Page 59 of Her Whole Heart
Despite knowing nothing of their plan, Diana had been willing to publicly defend her friends to her own brother.
A shocked silence descended as all eyes from the other nearby boxes turned toward the box in which the Loughtys sat. Before he could recover and muster some witty rejoinder, Mr. Darcy stood from his seat nearest Mr. Loughty, slowly unfolding his long frame toface the man.
Elizabeth had known that the man was tall, but she had not really thought about how advantageous that could be in such a case as this. She allowed herself a little smile when the colonel chuckled next to her.
“This ought to be good,” he whispered to her as they both looked up at Mr. Darcy.
“Whatever it is, it is not in Lady Carlisle’s script,” she whispered back.
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat before he began, his words stern and unyielding. “I would thank you, sir, to refrain from spreading baseless rumours about my sister and Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” he said coldly, his voice ringing out with authority.
The hissing sound of whispers burst into bloom all about them, and Mr. Darcy rather masterfully waited a beat for the noise to die down before he continued. “My sister's distress was no fault of her own, and Miss Elizabeth’s actions were nothing short of heroic. I will not see either of them maligned, certainly not by the likes of you.”
“Well said, Darcy,” Lord Matlock called from his chair behind them. “You have the support of all your family in this.”
It was rather amusing, as Elizabeth glanced back at Mr. Darcy’s uncle, to see nearly every head in the vicinity swivelling in the same direction. Mr. Loughty’s head nearly snapped off his shoulders, so quickly did he turn, and Elizabeth was smugly satisfied as she watched his complexion blanch. It was clear many in the audience had somehow overlooked the peers sitting amongst them, just as Lady Carlisle had thought they might.
Lord Carlisle nodded his own emphatic agreement, his usually genial expression hard with disapproval. “Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth are a credit to their family and to mine,” he declared. “Anyone who suggests otherwise should be prepared to answer to me.”
Now that Mr. Darcy had changed Lady Carlisle's plan, Elizabeth was unsure what to do—but she supposed it was her turn.She had not known it would be Mr. Loughty, but Lady Carlisle had been certainsomeonewould gossip in their hearing as he had done. As much as she liked his sister, she would take pleasure in putting him in his place because she truly did not like him. Fortunately, neither did Diana.
Elizabeth played her part well—she held her head high, glanced at Mr. Loughty with disdain, and then turned her gaze back to her own party. It was not the cut direct, but it was nearly as effective. Lady Carlisle assured her that it signified he was not worthy enough even to warrant the insult. She was aware of Elizabeth’s philosophy of not awarding too much importance to those who truly had none in her life and had applied it to their strategy. Clever, clever woman.
A frisson of unease swept through the gathered throng as the two earls made their positions unmistakably clear, and then the chatter began again. Mr. Loughty shrank back in his seat, his earlier bravado wilting under the weight of such censure.
“I had not noticed the earls sitting there,” he mumbled to his friends, who were suddenly interested in a conversation taking place in the box on the other side of them.
“Mr. Bingley,” Jane said sweetly, just on cue, “I have been looking forward to this performance all week. I do so enjoy a good”—and here she inclined her head in Mr. Loughty’s direction— “comedy.”
Elizabeth almost laughed, for it was so against Jane’s character to imply such a thing and yet she had delivered the set down perfectly. She was growing quite accomplished at them after their visit to Miss Amberley’s.
Mr. Loughty really was a petty little man. They had arrived with such ceremony she did not see how he could possibly have missed the presence of the earls. But Lady Carlisle had informed them never to wager against stupidity, and the man had been near to bursting—perhaps he simplycould not contain himself long enough to determine who had accompanied them.
Diana stood and moved closer to the half-wall that marked the separation of Mr. Darcy’s box from hers.
“Miss Elizabeth,” Mr. Darcy inquired kindly, “would you prefer to sit here on the end so that you may speak with Miss Loughty?”
“I would, if it would not be inconvenient.”
Mr. Darcy helped arrange them so that she was on the end within whispering distance of Diana, and then took Elizabeth’s former place next to the colonel.
Diana held out her hand and Elizabeth grasped it briefly. “Are you much distressed, Diana?” she inquired.
“I meant to ask you the same,” Diana said quietly. “But I see you have amassed an army of powerful gentlemen to defend you as well as Lady Carlisle, who I presume devised it all. Well done.” She smiled mischievously. “Mr. Darcy nearly challenged my brother to a duel.”
Elizabeth glanced at Mr. Darcy, who was studiously facing forward until he leaned in to listen to something his uncle was saying. She turned back to Diana. “He is too much the gentleman to do such a thing.”
“Well, I have no doubt that my idiot brother believes Mr. Darcy would, and as he is far too much a coward to do anything of the sort, I doubt you will have any further trouble from him.”
“I think that might have as much to do with his own sister taking him to task in public. That was wonderfully done, and I thank you for it. I cannot think it will make your life easier at home.”
Diana shook her head. “I will relay everything that happened here to my parents. I cannot be seen in his company anymore. It is too vexing, how he is single-handedly making us a laughingstock.”
“You may always join our party when we are out with the ladies, Miss Loughty,” Mr. Darcy said from his position at Elizabeth’s side. He had been listening, of course. “My sister counts you as one of her particular friends, and I know the Bennet ladies feel the same.”
Diana smiled. “Georgiana is a delightful girl, Mr. Darcy, but I suppose you already know that. And such a gifted musician!”
“Thank you,” he said sombrely, but Elizabeth could tell he was pleased with the compliment. He addressed Elizabeth. “I believe I may credit Miss Loughty for Georgiana’s vigorous study of her Italian recently; however, she had high praise for all of you.”
