Page 38 of Shields and Roses

Lizzy and Lady Sheldon quickly donned the cloaks and all three ladies slipped out of the room, Honoria going first so she could keep an eye out for Darcy.

As they slipped along the edges of the crowd, Honoria whispered, "Gerald is quietly notifying the members of our party that they should disclaim all knowledge of Miss Elizabeth Rose and avoid speculating on your identity. I can already guess a little of the issue, because Mr. Walter Tavistock told Sir Barnaby that Mr. Darcy had passed on some uncomplimentary things about your family in general and Jane in particular. We will do our best to confound him." She looked quite gleeful at the thought.

~o~

"And so, you slipped away without saying a word?" Lord Sheldon asked as Lizzy finished relating the conversation with Mr. Darcy.

"I had to. I was so furious. Anything I tried to say would have been too much."

"I understand, dear," Lady Sheldon said. "Given the situation, the public setting, it was probably wise not to allow yourself to be drawn into an argument. The question now is how to control the damage from the negative comments he is spreading."

Lizzy's answering nod could barely be seen in the light of the carriage lamps hung outside the windows. "While I am furious that he is spreading unsubstantiated reports about our family, I recognize that a large part of the blame lies with Lady Catherine as well. My father has suspected for years she might have some mischief in mind, and spreading damaging rumors is just the sort of thing she would do. At the same time, Colonel Fitzwilliam says he has warned his cousin, Mr. Darcy, several times against believing the stories told by their aunt. It is all such a dreadful tangle!" Lizzy slammed her balled fists against her thighs in frustration.

"I think you are both correct that the dance floor was not the place for any kind of confrontation. With so many people about and likely to be listening it would have created a swirl of rumors more damaging than anything Mr. Darcy could say," Lord Sheldon told them. "I wonder if Gerald and I should visit Mr. Darcy tomorrow and have a quiet word with him?"

"He seemed so adamantly against my family," Lizzy said, the frustration still clear in her voice, "my inclination is to simply leave him in the dark as to my identity. Telling him who I am means letting him know where I am. That, in turn, almost invites him to come to speak to me again, as if I was begging for his attention and good opinion. Let him wonder."

"Ah, Lizzy, you may have a bit of a cruel streak," Lord Sheldon chuckled. "That young man seemed most taken by you. Lord Sattler told me he was almost frantic for an introduction earlier this evening. If that was based on just running across you in Hatchards, then you must have made quite an impression on him."

"I was not attempting to do so. I did not even notice him then."

Lady Sheldon joined her husband in chuckling. "He might find that the unkindest part of this all," she said. Lizzy laughed as well, although she still felt frustrated by the situation.

"All the same, this is Gerald's neighborhood," Lord Sheldon said a few minutes later. "I would like to discuss it with him. With the whole family, in fact. They will need to know what happened so we can respond to any rumors in a coordinated fashion."

Again, Lizzy's nod could barely be seen. "I agree. While I would rather put the whole scene firmly behind me, we do need to work together to counter Mr. Darcy and, by extension, Lady Catherine." She sighed.

"How is your headache, dear?" Lady Sheldon asked.

"Fiercer than ever," Lizzy replied. "Thank you for taking me away from the assembly early. I am sorry to have ruined your evening."

"You ruined nothing, my dear," Lady Sheldon assured her. "It was very noisy there and I was just as glad to leave. While I was acquainted with a few people outside our party, there was no one I really wished to visit with any longer."

"The same is true for me," Lord Sheldon agreed. "I am enjoying the idea of confounding young Mr. Darcy far more than any conversation I was having at the dance."

"I think that young man is going to find out that both Damasks and Roses have thorns," said Lady Sheldon, prompting them all to laughter.

~o~

Conversation around the breakfast table the next morning was lively. After Lizzy told them of her conversation with Mr. Darcy, Gerald addressed the assembled family members, "While Mr. Darcy could do some damage to Jane and Lizzy's reputations, the situation is not as bad as one might think. The Darcy family may be wealthy, but their influence in the neighborhood and the Ton is limited. Illness left George Darcy almost a recluse, and after Lady Anne died his social contacts dropped to nearly nothing aside from his correspondence. Young Mr. Darcy has been reclusive without even the excuse of illness. He rarely accepts invitations and makes no effort to keep in touch with more than a small group of men with whom he does business. Rosehaven may not be as big or prosperous as Pemberley, but our social connections are far better."

"And that is without even counting the connections you have through Sir Harold and me," Lord Sheldon agreed.

"Sir Barnaby talked with me after Mr. Darcy pulled him aside," Tom Cathcart, Lord Sheldon's son-in-law said. "He told me he was glad he had been warned of the possibility it might happen. He had trouble keeping a straight face as he was given an earnest, if awkward, warning against Jane. It seems Mr. Darcy mistook my sister, Lucy, for Lizzy. She does look a bit more like Jane in coloring and the two of them spent much of the evening in company. In addition, Sir Barnaby said Mr. Darcy did not behave like someone spreading malicious gossip. From his speech and manner, he clearly thought he was giving a helpful warning to someone he respected. Sir Barnaby thanked him for the consideration but told him he was acting on hearsay and it was not the act of a gentleman to insult women he has never taken the trouble to even speak with.

"Did Sir Barnaby explain the mistake in your sister's identity?" Jane asked.

"No, he thought it was rather amusing to leave Mr. Darcy in the dark on that point. Correcting him would also mean exposing Lucy to his censure for her obvious friendship with someone as scandalous as you are, Jane," Tom said the last teasingly, with an expression that caused both Jane and Lucy, who had become firm friends, to share an amused look before they broke into soft giggles. Soon, the rest of the group was laughing as well.

"If Mr. Darcy follows his usual habits, we need have no fear of running into him at any of the gatherings we attend. Even if we do, it is likely Lizzy can simply stay out of his way and he will be none the wiser," Gerald told them.

Honoria smiled. "I think my sisters and I shall go visiting in the neighborhood and bring Lizzy, Jane and Lucy along with us. It is good exposure for all three of you girls, and you can counteract any rumors that are starting by displaying your good manners. A little reminder to those we visit that Lady Catherine de Bourgh is well known as a meddlesome harridan would not go amiss either. Maria, Imogene and I can just drop hints without actually bringing up Mr. Darcy's comments. That will prevent stirring up stories of a conflict between our families."

"That will do nicely," Lady Sheldon said with a grin. "It was a good thing David and his wife were unable to join us after all. I doubt most of those here know or remember that our family name is Rose. Without my son here to remind them, Lizzy's connection to the family will remain unknown to Mr. Darcy. I would love to be a fly on the wall when and if he does finally learn she is a Bennet."

"It may be petty of me to say so, but I would as well, so long as I am not the one who has to tell him. Insufferable man!" Lizzy said, torn between amusement and her continued annoyance.

"Oh, Lizzy!" Lucy Cathcart laughed. "Above all, we must keep you two apart. The temptation to flay him with your wit may be too great for you to overcome."