Page 15 of Count the Cost (The Secrets of Elizabeth Bennet #2)
D arcy leaned back in the comfortable armchair in his library, a small whisky in hand, and closed his eyes. The peace and silence of Darcy House slowly seeped into him and he felt his tension begin to ease.
Georgiana was still staying at Matlock House, although she would arrive tomorrow, probably accompanied by their aunt, who would undoubtedly begin to mention all the new young debutantes due to arrive in spring for the season.
No. He squeezed his eyes tighter shut. He would not think of that today.
Those new society misses would all be very young, and his jaded senses told him they were likely to be vacuous, empty-headed and far, far too hopeful.
Besides, a set of fine eyes danced behind his closed lids, and he groaned.
He must try not to allow Miss Elizabeth Bennet into his thoughts or he would never forget her.
Not in need of a husband, indeed! He smiled reluctantly. All young ladies needed a husband. Even wealthy young women — which Elizabeth Bennet was not — needed a husband to take away the danger of fortune-hunters. He frowned as another thought intruded; how could he keep Georgiana safe?
After this summer at Ramsgate he had begun to mistrust his judgement.
Why had he let her go with a companion too new to entrust with the most precious person in his life?
But her references had been convincing, although he should have followed them up in person.
He supposed he should have sent several trusted footmen with the party, tasked solely to keep her safe, but he had not thought of it in time.
But Georgiana was getting older, she must want more freedoms than he had currently allowed her, especially as he did not want her to turn into another vapid, uninteresting little miss like all those society debutantes his aunt was pushing at him.
At sixteen, a young man was allowed more freedom than his sister had; Darcy knew he would have railed against such restrictions as Georgiana suffered.
He grinned wryly; she must be chafing under the solicitude of their aunt, who took protectiveness to a whole new level. No, he must plan to maintain his sister’s safety while allowing her more freedoms than she was currently able to have.
Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s independence entered his thoughts.
She was open, confident and lively. Always proper, she nevertheless exuded a sense of her own self-worth and a worrying fearlessness.
Darcy wondered what Georgiana would have been like had she been born to such a family.
He smiled slightly; she would never have become as confident as Miss Elizabeth.
Perhaps she would have been like the eldest Miss Bennet.
Then he frowned; while Georgiana was quiet and gentle, she did not have the core of inner strength that Darcy suspected Miss Elizabeth’s elder sister did.
No, Georgiana might have been like Miss Kitty, ever obliging, but watching her ebullient younger sister and copying her into vulgar behaviour.
He shuddered; Georgiana needed to be more confident, but how could he, as a much older brother and guardian, set about doing that without putting her to the risk of insincere women who would use her to try to attract his own attention, or, worse, the risk of rakes and fortune hunters?
His mind remembered the last time he had seen Miss Elizabeth, striding away from him down Oakham Mount towards Longbourn.
She was magnificent; in her confidence about her place in the world; in her attitude toward him — polite but not pursuing him — and in her sense of competence.
She would never fall for the machinations of a rake, would never compromise her own sense of self-worth. What a woman she was.
A thought crept into his mind. She would make an outstanding sister for Georgiana.
Darcy jumped to his feet. That was quite enough thinking about Miss Elizabeth Bennet. If she was going to invade his thoughts, he had better do something.
He turned to his desk and leafed through the sheaf of letters that had arrived that day. Nothing that looked urgent, or from his steward. Nothing that would keep his attention away from Miss Elizabeth.
He left the room and asked the footman for his coat and hat.
He would walk round to Richard’s accommodation.
Perhaps his cousin was in and he could speak to him about Georgiana.
After a moment’s thought, he decided to take his carriage; he did not want to be stopped by people eager to further their acquaintance, and the barracks were a fair
At the guardhouse, he leaned out and asked if Colonel Fitzwilliam was available to see him, and waited until the Captain of the Guard arrived to scrutinise his card and escort him to the officer’s mess, giving him over to one of the batmen to take him to his cousin.
“Darcy!” Richard thumped his shoulder. “To what do I owe this honour? You must have only just returned from wherever it is you were rusticating with Bingley and his demanding sister.”
Darcy nodded. “Hertfordshire.” He took a deep breath. “You are not wrong, Richard. I need to talk to you about Georgiana. There are changes afoot, and I would value your advice.”
Richard turned to the subaltern. “Is there a small parlour free and with a good fire made up?”
The man sprang to attention. “Yes, sir. This way, please.” He led them to a private room and departed to arrange for refreshments.
Darcy slumped into the worn armchair by the fire.
“I thought I’d enjoy the peace and quiet at Darcy House tonight, but my thoughts seem to be going round and round.
” He grinned at his cousin. “So I thought I could discuss it all with you for you to worry about, too.”
Richard was sitting on the edge of the chair on the other side of the fire. “Georgiana is well, though?”
“I haven’t heard otherwise, and since she is still with your mother, I cannot imagine she is not.”
Once the coffee had been delivered and poured, Richard relaxed back into his chair. His eyes were hooded and Darcy shifted uncomfortably under the penetrating observation.
“Yes. Well, I saw the level of freedom some of the young ladies in Meryton had, and then I was thinking about how much we would have complained if at that age we could not be more active.” He raised his hand.
“No, I know this is like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted since Ramsgate, but I think we must consider some ways that my sister can be kept safe in future without having us seem to prevent her doing anything.” He grimaced.
“I think she needs friends, Richard. But I cannot think most of the society ladies would be possible. They would all believe that their friendship was a way to get to me, and not be truly interested in Georgiana.”
His cousin chuckled. “It is quite obvious who it should be, Darcy.”
“Who?” Darcy was irritated. “Take this seriously, Richard.”
“Why, whichever of those independent young ladies from Hertfordshire has caught your eye, cousin. Georgiana’s new sister would be a very appropriate friend for her.”
Darcy spluttered. “There is nothing like that!” There were a few minutes of silence and he reluctantly looked over. His cousin had one eyebrow raised and a very knowing smile.
“Nothing like that!” Darcy repeated, beginning to wish he had not sought out his cousin. But he was not wrong; Miss Elizabeth’s fearless gaze seemed to taunt him. She would protect Georgiana with her life and not cause his sister to feel hemmed in.
Richard gazed into his cup. “Tell me about her.”
Darcy got to his feet. “There is no one like that,” he snapped again, and took a step towards the door.
“I don’t believe you, cousin.” Richard’s voice was steady.
“You have always said disguise of every sort is your abhorrence. If you think about it, hiding things like that from yourself must be equally distasteful to you.” He shook his head.
“Think about it, Darcy,” he repeated. “Then we will meet again and talk about Georgiana.”
Darcy scowled as his coach rattled through the streets back to his silent house. The devil of it was that Richard was correct. Darcy had prevaricated and denied it. What was that, if not deceiving himself?
Perhaps he’d have a whisky when he got in. He certainly had a lot to think about.