Dressed to the nines, Fitzwilliam Darcy paced anxiously at the foot of the stairs in the town home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gardiner. Darcy had been a participant in London society for a number of years, but tonight marked the first occasion in which he was genuinely interested in his companion for the evening. Cursing himself for all the times he had poked fun at Bingley when they stayed at Netherfield, Darcy could feel a cold sweat forming on the back of his neck and underneath his gloved hands.

Mr. Gardiner, still suspicious the evening was altogether a poor idea, took pity on the poor man as his wife announced Elizabeth would be a few moments longer. He invited the young man into his office for a drink.

“I spoke to my man who handles my shipping. I managed to find three vessels still scheduling wares in their cargo holds for late spring voyages.” Edward Gardiner lifted piles of paper to find the piece of parchment with the three vessels and their agents named. Folding the paper and handing it to Mr. Darcy, the younger man bowed his head in respect.

“It means a great deal to me, sir, knowing you would take such trouble on my behalf. I will never forget this kindness.”

“While I reserve judgment on the future you might enjoy with my niece, there is never a downside to befriending a Darcy.”

The two men shared a laugh, interrupted when Mrs. Gardiner poked her head into the office to announce Elizabeth was ready.

Darcy placed his half-finished drink on the table and rushed out of the office to behold his beloved as she descended the stairs. The evening candlelight, mixed with her gown of blush, made her glow with radiance. He saw her hair was pinned in precious curls with tiny pearls woven in between. As he accepted her left hand to assist her down the last few steps, he bestowed a chaste kiss upon her temple.

“Miss Bennet, you are far and above the most beautiful woman of my acquaintance. I shall be the most envied patron of the theater this evening.”

“Well, sir, I do believe you’ll have competition,” Miss Bennet responded.

“Pardon me? Is there another man you plan to accompany to the theater?”

Elizabeth accepted assistance with her shawl and took Mr. Darcy’s arm as they exited the home to board his carriage. “No, sir, you said you would be the most envied patron at the theater. As patrons can be both men and women, I believe there may be a few who are envious of me to have you as my companion.”

Darcy smiled at the compliment. Coming from any other, he would have thought it a mercenary remark on the status of his wealth. But the fire of desire he could see in Elizabeth’s eyes matched his own and convinced him she meant merely a mirror compliment of the one he had bestowed upon her. For a woman to compliment the man was an uncommon occurrence, indeed, and Darcy considered himself to be one lucky man.

Despite the evening’s performance being an early preview, and still a few weeks away from the arrival of Parliament, the theater was surprisingly full for the occasion. Darcy guided his lady and her relatives through the mezzanine and to the Darcy family box. As they found their seats, Elizabeth’s head turned restlessly, taking in the sights around her.

“Pardon me for asking, but is this your first visit to the theater?”

Elizabeth giggled. “Of course not, Mr. Darcy, I’ve been to the theater many times. However, I have not been to the theater in seats as grand as these, and I’m noticing all eyes are upon me. I believed as one compliment deserved another, it would be kind to graciously inspect those inspecting me with equal diligence.”

Darcy laughed at how his Elizabeth dismissed the gawkers and gossip-mongers who in the past had made him self-conscious. The young couple sharing a laugh was the view spied in a pair of opera glasses in the box across from them.

The owner of the opera glasses was none other than the Countess of Matlock, Margaret Fitzwilliam, and she was shocked and surprised to see her nephew, Darcy, at the theater with a woman completely unknown to her and some mysterious couple joining them.

“Henry! Henry!” She jostled the arm of her husband and handed over her opera glasses “Who is there now with Darcy?”

The Earl of Matlock relieved his wife of the opera glasses to see his nephew in a rare mood of happiness in companionship with three people he did not recognize. “My dear, I’m afraid I am at as much of a loss as you. Shall we scurry over and inquire?”

Lady Matlock glanced beneath her at the theater, mostly settled, the show to begin at any moment. “No. We shall wait until intermission. Why did he not tell us he was coming to the theater tonight?”

Henry Fitzwilliam groaned. He enjoyed this particular play of Shakespeare’s, but he knew he was to enjoy the entire first act with nothing but running commentary on his nephew Darcy and his mysterious guests across the theater.

Elizabeth was thankful she was quite familiar with the play, for she found herself less inclined to watch the actors on stage and more inclined to steal furtive glances at the handsome man by her side. She had even been so bold as to drop her program and brush her hand against his when she reached to pick it up. She watched most carefully for any reaction when she did so, but Mr. Darcy remained seated with perfect posture and an expression of indifference.

Her cheeks burning red in embarrassment, thankful the theater was dark, she worried about her forwardness until a moment later she felt a similar brush against her hand. Turning her head to gaze at Mr. Darcy, she saw the corner of his mouth twitch slightly in the manner she’d seen when she was abed at Netherfield. For the rest of the first act, the two engaged in a fun game of finding inconspicuous ways to touch hands, thinking the rest of the theater was ignorant of their activities.

Halfway through the garden scene where Beatrice is misled into thinking that Benedick has feelings for her, Mrs. Gardiner leaned forward and whispered into Elizabeth’s ear.

“Lizzie, I understand your excitement for the evening, but I wonder if you might resist touching Mr. Darcy’s hands so often? Each time you do so, your uncle squeezes mine quite angrily.”

Thoroughly ashamed, Elizabeth sat straighter in her chair and did not reach or brush against Mr. Darcy’s hand again. When the house lights came up for intermission, Mr. Gardiner offered to fetch refreshments for the box. Darcy offered to go along, but Mr. Gardiner was adamant he remain in the box with the ladies.

After Mr. Gardiner vacated the box, Elizabeth and Darcy barely had time to begin a conversation with Mrs. Gardiner before they were interrupted by Darcy’s relatives.

“Darcy, my boy, you didn’t tell your aunt and me you were attending the theater this evening,” The Earl of Matlock boomed in a voice loud enough for others to hear.

Darcy stood to greet both of his relatives. “I’m sorry, Uncle. From now on I’ll be sure to submit my full social calendar to your staff,” Darcy said dryly. “Allow me to introduce my friends. The Earl of Matlock and Countess of Matlock, please meet Mrs. Edward Gardiner of London and her niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Hertfordshire.

“Mrs. Gardiner, Miss Bennet, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I can’t recall my nephew ever mentioning an acquaintance . . .” Lady Matlock trailed off expecting an explanation.

“Pardon me, your ladyship, but your nephew’s acquaintance with me is of a peculiar nature,” Elizabeth said with a minxish smile towards Darcy.

His aunt and uncle exchanged looks and then nodded. Darcy meanwhile inwardly groaned. He feared Elizabeth inadvertently gave his relatives the same wrong impression that she had previously held of him. Hastily, the Matlocks made their exit. “We’re sorry to have bothered you, Nephew. We had best be getting to back to our own box. We’ll expect you tomorrow for luncheon, Darcy?” The request by Lady Matlock was hardly an offer and more of a command.

Darcy knew a dismissal for what it was, but he saw no benefit to including his relatives into his private life. “No, milady. I believe I have a previous engagement. You understand.”

The Earl took a moment to stare Elizabeth up and down, admitting to himself his nephew did have fine taste where it came to women. Still, nasty business to be taking a mistress before one was even married. To include her aunt and uncle in the business, well that was just unheard of!

“When your calendar is open, be sure to call.” The Earl and Countess of Matlock left just as abruptly as they had arrived, and Darcy let out a huge sigh as he sat down next to Elizabeth.

His shoulders hunched, Elizabeth worried she had done something wrong.

“Fitzwilliam,” she whispered, her first time using his Christian name. “I only meant to say our acquaintance was over an accident with a horse.”

Without caring about Mrs. Gardiner behind him, or who might see in the audience and other boxes, Darcy grasped Elizabeth’s hand and held it in both of his own. Gazing into her eyes just as the last call was made and the play was about to begin again, he spoke to her with a very clear voice.

“Miss Elizabeth, any relative of mine that does not instantly value you for the joy you bring me is acting a complete fool. This is my fault. I had not discussed our acquaintance with any of my family since I’ve returned to London. I am a private person by nature and I do not lightly include others in my affairs.”

“Well, sir, I hope you are reconciling yourself to including me in your affairs.” She offered him a smile, which he returned as Mr. Gardiner arrived with refreshments for the entire box.

For the rest of the play, Elizabeth brazenly rested her hand against Darcy’s and when Mr. Gardiner tried to motion to Mrs. Gardiner, she hoarsely whispered “Oh, Edward, just look away.”