tiring, madam. I know you have not seen fit to come for some years.”

She smiled. “You are correct. I am quite relieved the season is nearly over, although I hope to stay in town for a while longer so I can be with Elizabeth — until her father takes her to the north.”

“Then you will return to Cheddleton?” Darcy enquired. “Pemberley is a pleasant place to be in the summer months, and Consall Hall must have a similar climate, being only twenty miles away.”

“Yes, I will go home.” Her gaze was on her niece. “I think he will bring her to visit for a time in the summer, so I will see her then.”

Darcy’s heart sank again. The duke had not previously maintained contact with Lady Althea’s family. If he was going there with Elizabeth, the only reason might be to further a match with her cousin.

Lady Cecilia’s hand tightened slightly on his. “I ought not to say this,” she murmured quietly. “But neither of them seem to be interested in a match. You are doing the right thing, just allowing her to enjoy your company.”

He glanced at her. “I cannot see any future, though.” He stifled a sigh, and changed the topic to the unseasonably hot weather.

Lady Elizabeth looked cool and lovely in her rose-coloured gown, whereas he thought he looked like all the other gentlemen, hot and stifled in their suits with buttoned shirts under their cravats. But then, it was the expected dress, and he was used to it.