Chapter 15 #2
Elizabeth was startled by this thought. She had not been particularly good at making her own younger sisters mind decorum in public; why did she think she could do more with Miss Darcy?
Somehow, the diffident orphan girl aroused in her a compassion she could not explain.
Someone would have to intervene to prepare this young girl for her eventual roles of wife and mother in society.
But Miss Bingley had said Miss Darcy was destined for her brother, even though the young girl had just admitted she was not yet out.
Unless Mr. Darcy had arranged a match for her and Mr. Bingley, it did not look likely.
It was probably Miss Bingley’s wishful fantasy, but Elizabeth decided she should ask.
Since Jane was sitting with the older ladies on the other side of the room, she should be able to inquire about Mr. Bingley with impunity.
“Miss Darcy, I was under the impression that the Bingley family is intimate with yours. I am surprised Miss Bingley has not heard you play.”
“Miss Bingley wishes her family were intimate with mine…Oh, forgive me. I misspoke.” Miss Darcy’s cheeks were flaming. She quickly bent her head and raised her hand surreptitiously, hiding her intention to wipe her eyes.
Kitty immediately moved closer to Miss Darcy and held her hand. Mary also shifted closer to give their music-loving guest moral support.
Elizabeth said soothingly, “Please do not be sad or embarrassed about correcting a misrepresentation of someone so wholly unconnected to you and me, especially when we both know the character of the lady involved. The reason I asked was simply to confirm my estimation was true. Thank you for that confirmation.”
Miss Darcy was noticeably calmed by this show of friendship from these young women not much older than herself.
She said, still timidly, “Lady Elizabeth, Lady Mary, Lady Catherine, forgive me for being tactless. I have been little in society. My aunt, Lady Fitzwilliam, asked me to accompany her on this visit because she felt the number of young ladies here would help me learn to be comfortable in social gatherings… eventually. Until I have learned, I am bound to make mistakes.”
Elizabeth’s heart was touched by the guilelessness of the young girl before her. What kind of scoundrel could speak ill of such an innocent, good-natured, and humble girl? Mr. Wickham was becoming more and more despicable every moment.
To cheer up their somewhat melancholy visitor, Elizabeth changed the subject.
“Miss Darcy, would you agree to call us by our Christian names and drop the honorific? We were the simple Miss Bennets just a few days ago. Now, every sentence addressed to us is so much longer because of the numerous ‘Lady’s in front of our names, and we are not accustomed to it. Since your aunt wants you to get used to being among us, we shall see one another more often. Why not drop the title now and be done with the formality, which will surely hinder us from becoming close friends?”
Lydia would not have agreed to this concession, but she had moved to her mother’s group as soon as she overheard the word ‘modiste’ mentioned by the Countess.
Miss Darcy, however, was speechless with gratitude.
She felt entirely unworthy of such condescension.
After regaining her ability to speak but still keeping her head down, she began, “You honor me, Lady Elizabeth…oh…” Miss Darcy became confused, stuttering because she could not decide whether to heed the Duke’s daughter’s request or to continue using the honorific.
Kitty squeezed her hand in encouragement.
“I have been taught since my father’s passing that I must observe the distinction of rank. I am afraid that once you have been ducal ladies for a while, you might not like my assuming such familiarity,” Miss Darcy said hesitantly while her head dipped lower.
Elizabeth lifted Miss Darcy’s chin with her finger. She asked gently, “Did your brother tell you this? You said this instruction came only after your father’s passing.”
“Oh, no, not my brother. He treats everyone with respect. It was my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”
“Well, I shall make sure that Lady Catherine addresses me correctly when I meet her. You may not know, our cousin, Mr. Collins, is the rector at Hunsford under your aunt’s patronage.
We heard much about your aunt through him when he visited us a few months ago.
She, ranking lower than I am, will abide by my wish.
As for you, me, and my sisters, we shall drop the formality of address.
The only hurdle to our plan to annoy your lady aunt is that I do not know your Christian name. ”
Miss Darcy giggled for the first time in two years.
It had long been her secret wish to antagonize her virago of an aunt, but she could not fathom it would be possible.
This gave her the courage to raise her head proudly and say, “I am Georgiana. I am so pleased to meet you, Elizabeth, Mary, and Catherine.”
The Bennet sisters were astounded by this forwardness from one so timorous moments before.
“Kitty… I am Kitty. I dislike being addressed as Lady Catherine. Neither ‘lady’ nor ‘Catherine’ agrees with me when talking with friends. On the other hand, among strangers, I enjoy being Lady Catherine because I can do what I want without worrying about what they think… too much,” Kitty remarked light-heartedly.
She was thrilled by the prospect of having a quiet and accomplished friend in Georgiana and was sick of being dominated by Lydia, who usually had their mother’s protection.
But seeing their mother, the Duchess, so uncharacteristically meek gave her the courage to stand tall for herself.
All four young ladies laughed. The other group of ladies turned their heads to watch this spectacle. Georgiana immediately turned quiet. Laughing out loud was frowned upon in company. Her companions, however, did not seem to be concerned, and that puzzled her.
“What is the matter, Georgiana? You seem suddenly uncomfortable. Please excuse our hoydenish manners. We are still country misses at heart and may never learn to be demure in company.”
Miss Darcy attempted to interject, which Elizabeth saw as a good sign—voicing her own opinion without being asked!
She made a gesture asking for permission to let her finish, and Miss Darcy acquiesced, again looking sheepish.
“We sorely want to enjoy the last few days of our freedom to laugh when it pleases us, especially in our own home,” said Elizabeth.
“I understand your brother is helping to ensure the five Bennet-Fitzstuart sisters will be groomed into young ladies of the highest circle.” She then lowered her voice to a whisper. “Our days of freedom are numbered!”
Miss Darcy, even though far more open than when she entered the parlor, was not ready to join in teasing her dear, revered brother.
She said in a voice quite full of emotion, “My brother will recommend the best lady to be your governess. You have nothing to fear. In fact, I know the lady in question, and I wish I had had her instead of …”
Miss Darcy froze. She dipped her head and wiped her eyes again. Kitty asked feelingly, “Georgiana, is this lady so wonderful that you mourn the lost opportunity to have her as your governess? Perhaps we shall not have her if she did not agree to work for you.”
“Oh, no, Lad… Kitty. Mrs. Juliana Trimmer would have agreed to take the post had it been offered to her. I have known her since I was a girl. I would have loved her as my governess instead of being put in school. But her mother had been ill for a long time before her death. Mrs. Juliana had to stay by her mother’s side to care for her and could not come to care for me. And then…”
Miss Darcy stopped suddenly. The sisters could hear a suppressed sob.
They had been congratulating themselves on pulling Georgiana out of her debilitating shyness, but then she appeared to have leaped into something resembling despondency.
Her propensity to cry in front of strangers hinted at some deep sorrow.
Mary and Kitty did not know how to calm their young friend, but Elizabeth felt compelled to provide comfort.
The Darcy siblings are full of intriguing traits! Their shyness probably accounts for much of those. Perhaps Jenny can throw some light on them?
The thought of using her maid to discover another’s personal matters made Elizabeth uneasy, but she was more curious than she had the right to be.
She leaned over, patted Miss Darcy’s shoulder, and cooed gently, “Georgiana, you must give yourself credit for becoming a poised, kind young lady without the guidance of Mrs. Trimmer, who must be a paragon of a teacher. When Mrs. Trimmer comes here to work with us, you may join us if you wish. Would that make up, at least a little, for what you missed?”
Georgiana nodded but remained silent. The otherwise well-mannered girl could not even bring herself to utter the words ‘thank you.’