Chapter Six #3
Georgiana smiled shyly. “Forgive me—I felt certain that we would make such a plan before the end of the evening… if you have no other engagements.”
“I do not, and I would be happy to go sea-bathing with you,” Elizabeth replied, gesturing for Charlotte to join them.
Their table was filling up quickly for the second course, and it was not long before one of their new companions had caught Georgiana’s attention.
Mr. Marsh had brought his ailing mother to Sanditon after hearing the widely circulated reports of the myriad health benefits the town boasted.
He was also a naturalist who intended to catalogue and study the local flora and fauna—and much to his own chagrin, the awkward scholar was exceedingly handsome.
He was of a middling height, bespectacled, and had no pretensions to fashion whatsoever.
His hair was so blonde it was nearly white, a stark contrast to the golden tan of his complexion, for his pursuits kept him often out in the sun.
He shambled through every conversation as if it was the first he had ever engaged in, often punctuating his esoteric ramblings by extending one finger to push his spectacles up the bridge of his nose.
He was prone to giving lengthy explanations when they were not at all necessary, but failing to do so when discussing the arcane scholarly topics he liked best.
Elizabeth had not understood his allure until she had happened upon him one day on the beach.
He had been in his shirtsleeves, the damp fabric clinging to a surprisingly muscular body, the sunlight glowing on his olive skin and in his honeyed eyes.
His upward gaze had drawn her eye to the chiseled jawline that bore a little more stubble than was usually seen on a gentleman, and he had smeared charcoal from the side of his hand across his face as he brushed back his blowsy blonde hair, stammering quite endearingly as he showed Elizabeth his sketch of a seagull in flight, and meandering through an animated lecture on the nature of aerodynamics.
Georgiana had apparently perceived his eccentric magnetism at once, and was content to listen to him describe the global circulation of ocean currents, a topic that promised to make a great many unexpected detours, such as fascinating migratory patterns and very hideous fish that never saw daylight.
Sanditon was an interesting slice of society indeed, and Elizabeth grew even fonder of her new friend at the sight of her smiling encouragingly at one of the hotel’s oddest residents.
After a few minutes of eating in silence, Charlotte playfully nudged Elizabeth. “I believe I can guess the subject of your reverie.”
“I should imagine not.”
“You must be thinking it very strange indeed that the sister should be so agreeable, when the brother insulted you so rudely.”
Elizabeth smirked but shook her head. “No indeed—my mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure of discovering a kindred spirit.”
“And might I inquire what kindred spirit had inspired such a wistful look in your eyes?”
“Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said softly.
Charlotte’s eyes went wide, first with surprise, and then with utter glee. “Mr. Darcy! I am all astonishment! Pray, when am I to wish you joy? You shall acquire a very charming new sister, though your dancing days may be over.”
Elizabeth chortled and swatted at her friend.
“You take delight in being incorrigible! But I suppose it is better than your recommendation that I set my cap at Sir Sidney—though his insolence to Lady Catherine almost rendered him attractive. Your imagination has grown very rapid, these days—from admiration to love, and from love to matrimony—have you never considered friendship?”
Charlotte wrinkled her nose. “Friendship? With a man? Whatever for?”
“You cannot be my only friend, Charlotte.”
“Oh, that would be too tragic.”
“I think it providential they should be at the cottage, outsiders set apart from the revelry of Sir Sidney’s party of friends.
Georgiana is a darling, though surprisingly outspoken.
The colonel’s japery is just the sort of folly I like best, and beneath it I believe he possesses a compassionate character.
And as to Mr. Darcy….” Elizabeth sighed and shook her head.
“Just before you came to the table, Sir Anthony called me melancholy. I have never thought of myself as such—indeed I have no wish to be—but….”
Charlotte laid a hand atop Elizabeth’s and grinned at her. “Now I understand. You have had your heart broken, and it is plain to see that his is being bandied about like a shuttlecock by that awful Miss de Bourgh.”
“Something like that. I am sorry to see him suffer, even if he did think me not pretty enough to dance with.”
Charlotte snorted. “If she is the standard of beauty by which he measures all women….”
“I suppose I ought to scowl more,” Elizabeth quipped.
“If you want him to fancy you.”
“I do not! Do married ladies think of nothing else? I only wish to know him a little better, and perhaps sketch his character more accurately, for at present he puzzles me exceedingly. I would not have been so kindly disposed toward him when first we met, but there is something about him that is poetically pitiful and yet… irresistibly interesting.”
Elizabeth was startled to discover that she once again had Georgiana’s undivided attention, and the girl looked ready to make an ally for Charlotte in searching for some trace of romance where none was to be found.
“Who are you speaking of? Surely not—that is, I had not supposed—oh dear. Have you and Sir Anthony formed an attachment?”
“I should sooner leap from the highest cliff in the village,” Elizabeth said drily.
Georgiana pursed her lips with simmering mirth. “That is a most reassuring answer. Pray, are you attached to anybody else? Surely you must be! I wonder that Sir Sidney Parker never….”
“Never dazzled my friend with his intellect?” Charlotte had now allied herself with Georgiana thoroughly. “Alas, Miss Darcy—my dearest friend has had her heart broken, and she blames herself as heartily as I insist it is equally my own fault….”
“Charlotte,” Elizabeth hissed, her face growing warm.
“William is heartbroken over Anne, though I have already told Lizzy I think Anne and Sir Sidney quite deserve one another. She certainly never dazzled me with her intellect either—though I should settle for any hint whatsoever of her possessing a brain or a heart or a soul.” Georgiana pouted for a moment, once again looking haunted.
“I might perhaps claim my share of the blame—it is entirely dreadful, and I should rather see him forget her and find someone worthy of him.”
“I suppose it is perfectly natural, when someone you care for has suffered more than their share of disappointment in life, that you might wish them to be rewarded with a happy ending at last,” Charlotte mused.
“Sometimes I fear that only happens in novels,” Georgiana lamented. “The rich, handsome prince or lord or duke falls in love with a brave and beautiful heroine and carries her off to a better life.”
Charlotte nodded. “Or perhaps she is very clever and independent, and she rescues him. Would that not be remarkable?”
Georgiana agreed with a bright smile for Charlotte, and then Elizabeth’s oldest friend and her newest one both turned to regard her with matching gleams of machination in their eyes.