CHAPTER NINETEEN
Georgiana Comes to Longbourn
Georgiana Darcy arrived in a quiet carriage with her companion, Mrs. Annesley, and enough nerves for three people.
Elizabeth saw the carriage from the drawing-room window. “She is here.”
Darcy attempted to stand. Elizabeth put both hands on his shoulders and pushed him back into the chair. “No.”
“I can use the crutches.”
“Dr. Morrison said only with assistance.”
“Richard is here.”
“Richard is outside unloading luggage because your sister has apparently brought a pianoforte in pieces.”
Darcy frowned. “She has not.”
“Then it is a very musical trunk.”
The front door opened downstairs. Georgiana’s voice, soft and uncertain, reached them.
Darcy went completely still. Elizabeth saw every trace of impatience vanish from his face.
Footsteps came quickly up the stairs. Georgiana appeared in the doorway.
She was tall for fifteen, fairer than her brother, with the same dark eyes and a shyness that seemed to make her uncertain where to place her hands.
For one second brother and sister only looked at one another.
Then Georgiana crossed the room at a run. “Fitzwilliam.”
Darcy caught her. His injured leg prevented him from rising, so she knelt beside his chair and put both arms around him. Darcy buried his face briefly in her hair. “I am sorry.”
Georgiana drew back. “For what?”
“For frightening you.”
“You were thrown from a horse. I do not think you did it intentionally.”
Elizabeth smiled.
Darcy looked over Georgiana’s shoulder. “You have been corresponding with Miss Elizabeth.”
Georgiana turned. Her shyness returned at once.
Elizabeth crossed the room before the girl could decide whether to curtsy. “Miss Darcy.”
“Miss Bennet.”
“I am very glad to meet you at last.”
“So am I.” Georgiana glanced at her brother, then blushed. “Very glad.”
Elizabeth suspected Darcy had been the subject of more letters than she knew.
Darcy suspected the same and looked wary.
Georgiana’s first hour at Longbourn passed under the concentrated attention of five Bennet women.
Jane welcomed her gently. Mary asked after her music.
Kitty admired her travelling pelisse. Lydia stared for approximately thirty seconds before blurting, “La! You are not frightening at all.”
Georgiana blinked.
Mrs. Bennet cried, “Lydia!”
“What? Miss Bingley talks of her as though she is a princess.”
Georgiana looked at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth bit her lip.
Then Georgiana laughed.
Darcy stared. The sound was quiet but genuine.
Lydia grinned. “There. I knew I would like you.”
Within two days Georgiana had been absorbed into the household.
Mary discovered that she played beautifully and immediately became both reverent and competitive.
Kitty wanted to learn a new embroidery stitch from Mrs. Annesley.
Lydia asked whether London assemblies were truly grander than country ones and was disappointed to learn that boredom existed at both.
Jane provided calm when too many questions exhausted her.
Elizabeth provided escape. They walked together on the first clear afternoon, never far from the house because snow remained along the hedges. Georgiana was quiet until they reached a small rise overlooking the lane where Darcy had fallen. “That is where you found him?”
“Yes.”
Georgiana looked down. “Thank you.”
“You have thanked me in every letter.”
“I know.”
“You may stop now.”
Georgiana’s mouth trembled. “I cannot.”
Elizabeth touched her arm.
The girl took a breath. “He is all I have.”
Elizabeth’s heart tightened.
“And I nearly lost him before,” Georgiana continued.
Elizabeth knew what she meant. “Ramsgate was not your fault.”
Georgiana went still. “My brother told you.”
“Yes. Only because Wickham was here and he feared for you. I have told no one.”
Georgiana’s eyes filled. “I was so foolish.”
“You were fifteen.”
“I am still fifteen.”
“That rather strengthens my point.”
A watery laugh escaped her.
Elizabeth said, “A grown man and a woman you trusted arranged to deceive you. Shame is useful only when it belongs to the correct person.”
Georgiana looked at her for a long time. “Fitzwilliam said something like that.”
“Did he?”
“He said you had told him he cannot protect me by making my world smaller.”
Elizabeth smiled faintly. “Your brother has an alarming habit of remembering my lectures.”
“I think he remembers everything you say.”
Elizabeth looked away too quickly.
Georgiana noticed. She was shy, not blind. That evening Darcy watched Elizabeth and Georgiana bent over the same piece of music at the pianoforte.
Richard came to stand beside him. “You are staring.”
“I am not.”
“You have been staring at Miss Elizabeth for months.”
Darcy’s gaze remained on her. “She does not love me.”
Richard followed his look.
Elizabeth laughed at something Georgiana whispered. “Not yet, perhaps.”
Darcy glanced at him.
Richard shrugged. “She looks at you differently.”
“How?”
“Like a woman deciding whether a man is worth the trouble.”
Darcy frowned.
Richard clapped him on the shoulder. “For you, cousin, that is practically a declaration.”