Chapter Six #2
“Are you to be presented this coming spring, Georgiana?” Mr. Bingley asked.
“I do not believe so, sir,” Georgiana said, quelling at the idea of being thrust into the society of gentlemen who might trick her the same way Wickham had done. “I will be scarcely seven and ten in the spring. Eight and ten is soon enough for my liking. I think Fitz supports my preference.”
“Oh, that is a shame,” Miss Bingley moaned. “I so hoped to be of use to you this year.”
Cousin Douglas rescued Georgiana, saying, “How kind you are, Miss Bingley. I expect to be stationed in London this coming Season. Perhaps you will do me the honor of standing up with me at Almack’s?”
Miss Bingley stared wide-eyed at him and murmured, “Delighted.”
“Thank you.”
And now, no more talk of the Season, if you please. Georgiana inwardly sighed. Fitz, please come soon. He would change the subject. He is not here, so I must.
“Mr. Bingley, have your neighbors been welcoming?” she asked with deliberate cheerfulness.
*
Darcy climbed out of his carriage the moment it rolled in front of Netherfield.
He had made excellent time, leaving soon after dawn.
He tugged out his pocket watch, noting the time as being only half-ten.
The front door opened, and his sister flew down the steps.
He caught her in his arms and held her close.
“You must have been on the watch for me,” he said, chuckling softly and putting her away.
“I was assisting Miss Bingley with preparations for her party,” Georgiana told him, smiling and clearly relieved to have him near once more.
“We are working in the room she has chosen for her office, which is just off the entrance hall at the front of the house. So, you see, I heard the carriage arrive, looked out the window, saw that it was you, and hurried out to greet you.”
“I see,” Darcy said, touching her cheek with one finger. “Where is Douglas?”
“He went riding with Mr. Bingley,” Georgiana revealed. She glanced toward the front door. “Here is Miss Bingley waiting to greet you.”
In a quiet voice, he asked, “Is she being kind to you?”
“Oh, yes,” his sister said just as softly. “The Bingley’s have been most hospitable.”
“Good,” Darcy murmured. He offered his arm and led her up the broad granite steps to where Miss Bingley waited. He stopped and bowed his shoulders to her, and she curtsied. “Hello, Miss Bingley. How are the preparations coming along?”
“Very well, now that I have such an able assistant,” Miss Bingley said, smiling at Georgiana.
As they turned to enter the house, Darcy asked, “How did you find the cups Charles and I chose, Miss Bingley? Did they arrive unbroken?”
“They did, thank heavens. I like the pattern exceedingly. Thank you for assisting my brother in making the choice.”
“You are most welcome. Now, if you will excuse me, I would like to go up to my bedchamber and refresh myself.”
“Of course. I will send for a repast. When you are ready, kindly join us in the small parlor next to the stairs on the first floor. Would you care for some coffee milk?” Miss Bingley asked.
“Yes. That would be capital.” Darcy nodded to the two women and hurried toward the stairs.
When he entered his bedchamber, Darcy found Elliot already there, laying out a fresh set of clothes.
“I thought, sir, y’might like t’change into what you’ll wear this afternoon at the party. Am I right?”
“You are right,” Darcy said, standing still so his valet could undress him. “Have you heard if all the Bennets will be coming to the party?”
“I ‘ave, sir,” Elliot said, setting Darcy’s coat and waistcoat to one side. “They’re all comin’ except fer Mr. Bennet.”
Good.
“That Miss Elizabeth Bennet is a rare one w’ t’animals, she is, sir,” Elliot said as he continued with his work. “Or so I’ve ‘eard.”
“Indeed,” Darcy murmured. “Her newest acquisition is a guinea pig, of all things.”
“Y’don’t say, sir. Well, I never.” Elliot gestured to the washing table. “There’s ‘ot water in t’basin fer ye, iffen ye wants it.”
“I do, thank you.”
Darcy quickly washed, dried himself, and then proceeded to dress in dark-brown pantaloons, a white shirt, a mustard-colored waistcoat, and a dark olive-green jacket. He stood in front of the mirror and examined himself.
“I am not so certain about the waistcoat, Elliot.”
His valet stood beside him and tipped his head to one side. “Perhaps t’old gold colored one, sir?
“Show me,” Darcy ordered.
Elliot brought forth the dark-gold, double-breasted waistcoat. He held it in front of Darcy as they considered it with the coat and pantaloons.
“Better,” they both said at once.
Darcy entered the small parlor just as the footman and butler arrived with the trays of refreshments.
The ladies sat on upholstered chairs of blue velvet, at a low round table.
The footman, following Miss Bingley’s direction, set the tray in the middle of the table.
He proceeded to unload plates, cups, and cutlery from the tray.
Then, he removed himself to make way for the butler who carried the tray of food.
“Sit here, beside me, Fitz,” Georgiana begged, indicating the chair at her side. “Are you hungry?”
“I am,” he admitted. “You?”
“We ate only a few hours ago, so I am not very hungry. I will have a biscuit, perhaps.”
“Some coffee milk, too?” he asked, accepting a cup from Miss Bingley. “It will do you good.”
“Yes, I will have some,” Georgiana said.
“Here you go, my dear,” Miss Bingley said, offering her a filled cup.
“Thank you,” Georgiana murmured. She accepted a lemon and thyme biscuits when the plate was offered to her. She took a nibble and then asked Darcy, “Why did you need to go to London, Fitz?”
He paused in the act of filling his plate with cold, thin slices of ham.
“I had a trifling matter of business to attend to that I preferred to do in person. I meant to see you, too, before you set out, and was surprised to discover you had already left for Hertfordshire. My business concluded, I returned directly, preferring not to doddle in London since I knew the Bingley’s party is this afternoon. Do I look smart?”
“You do, indeed,” his sister said, seemingly taking his explanation as the truth. “You must have gone to Aunt Orillia’s house?”
“I did, but I did not see her. She was entertaining. Jack told me you had left, so I did not disturb her.”
Miss Bingley chuckled. “If I know Lady Orillia, she will discover you were there, Mr. Darcy, and she will take you to task for not stopping long enough to say hello.”
“I am not afraid of her,” Darcy said, reaching for a slice of pork pie.
“Not afraid of my mother?” a voice said from the doorway. “You are the only one. Everyone else is petrified of her.”
Darcy stood and waited for his cousin and Bingley to enter.
“Pooh, Cousin Douglas,” Georgiana exclaimed. “Aunt Orillia is much nicer than Aunt Catherine.”
“That is not difficult,” Douglas said, grimacing. He shook Darcy’s hand. “Safely back, I see.”
Bingley also shook his hand. “Good to see you back, old fellow.” He glanced at the food on the table. “Having a snack? I could do with one, too. Come, Colonel. Let us partake. What is in the pot, Caroline?”
“Coffee milk,” she revealed, picking up an empty cup. “It is a good thing I warned Brewster that you two might return soon.”
Bingley did not quite wince when he heard what had been sent up for them to drink, but he said, “Only a half cup, if you please.”
“Hot milk with coffee boiled in it,” Douglas said, taking his seat. “I wonder who thought up that concoction. It seems like something for children to drink.”
“It is sweetened with Lisbon sugar, Colonel,” Miss Bingley explained. “Fear not, there will be tea at the party.”
He accepted a cup and took a sip. “Nice,” he murmured.
“Pray, eat if you are hungry,” Miss Bingley ordered them.
Darcy continued his meal, discovering after a little while that Georgiana had scooted her chair ever closer to his own, even though the size of the table did not require her to do so.
What is wrong with her? Is she frightened? Her shivering cannot be caused by me or Douglas, or Bingley. Is it Miss Bingley? Has she said something to upset Georgiana? Or is it something altogether different? Our conversation has been unexceptional, too, so it cannot be the cause of her anxiousness.
“What is it?” he whispered to his sister.
“Hmm?” she asked, frowning in puzzlement.
“Is anything the matter?” he whispered back.
“Nothing at all,” she said, shaking her head a little. Georgiana put her hand on his sleeve. “May we take a walk, after? I would like some fresh air before the party.”
“Of course,” he promised.
“Thank you,” she murmured. “These biscuits are lovely and delicate. You must try one.”
Darcy obediently took a biscuit and placed it on his plate.
*
Lizzy crossed the front hall, heading toward the orangery, carrying a small, lidded basket.
“Where are you going with that basket, Lizzy?” her mother demanded from the open door to the breakfast room.
Lizzy jumped and might have dropped the basket if her arm had not been through the wicker handle.
“Goodness,” Lizzy said, pressing her free hand to her chest. “Mama, you gave me such a start.”
“Well?”
“Well, what, Mama?”
“What are you doing with that basket?” she demanded, pointing to the offending container.
“Did you need it, Mama?” Lizzy took it off her arm. “You can have it if you need it. I can get another one.”
Her mother huffed angrily. “You are being deliberately obtuse,” she accused. “Now, tell me exactly what you planned to use that basket for?”
Lizzy’s frown deepened. “Why, I thought it the perfect size to hold Jeffry. When I find his owner, I will need a basket so I can take Jeffry to him, or to her.”
Her mother’s eyes narrowed, and she stalked up to her daughter. “I know you, Lizzy Bennet. You mean to bring Jeffry to the party this afternoon—in that basket.”