Page 93 of A Matter of Murder
“Is this what you’re getting up to while I’m away?” Darcy tossed back. “Running around, half feral? I thought your lady’s companion would keep you civilized.”
Georgiana rolled her eyes dramatically. “Mrs. Watts is in bed with a headache, per usual. I’ve been dying for some proper companionship, and now you’re here!” She reached out a hand to greet Lizzie warmly. “Welcome, Miss Bennet!”
“Please, at this point I feel as though you ought to call me Lizzie,” she said, squeezing the other girl’s hand. “We ought to have come much sooner.”
Lizzie introduced Charlotte, and Georgiana welcomed her just as warmly before Darcy called Guy over. Georgiana was taken with the dog immediately, and earned his affection by rubbing his belly and calling him handsome before Darcy suggested, with a slightly nervous edge to his voice, that they go inside. Lizzie knew his edginess from their most recent ordeal would not fade away quickly.
Lizzie tried not to let her gaze stray as they passed through the intimidating halls adorned with tapestries and portraits. Georgiana chattered all the way as she led them past many formal rooms to a charming sitting room with comfortable furniture and a pianoforte in the corner. The windows were open, letting in a light breeze, and the view overlooked the river. They took a seat, and Guy immediately jumped up on the chair next to Georgiana.
“Guy, no,” Lizzie said.
Georgiana laughed. “He is perfectly fine on the furniture—in fact, I adore him. We’ll be best of friends, won’t we, Guy?”
The dog settled in his seat and gave Lizzie a look that seemed to say,So there. Lizzie found herself quite incapable of protesting.
“Now, how long do you intend to stay?” Georgiana asked. “Please tell me a very long time.”
Was it Lizzie’s imagination, or was there an emphasis onvery long timethat seemed... suspicious?
“I don’t know,” Darcy said. “A few weeks, at least. Perhaps longer.”
Lizzie tried to muster a smile. As beautiful as this place was, his words were a reminder of what they’d left behind, and the reason for their visit.
“What’s the matter?” Georgiana asked.
Lizzie looked at Darcy. He winced, and said, “Well, I’m afraid things at Netherfield did not go well.”
Georgiana promptly rang for a maid. “Then we shall have tea, and you can tell me all about it.”
The last thing Lizzie wanted to do was drag Darcy’s sister into this mess, but despite being younger than Lizzie, Georgiana Darcy was no child. After all, she’d proven herself more than capable last year in London. And once the tea arrived—with little cakes, and even cold roast pheasant cut up into small pieces for Guy—it was easy to tell her the whole tale. Georgiana listened, eyes wide, and interjected only a few times with clarifying questions. Her hand flew to her mouth when she learnedof Caroline’s injury, and by the time the telling was over, she was less lighthearted and more concerned.
“You absolutely did the right thing to bring her here,” Georgiana told Darcy. “Pemberley is the safest place in all the world.”
“Kew Palace might be a bit more secure, but she’s right,” Darcy told Lizzie. “You saw the stone wall coming in, and while the grounds are large, we are fairly isolated. I already instructed the gatekeeper not to let anyone in after us. I’ll speak with Charleston about further safety measures.”
“Thank you,” Lizzie said to both siblings. “I hate to be a bother—”
“You’re not,” Georgiana insisted. “Really, this is the most interesting thing to happen since the last time we met.”
Lizzie felt herself finally relax for a moment. The trip to Pemberley had been grim, and the shame and guilt she felt still clung to her. But here, perhaps, she could shed some fear and begin to strategize her next move. They’d find a way to draw out Lady Catherine without endangering any more people Lizzie cared for...
Suddenly, Georgiana looked uncertain. “There’s just one thing I haven’t mentioned yet, and I’m guessing since you haven’t either, you don’t know?”
“What is it?” Darcy asked, instantly concerned.
“It’s probably nothing to worry about. I’m sure everything will be fine, and it shouldn’t impact this plan at all... or rather, not too much...”
Lizzie and Charlotte exchanged perplexed glances, and Darcy sighed. “Just spell it out, Georgie.”
“It’s Father.” She winced as she looked at her brother’s confused expression. “I received a letter from him this morning. He’s back in London, and he’s furious that you’re not there.”
“Father is in England?” Darcy asked. “I knew he intended to return home soon, but I thought he’d be several more weeks at least.”
“Apparently not.” Georgiana rose and walked over to a small writing desk where she withdrew a letter with a heavy green seal, broken. She handed it to her brother and Darcy skimmed it. It was short—Lizzie knew the elder Mr. Darcy was not known for his loquaciousness.
Unease settled across her. Suddenly, coming to Pemberley was feeling less and less like a good idea.
“He took an earlier boat,” Darcy muttered.