Chapter 25
Thus began a pattern over the following weeks. On the days that Elizabeth went to the disability home, Darcy would escort her there and back. While she worked with the babies and girls, Darcy eventually brought different servants from his household to instruct the boys in all manner of duties, from the stables to the kitchens to the parlors.
When Elizabeth expressed her surprise at his involvement on one walk home, Darcy replied, “It is all thanks to you. It had not occurred to me that the lads would be lacking in instructors until I observed you the first few visits teaching the girls. I realized how few manservants or gentlemen volunteers were seen, including myself. I donated money, but it never occurred to me to donate time as well. You showed me how insufficient all my charity truly was.”
She blushed and looked down. “I can hardly claim the credit for it, when my aunt Gardiner has long been my guide and greatest support.”
“You give yourself too little credit, I think. I had not known you for more than an hour when I began to realize you were one of the most admirable women of my acquaintance. Your behavior towards your sister at Netherfield was further evidence of that.”
“Dearest Jane! Who could have done less for her? But make a virtue of it by all means.” Elizabeth’s discomfort at his praise gave rise to her playful nature. “My good qualities are under your protection, and you are to thus exaggerate them as much as possible. I shall not stop you.”
“There are some of us who have done quite less for a sibling,” Darcy said seriously. “You have been your sister’s defender, even at the risk of frightening off suitors or rejecting a comfortable living for yourself. Not many women would give the cut direct to a man of ten thousand a year for insulting their sister. I’ve known many women who give the insults themselves, all in the name of securing a husband of good fortune and connection. Your kind of integrity and virtue truly is a price far above rubies.”
Elizabeth felt as if her face would burst into flames.
Before she could think of a suitable reply, Darcy said, “Would you allow me, or do I ask too much, to introduce my sister to your acquaintance during your stay in London?”
The surprise of such an application was great indeed; Elizabeth was quite aware that very few people even knew of the existence of Miss Darcy, let alone had met her in person. “It would be my very great honor to meet Miss Darcy,” she said earnestly.
“She is… quite shy,” he said, “and I’m afraid her self-assurance and spirits are very low. Our nurse did her best to raise her with confidence, but between our father’s slights and her former maid’s abuse…”
His voice trailed off, and Elizabeth replied, “I can only imagine. I have suffered my mother’s complaints about my wild nature and conceited independence for years, as well as comparisons to Jane’s beauty, but I have always had my father, Sir William, Aunt and Uncle Gardiner—there have always been others who help me see the best in myself.”
“Precisely. Georgiana has only myself, her companion, a few servants, and on occasion, our Fitzwilliam relations. We are all either family or paid domestics, however, and she is hesitant to believe us.”
“Whereas I am a stranger, wholly unconnected with her, and therefore more likely to share the ‘truth,’ as it were.”
“I see we understand each other.”
“As opposed to before—”
“When you seemed to willfully misunderstand me at every turn,” Darcy interrupted with a smile.
“Ah, so he can be taught to tease! Well, sir, be warned: you may have now begun a war you cannot win.” Her eyes twinkled up at him.
“I look forward to doing battle with you.”
∞∞∞
Three days later, Elizabeth, Jamie, and Elizabeth’s maid—a tenant girl named Penny who had been sent for from Hertfordshire—set forth in the Darcy carriage which had been sent for them to Grosvenor Square where Darcy House was located. Penny’s eyes widened as the smaller homes of Gracechurch Street gradually grew into the large mansions of Mayfair.
When the carriage arrived, it was all Elizabeth could do to keep from gasping as she was handed down in front of the largest home she’d ever seen. The front steps were made of white stones, which gleamed brightly in the sunlight.
“Gee, Miss Lizzy,” whispered Penny, “he must pay a fortune to keep the stairs this clean.”
The different Highway Acts and Public Nuisance Laws over the decades—in an attempt to reduce the filth in London streets—had put the burden of maintaining the cleanliness of front steps and doorways on property owners. As the streets were covered with thick mud—primarily composed of horse droppings which were swept to the sides—most people chose colors of stone and brick that would mask the dirt as much as possible.
“Yes, I know,” Elizabeth said, “but come, we mustn’t gawk.”
Jamie, who had ungainly dismounted from the box seat by the coachman, walked behind the two girls. Penny handed Elizabeth’s card to the butler, who stepped aside and permitted them to enter.
Darcy stood just inside the door, and Elizabeth felt a flurry of butterflies rise in her stomach upon seeing him, which caused her to pause in confusion.
What do I have to be nervous about?
She pushed the thought aside, determined to think on it later. Instead, she moved forward to greet him. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy, for having me to your home. I am eager to make your sister’s acquaintance.”
He bowed low. “She is anxious to meet you as well. I hope you do not mind, but I told her she did not need to receive you at the door. Instead, she is in the music room.”
“Not at all,” she assured him.
“Then if you will follow me.”
He extended his arm, and together the two of them walked down the long corridor, followed closely behind by Penny and Jamie. As they did so, Elizabeth could not help but admire the rich, yet tasteful, furnishings. “Your home is quite lovely,” she told Darcy.
“Thank you. Georgiana had the assistance of my aunt, Lady Matlock, in redecorating last year. Everything was quite out of date before that, having last been done by my mother before her… confinements.”
His arm tensed on the last word, and Elizabeth gently gave him a reassuring squeeze before realizing what she had done. Quickly, to cover her embarrassment, she asked, “Lady Matlock?”
“Yes, my uncle’s wife. You… you did not know that my mother’s elder brother is an earl?”
She gave a startled little laugh. “I think I do vaguely remember Miss Bingley saying something about that, but I had entirely forgotten.”
He shook his head and looked at her admiringly. “Only you, Miss Bennet. Only you.”
She did not get a chance to ask his meaning, as they had arrived at their destination. A young woman sat at the piano, engrossed in a melody. Darcy led Elizabeth into the room and cleared his throat, causing the girl’s hands to immediately stop their movement. Her back, however, remained facing the newcomers.
“Georgiana, dear, I would like to introduce you to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Miss Bennet, this is my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy.”
“Miss Darcy, I am so pleased to finally meet you at last. I have heard much about you.” Elizabeth gave a curtsy, even though she knew it would not be seen.
“Ello.”
The voice was very quiet—so soft that Elizabeth almost couldn’t hear it. She let go of Darcy’s arm and took a few steps closer until she was at the girl’s side.
“This is a beautiful instrument you have here! I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anything so fine.” She placed a hand gently on one of the keys, stroking the ivory.
“Y vrother gave it to ee.”
“That was very generous of him! I admit to being quite envious. I have only four sisters, you see, and no brothers.”
“I alvays vanted a sister.” Georgiana’s face was still bowed down towards the piano, her long hair falling forward to hide her face from view.
Elizabeth sat on the piano bench next to her. “Well, I am always willing to share one of mine at any time you would like. I must warn you, however, that they are prone to taking ribbons without asking and always finding my hidden stash.”
Georgiana let out a startled giggle, and her surprise caused her to instinctively look up at Elizabeth. Knowing this was the moment that would forever determine her relationship with this girl, Elizabeth forced herself to keep a pleasant look on her face, no matter how much she wished to wince in sympathy when she saw the thick, red scars above Georgiana’s mouth extending into her nose.
For the younger girl’s part, when she realized she had shown herself, she gasped and buried her face in her hands. Elizabeth tsked and reached forward, pulling Georgiana’s hands from her face. Cupping Georgiana’s chin with one hand, Elizabeth lifted the younger girl’s head until she was looking at Elizabeth directly through tear-filled eyes.
“My dear Miss Darcy, you have no reason on earth to hide from me. You are beautiful.”
At this, Georgiana burst into heaving sobs and threw herself into Elizabeth’s arms. Surprised, Elizabeth almost lost her balance and would have toppled herself, Georgiana, and the bench over onto the floor had Darcy not instantly been at Elizabeth’s side to steady her. Thanks to his large hand on her back, she was able to place her arms around the weeping girl, holding her and stroking her hair while murmuring soft words of comfort.
After a quarter of an hour, Georgiana’s cries faded into soft whimpers and the occasional hiccup. At last, Elizabeth helped the girl sit back and mop her face with a handkerchief. “There now. Does that feel better?” Georgiana nodded shyly, and Elizabeth said, “I find that sometimes when I have so many emotions inside of me, I need a good, long cry to help get it all out.”
This was said more for Darcy’s benefit, as he was still standing next to the piano bench, hovering worriedly over the two ladies. He relaxed and nodded his gratitude in response.
At his movement, Georgiana looked around, and for the first time, she noticed that there were other people present in the room. She tried to hide her face from Jamie and Penny, but Elizabeth once again pulled the girl’s fingers from her face before saying, “Jamie, Penny, could you both come here, please?”
Georgiana watched with wide eyes as Jamie limped over to the piano, following behind Penny. “I know it typically isn’t done,” Elizabeth said, “but I hope you will indulge me for a moment. I would like you to first meet Jamie.”
As Elizabeth shared Jamie’s story, Georgiana peered at him through wide eyes and long eyelashes. When the tale was finished, Elizabeth then turned to Penny. “This is Penny. Her family are tenants on my father’s estate, Longbourn. When your brother asked if I would like to meet you, I sent for Penny and asked if she would be my lady’s maid for the remainder of my stay in London.”
Penny gave Georgiana a friendly smile, who cautiously returned it. Elizabeth continued, “Penny, could you tell Georgiana a bit about your younger sister, Polly?”
Darcy gave a small start at this, and Elizabeth glanced over at him with a quick smile and a wink. He grinned at her, revealing for the first time a very attractive dimple on his right cheek. The sight made her feel a tad lightheaded, and when she finally regained her senses, Penny had begun explaining about her younger sister who was also born with a harelip.
“There are other eeple like ee?” Georgiana asked in amazement.
“Oh, yes,” Elizabeth said. “I will be truthful and say that most who are your age do not have scars as thick or dark as yours, but that is because their mouths were repaired as babies. But not all are able to be fixed entirely. I have seen children here in London who have splits not just on the lip, but also inside the mouth on the top. I believe it’s one of the most common problems that children are born with, at least as far as I can tell.”
“Can I eet one?”
Elizabeth exchanged glances with Darcy. “As of right now, there aren’t any children at the disabilities home that have a harelip. I can, however, speak with my aunt and see if she knows of someone who has perhaps taken a position nearby. Or,” Elizabeth hesitated, now not daring to look at Darcy again, “if you ever happen to come to Hertfordshire, I am certain we can arrange for you to meet Polly. She is too young to come to London right now, of course.”
The young girl’s shoulders fell, and Elizabeth sought to turn the conversation to something else. “Now, what was that beautiful piece you were playing when I came? I don’t see any sheet music here, and I didn’t recognize the melody.”
Georgiana’s eyes lit up. “Oh! It is by Ludvig von Veethoven! The fiece is Sonata für das Hammerklavier, or Fiano Sonata Numfer 24. Some feople say it is called à Thérèse because Herr Veethoven dedicated it to his student, Countess Thérèse von Vrunsvick, vut…”
The two young ladies spent the next hour discussing piano music. Elizabeth was extremely impressed, not only by the younger girl’s incredible talent on the piano itself, but also her knowledge about composers, music pieces and their history, and music theory.
At last, the visit came to an end, but not before the two new friends were on a first-name basis. Georgiana gave Elizabeth a fierce hug in farewell. “Vill you come vack, Lizzy?”
Over Georgiana’s head, Elizabeth looked at Darcy, who gave a tiny nod. “Of course, dear Georgiana,” she answered, pouring all her emotions into the tight embrace.
“Come, Miss Darcy, it is time for the dance master,” Mrs. Annesley said, approaching the group. She had been briefly introduced at the beginning of the visit but chose to remain in the corner with Penny so the new acquaintances could be free to interact without inhibition.
Darcy again escorted Elizabeth down the corridor. “I cannot begin to express my gratitude, Miss Bennet. I have never seen my sister as… free as she was in your company.”
“She is a darling girl, Mr. Darcy. You have done a wonderful job with her.”
He shook his head. “What you saw today, Miss Elizabeth—that was a miracle. Believe me when I say that Georgiana spoke more words and laughed more times in the last two hours than in the last two years together.” At Elizabeth’s disbelieving look, he widened his eyes and nodded emphatically. “You may appeal to Mrs. Annesley—or even the housekeepers here and at Pemberley—for the truth if you do not believe me, but I assure you that I am not exaggerating.”
She chuckled softly. “Peace, Mr. Darcy. I believe you, although I rather wish I didn’t, for it makes me quite sad on your sister’s behalf. She has endured much sorrow, it seems, and I am glad to have been able to bring her comfort.”
“You have done much more than that, Miss Bennet. You have brought hope.”
He lifted his free hand and covered hers where it rested on his other arm. In turn, she placed her remaining hand on top of his. They stopped at the doorway in this manner, looking deeply into one another’s eyes. His thumb moved slowly, gently caressing the hand beneath it.
A small jolt of lightning shot up from the place where they touched and went to her heart, then down to her navel. Without thinking, she leaned closer into him until their bodies were barely brushing against one another. His eyes dropped down to her lips, and her tongue darted out to lick them.
He groaned, his head lowering towards hers. Her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes fluttered closed.
“Ahem.”
The sound of a throat clearing slammed through the haze and into Elizabeth’s consciousness as if she’d been shot. She jolted backwards, nearly losing her balance, and Darcy released her hands to grasp her arms and steady her.
“I believe, Miss Lizzy, that the carriage is ready,” Jamie said with a scowl on his face.
“Are you quite all right, Miss Bennet?” Darcy asked, ensuring she had regained her balance before releasing her.
“Yes, thank you,” she answered, flustered. “Right, Jamie. I suppose… perhaps we had best be on our way, shall we?”
Her voice sounded shrill in her ears—almost like her mother’s—and she winced inwardly. Blushing furiously and looking anywhere except at the other people in the room, she finally focused her eyes on her shoes.
“Shall I see you tomorrow, then, to escort you to the disabilities home?”
Elizabeth could hear the mild amusement in Darcy’s voice, and it gave her the courage to face him. Straightening her shoulders, she looked up into his face. The retort she had prepared died on her lips when she saw the fire burning in his gaze. Instead, she licked her lips again—a small smile forming on her lips when his eyes darkened—and said huskily, “Yes, I do believe you shall.”
∞∞∞
The entire ride home from Darcy House, all Elizabeth could think about was the intensity with which Darcy had looked at her. For the first time in her life, she felt herself in danger of falling in love. Instead of feeling dismay or fear, however, she felt invigorated and alive.
She arrived at Gracechurch Street and practically floated down from the carriage, feeling lighter than air. Each step towards the house was like walking on a cloud, and she ignored the dark looks Jamie was sending her way. They would have to speak about her change in attitude towards Darcy, but for now she wished only to bask in the blissful feelings of loving and—hopefully—being loved.
When she entered the front door, however, she was greeted by an anxious Mrs. Gardiner. “Oh, Lizzy, I am so glad you are back.”
Frowning, Elizabeth said, “You knew I was to visit Miss Darcy and that it might take several hours if things went well. Has something happened?”
Mrs. Gardiner extended her hand, holding a sealed envelope. “An express has come for you from Netherfield.”
Elizabeth felt the blood drain from her face, and she started to sink to the floor. Jamie caught her around the waist with his good arm. “C’mon, Miss Lizzy, let’s get you to the parlor.”
He helped her into the room, with Mrs. Gardiner and Penny trailing behind anxiously. Once Elizabeth had been seated on the sofa, he stepped back to stand by Penny in the corner. Mrs. Gardiner rang for tea, then sat next to her niece.
“Would you like me to open your letter?”
Elizabeth shook her head, then mutely held out her hand. Mrs. Gardiner handed the missive over, and Elizabeth broke the seal and read.
Dear Sister,
As wonderful as it is to be able to call you that, I am afraid I am sending this letter with sad news. Jane’s heart and lungs have worsened significantly, and Mr. Jones says she may only have a few more weeks left to live, but it could also be a couple of months. There is no way to know for sure.
Jane has asked for your presence, and Charles has begged me to write and bid you come home.
I know you planned to stay in London for another month or two, but I fear that there is a chance Jane may not last that long. Please come to Netherfield as soon as you are able to make arrangements.
Knowing of your love for your sister, I have sent orders to our house in town to prepare one of the carriages for your convenience. Simply send a note to 23 Wimple Street in care of the housekeeper with the day you plan to return, and she will ensure it is sent to you.
With all my love,
Louisa