Page 43 of Sketching Mr. Darcy

“Well, most people believe that Mrs Darcy is the one who trapped you into this marriage and wonder how she did it,” James continued, and Elizabeth paled at this offensive remark.

“Then you may inform them that they could not be further from the truth. I had to use all my powers of persuasion to convince Elizabeth to accept me, and I happily succeeded.”

“Good, now that we are all clear on that subject, I shall leave you,” the colonel said. “Lady Constance is looking at me quite insistently. James, I think Lord Matlock is waiting for you.”

Darcy looked at Elizabeth with concern. “Are you well? You must forgive James. He never knows when to stop before crossing the line from joke to offense.”

“Yes, I am well; do not worry. There is nothing for which to forgive Mr Darcy. He seemed quite pleasant and friendly. I must agree, however, that his remarks were rather improper.”

“Yes, he possesses the gift of charming people and making friends rather quickly, but he loses them as easily,” Darcy said, and Elizabeth remembered similar remarks about Wickham at the Netherfield ball.

She glanced at Mr James Darcy then back at her husband and wondered what his cousin did that deserved Mr Darcy’s disapproval.

“I thank you for protecting me against the rumours and accusations that I have trapped you,” she whispered, and despite her uneasiness, she forced a smile.

“I said nothing but the truth. I shall do what is necessary to protect you. As for rumours—do not worry. James will spread my words around the room and around Town very quickly,” he concluded, and Elizabeth covered her mouth with her gloved hand to hide a laugh, her other hand still resting on his arm.

“So there was a strategy involved. However, were you not too harsh with your cousin?”

“Not at all, I assure you. I have known him since he was born, and I have great affection for him, but his behaviour in the last years deserves to be met with severity. But enough of that. I want you to enjoy this evening. I know you are fond of balls and parties.” He smiled.

“I do like to dance. And speaking of that, be assured that your effort to dance with me, despite disliking the activity, is not unappreciated,” she teased him.

“It is no effort. As I said, one might change one’s likes and dislikes after marriage,” he whispered, leaning slightly towards her, and Elizabeth struggled to regain her composure as she again noticed many pairs of eyes on them.

Darcy looked around then continued in the same quiet voice.

“My Aunt’s New Year’s dinners were always large gatherings, but not quite like this one.

I think she extended the list of guests precisely to introduce you to London society.

I should apologise. I am afraid you will not have an easy evening despite your enjoyment of parties. ”

“Oh, there is surely no need to apologise—not after you promised to dance ‘several sets’ with me,” Elizabeth replied in the same teasing manner.

“And I feel I owe Lady Matlock my gratitude. It is a relief to be ‘introduced’ to London society in her house. However, I surely hope that not all of London society is here tonight.”

“Fortunately, many people have left London and will only return for the Season. And I am very pleased to see that you are amused by the situation. I was concerned that you might find the entire dinner party a bit overwhelming. I know I do.”

“I doubt that anything might truly overwhelm you under any circumstances,” she said, her voice a mix of teasing and gravity. He responded with another smile.

Elizabeth’s spirits rose with each passing moment. The short conversation with her husband helped her to relax, and she quite enjoyed their brief, playful exchange.

They danced together but spoke very little.

Most of the time, their eyes were on each other, and each time the steps required it, their hands met, and Elizabeth felt his fingers linger over hers a beat longer than necessary.

She blushed, but she entered quickly into the little game and began to enjoy it.

Sharing a small gesture with her husband in a room full of people who examined her with harsh curiosity was pleasant in a strange way.

Darcy complimented Elizabeth’s appearance and her elegant dancing, and she reminded him how much Sir William had admired his dancing skills even in Hertfordshire.

“Both then and now, my dancing skills are highly improved by the performance of my partner. Even Sir William agreed on that,” he said, continuing their teasing banter.

“Indeed, sir, your pleasant conversation and sense of humour are excellent and valuable additions to your ten thousand a year. If Meryton society had benefitted more from your talents, I am sure their admiration would be boundless.”

He struggled not to laugh, but when the dancing steps allowed it, he leant towards her only a little to say in a low voice, “Now your eyes are truly sparkling, as I told you earlier. And if you speak of my qualities, madam, please do not neglect my being tall and handsome, as Mrs Bennet generously pointed out several times.”

Her smiling eyes and her lips, tightly concealing her laughter, offered the only reply such a statement deserved.

Every minute of the dance found Elizabeth more at ease and more delighted with the company of her husband, and the chance of just gazing at him allowed her to discover many expressions, small gestures, frowns, and smiles that she had missed earlier.

At the same time, she found herself in the midst of a strange tumult of feelings that made her warm and flushed or cold and shivering from one moment to the next.

A deep sense of regret overwhelmed her when the music stopped.

***

Darcy held Elizabeth’s hand and conducted her to Georgiana. The ladies remained by themselves while Darcy joined the colonel and a few other gentlemen.

“Elizabeth is truly a remarkable woman,” the colonel said, handing him a glass of brandy. Darcy said nothing, and his cousin continued. “You looked like a real, normal newlywed couple—and quite affectionate with each other, I might say.”

“We are a real, normal newlywed couple, Cousin,” Darcy replied in earnest.

“I am glad to hear it. Am I to understand, then, that all is well? As you expected?”

“Very well.” He finished his brandy then suddenly looked towards Elizabeth as the music started again. “Lord Clayton just asked Elizabeth to dance?!”

“Is that a statement or a question?” said the colonel, laughing. “Well, they have moved to the dance floor, so you have your answer. Do not tell me you are jealous.”

“You are quite annoying sometimes,” Darcy interrupted hastily.

A few moments later, he attempted to join a conversation with Lord Matlock, struggling not to glance towards the dance floor too often, until Lady Matlock approached their group and demanded from the young gentlemen whether any unmarried lady was lacking a partner and to perform their duties accordingly.

Thus, Darcy, the colonel, and the viscount obeyed, and each invited a young lady to dance.

None of them looked as burdened by the task as Darcy.

Trying to pay attention to his dance partner, Darcy met Elizabeth’s laughing eyes, and he had no choice but to allow a smile to light his countenance. Then, he finally turned to his partner, Lady Clarisse, the eldest daughter of Lord ??? , and inquired whether she was enjoying the party.

***

That set came to an end and the next began, which brought Elizabeth and James Darcy together. Elizabeth had only a few minutes to exchange brief words with her husband before he withdrew to a corner when the music started.

From the first steps, Elizabeth noticed that her partner was a skilful and elegant dancer. He did not wait a moment before he expressed his pleasure in her company.

“I am very happy to meet you at last, Mrs Darcy. I heard wonderful things about you.”

“Truly, sir? I am very surprised. May I will ask from whom you heard these ‘wonderful things’? I know my husband to be guarded in sharing his opinions.”

“Oh, not from Darcy, that is certain. In fact, he was so slick that he did not even tell us about your marriage. We had to learn of it from a newspaper. But we do have a mutual friend who seemed to enjoy expressing his admiration of you quite openly. ”

Elizabeth watched him with puzzlement, so he continued, his smile even larger. “I am speaking of Mr Wickham. I can see you are surprised. He and I have known each other since we were children, and both of us spent much time at Pemberley. He—”

“That is quite surprising indeed. I would not have guessed it.”

“Well, you may imagine, then, how surprised I was to hear of your marriage. I never heard Darcy reveal any such intention. Even more so, I knew your preferences lay elsewhere. However, it is understandable that a young woman might prefer a man of means and the situation in life that Darcy can provide, even if his manners are not always faultless. These qualities are more desirable than amiability and charm.”

“Mr Darcy, I am at a loss to understand your meaning. Surely, you do not imply that I had some hidden purpose for entering into this marriage. And you certainly know nothing about my preferences!”

“Oh, I did not… That is not what I meant. I just know that you and Mr Wickham were good friends and…we were both surprised that you decided to marry on such short notice.”

“Mr Wickham is indeed a friend of my family. But that does not diminish my appreciation for Mr Darcy and surely does not give anyone reason to presume that I would tolerate vicious comments about my husband. Besides, knowing Mr Darcy for a lifetime, you more than anyone must know his true worthiness—besides his wealth that you slyly mentioned.”

“Of course…I am sorry if I upset you, Mrs Darcy. I apologise if my jokes offended you. That was surely not my intention, and you are right—I know very well Darcy’s good qualities.”

“If it was a joke, you have no reason to apologise, sir. I appreciate a good joke, and I am glad we clarified the situation. As you are my husband’s only relative on his father’s side, I would not want to begin our acquaintance with a misunderstanding.”

“I thank you. You are very generous.”

The rest of the dance proceeded with little conversation, but Elizabeth could not escape the feeling that something was wrong, and that made her uncomfortable.

It was not so much what James Darcy said but his voice, the hidden meanings of his words—as if they were sharing a secret against her husband.

And Mr Wickham—why did his name appear again under questionable circumstances?

What could he possibly have told Mr James Darcy about her?

She and Wickham had not been such close acquaintances as to be mentioned to strange parties.

And how was it possible that a member of Darcy’s family was on such friendly—rather intimate—terms with Mr Wickham?

So, they had time and opportunity to discuss her and her marriage, and somehow Mr Wickham declared that her preference lay on his side?

Although it was not untrue—and she could not overcome the blame she felt for behaving so carelessly in that respect—would a gentleman say such a thing?

Despite Mr James Darcy’s dancing skills and his charming smile, Elizabeth felt relieved when the set came to an end.

She observed her husband approaching, and she managed to put a smile on her face as James Darcy thanked her for the privilege of her company.

Again, his smile and flattering words made her rather uncomfortable.

***

Darcy rarely took his eyes from his wife while she danced with his cousin.

He knew her well enough to recognise an amused expression, but he also recognised her forced smiles, and he worried about what James might have told her.

He noticed her eyes searching for him several times, and that pleased him.

He was content to see that, in difficult moments, she unconsciously looked to him for protection.

As soon as the music stopped, he went to offer her his arm, which she took without hesitation, and helped her sit near Georgiana.

Elizabeth stood up with Colonel Fitzwilliam during the supper set and joined him at the table as well. At her other side was Georgiana, and by her, Mrs Annesley.

Her husband was directly across from her with a young lady at each side, and he was a little more animated than she had seen him in Hertfordshire.

As for herself, she quickly adjusted to the colonel’s charming manners, and his friendly behaviour succeeded in putting her, as well as Georgiana, at ease.

Lady Matlock’s private ball ended right after Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy danced the last set with his wife—a happenstance as strange and unfashionable as their dancing the first together.

Many of the guests had been certain that Mr Darcy was somehow trapped into marriage by that country girl, but the gentleman’s behaviour towards his wife left them puzzled and shocked.

What caused this unexpected change in Mr Darcy’s behaviour, and what arts and allurements did the new Mrs Darcy possess to succeed where so many had failed?

It was snowing steadily when the Darcys left Matlock Manor. Georgiana and Mrs Annesley hurried inside as soon as they arrived home, but Elizabeth—on her husband’s arm—seemed unwilling to enter.

She looked around at the snow shining under the streetlights then closed her eyes, allowing the snowflakes to caress her face.

She waited, silent and breathless, until his lips, warm and gentle, kissed the water drops from her cheeks then tentatively rested upon her lips and tenderly tasted them for a moment. Only for a moment.

Elizabeth was still holding her eyes closed when her husband placed one arm around her shoulders. “It is very cold and very late. We should go in now, Mrs Darcy.”