Chapter 8
“Georgiana?” Darcy asked from outside his sister’s sitting room.
Georgiana, who was writing a list of necessary supplies for her birds, finished a line of script and then called out, “Come in!”
Darcy opened the door and found his sister at her desk, a quill pen in her hand and a piece of foolscap paper covered in words in front of her. He shut the door behind him and looked at her with concern. “Are you well?”
Georgiana, who was now wearing a yellow muslin gown, looked startled and said, “Yes? Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing at all,” Darcy returned hastily, sitting down near, but not too near, his sister. “I merely was concerned that you might be distressed over your unexpected meeting with Miss Bennet this morning.”
“We met yesterday morning,” Georgiana stated, placing her quill pen on the desk. “I am not upset because I like her. She is a pleasant person.”
Darcy squinted in confusion. “What do you mean, you met yesterday?”
“She was outside, heard the peafowl being noisy, and investigated. We met inside the walled garden.”
Darcy frowned. “It was not entirely courteous of her to introduce herself to you.”
“She was concerned about the impropriety of our meeting without you,” his sister said calmly.
“I told her I had no interest in such formalities. We talked about the peafowl, and then I had to leave the enclosure to change for my music lesson, and of course she was not allowed to be in the garden without me. We met again this morning when she was playing on the guest wing’s pianoforte, and then we visited the peafowl together. ”
Darcy blinked in astonishment. “And you like her?”
“I like her very much,” Georgiana said, shifting her gaze to stare out the window at the blue sky, which was interspersed with bright, fluffy clouds. “She is very kind, and did not make me feel awkward in the least, even though I know my manners are often not appropriate in company…”
She trailed off, gulped, and tears filled her eyes.
Darcy immediately left his chair and fell to his knees in front of his sister, whereupon he reached over and pulled her close to him.
Georgiana had always been a sensitive girl, and he had discovered, long ago, that she relished a firm embrace when she was distressed.
“You are a wonderful young lady,” Darcy said passionately.
“I know I am not,” Georgiana sobbed into his shoulder, leaning harder into his caress. “I know that I am rude, though I do not intend to be, and I cannot be at peace when Miss Bingley flatters me. I know I am a disappointment to you, Brother.”
“You are not, and never will be, a disappointment,” Darcy declared fervently. “Now come, dry your eyes, and when you are ready, tell me more about Miss Bennet.”
Georgiana obediently retrieved her handkerchief and dried her eyes. Two minutes later, she leaned back from her brother who was quite relieved, as his knees were numb from kneeling on the hard floor. Not, of course, that he truly minded any discomfort when it was for his sister’s sake.
“She plays the pianoforte, but not terribly well,” Georgiana stated.
“She says she has not practiced enough. I know not everyone wishes to practice as much as I do. She had good questions about the peafowl. So many people merely exclaim over their beauty, but she was interested in how they grow feathers, and how similar the peachicks are to one another. She is a comfortable person.”
Darcy smiled at her in relief, not unmixed with surprise, and said, “I am delighted that you feel at ease in Miss Bennet’s presence. Now, do you feel able to come to dinner tonight? I will not press you if…”
“May I sit between you and Miss Bennet?” Georgiana interrupted.
“Yes.”
“Then yes, I will come.”
/
“My dear Eliza,” Miss Bingley said, “I hope you will tell us of your rambles about the estate today. I know you find great pleasure in walking, and your ability to roam on foot put those of us who are town bred to shame. Please, where did you wander today?”
Elizabeth saw Georgiana stiffen next to her and bestowed a reassuring smile on the girl.
“I confess that I did not walk far today,” Elizabeth said. “I was so taken by the rose garden that I was not inclined to strike out any further. I do wish to follow the windings of the stream in the next few days.”
“Oh, the rose beds are breathtaking, as are all the lands of Pemberley,” Miss Bingley declared.
“I understand that Rosings has quite an impressive park as well, Elizabeth,” Louisa Hurst said. “How do they compare?”
“You have been to Rosings?” Georgiana asked, speaking for the first time since the party had sat down at the table.
“I have,” Elizabeth said. “My father’s heir is a distant cousin by the name of Mr. Collins.
He is a clergyman who was so fortunate as to be awarded the Hunsford living by your aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Mr. Collins married a dear friend of mine, and only a few months ago, I enjoyed a six week visit to Kent, where I had the honor of meeting Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh. ”
“I find it astonishing that Mr. Collins journeyed all the way to Hertfordshire to meet your family and came away with your friend as a wife,” Caroline mused. “Indeed, I thought I heard a rumor, no doubt false, that you were intended to marry Mr. Collins, Elizabeth!”
“There is no reason to speak of such hearsay, Caroline,” Bingley said reprovingly.
“Oh, my apologies, Eliza. I did not mean to be discourteous,” Caroline said, opening her eyes dramatically.
“I am not disturbed in the least,” Elizabeth responded calmly.
“Mr. Collins was desirous of marrying a thrifty, sensible woman who would serve competently at his side in Hunsford. My friend Charlotte is wise, intelligent, and hard working. She is far more suited to be a clergyman’s wife than I am, and I am confident that Mr. Collins chose well. ”
“Were you pleased with Kent, Miss Bennet?” Darcy asked.
“I was,” Elizabeth said. “The grounds of Rosings are beautiful and I spent many happy hours walking the trails. As for the gardens of Rosings, they are beautiful but rather more elaborate than I prefer. That is, of course, all according to personal preference. I find Lady Anne’s arrangements to be elegant and tasteful, but others prefer more formality. ”
“I too prefer that the landscape and gardens conform to the natural contours and character of the land,” Darcy said, taking a sip of dinner wine. “As you say, Miss Bennet, it is merely a matter of preference.”
“Certainly,” Elizabeth agreed, bestowing an approving look on the master of Pemberley.
“Charles, have you told Mr. Darcy about our meeting with Colonel Fitzwilliam in London?” Caroline asked, determined to wrest the conversation away from Elizabeth.
“I do not believe I have,” Charles said amiably. “Yes, we met your cousin at Lady Mostyn’s ball one evening, and his sister, Lady Rebekah, was with him. I understand he is settled in England for the present, which must be a comfort to his family.”
“It is,” Darcy agreed, and Georgiana, at Elizabeth’s side, gave a soft sigh of relief. Their beloved cousin had been injured during the siege of Badajoz, and the entire family was most relieved that the colonel had largely recovered.
The conversation grew general as the ladies and gentlemen discussed the war in France until it was time for the ladies to withdraw after dinner.
/
“Miss Darcy,” Caroline Bingley cooed, “I know that your skill on the pianoforte is unparalleled. Do promise us that you will play a song or two when the gentlemen join us tonight!”
Georgiana Darcy, stared at Miss Bingley, her mien that of a startled deer, and said, “Oh no, Miss Bingley, I do not wish to play tonight.”
“Come, come!” Miss Bingley urged with a coquettish smirk. “We are all friends, after all. You would not be so cruel as to deprive us of the pleasure of hearing you play, I am certain!”
Georgiana cringed in terror, and Elizabeth said quickly, “I have no doubt that Miss Darcy is an excellent performer, but surely her brother has heard her many times before. I understand that you and Mrs. Hurst recently practiced a duet, and have no doubt that the gentlemen would enjoy your performance.”
“I am certain they would,” Caroline agreed complacently. “Very well, we will play first, but I promise that I will not forget that we have a truly remarkable musician in our midst, Miss Darcy.”
Jane and Elizabeth exchanged glances and Jane said, “Caroline, I have been trying to remember the curtains in the east sitting room. Louisa mentioned that they are rather faded and worn, and I confess I do not remember them at all. Are they green?”
“No, of course not,” Caroline said reprovingly. “They are royal blue, and Louisa is correct; they really ought to be replaced. I am surprised you have not already done so…”
Under cover of the ensuing discussion, Elizabeth murmured to Georgiana, “When your brother arrives with the gentlemen, I suggest that you tell him you have a headache and need to retire. You have no obligation to play if you do not wish to, but I fear Miss Bingley is unduly inclined to have you perform.”
Georgiana sighed and said, “She is and I will do that. Truthfully, I do have a headache now. Miss Bingley gives me a headache.”
“I understand completely,” Elizabeth assured her.
“Will you join me at the peafowl enclosure tomorrow?” Georgiana asked.
“If you do not mind me joining you, yes, I would like that very much. Nonetheless, I beg you will tell me if you wish for private time alone with your birds, Miss Darcy.”
“I like having you there,” Miss Darcy said simply, “and the peafowl like you too. I will see you at eleven, as I have a music lesson at noon.”
“I look forward to it,” Elizabeth said, and turned as the gentlemen entered the room.
Darcy watched his sister glide over to him and murmur into his ear that she had a headache.
He kissed her on the cheek and sent her on her way, and he was startled when Georgiana paused by the door to bestow a grateful smile on Miss Bennet, who was watching her go.
He hesitated and then walked over to the young lady, who said, “Mr. Darcy, we have a treat in store for us, as Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley plan to perform a duet for us this evening.”
“That sounds delightful,” he responded politely.
“They are very accomplished,” Elizabeth declared, “though neither is as gifted as Miss Darcy. She is an incredibly skilled pianist, Mr. Darcy. You must be proud of her.”
Darcy could not prevent his start of surprise. “Did my sister actually play for you?”
“She played Greensleeves, yes,” Elizabeth murmured, “and I do not think I have ever heard anything like it. Her fingering, her timing, her presence, is absolutely astounding. I feel privileged to have listened to her perform.”
“She trusts you very much,” Darcy said in wonder. Georgiana was, as Miss Bennet said, incredibly skilled. She was also painfully shy and disliked playing for an audience.
“I am honored by her trust, sir, and will do my best to be a good friend to Miss Darcy. She is a remarkable and wonderful young lady. She did me the honor of introducing me to her peafowl, and I quite adore them.”
Darcy looked directly into Miss Bennet’s eyes and was pleased by what he saw; there was no hint of mere flattery in either the lady’s tone or expression. It seemed she genuinely enjoyed Georgiana’s company.
“Yes,” he agreed, “they are a remarkable, if very unusual, diversion.”
“I think it is delightful, and most impressive. It is obvious that Miss Darcy has studied the care of her birds with great intensity, ensuring her success. I have my own areas of interest, but I confess that I do not spend my time to grow truly skilled in any way.”
“What do you enjoy?” Darcy asked curiously.
“Oh, I like walking and observing nature, and reading books – so many books, and my father’s library is quite extensive! I like to sing and play, and dance, and I am a reasonably competent chess player. Yes, I enjoy many things, but have mastered nothing.”
“I enjoy chess as well, though I do not pretend to be an expert. Perhaps we could play a game some day?”
“I would enjoy that,” Elizabeth agreed.