Chapter Three.

Elizabeth rose late the following morning chiding herself for being so tardy. She had only retired to her bed in the early hours of the morning having enjoyed a magnificent meal at Sawyers before returning to Lord Trentham's home in Cadogan Gardens where they had talked until Anne had finally pleaded fatigue.

Elizabeth had taken to her bed shortly after arriving back at Vernon Place and had fallen asleep far more quickly than she had in recent months, her sleep untroubled by any unpleasant dreams. One night in London and her spirits had already lifted a little.

Elizabeth completed her toilet and joined her husband in the small dining room apologising for her lateness. "I am sorry, Fitzwilliam, you should have instructed Polly to have woken me."

"I wanted you to have your rest," said Mr. Darcy, looking up from the newspaper he was reading. "It was very late when we retired."

"But I am sure that did not prevent you from rising at dawn," said Elizabeth as she sat down.

"'No it didn't," admitted her husband, "but then I am not here to rest."

"I am not an invalid, sir," said Elizabeth, failing to hide her irritation.

Darcy folded up the newspaper. "Is something wrong, Elizabeth?"

"Yes sir. It would be my dearest wish that you did not continue to treat me as if I was indisposed."

A look of hurt crossed Mr. Darcy's face. "I am only concerned about your wellbeing, Elizabeth. You have suffered a great deal over these past few months."

"And you, sir. Have you not suffered as well? It sometimes seems you are unmoved by what has happened."

Elizabeth could see that Mr. Darcy was struggling to answer her.

He rose to his feet. "I can assure you that I have been moved, but this is not the time to discuss it. Elizabeth, I think you are overwrought, and I would not wish to upset you further. I will leave you to eat alone."

Tears stung Elizabeth's eyes as her husband left. It saddened her that he would not talk to her.

Elizabeth spent the day reacquainting herself with their London home and discussing with Mrs. Marsh drapes and furnishings that needed some repairs or replacing. She found Mrs. Marsh much easier to talk to than she did Mrs. Reynolds at Pemberley. Perhaps it was because Mrs. Marsh had only worked for the family for six years and she did not have the same proprietary feelings that Mrs. Reynolds did at Pemberley. She also sat down with Mrs. Stratton the cook to discuss menus for a dinner party. She was uncertain when they were to hold it, but Mr. Darcy had said he wanted to hold one, so she thought it best to be prepared.

"I'm sorry I cannot yet give you many details."

"I shall look out some recipes and talk to Mr. May, the butcher about the best meat he has, ma'am. When you give me word I shall be ready."

"Thank you." Elizabeth could not help feeling how lucky they were not to have to consider the cost. She would never have married Mr. Darcy for his money, but life was easier with it.

She did not see Mr. Darcy again until they were leaving the house that evening to attend a ball at Lord Moorcroft's house. She was feeling rather nervous. She had only met the Moorcrofts once before and she was not expecting to know many people at the ball.

Before they had left Pemberley, Mr. Darcy had insisted on her being fitted for two new gowns, one of which she was wearing, but she hoped they would be fashionable enough in London. She did not want to let Mr. Darcy down. Even after four years of marriage she was conscious that she was lucky to marry a man of wealth and status.

"You look beautiful this evening, Elizabeth," said Mr. Darcy as one of the footmen helped her into her cape.

"Thank you, sir," she said quietly, smoothing down her new white gown. "I would not want to disgrace you in any way."

Mr. Darcy waited until they were in the carriage before he replied. "Elizabeth, you have never disgraced me and it saddens me when you speak in such a manner."

"Are you certain, Mr. Darcy?" she asked, making her voice sound as cold as possible. "I remember a time when you considered all the obstacles to marrying me including my family who in every way were so very inferior to you."

Mr. Darcy's face darkened as he pondered her words. "I…. it is true…. There was a time… when I…."

Elizabeth rather enjoyed seeing her husband squirm.

"I have apologised, Elizabeth, for my lack of manners and the hurt I caused… I don't know how many times I can repeat my regrets…"

"For the next four and twenty years, sir?" suggested Elizabeth, with a small smile.

Mr. Darcy glared at her and then smiled as he realised she was teasing him.

"I wish we were not going this evening. I would much rather we stayed at home."

"We could turn back," she suggested, enjoying the warm glow that suddenly infused her heart.

"It is tempting, but we cannot be impolite. Unless of course you feel unwell?"

"Mr. Darcy!"

"I am sorry, my dear," he said, heeding the warning note in her voice. "We will go the ball and you undoubtedly will be the belle."

Elizabeth laughed. She knew it was unlikely to be true, but it was nice to be complimented by her husband. The tension between them had melted away for the time being and she was looking forward to an evening of dancing.

The first person Elizabeth saw when they arrived at Lord and Lady Moorcroft's home was Anne, Lady Trentham. Anne's face had an unhealthy pallor, although she assured them she was well and pleased to see them.

Mr. Darcy greeted his cousin and saw the two ladies seated before he said that he was going to talk to Lord Moorcroft.

"Where is Lord Trentham?" asked Elizabeth as her husband took his leave.

"Talking politics, I believe," said Anne. "He tends to find these occasions rather tiresome unless he can talk business."

"I am not sure Fitzwilliam is any more enamoured with them than Lord Trentham, but he has promised me at least one dance, so for that I should be grateful."

Anne laughed, "Just one?"

"At least one, he said, but I carry no expectation there will be more than one."

"Well if our husbands are to neglect us, we must entertain ourselves," said Ann, scanning the crowds.

"And how should we do that?" asked Elizabeth.

"We shall be keen observers of all the ladies present and comment on their dresses and judge to see if they are as good as ours," said Anne.

Elizabeth laughed. She knew that Anne was not serious in her words. Anne's nature was too similar to her sister Jane and few words of criticism ever passed her lips.

Elizabeth noticed a small group of people at one end of the room who were surprisingly noisy. The red hair was unmistakable. She was a little shocked to see the woman who had been with Mr. Wickham the previous evening.

"Anne, do you know that woman?"

Anne looked to where she was staring. "Who do you mean?"

"The lady with the red hair."

Anne took a moment to locate her among the group of men and women. "Selina Grey," she said grimly. "I mean Lady Wilmington."

Elizabeth was startled. Selina Grey. It was the name Anne had used the night before. She had implied it was someone Mr. Darcy knew. "She seems to be enjoying herself," she muttered vaguely.

"Lady Wilmington always does. She used to be an opera singer," said Anne. "I do not know if she ever appears on the stage, but I do know she is recently married."

Elizabeth was shocked. Perhaps Wickham was merely a friend and yet their behaviour had hinted at a more intimate relationship. Elizabeth would have liked to ask more, but at that moment Lord Higham, a friend of Mr. Darcy's, came to ask her if she would do him the honour of dancing with him.

Elizabeth looked anxiously at Anne, not wanting to desert her, but Anne nodded cheerfully and said that she would go and have a word with Mrs. Broughton, who she hadn't seen for some time.

Lord Higham bowed and offered his hand, just as Mr. Darcy appeared. "Higham, I see you are about to steal my wife?"

Lord Higham looked embarrassed. "I would never steal a wife from her husband," he said quickly.

"Higham, you do my wife a compliment. I would not deprive you of a dance, if my wife is willing."

Lord Higham offered Elizabeth his hand, which Elizabeth took and they joined the other couples who were dancing in the adjoining room.

She couldn't help feeling a little disappointed that her first dance was not with her husband, but Lord Higham was a pleasant companion, who was light of foot and also made every effort to talk to her when they were able to, telling her of the exhibition he and his wife had attended recently at Alexandra Palace.

They had enjoyed one dance and embarked on a second when Elizabeth realised that Mr. Darcy too was dancing. She was shocked to realise his partner was the lady Anne had named as Selina Grey. The red hair seemed even more vibrant when observed at close quarters. Elizabeth was so entranced as the sight of the two of them together she stumbled and quickly apologised to her partner for her inattentiveness. She found it hard to concentrate as she moved in and out of the couple standing beside them, twirling elegantly as they performed the familiar steps of the cotillion. As they moved down the row, Elizabeth was more able to observe her husband. She noticed how stiff and unyielding his stance was and although his partner was doing everything to engage him in conversation, he was making little effort to reply. He was wearing the inscrutable mask that was so hard to read. She could not understand it. Why had Mr. Darcy denied knowing her? Selina Grey appeared unmoved by his taciturn face and was laughing quite loudly showing off her long creamy neck as she made random comments to him. As Elizabeth and Lord Higham drew closer to her husband and his partner Elizabeth found it more and more difficult to bear and soon Lord Higham noticed her distress. "Mrs. Darcy, are you unwell?" he asked.

Elizabeth didn't know quite what to say. She wasn't ill, but she was desperate to escape the dance. She patted her face. "The heat, sir. I feel a little faint."

"Then I think we should return to your seat," he said gallantly and she gladly took his arm and left the dance, upsetting the pattern of the couples who were still dancing.

Lord Higham guided her back to her seat and summoned a footman to bring her a drink. "Should I call Mr. Darcy?" asked his Lordship.

"No…" she said immediately. "I would do nothing to spoil his enjoyment. I apologise for taking you from our dance."

Lord Higham smiled down at her. "Mrs. Darcy. You paid me a great compliment in agreeing to be my partner and I look forward to a future occasion when we can dance together." He bowed and after assuring himself that she really was quite well, he left. Elizabeth was still sipping her drink when Anne re-joined her.

"Elizabeth, someone told me that you were unwell," she said, looking worried.

"No, Anne. I just experienced some faintness in the heat. I am well now. And it is yourself you should be concerned with."

"I do feel a little weary again," said Anne, who was looking even paler than when they had arrived. "I think I shall excuse myself and ask Lord Trentham to take me home."

"Would you like me to go and find him?" asked Elizabeth, quickly getting to her feet and scanning the room.

"No, Elizabeth. I expect he is still in the library. I'm sorry to desert you. I particularly wanted to introduce you to some friends of mine."

"Anne, you must think of yourself," said Elizabeth, who was concerned for Anne and her unborn child.

"And so I will this evening. However, would you come and have tea with me tomorrow afternoon? Unless of course you have other plans."

"None that Fitzwilliam has spoken of. I would be delighted to call."

Anne looked pleased. "I am so glad, Elizabeth. It will just be you and me and the opportunity for us to catch up with each other's news."

Anne squeezed Elizabeth's hand hard before letting it go and Elizabeth felt there was something significant in the gesture.

"Now go and find my cousin. I am sure he can't wait to dance with you."

Elizabeth wasn't so certain at all, but even so she did as Anne suggested.