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It seemed that half of England had been invited to celebrate Richard’s engagement and had accepted, eager for a glimpse of the Fitzwilliams and the elusive Darcys. For their part, the Fitzwilliams and their extended family, decked out in their finest apparel, looked every bit the cream of society as they stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the world as a united front.

As usual, the Earl and Countess led the receiving line, followed by the Viscount Leighton who surprisingly, acted very civilly to everyone. Standing next to him was Amelia, once again attending without her husband. Richard was next in line followed by his fiancée, Jenny Largin, then William and Elizabeth, and at the end of the line, Evan and Georgiana.

The entire process had gone smoothly, though it seemed agonizingly protracted because of the throng of people. As the line wound down to the last few guests, William began looking about for a chair for Elizabeth to occupy as soon as the last person was received and the dancing began. Being with child, she easily tired, and he could tell that she was weary. He motioned a footman forward and sent him in search of a chair. Even as she protested that she could stand, she acquiesced to his pampering, knowing it would help him to relax if he thought she was well.

She squeezed his hand, leaning in to whisper, “Do not think procuring me a chair will relieve you of your duty to dance with me. I intend to dance with my husband and make all the ladies green with envy.”

William chuckled at her impertinence, releasing her hand to slip an arm around her waist and bring her close as he murmured in her ear. “I would not dare suspend any pleasure of yours, Mrs. Darcy. But you shall rest between sets. I insist upon it.”

Georgiana moved closer to speak to Elizabeth, and as he watched her converse with his sister, he could not have been prouder. Elizabeth had held her own against the barbs of the ton. He had literally swelled with pride as she had answered every cutting remark with good nature and every intrusive question by changing the subject. There had been the expected scrutiny and patronization, but both were surprised at the number of people who seemed willing to accept her into their good graces, if not for her benefit, at least to appease the Fitzwilliams.

Now, with the line dwindling and the next couple involved in a lengthy conversation with Lord Matlock, Amelia pulled Jenny towards her for a chat. With Jenny thus occupied, Richard turned to his left to see concern on his cousin’s face. He could not hold back a quip as he chuckled under his breath.

“If you keep making that scowl, Darce, your face will freeze like that, and you will scare small children for the rest of your life. Did your mother not ever tell you that?” Shaking his head, William chuckled, pleasing Richard. “There! You look much nicer, and you won’t scare your lovely wife. By the way, when is the blessed event?”

Shocked that their secret was known, William’s brow knit. “How did—”

He was cut off as Richard retorted, “Do not blame me; blame Jenny. Seems she has been watching Elizabeth and, well, she just knows these things—having had two children of her own. But, rest assured, she has told no one but me, though I doubt you have fooled Mother either!”

William glanced to see Elizabeth still talking with Georgiana and Evan, and as she was not attending to what he and Richard were saying, William began to clarify, “Elizabeth did not wish to announce our good news until after the ball. She insisted that she did not want to detract from your engagement, and I suspect, though she will not admit to it, that she also did not want all the old biddies counting up the months.”

Richard chuckled quietly. “You would take away the old biddies’ only enjoyment?”

“I care not if everyone knows she is carrying my child, but if I could possibly accomplish it, I would do away with all the gossip. However, I am afraid that gossip will go on as long as there are—”

“Women?” Richard offered.

“Human beings!” William finished. “Just consider all the gossip bandied about at Whites!”

“You have me there!” Richard chuckled, his face instantly sobering as he caught sight of the arrival of a few more guests.

“Put on your scowl, Cousin! Here comes Mrs. Hampton who is sure to have been insulted that you did not choose her ugly daughter to marry!”

~~~*~~~

“Did you see how Mr. Darcy ran his hand around his wife’s waist to pull her closer!” Mrs. Graham sighed dramatically. “Would that Horace had ever done that to me in public! And I had forgotten how handsome Georgiana Darcy’s husband is—quite a catch! Not that any woman would rebuff Colonel Fitzwilliam either!”

“Humph!” Mrs. Hinds retorted. “They are all handsome men, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Ingram. But I dislike how each of them shows affection in public. It is just not proper!”

“It would be proper if it were you!” Jane Mumford said under her breath, smiling when she realised that Mrs. Trentholm had heard her, because she betrayed it with a giggle.

“And, frankly, Margaret, I see nothing about Mrs. Darcy that is exceptional.” Gertrude Hinds continued her critique, “She is a pretty creature, I will say that. But my Sarah is just as lovely, and when she was presented to society, he never gave her so much as a nod.”

“Perhaps because Sarah has teeth that protrude and a crooked nose!” Lady Mumford whispered to her audience of one, who giggled again, only to quiet when Mrs. Hinds whirled around.

“Well, I, for one, am glad that Mr. Darcy never showed the slightest interest in Jacqueline Fitzwilliam or that Waltham woman! Though, heaven knows, they were ridiculous in their efforts to gain his attention!” Mrs. Harris sniffed haughtily.

“She would have chased after him, too, had she been given any assurance that he would have welcomed her advances!” Lady Mumford continued in her whispered conversation, to Mrs. Trentholm’s delight.

Unaware of the censure, Mrs. Harris continued, “At least Mrs. Darcy is a refined lady. I have it on good authority that her family was well respected in Sussex, though they have all passed now. It is said they owned a large estate and several lesser estates, and she was the sole heiress when her uncle died.”

“You are quite right, Martha,” Margaret Graham replied. “I was informed at the reception that his sister hosted, that Mrs. Darcy was almost as wealthy as Mr. Darcy when they married. And it is evident from their behaviour that theirs is a love match. How very amusing to see the staid Mr. Darcy so enthralled!”

“She is not so much amused as vexed that it was not her!” Janet Mumford confidentially informed her willing listener. Then she declared for all to hear, “I understand that Jacqueline’s father banished her to his country estate when she returned home. And our dear friend, Lady Waltham, fled back to her estate in Ireland since after Lady Matlock effectively made sure she was excluded from all the best parlours in London.”

Patience Trentholm laughed, speaking for the first time. “That proves that it does not pay to cross the Countess!”

Standing behind a Roman column, Lady Matlock smiled to herself as she listened to the gaggle of gossips. Their discussion of her most beloved nephew and his lovely wife had taken the correct turn, and she was satisfied.