Page 25

“I don’t know if you remember, Georgie, but this breakfast room was the first thing I feel I did on my own after Papa’s death…

For so long I was trying to do what I thought he would have done…

to maintain things just as they were. Then one morning, I sat down in the large dining room and was struck by how ridiculous all the formality was for just the two of us. ”

Georgiana smiled softly. “I remember. The footmen always served me too much porridge but I was afraid Cook would be upset if I didn’t finish it all.”

Will smiled back. “There were more servants than Darcys in the room. And that was before we installed the dumbwaiter so they were always rushing up and down the back stairs with trays. Although I fear the overabundance of porridge is a rite of passage; I remember Mrs. Reynolds pressing large bowls of it on me as well. Perhaps someday we shall do the same to our own children.”

A sad look flickered across Georgiana’s face and her eyes dropped to her lap.

Unsure of what had affected her, Fitzwilliam forged ahead.

“I went looking for a new family breakfast room that very morning. This room was set up as some sort of small parlor but hadn’t been used for as long as I could remember, probably because of its place at the back of the house and near the kitchens.

It was horribly dark for most of the day and the decoration didn’t help much—dark greens and grays and heavy oak furniture.

But it looked out over the garden and once we removed the heavy drapery the morning sun lit it up.

Do you remember helping me pick the yellow paper for the walls? ”

Georgiana smiled faintly at him in response but her brother could tell that her heart wasn’t in it. He remained quiet for a moment, hoping that she would speak her mind.

“Brother? I wanted to speak to you… I… Oh Wills, must I have my debut next year?” Her eyes were glassy with tears.

Darcy moved to his sister’s side and took her hands in his. “Of course not, dearest; not if it causes you so much anxiety. I would never force you to do something that upsets you so. But Georgie, it is months away. Why are you suddenly so concerned about it now?”

For some moments, Darcy worried that his sister’s behavior was a new symptom of continued self-loathing after her experience with Wickham. Thankfully, Georgiana’s next words reassured him otherwise.

The Lady Mayberry whom the Fitzwilliams had jeered at on the previous evening had been a school chum of Georgiana’s.

They were nearly the same age and had shared a love of music and a dislike of French grammar.

Together, they had giggled over their dreams of coming out and being presented to the Queen, imagining it would be like a fairy tale with themselves the beautiful, poised ladies, each with a cadre of handsome, charming knights begging to dance the night away with them.

Hearing her dear friend dissected and sneered at by her own family, to the amusement of guests no less, left Georgiana in tears and desperate to avoid similar attentions.

Darcy was able to reassure his sister somewhat but he again felt his imaginary Elizabeth nudging him to go further.

“Georgie… I know that we tend to focus on the great responsibility that our family and connections demand… maintaining our place in Society and so forth. But it was recently pointed out to me that such things are not what is truly important. Our principles—how we treat others, how we live our lives is what matters, not our attendance at high society events or knowledge of gossip. Our wealth gives us the option to live as we wish.”

Darcy paused, rather surprised by his own speech. Georgiana, on the other hand, was fascinated. Her elder brother usually treated her almost as a father; he had never before shared so much of his inner feelings.

“But Wills, you go to so many balls and parties, even though they make you miserable.”

Brother and sister shared a fond smile; she had heard him teased by their cousins over his lack of enthusiasm for such social events all too often. Darcy was tempted to shrug off her question but realized that he owed her (and perhaps himself) a truthful answer.

“My first impulse is to say that I attend because it is what is expected of me—a gentleman of my position. But in truth, I suppose it is a way for me to escape being alone… which is ironic given that the moment I enter a ball I am determined to disapprove of everyone and everything around me.” Darcy sighed, looking into the distance.

“It was easier in school… between lectures and discussions and athletics, making friends and having things to talk about was much simpler.”

He looked over to Georgiana’s wide eyes. “That’s why I sent you to school, you know. I was overwhelmed trying to manage Pemberley and I didn’t want you to be lonely, but I had absolutely no idea how to introduce you to other girls of your own age.”

For the first time in her life, Georgiana saw her brother as a young man, saddled with immense responsibilities at an early age.

He tried very, very hard but he was not omniscient.

“I may not have seemed happy at school but I am glad I went. I still correspond with many of the girls that I met there. It was the right thing to do.”

Darcy considered her for a moment. The only ladies he ever saw visit Georgiana were those like Miss Bingley who attempting to curry his favor by befriending his sister. “Are any of your friends in London? Do you visit with them?”

The pink in his sister’s cheeks led him to believe that her shyness prevented such invitations, but her next words contradicted this conclusion. “I would not… that is… Aunt Catherine…” she trailed off.

“What on Earth does Aunt Catherine have to do with it?” exclaimed Darcy before realizing that such a forceful tone would not encourage confidences from his timid sister.

“Georgie, dearest, I apologize for my manner.” He sighed and tried again. “You must know my opinion of our most revered Aunt’s advice.” This drew a small smile.

“Aunt Catherine told me that I must not invite any unmarried ladies to the house until you and Cousin Anne were wed, as they might try to compromise you,” she confided softly.

Darcy slumped back into his chair with such a petulant look that Georgiana couldn’t help but giggle.

He looked up at her and grinned. “My dear sister, Lady Catherine de Bourgh is our mother’s sister and as an elder relation deserves our respect.

However…” Will smirked. “She has no sense and even less knowledge of the world. She has isolated herself at Rosings, established total dominion there, and assumes that her power extends all the way to London and Derbyshire. Treat her respectfully but under no circumstances are you to do what she says… unless by some accident she stumbles onto something sensible, of course,” he ended in a rush and was happ y to see his sister smiling brightly.

“Georgie, this is your home as well as mine, regardless of whether I am single or married. As a single lady, you should have someone with you if you entertain gentlemen callers…” He smiled when Georgiana blushed, pleased that his tease was successful.

“But you should feel free to invite female friends to visit at any time… although I would appreciate some warning so that they don’t catch me wandering about in my robe and slippers. ”

The siblings grinned at each other and Georgiana suddenly jumped up and threw her arms around her brother. “Oh Wills, it’s so good to really talk to you!” As he hugged his sister, Darcy felt his imaginary Elizabeth smile at him proudly. She was right—it helped to practice.

The moment ended, as such moments do, and Miss Darcy moved back to her own chair after freshening both of their cups.

She ventured a look at her brother who was sipping his coffee while staring vacantly out of the window.

He had a soft look on his face and she decided to venture a personal question.

“Wills? Are you going to marry Cousin Anne?” she asked tentatively.

Fitzwilliam had been contemplating a pleasant vision of Elizabeth sitting with them at the sunny breakfast table and was shocked out of his daydream into near incivility.

“No! Absolutely not!” Seeing his sister’s raised eyebrows, he added more quietly, “Another example of why you should never listen to Aunt Catherine.”

“Is there someone else?” observing her brother’s disoriented look, she added hurriedly, “It’s only that… well, Miss Bingley is always speaking of you as though… as if…” She trailed off at her brother’s horrified look.

“Good God, no! Again, absolutely not. I would rather remain a bachelor all of my life than have to share it with the likes of Caroline Bingley!” He paused. “Does she actually say such things to you, Georgie?”

“Not exactly. But the ladies who visit me… Well, you are their favorite topic of conversation. I’m careful not to gossip, of course, but it’s so hard to get them to speak of anything else… other than redecorating Derwent House and Pemberley, of course.”

To say that Darcy was embarrassed was an understatement but he soon moved on to sympathy for his sister.

“Oh poppet, I’m so sorry.” He looked her in the eye.

“You do not need to accept such visitors. I know that my friendship with Charles gives Miss Bingley the opportunity to insinuate herself but I will not be offended if you keep her at arm’s length…

and nor would Charles, for that matter.”

Seeing the relief on his sister’s face, he added, “You should invite your own friends to visit; young ladies who share your interests. You are an intelligent, sensible girl and you should not be restricted to spending time with the worst that the ton has to offer.” He was just thinking of how much he would have liked to encourage a friendship between Georgiana and the two eldest Bennet sisters when he realized that her smile had melted into tears.