he said, looking at Darcy. ‘Darcy striding in with his nose in the air. You look horrified, my friend, but it is so! I have seen it.’ He turned to Elizabeth.
‘You have married a proud man, Elizabeth, from a noble line. He has ever been thus.’
‘But Elizabeth has made him more human. And now he must dance,’ said Sophia. ‘Darcy, you must partner me.’
‘And the lovely Elizabeth must be my partner,’ said Alfonse, bowing.
They took to the floor again. Elizabeth found herself becoming more used to the galliard, and she could soon dance it without having to watch the other dancers. It was an energetic dance, and the room resounded with the sound of the gentlemen landing on the floor as they leaped and twirled.
Other dances followed, all equally strange, and Elizabeth had to concentrate on the steps of each one in turn so that she was glad when it was finally time for supper.
As she was going into the supper room, she felt a frisson of some strange emotion and her eyes turned, almost against her will, to the shadows in the corner, where she saw the man in the strange mask again.
‘Who is that?’ she asked.
‘Who?’ asked Giuseppe.
Elizabeth turned back to the man in the strange mask, but he had gone.
‘Never mind,’ said Giuseppe, ‘you will see who he is at the unmasking after supper.’
Elizabeth enjoyed the food as she enjoyed the company. There was noise and good humour and laughter. The food was good and plentiful and the wine was very fine. The Italians took it seriously, pronouncing on the flavours and discussing the vineyards and even the grapes from which it was made.
Everyone ate, though those in full face masks found it more difficult than others. They lifted the corners of their masks carefully and ate sparingly, so as not to reveal their faces. There were many guesses as to the identity of the different guests, and by the end of supper, there was a buzz of excitement as it would soon be time for the unmasking.
They moved through into the ballroom, where the musicians played quietly, forming a background to the chatter, until, at the stroke of midnight, there was a loud chord from the violins and Sophia and Giuseppe demanded everyone’s attention.
‘You have all been very patient…’ began Sophia, raising her voice so that she would be heard above the hubbub.
Shushhhing sounds ran round the room and the hubbub quieted.
‘You have all been very patient,’ said Sophia again, speaking more quietly now that she did not have to compete with the general noise, ‘but now the moment has arrived. Signore e Signori, remove your masks!’
There was a rustle as the guests, as one, removed their masks to reveal smiling, excited faces. There were cries of surprise, as well as cries of recognition, with many voices saying they had already guessed the hidden identities, some truthfully, others less so.
Elizabeth was congratulated by those around her, and Darcy moved to her side, saying, ‘Did you enjoy it, your first masked ball?’
‘Yes, very much,’ she said. ‘We might think of holding something similar at Pemberley. It would be fun and I am sure Georgiana would like it.’
‘Whatever you wish,’ he said.
The evening was drawing to a close. Some of the guests were leaving, thanking Sophia and Giuseppe for a marvellous evening, and thanking Elizabeth too, for the ball had been in her honour. Elizabeth and Darcy added their thanks, and once the other guests had left, they too went down to the canal.
It was only as she was stepping into the gondola that Elizabeth realised she had not seen the strange man at the unmasking, but she forgot him as soon as she lay back in Darcy’s arms. The gondolier was singing as he began to ply his oar, moving the boat forward along the Grand Canal, and their way was lit by moonlight.
The romantic atmosphere exerted its charm: once back at the palazzo, when Darcy escorted Elizabeth to her door, and he kissed her on the lips: no tortured token this, but one of deep longing.
‘Good night, Lizzy,’ he said softly, and as he left her there, she shivered with anticipation, thinking: soon, soon.
She undressed slowly for she was tired, and when she had put on her nightgown, she gave a yawn and climbed into bed. She blew out the candle and lay for some time in a hazy state between sleeping and waking as she relived the evening, until at last the sound of the