“Hastings, you may announce my arrival to your mistress, but please take your time in doing so, if you know what I mean,” said the Colonel.
“As you wish, sir.” The butler set off very, very slowly for the drawing room.
Georgiana ascended the stairway as quickly as she could, keeping in mind that ladies never rushed. Once at the top and out of sight of her cousin and companion, she set off down the hallway to the guest wing at a run. Hang propriety! She had to get to her brothers.
After a quick rap on the door, Georgiana swept into Theo’s room without waiting for an answer. Once inside, she stopped and looked from one brother to the other.
Darcy stood. “What are you…?”
Before he could even finish the sentence, Georgiana kissed him on the cheek and slipped into the chair he had just vacated. Setting a hand on Theo’s forehead, relief sweep over her. “He is not feverish.” She turned to her elder brother. “What are his injuries?”
Darcy, who seemed too stunned by her sudden appearance to protest, described what had happened.
Georgiana knew she had only minutes, possibly seconds, before he began to question what she was doing there and how she had learned of the accident.
Theo opened his eyes and squinted at her. “Georgie, is that really you or am I seeing things again?”
“I am here now. I will take care of you,” she said. She turned to Darcy and looked at him as if daring him to contradict her.
Whatever Darcy had been planning to say died on his lips as he found himself on the receiving end of a very good imitation of one of his own severest looks. He blinked slowly as if he could not believe it.
“He has been seeing things?” she asked.
Darcy’s lips tightened. “We think it is the medicine.”
“Laudanum should not do that unless perhaps he was given too much. Were you careful about the dose?” she asked.
Darcy cleared his throat and exchanged a look with Theo. “Lady Catherine gave him some of Anne’s medicine. We think it might have some…harmful ingredients.”
Georgiana’s eyes grew wide. She turned back at Theo who nodded.
“We were just discussing the best way to approach Lady Catherine. She must not allow Anne to take it any more,” Darcy said.
“It is not that simple. If it contains even one of the ingredients I suspect it does, stopping suddenly would be more harmful than continuing to give it to her. She must be tapered off it,” Theo responded. He was finally beginning to sound a little more like himself.
“What should we do?” Darcy asked.
“If we could find out where the medicine is kept, we could start watering it down with something. Tea, perhaps?” Theo suggested.
“And when Mr. Cox arrives from London in the morning, we can consult with him,” Darcy added. “But how can we find out where she keeps it?”
Georgiana smiled. “I have a plan that might work.”
Darcy put a hand on her shoulder. “We will talk later about what you are doing here,” he said severely.
When she replied, “I think we should,” she was pleased to note the slightly confused look on his face. It was clearly not what he was expecting to hear.
Darcy, Georgiana, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Mrs. Annesley took turns sitting with Theo through the night, and by morning, his color was returning and no signs of further impairment from the head injury had appeared.
*****
Before Theo’s morning dose of Anne’s special medicine was due to be administered, Georgiana sought out Mrs. Shafton and offered to take the medicine to her brother. Just as she had hoped, she was able to follow the housekeeper to the source. The bottle was kept in a cupboard in her little office. As Mrs. Shafton carefully measured out the dosage, she explained the exact proportions to Georgiana who listened intently to her instructions. She thanked the housekeeper and made her way back to Theo’s room. Now all they had to do was steal the key to Mrs. Shafton’s cupboard, sneak into her office unnoticed, and water down the medicine a little more every day. That should be simple enough. Georgiana laughed at her own boldness.
As Georgiana was reporting back to her brothers about the medicine, one of the footmen knocked at the door. “You have a visitor from the parsonage. She has come to inquire about Mr. Theophilus’ health.”
“Who is the caller?” Darcy asked.
“It is Miss Bennet, sir. What should I tell her?”
When Darcy froze, Georgiana said, “Richard is sleeping in. You will have to go down. I can manage here for a few minutes.”
Darcy reluctantly left them to talk to Elizabeth. When she and Theo were alone, Georgiana asked, “Who is she? If she is a ‘Miss’ then she is not the parson’s new wife.”
“No, she is a friend of Mrs. Collins. She was both the cause of my accident and my savior. She fixed my shoulder, helped me onto Theseus, and walked me back to the parsonage. A very capable and lovely young woman.”
“We owe her a debt of gratitude.”
“It is more complicated than that, dear sister. It seems our brother is finally in love.”
Georgiana’s eyes grew wide. “Our brother? In love?”
“I have been watching him since we arrived and am convinced of it. Actually, they met last autumn when Darcy visited Bingley in Hertfordshire.”
“And what about the lady? Does she return his sentiments?”
“You know how little William gives away. I doubt she has any idea.”
“Perhaps I should go down and meet her after all,” Georgiana said. “I will send for Mrs. Annesley to sit with you.”
“Before you go, could you get rid of that vile stuff just to make sure no one tries to pour it down my throat while I am sleeping?”
Georgiana took the glass and dumped its contents out the window before she went to meet this woman who had broken down her formidable brother’s defenses.
*****
When Georgiana entered the parlor, she was somewhat dismayed at the scene. Miss Bennet was seated on a little settee while her brother was standing stiffly behind the protection of a tall-backed chair. The lady stood when Georgiana entered, and they both waited for Darcy to make the introductions. Finally, he seemed to realize what was required and stepped forward.
“I have heard so much about you from your brothers,” Elizabeth said warmly.
“You left Theo alone?” Darcy said sternly to Georgiana, as if Elizabeth was not even in the room.
“No, he is not alone. Mrs. Annesley is there with strict instructions about what to do.” Giving her brother her sweetest smile, she turned back to Elizabeth. “I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. Thank you for helping Theo when he was injured.”
“It was the least I could do since I was partly to blame.” Elizabeth glanced at Darcy. She looked a little puzzled. “I have brought some soup for him. It is what my mother always makes when one of us is ill. I hope it will help. I gave it to one of the footmen to take to the kitchen.”
As they talked, Georgiana watched, first her brother and then Miss Bennet. Darcy was silent but rarely took his eyes off their visitor. His face did not betray him, but there was something in his eyes that Georgiana had never seen before. Oh, yes, he was definitely interested in Miss Bennet, though his siblings were possibly the only ones who would ever be able to detect it. On the other hand, the lady did not seem to show Darcy any partiality and made little if any attempt to include him in the conversation although she did glance in his direction several times. Georgiana sighed inwardly. This was going to be very complicated indeed.
After a brief visit, Elizabeth rose. “I must go now. I am expected back at the parsonage.”
Georgiana took Elizabeth’s arm as if they had been friends for years. “I will tell Theo you called and inquired about him. Bringing the soup was so good of you. We all appreciate your thoughtfulness, do we not, William?”
Darcy and Georgiana thanked Miss Bennet again as they walked her to the front hallway. After more farewells and a promi
se to call tomorrow, Elizabeth departed. Georgiana and Darcy started up the stairs back to Theo’s room.
“He is in love with her,” Darcy said solemnly.
At first, Georgiana thought she had heard him incorrectly. “What did you say?”
“Theo is in love with Miss Bennet.”
She tried to hide her astonishment at this revelation. “Oh, my, and does she return his sentiments?”
“I have observed some signs of it. She took great care of him when he was first injured, and then she came all the way here to bring him soup and inquire after him.”
“Surely, that was just common courtesy.”
“There are other signs.”
“Hmm…,” Georgiana replied uncertain what else to say.
“She would be a good match for him although she does not have much of a dowry,” Darcy continued.
“Then that would make it impossible.”
“I have been thinking of ways I could help him, make it easier for them to marry.”
“Oh, my,” Georgiana said softly.
“Please do not mention this to Theo. Much depends upon what happens when they see each other again once he is feeling better,” Darcy confided.
“I…uh…” Georgiana was too astonished at what she had just learned. Each of her brothers thought that the other was in love with Miss Bennet. What a tangle!
As they reached the top of the stairs, Darcy put a hand on her arm to stop her. “There is only one way you could have found out about Theo’s accident. You know my study is sacrosanct.”
Georgiana took a deep breath. “Yes, I have been meaning to talk to you about that. Shall we step into the small parlor? I do not want to disturb Theo.”
*****
She did not look at him as they walked to the parlor, knowing too well the look he wore. His brows would be drawn low over his eyes and his lips pressed into a hard disapproving line. It was a familiar enough expression. Why could he not listen instead of becoming so cross?
Darcy ushered her into the dimly lit room. The ornate parlor only caught the afternoon sun, making it dreary at best during any other hour of day. An ideal spot for their conversation.
She sat in a small, uncomfortable chair—the only kind Aunt Catherine seemed to permit in her realm. Hard, lumpy and garish, a bit like her. Oh, Fitzwilliam would not approve of that thought, but Theo and Richard would laugh; they would probably think of it themselves.
“Now, let us talk about how you knew of Theo’s injury.” He stood before her, hands clasped behind his back. If he had a cane in hand, he would look just like a disagreeable school master.
“What would you have me say?” Her voice squeaked like a little girl’s. Why did it have to do that?
“What would cause you to do such a thing? To abandon proper manners and respect? I have no doubt you have been taught better than to rifle through another’s belongings, much less read their correspondence. I would not tolerate that behavior in a servant, yet now it seems I have to endure it in my sister. What were you thinking?”
“I…I…I was thinking you left me little alternative.”
“I? You suggest I forced your hand? How do you blame me for your indiscretion?”
He looked so surprised—and so offended. Was it possible he truly did not understand? “I do not like to be spoken to in a loud voice nor do I appreciate being lectured.”
“What has that to do with any of this?”
“If I ask you questions when you are wearing your ‘do-not-dare-ask’ expression, that is exactly what will happen.” She clutched the arms of her chair to keep from running away.
“My what?”
“You know, it is the look you usually wear for Theo when he wants to talk about something.”
That stopped him cold. His jaw dropped and eyes bulged as though words lodged in his throat. Perhaps a sharp slap on the back would help. Probably not.
“Georgiana!” That was exactly the tone she had hoped to avoid.
“You see, you are yelling at me now.”
“Of course I am. I have every reason to be! You read my post and now are blaming me for it.”
She rose up a little in her seat. “If you would bother to talk to me, to tell me things, I would not have to do such a thing.”
“I tell you what you need to know.”
“No, you do not.”
“Then you might ask.”
“I cannot. You yell at me like you are doing now when I ask.”
“You are behaving like a child.”
She jumped to her feet, voice rising to meet his. “No, I am not. But you treat me like one!”
“I do not.”
“Do you raise your voice to your peers? Do you withhold important information from them? Do you take offense when they ask needful questions?”
“Of course not.”
“But you do that with me…and with Theo. We are both well grown, and both quite tired of it. Quite tired.”
His face grew dark and contorted into the expression she feared. “You will not speak to me that way, Georgiana.”
No longer would she be afraid. If Theo could stand up to him, then she could as well. “Very well, but neither shall you speak to me the way you have been. If you wish respect from me, you shall have to give it in kind. No wonder Theo is so very put out with you. You are a tyrant.”
“What are you saying?”
“I am saying that I have had enough of your rule.” She threw her hands into the air. “Richard is as much my guardian as you are. I shall apply to him and leave Pemberley to you.”
“You would not dare.”
“Watch me.” She stormed past him and out of the parlor.
*****
Just a few steps into the corridor, she ran headlong into Richard. He caught her elbows to keep her from falling.
“What is wrong? You look a fright? Is it Theo?” He clutched her arm, his face losing a little color.
“No, Theo is fine. Fitzwilliam is … impossible.” The word itself was too mild to fit her pique, but anything stronger was unfit for a young lady of quality to utter. There were times, like now, when it would have been pleasing to be a man.
“He deduced you have been reading his post?”
She turned away from an all too penetrating gaze. “Yes.”
“You had little doubt he would. You did not expect him to be happy about it, did you?” He tucked her hand into the crook of is arm and led her to the gallery.
The long, uninhabited hall, with somber rows of ancestors and kings staring down at her only echoed Fitzwilliam’s sentiments.
“No, of course not. But he treats me like an empty headed bit of fluff, and I am not.”
Richard chuckled. “You are too harsh with him.”
“Not at all. And it is even worse since…since…”
“Ramsgate?”
She pulled her hand from his arm and turned away. Must it always come back to that? “I made a mistake and I know it. But must it brand me for life as too stupid…”
He stepped in front of her and took her shoulders into his large, strong hands. “You are not stupid. No one ever said that.”
“But I am treated as such. I have learned from my mistake. I would like to think I deserve to be treated as though I had.”
“I understand that, though it is still—”
“Do I not even deserve to be permitted to ask questions?”
“You should be.” He handed her his handkerchief.
“And yet I am not. He glares at me, cuts me off, lectures me when I try, even as he does Theo.”
“Shall I speak to him?”
She dabbed her eyes. “No. He and I must work this out on our own. Besides, there are more important favors I must ask of you. Come, sit.” Grabbing his hand, she sat on a window bench.
He crouched beside her. “What do you need of me?”
“There are two matters weighing heavily on me, and I cannot manage either without your help. The first is Anne.”
> “Anne?” He shook his head and blinked. Such a dear little look he wore when he was surprised.
“Aunt Catherine tried to give Theo some of her medicine and he, Fitzwilliam and I are now convinced that those vile tonics are more the source of Anne’s problems than her cure.”
“How do you know?”
“Theo believes it contains…I do not know exactly what…but he believes it to be very bad. It made him quite ill and not right in his mind.”
Richard knotted his hand in the back of his hair. “And Fitzwilliam agrees?”
“Yes, he does. They believe we must dilute her medicine, not discontinue it altogether, lest it cause even more problems. We need your help to accomplish all the necessary subterfuge.”
Richard snickered. “The reputation shall never leave me, shall it? You can count on my assistance. I have seen the damage those tonics can do. If Theo and Fitzwilliam both agree, then far be it from me to cause dissention in the ranks.”
She exhaled heavily and sagged against the window. The sun left the glass hot in its wake. “Thank you.”
“You said there were two things?” He laid his hand on hers.
His hands were so callused and so heavy. A meandering scar trailed across the back of his hand into his sleeve. That must have happened in France.
“Yes, but the second is a bit more sensitive.” She bit her lip. Would he become angry at her mention of it?
“I am all ears.” He winked. Somehow he always knew the right thing to do.
“Both Fitzwilliam and Theo have confided in me that they believe the other to be attracted to the same woman.”
Richard coughed, but he was probably trying not to laugh. “Miss Bennet?”
“It is not funny.”
He snorted into his hand. “No, I suppose it is not.”
“I need your help to determine which of my brothers, if either, has found her appealing.”
“And you want help furthering the match?” His eyebrow arched so high it nearly touched his hair.
“She is a suitable match for either of my brothers. I should very much like her as a sister.”
His lips wrinkled into the funny little half smile he had given her since she was small. “As long as you promise me that we shall not attempt to match-make where no real interest lies, then I will help you, Little One.”
The Darcy Brothers Page 11