Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Within a month, Georgiana was transformed.
It was nothing short of alchemy; Darcy could offer no other explanation.
For too long his sister had pined away, isolating herself within the perturbances of her troubled mind, and now, only a short while into Miss Bennet and Lady Acaster’s stay, she had dined, laughed, and wandered the gardens for hours at a time.
Gone was the worrying pallor in her face, replaced with the bright flush of exercise caused by the honest pleasure of walking about in the fresh air.
Vanished, too, was her constant self-doubt.
In its place was that quiet, good-humoured merriment that comes when one is truly at ease with a kindred soul.
There have been no reports of unsettled nights, thought Darcy as he watched his sister and her new friend.
Of Miss Bennet’s influence, there could be no doubt.
Georgiana had hardly left the young woman’s side, and they were forever giggling or conversing together.
The party had gathered in the drawing room after dinner.
This was the time of day in which Darcy spent the longest in his guests’ company, and he had begun to anticipate it with no small amount of pleasure.
Lady Acaster was an entertaining and well-informed conversationist, bursting with stories regarding the scandalous happenings of London.
Yet despite the enjoyment he took from the older woman’s discourse, his gaze constantly drifted towards her lively niece.
Surreptitiously, he observed Georgiana and Miss Bennet pore over some fashion magazines.
In appearance they looked so different, but by their happy chatter one might easily mistake them for family, if not sisters.
Overcome with the desire to enter their conversation, he considered joining them but swiftly doused that impulse.
What use would he be in a discussion of lace or bodices or any other fabric that might adorn a woman’s body?
His throat tightened. Unbidden, a vision of Miss Bennet, her delightful figure draped in the softest of silks, appeared in his mind’s eye.
He forced the image away, for nothing would ever come from entertaining that line of thought, alluring as it might be.
A tinkle of laughter came from Miss Bennet, and he watched her point towards one of the dresses.
Warm firelight illuminated the delicate lines of her face.
What was she speaking of that caused her hands to move with such animation?
Addressing Lady Acaster, who had begun reading, he asked, “It appears your niece and my sister have much to discuss. What can you tell me of Miss Bennet’s situation?
” He spoke quietly, so as not to disturb the lady in question, who was on the other side of the room, unaware of his attention.
Lady Acaster looked up from her book in surprise.
He felt compelled to clarify himself, albeit clumsily.
“I can scarcely recognise her from the girl who arrived on my father’s doorstep.
Five years is no time at all, but I cannot believe they are the same person.
This must be your influence. How long has she lived with you? ”
An inquisitive light danced in Lady Acaster’s shrewd eyes.
“I do not know what your father told you of Elizabeth’s circumstances.
She is one of five sisters. Her father is my step-brother, and we grew up on a modest estate in Hertfordshire.
As an heiress, I married well. Unfortunately, my brother did not.
” At Darcy’s raised brow, she qualified hastily, “Elizabeth's mother is of a respectable merchant family, but her union with my dear brother Bennet has not been happy. Their temperaments are ill-suited, their situation aggravated by the tragedies that have befallen the family. When Elizabeth was about thirteen, one of her younger sisters was struck down with smallpox and remains an invalid, requiring constant care. Poor Kitty’s illness meant there was little time dedicated to the other girls, and I could see there was a danger of their education being neglected. Upon perceiving their predicament, I took an interest in my nieces’ well-being, and I became particularly drawn to Elizabeth.
Her lively disposition amuses me, and her quick mind is identical to that of my brother.
When your father asked whether I knew of any young girl who might be a friend to Miss Darcy, I thought at once of Elizabeth.
After her stay at Pemberley, she returned to Longbourn, but Kitty’s health meant that Mrs Bennet wished for fewer children in the house, and Elizabeth was sent to live with other relatives, only returning home occasionally.
About a year ago, her mother wrote to me, requesting that I take her under my wing permanently.
I was happy to oblige. Mrs Bennet’s hope is that I might see Elizabeth comfortably married. ”
She paused and regarded Darcy as though to consider how he might receive this disclosure. Uncomfortable under this scrutiny, he shifted about in his chair. “Miss Bennet has much to thank you for, it seems.”
“It is I who should be grateful.” She set aside her book, a faint veil of emotion shining in her eyes.
“Her company is a delight, and she is as dear to me as a daughter. Once I thought myself denied the joy of maternal duties, but now Elizabeth is entrusted to my care, I am sensible of the great responsibility of ensuring her happiness. The inheritance from my own father’s estate allows me financial security, and I am resolved to ensure Elizabeth’s future comfort by way of settling some of my fortune on her. ”
“Do you hope she will marry soon?” Darcy did not usually permit his curiosity to get the better of him, but the question burst from his mouth before he had time to reconsider. “Will it not sadden you for her to leave? Would you not rather she stayed with you?”
“My dear Elizabeth is in possession of the kindest, warmest heart. To deny her the chance of love would deprive some fortunate man of a supremely happy life.” She glanced at him again before leaning closer.
“Despite the abundance of willing suitors in London, no one in our fair capital has captured Elizabeth’s attention. I hope to have her a little longer.”
Their tête-à-tête had drawn the notice of Miss Bennet and Georgiana, who had stopped talking and were looking at them quizzically. A hint of pink blossomed on Miss Bennet’s cheeks, which only added to her beauty.
“Your guilty expression informs me that you are up to no good,” she remarked to Lady Acaster. Addressing Darcy directly, she said, “You must reveal all that my aunt has disclosed, for it is the only way that I might defend myself.”
The nature of their conversation was not one Darcy wanted to share, and he was relieved when Lady Acaster replied playfully, “One might think you had a guilty conscience, for you constantly accuse me of revealing something that I should not. If you must know, I was accounting for how you came to live with me.”
Miss Bennet’s mouth suddenly pursed. Her voice was light but did not match the coolness of her gaze. Her eyes still fixed on Darcy, she said, “If you wish to know more about me, you need only ask. I am happy to oblige.”
Eager to move the conversation away from certain delicate aspects of his discussion, Darcy replied quickly, “Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to learn more of the woman who brought such happiness to my sister.” Next to Miss Bennet, Georgiana’s eyes grew as round as tea saucers.
Darcy became painfully aware that this was the most complimentary he had ever been to a woman outside his family.
“What should you like to know?”
He racked his brains for a suitable question. “What are your interests?”
To his surprise, Miss Bennet bit her lower lip in a poor attempt to suppress her amusement. There was nothing remotely droll in his question, so the inevitable conclusion was that she was laughing at him. Annoyed, he asked, “Have I said something amiss?”
Miss Bennet had regained her composure. “No, not at all. I am simply reflecting that I was once before in this very room, and you asked me the same question. Do you remember? I wondered whether you could recall my original response.”
His cheeks grew warm. “I cannot.”
“I thought that might be the case, for you did not seem to like it.”
“What did you say?”
“That the world was too wondrous and too thrilling to limit myself to only a few interests.”
Despite himself, Darcy smiled. Suddenly, he pictured her as she was five years ago, her face rounder, hiding the scuffs on her boots, her shoulders defiant. “I remember it now. You made my father laugh, a near impossible feat. You acquitted yourself well.”
Miss Bennet’s own colour heightened. “I am glad you think so, for I was dreadfully afraid and doing my utmost not to show it.”
Her confession startled him, bringing him back to the drawing room and, with it, the awareness of Lady Acaster and Georgiana’s scrutiny of them both.
Miss Bennet averted her gaze, her voice suddenly strained.
“I enjoy drawing, Mr Darcy. My love of art began at Pemberley. Perhaps you were unaware, but your father was so kind as to allow me to join your sister’s lessons. ”
Darcy was not in the habit of speaking openly about his parents, but Miss Bennet’s remark was made with such heartfelt sincerity that he was compelled to respond, “How glad I am to hear of my late father’s beneficial influence and the legacy of his generosity.
Would you do me the honour of showing me your drawings? ”
“While it is a passion of mine, I fear I cannot claim it as a talent.”
It was at this juncture that Lady Acaster intervened.
“Nonsense! You have a remarkable gift, Elizabeth. I will not hear you utter a word against yourself.” The older woman tapped Darcy on the elbow.
“You will forgive me if I am too partial, but I never knew a better artist. And you have not even mentioned your accomplishments at the pianoforte. Why, Mr Beaumont virtually begged for me to persuade you to play every piece at his mother’s ball. ”
Miss Bennet groaned theatrically. She glanced at Georgiana, subtly drawing her into the conversation. “Forgive my aunt. All my good qualities exist solely in her imagination—she delights in exaggerating them to anyone who has the misfortune to appear interested.”
Lady Acaster chuckled and made a light-hearted response, and both women soon fell into an easy repartee.
Darcy fiddled with his signet ring, disguising his discomfort at his conversation with Miss Bennet.
He thought again of the young girl who had arrived in his house, so far from her own home and thrust into an unfamiliar world.
It must have been a trial for her, one far harder than he had considered.
A strange tugging sensation pulled in his heart at the notion that she had once been intimidated by him.
It was an uncomfortable feeling—one that he was not inclined to examine.
Unwilling to confront these unwelcome leanings of his conscience, he instead dedicated his undivided focus to Georgiana, taking care not to converse with Miss Bennet for the rest of the evening.
It is for the best, he reassured himself.
In many ways, Miss Bennet was virtually a stranger, but there were times when he felt more drawn to her than anyone else he had ever met.
If he were not careful, he would be in some danger of paying her too much attention.