by Jennifer Joy
If Miss Bingley had expected the reaction of a wilting lily, she was sorely disappointed. Elizabeth was proud to see how Jane held her head high, though she saw how her hand shook under the table.
Feeling the need to change the subject to ease Jane's nerves— as well as her own— Elizabeth said, "What a busy month it has been!" Turning to Georgiana, she said, "And you have been allowed to participate in the entertainments of late, as well. Does the extra activity make you more excited to come out in society?"
Georgiana's eyes grew large. "I hardly know. I have enjoyed the outings William has permitted me to accompany him on." Looking around the table, she added, "It helps to know that my friends are always included. That is a comfort."
Elizabeth could not complain at being included so often with the Darcy’s plans. Mr. Darcy was a pleasant gentleman when his sister was present.
Sophia reached over and placed her hands on top of Georgiana's. "Which is precisely why he chooses those outings for you to accompany us on. He leaves nothing to chance where you are concerned."
"He is very good to me. I was nervous arranging this tea, so he insisted on staying behind to help me.” Georgiana lowered her chin and her voice. “He helped me with that flower arrangement," she said from behind her hand, inclining her forehead to the arrangement in the center of the table.
Sophia turned in her chair. "He is here? If he has stayed behind, we ought to have the decency to include him in our party after all of his effort. That is, unless you would rather not have your older brother present…."
Elizabeth sat on her hands to calm her palpitating heart, and she held her breath to keep from saying, “Yes, please let Mr. Darcy join us.” She did not want to appear too eager, though she had not seen him in two whole days. Not that she cared. She just liked seeing how attentive he was with his sister, and she missed his conversation.
Miss Bingley offered her opinion. "It is highly unusual for a gentleman to join the ladies at their tea."
As discreetly as she could, with her guests' eyes on her, Georgiana whispered her request into a servant’s ear. She nodded and left the room.
Her eyes fixed on the door, Elizabeth listened to the comments about Lady Metcalf's soiree the past week. With the Season fast approaching, the members of the ton trickled back into town from their country estates. In another fortnight, everyone who was anyone would be in London. Elizabeth had written to Charlotte to invite her to join them. Like Georgiana, she would feel better going into the Season surrounded by friends.
Mr. Darcy filled the doorway with his height. Would he ask her to dance if they happened to attend the same ball?
Georgiana rose from her chair and welcomed him.
Miss Bingley smirked contentedly when Mr. Darcy sat in the vacant chair between her and Jane.
“Oh dear, look how the leg of my chair has crushed the train of my gown,” she exclaimed, scooting her chair closer to Mr. Darcy. "How good of you to condescend to join us, Mr. Darcy," she said, angling her body toward him so that he might appreciate her form, no doubt. Could her intentions be any more obvious?
True to form and deeply gratifying to Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy ignored her. Smiling gently at his sister across the table, he said, "I would do anything for Georgiana."
Elizabeth stuck her tongue in her cheek. "Even arrange flowers?" she asked, not trying overly hard to control her expression.
Darcy chuckled. "Do you have any complaints about my arrangement?" He leaned back in his chair, draping one arm over the side.
She considered the arrangement in the center of the table, pretending to scrutinize every detail. "It is very lovely. Should you ever lose your fortune, you may take solace in your talents and seek employment in a flower shop."
His chuckle deepened. "Pray that never happens. We would starve in less than a week."
Sophia joined in their joke. "Ah, but you have friends who would offer you shelter and bread."
Miss Bingley, clearly not seeing the humor in a conversation where it was implied that Mr. Darcy could possibly lose his fortune, said, "What a horrible thing to say to Mr. Darcy, Miss Eliza. I realize that in some families, fortunes are taken lightly, but most households take more pride in keeping what is theirs."
"I assure you, Miss Bingley, that I do not take the loss of a fortune lightly— especially when it has been acquired through great difficulty and hard work."
"You exclude gambling? Your family has been fortunate enough to gain from the losses of others, but I do not believe you so simple as to think that makes your fortune any less valuable. What with some lady’s preference for indulging in games of chance— mind you, I speak of no one in particular— I imagine that you know how difficult it is to earn money once it is lost." Miss Bingley puckered her lips together and looked around the table.
Evidently, wealth could not buy good manners. Elizabeth opened her mouth to express thus, when Mr. Darcy said, “The wealthiest families in England have fattened their coffers by such means.”
Take that, Miss Bingley! Elizabeth smiled a thank you to Mr. Darcy.
Sophia added, "What Darcy says is true. As a lady with some influence in society and in possession of my own fortune, let me assure you that such practices are common— even expected. Lady Jersey herself is known to seek entertainment at Mrs. Robinson’s gambling parlor."
Miss Bingley shifted in her seat. "So long as the lady continues to win…"
Elizabeth was curious to know just what Miss Bingley had heard, but she would not give her the satisfaction of asking. It was apparent that the ‘lady’ she referred to was Mother. Poor Georgiana looked as if she dearly wished for the topic to change, and Elizabeth would oblige her.
"She has been fortunate enough to do so, but let us not discuss my mother's activities. I should very much like to know when you plan to return to Pemberley, unless you have changed your mind…?" She smiled encouragingly at Georgiana.
Georgiana sighed. "I will go to Pemberley,” she said with such warmth and enthusiasm, she blushed. “I have enjoyed my time here immensely, and have benefited much from my studies with the masters. I have made some new friends…” She twisted her hands together and looked down.
Elizabeth thought she understood. Venturing a guess, she said, “But nothing can compare with returning home after being away a long time."
Georgiana brightened. “Exactly. When I step over the threshold at Pemberley, I feel like I am truly home. It is as if I can finally breathe after holding my breath for too long.”
"I miss my home too," said Jane softly. "All the flowers would be blooming in the fields, and the air is sweet with the smell of them," she added.
"We have fields of lavender, and I love riding my horse through them," said Georgiana dreamily.
"It sounds beautiful. There are so many parts of England I should like to visit, but I think that one always holds a special fondness for the home they grew up in," Elizabeth said.
Mr. Darcy asked, "Do you miss your childhood home?"
"I shall always carry fond memories of it as long as I live, but I am not overly attached to it. I do, however, miss the people.” That was in large part why she had invited Charlotte. She was not completely immune to homesickness.
The butler shuffled in silently and whispered to Mr. Darcy, handing him an envelope.
"Is that an invitation, Darcy?" asked Sophia.
He paused.
"If it is an invitation, I daresay that everyone at this table already received theirs. I told Gordon that I would not join his party unless he included you. I was so bold as to suggest that he only invite his well-mannered friends on the chance that you might bring Georgiana with you."
Georgiana's eyes lit up like candles. "It is the opening presentation this evening, is it not?" Clasping her hands together, she said, "I should like very much to see it… if it is agreeable to you, that is."
Darcy hesitated. Elizabeth could see his decisive nature balking at the manipulations effected against him by Sophia and h
is sister. She recognized it in him as clearly as she would have felt in the same situation. Still, she hoped he yielded.
“Unless Darcy considers us disagreeable company, I doubt he can think of a suitable objection.” Turning to Elizabeth, Sophia asked, “You are accompanying us, are you not?”
Elizabeth smiled. “Jane and I will join you. Mother and the girls have other plans.”
Signaling for his butler, Mr. Darcy said, "Please tell the messenger that we will join Mr. Gordon this evening."
The only person who did not rejoice at his decision was Miss Bingley. She sat suspiciously subdued in place.
Elizabeth watched as Sophia leaned toward Miss Bingley. "What a pity you did not get an invitation," she said so low, Elizabeth had to read her lips. Georgiana was too busy clapping to notice, and Mr. Darcy only had eyes for his sister's happiness. But Elizabeth saw, and she wished she had not.
Chapter 17
Darcy paced in the entrance hall in front of the stairwell. He checked his watch again. If they did not leave soon, they would arrive late.
For the third time, he asked the footman to see how much longer they required to ready themselves.
Resuming his pacing, Darcy wished he had not been imposed upon. Had he had his way, he would have offered the use of his coach to the Bennet sisters and they would have been at the theater already. He could not imagine Miss Bennet or Miss Elizabeth delaying just so they could adjust a hair pin to perfection or whatever it took so blasted long for young ladies to do.
Finally, Georgiana appeared. She walked with her gloved hand trailing across the banister. She had on a gown he did not remember ever seeing before. It must have been a loan from Sophia. They were of similar heights and builds— much taller than Miss Elizabeth's petite stature.
Darcy extended his arm out to Georgiana. He would not allow his impatience to spoil her evening. "You look lovely, Georgiana. Is that a new dress?" She would be pleased that he had noticed.
"What? This old thing?" she pulled the violet colored netting away from the shiny material underneath as if it were distasteful to her and smiled at Sophia, who appeared at the top of the steps just then.
Darcy would never understand why most women were incapable of receiving a compliment sincerely given. He was certain that Georgiana had taken special care with her appearance for their evening. That was why Sophia had insisted on helping her.
Sophia finally reached the bottom of the stairs, and Darcy held out his other arm to her. Turning toward the door so that they might hasten to the carriage, she did not move with him.
Her eyes smoldered. "What? Does your adopted sister not deserve a compliment as well?"
Of course. "I apologize. Sophia, you look particularly lovely this evening. Thank you for assisting Georgiana. She looks even handsomer than I remember Mother being."
Thus appeased, Sophia kept up with his pace as he rushed them out to the long-awaiting carriage. They were going to be late. How would he ever arrange to sit near Miss Elizabeth with their late arrival?
He was too tense for conversation as the carriage clattered over the uneven roads, winding around obstacles and through crowded streets.
After what felt like an eternity, where the only conversation Darcy could manage was to agree with everything asked of him, they finally arrived. Large groupings of people were scattered over the stairs leading up to the open double doors of the theater. A red carpet ran down the length of them, already turning a dingy brown from the numerous feet trampling over it. Leading his group up the center of it, and keeping an eye out for the pickpockets and riffraff which frequented the dark steps, they entered the theater. The entry hall was warm with bodies and lit candles, as was the hall on the second floor where Gordon’s theater box was.
Gordon sat next to Miss Elizabeth in the front row. Darcy bristled.
Miss Elizabeth turned to him to make an observation and Darcy’s mood darkened. Gordon leaned toward her to hear better. He was too close.
She must have seen them out of the corner of her eye. She smiled, turning in her seat to wave.
Darcy seated himself against the wall which offered a decent view of her and Gordon.
Would she refuse to dance with him now? She had softened toward him since meeting Georgiana.
"William, I cannot see anything," whispered Georgiana. A lady with not only one, but three bushy ostrich feathers stuck in her turban, blocked the view.
"Switch with me. I have seen this play before," he said, moving over so that Georgiana could take his place against the wall. He still had a good view of their front row.
Sophia, who now sat on his other side, tapped his elbow and pointed to Gordon and Miss Elizabeth. "Do they not make a handsome couple?"
Darcy felt his shoulders tense. He tried to wrench his eyes away from the pretty sight before him. Gordon leaned in to whisper in Miss Elizabeth’s ear and said something that made her laugh. What had he said?
Sophia looked expectantly at him, waiting for an answer. "I had not thought Gordon the type of fellow to settle down before he was forced to."
If Gordon was interested in Miss Elizabeth, he had better have marriage in mind. It would be an insult to the lady to be offered anything less.
Sophia added, "Gordon tells me that he is quite taken with Elizabeth. He is determined to win her heart before the end of the Season."
Darcy could take on Gordon in a sword fight. He felt confident he could best him in a boxing match. Where it came to matters of the heart, however, Darcy was forced to acknowledge Gordon’s advantage. He had far more experience. Would Elizabeth fall for him?
Having dealt her blow, Sophia settled back into her chair, but she kept her vision on Darcy. He felt her beady eyes on him like burning coals. He tugged at his neck cloth in an attempt to cool down.
"Look at the gentleman in the box in front of us. We are not ten minutes into the first act, and already he is fast asleep," said Mr. Gordon into Elizabeth’s ear.
She looked across to where Mr. Gordon indicated. She recognized Mr. Hurst immediately. Sitting with him were several friends, as well as Miss Bingley. Though the width of the theater separated them, Elizabeth could see the sour expression on her face. She imagined how Miss Bingley could have manipulated the poor man into an evening away from the comfort of his couch, and the image in her head made her laugh.
She was sorry that Miss Bingley had been excluded from their group, but she could not pity her too much. It was ultimately she who had separated her brother from Jane and continuously cut them with her snide remarks.
The opening act gave way to the other performances. They were enjoyable, but Elizabeth wished that she could laugh with Sophia and Georgiana rather than Mr. Gordon. His manners were perfect, and his conversation was polite, but she did not feel a flutter in her heart when he leaned so close to whisper in her ear that she could feel his breath on her neck. She knew nothing of the feelings of love, having never experienced them firsthand, but she knew to expect some feelings of passion.
She looked over to Jane, whose gaze had not strayed from the stage since the beginning of the performance. No one but Mr. Bingley could turn her eye, and Elizabeth prayed for her sister's sake that he would not stay away too long. It was agonizing to watch her waste away.
A dance where ballerinas balanced on the tips of their toes and spun on them until Elizabeth grew dizzy watching them signaled the intermission.
"Miss Elizabeth, would you like to take a turn with me for some fresh air?" asked Mr. Gordon.
Elizabeth looked at Georgiana, who remained sitting.
"Let me first ask Georgiana what she wishes to do. I have not even spoken to her since her arrival."
Mr. Gordon flashed his pearly white teeth. "Of course. She is fortunate to have you as a friend."
The box emptied quickly, the stuffy lack of fresh air encouraging all of the patrons to mill about in the lobby and the front stairs. Only she, Georgiana, and Mr. Darcy remained behind. Moving closer to them, Eliz
abeth said, "You look beautiful, Georgiana. Is that a new dress?"
The girl smiled sweetly. "Sophia came to help me and lent me this dress. She said that I needed something more sophisticated in which to go to the theater."
"She was correct. Did she have your hair arranged differently? It looks like a cascade is running down your back." Half of Georgiana’s hair was twisted into an elaborate braid accented with sparkling amethyst pins and the other half, as was appropriate to her age, fell down her back to her waist.
"Even William noticed. He said I look like my mother," she said, looking gently at her brother.
"Every bit of it," he replied. "It is the highest praise I know how to give. I see that your first Season will have me wielding my sword to keep the suitors away."
Georgiana laughed nervously, but her expression grew serious much too soon. "William, I am very thirsty, and I am certain that Elizabeth is too. Would you be so kind as to fetch us something to drink?"
"I will be back directly," he said, quick to fulfill his sister's wish. It warmed Elizabeth's heart to see how willfully attentive he was.
As soon as he slipped through the curtain, Elizabeth said, "It will be difficult for him when you come out. I pity the young man who tries to court you."
Instead of the smile she expected, Georgiana furled her eyebrows together and sighed.
"I feel that I must tell you something about me, Elizabeth, which might change your opinion of me. But in doing so, it will no doubt explain my brother's terse behavior which has tainted your opinion of him."
Elizabeth acknowledged, "It is true that I judged him severely when we first met. His comments and unwillingness to act politely in social settings led me to believe him the proudest man I had ever met. I will own that I believed him highly disagreeable, but for some time now, I have noticed a change in him which has made me think more favorably of him."