Chapter Six #3
“I assure you, Mama, I had no such idea.” Lizzy’s mother snatched the basket from her. Lizzy frowned at the violence of the action. Even so, she kept her voice calm, saying, “It is an excellent idea, however. His owner may be at the party.”
“If his owner is at the party, she can bloody-well come to Longbourn to pick him up!”
“Mama,” Lizzy gasped. She took an instinctive step backward to put more space between them.
Flustered at her own reaction, Lizzy’s mother scowled and bustled away, muttering beneath her breath, saying, “You will drive me to drink.”
Lizzy shook her head in wonderment, continuing her path toward the orangery. She stopped, shrugged, and turned her steps back toward the kitchens where she could choose another basket.
*
Darcy offered his arm to Georgiana as soon as they exited the house and trod upon the pale flagstone path that led to the rear gardens, and beyond. The sun shone weakly through high clouds, making the colors muted. Birds flitted about, singing and chirping to one another.
“Shall we head for the shrubbery?” he asked.
“Yes, please. The day is wonderfully warm, is it not?” Georgiana put both hands on her brother’s arm as though to draw strength from him.
“What is it, my dear?” Darcy asked, covering her hands with his, while directing their footsteps to the path that proceeded between tall cedar hedges. “What has you so anxious?”
She shrugged and sighed. “Oh, I suppose it is the strange surroundings.”
“You have been in many unfamiliar houses,” he pointed out. “And you are well-acquainted with the Bingleys. I do not understand.”
Squeezing his arm again, she spoke in a small voice Darcy could scarcely make out.
“I am a little afraid of Miss Bingley.” A shudder washed through her. “There, I have admitted it. I am a frightened child who has no business being out of the schoolroom.”
“I do not agree,” Darcy said trenchantly. “Miss Bingley is a strong-minded, supercilious woman. She acts kind, but does not feel true kindness for anyone.”
Georgiana recoiled a little. “Do you really believe such a thing of her?”
Darcy pressed his lips together and did not reply.
“Perhaps, Brother, she is merely anxious about her future and that makes her…well…sort of a bully.” She looked at the ground. “Oh, dear. I should not have said that.”
“You may say anything to me, as you know. I think you may be right, however.” Darcy scrubbed his cheek with his palm. “If only she could rid herself of the idea that I will eventually offer for her.”
“Then, she might find a husband and make a home for herself,” Georgiana remarked. They walked in silence for a time, before she blurted out, “I wish I was not so anxious all the time. I never used to be so.”
Darcy wished he had Wickham’s neck within his grasp so he could choke the life out of him. How dared he ruin poor Georgiana’s confidence?
A familiar large hairy dog approached them at a trot. He slowed down and sat at the side of the path, not twenty feet away.
“Hallo, Harry,” Darcy said, stopping them to look at the dog. “You are some distance from home. I did not expect you to be a roamer.”
Georgiana gave a little squeal of delight.
She loved dogs. At Pemberley they had several.
They were not lap dogs, however, and did not belong in London, so they had been left in Derbyshire.
Darcy wondered, now, if that had been a good decision.
A dog would have given Georgiana comfort when she felt anxious.
“Is he friendly?” his sister asked, vibrating with anticipation.
“Yes, indeed. Come, Harry,” Darcy ordered, patting his leg.
Harry stood and walked quickly toward them, his short tail wagging so hard that his rear wobbled back and forth.
“What a beautiful dog you are,” Georgiana praised, crouching down. She held out her hand to be sniffed, which Harry accomplished with little fuss. “May I pet you?”
Harry butted her hand, encouraging her to stroke and hug him.
“Who does he belong to?” Georgiana asked, her voice full of love and acceptance. She pushed the hair back from his face so she could look clearly into his big, dark eyes. “You are a good boy. Do you know it, sir?”
“He belongs to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, whom you will meet at the party,” Darcy explained, reaching down to pat Harry on his rump. “She has many animals. Birds, a fox, a fawn, a guinea pig—a recent addition—rabbits, and so on. I even saw a couple of owls.”
Georgiana gazed up at him with wide eyes. “A fox? I would love to see a fox up close. May we visit her? And see her animals?”
“Of course,” Darcy said, pleased to see the dog had taken her mind off her anxiety. “Miss Elizabeth is one of five sisters—a few older than you, and two who are a few years younger. I believe they will all be here today.”
“Goodness,” Georgiana breathed. “All those sisters. I wonder if they squabble?”
Darcy chuckled. “I expect they do. Oh, and Miss Elizabeth has at least one pet mouse, too.”
“Well, that is surprising.” Standing again, Georgiana said to the dog, “Will you walk with us, Harry?” Darcy offered his arm to his sister, she took it, looked at the dog, and said, “Heel.”
Harry came to heel and walked sedately next to her as they strolled between the shrubbery.
“I think we should look around for a smaller dog for you,” Darcy said. “One that can be kept in the house.”
“Truly?” Georgiana asked, her eyes glowing when she looked up at him.
“Truly. I would not be surprised to learn that Miss Elizabeth can find one for you. She seems to know the other dogs in the neighborhood.”
“A puppy?” she asked, almost begging.
“Hmm, perhaps not a puppy,” Darcy said, his tone apologetic. “Something that has already been trained, I think. Let us consult with Miss Elizabeth first.”
“Very well,” Georgiana said, grinning widely. She gave a little laugh and leaned into her brother. “Thank you, Fitz. Thank you.”
Darcy laughed and patted her hand. “I think we had better turn back so you can change in time for the party.”
“I am excited to meet the Bennet sisters,” she admitted, readily turning around with him. Harry chuffed and stopped. Georgiana looked down at him. “Are you going now, Harry?”
He pawed the ground, sneezed, and gamboled away, disappearing through a gap in the shrubbery.
Darcy heard Georgiana sigh happily. He hoped his sister would soon overcome her anxiety about Miss Bingley—and he desperately prayed Georgiana’s path would not cross George Wickham’s during Georgiana’s stay.