The young man standing in corner of the room was tall, dark, handsome, and from the look and quality of his clothes, very well off. Of course his good looks mattered little to nothing to the match-making mama's who after gossiping some time over his supposed worth - they finally came to an agreement of at least forty thousand pounds per year - decided that he was assuredly the most handsome man at the event. Their young daughters, romantically inclined or simply mercenary were also appreciating the young man's good looks and good situation in life accordingly.
The young man was intelligent and quick but yet failed to notice the looks that were being slyly or bashfully thrown at him.
Another gentleman, still quite young but already a veteran in the 'little games' husband catchers played when 'hooking' for their intended 'fish', saw the looks the mamas were making at their prey. He then quickly determined that the young man had a definite aura of oblivion about him and quickly went over to save him from the eminent danger.
"Excuse me sir but if you will please join me in the card room." The young veteran requested.
The mysterious young man looked at him quizzically and still stood there as though waiting for an explanation to the veteran's short and direct words.
"I will explain everything once we have retreated from the display window of the ton."
At that the young man looked around him as though for the first time and upon noticing all of the unattached females in the room staring at him intently, paled and quickly marched towards the card room. The young veteran walked off behind him after shooting a parting scowl at the collected ladies of the room - who of course did not care what kind of attention they got from young, handsome, rich and eligible men, as long as it was attention.
"I am now indebted to you for saving me from a most precarious situation." Offered the mysterious young gentleman. "Is there any way I can possibly repay you?"
"Come my good man, it was something any gentleman would do for a fellow bachelor in need."
But immediately after proclaiming this to the entire card room and meeting with murmured agreements he looked back at his newly acquired friend and saw him stiffen and turn away. The young veteran circled to once more to face the stranger and inquired to what was wrong.
"I am not a bachelor", stated the young man drawing the stares of the rooms occupants, he continued "I am a widower." And with that he crossed the room to the door and left.
Posted on Saturday, 7 September 2002
Fitzwilliam Darcy was just turned twenty-three and was fully enjoying the endless freedom of a young, rich, handsome, and most importantly single man. He had joined with his cousin Richard Fitzwilliam into agreeing to prolong an inevitable marriage and the shackles of responsibility for as long as possible.
Darcy never gave much thought to all the ladies who congregated around him at every social event. He was vain enough to believe that he could outwit a mercenary mama and her empty-headed doe eyed daughters any day of the week. The only place they had in his thoughts were the times getting ready for an event, when Darcy would cringe in apprehension of the simpering and fawning that would come.
On the night of the Greyham's monthly or so ball, Darcy was mentally steeling himself for the pointless drivel and gossip that the ladies of the ton would insist on telling him. They actually never talked to him for the purpose of talking but to spread to their object of desire, Darcy, the horrible gossip circulating about their rivals for his non-existent attention.
It was of course well known that the younger Fitzwilliam and Darcy had sworn to remain single care free men for as long as possible, longer rather sooner. Actually, society's knowing this was no big surprise. They knew all they could find out about Darcy, his ten thousand per year, and his great estate in Derbyshire. The society cared little for Richard. He was a second son and therefore not in line to inherit anything except the title of Earl's son and the very slight possibility of becoming Earl himself if his brother should pass up the title or die. This was a very slim chance and the ladies of society did not want to risk taking it. Richard was in the gossip this particular time only because it was with him that Darcy had sworn to remain bachelor.
Tonight at the Greyham's they both planned to dance as little as required without seeming rude and then slip off to sanctuary in the card room, the men's safe haven away from their studies and libraries.