He chuckled. “You well know the answer to that question. I introduce you to my acquaintances at every opportunity. I am inordinately proud to have you on my arm.”
“I am teasing you. My gowns are not suitable for London ballrooms, I fear, and I would not wish to cause further gossip. Tongues wagged enough when you wed an unknown country miss from the wilds of Hertfordshire. I shall not give the debutantes and their mamas more reason to despise me or criticize you. Since we wed barely a year after our first meeting, and our situations in life were so very different, there is too much speculation already.”
Darcy shook his head. “I care not what they think, but I would have you, Georgiana, and Mary properly attired as suits your beauty to please myself. You must also have coats, bonnets, gloves, scarves – whatever you might require during the winter. My aunt shall be happy to accompany you ladies to the modiste. I shall send a note asking her if she can accommodate us the day after tomorrow. We can always make a second trip after Georgiana arrives,”
Mary looked up at him, wide-eyed. “Us? Are you going with us to the shops, brother?”
He raised a brow. “I went shopping with you and Elizabeth in Meryton, Mary. Would it make you uncomfortable if I accompanied you here? I prefer that my ladies do not go into the streets without me. Besides, I enjoy being in such lovely company.”
She glanced down at her hands, folded in her lap. “Forgive me. I have had no true brother to be concerned about me before you, and I shall probably blunder more often than not. I would never suspend any pleasure of yours. We would all benefit from your opinions.”
Elizabeth took her sister’s hand in hers. “Mary, I know you are shy, but do not be anxious. Only my husband will go with us to the shops right now – no other man – and he does so to protect us from unwanted attention. This is not Meryton. We cannot walk about freely as we did there.”
Mary nodded, and her expression was serious. “Mr. Darcy is very good to escort us. I truly appreciate his interest in my well-being, and I rely on his guidance. Our village was small. Consequently, I am unused to the ways of Town.”
“My dear sister,” he said quietly. “I value your country upbringing and inexperience with Society. My sister and I are more like you and Elizabeth than you imagine. Neither Georgiana nor I have ever been comfortable in crowds, and we both dislike grandiose displays of wealth and power. Do not make yourself uneasy about the Season, or Town, or anything else. I shall always look out for your best interests. Do you trust me?”
Mary looked up at him, smiling tentatively, her blue eyes shining through her spectacles. “I trust you implicitly. You are the best man of my acquaintance.”
Darcy pulled at his cuffs, lowering his eyes. “I shall endeavour to deserve those words.”
You already do, thought Mary. You have given me more attention and consideration than any other man I have ever known, including my father. My sister has chosen wisely. Should I ever marry, I would hope to find such an excellent man as you are.
Darcy had returned from his afternoon of business and, after inquiring of the butler where he could locate his wife and her sister, sought them out in the music room.
Mary was practicing one of the pieces Landini had played the evening before, while Elizabeth was seated on a loveseat close to the piano, mending clothing for the children at the orphanage. He strode across the room and sat beside her, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
Mary sighed and muttered to herself. “I shall never be able to play the “Moonlight Sonata” so well as Senore Landini, and the Pathetique is totally beyond my reach.”
“He will be performing in different concert halls and at grand estates in London throughout the next couple of months, including Covent Garden. Would you enjoy going to more of his concerts, Mary?” asked Darcy. “Each will be a bit different, according to what I have heard.”
“Oh, yes!” she exclaimed, standing quickly and clapping her hands. “I would consider that a wonderful gift, brother. Her expression changed. “But would you and Elizabeth enjoy it?”
“My dear,” answered Elizabeth. “You must know that Mr. Darcy would never suggest it if he did not think I would be in favour of the idea. Nor would he subject himself to several evenings of entertainment he could not enjoy. I think you may safely show your enthusiasm for the activity.”
And so it was, that for the next month, Darcy, Elizabeth, and Mary attended Landini’s concerts each Monday and Thursday, and they were always fortunate to have front row seats. She fancied that he smiled at her and bowed in her direction after each performance.
Mary had become quite comfortable, knowing that though she was certainly attracted to Senor Landini, she would probably never actually meet the man. She had begun to feel almost as if she knew him.
London, November 1816
Having become accustomed to finding his wife and sister in the music room in the afternoons, Darcy always sought them there after completing his business for the day.
“We shall have a guest for dinner tonight, my dears, so be certain to wear your finery,” Darcy said, brown eyes twinkling with good humour.
“Only one?” asked Elizabeth, placing her sewing aside.
He nodded. “A gentleman – a friend of mine I wish you both to meet. I think he will make an interesting addition to our conversation.”
Mary lowered her gaze and clasped her hands in her lap. I enjoy being en famille. Perhaps I shall plead a headache and stay in my room.
“Mary,” rumbled a deep voice. “Please, do not avoid my friend. There is no need. I think you shall be more at ease in society during the Season if you meet a few gentlemen now. This way, you shall already have friends who will ask you to dance.”
Mary blushed, lifting her eyes to his. “If you think it best, I shall try to be sociable, if only to please you, but why could we not simply meet him at a ball?” After I improve my dancing skills and grasp a better understanding concerning the art of conversation with strangers. I have so much to learn before my first London ball. She groaned inwardly.
Darcy smiled. “This gentleman is rather awkward, so I doubt he has ever been to many balls. I think he shall be quieter than even you, Mary. You and I must depend upon our vivacious Elizabeth to draw him out. Then we shall all help him to relax at the social events of the Season.”
Elizabeth tilted her head, laughing at her husband. “Ah! So, this is why you married me. I have long wondered what I had to offer an extraordinary man such as yourself. Now I find I am valued because my friendliness balances your taciturn disposition, and I gain importance as I converse easily with strangers.”
“Just so,” he replied with a chuckle. “I was quite oblivious to all your other excellent qualities. My attraction to you had nothing to do with your spirit, your beauty, your quick wit, nor your intelligence.”
Elizabeth stood, pulling her sister with her. “We must hurry if we are to be ready for your friend, husband. I shall direct Mrs. Mills to set another place for dinner, and then we will go directly to your rooms, Mary, to pick a gown, select jewelry, and choose adornments for your hair.”
Mary arched her eyebrows. “All that for a dinner at home?”
“Why, yes, dear. We shall consider this a rehearsal for dinners at which you shall meet new people during the Season.”
“Excellent idea,” added Darcy. “Both Mary and my friend need to practice – just not the same things.” He laughed under his breath.