Free Pemberley to Waterloo: Georgiana Darcy's Diary, Volume 2 by Anna Elliott

back here for this--I brought you in here because I have something I want to give to you."
    "What is it?"
    "Your Christmas present." Edward grinned again as he reached into the pocket of his uniform coat. "Close your eyes first."
    I did close my eyes--and as I did, I felt myself thinking, Please let me like whatever it is he's giving me.
    Because I had no idea what Edward would have chosen for me. Gifts are so hard--even my brother hardly ever gets me exactly what I would have chosen for myself. And this was such a lovely night--it would spoil it a little if I had to pretend to be delighted. Or if Edward realised my delight was just pretence.
    But then I felt him place something into my gloved hand. I opened my eyes--and instantly drew in my breath. "Oh, how lovely!"
    It was a ring, but the design was unlike any I'd seen before. Two tiny golden hands clasped a heart fashioned from a sea-green emerald, which itself was topped by a golden crown.
    "Do you really like it?" Edward asked. He was watching my face. "They're fairly common in Ireland. Claddaugh rings, they're called. They're often given as betrothal or wedding gifts. The hands are for friendship, the heart is for love, and the crown for loyalty, so the story goes. I saw this one in the window of a jeweller's shop in Galway, and it made me think of you, somehow. But if you'd rather have something else--" he added quickly. Probably because my eyes were starting to brim over with sudden tears.
    "It's perfect." I wiped my eyes with the tips of my gloved fingers and gave him a shaky smile. "I'm sorry--I've always thought crying from happiness completely idiotic. But I can't seem to help it. I love the ring." I took off my glove and slid it onto my finger. The gold already felt warm against my skin. "It's absolutely, completely perfect."
    So was the rest of the ball, really.
    A group of mummers from the village dressed in spangled paper caps and coloured ribbons came in and performed a play of Saint George and the Dragon. And then the Christmas cake was brought in and cut and served. And Edward and I talked and danced.
    I did look around for Kitty a few times. But I couldn't see her anywhere. Though I did see Caroline, looking very grand in a bright-yellow gown, the skirt and sleeves slashed with pale-green silk and the neckline embroidered with green rosettes. Frank was speaking to her. And they were too far away for me to overhear what he was saying, but it looked as though he were asking her to dance. And Caroline was refusing, a peevish-looking frown on her face.
    I also saw Caroline inveigle my brother into dancing with her. Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth were sitting on the settee at the side of the ballroom--because of course Elizabeth finds it tiresome to be on her feet for any great length of time. Edward was a short distance away, talking to Mr. Waterstone, who has an estate some ten miles away. Moments before, we had both been speaking to him--but I excused myself to Mr. Waterstone and went to check on Elizabeth, to make sure she was feeling all right and to ask whether there was anything I could get for her.
    That was when Caroline came flouncing up in a swirl of yellow skirts and dropped to perch beside Fitzwilliam on the settee. "Come, Darcy." She put a hand on his arm. "You must dance at least once tonight. You are our host, after all." I give her credit that she didn't go so far as to bat her eyelashes at him. But she spoke in a low, throaty tone, teeth flashing in a smile. She gave Elizabeth a brief, dismissive flick of a glance. "I'm sure you won't mind my borrowing your husband for a short while, will you? It does seem so very unfair that he should be unable to enjoy the festivities at his own ball as much as the rest of us."
    My brother's face stiffened and went blank of all expression--the way it does when he's either offended or angry. He opened his mouth, and I'm sure he was going to refuse. But Elizabeth stopped him before he could, smiling brightly and