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The dance separated them, and Cecile held her breath, wondering what excuse Mr. Darcy would give for his inconstancy. As they made their way back down the line, finally facing each other again, he continued, “I should have asked for a private audience to discuss something of importance.”

Cecile released a huge sigh of relief. He is probably just nervous because he is going to offer for me. “Then let us find the time now.” She nodded in the direction of the balcony. “If you will follow me, we should have sufficient privacy outdoors.”

William groaned to himself.

On the other side of the room, Richard followed the development with a frown and began to make his way toward the same balcony.

As the door to the balcony closed behind them, Cecile whirled around and moved to stand so close to William that he could feel her breath on his face.

“Mrs…Mrs. Preston,” he began as he took a step back. “I feel I must tell you—”

Cecile leaned in and kissed William on the lips, and he pulled back abruptly. “Madam, what are you doing?”

“Oh, Fitzwilliam! You looked so solemn, and this should be a happy occasion, should it not?”

“I do not take your meaning, madam. I was only going to tell you that I have decided that I have too many responsibilities at this time to consider a courtship.”

Cecile’s sharp intake of breath was followed by an angry scowl. “You what?” She turned, wringing her hands and began to pace. “You have decided—you have decided! And what about me? You have given me every indication that you would be offering for me but now...” Her voice faded away.

“I have tried not to raise your expectations. I have never asked to court you.”

“No. But you have shown preference towards me—asking me to dance to the exclusion of all others.”

“And for that I apologise profusely.”

She turned and faced him, her head held high in disgust. “Well! I do not accept your apology, sir. Unfortunately, I shall have to write to your sister and tell her what a cad her beloved brother has become.” With that she exited the balcony, slamming the door loudly behind.

William took a ragged breath and turned to look into the gardens. As usual, a low whistle announced his cousin’s presence, as he did not hear him come through the door.

“The Black Widow did not take that well at all!”

“Richard!” William was not in the mood for his kidding.

“I am sorry to have to say this, Darce, but I, for one, am entirely happy! That ugly woman was not for you.”

William frowned at him but he continued. “Not because she is ugly outside, but because she is ugly inside. There is something about her that I have never liked, much less trusted, and she was entirely wrong for the likes of you.”

William shrugged. “Well, it is done. Now I shall be able to return to Pemberley with Elizabeth.”

“Do you really know what you are about, Cousin? You have just freed yourself from an entanglement with one woman and are immediately jumping into another, proposing to take charge of a young woman who may never be well. I know you fancy yourself in love with her—” His words were cut off by an angry retort.

“You know nothing of my feelings for her!”

Richard stiffened at William’s reproof. He had never known his cousin to react with such emotion.

“I should not have—” Richard began but stopped short.

William stared into the starry sky, closing his eyes and conjuring the image of his beloved. “Richard, have you ever needed someone so much that you felt as though you could not breathe without them…could not exist if they no longer existed?”

He hesitated, though he did not expect Richard to answer.

“I have. I have eaten, breathed and lived with Elizabeth since the day I met her. It is her face that haunts my dreams, and it is she who fills my every waking moment. I stayed away for two years, trying to put her out of my mind,” he searched for the right words, “which, in the end, was futile. When I thought her dead for those few hours at Netherfield, something inside me died, and when I found her in the rain that night, it came alive again. I came alive again.”

William turned to face his friend, willing him to understand. “Now that I have her back, I do not believe I could survive if something happened to her.”

Richard stared at William for a long time, and then made a decision. He clasped William on each shoulder. “I am sorry, Cousin. I can say with assurance that I have never known that kind of love.” He tilted his head and smiled. “I do not think I ever want to know a love that deep, but in any event, I will support you in whatever you decide. Come hell or high water, you can count on me.”

William smiled wanly. “I am afraid it may very well come to both before this is over. But I am most humbled and forever grateful that you have chosen to be on my side.”