Chapter 16 #2
Georgiana pursed her lips. “I’m not sure I wish to have a friendship with Miss Bingley. She didn’t respect my brother’s wishes about my come-out, nor mine. If I could avoid making my curtsey to the queen altogether, I would.”
Her words startled Lizzy. She’d imagined that all girls from noble families dreamt of court presentation.
But she could understand why a shy girl like Georgiana would have no wish to go through that ordeal.
From what Lizzy had heard, court dresses were nearly impossible to walk in.
Especially when one had to walk backwards to exit the royal presence.
Lizzy squeezed Georgiana’s hand. “Does your brother wish you to be presented to the queen?”
Georgiana fidgeted. “I assume so. We haven’t discussed it.”
“Perhaps you should.” Lizzy studied the girl. “You might be worrying for nothing.”
Georgiana’s cheeks pinkened. “I wouldn’t wish to seem defiant.”
Lizzy hesitated a moment, worried about overstepping. “I believe your brother cares about your opinions. Propriety makes certain demands that cannot be ignored. That doesn’t mean you should be robbed of all choice.”
Georgiana nodded pensively. “Thank you. I’ll talk to him.” Some of her timidity seemed to fade.
Lizzy’s chest ached. This girl had lost her mother far too young—she needed a stable female influence in her life. Mrs. Annesley seemed a capable companion. But she worked for Darcy and must please him. She couldn’t be the sort of advocate for Georgiana that a family member might be.
Lizzy wanted very much to be that person.
Darcy approached. “I apologise, dear sister, that I must rob you of Miss Bennet’s company. She has promised me the next dance.”
“Then don’t let me deprive you,” Georgiana said with a smile. Lizzy hugged her before stepping away.
Darcy led Lizzy to the dance floor. As the waltz got underway, he said, “I’m pleased to see you and Georgiana getting to know each other.”
“She’s a lovely girl.” Lizzy ventured, “But she’s so alone. Not lonely, but…girls at that age are figuring out how to be adults. Without guidance, without a woman to confide in about the most personal concerns…”
Darcy knitted his brow and gazed at her with confusion in his eyes. “She has Mrs. Annesley.”
Lizzy sighed. “Mrs. Annesley seems a fine companion. Clearly, Georgiana loves her. But that’s not the same as a sister. She needs a sister, Darcy.”
He smiled broadly. “I intend to give her one very soon.”
“That’s not precisely what I meant…” Lizzy tilted her head to one side. “Or rather, it is precisely what I meant. But not in the way you seem to think.”
He watched her intently, giving her hand an encouraging squeeze.
She lowered her voice. “The situation with Wickham… I believe it shattered her confidence. I realise I’ve only known her a few hours, but I sense an unwillingness to speak up for fear of displeasing you.
I can’t believe you’re cruel to her, so I must think she has developed a misguided sense of duty. ”
“A sixteen-year-old girl should be dutiful to her guardians.”
Lizzy shook her head. “Forgive me, I’m not explaining this well.
It occurs to me that when she sees the anger you feel towards Wickham, she might think you’re angry at her as well.
She may regard his behaviour and hers as comparable.
She’s too young and innocent to understand how he preyed on her.
So she might be afraid of asserting herself, because she doesn’t wish to anger you. ”
Concern flickered in his eyes, and his cheeks went a shade paler. “Good heavens. It’s true that I can’t think about Wickham without wanting to dismember him. But it hadn’t occurred to me that when Georgiana sees that reaction, she thinks it directed at herself as well.”
“This is only speculation on my part—”
“Perhaps, but I must speak to her about it as soon as possible. Thank you for broaching the subject with me.”
Her cheeks heated. “I worried you might think me impertinent.”
He smiled. “You need not worry about that. I always think you impertinent. It’s one of the things I admire about you.”
A happy laugh bubbled through her. She adored this man, and she was finally starting to trust that he adored her as well. She dreamt of the happiness their future might hold—as long as the outside world didn’t interfere.
“I’m surprised,” she said, “that Mr. Wickham didn’t appear at the church today.”
Darcy’s expression didn’t falter. “According to my sources, he went back to his regiment. Since he believed Jane was no longer amongst the living, he had no reason to stay in town.”
Her skin prickled. “He won’t be happy when he discovers the truth.”
Darcy drew his brows together, a frown on his lips. “Why does that worry you?”
“He resents you, and now has reason to resent my family. His endeavours to marry an heiress have failed. He’s…disgruntled. That makes him unpredictable.”
Darcy thought about that for a long moment. “I’ll talk to the investigator, and see what he recommends. Your safety is paramount to me.”
She smiled at him warmly. “Thank you.” But another thought came to her mind when she saw her aunt Gardiner stop for a word with Caroline.
When the waltz ended, Lizzy approached them. Wickham wasn’t the only threat. If she could neutralise Caroline as well, she ought to try.
Lizzy spoke, wearing a serene smile. “What a splendid day this has been.”
“Indeed it has,” her aunt replied. “I was just saying to Miss Bingley, I’ve never seen Jane so happy. And her new husband seems besotted.”
“We’re gratified by the match.” Caroline spoke with all politeness in her tone.
“With any luck,” Lizzy said, “we shall soon have little feet pattering about Netherfield. Unless Bingley buys a house in town. Oh, aunt,” she said in a conspiratorial whisper, “if that happens, you must give Jane the name of your midwife. I remember how happy you were with her. What was her name—Mrs. Sherwood? Or—no, it was Mrs. Sherman, I believe.”
Mrs. Gardiner nodded. “Yes, that’s right. But we ought not discuss such things here.”
“Of course.” Lizzy turned and beamed at Caroline—noting the grey pallor of the other woman’s complexion—before looking back to her aunt.
Caroline soon excused herself and went to speak with Colonel Fitzwilliam.
Lizzy eyed them cautiously. She hoped the shot across the bow sufficed to show herself armed—without provoking a full-scale battle.