Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Darcy glanced at Georgiana, who was humming softly, her hands brushing over the folds of her gown. There was a radiance about her that he had not seen for many months, which had appeared the instant he informed her of Miss Bennet and Lady Acaster’s intended stay.
She caught him watching her and smiled shyly. “Am I disturbing you?”
Tenderness caught in his throat. “Never,” he answered roughly. “I was only thinking of how delightful you sound.”
Georgiana blushed and fell silent. Darcy wished he had not spoken. Once, Georgiana would have spent the day singing or playing the pianoforte, but his sister’s innocent enjoyment of life had disappeared the moment she had learnt of George Wickham’s deception.
“Am I to assume that this good mood is due to Miss Bennet’s impending arrival? There was a time when you were great friends,” he asked gently. “Mr Derwent went with the coach about an hour ago. She and her aunt could arrive at any moment.”
For a fleeting, heartbreaking moment, Georgiana’s face blossomed into an expression of the purest delight, only to be replaced by a look of uncertainty. “I am anticipating seeing her again.” Her voice fell to an almost whisper. “I only hope that she does not find me too greatly changed.”
“I am certain that you will be as firm friends as you were before.” Darcy prayed Miss Bennet had grown to be a quiet, demure young woman and not one of those awful fawning creatures that were often seen preening themselves in the ballrooms of London.
Not for the first time, he found himself questioning his decision to allow Lady Acaster and her niece to stay at Pemberley.
It would be unbearable should Georgiana suffer another disappointment.
The sound of wheels on gravel signalled their visitors’ arrival.
Georgiana’s face was an endearing mixture of apprehension and anticipation.
Mindful to soothe her nerves, Darcy observed, “Miss Bennet will be conscious of the great privilege of befriending a member of the Darcy family. I am sure she will make every effort to be agreeable—there is nothing to fear.”
Unfortunately, his words of reassurance did little to ease Georgiana’s anxious expression. Standing, he offered his hand to his sister. “Let us extend Pemberley’s warmest welcome to our guests.”
They stationed themselves at the bottom of the principal staircase.
Next to Darcy, Georgiana worried the hem of her sleeve.
Wordlessly, he reached out and laced his fingers with hers, squeezing them in reassurance.
Rarely did he openly show affection, and his unexpected action caused her to smile in surprise.
The footman announced their guests’ arrival. Immediately, he dropped his hand.
“My dear Miss Darcy!” An elegant woman of about fifty stepped through the open door, her hands outstretched. “How overjoyed I am to see you again! The resemblance to your mother is remarkable.”
Georgiana stiffened as Lady Acaster drew her into an embrace, and Darcy swiftly intervened, diverting the older woman’s attention away from his sister. Lady Acaster greeted him with equal warmth—though mercifully without the superfluous physical contact.
“You will remember, of course, my niece Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” Lady Acaster gestured to a young woman who was discreetly waiting a few steps behind.
As she moved out of her aunt’s shadow and into the light, Darcy could not help but stare.
The Miss Bennet of his memory was a girl, all knees and elbows and prone to scrapes.
Standing before him was undoubtedly the most bewitching woman he had ever beheld.
Miss Bennet’s face was the shape of a heart, with delightfully angular cheekbones that curved into a delicate chin.
Dark, expressive eyes looked up expectantly at where he and Georgiana were standing, and her lips—sensual and full—curved into a smile so beautiful that it could surely stop a man’s heart.
Darcy swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.
Perversely, he was filled with the fleeting hope that Miss Bennet might have a grating voice, if only because it meant that she was in possession of some imperfection.
“Dearest Miss Darcy!” Miss Bennet’s eyes creased with delight, and she greeted Georgiana with genuine warmth, her voice sweet and melodious.
She clasped his sister’s hands in hers, but when she turned to Darcy some of the light faded from her face.
He bowed low, grateful for the excuse to compose himself at the shock of her transformation.
Miss Bennet curtseyed in return; her manner was polite, yet her expression remained guarded.
“I must thank you, Mr Darcy, for your hospitality towards me and my aunt. You are very generous.”
“The pleasure is mine, Miss Bennet,” Darcy heard himself say.
Truthfully, until this moment, he had only thought of his guests in relation to the satisfaction they might bring Georgiana.
Now that he stood in front of the delightful Miss Bennet, he was suddenly overcome with the unprecedented desire to pay a woman he hardly knew a compliment and added awkwardly, “I—we—are happy to see you again.”
A faint blush adorned her cheeks. “You are all kindness,” she replied in a low voice.
There was a pause, then to his right, Darcy espied his housekeeper waiting patiently.
He motioned towards the estimable servant, ready to make his introductions and to reassure his guests of Mrs Reynolds’ proficiency in seeing to their comfort.
To his astonishment, Miss Bennet gasped in delight and hurried towards his housekeeper, taking her hand into hers with an affectionate squeeze. It was as though she were meeting a long-forgotten family member. “My dear Mrs Reynolds! How I have missed you!”
Darcy’s brow contracted. He could not recall any great partiality between Miss Bennet and Mrs Reynolds. Open-mouthed, he witnessed the unimaginable: his practical and unemotional housekeeper wiped away a tear of joy at Miss Bennet’s arrival.
“You look lovely, Miss Bennet. Quite the fine young lady, if I may say!” Mrs Reynolds took a step back to admire the lace on the younger woman’s gown.
His housekeeper then caught sight of the impressively turned-out Lady Acaster and curtseyed swiftly, her entire demeanour suddenly returned to one of deferential respect.
“Mrs Reynolds will see to your every need, should you require any assistance.” Darcy’s introduction felt unnecessary after Miss Bennet’s warm greeting, but he made it all the same. “I am sure you will be weary after your travels. Dinner is at five o’clock. I hope you are not too tired to join us?”
Lady Acaster accepted with a gracious nod of the head.
“I wish to hear all that has happened since I last had the pleasure of your company.” She motioned for Miss Bennet to return to her side.
“Pemberley is just as elegant as I remember, but you must allow me to note that you are greatly changed from the serious little fellow I met years ago.”
In the presence of anyone else, Darcy might have been annoyed by this presumptuous remark, but he caught the lively sparkle in Miss Bennet’s eyes at her aunt’s observation and, not wanting to appear churlish, swallowed his irritation.
He glanced again at Miss Bennet. Could this elegant, graceful woman really be the same spirited, headstrong maiden of my remembrances?
Truthfully, he replied, “Permit me to say that I am not the only one who seems different. I am sincerely looking forward to becoming better acquainted with you both.”