Page 131 of Companions of Their Youth
“Thank you,” he whispered hoarsely, gratitude and tenderness interwoven in the quiet intensity of his voice.
Her cheeks flushed a becoming pink, and she inclined her head, lingering for a heartbeat longer before she moved gracefully down the line, leaving him staring after her.
Fitzwilliam leaned in again, quietly amused. “Feeling better now, Cousin?”
Darcy drew a shaky breath, still staring after Elizabeth. “Infinitely.”
An eternity later, the musicians struck the first notes for the opening set. Darcy, whose eyes had not left Elizabeth’s form, crossed the room with long strides and extended his hand to her. His heart was pounding painfully against his ribs as her slender fingers slid into his palm.
Her gentle warmth steadied him, and as they took their places facing each other, he felt the oppressive tension of the past several days begin to ease.
“You are beautiful,” he said softly, and her cheeks turned a becoming pink.
“Thank you,” she replied in a whisper, lowering her gaze.
“Before we say anything else,” he said quickly as they moved through the first steps, “I owe you a sincere apology.”
Her eyes rose to meet his, soft and searching. “And I owe you one as well. Your letter… it explained so much. I ought never to have judged you so harshly.”
“No,” he said earnestly, guiding her gently through a turn, the soft sweep of her gown brushing against his legs. “Your judgment was well-founded. I spoke rashly, without explaining myself. I can see that clearly now.”
She tilted her head slightly, her expression softening further. “I understand, Mr. Darcy—more than you know. I realize now why you reacted as you did, especially where Georgiana was concerned…”
“I acted out of fear.”
“There is something you should know.” Her tone grew serious, even urgent, as they moved again into formation.
“What is it?” he asked, a faint alarm rising within him.
“I spoke with Georgiana,” she said quietly, leaning closer as they stepped nearer. “She told me about Ramsgate. She confessed what Mr. Wickham had persuaded her to do—how dangerously close he had come to destroying her.”
Darcy tensed instinctively, but Elizabeth’s gaze calmed him.
“She told you everything?”
Elizabeth nodded gravely. “She is ashamed, but safe. But you should know, Mr. Darcy, that Mr. Wickham is aware that she is here in Meryton.”
Darcy nearly missed the next step, barely recovering himself before causing a disruption to the entire set. A chill washed over him, followed by swift anger. “He knows?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth confirmed softly, her eyes wide with concern. “I fear for her safety. I have warned her to stay close to home and never be alone. But you must be vigilant.”
His jaw tightened, and a protective fury burned through him. “He will not harm her again. I will ensure it.”
Elizabeth’s fingers tightened briefly in reassurance, and he drew comfort from her steadiness. “But tell me—has he approached her directly?”
She flushed lightly and shook her head. “Only myself, and only in passing, as part of a larger group. He never revealed anything about Ramsgate, and I had no reason at first to doubt his character.”
“I should have warned you,” Darcy said, regret weighing heavily in his voice. “I wanted to protect Georgiana by keeping it secret, but instead I left you vulnerable.”
“You could not have known he would appear here,” she replied firmly. “But we must plan together now to ensure her continued safety.”
Before he could respond, a flash of bright scarlet moved at the edge of his vision. His breath caught painfully in his chest, and his gaze snapped toward the figure entering the ballroom.
Elizabeth’s hand gripped his tighter, silently demanding his attention. “Mr. Darcy?” she whispered urgently. “What is it?”
Darcy forced himself to breathe. “Wickham.”
Chapter 28
