Chapter Forty-Three
Georgiana read her brother’s letter three times before throwing her arms to the ceiling and dancing about in wild circles. Mrs. Annesley looked up from her sewing. “My dear Miss Darcy, what can possibly have occasioned such goings-on?”
“This letter from my brother! He is in love! Oh, heavens! I shall have a sister at last! You must forgive me, Mrs. Annesley, I must reply to him at once!”
Georgiana ran upstairs, her skirts in her hands. Sitting at her writing desk, her words poured out in a veritable torrent.
Dearest William!
I have never been so happy in all my life! You are in love with Miss Elizabeth! Now you see that these are not romantic fancies at all, but true symptoms of love! Tingling fingertips, racing heart, unable to resist sitting beside her! How wonderful!
Tell me all about her! You said she is beautiful, but what colour is her hair? Her eyes? Is she tall, or diminutive? Does she play? Draw?
And most importantly: when shall I meet her??
Your exquisitely happy sister,
Georgiana
Her heart still full and requiring more expression, she wrote another letter.
Dear Aunt Eleanor,
I have just received the most extraordinary letter from William! He
is courting a young lady in Hertfordshire, and he is most definitely in love with her!
He wrote me about how his fingertips tingled when they touched hers, how his heart raced, how he is unable to stay away from her when they are in the same room!
I ask you, Aunt, have you ever heard finer symptoms of love?
I may have a sister very soon, and I can scarce sit still for excitement!
Your exultant niece,
Georgiana