The Darcy Cousins
Page 5
So, despite the qualms that whispered at the back of her mind, she allowed herself to be persuaded.
Chapter 5
If he had known they were to spend the evening with Lady Catherine, Gatley would never have accepted the invitation. He had dealt with Lady Catherine more than he would ever have wished. Since he had returned from the war to take over his inheritance two years ago, he had come to realise that nothing could be accomplished in the village of Hunsford without Lady Catherine’s express approval. As self-appointed magistrate of the parish, nothing was beneath her notice and nothing beyond her interference.
It was the way of things, of course. Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s family had held sway in Hunsford for generations. And now Lady Catherine in her own right claimed ascendency. She was the only titled person in the area, and her rank had its privileges. Still, it did not mean he enjoyed his enforced association with her.
His worst encounters with her—and he admitted that his patience threshold was not very high—were at the parish meetings, where the landowners of the area met to discuss common problems. He had quickly realised that the only way to avoid confrontation was to avoid speaking to her ladyship. It was not the best solution, by any means. But he had no other recourse. She was so very determined to have her way that it was impossible to convince her to change her mind about anything.
Naturally, he could not avoid meeting her socially, and on such occasions, he came prepared to be polite.
But he had not come expecting to see Lady Catherine tonight. He regretfully abandoned his vision of brandy, cigars, cards, and good company, and resigned himself to an evening wrought with tension.
He was tempted to tell Darcy he had remembered a previous engagement. But he did not think there was any way to do it without causing offence. He could hardly be impolite to Darcy about his aunt. But the fact was, he could not think of a less pleasurable way to spend the evening.
He was not in the best of moods, therefore, when he entered the drawing room.
Darcy’s sister immediately caught his eye. Her light wispy hair floated around her face, and her large hazel eyes stared out at the world like a curious kitten. She was really quite beautiful, in a quiet, ethereal kind of way. In the church, with the light of the stained glass windows on her, she had looked almost otherworldly.
Unfortunately, she had the self-effacing mannerisms that afflicted young chits new out of the schoolroom. She did not meet one’s gaze head-on, or if she did, she looked away quickly, as she was doing now. Of course, she was still young—not yet out in Society, he would wager. Very likely she would improve, once she had been through her Season and lost her hesitancy. He hoped so, for he was not one of those men who delighted in blushing young innocents.
Her cousin—Cassandra or Clarissa, he could not remember which—also made a pretty picture. But where Miss Darcy gave the impression of tranquillity, her cousin gave the impression of sharpness. She smiled and laughed but there was an edge to it all—the edge of a blade, well-honed. He sensed that she was unpredictable, and he himself preferred balance too much to find that engaging.
Since they were condemned to an evening with the ladies—and he still resented it, feeling he had agreed to come under false pretences—it was remarkably easy to choose whom he would prefer to spend it with. He strolled over to Miss Darcy and took a seat next to her.
***
Georgiana was delighted to meet the new gentleman, Mr Channing. His manners were carefree and pleasant, and he gave every sign of being more than happy to spend an evening with the ladies. It surprised her to discover that he was Mr Gatley’s cousin, since he did not resemble that daunting gentleman in the least.
As for Mr Gatley, he entered the drawing room with a scowl on his face. She resolved to be civil despite his coldness, reminding herself that she had already been guilty of ill manners in the churchyard. Her determination, however, proved unnecessary. He came over to her as soon as he entered, and she found nothing to fault either in his greeting or in his conduct afterwards. If he lacked the sparkle of his cousin, he could hardly help it. Not everyone could be animated and compelling.
Georgiana secretly decided that he was a little dull.
Meanwhile, Mr Channing expressed an eager desire to learn all about America from Clarissa and Frederick.
“You have to tell me all about it,” he said. “It must be quite a change to come to Kent from Boston.”
Frederick snorted. “Very different indeed!” But he was little inclined to continue the conversation, and wandered off to talk to enquire of Elizabeth what book she was reading.
“From Boston, yes,” replied Clarissa, “for I have never lived in the country. I grew up in town, so it is quite new for me to be in a country environment.”
“In that case, you must find it doubly tedious to be here.”
“Not at all, Mr Channing. I have discovered a whole new family over here, and I am very glad to become acquainted with them, at least for now.” She smiled impishly. “You will have to ask me a year from now, if I continue to live in the country, and then my answer would perhaps be quite different.”
“A woman after my own heart!” exclaimed Mr Channing. “For I will admit that I find town living far superior to country living. But then Gatley here will disagree, I am sure.”
“For each its season,” said Mr Gatley. “I enjoy London for a time when everyone flocks to London. But then when I tire of it, I am more than happy to retire to the country and forget about London entirely.”
“How can one forget London?” said Mr Channing. “It is far too amusing. I must tell you, Miss Clarissa, that you will quickly tire of being here.”
“What about you, Miss Darcy?” said Mr Gatley. “Which do you prefer?”
Georgiana thought of many lonely hours spent alone in Pemberley, walking through the hallways, staring at the pictures of her ancestors, and feeling like a wraith.
“To me town is infinitely preferable.”
“Huzzah, Miss Darcy! So you see, Gatley, you are the odd man out here.”
Mr Gatley smiled. “If you hope to make me change my mind because of that, I should tell you from now—you will not. I am certain that when you have reached my age, you will all be in agreement with me.”
“So he speaks from the grand old age of twenty-six! With what gravity you must see the world from that lofty vantage-point!”
The young ladies laughed. Mr Gatley merely smiled and insisted that he would remind them of this in the future.
“A wager!” said Mr Channing. “I smell a wager.”
“You do not smell anything,” replied Mr Gatley, “for I will not wager on a certainty.”
***
It was easy to like Mr Percy Channing. Fortune had bestowed on him everything that could please a young lady, but for Georgiana, he had an ability she longed to have herself and always appreciated in others: the ability to put people at ease. Before she knew it, Georgiana was talking to him as though she had known him all her life.
“I cannot comprehend why we did not meet before, Miss Darcy. I know your brother well, but I never became acquainted with you.”
He almost certainly knew the most recent reason for her absence from the neighbourhood. Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth had incurred Lady Catherine’s wrath when they married against her will. It was only the birth of little William Lewis—the new Darcy heir—that had softened her towards them. She was grateful to him for not referring to it.
“I was at school until recently and only used to visit at Easter. Afterwards, I settled in Derbyshire. I have not visited my aunt for some time.”
“In that case, you must grant me the opportunity to show you and your cousins around the area. You may know it a little, perhaps, but I am sure your cousins will be eager to discover it.”
“I am sure they would be delighted,” she said sedately, not wishing to sound
too eager for his company.
“And you? Would you be delighted?”
She was pleased that he asked.
“Thank you, I would.”
“Then we will arrange for something very soon. I wish the weather would settle soon. It is so difficult to arrange outings at this time of the year.”
Georgiana agreed. The recent snow had cast a damper on everyone’s hopes for a warm spring.
“And we will endeavour to find some amusements for you in the neighbourhood.”
His use of the plural made her curious.
“May I ask why you keep saying ‘we’? Do you have sisters or brothers?”
“No, I am an only child. I was referring to Gatley as well as myself.”
“Are you and your cousin close friends then?”
“In some ways. We deal together very well. We spent the early part of our childhood together, so he is much more like an elder brother to me than a cousin.” He lowered his voice to confide in her. “Though sometimes, I will admit, he is difficult to be with. He demands perfection in those around him, and woe to you if you do not measure up to his ideal.”
This was so close to Georgiana’s own impression that she gave a little laugh.
“Is he always like this then?”
“Not always,” said his cousin, “for how would I then tolerate his company? No, he can be very agreeable when he sets his mind to it, but one never knows when the mood will strike him.”
Georgiana turned her head to survey the young man occupying the chair next to her. He was talking to Clarissa, a half smile on his lips. Apparently, he was prepared to make himself agreeable, for a while at least.
“I hope I have not given you the wrong impression,” said Channing anxiously. “I should not have spoken as I did, for I am very attached to my cousin.”
Georgiana assured him that he had not said anything she had not already observed in Mr Gatley, and Channing gave her a look of relief.
“In any case, you need not worry about that, for even a stickler such as my cousin would find nothing to fault in your behaviour.”
Lady Catherine’s voice broke unceremoniously into their conversation.
“The card tables have been set. We can now commence our play. Darcy, you may join our table. And Mr Channing. Mr Frederick, you may join Mr Gatley at the other table. I suppose, Mrs Darcy, as usual you prefer reading to card playing?”
“Most definitely,” said Elizabeth, her eyes twinkling.
“Or perhaps you would prefer a game of backgammon?” said Robert. “I have a mind to play one myself if anyone would join me.”
“I will join you,” said Elizabeth. “But I warn you I have every intention of winning this time.”
“That remains to be seen,” he replied, taking up the challenge.
Meanwhile, Channing rose with exaggerated reluctance from his seat and threw Georgiana a regretful glance, managing at the same time to express his comic distaste for having to sit with Lady Catherine. Georgiana pressed her lips together to prevent a laugh from escaping.
But a moment later her laughter disappeared when she realised that, while she was paying attention to Channing, she had been assigned a partner—Mr Gatley.
Though by no means outstanding, she was generally a competent player. Tonight, however, she played badly, making the wrong call several times, and growing more and more flustered as the evening wore on.
“I take it you do not like cards, Miss Darcy?” said Mr Gatley.
Georgiana—who was on the verge of saying something similar in order to excuse herself and retire—now was provoked into asserting the opposite.
“I am very fond of card playing, Mr Gatley. What gives you the impression that I do not like to play?”
He could not, of course, answer by saying she played badly. She waited to see what he would come up with.
His eyes glinted. “Merely that you appear distracted, and seem more inclined to watch the people around us than the cards.”
Touché. He had answered her question, and at the same time reproached her for not paying attention. He was intelligent, she would grant him that much.
“I admit that I find people more interesting than cards,” she replied. “Which is fortunate or I would be likely to turn into a hardened player and become the bane of my family’s existence.”
“I am in a position to assure your family that they need never have a moment’s anxiety in that respect.”
At the other table, Channing nudged Clarissa, who was not his partner, and she responded mischievously by flashing her cards at him, taunting him with a quick view. Georgiana cursed the luck that had seated Clarissa at his side and not her. She stole glances at him from the corner of her eye. Blue eyes shimmered as he tilted his head backwards and laughed. Fawn hair flew back then fell forward again onto his brow. Supple fingers picked out a card and snapped it onto the table.
It was her turn to set down a card. She put one down at random.
Mr Gatley groaned, while Frederick, who was partnered with Caroline, let out a whoop of joy.
“I do not know why you are being so hen-witted tonight, Georgiana, for when we played a rubber two days ago you were far superior. Of course, I have no objection at all, since it means we have won the game.”
“You are her cousin, Mr Frederick Darcy, but is it not rather harsh to call a lady hen-witted?”
For the second time since she knew him, Georgiana did not know whether it was worse to be censored by Mr Gatley or to be at the receiving end of his sympathy.
“My cousin is perfectly entitled to call me hen-witted if he wishes,” said Georgiana, “particularly when I know it is only in jest. And to prove I have no ill feelings towards him, I suggest we switch partners.”
Determined this time to show Mr Gatley that she was not hen-witted, she gave her hand her full concentration. To her delight, she and Frederick took the first game.
“It seems Frederick has all the luck,” remarked Mr Gatley.
“I hope he will not call me hen-witted as well,” said Caroline.
“I would never be so bold as to call my new sister any such thing,” said Frederick gallantly. “Besides, you did not toss away important cards at crucial moments.”
“I believe it was a conspiracy between the cousins to make me lose my money,” said Mr Gatley.
“You have a suspicious mind, Mr Gatley,” retorted Georgiana.
“Hardly. I can see no other explanation for your carelessness during your round with me, and your sudden recovery during your round with Mr Frederick.”
Both Georgiana and Frederick protested.
The game at the other table ended. A small intermission followed, during which Mr Channing approached their table.
“Is my cousin giving you a hard time, Miss Georgiana? I should warn you that he demands perfection in everyone and that you will find him very difficult to please.”
Georgiana smiled. “Does he really? Then I shall not try, for I know my character is far from perfect, and I will be sure to fail.”
Lady Catherine now called for the players to return, and Mr Channing drifted off.
“I fail to see what is wrong in expecting the best of others,” said Mr Gatley.
“There is nothing wrong in expecting the best of others,” said Georgiana, warming to the subject, “provided you will allow for people’s weaknesses. To demand perfection is a sure way to be disappointed in everybody, for you will be bound to think ill of others.”
“It is you, Miss Darcy, who thinks ills of others, since you are so sure that I will be disappointed.”
“You are twisting my words,” she said, vexed.
“I am sorry if I have made you angry,” he said evenly.
“I am perfectly calm,” she replied crossly.
A hint of a smile touched his lips.
“You may do so, of course.”
“You are displeased. What if I admit quite humbly that you are the victor in this case, and that I need time to recoup my energies in order to defend myself better?”
A quick laugh escaped from Georgiana.
“Mr Gatley,” she said, “you use politeness far too skilfully for me to stand a chance. Let us end the discussion, then, with no one a victor. But I warn you, I mean to raise the issue again some other time.”
“I will be prepared,” he replied, with a smile that warmed his eyes.
Frederick once again reprimanded her for not paying attention to the game. “I will not call you hen-witted again, for I dare not,” he said, with mock terror. “But I wish you would pay more heed.”
Amidst raillery and light conversation, the time passed better than Georgiana had expected. The ice had been broken. Still, she felt on edge around Mr Gatley, and whenever his gaze landed on her, she turned aside.
They played until late. Miss de Bourgh and Mrs Jenkinson, who had not participated, had long since excused themselves, but to Georgiana’s surprise, Lady Catherine persevered.
When Lady Catherine finally stood up, she did not retire. Instead, she declared that they were in need of refreshments and that they would resume their playing after a light supper. Meanwhile, she commanded the young ladies to take their place at the piano forte.
“We have two young ladies in the household who are rumoured to be accomplished at the piano forte. Yet, thus far we have not heard a single note from either of them. Pray, what is the good of learning to play if you do not perform in front of others? I hope you play reasonably well, Miss Clarissa?”
“I believe so, Lady Catherine,” said Clarissa, tilting one of her brows.
“I do not know if you have any good music masters in Boston, but I suppose you could not. You must benefit from your stay in London to study music with the best masters. Mr Robert, I hope you will ensure that your sister receives the proper instruction.”