Page 116 of The Crown’s Gift

"One may spend a lifetime learning a place."

She rested a hand over his. They stood above the water as they had before their engagement, but nothing between them waited to be asked.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

London and Homecoming

London received Mrs Darcy with curiosity sharpened by rumor.

She was the daughter of the King's rescuer, mistress of Pemberley, sister to Bingley's wife, friend of Georgiana Darcy, and the woman who had supposedly defeated Lady Catherine de Bourgh in a garden before breakfast. Depending upon the drawing room, Elizabeth had pursued Darcy for his fortune, refused him twice, enchanted the Queen, trapped Wickham, or all four.

"I am disappointed no one has given me a secret child," she told Darcy after their first ball.

"The season is young."

He sat beside her in their carriage, one hand around hers beneath the lap robe. Society had been exhausting. Three women praised her gown while criticizing Hertfordshire. A duke asked whether Sir Thomas truly struck the King. Caroline, unexpectedly, redirected him by explaining the difference between rescue and assault.

"Miss Bingley defended my family," Elizabeth said.

"She enjoys correcting dukes more than she dislikes you."

"A firm basis for friendship."

Darcy had not hovered. He introduced her, remained near when needed, and allowed her to answer insult herself. When Lady Selwyn remarked that newly elevated families often mistook royal gratitude for hereditary rank, Elizabeth replied that old families sometimes mistook heredity for achievement. Darcy concealed his pleasure badly.

At home, however, he asked whether she wished to decline the next dinner.

"Do you?"

"Desperately."

"Then let us decline because we are both tired, not because you think me fragile."

"Agreed."

They spent the evening alone with supper trays in the library. Elizabeth removed her shoes beneath her gown. Darcy read estate letters aloud until one from Sir Thomas became an argument about crop rotation.

"He has annotated my advice in three colors," Darcy said.

"Red means error. Blue means consideration. Black means he agrees but refuses to admit it."

"There is no black."

"Then you have failed entirely."

Georgiana's first large ball since Ramsgate became the season's greater test. She wore pale gold and asked Mary to stand with her before the first dance. Mary had come to London with Sir Thomas and Lady Bennet for a private royal musicale.

When a young man requested Georgiana's hand, she looked toward Darcy from habit. Darcy waited.

Georgiana turned back and decided herself.

"Yes, thank you."

Darcy released a breath.

Elizabeth touched his arm. "You survived."

"Barely. Who is he?"