A Perilous Match

Chapter 8

D arcy spent much of the night considering Richard’s argument, especially after his grandmother’s very pointed list of young ladies she considered to be eligible and her not-so-subtle promotion of his cousin Lady Claire Olivier to be his Marchioness. However, in the end, he was motivated by a short article in the latest edition of the Post . The column was essentially a list of the most eligible unclaimed bachelors of the ton. They had even the gall to print approximations of yearly income, including the inflation in his own purse since his elevation to the marquessate.

He groaned and tossed the paper towards Richard, who had stayed the evening at Darcy House rather than the more austere quarters of his bachelor rooms in the Albany.

“At least they did not make an allusion to Miss Bennet this time,” was Richard’s helpful rejoinder.

At least there was that. He’d already faced his grandmother’s interrogation over Elizabeth and her antecedents during their tea the previous day.

“It will make the rest of this Season and the next that much more unbearable,” Darcy said. Indeed, his secretary was already fielding dinner invitations in advance of his mourning period ending.

“Should you remain a bachelor, yes, then it should,” Richard muttered, taking a final drink of coffee before excusing himself to meet with his major general. “At least call upon the lady, for God’s sake, Fitzwilliam, instead of moping.”

Darcy resisted protesting that he had not been moping since he rather feared that would be an untruth. So, he roused himself to call upon Elizabeth, making quick excuses to Georgiana and Mrs Annesley when they appeared to break their fast.

“Where are you off to, Brother?” she asked, taking a plate from the sideboard.

“I have a few matters to attend to,” he said vaguely, and promised to be back for dinner in the evening.

***

Darcy ordered his coachman to take the slightly longer route past St Paul’s Cathedral to allow himself time with his thoughts. He was reasonably nervous, but also reasonably sure that she would at least receive him. He wanted only to judge whether he had any reason to hope for a change in her opinion of him. He did not mean to propose today, but the sight of her alone in the parlour made him want to lay his life at her feet like a schoolboy. She looked concerned and only a little surprised to see him. There were faint circles of purple beneath her eyes, suggesting sleepless nights.

Elizabeth told him that Mrs Gardiner and Miss Bennet had accompanied the children to Hyde Park, where they’d been promised a visit to the cakehouse. “As you can see,” she said with deliberate lightness, “I am quite left to my own devices, my lord.”

“Being the great walker that you are, Miss Bennet, I am surprised that you did not accompany them.”

“I do not always wish to be in the midst of crowds and on such a nice day as this, the park is sure to be filled with many gaggles of children. It is nice to have some time to oneself, is it not?”

Darcy stepped back. “I am- I am sorry for intruding then. I may call another time.”

Elizabeth coloured and gestured for him to sit with some agitation. “I did not mean to suggest that you are unwelcome, sir. I have had the whole morning to myself and I am happy to have any intelligent conversation now.”

Darcy found her flustered embarrassment charming, and her words encouraging, so he sat on the sofa across from her as she rang for some tea.

Elizabeth sat down the book she had been reading upon his entrance, which he recognised to be Byron’s Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage .

“You are an admirer of Byron, Miss Bennet?” he asked with an arched brow.

“Yes, I know that he is shocking, but the book is vastly entertaining, even if one is tempted to strangle Harold at several points.”

“I do not judge, Miss Bennet. I have read it myself and pretend not to notice when Georgiana steals it to read as well.”

Elizabeth laughed. “You surprise me sometimes, Lord Dorset.”

“You often surprise me, Miss Bennet.”

“I am glad of that, I think. I shouldn’t like to be predictable.”

“Heaven forbid. You could never be that . ”