Chapter Sixteen
Everyone gathered in the drawing room for afternoon tea. Miss Bingley tried to begin a conversation with Georgiana. “How are you today, Miss Darcy?”
“Well enough.”
“I saw that you had taken a novel from the library. What was it?”
“Evelina.”
“I have not read it; do you recommend it?”
Georgiana shrugged.
“Will you let me know if you like it? I am desperate for something new to read!”
Georgiana looked down.
Then Mrs. Hurst made the attempt. “Is your room comfortable, Miss Darcy?”
“Yes.”
“It is growing cold; I will have the maids light the fires in the morning starting tomorrow. I hope they will not awaken you.”
Georgiana shrugged.
Mr. Bingley said, “Oh, the assembly is tomorrow night! Sir Lucas gave me tickets for all of us.”
Miss Bingley scowled. “A country assembly? I think not.”
Mrs. Hurst countered, “It would be a good diversion, would it not? I will wear my ruby chiffonet.”
“Pearls before swine, Louisa!” Caroline said, laughing at her own witticism.
“I wear it for my own pleasure and that of my husband, no one else’s,” her sister replied.
Mr. Hurst smiled at his wife. “Very good, Louisa.” He had noticed his wife’s growing independence from her reliance on her younger sister’s opinions, and took every opportunity to show his appreciation.
“Darcy?” Mr. Bingley asked.
Mr. Darcy shook his head.
“Miss Darcy, do tell your brother that he should go out and enjoy himself. In fact, there is no reason that you should not attend as well.” Mr. Bingley was eager for everyone to join him.
“Miss Darcy is not out,” Miss Bingley reminded him.
“Country society is not the same as Town society,” Mrs. Hurst said. “There is no reason she could not come along and watch the dancers. In fact, she could dance with her brother and nothing would be amiss.”
“I cannot,” Georgiana whispered. She rose, curtsied to the room, and ran upstairs.
“Excuse me,” Mr. Darcy said. He rose, bowed and followed his sister upstairs to her room.
“Georgiana, may I enter?”
“Yes.” Her voice was low.
He went into the room and closed the door behind him. “Why would you not consider going to the assembly?”
“And be stared at by everyone? I think not,” she returned.
“Why would anyone stare at you? No one knows you, Georgiana. Would it not be good to get out of this room, out of this house?”
“No, but you should go, Brother. As you say, it would be good for you to get out of this house.”
“I go riding every day with Bingley to look at the tenant farms; I am hardly housebound.”
Georgiana shrugged. “I will not go, and that is all I will say on the matter.”