Darcy and Elizabeth’s Valentine’s Meet Cute (Holidays with Darcy and Elizabeth)

6. Meeting Georgiana

CHAPTER 6

Meeting Georgiana

W hen she and her aunt arrived at Darcy House promptly at eleven, Elizabeth’s nerves were already high. But the sight of the grand townhouse only stirred her insecurities anew.

Before she could step out of the carriage, her gaze met Darcy’s. He had spotted their arrival from his study window and hurried outside to greet them.

“Miss Bennet, Mrs. Gardiner, welcome to Darcy House,” he said as they stepped onto the pavement. He offered his arm to Mrs. Gardiner, but she declined, allowing Elizabeth to take it instead.

His attention sent warmth to her cheeks, and she lowered her eyes, focusing on her steps as they climbed the stairs to enter the house.

Stepping inside, Elizabeth took in the house’s elegance with quiet astonishment. Beside her, Darcy seemed to notice her uncharacteristic silence and wondered about it. His own anxiety over introducing Elizabeth to his sister grew as well.

Elizabeth did not seem to notice the servants who took away her bonnet and cloak, nor when Darcy led her up the stairs to lead her to the library on the first floor. Instead of escorting the ladies into the drawing room where Georgiana awaited them, he turned instead into the library.

“Miss Bennet, are you well?” he asked quietly. Mrs. Gardiner stood to the side, having noticed her niece’s obvious discomposure and hoping the gentleman would be able to answer her far better than she would.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and took a moment to collect herself. “Forgive me, Mr. Darcy. I am overwhelmed by seeing your house for the first time and trying to remind myself of both my aunt’s words and those you said last evening.”

“It is just a house, Miss Bennet,” Darcy said, trying to tease the lady a little, hoping it would alleviate some of her concerns.

“Your townhouse is nearly as large as the manor on my father’s estate,” Elizabeth retorted.

Mrs. Gardiner laughed lightly. “You exaggerate, Lizzy, my dear. Longbourn is quite a bit larger. Perhaps not as fine,” she trailed off as she took in the room they had entered.

“Papa would swoon if he ever saw this,” Elizabeth chuckled, her nerves beginning to leave her. “He would never wish to leave.”

“Are you recovered, Miss Bennet?” Darcy asked, smiling at her fondly.

“Yes,” she replied, looking at him directly in his eyes for the first time. “Forgive my foolishness.”

Darcy chuckled slightly. “There is nothing to forgive, Miss Bennet. Come, let me introduce you to my sister.”

The introduction was less anticlimactic than Elizabeth might have thought. Georgiana was at first so shy that she barely spoke and certainly could not hold anyone’s eye for more than a moment. However, Elizabeth was gentle with her. Mrs. Gardiner sat at a distance and spoke quietly with Mr. Darcy while Mrs. Younge sat in a corner, looking at the visitors with a disapproving gaze. Darcy did not notice it, being caught up in watching his sister and Elizabeth, but Mrs. Gardiner did.

Having been warned by her husband of what to look for, she observed the companion nearly as closely as she did her niece and Miss Darcy. It was clear that Mrs. Younge did not appreciate this new friend, but Mrs. Gardiner could not be sure what the lady’s objection might be.

After nearly half an hour and once Georgiana had become more comfortable with Elizabeth’s presence, Darcy felt comfortable leaving the ladies to continue to speak while he attended to business in his study. “Stay as long as you like, ladies, and let me know when you have called for tea,” he said as he departed.

With him gone, Georgiana continued to open up to Elizabeth. “My brother likes you, Miss Elizabeth,” she said after he left.

“I like him too,” Elizabeth replied with a smile. “You seem to have a very good brother.”

Georgiana hesitated, glancing at where her brother had been sitting before lowering her gaze to her hands. She smoothed her skirt, her fingers twisting the fabric as she gathered the courage to speak. “I know he worries for me,” she began softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Because… because I do not always like to talk to strangers.”

She paused, stealing a glance at Elizabeth before continuing, her words slow and deliberate, as though carefully choosing each one. “There were not many girls my age near Pemberley, and… and Father did not often invite guests. My cousins are all older, so I never had much company my own age.” She swallowed, her voice faltering slightly. “My brother thought school would be good for me, and at first, I was glad to be among other girls. But… but none of them truly wished to be my friend.”

Her fingers twisted tighter in her lap, her next words coming in a rush, as if saying them quickly might make it easier. “The ones who spoke to me only wanted introductions to my brother. Others tried to push me towards their brothers. And some ignored me entirely because—because even though my grandfather was an earl and my brother is wealthy, my father was untitled.”

She took a steadying breath, lifting her gaze at last. “It felt as though no one cared for me , only for what I could offer them.”

“It is unfortunate that was your experience there,” Elizabeth said gently. “And, of course, your brother cannot introduce you to other young ladies your age, likely because he does not know any himself.”

Georgiana nodded. “He has a few friends with whom he regularly spends time, but they are closer to him in age. If they have unmarried sisters, they are likely older than me and will also attempt to make use of the connection. He has one friend, Mr. Charles Bingley, and his sister has befriended me, but it is obvious that she only wants to encourage the friendship because she thinks I will push my brother towards her.”

Elizabeth nodded, a little uncomfortable with such a topic so soon after meeting the girl, but it was apparent that she needed to speak about it with someone. Of course, the fact that Elizabeth was interested in her brother only made the feeling more pronounced.

“Miss Darcy, I would like to be your friend, but, well, this is awkward to say, but I also admire your brother. I do not know if anything will come of it, but I do not want to deceive you. However, I will say that regardless of what happens with your brother, I will still want to be your friend,” she confessed after a moment.

“Oh, I already knew that, Miss Bennet,” Georgiana said, speaking with more vigour than before. “It was clear from his request to introduce you to me that Brother is interested in you, and he told me how the two of you met. I also know he asked you to dance at my aunt’s ball, but that I heard from the servants.”

Elizabeth raised her brow at that. “Suddenly, my sense of what is right is warring with my curiosity to know what has been said. Surely you know you ought not to be listening to the gossip of servants,” she said with a grin, and Georgiana quickly picked up on the tease.

“I usually do not, but this gossip was too interesting. My brother is known to avoid dancing, so for him to ask you for a dance more than a sennight before a ball, well, it is certainly indicative of something,” Georgiana teased back. It was a successful tease, for Elizabeth’s cheeks flamed.

The ice was broken between them, and the girls chatted for a full hour with Mrs. Gardiner and Mrs. Younge looking on. The former was pleased with how well the two were getting along, while the latter was most displeased. It did not serve her purposes for the girl to make a friend, especially not one like this Miss Bennet who would draw the shy girl out of her shell and, even worse, might embolden her to stand up for herself.

At the end of the hour, Georgiana called for tea and requested that her brother be notified. He joined them, and the two Darcy and their guests continued their pleasant visit. Mrs. Younge remained aloof, and before they departed, Mrs. Gardiner privately informed Darcy about what she had noticed.

“I will speak to Georgiana again, away from Mrs. Younge, to see what she has to say, and perhaps you can speak to your niece about my concerns as well. Will the two of you be able to return tomorrow?”

Mrs. Gardiner replied in the affirmative, and Darcy escorted the ladies to the waiting carriage. When he returned, he listened briefly at the door and heard Georgiana and Mrs. Younge talking, but he could not make out any of their words. He would continue to investigate and watch, and if all were not as it should be, he would sack the lady, uncaring what Lady Catherine might think.

Elizabeth became a fixture at Darcy House, calling on her new friend daily. They found much in common and soon addressed each other by their Christian names. Elizabeth’s visits frequently began in the morning and lasted until the afternoon, so after the second visit on Friday, Mrs. Gardiner allowed Elizabeth to visit with a maid for company. The Gardiner carriage would convey her to Mayfair while the Darcy coach would bring her home.

The following Wednesday, the day before the St. Valentine’s Day ball, Elizabeth and Georgiana were laughing and talking pleasantly with each other when they were surprised by the butler announcing a guest. “A Miss Caroline Bingley is asking if you are at home, Miss Darcy,” he said, holding out a card.

“I am not at home to guests today, Morris. Please let her know that,” Georgiana replied quietly.

“Miss Darcy,” Mrs. Younge scolded. “Miss Bingley has been a good friend to your brother and to you. It is rude to refuse to see her.”

“But, Mrs. Younge, Miss Bingley is not my friend. She only wants to try to see my brother. Elizabeth and I are having a lovely visit, and I do not want to wish it,” Georgiana replied.

Mrs. Younge attempted to hide her anger and frustration at her charge’s refusal of the lady, but Elizabeth saw a glimpse of it and was indignant on behalf of her friend. She did not care for the companion and had said as much to her aunt, but the way she overrode Miss Darcy’s wishes in this matter and informed the butler to show the lady in was beyond the pale.

Resigned, Georgiana whispered a brief apology to Elizabeth and then seemed to ready herself to see her guest.

“Miss Darcy,” the newcomer said, her voice condescending and insincere, “how lovely it is to see you.”

“Miss Bingley,” Georgiana replied. “I am surprised to see you today. My brother told me that he informed you I was not yet out, meaning that I could not accept callers unless he or my aunt were present and only by invitation. Why have you come?”

“Miss Darcy!” Mrs. Younge scolded.

“Miss Darcy!” Miss Bingley cried, clearly shocked at the young girl standing up to her. Then she noticed another person in the room, and her face reddened in mortification at realising there was a witness to her humiliating treatment by a child . That feeling quickly morphed into anger, and she turned it against the stranger.

Elizabeth stiffened at the sharp, disdainful tone as the woman before her sneered. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?” Her voice dripped with contempt. “I was certain I knew all of Miss Darcy’s acquaintances, and if I am not permitted to visit, why on earth should you be?”

Her gaze raked over Elizabeth, assessing her attire with a practised eye. Though the quality of the fabric was beyond reproach, the design was less ostentatious than her own. But Miss Bingley had yet to learn that slavishly following the latest fashion did not always mean those designs would flatter the wearer.

Before Elizabeth could formulate a reply, a deep voice cut through the tense silence.

“ Miss Bingley! ”

Everyone turned at once. Mr. Darcy stood in the doorway, his expression thunderous.

“How dare you speak that way to a guest in my home?” His voice was calm, but the steel beneath it was unmistakable. “You do not know all of Georgiana’s friends, nor do either of us owe you an explanation for our invitations. Particularly when you were explicitly told not to call without one.”

His gaze locked onto Miss Bingley, cold and unyielding. “Why are you here?”

“Mr. Darcy,” she said, attempting to placate the angry gentleman. “Why, I told you the other night when you dined with the family that I had been missing dear Georgiana. I assumed that you did not truly mean that I was only to call with an invitation and opted to take a chance that the two of you would be at home.”

“Why would I tell you not to call if I did not mean it? And neither my sister nor I have permitted you to address her by her Christian name,” Darcy stated, incredulous at her audacity.

“I cannot understand why you would not wish me to visit Geor…Miss Darcy. We are such good friends,” Miss Bingley protested.

“No, we are not,” Georgiana said, speaking up for the first time, causing Darcy to turn to her with a smile. “I asked my brother to keep you from calling on me. It is improper for you to call on me in the first place; you stay far longer than propriety dictates; and you only come so you can attempt to ensnare my brother. You spent your visits enquiring about my brother, suggesting changes to the decor, and speaking of what you would do as mistress, all while assuming I did not understand what you were attempting to do. Since I have no desire to have you as a sister, I wished to stop your visits entirely, but as usual, you did as you wanted and did not care what the other person might want or think.”

Miss Bingley’s mouth gaped open, looking very much like a freshly caught fish. Georgiana and Elizabeth held back their laughter until the lady was shown out by the footman who had accompanied Mr. Darcy. They hid their faces as they attempted to compose themselves.

“Miss Bennet, I am sorry you were subject to such a display,” Darcy began, though his words were cut off by Mrs. Younge.

“Yes, Miss Darcy, I am quite ashamed of you. I am astounded that you could speak to a lady such as Miss Bingley in such a way. She may not be able to forgive you for such an insult, but you should write to her and apologise this instant. I will see your guests out,” Mrs. Younge said, oblivious to the thunderous look her works caused in the master of the house.

“You will do nothing of the sort. My sister will not apologise to that woman after what she pulled today. I expressly forbade her from calling on my sister, yet she came anyway. While I would not wish my sister to need to speak to people in such a way often, I am proud of her for standing up for herself,” Darcy retorted.

“Miss Darcy attempted to send the caller away, but Mrs. Younge insisted she be shown in,” Elizabeth whispered to Darcy, who had moved to stand between her and Georgiana during the confrontation as if he wished to protect them both.

“What?” he bit out, turning towards Mrs. Younge and demanding an explanation.

“It was rude for her to deny her friend,” she insisted.

“Miss Bingley is not her friend, and need I remind you that you are employed by me? I informed you weeks ago that Miss Bingley was not welcome here, and you apparently chose to ignore my wishes and those of my sisters. I think it best that you pack your things immediately,” Darcy replied.

“You cannot let me go in this manner,” she protested.

“Perhaps Miss Bingley will help you find a position since you value her words more than mine,” Darcy replied. “I expect you out of this house within the hour. A footman and maid will accompany you to your room to ensure nothing accidentally ends up in your trunks.”

The door was not closed, so the butler surreptitiously called two servants to accompany the companion to her room. He would also stand guard and do what he could to assist the lady. As soon as Mrs. Younge left the room, Morris told Darcy he needed to speak to him. Darcy stepped into the hallway to talk to him.

“Mrs. Younge left the drawing room about fifteen minutes after you left Miss Darcy with her guests. She returned downstairs, stepping outside to hand what I thought was a note to someone. Miss Bingley let it slip that she knew Miss Darcy had guests, so I think Mrs. Younge may have been in contact with Miss Bingley,” Morris whispered.

Darcy nodded, uncertain of what to do with this information. “Thank you, Morris. Let me know when she has left the house, and if you can, find out where she goes. I would not be surprised to learn she goes to Miss Bingley’s house after what you have told me.”

After taking a moment to rein in his anger, Darcy returned to his sister and guest. “Georgiana, I have asked you several times how you liked Mrs. Younge, but something tells me this is not the first time she has acted similarly. How often has she forced you to do as you bid, regardless of what you wanted?”

“It has become worse over the last week. She did not like my friendship with Elizabeth and was most vocal in criticising my friend. I intended to speak to you after the ball, but I did not want to say anything until then,” Georgiana admitted.

“Why wait until after the ball?”

“I just felt it was important and did not want to add to your troubles before then,” Georgiana replied, shrugging her shoulders.

Darcy looked at Elizabeth to see if she understood, but he did not pursue this further since she also looked confused.

“I will see what I can do about finding a new companion for you,” Darcy said after a moment. “It is astonishing to me to learn that Mrs. Younge was in contact with Miss Bingley, though I do not know why I am surprised. Miss Bingley will go to any lengths to force me to notice her. She has certainly done so today; however, I doubt she will be pleased to have earned my notice this way. Bingley was invited to the ball, and his sister will undoubtedly accompany him, but I will not speak to her, much less dance with her. I will send him a note about her behaviour today, but if she approaches me, I will cut her.”

Georgiana was slightly more shocked by this than Elizabeth, but it was Elizabeth who spoke. “Will this not harm your friend’s reputation?”

“That is why I intend to warn him. If she does not approach me, no one will ever know. If I must cut her, it will be because of her actions,” Darcy replied firmly.

Elizabeth could not challenge that reply and kept silent on the matter. After taking a few more moments to calm down, tea was ordered, and an hour later, Elizabeth was on her way home. She would not see Darcy again until the following night when he arrived at the Gardiners to escort them all to the ball.