Page 3 of Lord Lonbourn’s Daughter

He felt a jolt pass through his soul. He might have flinched visibly, though he hoped that was not so.

Richard elbowed him in the side, but he was too stupefied to utter a single word.

Those eyes! Green with a rim of dark blue, speckled with moonlight, surrounded by thick, dark lashes.

He could not look away; neither could he speak it seemed.

He gulped down a breath of air, but it did not aid his recovery.

The apparition huffed, turned her back, and strode away.

He recognised that back. How could he have failed to notice the lush soft curls on her head when he had judged her dowdy?

Her figure was light and pleasing, portraying a graceful quality not even countered by her tramping away.

She was obviously displeased with him. He turned to follow, but Richard had the audacity to grab his elbow, holding him back.

He had entirely forgotten there was a third sister.

She was a pretty girl with spectacles and a discerning eye. He suspected nothing passed her notice. He bowed low, greeted her cordially, and offered her his arm to escort her into the dining room.

“I feel it incumbent upon me to notify you that I am not the sister you offended,” she informed him with an intent look over the brim of her spectacles. She reminded him of a young Mrs Reynolds when she had berated him as a child.

“I know.”

“An apology would not have gone amiss,” she replied primly.

“I…” He sighed and turned towards the outspoken miss. “I was planning to, when something robbed me of my ability to speak.”

“Yes, I noticed. You have your work cut out for you. If any of the Longbourn sisters can hold a grudge, it is Elizabeth. She is not vain, but dowdy is as far from the truth as you could possibly get. She is not a great beauty, but her vivacious nature more than makes up for what symmetry does not.”

He was appalled; how could this mousy thing deem her sister not a great beauty? He reined himself in before he offended a second of the earl’s daughters. She had been kinder than he had.

Instead, he bowed to Lady Mary Bennet and approached his aunt, who rightfully had a scolding ready for him. He hung his head and listened with his hands behind his back. She was right, and his offences had just doubled.

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Lady Elizabeth sat to his aunt’s right with the viscount opposite her.

Lord Longbourn and his eldest daughter were seated either side of his uncle, leaving him, Richard, Lady Mary, and the viscountess to the middle seats.

At least he could watch from afar as his aunt and Lady Elizabeth entered into a lively discussion about the shopping excursions they were about to embark upon.

“I am exceedingly grateful to you, my lady, for taking on such a monstrous task as outfitting not just one but three Longbourn sisters all at once.”

“Oh, hush. I am delighted to be of aid. I have no daughters of my own, you see, and my niece is not yet of age. Well, I do have another niece, but she is not motherless like you and dear Georgiana. Please, do not hesitate to inform me if my enthusiasm becomes too much. I have not looked upon an adventure with this much anticipation for years.”

Lady Elizabeth let out a light, melodic laugh before she covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes twinkling.

Her lips formed a slight ‘o’ when she listened attentively, he had noticed.

Her eyes sparkled while her dove-grey gown had no embellishments in the form of embroidery, lace, or overlays.

Even the front of her dress was modest compared to certain ladies who preferred to cover their bosoms as little as possible.

She did not need any adornments. Her gown bore the signs of half-mourning, and he felt utterly mortified that he had not noticed at the ball.

Not that she was in any way lacking in her soft, natural state.

Her gleaming eyes turned from his aunt to Lord Longbourn.

“If your enthusiasm stretches that far, my father could do with a couple of new suits as well. I am sure you know of a good tailor and a method to force reluctant gentlemen to apply themselves.”

“My clothes are adequate, Elizabeth. I have no need of more.” Lord Longbourn grumbled.

“You need something more fashionable when you escort your daughters about town, Father. The haut ton is ruthless when it comes to those who do not meet their exalted standards. Society judges your attire before your character. Ridiculous, I know, but it cannot be helped. You know changing people’s habits is impossible.

We shall just have to comply with their superficial and supercilious beliefs until the Season is over and we can retire to the rationality at Longbourn. ”

“You had better find a match soon, along with your sisters. I cannot stomach the thought of this Season, let alone another. Perhaps I can convince you to accept the first suitor who comes along. That obsequious parson who called this morning should suffice. He certainly seemed keen enough to me.”

“Father! Do not wish such a horrible fate upon me as to marry a man of so little understanding. I would as soon remain a spinster.”

“That will do, Elizabeth. If you could just convince your sisters of the benefits of spinsterhood, we can remove ourselves to Longbourn all the sooner.”

Elizabeth laughed and winked at her father.

“With the selection of gentlemen I have met, I might refrain from courting all together, but you cannot deprive Jane and Mary of their first Seasons. I am looking forward to dancing with great pleasure, and Jane would not be pleased if she could not attend at least a dozen balls. She would never voice her objections, but that is all the more reason to provide her with what she wants. I am sorry, Papa, but your fatherly duties must prevail over your personal preferences.”

“My lord, I gauge from your delightful conversation with your daughter that you do not take pleasure in a ball?”

“In that, you would be cunningly accurate, Lady Matlock.”

“If I may make a forward suggestion, my lord, I would gladly take upon myself the pleasure of escorting your daughters throughout the entire Season. I can usually manage to ferret out a son or a husband to accompany us, and if all else fails, I do have a fierce-looking nephew as a last resort. I can guarantee both the safety and chaperonage of your daughters would be vigilantly upheld.”

“It is too much to ask of you, my lady.”

“Nonsense, it would be my immense pleasure to keep myself thus occupied.”

“You are a diamond amongst paste, your ladyship. How may I show you my gratitude?”

“By accompanying your daughters to Bond Street for one morning. I know of an excellent tailor.”

“Well played, my lady. Excellent negotiation skills.”

His aunt smiled demurely, which was a falsehood if ever he saw one.

It was then he noticed it—just a flicker of Lady Elizabeth’s eyes, but they were aimed in his direction.

She probably wanted to gauge his response to her previous tirade, which had obviously been addressed to him.

He had received the message, loud and clear.

The only surprise had been the lack of vehement objections to the service his aunt had implied he must deliver.

Strangely enough, he held no grievances towards the scheme.

The thought even brought a measure of anticipation he could not have foreseen.

He still had an apology to address. Perhaps when the gentlemen joined the ladies after their port and cigars.

Darcy had quite forgotten about the Earl of Longbourn. It was with apprehension that he noticed his lordship approaching him after the ladies departed. He braced himself for a scolding, having disparaged, quite unjustly, one of the man’s daughters.

The gentleman wore an expression he could not decipher when he clapped him good-naturedly on the shoulder and smiled.

“I must thank you, Mr Darcy. Your uncharitable remarks about my Lizzy should be sufficient to scare away most suitors, do you not think? I am of no mind to relinquish my favourite daughter to an unworthy gentleman. I am sure you will feel the same when one of the haut ton’ s cats have delivered you a baby girl.

Especially if she is as sharp and witty as my Lizzy.

But I imagine I need not inform you of that, having been at the receiving end of her displeasure.

Your comfort must lie in the knowledge that after she has had her say, you will slip unnoticed from her mind.

You need not worry about a repeat performance.

Your opinion is of no importance to a sensible girl. ”

“I can assure you my sentiments have undergone a drastic change towards your daughter.”

“I noticed. Make sure you leave it hidden behind that austere mien you have perfected. Lizzy will remain none the wiser.”

“I must insist on apologising.”

“Certainly, it might even prove to be entertaining.”

Darcy nodded. He knew not what else he could do towards the confounding Earl of Longbourn.

The port and cigars dragged on until he felt like a bundle of nerves. Matlock and Longbourn probably tarried on purpose to torment him—and deservedly so.

He hung back when they finally moved towards the parlour occupied by the ladies.

The two younger Bennet daughters were entertaining his aunt, the viscountess, and their eldest sister with a song.

His apology would have to wait until they had finished.

Of course, Richard seized the young lady’s attention by offering to turn the pages for another piece of music.

She acquiesced and left him spellbound with her deep and velvety alto voice.

Richard was not inflicted by tongue tie or reserve.

He escorted Lady Elizabeth from the pianoforte and offered her a seat by the fire and to fetch her refreshments.

Darcy made his move as Richard went to fill her glass of sherry.

Swiftly, he strode towards her, bowed, and stuttered, “Forgive me, Lady Elizabeth. I…”

Blast! It had happened again. She raised her beautiful eyes, rendering him mute.

“Forgive you? May I enquire what you are asking forgiveness for, Mr Darcy?”

He swallowed hard, forcing his voice to apply itself. He looked at her imploringly, begging her to understand without him needing to utter a word. She met his gaze steadily.

“I see…”

“I did not,” he blurted out. Finally capable of forming a sentence, though not particularly articulate in its expression, he added, “See you, I mean. I uttered nonsense and balderdash without reason nor reflection. I should not ask for your forgiveness but humbly beg your pardon.”

“Very well. Your apology is accepted. We should henceforth be able to meet as indifferent acquaintances. If, by the perverseness of mischance, our paths should cross.”

He nodded his assent despite his heart’s vehement protests. He should withdraw, but his legs were not cooperating.

Richard joined them, offering Lady Elizabeth the sherry, which she sipped daintily with those luscious lips. He had a hard time averting his eyes until Richard accidentally stepped on his toes.

“Perhaps Lady Jane and Lady Mary would like a glass of sherry as well?”

“Yes!”

Richard’s eyebrows were reaching for his hairline. He looked ridiculous, making Darcy smile.

“You seem absent-minded, Darcy.”

Taking the none-too-subtle hint at last, he turned abruptly and left the bewitching lady in his charming cousin’s presence.

Blast it all, he should have made a polite departure—preferably a witty and flattering remark of the sort that always escaped him.

It was too late to think of something; he could not stroll back to the siren without looking like one of the nitwits she abhorred.

He had enquired as to whether Lady Jane and Lady Mary wanted a glass of sherry before he noticed that both had already been served. His aunt was not one to shirk her duties as a host. It had only been a ruse to remove him from the enchanting lady’s presence.