Page 43 of Elizabeth in Scotland (Elizabeth and Darcy Abroad #2)
“Darcy? Darcy?”
He looked up as Bingley touched his arm, drawing him out of his reverie. And a very pleasant reverie it had been. “Yes, my friend? I apologise. I was somewhere else, I am afraid.”
Bingley gave him a wry smile. “Still thinking of the ball, I would wager,” he said with a sigh. “Well, I am glad it went better for you than it did for me.”
Darcy felt for his friend, whose hopes had been dashed when he saw Miss Bennet’s treatment of Elizabeth.
It was with profound difficulty that he tore his mind away from the dance set he and Elizabeth had shared.
She had been so stunning, so elegant — glowing even.
And to see that she had worn the pin that he had purchased for her in Scotland…
It had given him hope she might feel something for him, too.
Even though it had only been a few days since the Netherfield Ball, he found he was counting down the moments until he could see Elizabeth again.
The arrival of Georgiana, expected that very afternoon, would give him the excuse to call upon the Bennets before many more days had passed.
“It is a shame Georgiana was not here in time for the ball.” Darcy rose from his seat in the drawing room and went over to the window for what must have been the tenth time.
He was eager to see the carriage he had sent to London for his sister and her companion coming down the lane.
It was still empty, however, and he soon came to sit back down when he was convinced there was no movement on the quiet country lane.
“She has grown so in elegance and poise of late. Though I had not intended for her to come out yet, I would have allowed her to attend a private ball. At least one given by yourself. Though perhaps I had better not say as much to her, or she will beg you to hold another.”
Bingley sighed again. “I am unsure if I want to hold another, with how disastrous the last one proved to be. At least, for myself.” He said glumly. “However, if little Georgiana demands it, I suppose I could not put her off.”
“Little?” Darcy asked, scrunching up his nose. “My dear fellow, it has been a long while since you’ve seen my sister, hasn’t it? She is not so little anymore.”
Bingley laughed. “You are the perfect proud older brother, my friend. Do not fret, I will not harm little Georgiana’s pride. All girls like to think of themselves as grown ladies, I am sure.”
Darcy dropped the subject with a smile, amused that his friend still thought of Georgiana as a little girl.
She had undergone so many changes in the last few months that Darcy had a difficult time remembering the little girl who had skipped along the corridors of Pemberley, her blonde curls bouncing up and down after her.
A twinge of sadness overcame him, then he pushed it aside. It was for the best that Elizabeth had taken her under her wing and helped her start the transition into womanhood. Bingley would certainly be in for a surprise when she arrived, for her transformation was nothing short of astonishing.
At that moment, Darcy thought he heard carriage wheels approaching and hurried again to the window.
“She is here!” Darcy announced with more open excitement than he would have allowed himself to display to anyone but Bingley.
His friend rose from his chair, and they went out to the foyer together.
Georgiana had already made her way inside, though she was facing away, answering a remark from her companion as she made her way more slowly up the steps.
“Mrs Annesley, I presume?” Bingley began as they entered the foyer. Georgiana turned, looking even more stunning than when they had parted ways in London.
“Mrs Annesley?” Georgiana laughed. “Surely I have not changed so much as to have fooled you, Mr Bingley?” She curtsied, giving a brilliant smile. “How good to see you again.”
Mr Bingley stood aside, dumbfounded that the ‘little girl’ he had expected was instead a young woman of no common beauty and elegance.
With an obvious effort, he found his tongue.
“Miss Darcy! It is indeed a pleasure to welcome you under my roof. You must excuse me,” he said, looking her up and down with his mouth agape.
“I had expected the little girl I knew so well from my visits to Pemberley.” Bingley shook his head.
“I am undone! You are quite the lady now.” Bingley looked over at Darcy, and he could only chuckle.
“You do look very fine, Georgiana. Please, come into the drawing room.” Darcy said in place of his friend, who seemed to have forgotten his duties as a host in his surprise.
“Yes, of course. Forgive my rudeness,” Bingley said, and motioned for Georgiana and Mrs Annesley, who had arrived a few moments after Bingley’s initial shock, to follow him down the hallway toward the drawing room.
Darcy moved toward Georgiana and fell into step with her, taking her arm in his. “You’ve made quite an impression,” he whispered, suppressing a chuckle.
“Nonsense. He is only surprised I’ve grown so much in the last three years,” she argued.
Darcy knew better, however. He had thought Bingley would be surprised, but Georgiana’s arrival had taken him out of the slump he had been in since the night of the ball.
Georgiana did indeed look lovely. Dressed in a gown of soft, flattering pink, she was every bit as graceful and elegant as their mother had once been.
She wore little jewellery, only a simple necklace with a single pearl that had been a gift from their father to their mother many years ago.
But she was the real jewel. Darcy smiled proudly.
She had taken full advantage of Elizabeth’s lessons.
They all sat down, and Bingley called for tea. “How was the journey? I hope you are not too exhausted,” Bingley said.
“Not at all. I find driving through the countryside most diverting,” Georgiana replied with a sweet smile.
“And I was so glad to have Mrs Annesley with me. We are of the same mind on a good many subjects, and I am privileged to benefit from her wisdom and greater knowledge of the world. The time flew by while we discussed all sorts of things.”
“It is a pleasure to be here, Mr Bingley,” Mrs Annesley said. “This seems a charming neighbourhood.”
Darcy let out a long breath, relieved that Georgiana’s enthusiasm and her own assured but unassuming manner spoke of Mrs Annesley’s excellent character and abundance of good sense.
Though he had taken all possible care in hiring her, he could not be easy after the disaster of Mrs Younge — not until he had seen for himself that the choice was a good one.
He felt a burden lift off his shoulders at the knowledge.
Georgiana looked about the room, then frowned. “Forgive me, but where is Miss Bingley? And I heard that Mr and Mrs Hurst were also visiting.”
“They will be down shortly,” Bingley answered. “My sisters are eager to see you. I must say, they will not recognise you either.”
Darcy concealed a grimace, for he strongly suspected that Miss Bingley would be less delighted with Georgiana’s transformation than Bingley imagined.
Caroline Bingley was not one to suffer being outshone by another woman.
If she could keep her frustrations to herself, he would have no objection to them.
But he would not tolerate any of the sniping and games Miss Bingley liked to direct against other women — not against his sister.
Miss Bingley and the Hursts entered at that moment, and Georgiana stood to greet them.
Miss Bingley tried to mask her surprise at the change in his sister, but he could see that she was shocked.
“My dear Miss Darcy, you have quite grown up since last we saw you. Has she not, Louisa?” Caroline Bingley turned to look at her older sister, who gave her agreement with rather insincere enthusiasm.
Mr Hurst gave a nondescript greeting, then went to his usual corner to read his newspaper.
Darcy stood and greeted the sisters with a bow.
When they were all seated and had been served tea, Georgiana showed how well she had learned Elizabeth’s lessons by giving the conversation a lively turn without delay.
“I am so happy to be here at last,” she said, smiling warmly around the table.
“Though London is always delightful, it is still more delightful to be among good friends.”
“It is good to see you as well, Miss Darcy. I must confess I hardly recognised you.” Caroline Bingley looked down her nose at Georgiana.
As Darcy had suspected, she did not seem entirely pleased with the changes wrought in his sister.
She had been confident in her right to patronise Georgiana, he supposed, believing that such a shy and uncertain young woman need not be seen as an equal.
It must be a shock, and not entirely a comfortable one, to see that the young lady who had always outdone her in wealth and consequence was now her superior in beauty and elegance as well.
To his relief, it seemed Miss Bingley was too wise to antagonise Georgiana. She flashed his sister a sweet smile. “You are a vision in that new gown.”
“Thank you,” Georgiana said brightly. “I would never have dared to wear it before travelling to Scotland. How Elizabeth’s advice has changed me! She has given an entirely new direction to my life, I daresay.”
“Elizabeth?” Caroline asked. She looked around at the assembled company. “Who is this Elizabeth?”
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Do you know her? She lives just a few miles south of here, if I am correct in my directions.” Georgiana beamed at her.
“I have been so looking forward to coming to Netherfield, not only to see all of you, but for the chance to see my very good friend, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She is the one who helped me with my new wardrobe and my etiquette lessons. She has been an excellent friend to me.”
“And you met Miss Elizabeth in Scotland, then? You did not mention that in your letter.”