Chapter 39
The first days of September were now upon them.
Georgiana leaned over the stone wall bordering the terrace.
Hayden Hall was very different from Pemberley, and this terrace faced east, rather than west. But the sun was cooler now, and it would be pleasant to sit out here when her brother called on her.
She was happy that he had called on her in town in June, although she had attempted to hide her dismay at his appearance; he was so much thinner than she had ever known him and the haunted look in his eyes distressed her.
But he still loved his sister and cared for her.
All her dire imaginings of the last year were proven false, although she still harboured a little resentment deep down that the worst of his difficulties had been hidden from her.
After all, she was nearly grown and ought not to have been so cosseted.
But now she was content. William called regularly on her — barely a week would pass when she did not see him, unless he was away from home, following a possible sighting or clue for Elizabeth.
Georgiana sat in one of the chairs which had been brought out for the day, and considered the sister she had not yet met.
Her aunt and uncle had never met her, only Richard and William.
Neither seemed inclined to talk of her much, and Georgiana sat and planned how to get another sliver of information about her when she saw her brother or cousin.
Gradually, she was building an image in her mind, although some parts were contradictory.
The door opened, and her aunt’s butler came out onto the terrace. “Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy.” Georgiana rose to her feet. “Thank you. Please have refreshments sent.”
She curtsied at her brother, who smiled at her. “You are a very accomplished hostess now, Georgie.”
She smiled at him, hoping the slight tic of distaste at her pet name wasn’t noticeable. But it seemed her brother was as observant as he had always been in the past.
“Would you prefer it if I stopped calling you by a shortened name, my dear?”
“Well, I have something to say about that, William, but I think Richard will be joining us shortly so perhaps we might defer that conversation.”
“Of course.”
When the cool lemonade arrived, Georgiana poured a glass for her brother and placed the plate of biscuits close to him.
“Thank you, my dear. And how have you been this past week?”
“I am well, thank you. Aunt Alice has been teaching me how to plan for dinner parties — I had no idea how complex they are and how much to think about! But it is quite interesting.” She fidgeted with the fringe on her lightweight shawl.
“She wants me to be the hostess at a small dinner for her neighbours next month, although I will first observe the one next week.”
He smiled and nodded, although his gaze was far away. “I had not realised how complex an event it might be for the hostess.”
Georgiana hesitated. “Was Mrs Darcy a good hostess?”
Her brother coloured slightly. “I have to say that we did not entertain.” His brow furrowed. “Just … just before she left, I had suggested we have her friend and her husband to dine, but I don’t think she sent the invitations.”
His voice dropped. “I wonder if she was already decided on her course?” His murmur was so quiet, Georgiana was certain she wasn’t meant to hear it. She would change the subject.
“Have you had any more news as to where Mrs Darcy might be?”
His lips tightened. “That possible sighting in Northumberland was a false one, although the lady sighted did have a similar appearance to Elizabeth.” He looked dejected.
“I failed you, Georgiana, and I failed Elizabeth, too. I must find her, I need to know she is safe and not in need of assistance, and also so I can apologise to her and make amends.”
“Will you want her to return to Pemberley?”
“Only if she wishes it. I must ensure she has all the money she might require and also accommodation wherever she might want it. I cannot imagine she would ever forgive me enough to have me in her life.”
He looked so dispirited that Georgiana leaned over and laid her hand on his arm. “I am sure she will, William. Although I never knew her, it seems she is a caring lady. You said she was thoughtful and worked hard for the tenants’ concerns.”
He forced a smile. “I did not deserve her, but I am determined to become a better man.”
Georgiana smiled slightly. “I used to believe that you were perfection, and I could not have wished for a better brother. Now I believe I love you more for not being perfect.” She looked away. “As I was not.”
William took her hand, the one still resting on his arm, and raised it to his lips. “We will work on ourselves together. And one day, I have to believe, you will meet your sister.”
“Hello, hello! You are here, Darce!” Richard dropped into the last chair.
“Georgie, is the lemonade still cool enough to be refreshing?”
She turned to him and poured a glass for him. “I expect so, Richard. We have been waiting for you.” She gave her brother a sidelong glance. “I wish to change my name.”
Her cousin had just taken a gulp of lemonade and choked. Georgiana struggled to stifle a laugh, and was pleased to see the momentary sparkle in her brother’s eyes. He was too serious these days.
It took their cousin a few more minutes to regain his composure and he looked suspiciously at her. “Why?”
“You are named after our parents, George and Anne,” William said softly.
“And calling me Georgie honours him and not Mama,” Georgiana said. She was determined, but did not want to upset her brother. He had suffered enough recently.
“And …?” Richard’s eyebrows went up. She knew he was a more cynical person; he would not take that statement on its merits.
“And everyone seems to be called George. The mad King, and the mad Regent. Goodness, some days everyone seems to be called George.”
William’s eyebrows rose, and Georgiana tightened her lips. He would have accepted her wishing to honour her mother, but in trying to convince Richard, she had made William suspicious, too.
“You have chosen to be William instead of Fitzwilliam, have you not?” she said to her brother. “Is it so wrong of me to wish to be known as Anna? I cannot be Anne, as we already have our cousin.”
“It’ll take some getting used to, sprite.” Richard tried to sound practical. “What does my mother say?”
Georgiana giggled a little. “She said you and William would need to approve. But she is already attempting to remember, and since most visitors call me Miss Darcy, it is not too confusing, is it?” She turned her gaze to her brother, trying not to look too pleading.
Before she went mad, trying not to think of George Wickham every time she heard herself called Georgie.