Page 7

London - Georgiana

G eorgiana had been delighted that her brother and his friend had come to spend some time with her in town before Christmas. She enjoyed the company of Mrs Annesley, but she loved spending time with her brother.

She always enjoyed the company of his friend and his friend’s sisters, even though his sisters could be more painful than pleasant sometimes.

Her time had been busy of late as her aunt and uncle, the Earl and Countess of Matlock, as well as their eldest son, his family and younger two sisters were in town for the winter. Georgiana had been spending a great deal of her time with them.

Furthermore, the Earl’s younger son Richard was a Colonel in the army and was expected to join them soon.

She was very disappointed that they had only remained in town for so short a time, but was happy to hear that they would be returning quite soon. Mr Bingley has even hinted that she would get to meet some of the ladies of their acquaintance in Hertfordshire.

The young ladies and their mother were to go to Middleton’s ball with their party. Fitzwilliam had mentioned the Bennet family more than once in his letters, the eldest two had stayed with them at Netherfield due to an illness of the eldest.

Georgiana leaned forward in her seat, her eyes bright with interest as she peppered her brother with questions about the Bennet sisters. Her voice quickened with excitement when Elizabeth’s name was mentioned.

She had been mentioned in terms that while were not completely out of the ordinary, there was something in her brother’s manner in writing of her that suggested that Elizabeth Bennet had caught his attention for some reason.

She received her brother and his friend with great joy, and was very soon told of all of the details and delights of their most recent trip, Mr Bingley’s animated voice filled the room, his hands gesturing enthusiastically as he recounted their adventures.

Beside him, Fitzwilliam sat in uncharacteristic silence, offering only the occasional nod or monosyllabic response.

Her brother’s brow furrowed as he stared absently at the fireplace, his usual attentiveness to conversation notably absent.

His fingers drummed an erratic rhythm on the arm of his chair, betraying an inner restlessness.

As Mr Bingley spoke animatedly about their time in Hertfordshire, Georgiana couldn’t help but notice how her brother’s expression softened almost imperceptibly at the mention of Elizabeth’s name. It was a subtle change, one she doubted anyone else would have caught, but to her, it spoke volumes.

“The Miss Bennets will be travelling to town in a day or two and are to stay with their aunt,” Mr Bingley told her. “If I can convince Darcy we shall call on them there.”

Georgiana’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that would be wonderful! I would very much like to meet them.”

The grandfather clock in the corner ticked steadily, its rhythmic sound emphasising the tense silence that had fallen over the room.

Georgiana leaned forward, her eyes bright with interest as she peppered her brother with questions about the Bennet sisters.

“What are they like, Fitzwilliam?” she asked eagerly. “Are they accomplished? Do they play music or draw?’

She paused, then added with a hint of excitement, “And Miss Elizabeth - you’ve mentioned her more than once in your letters. What makes her stand out?”

Georgiana’s eyes flitted nervously around the room, fingers nervously traced the embroidered pattern on her dress, the smooth silk a stark contrast to her agitated state of mind.

She struggled to find her voice in the presence of new acquaintances.

But her brother had always been very kind to her and above all she wanted him to be happy.

Later that evening she thought she had discovered the reason for her brother’s mood.

“You mentioned that only one of them plays?” she asked, turning to her brother. “Was it Miss Jane Bennet?”

Mr Bingley opened his mouth to reply, but both he and Georgiana were surprised when Fitzwilliam answered her. So far he had been almost entirely silent.

“No, it is Miss Elizabeth Bennet that plays,” he said.

“And she plays very well,” Mr Bingley said cheerily, “I am sure you will enjoy talking to her a great deal. Oh yes, I had quite forgotten,” he shot a glance at her brother before he continued. “She is recently engaged to a Mr Collins.”

Fitzwilliam got up from his seat and walked to the window, where he stared out at the street. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the drawing room walls, highlighting the worried creases on Fitzwilliam’s forehead.

“Mr Collins,” she said thoughtfully, “I think it was a Mr Collins that Anne wrote of in her last letter from Rosings, I believe he is the parson there.”

“He is the same Mr Collins,” Fitzwilliam said without turning around.

Fitzwilliam’s boots echoed on the hardwood floor as he traced an agitated path from the window to the fireplace and back again.

His normally impeccable cravat had come slightly askew, and he tugged at it absently, as if it were suddenly too tight.

His responses to conversation came after long, uncharacteristic pauses.

Georgiana was determined to find out why.

There was something about this engagement.

“He is the Bennets’ cousin.” Mr Bingley added, “he is quite an unusual man.”

“Then I am quite surprised by the match,” she said gently, “not that I know either party, but I have had accounts of both of them and they seem like very different people. What do you think, brother?”

He did not reply straight away, he turned slightly to look at her, she was more than a little surprised by his expression. Mr Bingley too seemed intent on her brother.

Georgiana sipped her tea, the warm, slightly bitter liquid doing little to soothe her growing concern for her brother.

She pondered her brother’s unusual behaviour.

Elizabeth Bennet seemed to occupy his thoughts far more than any other acquaintance.

Could it be that Fitzwilliam had finally found someone who intrigued him?

The possibility both excited and worried her.

“I do not understand it at all”. Fitzwilliam said.

He sighed deeply, then continued almost to himself, “They are indeed so different. She is intelligent, her manners are lively and playful, she is just as a young lady should be.”

He looked up at them, his brow furrowed. “I don’t believe anyone would describe him in a similar manner.”

His face darkened slightly. “Please excuse me.’”

With that he left the room.

As the door closed behind Darcy, a heavy silence fell over the room.

Georgiana’s eyes met Mr Bingley’s, and she saw her own concern mirrored in his usually cheerful face. His smile had faded, replaced by a worried frown that spoke volumes about their shared understanding of Darcy’s distress.

Georgiana poured more tea for herself and Mr Bingley, who was now staring into the fire. The crackling flames seemed to echo the tension in the room.

Georgiana’s mind raced, piecing together the fragments of information. Her brother’s distraction, his uncharacteristic interest in a country gentleman’s daughter, his reaction to news of her engagement - could it be that Fitzwilliam harboured deeper feelings for Miss Elizabeth than he let on?

A flicker of concern crossed Georgiana’s face. If her brother truly cared for Miss Elizabeth, news of her engagement must have been a terrible blow. She resolved to watch him more closely, determined to offer whatever support she could.

Despite the complications, Georgiana found herself eagerly anticipating Miss Elizabeth’s arrival in town. She was curious to meet the woman who had so captured her brother’s attention, to see for herself what made Elizabeth Bennet so special.