by Sue Barr
“I have an invitation from Fitzwilliam to give you and your mother.” She brought a card out of her reticule and handed it to him. Without looking, he palmed the card in his hand.
Georgiana fussed with her gloves and a slight blush colored her cheeks and he had a flashback to the young girl she was before all this nonsense began. Maybe the young lady he’d fallen in love with, and who had loved him back was not lost, only hiding behind blankets of disappointment and hurt. A barrier he longed to peel back one layer at a time.
“Tell your brother and his wife that I will happily attend.” Before she could turn and exit, he whispered soft enough so only she could hear, “I love you still, my darling Georgiana.”
Her gaze flew to his and he became lost in the cool depth of her azure eyes. Too soon, she smiled slightly and lowered her gaze.
“Good day, your Grace.”
And she was gone.
He’d almost reached the study when her words finally impacted on his brain and he fished out the invitation only to find there were two. One to him, the other to his mother.
“Benson!”
His butler appeared within seconds of his calling out.
“Your Grace?”
“Miss Darcy has left an invitation for my mother to dine at Darcy House. Has the Duchess given any indication she will be here for the occasion?”
“Your mother has not said anything to me, sir, however, she may have mentioned something to Miss Darcy when they had tea this afternoon.”
“Tea?” His head spun. “Here? This afternoon?”
“Yes, sir. The Duchess is resting in her chambers and advises she will see you at dinner. She also requested to forego changing this evening as she wishes to have an informal night with family.”
“Family,” Max struggled to wrap his thoughts around everything Benson relayed. “And how many will be attending this informal, family dinner?”
“By all accounts, your Grace, six adults including you and your Mother, and two infants. Her Grace enlisted the aid of the housekeeper to prepare the nursery for the children and their nannies.”
Slightly dazed by the overload of information, Max thanked Benson and returned to his study. Everyone, his mother, his brothers, their wives, their children, were coming to dine with him tonight. He sank into a chair by the fireplace and allowed tears to flow down his cheeks while he thanked God for bringing his family back into his life.
~~~~~
“I knew I’d find you here.”
At the sound of his brother’s voice, Max looked up from his ledgers to find George at the door to his study. Uncaring if it was indecorous or not, he stood and almost ran to his brother, enveloping him in a tight, bear-like hug upon reaching him. George returned the hug and then slapped him on the back before stepping away.
“I was unsure if you would welcome us back into your home, brother. It’s been a long time, nearly seven months.” George said with his usual good humor.
“You and the rest of the family have been on my mind continuously. I could only hope and pray you would forgive my behavior and begin anew.” Max replied, thankful his voice didn’t crack with emotion.
“Mother requires our presence in the drawing room before dinner.”
Another familiar voice beckoned from the doorway.
“Nathan!” Max moved to his youngest brother and enveloped him in a hug as well. “I am so glad to see you.”
“And I, you.”
“I must tell you that you were right.”
“I was?”
“Yes, when you visited me all those months ago. You were right to lay down the gauntlet of truth at my doorstep, so to speak.” Keeping his arm around his brother’s shoulders, Max turned to face George. “He wisely advised me to take the beam out of my eye before I judged another.”
“Our youngest brother has become a fount of good advice. I’ve looked to him for good cheer and warm words these past few months as I struggled with some decisions for Catherine and I.”
A shaft of disappointment stole his breath at the stark reminder of how far his family had moved from him. His closest brother had not thought to seek his counsel, something which he had done with absolute trust until this debacle. His pride had cost him more than a happy marriage and he could only hope the fraternal bonds were strong enough to overcome everything.
“Shall we join Mother, before she sends Benson to gather us up?” he asked, dropping his arm from around Nathan’s shoulders.
“Maxwell.” George stepped forward and held his gaze. “Much has been said and acted upon this year that we all regret. You made a mistake, but through the correspondence between Catherine and Georgiana, and” – he cast a quick glance toward Nathan, who nodded – “and Caroline, we know you are making amends and seek forgiveness. And we do forgive you, whole-heartedly.”
“That is truth,” Nathan offered, “but we’ll cut you off at the knees if you ever do something like this again.”
Max’s gaze flew to Nathan’s and even though his brother smiled, there was steely determination in his eyes.
“Well then,” he tugged at his vest and smoothed it down. “for the sake of my cobbler I shall make every attempt to never be a nod-cock again.”
The brothers moved in unison toward the drawing room where their mother awaited. When she rose to her feet and met Maxwell half way, and allowed him to wrap his arms around her, he knew his family was on their way to reconciliation. All that remained was reclaiming his heart. Without Georgiana, any portion of his life was empty and dull.
Chapter Nineteen
“His Grace, the Duke of Adborough.”
The butler announced Max’s arrival and he, along with his mother, entered the drawing room to complete silence. For a brief moment he hesitated until his mother pressed her fingers into his forearm and he remembered to move forward. His discomfort was alleviated somewhat by Elizabeth leaving her husband’s side to approach them both, a welcome smile upon her face.
“Your Grace,” she curtsied before them both and mother released his arm to break protocol and take Elizabeth’s hand in hers.
“We are so pleased you invited us to join the family for dinner.”
“Thank you, your Grace−”
“I insist you call me Margaret. We are no strangers here.”
While Elizabeth and his mother chatted, he cast his attention about the room, locating Georgiana on the far side, conversing with Catherine. Caroline, seated on the other side of Georgiana, rose to her feet and approached him.
“Maxwell,” she took his arm and led him over to Colonel Fitzwilliam. “I have it on good authority that the good Colonel claims to have beaten you and George in a three-legged race when you were all young lads. My husband, who partnered him, has no recollection of this epic affair.”
Max shifted with unease. He was unprepared to face Georgiana’s cousin so soon into the evening. He thought he’d have at least an hour before the situation presented itself. Obviously, Caroline was not one to beat about the bush and decided to bring things out into the open.
“I know we had many such games when we were young lads running about the estate, but I do not recall any specifics.”
“Unlike you, your Grace,” the way Richard drawled the words ‘your Grace’ made them sound like an insult, “I have an excellent memory. It is unlikely I will forget anything that has happened between the two of us.”
“Stop it, Richard.” Both men looked at Caroline in shock. “Your false bravado does no good here and we are commanded to forgive. I suggest you have a long talk with my husband, followed by extensive reading of the book of John.”
A dull hint of red tinged Richard’s neck above his cravat. He mumbled something unintelligible and moved away.
“That was lovely.” She moved the two of them in the direction of a glowering Darcy. “Shall we beard the lion in his den?”
He desperately wanted to say ‘no’, but his sister-in-law, with a surprisingly firm grip, steered him across the
room. They stopped directly in front of the Darcy’s and his mother.
“Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth, Mother Kerr.” Caroline said, smiling at all of them. “My husband and I have decided the best way to facilitate this unusual family reunion was to allow all parties to converse and begin healing. If we remain tight-lipped in our polite corners, nothing will change and Georgiana will become distressed.”
Caroline kept her arm looped through his, effectively pinning him in place. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought Elizabeth’s eyes danced with humor. His mother turned her head to one side and he saw that, she too, was trying to hide a slight smile.
“Adborough,” Darcy offered with a polite nod of his head.
“Darcy,” Max returned the greeting.
The silence stretched between them. This was worse than when they were at Pemberley. He decided to take the first step.
“I thank you for extending this invitation to dinner.”
“The invitation came from my sister.”
Undaunted, Max continued, “Regardless, you had the option to not attend, yet here you are.”
“Yes, here we are,” his mother said. “And it’s time to be a family.” She turned to Elizabeth. “Tell me more about your new baby. I’m dying to know how he fares after such an abrupt entry into this world.”
As his mother and Elizabeth conversed about Andrew, Max assessed Darcy. He knew that his friend’s good opinion once lost, was nigh unto impossible to regain, and yet he had to try for Georgiana’s sake. He cast a glance across the room and noticed that although she still conversed with Catherine, she kept careful watch on him and her brother. He offered her a slight smile to quell any concerns she may have had and she returned it swiftly.
“She was very nervous about this evening,” Darcy offered in a soft voice. “I haven’t the heart to disabuse her of the notion that we can attain our former friendship.”
“Why disabuse her at all. We may not go back in time, but we can proceed forward. Our friendship has changed, that is a fact, but I have always held you in high esteem and nothing has changed my attitude toward you. I regard you as a friend and hold out hope that some day you might reciprocate.”
“Someday, Adborough, but not today. Can we agree on that?”
In spite of himself, Max found himself smiling. “We can agree on that.”
“Elizabeth has told me how, multiple times, how grateful she is for your timely arrival when she’d fallen at Pemberley.”
“Truly, Darcy, ‘twas nothing. It was God’s providence that I arrived when I did and could help in any way.”
“Regardless. She said you were most solicitous and then she commented on something you said while carrying her into the house.”
“Really? I wonder what that could be.”
“She wondered to which bird you referred.”
His brow furrowed as he cast his mind back to when he’d carried Elizabeth into the house. At the time he’d been so worried he murmured a few kind words so that she wouldn’t panic and possibly hurt the child. At last, his memory lit on a part of the conversation to which Darcy alluded and chuckled.
“I take from your reaction that you have recalled your words.”
“I do,” Max cut a quick glance toward Mrs. Darcy who had paused in her conversation with his mother. “I made reference to an ostrich.”
Elizabeth arched an eyebrow and said with a smile, “An ostrich?”
“Yes, Mrs. Darcy. A very large ostrich.”
Elizabeth laughed outright before clapping a hand over her mouth.
“You have won this war of words, your Grace. I shall gracefully concede before you decide to enumerate how many feathers it would take to replace my body weight.” She looked toward his mother. “Later, when the gentlemen have their port, I’ll share more details.”
“I look forward to it,” mother replied with a curious glint in her eye. “And then, I’ll tell you some stories about your husband and his cousins that will make your toes curl.”
“You must tell me everything. I’m dying to know what they were like as children as they refuse to tell tales about each other.”
“It’s called righteous blackmail, my dear.”
Max took this opportunity to excuse himself from their company and made his way to Georgiana. He knew every eye in the room followed his progress.
“Georgiana.” He gave her a polite nod once he arrived where she waited.
“Maxwell.”
A somewhat awkward pause began before he remembered his manners and addressed Catherine. “Did you find the confectioner’s store Mother told you about?”
“I did and spent over an hour browsing. The shop was filled with so many delightful things I couldn’t decide what I wanted to purchase.”
“I have it on great authority,” Maxwell leaned toward the two ladies as though imparting a great secret, “Your husband is a regular customer there.”
“That is no secret, Max. I recognized the store’s logo as soon as I saw one of the gift boxes.”
“Nathan spoke of this shop.” Caroline had joined them and stood by his side. “Right next to the haberdashery he frequents, if I’m not mistaken.”
Max used this opportunity to come closer to Georgiana.
“Would you take a turn about the room with me?”
“I would be delighted.”
She stood and looped her arm through his before they began to amble about the edges of the room.
“I received your letter this morning,” he murmured, nodding a polite hello to Elizabeth’s sister Mary. She was seated between Colonel Fitzwilliam and his brother, Ash. “I’m not sure kind is a word I would have used in our little adventure through the alphabet.”
“Of course it is. Other than your aberration last year, you have been nothing but kind.”
“Thank you, Georgiana. The next letter is mine and I decided I would tell you personally, rather than in writing.” He took satisfaction in seeing her cheeks pinken ever so slightly. “The letter ‘L’ has me dreaming of love, and I’m filled with longing for your lilting laughter.”
“Pffftt…” was all she said, yet her eyes twinkled with humor.
“You find me too loquacious with my lyrical prose?”
They’d stopped in front of the French doors, slightly opened to let in the warm night air.
“It’s my turn,” she replied. “The letter ‘M’ has me thinking of your name. Maxwell.”
“That’s only one of my names.”
“Do not interrupt.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“What are you two whispering about?”
She abruptly stopped speaking as Ash joined them. Maxwell cussed beneath his breath and the sideways glance Georgiana slid in his direction told him she’d heard. The corner of her mouth quirked when he gave his shoulders a slight shrug before facing the Viscount.
“The alphabet.”
“The what?”
“We are talking about the alphabet and the importance of its letters.”
Ash swiveled his gaze between the two of them, clearly unsure if Max was yanking his chain or telling the truth.
“It’s quite true, cousin. We have been extolling the virtues of the alphabet and have reached the letter ‘N’. Care you to join us?”
“No, as in ‘N’, ‘O’.”
“Delightful. We have now reached the letter ‘P’. Maxwell, what say you?”
“Perfection. Everything about you is perfection.”
The smile she gave him glittered. Yes, she was perfection and he wanted more than anything to whisk her through the open doors onto the terrace and kiss her perfectly plump lips, but Hutchins appeared at the door and announced dinner was ready to be served. Max extended his elbow to Georgiana and escorted her across the room. Fake courtship or not, they were the highest-ranking couple and he led her to the drawing room, proud to have her on his arm.
~~~~~
Hunched over her escritoire, Georgiana did not hear the door to her room ope
n.
“I thought you’d left the schoolroom behind years ago.”
She lifted her gaze to see Elizabeth at the door, dressed to go outside. At her surprised look, Lizzy said, “I did knock.”
“I’ve been working on my next letter to Maxwell.”
“So I see. You’ve forgotten all about your promise to go for a walk in the park with Bennet and me.”
“Oh dear, is it that time already?” She sanded the portion of the letter she’d completed, which was only her salutation and stood. “Let me get my pelisse and hat. Can I meet you at the front door in ten minutes?”
“There is no rush, dearest. You can finish your letter and then we can go for our walk.”
“Nonsense. Clearly you are dressed and ready. As it is, I find words escaping me at the moment.”
“Anything you wish to talk about?”
“No.” At Lizzy’s raised eyebrow she hurried to assure her sister. “We’ve arrived at the letter ‘Q’ and I’ve hit a bit of a roadblock.”
“Hmm… Querulous? Quarrelsome? Quirky?”
“No,” Georgiana laughed. “Maxwell is none of those.”
“Apologies, my quick-witted sister. I must have been projecting your quaint brother’s thoughts about me.”
“I appreciate your attempt to help me as you are very clever, but I think I’ve stumbled upon a word that suits my need.”
“Do you care to share?”
“Quiet. My husband is quiet, yet in a good way.”
“You know what they say about quiet people.”
“Do tell.”
“Still waters run deep. I’m convinced, if asked, he would take on the twelve labors of Hercules to prove his love.”
Georgiana pondered Lizzy’s words as they strolled the perimeter of the park, stopping at the small lake so Bennet could throw bread crumbs at the ducks. Would Maxwell perform a Herculean quest if she asked? A peace settled over heart with the knowledge that he would. Indeed, since December he’d proven over and over that he was sincere in his love and in his quest to regain her favor. It was time she moved them closer to the finish line. However, she was thoroughly enjoying their journey through the alphabet and didn’t want to end their correspondence just yet.