Chapter 2 #2
The circumstances were peculiar, and he was inclined to put an end to such an odd friendship.
One moment he considered his concern natural and just; the next moment, he doubted his reasons for doing it.
Georgiana appeared to improve every day, and her smile was the best proof.
Did it really matter who was responsible for that happy result?
Since the countess was always with her, why worry about her being in any danger at all?
His greatest fear was that his sister might be deceived again and that she would have to bear another disappointment. She was not yet strong enough to withstand such a battle. But could he protect her from everything and everyone —and mostly from the dangerous enemy that was her own heart and mind?
Darcy needed only a few minutes to reach the countess’s town house. From the main hall, he heard the enchanting sound of music; Georgiana was practising.
He silently entered the music room. Inside, the countess was enjoying the performance while Georgiana was playing with a rarely seen smile on her face. A few minutes later, Miss Darcy rose to greet her brother. He kissed her hand then accompanied both ladies to the dinner table.
“Did you have a good day, Brother?” Georgiana inquired as dinner was served.
“As usual, my dear. I had a meeting with Mr. Sinclair, and I spent an hour at the club. And you?”
“I received a letter from Lady Matlock, which I answered. They are having a lovely time at their estate. She invited us to join them, but I told her it was unlikely. I am not even certain about our plans for Pemberley yet. You know, first I regretted staying in town these months, but now I am quite pleased. We met Miss Lizzy again today. She said she would leave Town soon to return home, but I trust we will meet again in the future. Perhaps we can keep up a correspondence. We did not talk about that, but maybe we will have a chance tomorrow. Oh, she is soooo amusing, Brother. I laugh several times whenever we meet.”
Darcy listened as his sister chatted, with a surprise he could not conceal. It was entirely uncommon for her —not only in light of recent events but also for Georgiana’s usual nature.
He suddenly became worried, and a strange coldness gripped his chest. He glanced at their aunt. The countess seemed perfectly at ease, wearing a slight smile.
“I can see you are quite animated about your new acquaintance. Would you not tell me more about her? What is her name? Where does she live? You mentioned she is taking care of her little cousins but nothing more. Is her family in trade? Can we confide in her?”
“Her father is a gentleman; he owns an estate,” Georgiana explained in a low voice as if attempting to protect her new friend from her brother’s mistrust.
“We do not know any more about her than she knows about us,” the countess intervened, “but it was enough for us to spend a few delightful hours together, which is precisely what we intended to do. Let us not be too serious about this.”
“I could no ask her for further details since I concealed my identity. It would have been rude to do so,” Georgiana explained to justify the rather peculiar situation.
“My dear, will you not tell me why you chose to do so? Why would you pretend to be someone else?”
“I do not pretend to be someone else, Brother. I just did not reveal my name. I apologise for upsetting you. I know you disapprove.”
“I do not disapprove, dearest. It just saddens me that I cannot understand why you are ashamed of the Darcy name.”
Georgiana paled, and she seemed unable to breathe. “I beg you not to say that, Brother. I believe it is the Darcy name that should be ashamed of me. I cannot…forgive me, I…I am sorry…”
Darcy leant towards her and took her hands in his.
“My beloved sister, it is I who am sorry for bringing up this subject. I had no right to do so…forgive me for disturbing you. Please feel free to do whatever you like. I wish only to know you are well and happy. Please do not trouble yourself so…” He kissed her hands, and she barely managed to contain her tears.
“I thank you, Brother…I am well. Forgive me for giving you so much trouble. There is nothing I can do to repay your kindness to me…”
“Oh, for Heaven’s sake, let us eat!” The countess’s mocking scold and her apparent severity reminded the siblings about proper manners during dinner.
“What is wrong with you both? This should be a time of relaxation and enjoyment. I am three times your age, and I seem to be the most lively and joyful one here! What shall I do with you? You are my only blood relatives, but you are very unlike me!”
Their attention turned towards the tasteful food, but no subject of conversation brought up by the countess could alleviate Georgiana’s sadness or Darcy’s worried countenance.
The evening progressed slowly and ended rather early with Georgiana playing for them.
But the earlier joy and liveliness seemed lost in her performance, and the sound of music fell heavily on their hearts.
Darcy could not decide whether to return home.
It was a warm summer night, lit by the stars.
His steps took him down the street towards Hyde Park, hastily as if he were eager to reach some destination.
But he had no place to go and nobody to see.
The Matlocks had long since left London for the summer; the colonel was with his regiment.
He realised that, except for his close family, there were no other people whose company he could enjoy in times of need and distress.
It was entirely his choice and for what he thought to be his comfort.
He loathed large gatherings, and there were few people he truly liked and trusted.
He often felt relieved to be allowed his solitude.
But at times —although rarely —the solitude turned into empty loneliness.
Bingley, his trusted friend, seemed too busy to see him —or simply wished to avoid him, just as his own sister did. And why would he not —why would they both not? Darcy was certainly in the habit of ruining everybody’s good mood; that was a well-known truth.
Just like Georgiana, Bingley had not been himself that entire year. Months had passed since they returned from Hertfordshire, but the amiable man who resided at Netherfield seemed to remain there because Darcy never saw him again.
After his painful argument with Elizabeth in Kent, he wondered several times whether he had been correct in his judgement regarding his friend and Miss Jane Bennet.
From Elizabeth’s heated anger and her tearful eyes as she spoke of her sister, he could easily guess that Miss Bennet was not as indifferent to his friend as he presumed.
As for Bingley, his changed temper and unwillingness to attach himself to any other young lady were proof of his broken heart.
Darcy’s intervention affected two apparently honest and faultless people.
Had he made that decision for Bingley’s benefit or for his own comfort?
Was it a desire to break any connection between himself and Miss Elizabeth Bennet?
Was it possible that he had ruined his friend’s happiness out of his own weakness and cowardice?
He walked along the paths, oblivious to other visitors enjoying a stroll in the park despite the late hour.
Elizabeth certainly would have enjoyed walking in the park after dinner.
But would she? His own folly made him laugh with disdain.
When would his preposterous thoughts become reasonable again?
Surely, he did not know what Elizabeth liked or disliked.
He had made a fool of himself without even learning his lesson.
He did not even know his own sister’s likes and dislikes; even worse, he was incapable of carrying on a single conversation without upsetting her. If not for their aunt, Georgiana would be lost —and he would have lost her forever.
Amelia, Countess of Hardwick, was the youngest sister of Darcy’s grandmother on his father’s side and only eight years older than the late Mr Darcy.
She had been married twice to two exceedingly wealthy and titled men, but she had not been blessed with children of her own.
Being again widowed at the age of sixty, she had decided to retire to her estate in Derbyshire, far from the tumult of London, and had spent the last three years there.
A large number of relatives from her husbands’ families visited her regularly, and she still ruled everyone and everything around her.
Once a great beauty, admired by peers and royals, she was still proud of her handsome features, which did not at all betray her age.
The Darcy siblings were her only blood relatives, and Lady Hardwick’s attachment to them was as strong as a mother’s would be.
Her estate was situated only a one-hour ride from Pemberley, and she had always been part of the Darcys’ life.
After Lady Anne tragically and painfully passed away, followed by George Darcy several years later, the countess was the greatest comfort to the two siblings.
Meanwhile, young Fitzwilliam Darcy, exceedingly skilful in the management of his estates, also took responsibility for her ladyship’s several properties.
Once she learned of her niece’s precarious emotional state, the countess abandoned her resolution and returned to London, becoming Georgiana’s closest companion.
So much faith did the girl have in her aunt that she willingly confessed to her the attempted elopement with George Wickham and everything that followed.
Darcy himself trusted his aunt enough to share with her the rest of the story about Wickham’s demands and betrayal. He was grateful for the countess’s support with Georgiana, but the tighter the bond grew between the two, the more Georgiana seemed to drift away from him.