Chapter 12
“I should not always take the upper part, Miss Bennet. You must have a turn.”
“No, no, Miss Darcy, you must play the upper part and I shall play the lower. My fingers are not so nimble as yours. That is why we tripped up last time — I cannot manage all those sixteenth notes at this speed.”
“This one is fun to play, though, isn’t it?”
“But imagine how much more fun it will be when we play it correctly, Miss Darcy.”
The sound of girlish laughter echoed out from the music room into the passageway where Darcy was walking.
As he paused to listen, the pianoforte began to sound again, and a rather merry Mozart duet was replayed with great enthusiasm, some obvious errors, and much giggling from both his sister and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
“We played it better that way round. You were right,” Georgiana said as the final chord was struck.
“I ought to practise both parts, and then you could play either, as you choose,” Miss Bennet said. “Let the present slowness of my fingers be a lesson to both of us in the merits of regular practice. Shall we try it again, or would you like another piece?”
“Let’s do this one again,” Georgiana said enthusiastically.
The Mozart and laughter both continued as Darcy walked on through the house, smiling.
Mr Gardiner had brought Elizabeth Bennet to Darcy House only a few days after the contract was signed, and she had now been in residence with them for some weeks.
While Miss Bennet had been careful and reserved in her interactions with Darcy, he was struck by how happy his sister already seemed in her company. Nor could he deny enjoying it himself.
Although taking care not to interfere in their activities and games, Darcy still took a certain interest. As Georgiana’s brother and guardian, he was bound to apply a minimum level of checks and oversight, as he would for any new companion.
Darcy might ostensibly be reading newspapers or writing letters in a corner as he observed the two young women playing music and singing, discussing books, or practicing dance steps.
When they walked in the park, he would accompany them, although often dropping back some yards to allow for private conversation.
If Georgiana was at her studies, he would offer his assistance in areas where Miss Bennet admitted no expertise.
Elizabeth Bennet’s accomplishments were by no means deep or extensive, but she possessed a general knowledge and broad insight greater than she claimed credit for.
It was an intelligence she added to daily, both by reading and by asking pertinent questions.
At one of the London museums, Elizabeth’s friendly examination of their guide had educated both Darcy and Georgiana about the exhibits, in a way he had always missed before.
All the while, Darcy saw and appreciated Elizabeth’s swift wit, good humour, and naturally compelling personality.
He tried hard not to also notice the brightness of her eyes, the healthy glow of her complexion, and the grace of her movements.
That would be foolish and dishonourable in the present circumstances.
Overall, Miss Elizabeth Bennet was proving an excellent companion to Georgiana, and he had been pleased to write to Mrs Annesley with a clear conscience, assuring her that her charge was in good hands.
∞∞∞
“Miss Darcy, how are you? Ah…Miss Elizabeth Bennet!”
Charles Bingley started as the young woman beside Georgiana pushed back the hood of her dark cloak.
Darcy groaned inwardly, anticipating a difficult conversation to come.
He had not expected Bingley to be at the opera tonight when he offered to escort his sister and her companion to see The Magic Flute.
He had not yet informed his friend of the new addition to their household.
“Mr Bingley,” responded Miss Elizabeth Bennet, with a tight smile and a small bow. “How good to see you again.”
Bingley looked around them rather wildly, his eyes searching for something, or someone, beyond their present group. Darcy knew exactly whom he sought, and he supposed that Elizabeth Bennet must know it too.
“Are you here alone, Miss Elizabeth?” Bingley asked keenly. “Surely not?”
“I am here with Miss Darcy and Mr Darcy,” she answered shortly, though politely, seeming not inclined towards longer conversation with Bingley tonight, although her family had always been most friendly to that amiable young man in the past.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet is acting as Georgiana’s companion until Mrs Annesley returns to her role,” Darcy explained to his friend, hoping that his form of wording would not be offensive to the young woman.
“Companion?!” repeated Bingley incredulously. “I did not think…Oh! Well, Miss Darcy is very lucky in that case. Why did you not tell me of all this, Darcy? I am most vexed to think that any member of the Bennet family should be in town without my having the chance to call.”
“You have been keeping to yourself of late, Bingley,” Darcy excused himself. “I have also been much occupied with my own business. Will you sit with us, or are you here with a party? I have a box tonight.”
He felt another twinge of conscience over Jane Bennet’s presence in London. Surely Caroline Bingley must by now have told her brother of her call on Miss Jane Bennet? Darcy was irritated by the sense of becoming entangled in Miss Bingley’s deceits.
“Thank you, Darcy. I am alone and would be happy to join your party,” Bingley conceded.
“I was to escort Caroline, but she decided she would rather play cards with her friends in Mayfair. Since I was in no mood for that, I came here anyway. I do not understand music well, but I enjoy it, as you know.”
“Let us go inside,” Darcy said, not wanting to be caught up in the crowd gathering on the pavement as further carriages disbursed their occupants.
Bingley immediately offered an arm to Miss Elizabeth Bennet as Georgiana took hold of Darcy’s arm, and they strolled together into the opera house.
“How long have you been Miss Darcy’s companion, Miss Elizabeth?” Bingley asked with great interest. “I had no idea you thought of such a venture when I last saw you.”
“Jane was equally surprised,” Elizabeth volunteered, and Darcy saw Bingley’s face light up at the very mention of Jane Bennet’s name. “But I was glad to be offered the role and I am glad to have taken it.”
Turning her head briefly, she smiled at Georgiana.
“I am very glad too!” put in Darcy’s sister, squeezing his arm as she spoke.
“Are your family at Longbourn all well?” Bingley continued, his manner anxious.
“Very well, thank you. Jane and my relatives in London are well too, but I am sure that Miss Bingley will have told you that already.”
Elizabeth Bennet spoke mildly, but the effect of this statement on Bingley was great.
“Miss Bennet is in London?” he asked with some agitation. “She has written to my sister?”
“We have both been in London since early January. Jane has written to your sister several times, I believe. Miss Bingley called at Gracechurch Street some weeks ago.”
“Since early January!” Bingley exclaimed, turning to Darcy with a distinct frown and hurt eyes. “Did you know about this, Darcy?”
“I did, yes,” Darcy admitted. “I am sorry not to have told you before. As your sister is a friend of Miss Jane Bennet, I supposed it to be her responsibility.”
“I consider that most disloyal,” Bingley snapped with uncharacteristic temper, although not specifying whether he spoke of Darcy or his sister.
“You really did not know that we were here?” interrupted Elizabeth Bennet wonderingly. “I imagine it must have slipped your sister’s mind. I dare say that the social life in London is so busy that a short call is easily forgotten.”
Her last remarks were spoken lightly and without any conviction. They all knew that Caroline Bingley had likely forgotten nothing.
“I did not know,” Bingley said emphatically. “You must, please, tell your sister that too, Miss Elizabeth. I could not bear Miss Bennet to think me so ill-mannered as to have ignored you both. If I had known you were here, I should have come to call with Caroline.”
“I shall tell her,” Elizabeth Bennet assured him solemnly, and then smiled, her earlier coolness vanished. “Now, Mr Bingley, you must tell me how you have been keeping, for Jane and all my family will ask me of your present health and happiness.”
∞∞∞
“I enjoyed that so much!” declared Georgiana with shining eyes as they descended from the carriage outside Darcy House and walked up the steps. “Thank you, Brother. The music was wonderful, and it was such a pleasant surprise to see Mr Bingley. He seemed very happy to find us there, did he not?”
Georgiana’s innocent remark prompted Darcy to look at Elizabeth Bennet, both of them conscious that Bingley’s enthusiasm had not really been either for their present party or the music itself.
“I enjoyed it too,” Darcy replied. “It was a fine performance. Do not you think so, Miss Bennet?”
“I have never seen better,” she responded, unfastening her cloak in the hallway and then assisting Georgiana with a caught button on her coat.
“In fact, I have never seen The Magic Flute before, although I know the popular arias and like them very much.” She laughed to herself as she spoke and then handed both her own cloak and Georgiana’s coat to the waiting maid.
“We can play them tomorrow on the pianoforte, if you like,” offered Georgiana, and then yawned.
“We shall,” Miss Bennet agreed. “But now you look tired, Miss Darcy. I think it is time for us both to retire.”
“Yes, I am ready for bed,” Georgiana admitted. “Goodnight, Brother. Goodnight, Miss Bennet.”
“Goodnight, Georgiana,” returned Darcy, watching her ascend the stairs.