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When it came time for dinner, Miss Darcy sent a message up to her brother’s room, asking if he would be joining her. She was dismayed when the butler himself came to her.

“Miss Darcy, Mr. Darcy has indicated that he will not be dining with you.”

Georgiana’s increasing anxiety overrode her innate shyness. Even with the new closeness which the Darcy siblings had shared over these past weeks, she had never probed into her brother’s private affairs without his express encouragement.

“Is he going out?” she asked timidly.

“No, Miss.” Holmes cleared his throat but decided that the situation was dire enough to convey a few details to the Master’s sister. “Mr. Darcy has not left his rooms since he returned from a ride yesterday morning.”

The young lady wrapped her arms around herself. “Is he ill? Should we have the doctor fetched? ”

The butler prevaricated. “The Master does not appear to be in need of a physician.”

“Has he eaten?”

Holmes looked decidedly uncomfortable. “His valet sent for a plate of cold meats, cheese, and bread around noon, but it was returned largely untouched.” He sighed and could not meet the young lady’s eyes.

“In truth, Miss Darcy, the only request that the Master himself has made was for another decanter of brandy.”

Georgiana could not help stare at the servant for several minutes. “Brandy!? Wait, did you say another decanter?”

“Yes, Miss. He took one from the billiards room when he arrived home yesterday.”

“And it is empty? And he desired another?” Georgie had never seen her brother drink to excess (unlike some of her other relatives).

“Yes, Miss.” For a moment, servant and mistress looked each other in the eye, their concern mirrored.

Georgiana’s mind spun. Her first impulse was to send for her Cousin Richard, but Colonel Fitzwilliam’s duties currently had him in Newcastle.

She shied away from seeking help of any of their other relations; her brother would be mortified if they were to know of his behavior and her Uncle Henry might even try to force him to turn over Georgiana’s guardianship.

For a moment she considered sending for Miss Bennet, but surely her brother’s attempt to gain that lady’s good opinion would not be aided by her seeing him in such a state.

Miss Darcy squared her thin shoulders and stood. “Well, I suppose I shall have to see him myself,” she said softly.

The walk to her brother’s rooms had never seemed so long.

For the first time, Georgiana noticed that the servants were being exceptionally quiet as they went about their usual duties.

When she reached the door to her brother’s private sitting room, she paused to gather her courage before tapping her knuckles lightly on the wood.

She waited nearly a minute but there was no response.

Steadying herself, Georgie knocked harder.

The wood was very thick but she could hear a faint response that sounded like her brother’s voice in pitch but not in tone. “Go away! I gave orders that I’m to be left alone.”

“Fitzwilliam? It’s me, Georgiana. Won’t you let me in? I… I’m worried about you...” She wasn’t certain if her voice could be heard through the solid oak door, so she knocked again.

She couldn’t hear anything from the inside, but suddenly a door down the hall popped open and she recognized her brother’s valet.

Hawkins looked as if he was about to say something but upon recognizing Miss Darcy he snapped his jaw shut and retreated back into her brother’s dressing room .

After some minutes Hawkins reemerged, looking awkward. “Miss Darcy, Mr. Darcy asked me to inform you that he will be unable to dine with you tonight.”

“But I just want to see him for a moment!”

The servant looked even more uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, Miss, but Mr. Darcy has made it clear that he desires solitude.”

Georgiana turned away and walked rapidly to her own rooms, barely managing to shut the door behind her before bursting into tears. An hour later, her maid found her curled up in the window seat of her own private sitting room, hugging an old doll and still crying.

An older woman who had served the Darcy family all her life, Penny did her best to comfort the girl. “There, there, Miss. Here’s a nice tisane. Should you like to wash your face? There’s fresh water in the basin. And I’ve sent for some hot broth. What about a bit of pudding, as well?”

For the most part, Georgiana let her maid mother her without complaint. Soon she found herself in her robe with a clean face, eating Mrs. Davies’ delicious soup and eyeing a large wedge of apple tart.

“Oh, Penny! What am I to do? I’ve never seen Wills like this,” she wailed, her bewilderment clear in her expression.

“There, there, Miss. You put it all out of your mind and get some sleep. Solving problems is always easier after a good night’s rest.” Penny settled into the chair beside Georgiana’s bed and hummed quietly.

Though Georgie had expected to be up all night with worry, the humming and the familiar clicking of Penny’s knitting needles soothed her and she slept deeply.

It was almost a surprise to be awakened by morning sun streaming through the windows. For a moment, Georgiana remembered nothing of her worries and simply enjoyed the dawn of what looked to be a lovely spring day.

Penny’s appearance brought back the bad memories but she refused to let Fitzwilliam’s behavior overwhelm her again.

Choosing a pretty pink gown that never failed to comfort her, Georgie dressed carefully before going down to the breakfast room.

She was disappointed but not entirely surprised when her brother did not join her.

Sipping her tea, she considered her day.

When the butler appeared, Georgiana forced herself to speak with authority.

“Holmes, I will be busy with my music lesson this morning—I believe that Mr. Alexander will be arriving at half past ten. I’d like to have luncheon at one and then I may be making a call in the afternoon, if you could have the carriage brought around for me at three. ”

Holmes nodded attentively while Miss Darcy gathered her courage to add her last request.

“If my brother emerges from his rooms, please tell me immediately, regardless of what I am doing.”

She was somewhat reassured when the butler gave her a brief smile. “Of course, Miss.”

Miss Darcy was a dedicated musician but that morning she was disappointed when her lesson was not interrupted despite the excellent instruction and interesting new piece she was working through.

After Mr. Alexander departed, she continued to play, attempting to focus her angst into a grueling new piece by Mr. Beethoven. She was only partially successful.

That afternoon, after again dining alone, Georgiana decided to mount an offensive. Settling in her own sitting room, she directed her maid to speak to Fitzwilliam’s valet.

“Tell him that I am hurt and you will send for my Aunt and Uncle Fitzwilliam if Mr. Darcy is not able to come to me. You do not need to tell him how I am hurt and belay any order he sends to fetch the doctor.”

In short order, Fitzwilliam appeared at the door to her sitting room, clearly concerned. However, his appearance quelled any guilt she felt over her misdirection. Georgiana had never seen her brother look so disreputable, wearing crumpled clothes and sporting two days’ growth of beard.

“Georgie—what happened? Hawkins said you were hurt!” He came to sit beside her and Georgiana wrinkled her nose at his odor.

“I am hurt; my heart hurts! You’ve been shut up in your room for days without a word to me or anyone! What has happened, Fitzwilliam? What is wrong?”

Her brother directed a furious look at her unlike she had ever received from him before. She only kept going because she also saw a great deal of pain in his eyes. Rising, she stood to take her brother’s hand, holding tightly when he tried to pull away.

“Please, Brother! Is it me? Have I done something wrong?”

Instantly, Darcy’s face changed to contrition. “No, Georgie. You’ve done nothing wrong. You mustn’t worry; it has nothing to do with you.”

A bit of frustration edged Miss Darcy’s voice. “Then what ? Have you lost all our fortune? Shall we be thrown out into the hedgerows without a farthing to our name?”

A tiny smile touched Fitzwilliam’s face for a moment. “No, dearest. Every sovereign is accounted for.” Suddenly he looked exhausted.

Georgie attempted a bit of levity. “Well, that is a relief. I might make a living from my music but I very much doubt you would ever make a good manservant.”

Darcy merely blinked at her, his residual intoxication making it difficult to comprehend even a mild tease. Georgiana searched her mind for any clue as to what had so devastated her brother. Perhaps …

“I had thought to call on the Gardiners this afternoon. Will you join me? It has been some days since we saw them or Miss Bennet.” Her unasked question was answered by the black look that settled on her brother’s face.

“ NO! No, I’ll not be joining you.” And with that, he strode from the room without another word to his sister.

It was some time before Penny was able to calm the distraught girl enough that she could sleep, tucked in with a doll she had not slept with for months. The former nurse turned lady’s maid descended to the kitchens, clucking her tongue with displeasure.

“I’ve gotten her to nap for a bit, poor mite.

” Penny spoke quietly to the cook and housekeeper.

“A bit of broth and some new bread when she wakes, Mrs. Davies, if you please. I’m not sure what has so upset the master but someone needs to get him straightened out before the young miss worries herself to death.

” The older servants spoke a few words in commiseration before turning back to their duties.

They were all deeply loyal to the Darcys and such turmoil in the family disturbed the staff greatly.