Chapter Twenty-Six

"Speaking of that," spoke up Mr. Gardiner. "What do you imagine His Grace has been told?"

"Yes, why should he even have heard anything of our niece?" added Mrs. Gardiner.

Philip paused again and turned to them. "Only the truth, I should think. After all, my brother knows the whole of my association with your family, and his speaking of it to Lady Amelia was likely because he could think of nothing else to talk about when he called on her. For all his bluster about being a ladies' man, Theodore has little idea what to say to a lady that isn't a ribald joke learned from one of his fellow soldiers."

"And no doubt, Uncle, Her Ladyship thought the tale oh so romantic," suggested Elizabeth with a smile.

"I've only known him a short time," Philip went on, "but Mildenhall is one of those noblemen who are…forgiving of younger aristocrats who don't exactly toe the line. No doubt due to his upbringing and our present social hierarchy, he privately thinks as my parents do—that I ought to choose a bride from among my social peers—but at the same time, so long as her conduct is unquestionably proper, and her family not rife with criminals and scoundrels and loose women, there's no reason why Jane might not be a viscount's wife."

"And Mr. Darcy did once mention that there are some among the first circle who seek a deeper connection with their partner in life," Elizabeth mused. "Though I am sure our father being a landed gentleman will also be greatly in Jane's favor, even if he has not a great income. One cannot help but wonder if even His Grace's acceptance would be gained if, say, Mr. Gardiner were her father."

Philip acknowledged her words with a nod. "I could not tell you, but then, it will certainly be soon enough known that not only is Mr. Gardiner her uncle, but that he is also a tradesman. I do not doubt that, if the duke does not already know it, my mother will make sure to soon inform him."

As promised, the viscount took them about the room and introduced his companions to several gentlemen and families. Some were fellow members of the nobility; some were Philip's friends from university or his club. The mothers they met subtly eyed Jane and Elizabeth, clearly in order to size up their likelihood of competing with the daughters they had to marry off in the marriage mart.

No doubt some of them still harbor hope of ensnaring Lord Rowarth, Elizabeth mused.

The young gentlemen had only to glance at Jane and they wished to dance with her—her card was quickly filled up, as was Elizabeth's.

They were beginning to make their way back to the receiving line, as the ball would be opening in moments, when Elizabeth observed, "It is the novelty, you know—that's why so many now look at us. Why so many asked us to dance."

Mr. Gardiner chuckled. "Indeed, my dear Lizzy. You and Jane are new faces with mysterious backgrounds—I do not doubt you'll be the talk of the tea shops for at least a se'nnight."

"Oh, I hope that is not so!" cried Jane softly. "Tonight is supposed to be a celebration for Lady Cecilia and Lady Olivia. I do not wish to take any attention away from them."

"And I am certain my dear sisters would be gratified to hear you speak so," said Philip. "But it is the way of things that every woman is talked of to every other, from her features to her dress. The men will speak of your beauty and gracefulness."

"The mothers here are already calculating how much we might hurt their daughters' chances of a good match this Season," said Elizabeth with a grin. "What a relief it will be to them that their daughters' hopes and their sons' hearts are safe from us penniless country chits."

"At least their daughters' hopes for the other single gentlemen," offered Mrs. Gardiner. "Is that not so? Do we not already know of at least one gentleman here tonight that is already spoken for?"

The viscount smiled at her. "We certainly do, Mrs. Gardiner, though I daresay there are two other young men whom the mothers of the ton will be disappointed to soon hear are off the market."

"Two others?" queried Jane.

Philip winked in Elizabeth's direction as he said, "Well, there is my cousin, whom we both know has a tendre for one of those penniless chits Miss Elizabeth spoke of, and then there is my hapless brother, who had the good fortune to fall in love with a certain duke's only daughter and heir."

He took his leave of them then, and as Georgiana was supposed to be opening the ball with her brother, Mrs. Gardiner offered to keep her company until the third set, which she was to dance with Lord Rowarth. As their partners for the first set came to claim the hands of Jane and Elizabeth, Mrs. Gardiner and her charge were sharing their delight and relief in having heard from Mrs. Annesley that day that her sister by marriage was, in fact, going to recover from her illness.

Though Elizabeth had not the fortune of her sister—to be dancing the first set with a duke!—her partner was the Viscount Larraby, a young man whom Philip had attended Cambridge with. Lord Larraby was not as handsome as Darcy or even Philip, but he was pleasant enough to look at. For the first time since she could remember, Elizabeth was grateful that the first dance did not allow for much conversation, as it would give her time to formulate her responses to the questions she would inevitably face from her other partners.

Still, Lord Larraby did manage to ask how she and Lord Rowarth were acquainted. Elizabeth explained that her sister had introduced her to him, and that Jane had met him through their uncle.

"Longbourn, our father's estate, is in Hertfordshire. My sister and I are visiting my aunt and uncle, who live here in London, for some of the Season to enjoy its delights," she added. "And what about you, my lord? When we were introduced, Lord Rowarth said he knew you from university. Are you still close friends?"

It was a few minutes before Larraby could answer her query. When he did, it was to say that yes, he and Philip were still good friends. They were often meeting at their club when in Town at the same time, and frequently stayed at each other's estate to enjoy sport together.

"Unlike Rowarth, however, I do not have an earldom waiting to be inherited," Lord Larraby went on. "Just the viscountcy for me, which I took up two years ago when my father passed."

"I am sorry for your loss, my lord," said Elizabeth.

The first song came to an end. The dancers and attendees applauded the musicians, and knowing they had but a few moments before the second song, Elizabeth asked Lord Larraby if they might converse with her sister. He smiled and offered his arm, and they joined the small group gathered around the twins, including Jane and her partner.

Elizabeth curtsied and Larraby bowed. "Your Grace," the viscount said by way of greeting.

"Lord Larraby, isn't it? How do you like your partner, sir?" the duke said.

Larraby smiled. "Miss Elizabeth is an excellent dancer, Your Grace."

"And how do you like your partner, Your Grace?" Elizabeth asked. "I have not had to dance with my sister since we were girls under the tutelage of a dancing master, but if memory serves, she dances tolerably well."

"Lizzy!" cried Jane.

The Duke of Mildenhall chuckled. "Do not distress yourself, Miss Bennet. Miss Elizabeth's teasing shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing. And I shall be certain to express to Lord Rowarth what a graceful dancer you are."

Jane's blush deepened, and by his choice of words, Elizabeth knew that he had most definitely caught on to the reason Philip had seen fit to introduce them. She hoped that her future brother's indirect attempt to gather allies for his cause did not end up turning back on him—the duke was a widower, after all, and he could end up falling for Jane himself!

Or he could find out she has no acceptable connections, no fortune, and an uncle in trade and lament ever meeting her, Elizabeth thought morosely.

She chastised herself immediately for having such a pessimistic thought; no one who met her sweet sister could lament knowing her. Somehow—despite the failings of their parents—Jane was truly a model of feminine excellence. She might not have all the accomplishments young ladies were expected to, but her gentleness and grace more than made up for it. And she was always willing to learn something new.

Elizabeth and Lord Larraby conversed with Jane, the duke, Philip, Lord Disley, and the twins for another few moments before the first strings of the second song were played. She noted that Philip and his father switched partners for the second dance of the set and thought it odd, but then she realized why they would do so: this ball was meant to introduce Lady Cecilia and Lady Olivia to society, yes, but also two eligible young women to the marriage mart—so they must have as many dances open for eligible young men as possible.

"What are you thinking, Miss Elizabeth?"

She blinked and felt heat creep up her neck. For a moment after the dance began, she followed Larraby's lead in silence, then said, "Forgive me, my lord. It's just that I was reflecting on the purpose for this excellent party and have now found myself wondering if Lord and Lady Disley expect their daughters to make a match their first Season or if they would rather it not happen for another season or two."

The viscount chuckled. "If Lord Disley is anything like my father was when it was my sister's turn some years back, he will hope they merely enjoy all the balls and parties their first Season," said he. "It's almost always the mother who expects her daughters to prove themselves superior to every other girl by catching a husband their first Season."

Elizabeth laughed. "I take it your mother was one such?"

Lord Larraby laughed this time. "You cannot even imagine!"

"I daresay I could," replied Elizabeth. "In fact, my mother is counting on my sister Jane's beauty saving us all from the hedgerows when my father dies."

"Have you no brother, then?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "Regrettably no, only four sisters. And my father's estate is entailed, so at least one of us must marry well. My mother, of course, hopes we all will—I rather believe she expects Jane and I both to be married by the end of the Season."

Mortification hit her as she then realized that her partner might think her putting herself forward. She was both relieved and surprised when next he spoke, his voice sounding almost distracted.

"I wonder if you are right…" said he. Elizabeth followed Larraby's gaze and noted that it was turned in the direction of Philip and Lady Olivia.

When Lord Larraby realized he missed a step in the dance, he flushed with embarrassment. "It is my turn to beg pardon," he told her as they fell smoothly back into sync with the other dancers. "A gentleman should not be thinking of one woman while he dances with another."

"May I be so bold as to ask if your admiration is for one of Lord Rowarth's sisters?" Elizabeth asked softly.

Larraby's color deepened. "I'm sure Lord Disley will think me too old for her," he murmured.

A scoff escaped her. "Come now, my lord," she rejoined. "Men your age have married girls of near eighteen years before. It is certainly not so great a difference as, say, a young woman of seven-and-twenty marrying a gentleman of sixty."

They were silent for a moment, each for a time paying attention to their dancing. "You said before that you and Lord Rowarth have often stayed at one another's estates for sport," Elizabeth began next. "Might I suppose, then, that you have met Lord Disley's daughters before tonight?"

Lord Larraby nodded. "We were introduced at Christmas about four years ago, and our families have holidayed together a time or two since. We've met during the London Season, of course, and though Rowarth's sisters were not yet out, as we had been introduced and our families were acquainted, I was allowed to converse with them when I called at Disley House so long as we were chaperoned. Lady Disley and my mother are very good friends, and I do not think it too great a stretch of my imagination, Miss Elizabeth, to speculate that this slight breech of propriety was allowed because one or both—certainly my own mother—wished me to form an attachment to one of the countess's daughters."

"And their plan was successful, with Lady Olivia to be the recipient of your regard," Elizabeth guessed. "I take it you are not certain whether she admires you in return?"

Her partner shook his head, then chuckled before saying, "I must beg your pardon again, Miss Elizabeth. It is rather improper of me to communicate such personal matters to a young lady I've only just met."

Elizabeth tried to reassure him with a smile. "Perhaps our conversation has been rather more intimate than any new acquaintance should allow, but if you can keep a secret, Lord Larraby, I promise you I will do the same."

Larraby returned her smile. "Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. Your friends and relations must find you very easy to talk to—I've not even confessed to my friend that I admire his sister."

Elizabeth laughed. "I do tend to hear the complaints of all my family, and poor Jane must bear the brunt of mine. And we both of us write to our Aunt Gardiner for advice as needed."

She tipped her head back to look up at him. "I do not know that I ought to offer you advice, but I can offer you a hypothetical, if you would hear it."

The viscount inclined his head. "I'm a man who likes a good story, Miss Elizabeth."

With a grin, she said, "If I were a young man who found himself enamored of the sister of a friend, I would take pains to make myself agreeable to her whenever possible. I would take every chance of talking to her and dancing with her when opportunity to do either presented itself. And, as a courtesy, I would seek the first opportunity of speaking to her brother to confess to my friend that I had a tendre for his sister."

The second song of the set ended and the two bowed and curtsied, then applauded the musicians along with the rest of the company. Lord Larraby offered his arm and turned to escort Elizabeth back to where her aunt stood with Georgiana.

"Your hypothetical was full of wisdom, Miss Elizabeth," Larraby was saying. "But I must ask you one small piece of advice."

Elizabeth nodded. "Very well."

"I have heard that if a gentleman wished to get better acquainted with a lady he'd danced with, he might send her flowers the next day and later call on her during the family's at-home hours. Do you think this a good idea?"

Elizabeth smiled up at him. "I think you might take it one step further, my lord, and present the flowers to Lady Olivia in person. Get ahead of all the other young men here who might have their eye on her."

A grin was the reply he gave, and then they were at the side of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and Georgiana.

"Oh, Miss Elizabeth, how well you dance!" Georgiana cried. "And you as well, Miss Bennet," she added when Jane was escorted over by the duke.

"I believe I have the next dance with you, Miss Elizabeth," said Philip as he approached with Lady Olivia on his arm.

Elizabeth carefully observed this sister's behavior as they came to stand near her. Georgiana was complimenting her cousin's dancing; Lady Olivia was blushing and, if Elizabeth's eyes did not deceive, she was trying very hard not to look at Lord Larraby.

Well, she thought as a grin lifted her lips. I daresay that the Viscount Larraby will not have to work too hard to win that lady's hand. It was a most eligible match as far as rank was concerned: Larraby was a viscount and Lady Olivia the daughter of an earl, so neither would lose precedence. Though Elizabeth had no idea of the fortune of the gentleman, the lady, she knew, had a fortune of forty thousand pounds.

Philip's eye was, surprisingly, on his sister and Larraby rather than Jane and his friend Mr. Hiddleston as he escorted Elizabeth to the dance floor again. A knowing expression sat upon his countenance, and he chuckled a little as they took their places.

"May I ask what amuses you, my lord?" Elizabeth asked.

"Larraby and Olivia," he replied. "I do hope that now my sister is officially out, my friend will soon come to the point."

Elizabeth grinned. "So, you are aware of his attachment to her?"

Philip smiled. "I'm quite certain I knew he was in love with her before he did. Reminded me rather painfully of my own unrequited feelings."

"Which are unrequited no more—and as you know, never were," Elizabeth reminded him.

As the second set of the evening was nearing an end, Elizabeth's thoughts turned to the supper set. It was still nearly three hours hence, but she was supposed to dance it with Darcy and yet neither he nor Colonel Fitzwilliam had turned up.

"He'll be here," said Philip as though he had been hearing her thoughts.

"Are you certain? Where did they even go?" Elizabeth asked.

Her partner shook his head. "I do not know, I'm afraid," said he. "I received a note in my brother's hand—no doubt hastily scrawled—stating only that he and Darcy had got a lead and would likely not be again in London before the ball began. I was to offer my sincerest apologies on their behalf to the family, His Grace, Lady Amelia—and yourself, of course."

Philip smiled down at her. "Theodore did say that he and Darcy had hope of being here before the end of the second hour. Mother was, of course, very angry and my father only a little less so when I told them they would be tardy, but they were both of them mollified when informed that their business was on behalf of the duke."

"And far be it for an earl and countess to be angry at him for employing their son and nephew," Elizabeth observed.

"Well, their son, yes—Darcy's joining him was of his own doing, as he says he feels some responsibility for the situation."

He looked down at her. "I see you are curious, dear Miss Elizabeth, but I'm afraid the dance floor is not the place to disseminate such matters. You may perhaps learn all soon enough," said he, pointing toward the door to the ballroom.

Elizabeth looked. Darcy.