Chapter 4 #3
“I’ll ask Gwen about what needs to be done to restore them,” Elizabeth said cheerfully, and probably too loudly. “She’s a friend of ours who used to be a project manager at Haddon Hall. She’s retired now, but she gives me lots of advice about museum work and restoration projects.”
“Frank and Gwen are still coming on Saturday,” Darcy breathed, giving her a worried look as he remembered. “Frank is determined Sandra will ride a bike without stabilisers.”
“A what?” Georgiana asked.
Ignoring her, Darcy said, “We need more of a history for Georgiana, aside from her being your sister, if she is to be in company for any length of time. A career, a family, a home.”
He was right, but it was not as though they had to sort it out now.
But she could tell by the unease in Darcy’s eyes that he would think of nothing else until it was done.
Not demanding his sister explain herself already took all the patience he had.
After thinking for a moment, she asked Georgiana, “Do you still play? Practise regularly?”
“Yes,” she said in confusion. “I play and sing every day, and often perform for friends.”
Elizabeth pulled out her phone and did a few Google searches. “The University of York has a master’s program in historic music performance. Let’s say you graduated from that program and—”
“Women may attend university? And can study music?” Her voice lifted in amazement.
“Women can study anything they want now,” said Darcy.
Elizabeth smiled. Yet another reason they were in this century.
To Darcy she said, “Georgiana could be studying for an advanced degree. What if we say she’s doing a thesis, and she’s here for the summer studying classical music?
Some of her old music books are upstairs.
Maybe she found Pemberley and me while researching places to study. ”
“She found a sister and an occupation all at once?” Darcy asked sceptically.
“If you have a better idea, I’ll wait.” He only shrugged, so she added, “Can the pianoforte in the music room be played?”
Darcy pulled out his phone too and said, “I’ll find someone and see if they can restore it.”
“What are those little boxes you keep looking at? You seem to have them about you all the time.”
Darcy hastily put his phone away while Elizabeth laughed. “Sorry. I’ll let Fitzwilliam explain. He’s an old pro by now. Are you willing to say you’re a university student studying classical music?” When Georgiana paled, she added, “We’ll help explain any terms you need to know.”
“I cannot even fathom such a thing.” Her voice shook. “How much will I be expected to talk about?”
“You should speak very little,” Darcy said quickly.
“But you have friends who will expect some conversation from me. I am dreadfully nervous about speaking wrongly.”
“You need not meet our friends if you would rather not.”
“But we’d love for you to meet them,” Elizabeth said emphatically, with a long look at Darcy.
How could he expect Georgiana to avoid their closest friends for three months?
“You’re naturally shy, so just be yourself.
Besides, you’re my sister.” She put an arm around her.
“We want you with us. And I won’t let anyone bully you into speaking or bother you with rude questions. ”
Georgiana leant into her with a relieved nod. They had only spent a few months together in 1811, but had become fast friends. She would make the most of having Georgiana here.
For some reason, Darcy gave them an impatient look and said, “If she is a musician-in-residence, the staff will expect her to play.”
Georgiana raised her head and brightened.
“I do not mind playing, and it would give me something to do whilst you are working. So long as I need not talk to anyone,” she added.
“Mrs Reynolds explained you would be occupied with employment and child care during the day. She said you would likely work from eight in the morning until dinner, five days a week, but that on Saturday and Sunday you would be more at liberty.” She said this in a tone of inquisitiveness. “Is that correct?”
“You are well prepared, far more than your poor brother was when I dragged him here.” Elizabeth looked at Darcy, still smiling, about to make a comment about prepping Georgiana for airplanes and moon landings, but he did not look to be in the mood.
“Well, for now, I’ll just add that you should treat everyone equally. ”
“Equal how? Equal to me?” Confusion spread across her face. “The way I would speak to a boot boy is not the same way I would speak to a duke. I want to get it right.”
It was a curious question, and one that Darcy had never asked. He had just treated everyone as though they were the same class as himself, no better or no worse, and that was enough for this century.
“Just assume that everyone you meet is the same as you in status, rights, and opportunities,” said Darcy.
“The goal now is to operate under the belief that no one should have poorer life chances because of how much money they have, the way they were born, where they come from, what they believe, or whether they have a disability.”
“And don’t curtsey,” Elizabeth added. “I’ll show you how to shake hands when you meet someone.” Georgiana made a face similar to the one Darcy had made when she taught him. “You’ll do great. Let’s practise, and then we can talk to the director and tell her you’ll be here for the summer.”
Georgiana blanched and gave a worried look to Darcy, but he only bowed, a long-forgotten habit that being with his sister again must have brought out.
What surprised Elizabeth more was that he offered Georgiana no encouragement.
That was unlike him. While Darcy was naturally reserved, he could easily inspire an employee and always had a reassuring word for her or Sandra.
That combination of confidence and kindness was one of the reasons he was so attractive.
So she looked Georgiana in the eye. “I won’t abandon you. I promise to help you adapt while you’re here, and we’re going to give you one of those little boxes.” Georgiana instantly looked uneasy. Maybe her adjustment to this century wouldn’t be as smooth as her brother’s had been.
“Must I hold one?” she whispered. “They are frightening. And so bright.”
“You’ll like it. Your brother eventually did.” Georgiana just needed encouragement. “Whenever you want to avoid a conversation, you can look at it and tell the person you’re talking to that you have to leave. It’s perfect. Fitzwilliam uses it all the time to avoid flatterers and annoying people.”
She looked at him again to share a smile, but he said nothing.
Swallowing a frustrated sigh at her husband’s strange attitude, they walked to their own rooms and Elizabeth unlocked the door.
“Why don’t you go ahead? I’ll be right there so we can practise.
” Georgiana went inside, and Elizabeth stayed behind with Darcy.
Before she could ask him what his problem was, he said, “Stop avoiding it. Ask her.”
“What?”
“You need to ask Georgiana why she is here.”
“We said she could tell us in her own time. She’s only been here eighteen hours. Or you could ask her.”
He actually recoiled. “You are the one so excited to have a sister here. You ask her. I have work to do before I get Sandra from Lambton.”
She was about to tell him she would meet the bus, but he strode away.
Elizabeth huffed and then checked her phone to see if Jane had texted her back.
There was a read receipt, but no reply, so she slid her phone in her pocket.
She went inside, determined to enjoy every moment she had with Georgiana.