Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
They all helped Georgiana adjust by explaining things from Deliveroo to married women owning property.
Sandra thought her aunt’s confusion over mundane things was a silly game, but she liked to prove herself by clarifying.
Elizabeth would have discouraged this slight showing off, but it helped Georgiana adapt.
And she hoped when Sandra learnt about the time travel power within Nine Ladies, many years from now, it would be easier to believe if she reflected on that strange aunt who struggled with light switches that she never saw again.
There was no way to know if Darcy agreed with Georgiana having Sandra’s innocent help.
Elizabeth worked with Darcy, parented with him, hosted Georgiana with him, but she didn’t feel like she was with him.
They slept in the same bed, but the inches between them felt like miles.
For the first time since the year after Sandra was born, she felt like she and Darcy were no longer aligned in every way that mattered.
They spoke little more than necessary, and the subject of Georgiana was entirely off-limits.
It hurt her heart that Darcy wanted nothing to do with his sister.
Earlier this week, he was about to meet the school bus when Georgiana offered to join him on the walk to Lambton. “You need not trouble yourself,” he had said as he strode from the room.
Yesterday, she and Darcy showed Georgiana what remained of the original park, and when they crossed the stream she asked him, “Do you remember the pump, Fitzwilliam? You had it installed to raise the water thirty yards out for the well? I installed a new Archimedes screw last spring powered by a windmill rather than cattle.”
She had wanted Darcy to take her up on the subject of land improvements, but he only said that he remembered, and then looked away. Georgiana’s expectant look shuttered. Elizabeth thought Georgiana might have just needed to hear that her brother thought her plan was a good one.
But Darcy never invited a closer connection to Georgiana.
And there was certainly never a mention of her uncertain relationship to Mr Willers.
The reserved Mr Darcy she had met in 1811 was back, but what saddened her more was to see him act that way with his beloved sister.
He had acted kindly and patiently with Georgiana when she saw them together in the past and had spoken of her so fondly after he left.
She and Darcy had agreed not to tell Georgiana about her future, and no matter how difficult he was being, breaking a promise to Darcy was out of the question.
But that didn’t mean she couldn’t make supportive hints that Miss Darcy, the heiress of Pemberley, could propose to her steward. She would do anything short of violating her frustrating husband’s trust to see Georgiana happy.
“So I should say,” Georgiana began as they walked the park Saturday morning for one final round of review before she met their friends, “to earn my university degree, I endeavoured to find estates that hold large collections of Georgian music from which to learn what women copied and played at home in the early nineteenth century?”
“That isn’t wrong, but it’s a lot of details, and you sound formal for a person talking to friends. What about, ‘I’m a graduate student studying classical music’? You can add in the details later. Start with shorter and simpler sentences, and don’t be afraid of contractions.”
Even though they weren’t blood relatives, Georgiana frowned in a way that reminded Elizabeth of Darcy.
“I will make an attempt.” Elizabeth gave her a look, and Georgiana huffed.
“I’ll try. Please remind me how to explain how I found you without elaborating on our half-sister relationship. It was a lot to remember.”
Darcy never struggled with keeping his story straight when he first came to this century.
“Just say that you googled me and Darcy to prepare for approaching us about Pemberley’s sheet music and realised we had the same father.
There have been a lot of articles written about us since we reopened the house. ”
“Google?” she repeated slowly. “I know you explained, but I cannot remember what that meant.”
“Sorry. Now it means to search for information on the internet, especially using the search engine Google.”
“I remember what Sandra explained about accessing information with the internet, even though I do not understand it.” She stumbled over the word “internet.” “Asking any question and receiving an instant, credible answer sounds like magic as much as it is based on science.”
Elizabeth nearly asked if Georgiana was ready for today, but instead she said, “I know you’ll do great with our friends. They’re lovely people.” She needed the encouragement, and if Darcy wouldn’t give it, she would.
Their friends Frank and Gwen Danconia were coming to teach Sandra to ride a bike and have dinner with them. Frank had been the first friend that Darcy had made when he visited the twenty-first century. He was a retired Royal Air Force pilot and his wife a former historic home project manager.
“I should truly address them as Frank and Gwen and not Mr and Mrs Danconia?”
“I promise you won’t disrespect them,” Elizabeth insisted.
“In fact, Frank would mock you if you call him mister.” Frank was a teasing man who forced Darcy into social activities, and Gwen was a gentle, unflappable person.
They both loved Sandra, and Elizabeth knew they would welcome her new half-sister.
“Before he left, Fitzwilliam talked about the need for people in your time to be categorised and documented to move about and engage in business.”
“Yes, it’s an essential part of life here.”
“He was so hopeful he would have identifying papers when he got here.”
“You won’t need any of those. As far as Pemberley House is concerned, you’re an intern; we won’t pay you, and I told them I filled out your volunteer forms. It will be months before anyone realises that they never existed, if they even think to check—and you’ll be long gone.”
Her voice had caught, and Georgiana gave her a longing look. “I will miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too,” she whispered.
In a stronger voice, Georgiana asked, “How do we prove to your friends that you and I are sisters if I have none of these identifying documents to connect us?”
She laughed. “Do you think Frank and Gwen will say ‘how do you do’ and demand to see a birth certificate?”
Georgiana looked anxious, and Elizabeth realised her mistake.
Of course, Georgiana didn’t know what to expect from anyone in this strange world.
“I’m sorry. Fitzwilliam has been here so long and adapted so well that sometimes I forget what it’s like.
” Her husband had found this century fascinating even before he chose to come back.
He always sought answers on his own and had the confidence to know he could manage anything.
“My own visit was fifteen years ago, but I should do a better job.”
“Do not trouble yourself. I would struggle to explain the simple manners and customs that even children take for granted.”
“As for how we can answer about our relationship, claiming there are pictures is the easiest way. Do you remember I explained photographs? And I can pretend my mother knew about your existence but never told me. And if my father never provided for you in this scenario…that is hardly much worse than he truly was.” Her father left when she was two and had no interest in his daughters aside from sending twice-yearly cheques.
“I am exceedingly sorry he never valued you or your mother the way you deserved.”
Elizabeth forced herself to be in good spirits.
Her father’s neglect said more about him than her.
Darcy had told her once that nothing could justify her father’s complete abandonment of his children.
Things like that were incomprehensible to him, not vocabulary or technology.
Still, it hurt to know she wasn’t worth her father’s time.
They followed the road toward the garage and stables where they would meet the others. On the way, they passed the steward’s old cottage. She could tell by the way Georgiana’s eyes lingered over it that she was thinking about its 1826 inhabitant.
“Why do you think he took the new job?” Elizabeth asked softly.
She was silent for a long moment. “I do not know. He will lose an impressive income and his private home. Lord Gordon is more highly ranked, but the position Mr Willers will soon have is not equal to what he leaves behind at Pemberley.”
“Fitzwilliam stayed in that house when he first came back, you know. The main house wasn’t ready to be occupied.
You should tell Mr Willers that the master of Pemberley lived there.
It might amuse him.” In case Mr Willers thought he couldn’t marry the wealthy sister of his former employer, she added, “Station isn’t really a concern for your brother anymore. ”
The garage and stables were in sight when Georgiana finally said, “Fitzwilliam does not appear happy that I am here, Elizabeth.”
Of course Georgiana had picked up on that. She might be quiet, but she certainly wasn’t stupid. “I don’t know why he avoids you. Avoids really talking with you, I mean. But I get the impression it has nothing to do with you.”
It might have something to do with her. She feared his sister’s presence was a constant reminder of the life Darcy left behind, and that Elizabeth wasn’t worth that sacrifice.
All the privileges and friendships and familiarity that he walked away from couldn’t measure up to what she offered him here.
While she never thought Darcy would leave her and Sandra to go back, the possibility that he had regrets was painful.