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G eorgiana Darcy found she liked Elizabeth Bennet—she liked her very well.

There was something open and artless about her, as if every word she spoke, every gesture she made was spontaneous and not so horribly artificial as so much else in the world.

It was impossible not to see something more in William’s eagerness to introduce Miss Bennet to Georgiana’s acquaintance.

Yet Georgiana could not say what her brother intended, and she did not think it was the right time to ask him.

Should William intend what Georgiana suspected, to court and propose to Miss Bennet, there was nothing to do but support him with all the enthusiasm in her power, though she knew William did not need her support.

It was still early in their acquaintance, but Georgiana was convinced Miss Bennet would make an excellent sister.

Georgiana had always wanted a sister, and she was not opposed to gaining several more, knowing that Miss Bennet had four sisters.

What was also clear to Georgiana was that Miss Bingley would deplore Miss Bennet and her family’s sudden appearance in Derbyshire.

Unknown to even William, Georgiana had another source of information about Miss Bennet, though the reference had been slight.

It proceeded from a conversation in the spring, Miss Bingley’s question that Georgiana had found peculiar at the time.

“Dear Georgiana,” said Miss Bingley, looking focused, “has your brother mentioned much about our time in Hertfordshire?”

Coming as this was more than three months after William had returned from Hertfordshire—the Darcy siblings had been in the north for two months during the Christmas season—Georgiana regarded her, wondering what she was about.

“A few comments, though he does not mention much detail.”

Miss Bingley regarded her as if she suspected Georgiana of dissembling. “Of what has he spoken?”

“Nothing of consequence. An occasional reference to Mr. Bingley’s ball or the people he met there.”

“Has he mentioned any names?” Again, Miss Bingley’s gaze shone with the light of concentration. “Perhaps Sir William Lucas, Mr. Goulding, or Miss Elizabeth Bennet?”

The mention of that last name tugged on Georgiana’s memory, and a moment later it came to her—William had referenced her several times in his letters, including a few infamous exchanges between Miss Bennet and the woman before Georgiana now.

As Georgiana had no memory of her name passing his lips since his return, and she did not think it politic to mention William’s inclusion of her in his letters, she felt at liberty to answer but without betraying further information.

“No, Miss Bingley, my brother has not mentioned those people to me.”

A palpable feeling of relief settled over Miss Bingley, and she nodded, though she did not speak. Looking back on it now, Georgiana could only conclude that Miss Bingley had seen something of William’s interest and had probed to learn if she needed to contend with a rival.

That question was answered, though Miss Bingley did not know it yet.

Georgiana felt satisfaction well up in her breast; she had never wished to have Miss Bingley for a sister, not that she thought her brother would propose to her.

William’s opinion of Miss Bingley had always been clear, though as a discreet man, he had never spoken ill of her; at times, Georgiana thought she deserved it.

Given a choice between them, Georgiana knew there was no choice at all, for Miss Bingley would be a most disagreeable sister.

No one said a word during the journey back to Pemberley—Georgiana was contemplating her new friend, her brother was immersed in his thoughts, while Mr. Bingley was uncharacteristically silent.

Georgiana knew not what to make of the man, as he had been quite garrulous until he spoke with Miss Bennet.

Thereafter, he had become silent as the grave, his expression morose, as if all the light in the world had gone out.

In this fashion, they arrived at the estate, William turning to hand her out of the carriage, his manner almost absent.

When they entered the house, they learned that Miss Bingley and the Hursts were awaiting them in Pemberley’s well-appointed sitting-room, where they repaired at once.

The moment she caught sight of Miss Bingley, Georgiana knew the woman was not at all pleased with their absence that morning, though her displeasure was less than her open curiosity.

“Oh, Mr. Darcy, how pleased I am by your return. To own the truth, we were most disconcerted to learn of your absence, though I will note that your housekeeper was most unhelpful when we asked after your errand.”

That William would not appreciate Miss Bingley’s prying was no surprise to Georgiana, though she knew it could be considered impolite for a host to leave without a word. William did not hesitate to respond.

“Mrs. Reynolds knew nothing more than our destination.”

If Miss Bingley expected any further explanation, she was disappointed, for that was all William said.

Georgiana looked on with interest; Miss Bennet and the Gardiners were to come for dinner, so Miss Bingley would learn that day about Miss Bennet’s presence.

Did her brother mean to keep the matter from her for the moment?

If so, Georgiana did not blame him, though it was not in keeping with his forthrightness.

The lure of a peaceful day without Miss Bingley’s ranting could not be underestimated.

“If you were to go to Lambton, Louisa and I would have accompanied you without hesitation,” continued Miss Bingley.

“I beg your pardon, Caroline,” said Mr. Bingley, “but I do not suppose you would have enjoyed the outing. Not only do you disdain small towns, but the company we kept is not palatable to you.”

With some surprise, Georgiana regarded Mr. Bingley, noting his introspection was gone in place of a focus on his sister.

Though Georgiana might never have expected it from him, Mr. Bingley’s usual jocundity was absent in favor of a hardness that almost tended to disdain. Georgiana could not make him out.

“I cannot understand you, Brother,” said Miss Bingley, appearing displeased with his scrutiny. “ Whose company did you keep?”

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s.”

The way Miss Bingley’s eyes whipped to William might have been amusing in other situations. Now, however, Georgiana could not help but wonder how Miss Bingley would receive the communication. The early answer was incredulous disbelief.

“Miss Elizabeth Bennet? She is in Lambton?”

“I met her when I arrived yesterday,” said William, his tone matter-of-fact. “She was touring Pemberley with her aunt and uncle when I came across them and greeted them.”

“Excellent people, the Gardiners,” said Mr. Bingley. “I have rarely met anyone better.”

“Oh, of course,” sneered Miss Bingley. “The tradesman relations of the Bennets. I must own to no little astonishment, Mr. Darcy, that you would condescend to converse with such people as Miss Bennet’s relations.”

“Why you suppose I disdain such people is beyond my comprehension,” interjected William, appearing even more impatient if that was even possible. “The way I welcome you and consider your brother one of my closest friends, you cannot suppose that I disdain those whose fortunes spring from trade.”

The shade of Miss Bingley’s purple face was a dreadful clash with the apricot gown she was wearing.

For her part, Georgiana was grateful that William had taken the woman down a peg, for her conceit was insufferable, and beyond anything Georgiana had seen in many of the leading lights of society.

Even her aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who had some excuse for pride, was not so objectionable as Miss Bingley could be.

“And I thank you for it, Darcy,” said Bingley. “As I have said many times, I am not ashamed of my origins.”

“Nor should you be, my friend,” agreed William with a smile and a nod. “The circumstances of our birth are, after all, beyond our control—I must suppose it was equally possible that you would be born the son of a duke as the son of a tradesman.”

Mr. Bingley nodded, though in other circumstances Georgiana might have thought he would laugh—at the moment, he appeared incapable of summoning such lightness of spirits.

“Perhaps, though I do not suppose you consider the paucity of dukes compared to the legions of those in trade.”

William shrugged. “With that, I must suppose you are correct, if our entrance into this world is naught but a lottery.”

“I will own that I am curious,” said Miss Bingley, recovering something of her wits.

“How has Miss Eliza Bennet, of all people, come to Lambton?” An unpleasant sneer accompanied her next comment: “Then again, knowing the name of your estate, I must suppose she came here hoping to attract your attention.”

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” said William with an absence of mind that stoked Miss Bingley’s temper.

“Miss Bennet’s aunt lived in Lambton for some years when she was a girl, so she is familiar with the neighborhood.

After they visit Lambton for some days, they will continue their journey to the lakes, where they are to stay for two weeks. ”

This news appeared to calm Miss Bingley. “That is a relief. If they are to be gone within a few days, there is hope that we may avoid their society.”

“That will not be possible, Miss Bingley,” said Georgiana, enjoying the rare opportunity to puncture the woman’s superiority. “Miss Bennet and her relations are to come to Pemberley tonight, as I have invited them to dinner. I hope to retain her society so long as they stay in the area.”

“Dearest Georgiana,” said Miss Bingley in that syrupy, patronizing tone she often used, “I beg you to reconsider, for Miss Eliza Bennet is not the sort of woman with whom you should associate.”