Miss Darcy's Beaux Page 11

  Your eternal servant,

  C.

  I felt my cheeks burn and a butterfly tighten in my belly. Things were getting out of hand. This time I made a bundle of Don Cosimo's note and threw it in the fire.

  Chapter 13

  The day of Lady Catherine's dinner, the Grosvenor Square household was a flurry of activity. Servants rushed around carrying silverware, flowers and cleaning cloths, the maids and menservants working together like a well-drilled army under the direction of Dewars, the butler. I kept myself to my room, and allowed Cosette and Jones to get on with their work. My aunt had been most particular in her instructions: I was to look radiant. For my aunt, tonight was the night.

  Lady Catherine had invited a large party of friends and acquaintances. As well as the social circle we had frequented of late, she also asked two of the gentlemen who had danced with me at Almack's. The first one was Sir Leach, a newly-widowed baronet who had a melancholy air about him and who, in spite of his relative youth, had barely a wisp of hair left on his head. The second gentleman was Lord Ebrington, whose father was Marquis Ebrington. According to my aunt, he was one of the most eligible bachelors in town, and although I did not doubt his suitability on paper, I did not find his thick girth and unpleasant laugh particularly appealing.

  Of course, Don Cosimo would also attend. Following my outing with Mrs Gardiner and the Misses Bennet, I had timidly suggested inviting him, and my aunt thought it a marvellous idea. Lady Catherine seemed genuinely delighted to have three potential suitors for my hand under her roof. With no restraint, she spoke to my cousin over breakfast of her plans.

  "You see, by throwing them all together, they will have no other option than to demonstrate the extent of their interest. Nothing like a cock fight to weed out the serious contenders from the time wasters. By the end of the night, we will have a favourite, mark my words."

  My cousin looked slightly alarmed.

  "But dear Lady Catherine, what do we know of the gentlemen?"

  "All that is necessary, Colonel. Sir Leach is titled, rich and in need of a wife to give him a male heir and his two young daughters a mother figure. Lord Ebrington is the first son of a Marquis, in line to inherit his father's title, and, therefore, an excellent prospect. Admittedly, he is not the most pleasant of gentlemen, but knowing what is customary in the upper echelons of society, Georgiana would not see him that often once married. He might even leave her in peace altogether once she gave him an heir and a spare.”

  "Lady Catherine, are those comments necessary?"

  "Don't be a prude, Colonel. Georgiana has been sheltered from the ways of the world in Pemberley, but if she is to marry well, the sooner she understands how things work, the better."

  My aunt then turned to me with a grimace.

  "And of course, there will also be Don Cosimo, whom I dare say is already a favourite of Georgiana's. An Italian prince with an ancient title, who belongs to a most distinguished aristocratic lineage. The family estate is said to be beautiful, but I bet you it is crumbling. He will need to marry into money, and Georgiana fits the bill perfectly."

  I blushed. My aunt gave a gesture of displeasure with her hand.

  "Lady Hamilton insists that Don Cosimo will never marry a commoner and that he is already spoken for, but I noticed the way he was looking at you the other day, Georgiana."

  If only she knew about the letters in the trunk, I thought. I lowered my gaze, hoping that she would not probe me any further.

  The day flew by, and before I knew it, I was downstairs, wearing a pale pink satin gown that, according to Jones, perfectly enhanced my complexion. Mr and Mrs Collins were the first guests to enter the main door at Grosvenor Square. Mr Collins was as deferential as ever, but my aunt barely paid him any notice, so immersed was she in bossing her servants around with her final instructions. Mr and Mrs Gardiner and the Misses Bennet arrived next, Kitty visibly excited, Mary looking as if she had been dragged out of Cheapside against her will. Lady Dalrymple and Miss Carteret, the Elliots and the Wentworths entered all at the same time, and they were soon followed by Captain Price and Captain Lowry.

  Captain Price's behaviour was entirely proper on arrival, but I quickly realised that he was avoiding my gaze. Captain Lowry, acting as his shadow, held his head high and looked at me with cold eyes. Judging by his behaviour, I feared that he had finally shared my aunt's opinions with his friend. A wave of shame invaded me, but I had little time to reflect on it, for my duty was to stand with my aunt and my cousin by the door, welcoming our guests.

  When I had the chance to look around the drawing room, I noticed that Captain Price and Captain Lowry were talking to the Misses Bennet on very amicable terms. I reminded myself that they were casual acquaintances, but I couldn't help noticing that Captain Price and Kitty seemed to be particularly intimate. Perhaps it was the matching grave air of Captain Lowry and Mary Bennet right next to them, but they appeared to be perfectly matched conversationalists.

  Lady Hamilton finally arrived, her complexion flushed from climbing the stairs, her gaze darting around to take everything in. Right behind her came Don Cosimo. He was wearing a green coat that matched his eyes, and he looked every inch the fairy tale prince. He saw me straightaway, a complicit smile on his lips. In spite of myself, I felt enveloped by butterflies, my skin tickled by a thousand feathers. He courteously bowed to my cousin and the older women, then took my hand and brought it to his lips. The intimate gesture was completely unexpected, and I coloured deeply.

  I reflected on Don Cosimo's letters and my deliberate attempts to encounter him by following his instructions. It was natural that he should feel entitled to kiss my hand. When he had excused himself to mingle with the rest of the guests, my aunt gave Lady Hamilton a knowing look, but her friend's gaze was fixed on the prince's back.

  "Such a handsome man!" she said, in a trembling voice. "A fabulous catch, too, even if the family fortunes have been in decline for some time. However, Lady Catherine, do not get any ideas. He comes from an ancient and proud family and he shall never be convinced to enter matrimony with a commoner. Do not say that I did not warn you, my dear friend!"

  "We will see."

  My aunt's words were sharp as daggers.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam had not said a word, but he was looking very pale suddenly.

  After dinner, Kitty insisted that there should be some dancing. Her eagerness was such that my aunt could but give her assent, and the arrangements were promptly made to accommodate half a dozen couples in the second drawing room. Mrs Wentworth volunteered to play, and soon after the house was enveloped in music.

  My first dance was with Sir Leach, who remained silent most of the time. He was a good enough dancer, so at least I had that consolation. Lord Ebrington danced with me next, but just like at Almack's, his steps were a few seconds too late and his movements too harsh to be considered elegant. Meanwhile, Captain Price danced with Kitty, who seemed to be having the time of her life. He had not spoken to me all night, and it was as if in spite of the intimacy of some of our prior conversations, we were strangers again.

  Don Cosimo was nowhere to be seen. I had last spotted him talking to Miss Carteret, shortly after the gentlemen had joined us ladies in the drawing room; I had been busy humouring my aunt and speaking to the men she intended me to fall in love with, and I had not noticed him come and go. Then, out of the blue, he appeared and asked me if I would join him for the next dance. Miss Carteret was right behind him, her chignon loose and her gaze content, and his green coat looked slightly dishevelled, but I didn't even wonder why. Feeling Lady Catherine's gaze on my shoulders, I assented.

  Before Mrs Wentworth could start playing another tune, Don Cosimo approached her and murmured something in her ear. She blushed and looked at her husband, who promptly joined them. Once told what the matter was, Captain Wentworth came towards my aunt, his handsome face grave.

  "Lady Catherine, Don Cosimo has asked for a particular tune for the next dance."

&nb
sp; "Does your wife not know how to play it?" asked Lady Catherine with little patience.

  "I am afraid she would rather not," the Captain answered tersely. "The Prince has requested a waltz."

  "A waltz!" exclaimed Lady Hamilton with a smirk on her face. My aunt stifled a gasp, although she quickly recovered her composure.

  I had heard of waltzing, of course. I had even played some pieces, and my fingers had enjoyed the soft cadence of their dancing on the keys of the Pemberley pianoforte. I also knew that it had been received with some scandal, and that it had not been acceptable to dance it in polite society for some time. The reason of the ban I could not fathom; I had never seen a waltz danced before. However, Don Cosimo was determined about his choice of dance. He addressed my aunt with confidence.

  "Lady Catherine, there is no reason for such alarm. In recent times the waltz has been readily embraced by the higher echelons of society and is now widely danced in the most elegant London circles, although admittedly mostly in private. Captain Wentworth need not act with such reserve."

  Captain Wentworth, with profound dignity, defended himself.

  "I am afraid that you will have to excuse my wife. She will not be performing it."

  Don Cosimo dismissed the Captain's concerns.

  "Your wife's delicacy is surprisingly prudish for a baronet's daughter. No problem, we will find another player."

  Captain Wentworth's knuckles whitened, and Mrs Wentworth put her hand on his arm. The atmosphere was tense. My aunt was following the exchange with an alarmed expression, but Lady Hamilton seemed to enjoy herself. Not bothered in the slightest by the situation, Don Cosimo looked around the room. Then, with a smile, he addressed Mary.

  "Ah, Miss Bennet! I understand you play the pianoforte?"

  Mary, delighted to be the centre of attention, promptly volunteered to replace Mrs Wentworth at the instrument, her hands ready to play.

  Don Cosimo offered his arm to me. Until that point, I had not realised that he still intended me to join him on the dance floor.

  “Don Cosimo, I'm afraid I cannot be able to be your partner," I stuttered, "I have never danced the waltz."

  "My dear Miss Darcy, I assure you that there are no secrets to the waltz if you allow an experienced partner to lead you. I am a rather gifted dancer, as you will see."

  Confused, I searched for Lady Catherine gaze. My aunt reluctantly nodded.

  The prince took my hand, led me to the dance floor and positioned me there, my arms wide open as if I was a statue of Venus in a Roman garden. We were the only couple willing to dance, so all eyes set on us, and I felt rather foolish. Don Cosimo looked at me, his gaze the purest of greens, and gave me an irresistible smile.

  Mary Bennet's cumbersome fingers began to play. Then, Don Cosimo put his right hand on my waist and took my other hand with the utmost delicacy, as if it was a precious treasure. I almost shrieked from the surprise of his embrace.

  "Just let yourself go," he whispered into my ear.

  And I did.

  The butterflies, the feathers, they all came back with a vengeance. I could feel Don Cosimo’s body through the thin satin of my dress. He was spinning me around as if I was a water lily being taken for a ride by the capriciousness of the water currents. In spite of my initial shock at having a man stand so close to me, what followed was the pure joy of dancing. In no small measure due to Don Cosimo's talent at guiding my steps, we quickly became attuned to each other, like a four-armed dancer joined at the hip. The music was fast, our movements nimble and elegant. I was in heaven.

  Then, it was over. The reverberations of the last key were like the start of a funeral. I looked up. Don Cosimo was smiling at me, soft black waves framing his chiselled features.

  "I wonder if you know what they say about those who dance well together,” he whispered into my ear.

  I didn't, but his voice implied all sorts of things. I blushed, unable to answer.

  Don Cosimo returned me to my aunt, who was pale, her shock plain in her grey eyes. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had briefly left the room, was looking in my direction with alarm. Lady Hamilton, on the contrary, seemed delighted with the spectacle. Across the room, I caught Captain Price's eye. He was still with Kitty, but he wasn't smiling anymore. His brow was creased, and his lips were a thin line across his face.

  The dancing finished there and then. There was a general disapproval in the air, and I could not but feel that my behaviour had been reprehensible. Miss Carteret, in particular, made her displeasure clear by leaving the room. Sir Leach looked positively shocked, whereas Lord Ebrington had a hint of lewdness in his eyes. Only Lady Dalrymple, Lord Elliot and Miss Elliot, who were busy finishing a game of pontoon, seemed unconcerned with what had just happened in front of them.

  With the sang froide he must have shown a hundred times in the battlefield, Colonel Fitzwilliam diverted some of the attention by asking the Miss Bennets to sing for us. Regaining her composure, Lady Catherine suggested a game of pool, and a large group of guests was soon engrossed at the card table.

  I was still in a haze. I needed a bit of solitude and fresh air to recollect myself. I went towards the balcony and stood there, the cold night air refreshing my temples. The thick curtains were hiding me from view, and I could feel the solid stone of the balcony under my gloved fingers. Alone, I would find peace.

  Male steps came in my direction. Before I could make my presence known I heard the voice of Captain Price, darker than usual.

  "Lowry, what we have just witnessed and what you told me the other night seems all designed with the sole purpose of tormenting me."

  I kept still, enveloped by damask. They had not seen me, and I did not dare breathe.

  “Never mind. There's plenty more fish in the sea, Price.”

  “Not like her. When our paths crossed for the first time, I thought I could see in her eyes the reflection of a soft and unprejudiced heart. How wrong I was."

  “Forget her. There are many other ladies who will have you, and you won’t have to go far, my dear fellow."

  Captain Lowry gave a hollow laugh.

  "It's not a good time to jest, Lowry. Oh, what's the use anyway? We are advised to find a match that benefits our wealth and connections. But what sane person would want to forsake genuine affection for the higher love of position or money?"

  "Many do."

  "Well, I will never marry to enlarge my fortune. I will marry for love."

  "If you're foolish enough to do so, I'm sure you won't have trouble finding a suitable companion. There's at least one I can think of, and she's right there."

  I could picture Captain Lowry pointing towards the drawing room, where Kitty was still singing in a soft but pretty voice, a much better voice in any case than her sister’s.

  Captain Price sighed.

  "If only I could go back to my teenage years and ask Margaret Kerr to marry me," he added after a short silence. "As a girl, she used to live in our street in Portsmouth. She had freckles and was fond of frogs. Alas, it's too late now: I last saw her two summers ago. She was married to a fisherman, had a brood of five and the figure to show for it".

  Captain Price's companion laughed again.

  "So what will you do, Price?"

  "I fear that I am destined to be a lone wolf, one that wanders the forests when everyone is asleep, howling at the moon and longing for a mate."

  "And I very much doubt that will be your destiny. I bet you five guineas that you will be a married man come Midsummer."

  The voices of the two men retreated, their steps taking them away from the window.

  My stomach was in a hard knot that I wasn't sure would ever untie.

  When all guests had taken leave, my aunt sent my cousin away with an imperious gesture and made me sit across from her.

  "Georgiana, you must tell me everything. Has Don Cosimo asked you to marry him yet?"

  I coloured deeply, then shook my head.

  "No, Aunt, he has not."

  "Oh."
/>
  It was the sound of disappointment, but she quickly recovered.

  "Of course, you barely had any time together this evening. Alone, I mean. But with the waltzing, he has got as close to a public declaration of love as one might imagine. Yes, he has positioned himself as the most serious of your suitors. Has he been more specific to you in private?"

  I felt panic rise in my chest.

  The letters. I could never bring myself to admit their existence to my aunt, so after some hesitation, I shook my head again.

  Lady Catherine's laughter made blood freeze in my veins. She grabbed my hand.

  "You think I don't know about his correspondence?" she whispered. "Do not be a silly girl. I want to know exactly what he has said to you. Your cousin, if he is what worries you, is out of earshot."

  There was no way out. I confessed to my aunt everything about Don Cosimo's letters, and even my secret outings to meet him. To my surprise, she did not get angry, and instead, she conspiratorially tapped my arm with her fan.

  "Go to bed now. Lady Dalrymple's ball is on Friday. It will all happen there."

  Chapter 14

  Two days later I was engaged to return my visit to Mrs Gardiner and the Misses Bennet at their Cheapside residence. Lady Catherine did not even contemplate the possibility of going herself. However, Colonel Fitzwilliam insisted in escorting me, and at the time agreed, a footman ushered us to the drawing room of the house, where Mr and Mrs Gardiner and their two nieces were awaiting us.

  Mr Gardiner, perhaps eager for male company now he was living with three ladies, seemed to be particularly happy to see the Colonel, with whom he had coincided on occasion at Pemberley. Judging by their blushes and occasional glances, the Colonel was also a favourite with Mary and Kitty. Mrs Gardiner was as pleasant as ever and all was set for an agreeable visit, so I willed myself to feel at ease and enjoy the occasion.

  The initial conversation centered on Lady Catherine's dinner. There was a general agreement amongst our hosts that it had been the most elegant event they remembered attending, and that the guests were the most charming, eloquent and well-bred in the whole of London. My waltz with Don Cosimo was brushed under the carpet by the Gardiners, and I forced myself to ignore the odd glances coming from the Bennet girls and my cousin's stony silence on the matter.