Chapter 28 A Morning at Longbourn
A MORNING AT LONGBOURN
To Darcy’s dismay, the morning did not begin auspiciously.
Georgiana had slept most of the journey from London to Netherfield Park and thus could not sleep at all once it was night-time.
Wishing for a book from the library, she had gone down to seek one and had slipped on the stairs, bruising herself.
Miss Bingley’s maid had brought her something for the discomfort, and whatever was in that something caused her to sleep well past the noon hour.
His sister had arrived in the morning room apologetic and distressed, certain that everyone in the house was angry with her.
“Think nothing of it,” Bingley assured her; even Miss Bingley was kind, saying, “When I was your age, I never rose before noon!”
Miss Bingley had declined to join them on their call, and Saye informed them that he was for Ashworth—“Even if it is halfway to Birmingham!”—to call on Miss Goddard.
Despite their assurances, and Darcy’s certainty that absolutely no one was angry at her, Georgiana was quiet on the short ride to Longbourn and got even more quiet when they arrived, smoothing and re-smoothing the fabric of her pelisse.
Darcy reached out and took her hand to stop the obsessive action.
“They are going to find you absolutely delightful, my dear.”
“Most assuredly,” Bingley echoed. “They are, first to last, very agreeable.”
To this she replied with only a small smile and a slight nod.
Mrs Hill ushered the trio towards the drawing room. Darcy entered behind his sister, giving her a slight push on her lower back to urge her forwards. They found all the ladies of Longbourn within—save for Elizabeth, unfortunately.
Introductions were made all around. Miss Bennet was as sweet as she ever was, but Miss Mary Bennet scarcely glanced up from her book.
Miss Catherine and Miss Lydia lounged near the window, whispering and giggling in their customary manner until Darcy and his sister were directly in front of them.
Georgiana’s hand tightened on his arm as he introduced them.
“Come and sit by me, Miss Darcy,” Mrs Bennet ordered and slid over a fraction of an inch to accommodate her. Such a demand could not be ignored, and Georgiana walked slowly towards the matron and took a seat.
“I apologise to you all,” said Miss Bennet, a trifle loudly. “Lizzy has gone to take some draughts to our aunt Philips who is unwell this morning.”
“Female troubles,” Mrs Bennet said bluntly. “You girls may think you have your difficulties now but only wait until you are my age!”
Georgiana blushed deeply and looked at her hands.
“But enough of that,” said Mrs Bennet. “Miss Darcy, what a charming gown you wear! The lace! And that material. Quite an expense for a morning gown, I am sure!”
Georgiana’s blush, which had begun to subside, flamed anew. Darcy had seated himself in the nearest chair, and she sent him a wordless cry for help.
He cleared his throat. “I am glad to report that Georgiana is an excellent manager of her money and does not overspend her allowance.” Then he gave her a wink meant to relax her and added, “Or if she does, she is clever enough to disguise it such that I do not notice.”
Alas, Georgiana took him seriously. “Oh no! Brother, you may rest assured in the faithfulness of my bills. I would never, ever seek to deceive you!”
To this he gave a gentle smile and said, “Of course, dear.”
“Who makes your dresses?” Miss Lydia enquired.
“Was it Mademoiselle Binet?” Miss Catherine asked eagerly.
“Pray do not be stupid.” Miss Lydia gave her sister a little shove. “She specialises in court dresses. I bet it was Mrs Banks.”
“You are the stupid one,” said Miss Catherine with a returning shove to her sister. “Mrs Banks is nothing to Mrs Janiere.”
“Mrs Janiere!” Miss Lydia scoffed. “You mean the one who learnt to sew in a whorehouse?”
“Girls!” Mrs Bennet scolded. “Stop that at once.”
Alas, the damage had been done. Darcy could scarcely look at his sister who, while maintaining perfect posture, had somehow managed to withdraw into herself.
Darcy had never prayed harder for anything more than he prayed for Elizabeth to somehow appear in that instant.
For a brief moment, he wondered whether he ought to suggest that they walk into town to retrieve her from her aunt’s house.
It was into this that Mr William Goulding was introduced.
He walked into the room with the air of one who is a frequent visitor, gave smiling greetings all around, and was charming in his introduction to Georgiana.
“But where is Elizabeth?” he enquired with a little pout. “I told her I meant to call today.”
“And did you think she might wait around to receive you?” Miss Lydia demanded teasingly. “You can forget that sort of thing. Lizzy does not wait around for any suitor!”
Mr Goulding laughed at her statement, but it raised Darcy’s hackles. Another suitor? He had never perceived any particular friendship between Elizabeth and Goulding before.
“Be that as it may,” he said, “do tell her I came by. I shall see her—all of you, I daresay—at dinner tomorrow?”
All the ladies assured him they would, and he was off as quickly as he had arrived.
Happily, Miss Mary Bennet, who had finished her book it seemed, decided to be friendly.
“I have heard much said of your skill at the pianoforte,” she said to Georgiana, and from there ensued some back-and-forth about composers and difficult passages and the like.
Darcy exhaled with relief, thinking it was the least tense that Georgiana had looked since arriving last night.
Relief was short-lived, for not long thereafter, Sir James was announced. “Here I was told the party was tomorrow,” he proclaimed cheerfully as he made his way round the room.
“You are returned from Nottinghamshire,” Mrs Bennet exclaimed happily. “You must have run the wheels off your carriage.”
“Very nearly I did,” he agreed heartily. “But I could not long be away from the charms of this house. Where has Miss Elizabeth gone to this morning? I had hoped to find her here.”
He beamed all around, but Darcy noticed that his sister’s eyes narrowed slightly as she beheld Sir James. Darcy felt his jaw clench, not because Elizabeth was seemingly such the subject of male interest, but because he feared his sister was earning entirely the wrong understanding of the matter.
“My ribbon!” Miss Lydia shrieked suddenly. “Kitty, you detestable wretch, give me that.”
She reached into her sister’s hair and began to tug violently at the ribbon. Miss Catherine howled in protest that it was her ribbon, not Lydia’s, and that it was Lydia who was detestable.
“Girls, girls,” said Mrs Bennet half-heartedly, then directed her attention back to Sir James. “And was your business concluded to your satisfaction?”
Sir James crossed his legs, seemingly all ease and friendliness, and began to acquaint Mrs Bennet with the architectural difficulties of his house. The squabbling continued, particularly once Miss Lydia appeared to tear out a small clump of Miss Catherine’s hair which led to violent sobbing.
“Perhaps we ought to return to Netherfield,” Darcy said, loudly enough to pierce Bingley’s lovemaking.
“Return to Netherfield?” Bingley came up with the air of one who has been asleep. “But we have only just got here?”
Darcy rose. “I will send the carriage back for you.”
“Oh, but you’ve only just arrived!” Mrs Bennet protested. “Surely you can stay for tea? I am certain Lizzy will be back directly, and she would be so disappointed to have missed you!”
Miss Lydia had removed the ribbon from her sister’s hair and tried to run from the room with it.
Miss Catherine would not have it and pursued her, the pair colliding with a side table that sent a vase of flowers crashing to the floor.
Water spread across the carpet while the sisters stared at the wreckage in dismay.
“Now look what you’ve done!” Miss Lydia cried out.
“You did it! Because you are too plump to even run properly!” Miss Catherine retorted.
Miss Lydia rewarded her with an attempt to slap her which Miss Catherine managed to evade but returned her own slap anyhow.
Georgiana could only stare at it all wide-eyed, her mouth slightly agape.
Darcy took two steps towards her and extended his hand. Her eyes still on the wetness spreading across the carpet, she curtseyed to Mrs Bennet and murmured her appreciation for receiving her. Darcy only nodded in a vague, round-the-room sort of way and then took her by the elbow to remove her.
They did not speak until the carriage began to roll away.
Georgina stared out of the window, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
Darcy knew not what to say and finally only apologised to his sister.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet is very different from her sisters. You will adore her, once you can meet her. I am positive of it.”
To this Georgiana said nothing. Her countenance was inscrutable as they rolled along the road.