Chapter 7. Georgiana’s New Friend
Two mornings later, a note arrived from Miss Georgiana Darcy inviting Miss Elizabeth Bennet to spend the afternoon at the Darcy home.
During the visit, Georgiana’s music master arrived, and Elizabeth was invited to remain for the lesson.
After he departed, Georgiana and Elizabeth practiced the piece a few times before the older girl departed for her uncle and aunt’s home.
That evening after their supper, Darcy noticed a difference in his sister’s performance.
“Georgie, has your music master found the manner to reach you with the new music he brought last month?”
“Mr Larson is an excellent instructor brother, but I believe that Miss Bennet helped find the feeling needed in this piece,” Georgiana answered.
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Two days later, another invitation arrived at Grace Church Street and brought Elizabeth to Darcy house for a second afternoon of musical lessons. During this visit, Georgiana began talking of other things she did–embroidery and painting.
“My brother will hire another companion for me before long but today I have no lessons in languages and literature, so I practice my playing. But I must have something more to fill the late afternoons and evenings. My brother is absent many days with business and the estates.”
“What do you like to read?”
Georgiana shrugged. “I do not really care for Milton or sermons. My brother only allows me to read some histories and a few novels after he has read them. Then he makes me discuss the stories with him!”
“That is a good practice,” Elizabeth told her friend. “He wants you to develop your ability for a discussion. Does he express opinions different from your own and make you defend your ideas?”
Georgiana nodded while Elizabeth smiled. “My father often does the same with me when I find a new book and we both read it.”
The door to the music room opened just then and Mr Darcy strode into the room.
“Good afternoon, Georgie! Good afternoon, Miss Bennet,” he said to greet the ladies.
“William!” Miss Darcy exclaimed and rose from the chair to embrace her brother. “I thought you were leaving for Bath for a week.”
The man frowned and paused; Elizabeth wondered if he was contriving an excuse for his sister to explain his change of plans.
“The business in Bath has come to town–there is no reason for me to leave you alone.”
“I am glad,” Georgiana said. “I do miss you when you are gone. But today Miss Bennet has been talking about sewing and lessons. Brother, if you cannot find another lady’s companion for me, can you find me a language master–Miss Bennet’s French is much better than my own and I must improve.”
Elizabeth grinned at Georgiana and Mr Darcy noted the pleasant sparkles in her fine eyes yet again.
“Thank you for spurring my sister’s desire to continue her lessons,” Mr Darcy told their guest.
“You are welcome, Mr Darcy though you may reconsider your thanks when I say that I shall encourage her to read Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. I think the comedies would be good fare and we can discuss them at length.”
Glancing at his sister, Darcy nodded his head once toward Elizabeth. “The comedies perhaps but no tragedies; I do not want her to read of doomed lovers or insane princes.”
“Ah, Mr Darcy, you have sealed your fate,” Elizabeth sighed with great dramatic effect. “Nothing spurs a young woman’s interest more than her guardian’s admonition to avoid Hamlet, or Romeo and Juliet.”
Mr Darcy looked at his sister who bowed her head once more. “Georgiana, I ask that you begin with the comedies. After we have discussed them, then you may read the tragedies.”
Raising her head and smiling, Georgiana nodded. “As you wish, brother. What should I read first?”
“I recommend ‘Much Ado About Nothing’,” Elizabeth suggested. “It is my favourite.”
Darcy grinned and the pleasant transformation of his face left Elizabeth blushing. “My favourite is ‘A Midsummer’s Night Dream’. But begin with Miss Bennet’s selection, Georgie. We three can discuss the play one afternoon next week.”
“Certainly brother,” Georgiana agreed and grinned at Elizabeth.
“Now if you ladies will excuse me, I must see to business letters.”
“Thank you, brother.”
Elizabeth curtsied but remained quiet. The gentleman’s presence and voice affected her in unusual ways that afternoon.
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The two young ladies settled into a comfortable pattern; Elizabeth would spend one day with her aunt in activities at Grace Church Street and with her uncle’s trade activities in his warehouses–her interest in the cargos from around the world lead to a thousand questions that began to infect young Edward.
Together with Mrs Gardiner, Elizabeth and Edward used the cargo manifests for numbers practice in the evenings, occasionally bringing discrepancies to Uncle Gardiner’s attention.
On alternate days, Elizabeth attended Georgiana with music lessons and reading–a pleasant way to pass rainy afternoons in autumn.
The pattern of meeting every other day proved a comfortable routine for the two ladies.
They both read Shakespeare and discussed their reading in addition to practicing music on the pianoforte.
And whenever he was in the great house, Mr Darcy joined them at teatime to discuss the reading or to listen to them play on the pianoforte.
“I am pleased that William joined us again this afternoon,” Georgiana observed at the end of one of Elizabeth’s visits. “I learn a great deal listening to the two of you debate motives and actions. Usually, my brother never spends this much time with my guests.”
“He wants to make certain that I am not a bad influence on you.”
Laughing Georgiana added, “I do not think that is the reason.”
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