by Leenie Brown
“I attended the musicale at Winsley House, although I did not exhibit. I had a sore throat,” Miss Parkes explained.
“I should like to hear you sing.”
“Her voice is divine,” said Jack, causing Miss Parkes to blush. “She sang at several musicales last year, and there was a bit of singing at Stanton’s.”
“There was?” Mr. Tibbett’s features registered his surprise.
“On a walk around the garden. Miss Parkes and a couple of other ladies were singing as they went,” Jack explained.
“Oh,” Mr. Tibbett replied.
Then, Mr. Tibbett once again lapsed into silence, which was odd. He had always been a great conversationalist on every other occasion in which he had been in company with Georgiana. She would like to ask him about it, but she thought it too great an impertinence, so she did not. Thankfully, none of the others in the group were so lacking in words as Mr. Tibbett, and conversation about the décor, the weather, and a few other sundry and mundane topics was had.
“You will all come to tea tomorrow, will you not?” Anne asked Elizabeth and Georgiana as Darcy began to mention the need to return to their box. “Miss Parkes has already agreed to come. I think we shall all be great friends.”
“I would like that,” Georgiana replied.
“Am I invited?” Jack asked in teasing tone.
“No,” Alistair replied. “You and I are going to Angelo’s so that you can attempt once again to discover my tell.”
“If you would allow your wife to tell me,” Jack replied.
Alistair shook his head. “She has not even told me.”
“I prefer winning far too much,” Anne said with a giggle. “Not that he allows me near a foil at present,” she added.
“As he should not,” said Jack.
“Thank you,” said Alistair.
“Come,” said Darcy. “We really must return to our box.”
Chapter 5
The shouts of soldiers taking part in a drill greeted Georgiana and her friends as they entered Hyde Park.
“Is this not exciting?” Anne asked. “Not only will we have a refreshing walk but also a show.”
“We are not walking far,” Alistair cautioned. “I cannot believe I allowed you to talk me into letting you out of the carriage.”
Anne smiled sweetly at him and fluttered her lashes. “You are the very best husband.”
“Indeed, I am,” he muttered, “or perhaps the daftest.”
“I cast my vote for the second option,” said Jack with a grin, earning himself a glare from his friend. “We promise only to walk to those trees.” He pointed to a group not far off. “Then, I shall spread out the blanket and your wife may take her ease as we listen to the goings on.”
“It is a lovely day,” said Miss Parkes. “I had feared the fog would never lift, but it has.”
“There is nothing so gloomy as a foggy day when one wishes to be in the sunshine,” Anne agreed.
Georgiana could not agree more. Foggy days were delightful when spent reading or playing the piano, but they were dreadful for trips to the park. Not only did they obscure the beauty that could be found here, but they also wreaked havoc on a lady’s coiffeur. She was particularly glad that the fine weather would not reduce her hair to the appearance of a shabby old mop since she was not just strolling on the arm of her brother but that of a suitor – or so Mr. Tibbett appeared to be. He had not officially spoken to her on the subject, but he had called every day since their trip to the theatre four days ago.
“Do you wish to stay here with your cousin, or would you prefer to walk a distance further?” Mr. Tibbett asked as Jack unfurled the blanket and Alistair caught the end to lower it onto the ground.
“I suppose a short distance further would not be unthinkable, especially if we are within sight of the others.” Her pulse had quickened at his suggestion. Ever since her ordeal in Ramsgate, she had been hesitant to be alone with a gentleman anywhere. However, if they were within sight of others, then nothing untoward could happen or be said to have happened.
“We shall stay close,” he assured her.
“I have not taken a walk with a gentleman alone,” she explained.
“We are not alone,” he assured her, waving a hand at the numerous people who filled the park.
She giggled. “I know there are others here, but which of them is a gossip? Who will delight in crafting an exceptional tale of impropriety? Will it be that gentleman with the walking stick over by the flowers or the lady on his arm?”
“Or neither,” Mr. Tibbett said. “I think we are safe as long as we just stroll.” He smiled at her. “However, a well-crafted tale would not be such a horrid thing. I am beginning to believe I would not be opposed at all to being tied to you.” He patted her hand. “Not at all.”
“Oh.” It was all that she could think of to say at such an almost, but not quite, declaration of admiration. Her brows knit together. Strange. Her heart did not feel fluttery. There was no warmth of delight spreading through her limbs and onto her face. Perhaps this was how one felt when she was properly and sincerely in love instead of merely swept away by the charming words of a handsome scoundrel. It was somewhat disappointing, but she was sure she would get used to it. She would have to ask either Anne or Elizabeth about this later.
They came to a stop a good fifty feet from where the others were seated on the blanket and delving into the basket of treats Anne had insisted upon bringing. “I see Ralston is being his excessively entertaining self,” Mr. Tibbett commented as the ladies and even Alistair laughed.
“He is amusing,” Georgiana said with a smile.
Mr. Tibbett made a little, disgruntled sound. “Annoyingly so,” he muttered.
“Do you not like him?” Georgiana asked in surprise. How could anyone not like Jack Ralston? He was perhaps the friendliest person in all of London.
“Only his airs,” Mr. Tibbett replied. “As a person, he is a fine gentleman – all that is proper and charming, but those airs.” He shook his head.
Georgiana’s brows knit once again. Airs? Jack? “You do not think him sincere?”
“No, it is not that,” Mr. Tibbett replied. “He is, I am sure, a very sincere person. He is just silly.”
“I find nothing absurd about Mr. Ralston.” How could he speak of an endearing person like Jack in such a fashion? Her heart felt the slight most severely.
“It is nothing to fret about, my dear. It is just a difference of opinion about the sort of person we prefer. I prefer Pratt to his friend. Pratt is a serious sort of fellow.”
Georgiana did not respond, for she was unsure of what she wished to say. She liked both Alistair and Jack. She did not prefer one over the other.
“I see by your silence I have offended you. I must apologize. That was not my intent.”
“Of course,” Georgiana replied with a small smile.
“Come,” Mr. Tibbett said. “We will return, and all will be well. It is not that I do not like Ralston, you see. I am willing to be in his company and endure his teasing, even if it is not what I prefer.”
“That is good,” Georgiana muttered. As they walked toward where Anne was seated, a troubling thought gripped Georgiana. “Do you expect your wife to prefer the same sorts of people you prefer?” she asked, bringing him to a stop.
“Does not every gentleman?”
“I had not thought they did. At least, that is not how my brother sees things.” Fitzwilliam had at one time been more particular in his choices and on insisting that they were the only correct way to view things, but since he had met Elizabeth, he had changed. He was now quite accepting of a variety of opinions. Even if he did still prefer to have his acknowledged as correct, he always considered the views of others.
“Your brother has married well. He and Mrs. Darcy seem to suit each other perfectly.”
“But they did not when they met.”
“She came to see things as he did, as it should be.”
Georgiana sh
ook her head. “No, it was quite the opposite.”
Mr. Tibbett’s brows shot up. “That is most unusual.”
Her brother and Elizabeth were not the only people she knew who had married and were happy despite being more different than alike. “Mr. Pratt and my cousin Anne have very different personalities, and yet they get on very well together.”
“Yes, but she seems to mind his suggestions.”
“As she should?” Georgiana asked sharply. This was an altogether shocking side of Mr. Tibbett that she had not yet seen, and she did not like it one bit. In fact, at the moment, it was making her wish to bid him a curt good day and be on her way. However, she would not be so rude.
“Is that not what proper young ladies are taught?” He wore a look of complete and utter confusion.
Georgiana shook her head. “I should like to have an almond cake if there are any remaining.”
“Have I offended again?” he asked.
Georgiana raised one brow.
“I have?”
“Do you truly not know how?” She could not keep the incredulity she felt from either her voice or her features. How could he not realize that such an autocratic attitude was offensive? Had she not already said that his views were counter to those of her brother? And if she had not been taught to believe as he did, then, did not his question about proper young ladies imply that she was somehow not proper?
“No. I plead ignorance.”
He had that correct! “It matters not. We are not betrothed or even courting, so there is no need to have a discussion such as we are having.”
“But we might be,” he said with what almost sounded like desperation in his voice. “Mightn’t we? Eventually? Do we not rub together well?”
Georgiana shrugged. “I thought we did, but now, I am not entirely certain.” She pursed her lips and glanced at her friends. “Both Alistair and Mr. Ralston are my friends, and I would wish to keep them – always.”
His eyes lit with understanding. “Of course, I would not restrict your seeing your friends.”
“Even if they are silly?” she pressed.
“Even if they are silly,” he agreed.
“And what if I found a new friend who was not up to your standards? Would I be allowed to keep that friend as well?” She very much doubted it.
He paused. “It is perhaps not ideal, but permissible, I suppose.”
She shook her head. “I am still unsure we would suit.”
This was something else about which she would have to speak to Elizabeth or Anne. She knew that many ladies did bow completely to their husband’s wishes and desire. They even bowed to the opinion of each gentleman with whom they danced in an effort to secure a husband, but Georgiana had always thought that she would meet someone who would love her as she was and not wish to change her. However, that was before Mr. Wickham. Perhaps what she sought was not reality. Perhaps that was as fanciful a dream as the idea of warming pleasure sweeping over your person when a gentleman declared he would like to have you as a wife. Perhaps young ladies who married as happily as Elizabeth and Anne had were among the fortunate few. She hoped it was not true, but perhaps it was. The thought was very unsettling.
“We have known one another such a short time,” Mr. Tibbett soothed. “There is yet time to discover all we need to know and to grow in our fondness for each other, is there not?”
Fondness? At this moment, Georgiana felt little fondness for the gentleman, but then, one did not always feel as one should when she was put out. “I am certain you are correct,” she replied with as pleasant a tone of voice as she could muster.
“I believe you wished for an almond cake, did you not?”
He was looking hopefully at her, but there was something in his expression that seemed too confident for her liking at present. It was almost as if he thought he had swayed her opinion to agree with him. She attempted to check her displeasure but could not quite accomplish it. Removing her hand from his arm, she smiled sweetly. “They are my favourites, but I do not know what Anne has had her cook prepare. I might find something I prefer more.” Then, she left him standing though it was only for a moment before he recovered from his shock and caught up with her.
“Is all well?” Jack asked a short time later as he presented her with a tin of sweets.
“Of course, all is well,” Georgiana replied. It was not, but Jack was not the person with whom she needed to speak about the thoughts which were troubling her. “I am merely being pensive. It happens occasionally,” she added with a smile.
“If you insist,” he muttered.
From the look on his face, she knew that he did not believe her. He seemed to know her well. Much better than Mr. Tibbett did!
“I do.”
“Then I shall ask no more,” he returned. “We are all allowed to have our own thoughts and opinions. It would be a rather dull world if we did not.”
Dull. That was it! That is how she felt about Mr. Tibbett and his view of what a proper lady should be. “It most certainly would be a colourless existence if we were all alike in every detail and thought.”
Jack glanced at Mr. Tibbett, who was now attending their conversation most carefully. “What say you, Tibbett? Do you prefer everyone agree with you, or do you enjoy a good verbal joust?”
“Oh, a joust!” Anne cried.
Georgiana giggled, and Alistair whispered to his wife that she was not the person to whom the question was addressed.
Mr. Tibbett cast a wary glance at Georgiana. “To be completely candid, I prefer harmony.”
Miss Parkes snorted softly.
“It is the truth.” Mr. Tibbett gave the lady a stern look.
Her eyes sparkled with impertinence. “As long as that harmony is to your liking,” she said with a laugh.
“I do not see why it is wrong to wish others to agree with you,” he argued in return.
One of Miss Parkes’ eyebrows rose. “Let me put a question to you, Mr. Pratt and Mr. Ralston, as I already know Mr. Tibbett’s response since he explained it to me so well at Stanton’s. Do you or did you while circulating among the debutantes of the season prefer that they all agree with everything you say to them as they are taught? Or would you rather the young lady possesses her own opinions and not be afraid to voice them for fear of rejection?”
“I beg your pardon?” Anne asked in surprise. “Young ladies – all young ladies – are taught to simply agree with gentlemen? On everything?”
“Some are,” Georgiana answered.
“Indeed? Huh.” She shook her head. “I thought that was just some preposterous idea my mother and Mrs. Jenkinson had concocted to make me hold my tongue.”
Alistair laughed. “It would be something your mother might do, but I fear she was not scheming when she told you that.” He lifted her hand to his lips. “And I am glad you were not the sort to blindly follow. I enjoy hearing your true thoughts.” He looked to Miss Parkes. “How could I love my wife as I do if she were pretending to be something she is not?”
Miss Parkes smiled.
“Here! Here!” Jack agreed heartily. “A lady should be in possession of a good mind and be able to speak it fittingly.” He chuckled. “I would not wish for a nagging harridan any more than I would wish for a milquetoast maiden.”
Mr. Tibbett said nothing. He just glowered at Miss Parkes, who smiled in a most satisfied fashion.
Chapter 6
“She’s watching you,” Anne hissed in Jack’s ear before easing into a chair with his assistance. She sighed in relief as she wiggled her feet and then added, “Go ask her to dance.”
Jack casually glanced over his shoulder in Georgiana’s direction. “Do you think it best?”
Anne sighed in exasperation. “Yes. Did I not just minutes ago explain to you how she needs to be reminded that you exist and are a wonderful person – far more wonderful than that Mr. Tibbett who keeps calling on her.”
Jack could hear the irritation in Anne’s voice. She had had several things
to say about that Mr. Tibbett as they drove home from the park yesterday. He had thought Miss Parkes was going to expire from giggling. His lips tipped up in a small amused smile. Miss Parkes had added her own disparaging comments as well. He shook his head slightly. And to think that Miss Parkes actually thought that Tibbett could be and should be brought up to scratch. Ah well, love, much like beauty, was in the eye of the beholder. Who was he to discourage Miss Parkes from attempting to win Mr. Tibbett’s heart, especially if it meant keeping the gentleman from marrying Georgiana?
“I had thought she would send him packing after whatever it was at the park.” Jack gave his sleeves a tug and then affected a position of nonchalance against the wall next to where Anne was seated.
“She’s a Darcy,” Anne grumbled.
“Why does your husband allow you to attend these things?” Lady Margaret interrupted Anne before she could launch into what Jack knew would be a commentary on the interminable patience of her Darcy cousins.
“To keep you company was tonight’s reason,” Anne replied with a smile as her grandmother settled into the chair beside her. “And I will have you know, just as I did him, that I can sit around here just as readily as I can at home.”
Lady Margaret leaned closer to her granddaughter. “There is a certain exhilarating something about just being here, is there not?”
“Indeed,” Jack muttered, giving Lady Margaret a wink and a mischievous grin when she looked his direction. “Such strategies and posturing! It is almost as entertaining as a play.”
Lady Margaret shook her head. “I am afraid you are wrong, Mr. Ralston. This soiree is much more entertaining than a play, for there is no scripted ending. No one knows the outcome of tonight’s story. Anything could happen.”
Jack inclined his head in acceptance of her statement and then added, “not all unscripted endings are happy, however.”
“Indeed, they are not! Some are magnificent tragedies.” She smirked. “Such as why you are not yet my grandson.”
Jack blinked, and his indifferent expression slipped for a moment. He raised a brow in question at Anne, who shook her head.