Chapter Nine #3
Darcy returned to the table where he found Miss Elizabeth placing an empty pitcher next to several filled glasses. Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty left to find a seat. Darcy saw that Mr. Bennet had taken a place orthogonally to Miss Mary.
Turning to Miss Elizabeth, he asked, “May I fill a plate for you?”
“I will hold my plate, and you will hold yours, as you fill both of them,” she said, passing him a plate. “That way, we will be finished together.”
They spoke of nothing beside the food until they found places to sit opposite Miss Mary and Georgiana.
Darcy put down his plate and returned to the table for glasses of cold tisane.
When he sat, he saw his sister, Miss Mary, and Mr. Bennet pick up their own plates—they had waited.
Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty, who chose to sit a little apart from the rest, had not.
I have seen no evidence of a governess. Who teaches proper etiquette to these younger sisters? Darcy’s thoughts troubled him. I am thankful Georgiana is making friends with the sisters who seem to have learned their lessons—whoever taught them.
“Do you play an instrument, Miss Darcy?” Mr. Bennet was asking.
“I do, sir,” she said, a biscuit half-way to her mouth. She set it down again. “I play the fortepiano.”
“Ah. So does our Mary,” Mr. Bennet said, smiling proudly at his daughter.
Miss Mary blushed. Darcy could not tell if color rose in her cheeks out of pleasure or embarrassment.
“How lovely,” Georgiana claimed, smiling with obvious delight. “We might play a duet, if you care to learn one?”
“I do not have the music for one,” Miss Mary said with reluctance.
“That does not matter in the least,” Georgiana assured her. “We will look through your music and pick out something that will work for us.” She lost her joyful expression. Hesitantly, she asked, “Unless…unless you would not like to learn one?”
Miss Mary drew in a shaky breath. “I expect you play much better than I do.”
Georgiana blinked rapidly and exchange glances with Darcy.
“Perhaps, Miss Mary, my sister could visit you tomorrow afternoon, and you can compare talents then,” Darcy suggested. “Without an audience.” He turned to Miss Elizabeth. “While she is here, would you care to go for a drive with me? I understand it will be a fair day.”
Miss Elizabeth’s eyes widened. She looked at her sister out of the corner of her eye, and then abruptly nodded. “I would be delighted to join you. I will show you some of our best views, if you like?”
“Capital,” Darcy said. “What say you, Miss Mary?”
Georgiana took her hand and squeezed it. “We will have a lovely afternoon. I promise you.”
Miss Mary jerked her head in agreement, but she still did not appear to be looking forward to the visit. Darcy wondered if she worried Georgiana would be the better player. His sister did play exceedingly well, but then so might Miss Mary.
She seemed to rally, and she smiled at his sister.
“If you like, we can also take another walk after we spend time at the fortepiano. We could visit Lucas Lodge. The Lucas’ are a large, lovely family.
They enjoy playing parlor games like jackstraw and spillikins.
If it is warm enough, we might play games on their lawn. ”
“Excellent,” Georgiana said, grinning. She took a drink, hummed in pleasure at the taste, and began eating again.
Darcy relaxed, reassured that his sister would be employed in a manner to her liking. He hated to see her moping. A large family would not allow that to happen.
“It is a shame Charlotte went away this morning,” Miss Elizabeth remarked to the room in general. “She has an aged aunt who claims her attention every few months,” she explained to Darcy and his sister. “Sir Williams’ sister lives in Epping, Essex.”
“I know it well,” Darcy said as he picked up a tart. “It is a popular market town. There must be more than twenty coaching inns lining the high street.”
“Charlotte has remarked upon the loudness of the town,” Miss Elizabeth mentioned.
Mr. Bennet told an amusing story about a coaching house he had stopped at in northern Italy during his grand tour more than twenty years before. Darcy suspected the story might usually be spicier than was appropriate for a room full of ladies. His father’s grand tour stories certainly had been.
After an enjoyable hour, Darcy and his sister took their leave of the Bennet family. Once on the road leading to Meryton, Darcy asked Georgiana how she had enjoyed her time.
“I enjoyed myself exceedingly well,” she assured him. “I like Lizzy, of course, but I chiefly enjoyed Mary’s company.”
“And the two youngest sisters?”
Georgiana wrinkled her nose. “They are lively girls, I am sure, but I do not wish to be constantly lively. I do not think Miss Lydia is always kind to her sisters. I wonder if she is kind to anyone?”
Darcy thought her answer rather perceptive. “If they go with you and Miss Mary to the Lucas’ tomorrow, you will see them in the company of their friends and get to know their characters better.”
Georgiana gazed archly up at him. “You like Lizzy. I can tell.” He gave a short nod, and she added, “More than Miss Bingley?”
“They are very different ladies, are they not?” Darcy asked, avoiding a direct answer.
“Oh, yes. Can you imagine Miss Bingley traipsing around a barnyard?” Georgiana stifled a giggle with the flat of her hand.
“To her credit,” Darcy said as soon as he had suppressed a smile, “I think Miss Bingley would be up to any situation required of her. But I do not think she would enter a barnyard if she did not absolutely need to go there.”
“No, indeed,” Georgiana said, grinning. “I expect she is enjoying her drive to Hertford with Cousin Douglas. She told me she wishes to do some shopping. Do you suppose they will go to see the castle afterward?”
“Cousin Douglas said he meant to take her there,” Darcy mentioned.
Georgiana said nothing for a few moments. Then, she spoke. “Fitz?”
“Yes, my dear?” He looked down at her, but the top of her stylish pink velvet bonnet was all he could see.
“I should learn to be more independent.”
“Should you?” Darcy took a quick look at the road ahead. Seeing it clear of other vehicles or impediments, he looked back at her.
Her bonnet nodded. “I cannot prepare a single bit of food for myself. I do not know how to dress myself, or wash a piece of clothing. I believe Mary can do all those things.”
Darcy considered her request and thought it had merit. Georgiana’s confidence would increase and perhaps that would help her anxiety.
“I believe,” he said slowly, “that this is a marvelous idea. We must find a new companion for you who would guide you in this learning. Cousin Douglas is searching amongst his acquaintances for a recommendation, too. In the meantime, your maid can help you with dressing and how to look after your clothes—you must reassure her that you will not be dismissing her. She may misunderstand your motives.”
“Oh, no, I could never let Farley go!” Georgiana cried, looking swiftly up at him.
“If only she had been with me that summer, then…” Her voice trailed away, and she look out at the farmhouse they were passing.
The farmer’s wife straightened at their passing, and she bobbed a slight curtsy. Georgiana nodded kindly to her.
Darcy wished Farley had been with Georgiana that summer as well, but he said nothing about it.
Instead, he smoothly mentioned a new idea.
“You know, I think Mrs. Granger would enjoy teaching you some cooking, since Chef is busy with his own work. Is she not the president of the Women’s Improvement Society in Lambton? ”
Her gaze returned to his, her eyebrows arched. “She is. Perhaps she will be too busy? She had a new baby just this summer.”
“You could be a help to her while she teaches you,” Darcy suggested. Anything to keep Georgiana’s mind occupied.
“I could,” his sister said, smiling broadly. “I will learn a little about caring for children, too.” She reached out and embraced his arm. “Thank you, Fitz. I am feeling more useful already.”
Keeping his voice cheerful, Darcy said, “Soon, we will find you a practical, suitable woman who can be your companion in this new venture.”
In a more subdued voice, she replied, “Someone…kind.”
“And honest,” Darcy added. “And honorable.”
“Yes. That is so important.”
They were soon entering the outskirts of Meryton, Longbourn Village being situated a mere mile from the town. Georgiana examined the streets and shops as they drove along the high street.
“I wonder which day is market day. Do you know?” Georgiana asked.
“I do not. Charles will know.”
“It is Saturday tomorrow. Perhaps there will be one then.”
“We will have an early breakfast,” Darcy suggested. “If we eat quickly, we should be able to go to the market before I take you to Longbourn.”
“If it is on,” Georgiana said, nodding eagerly. “I would like to get something for Mary and Lizzy—as thank you gifts.”
“I am sure they will be delighted to receive them,” Darcy said, pleased with her unprompted kindness.
“Good.”
*
From the shadow of the sweet shop doorway, George Wickham watched Darcy’s gig pass him by.
He and Lieutenant Denny had come today to examine a home his colonel could lease.
It had turned out to be a pleasant house, so they had procured it on behalf of their commanding officer.
Before returning to camp, he and Denny had stopped to purchase some sweets for the journey.
Lemon bonbons for himself, and boiled barley sugar drops for Denny.
“See what I have discovered due to my sweet tooth,” Wickham murmured to himself, carefully opening the paper cone containing his treasure as he peered after the gig. He popped one in his mouth. “Mmm.” Georgiana has come to visit her brother. What an unexpected surprise.