The music drew them near and their hands reached out. His fingers touched hers, and then slid into her hand.
Darcy picked up where they had left off. “I suppose you think flattery will make me forget Miss Roth’s cruelty.”
“Not at all. Flattery does not cure the sting of false words.”
“Then you need not strive for it, sir.”
“Surely an honest compliment helps in some way.”
“I suppose it does. I am grateful God looks upon my heart, and not my outward appearance, and will do so even when I am old and wrinkled from head to toe.”
He faced her smiling, released her hands, and bowed in time with the other male dancers. “I admire your faith. But is it so wrong for a man to marvel at a pretty woman? Are we not to regard God’s creations with awe?”
Darcy fixed her eyes on Ethan with wonder and did not reply. A sensation prickled over her skin and something whispered into her mind, he is the one. “I do not know what to think of you, sir.”
Ethan’s stare warmed. “I hope you will think of me as your friend.”
They were silent after that, and when “The Flight” came to an end, Darcy’s aunt came through and bumped into her—again.
“Darcy, we are leaving. I can no longer abide the heat.” Mrs. Breese turned to Ethan. “It was a pleasure to have met you, Mr. Brennan, though I must say Miss Roth was very rude to our Darcy, and I pray she eats her words one day soon, and that you change your mind about her.”
Ethan nodded in agreement. “May I pay a call upon your family before I leave for England? I promise to come alone.”
Mrs. Breese gave him a broad smile. “We’d be pleased if you paid us a visit.”
He looked at Darcy. “And you will be there?”
“Perhaps.” She gave him a coy look and left him in the stuffy, crowded room.
6
A week went by after the gathering at Twin Oaks. The day dawned warm, and by late noon the honeybees played over the zinnias in the garden. So absorbed in the small book of poems she was reading, it wasn’t until Martha’s shadow fell over the grass beside her, that Darcy closed the book and looked up.
Martha sat beside her in the shade. “Darcy, have you wondered if Mr. Brennan will keep his word and visit us?”
With a sigh, Darcy leaned back against the tree. “I have not given it much thought.”
“I do not believe you,” Martha laughed.
“I mean not much thought today.” Darcy ran her hands through her locks with a smile. “I want him to visit us—out of curiosity.”
“I dare not ask for an explanation,” Martha said. “I know he said he’d come alone.”
“I doubt he shall.”
“Surely he will not bring Miss Roth and her little entourage?”
“Miss Roth would not stoop so low as to pay us a call. It is obvious she feels she is too good for us, too blue-blooded to grace us with her imperious self.”
“Perhaps he will bring Daniel Rhendon with him.” Martha looked hopeful.
Darcy reached over and cupped her cousin’s chin in her hand. “Yes, perhaps he will. We shall have to wait and see, won’t we?” She stood and stretched her arms. “I need a walk. Care to come along?”
“Not I. Mother wishes me to wash Dolley’s hair. She got into the honey earlier and how she managed to get it into her hair, the Lord only knows. Do not venture too far. You know how my mother worries.”
“Say nothing to her. But if she asks, tell her I have gone to fetch lady slippers for Uncle Will.”
When she reached the Potomac’s stony shore, she raised her hand above her eyes to spy out the opposite side. She slipped off her shoes, lifted her dress, and stepped into the water. The muddy bottom seeped between her toes. The swirl of water moved around her ankles in time with the sighing breeze.
In the middle of the river, a stretch of boulders gleamed in the sunlight smooth as a ship’s deck. Where she stepped the river was shallow, and she decided she would wade out to the stone ledge, sit upon it and watch the swallows and herons. Reaching it, she pulled up her legs and sat with her arms hugging her knees. The river flashed and murmured, and the sun grew into a great orange orb, surrounded by white thunderclouds.
“Lord, I wish I had someone to share this with.” She dipped her hand into the