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“Yes,” Mrs. Harris rejoined, “but there is something to be said for early widowhood when the dearly departed has so much wealth and so few heirs.”

“Hear! Hear!” Margie Graham chuckled. “Would that Mr. Graham was twenty years older!”

That remark set off a new round of giggles until everyone around them turned to see what had provoked such merriment. These observations caused the ladies to rein in their high spirits somewhat. They certainly did not want their little musings to get back to their husbands.

“Oh!” Patience Trentholm declared. “There is Lady Leighton now!”

They all followed her gaze toward the entrance to the ballroom where the woman in question stood as if posed, obviously very pleased with herself. Shockingly, she had waited until most of the guests had arrived before appearing ...alone. The viscount hurried towards his wife, though those who suspected her intent could see that her eyes were trained on Mr. Darcy.

Renowned for her beauty, Jacqueline Fitzwilliam enjoyed taking centre stage. She wore a deep emerald green gown and a necklace consisting of several strands of diamonds and emeralds, along with matching earrings. Her lustrous dark red hair was piled high on her head and two emerald-encrusted combs held it in place. The green of her gown served to enhance her green eyes and exquisite complexion. One perfect brow rose as Edgar came towards her, and when he held out his arm, for a moment she stared at him, making him and everyone else uncomfortable. Finally, a delicate hand came to rest lightly upon his arm, and he began to escort her. Once situated in the receiving line, she leaned over trying to catch Mr. Darcy’s eye, making her husband livid. Then she straightened to welcome the next guest.

“That went well, I think,” Richard smirked, speaking out of the corner of his mouth so Edgar could not hear. “At least you will not have to worry about Edgar’s speaking to you.”

Instead of turning towards William, which might draw attention, he flicked his eyes over to see his cousin’s unease. “Relax, Darce! If your jaw clenches any tighter, you will break a tooth.”

William was fuming as he leaned slightly towards Richard and whispered so only he could hear, “I had hoped she would behave with more decorum than the last time we were in company.”

Richard chuckled, causing his mother to lean forward and glare, while he only smiled at her. “I would say you have hoped in vain.”

“Richard,” William’s voice was low but authoritative, “you are not helping.”

“On the contrary, I plan to be a great deal of help tonight. Mother was thrilled that I was sent back to London in time to attend this soirée and she has charged me not to leave your side. So you will not be suffering the attentions of the harridans—I mean, ladies—alone. I shall sacrifice myself to keep them at bay!”

At that William smiled, leaning forward to get his aunt’s attention and giving her a full smile, dimples and all. “Thank you,” he mouthed. She smiled and nodded.

“I say!” Richard enjoined, watching the exhibition. “Why is it I got a glare and you got a smile? She is my mother, after all!”

Unfortunately, Mr. Darcy’s charming smile was seen by all the ladies who were ogling him, and it set hearts racing; among them were Lady Waltham’s, Lady Leighton’s and Mrs. Preston’s. Seeing the expressions of desire upon the women standing around him, Colonel Fitzwilliam shook his head.

“You are not making it easy for me, Cousin! Cease smiling!”

~~~*~~~

Chapter 20

The ball continues

Leaving this madness was beginning to appear to be the only solution. The Fitzwilliams had invited scores of people who were unfamiliar to William due to his two-year absence from society, and his aunt, with single-minded purpose, had insisted on personally introducing him to half of them. The other half insisted on introducing themselves—and their single daughters.

Mrs. Preston had at last been led away, albeit unwillingly, by Lord Farthington, but Lady Waltham and Lady Leighton were determined to stay close by William, who flatly refused to dwell on the number of other women, married and widowed, who had offered suggestions for his afternoons in the coming week. Sometimes, it seemed as if it was pointless to leave Darcy House when he was in town.

Richard blew out a deep breath as the latest debutante and her mother ambled away, disappointed. “What does that make ...ten ...twelve? I swear I do not know how, with that scowl, you attract so many mothers and fathers with marriageable daughters!”

Glancing to William, he did not find the customary smile at his jest. Instead, his cousin appeared to be in lower spirits than he had ever seen him, so he tried another tack. “Some of them would do nicely for me, you know. What do they think I am? A vagabond?”

Finally William chuckled a little. “I am sorry, Richard. I realise that I have not been good company. This cannot have been a very pleasant evening for you. Why do you not ask that young lady you have been smiling at all night to dance? I shall be fine.”

Richard lifted one brow and leaned in to whisper. “You promise to stay in plain view, so I can assure that you are not accosted by my demented sister—or your demented ex-lover—while I take a turn with Mrs. Largin?”

William grimaced at Richard’s language but recognised that, essentially, he was correct. Instead of bothering to comment, he enquired about another matter entirely—“Mrs.? The lady you have been paying your attentions to is married?”

“Of course not! She is a widow with two small children and, yes, she is older than she looks!”

William turned to get a better look at the tall woman with light-brown hair that his cousin had been keeping in his line of vision even as he tried to be discreet. “Far be it from me—”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, I know you were thinking she looks very young. She does not look a day over four and twenty, but she is thirty. Her husband, a member of my prior unit, was killed a year or so ago in an accident, and I accompanied his body home. I was reintroduced to her last week when she was with one of mother’s many friends at the theatre. The only good thing to come from mother’s many introductions!”

“Ah! Then why are you waiting? Go!” William replied, pushing Richard towards the woman.