Chapter Nineteen
Jane and Elizabeth’s Bedroom
Girls! Girls! Come down at once!” Mrs. Bennet’s shrill voice carried from downstairs.
Mrs. Hill poked her head into Jane’s room. “There are callers from Netherfield; you will want to get to the drawing room as soon as you can.”
The two girls scrambled to straighten their dresses and their hair before making a hasty descent down the stairs and into the drawing room. Elizabeth could not resist poking Jane in the side as they moved down the step. “I told you he would call,” she whispered.
“Hush, Lizzy!”
As they walked into the drawing room, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy rose to their feet and bowed. There was a young girl sitting beside Mr. Darcy; she rose quickly, dropped a shallow curtsey, and returned to her seat without once raising her eyes from the carpet.
This must be Miss Darcy, Elizabeth thought. And yes, she certainly is shy. Or scared to death! But she is not ugly, not at all.
Mrs. Bennet welcomed their guests with a good deal of fuss, and ordered a tea tray at once.
Her motherly instincts focused at once upon Georgiana.
Mrs. Bennet had no education to speak of and was not intellectual by nature; in truth, she was born to be a mother, and as such, she knew a hurt child when she saw one. This Miss Darcy was certainly that.
As soon as the tray was brought in, she made it a point to inquire after Georgiana’s tea preferences, and fixed her a plate of tarts from the tray.
“Miss Darcy, I daresay you will enjoy Cook’s jam tarts; they are famous throughout the neighbourhood!
But I can have sandwiches brought here in a trice, if that is your preference. ”
Georgiana stared down at her feet, uncertain of how to reply. Mr. Darcy put his hand on his sister’s and spoke for her, saying, “My sister enjoys jam tarts, Mrs. Bennet; we both thank you for your kindness.”
Mrs. Bennet replied, “I have five girls, Mr. Darcy, so you must believe me when I say that I am very fond of girls, and wish nothing more than to have another young girl to spoil with treats and ribbons! Miss Darcy, you are very welcome here, and have but to whisper a word in my ear for anything you need.” Her voice was everything warm and compassionate, and there could be no doubt that she meant every word.
Mr. Darcy could scarcely believe the benevolence and generosity that was being extended to his beleaguered sister. Georgiana felt it as well; she looked up and a small, shy smile spread across her face. “Thank you,” she murmured. “You are very kind.”
Happy to see that a small inroad had been made into the girl’s protective shell, Elizabeth spoke up. “Miss Darcy, I understand you play the pianoforte; is that right?”
The girl looked down again and mumbled something unintelligible. Her brother answered for her. “She certainly does, and she is very proficient.”
“Well, I wonder if I might ask a favour of you? I know it is quite presumptuous, given that we have just met, but your brother told me you are a proficient musician. I am unable to find the best fingering for a particular passage. Might you help me?”
Elizabeth glanced at Mr. Darcy, silently asking him if this was all right. He gave her a brief nod. “It is just a small passage, and likely very easy for you, but too hard for me,” Elizabeth continued.
Georgiana looked up and met Elizabeth’s eyes. She saw simple warmth and friendship there, and something inside her, something that had been frozen for the past many weeks, responded to it. “I would be happy to help,” she said, softly.
“Wonderful! Will you look at it now?” Elizabeth rose and went to the pianoforte without waiting for a reply.
Georgiana looked up at her brother; he nodded encouragingly at her. “Go ahead, Georgiana,” he whispered.
Elizabeth pulled a sheet of music from the stack on the piano and pointed to a measure. “Here; do you see?”
“Oh! Let me try it a few ways and see what works best.” Georgiana sat down at once and played through the complex passage three times with no trouble.
“Ah, the difficulty is in the following measure, where you want to be able to reach with the fifth finger. You will need to tuck the thumb under here. Let me show you.”
Mr. Darcy watched Elizabeth and his sister with gratitude. He had not heard his sister speak this many words for several weeks now, and hoped that this might be the beginning of healing for her.
Mrs. Bennet, seeing what her second daughter was about and eager to keep Miss Darcy engaged, said, “Let me get Mary; she would do anything to play a duet with someone who can keep up with her!”
She left the room and returned a minute later with Mary in tow. Mary, seeing a stranger at the pianoforte with Elizabeth, paused in the entryway.
Elizabeth beckoned Mary over. “Miss Darcy, this is my sister, Mary. She is the real musician at Longbourn. Look, Mary. You recall that passage we were struggling with? Miss Darcy has set me to rights. Please, Miss Darcy, show my sister what you just demonstrated.”
Georgiana’s colour was high, but she showed the fingering again.
Mary responded at once. “That is perfect. Tucking the thumb under right there solves the problem.” She hesitated, and then went on. “Miss Darcy, do you, by any chance, know a Handel piece for four hands called Concerto in C?” She rifled through a stack of music and pulled out several sheets.
“Oh, yes, I do! Do you have a preference for the right hand or left hand?” Georgiana asked.
“I have only practiced the right hand,” Mary admitted.
“Let us switch places, then,” Georgiana said.
And without further ado, the two girls rose, changed places on the bench, and began.
It took a few tries for them to agree on the tempo of the piece – Georgiana began playing faster than Mary – but they soon were able to adjust to one another.
There were, inevitably, errors made and by unspoken agreement, they stopped and worked out the errors.
By the end, both girls were laughing together.
By now, Mr. Darcy felt more relaxed than he had in many days. To think he had wondered if bringing his sister to Longbourn might be a mistake!
Meanwhile, Mr. Bingley made no secret of his admiration for Jane. He moved to sit beside her, and engaged her in a private conversation. Mr. Darcy could see that Miss Bennet enjoyed the attention, as she was pink with pleasure.
He could also see that Mrs. Bennet was more than happy to see the two of them together. Doubtless, she would like one of her girls to marry Mr. Bingley, he thought, and his immediate reaction was disdain. Had he himself not had enough of mischief-making mamas? He knew Bingley had as well.
But then he caught himself. He himself was likely no longer much of a catch these days, and if a country mother – one with five daughters!
– was interested in seeing one of those girls make a good match, where was the harm in it?
And had Mrs. Bennet not gone out of her way to make Georgiana comfortable?
She was obviously a woman with a kind, warm heart.
In fact, Mrs. Bennet was speaking to Georgiana now. “Miss Darcy, you have been put on display long enough. Come here and let me warm your teacup, for I do not doubt it is too cold to drink.”
Georgiana brought her cup to Mrs. Bennet, staring at the carpet the entire time, until Mrs. Bennet said, “Why do you hide your eyes, child? Let me see them. Look, what a lovely shade of blue! We all enjoy looking at beauty, Miss Darcy, so do not deprive your friends and family of that pleasure by hiding your eyes!”
Georgiana blushed mightily, but kept her eyes on Mrs. Bennet’s as she murmured, “You have pretty eyes also, Mrs. Bennet.”
Mrs. Bennet laughed enormously and fanned herself.
“Oh, such a flatterer! Are you not a dear girl! I am sorry Kitty and Lydia are not here to meet you as well. I sent them to pick up some things in Meryton, and they will be sad to have missed you. You will have to come to dinner some night and meet everyone.”
“You have two more daughters?” Georgiana could not contain her surprise.
“Yes, five in all! It is quite a hullabaloo here at Longbourn some days, you would doubtless have to stop up your ears to endure it!” She smiled widely at Georgiana.
Georgiana smiled back, and her brother was overjoyed to see that it was a real smile!
Mrs. Bennet continued, “You must all come to dinner here at Longbourn. Mr. Bingley. I was just saying to Miss Darcy that you must give us the pleasure of hosting you. Would Tuesday next be acceptable?”
“We would be delighted, Mrs. Bennet,” Mr. Bingley replied, tearing his attention away from the charming Miss Bennet.
“Will your entire party be able to join us?” Mrs. Bennet went on.
Mr. Bingley hesitated. “I believe the Hursts will be able to do so, but I am uncertain as to my younger sister’s social obligations.”
Mr. Darcy almost snorted. More like Mr. Bingley did not know if he could trust Miss Bingley in company!
Mrs. Bennet nodded. “Of course; do send me word. Everyone is welcome.”
Mr. Darcy glanced at the clock on the mantel and immediately rose to his feet. “I apologise, Mrs. Bennet; we have stayed far longer than the usual quarter of an hour.”
Mrs. Bennet waved this away. “We are in the country, Mr. Darcy, and the rules are different.”
Elizabeth added, “Truly, a day spent without the company of friends is not a day worth living. Do you not find it so, Mr. Darcy?”
Mr. Darcy looked at Mr. Bingley, the friend who had extended his hand when all of society had shunned him, and replied, “I could not agree more, Miss Elizabeth.”