Page 24 of Rumours & Recklessness (Sweet Escapes Collection #1)

Chapter 22

G eorgiana had found Mary Bennet the only sister available to visit with her. Kitty and Lydia had not yet returned. Mrs Bennet was also in town, and Mrs Gardiner seemed nowhere about. Mr Bingley had retired to the opposite side of the room with his Jane, and Georgiana had to make do with the least receptive member of the family for her companion.

She glanced in the betrothed couple’s direction occasionally. She liked Jane, though she had had little enough opportunity to actually speak with her. She seemed genuinely kind and affable, like Bingley. She may have lacked the lively energy which characterized her sister, but there was a serenity about her that seemed so restful after days in a household with Caroline Bingley. She supposed that was why Charles liked her so much and could not blame him.

Mary was quite a different story. Neither she nor Georgiana were in the slightest at ease, and it remained to be seen which would pluck up the courage to draw the other out of her shell. Mary sat silently across from her, eyes largely on the floor, and her hands resolutely clasping her cooling teacup.

“I believe that Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia mentioned they expected their visit to town to be but a short one?” Georgiana put forward awkwardly.

“It seldom is,” Mary mumbled, a faint bitter edge to her voice.

Georgiana caught herself in a little surprise. Mary seemed to have no notion that her discourteous response showed an odious lack of breeding; in fact, her manner was exactly the same as it had been before the question had ever been put to her. She stared vacantly at the rug, sullen and stony.

Georgiana swallowed. Perhaps she ventured I am not the only one who is painfully shy! It would be difficult for an introverted girl to survive at the very centre of such a boisterous household full of siblings. One so completely the opposite of each of her other sisters, one who lacked many of the charms the others flaunted, could quite possibly be thoroughly miserable. Steeling her resolve, Georgiana tried harder.

“Do you play, Miss Mary? I have heard that Elizabeth does. Miss Kitty mentioned something this morning about Miss Lydia’s expertise on the pianoforte.”

Mary’s hazel eyes leapt to meet hers at last. “ Lydia ?” she asked incredulously. “She said that?”

Georgiana’s face fell. “Why, yes, she did—they both did!”

Mary’s mouth crinkled, and she began blinking rapidly. She looked quickly about, seeking to hide her shift in expression from her guest but failing miserably.

“Miss Mary? I do not understand! Have I said something wrong? I do beg your pardon!”

Mary’s hand was covering her mouth, and her shoulders had begun to shake uncontrollably. Georgiana gasped in horror at herself. She had made her hostess cry! Abominable! What a wretched girl Miss Mary must think her!

“M-miss Mary, please, I am so sorry! I do not know what I have said, but….”

Mary raised her face back to her then, lowering her hand slightly, and a squelched peal of laughter escaped her. Stunned, Georgiana studied her for a minute. Mary was not crying; she was monstrously amused! Her brow furrowed in wonder, Georgiana watched as stoic Mary Bennet strove to contain her laughter.

“Can it really be that bad?” she whispered in awe.

“You have no idea!” giggled Mary. “Kitty must be pulling one over on you. Even Jane had to hide in Papa’s study! My poor aunt has been lying down with a headache ever since!” Mary hid behind her hand again, struggling to regain proper deportment, but this time she was not alone in her labours. Georgiana bit back a most indecorous chortle, certain that her face was by now a brilliant crimson.

After an uncomfortable moment spent composing themselves, Mary pressed her mouth into a tight, thoughtful expression. She glanced toward the end of the room, noting that Jane and Mr Bingley seemed completely absorbed in their own conversation. Blinking hesitantly and drawing a shaky breath, she turned back to her guest. “ I play, Miss Darcy, but no one ever wants to listen to me—unless they want to dance, and I am the one at the instrument.”

Georgiana’s mind fixed on those words. They sounded uncannily like her own words to Elizabeth. How she had hung on that unwavering encouragement offered! She leaned slightly forward. “ I will listen to you, Miss Mary. Perhaps we could try a duet!”

Georgiana learned quickly the reason no one wanted to listen to Mary. It was not her technical expertise, for that was superior and rivalled her own. Rather, it was her pedantic air and the dreary pieces she selected. She could do nothing about the other girl’s personal taste, she supposed, but she was watching Mary carefully and began to realize something. “Mary,” she asked softly, gently. “Do you like playing?”

Mary’s hands dropped from the instrument. She stared with her mouth slightly agape. “No one has ever asked me that before. I never thought of it.” She faced forward, gazing blankly at the sheet of music before her. Georgiana glanced away, granting Mary her privacy.

“It is the only thing I am good at,” Mary shrugged at last. “I suppose I play because I do not know what else to do but read.”

Georgiana held her peace another moment, considering. At last, she ventured, “You are very good, Miss Mary.”

Mary’s eyes turned sharply toward Georgiana. The other girl’s tone was sincere and kind, and absent was the silent “but”, which always characterized that statement when uttered by her family. She waited for it, but it did not come.

“You think me dull, do you not?” she prodded, unable to take the compliment at face value.

“Not at all,” Georgiana returned stoutly. “You have a natural talent, and if you had the masters I had, you could be shockingly good! I just wonder if you enjoy it—if you appreciate it.” Georgiana did her best to temper her tone with humility. She feared that her reference to her superior masters would sound snobbish and vain.

Fortunately, it was the words of praise that Mary took to her heart. It was doubtful she had heard many. She lifted her fingers again to the keys, tracing C# thoughtfully with her thumb. She looked again to her companion, and a hint of warmth lit her eyes. “I think I should enjoy playing with you, Miss Darcy. May we try something together?”

They were so employed when Lydia and Kitty Bennet returned. The very frames of the house shuddered with their unflagging obstreperousness. The two chilled girls gathered around the fire in the drawing-room, and their voices drowned out even the pianoforte.

Georgiana’s gaze drifted to them occasionally, but socially fragile Mary had only just opened up to her. She dared not leave her to visit with the others. It was obvious they had not noticed her presence at the instrument as yet, so much did they take Mary’s constant playing for granted.

“La, it is so cold!” Lydia stuck her hands before the fire. “Jane, did you see, it is starting to snow at last!” Jane offered some murmured reply, but Lydia paid little attention. The room was filled with the clatter of their hot cups and saucers as they tried to warm up.

“Mary!” Lydia turned their way at last. “We heard the most delicious… Oh! Miss Darcy!” Lydia elbowed her sister, and both stared in some surprise.

Georgiana was turning pages and could not politely rise from the instrument, but she greeted them as cordially as was possible. “Good afternoon, Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia. I trust you had a pleasant time in town?”

“Oh, we had a most revealing visit,” Lydia’s head was bobbing. Kitty snickered beside her. Georgiana’s brow puckered. These girls were merry enough, but their manners were nothing like those of their genteel older sisters.

“Me and Kitty and that dreadful Mary King, we heard something very interesting today.” Kitty, not as bold or quick-witted as her younger sister, giggled in response but offered no comments of her own.

“Oh?” Georgiana’s eyes widened innocently. Clearly, the girls were involved in some kind of gossip. While she felt sure her brother would not approve of her indulging in the same activity, she did not know of a gracious way to excuse herself. It seemed that she would be required to hear.

“Aye, indeed!” Lydia averred. She and her sister shared significant glances. Mary had ceased playing and folded her hands disinterestedly in her lap. “Would you believe,” Lydia went on with a conspiratorial whisper, “that there is—or was —a gentleman in our very own town with a most dastardly history?”

Georgiana felt the blood run from her face. She dropped her eyes, struck speechless.

“A young lady of breeding and character does not espouse rumours, Lydia.” Mary spoke with prim sharpness. Her face had dropped back into her customary scowl. She glanced sideways at Georgiana, and the remainder of the speech she had prepared for just such an occasion went unsaid. Somehow it seemed pompous and out of place in such gentle company.

“Oh, but this is no mere rumour! I have it as a fact, from a very reliable source—meant as a warning, I shall have you know! I shall be on my guard, make no mistake. You ought to hear all!”

“I am always on my guard,” Mary mumbled. “Young ladies cannot be too careful where their virtue regarding members of the other sex is concerned.”

“You are so strange, Mary!” Lydia giggled dismissively. “I know Miss Darcy understands the importance of warnings. Is that not so, Miss Darcy?”

Georgiana had begun to tremble. Was it possible? Her chest heaved slightly. Could her story have been relayed to strangers? She turned her eyes back to Lydia’s sly grin. Her only hope lay in silence and in the slight chance that she had mistaken the girl’s meaning.

“You see, it is as I told you, Kitty! Well, I think you were abominably ill-used, Miss Darcy, and so I told Maria Lucas when she heard...”

“H-heard… what?” Georgiana began to shake.

“ ... and my aunt Philips, she said she was glad the man never came to her door, I can tell you!”

“What have you heard? ” Georgiana’s voice dropped to a trembling, desperate whisper.

“Why, ‘tis nothing! Only that there was a ‘gentleman’ in town who barely wanted the name, but he is gone now. It was someone you knew, Miss Darcy, that is all.” Lydia tried her hand at coy subtlety, but there was nothing artful in Lydia Bennet. She was all brass and vulgarity, and poor Georgiana was turning redder by the second.

“G-gone, you say?” Georgiana stammered. Her last shreds of dignity were fading away, as every comment of Lydia’s hit nearer the mark.

“Oh, yes! For surely your brother would not suffer him to remain, after his monstrous behaviour to you!”

Hot tears began pooling in Georgiana’s eyes. Ruined! All of this time, it had seemed her secret was safe. Just when she had dared to live again, all was dashed at a whim! A sob broke in her chest, and she put the heel of her hand to her forehead.

“Miss Darcy?” a low voice inquired. Mary, still sitting near her on the piano bench, slid her hand over Georgiana’s other in awkward sympathy. Georgiana pinched the other girl’s fingers rather desperately, aching for some sort of steady comfort. Unheard by her was Mary’s pained yelp of surprise.

“La, see, Kitty, I told you that man was dangerous! Only look how frightened poor Miss Darcy is!”

In a rush of vehement despair, Georgiana bolted to her feet. “Let me tell you something, Miss Lydia! That man is dangerous! Do you want to know how I know? I saw it for myself! I saw him change from someone I trusted into a devious villain! I cared for him, and all he wanted to do was use me!” She covered her face with her hands and began to sob uncontrollably.

Bingley, who had paid absolutely no attention to Lydia’s careless banter, was on his feet in an instant and crossing the room to stand near Georgiana. Gently, protectively, he put his hand at her elbow. “Georgiana!” he hissed into her ear. “Use caution! Your words are rather compromising!”

“It is too late for that!” Georgiana wailed. She pushed his hand away and ran from the room. She scrambled to the front door, mindless of the cold and her thin muslin. Jerking it open, she nearly fell into her brother’s arms.

“Georgie! Whatever is the matter?” he exclaimed. He reached to steady her and peered fearfully into her tear-streaked face. Elizabeth, white and shaken, stood next to him. Just behind them both towered a grim-faced gentleman she had not seen before. She stared back and forth at them, still choking on her tears.

“Georgiana!” William bent to cradle his long arm around her. “What is it, Sweetling?”

Elizabeth, too, reached for her, taking Georgiana’s free hand. “Dear Georgie,” she whispered. “How can we help?”

Georgiana’s face hardened. Glaring at Elizabeth, she jerked her hand away. “Do not come near me ever again, Elizabeth Bennet! How could you? I trusted you! How could you do it? ”

Elizabeth and Darcy’s shock was equal. “Georgiana! How dare you speak in that tone!”

“Wait, please, William,” Elizabeth held a quelling hand to him, which proved instantly effective. “Georgie, have I hurt you somehow? Please tell me what it is that troubles you.”

Georgiana screwed her mouth tightly, drew back her hand, and slapped Elizabeth soundly across the cheek. “You lied to me!” she sobbed. Her voice shook, and the tears took over. She broke down completely. She pushed her way past her brother—successfully so only because he stood thoroughly flabbergasted and helpless. She set out in a run, tripped in her skirts, and tumbled to the frozen earth only a few paces away.

Her brother was instantly upon her, seizing her shoulders and dragging her to her feet. “ Georgiana! What is the meaning of this? ” She flinched through her tears. She did not remember ever hearing William so angry. She closed her eyes tightly, biting her lip. “Answer me! Why did you strike Elizabeth?” he demanded.

She squinted her eyes open, and Bingley was there, forcing her brother’s hands down. “Darcy, let me. I believe Miss Darcy had a hard time of it in there.”

Darcy turned away, flinging his arms and sputtering in furious vexation. He froze with his back to her, anchoring his fists at his hips. “ This is a wretched beginning!” he thundered, to no one in particular.

Georgiana was terrified. She had reacted in rage and passion, a thing she had always been taught not to do. William could never understand! Thankfully, Bingley at least was treating her gently—for now. He led her to a small stone bench near the garden and pressed a handkerchief into her fingers. She nodded gratefully and looked up in time to see Elizabeth pacing briskly toward her brother.

Darcy’s shoulders drooped, and he held out his hand for Elizabeth. She took it, drawing near with her face full of questions.

“ Lizzy! ” a loud voice snapped. Georgiana’s gaze followed the sound. The unknown gentleman she had seen before was marching toward Elizabeth, fire in his eyes. Mrs Gardiner was out now and hurrying up behind him. “Get back in the house, Elizabeth!” he ordered. “I have seen enough!”

Elizabeth turned in some defiance. “Uncle, there is much you do not know! Please, let me expl—”

“ Now , Elizabeth!” the man roared. He turned his glare on Darcy. “I will have words with my niece alone , sir!”

Georgiana could not see her brother’s face, but she could well imagine it. Fitzwilliam Darcy was not in the habit of backing down to any man. She watched Elizabeth turn quietly to him and give him a look of such warm reassurance that it would have made her heart soar—if only she were not convinced that Elizabeth had betrayed her.

William deflated. She could see all of the starch go out of his manner even from behind. Deliberately, he gave Elizabeth back her hand and forlornly gazed after her retreating figure. Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder more than once, but she obeyed her uncle. The entire Bennet family, save for Jane, filed into the house, and the door banged closed, rattling on its hinges.

Georgiana clenched her eyes shut and buried her face in Bingley’s handkerchief. The sobs began anew. Everything was wrong! Her life as she knew it was over, and William’s chances with Elizabeth were blasted. Not that she ought to regret that, if Elizabeth had violated her confidence, but he had been so hopeful! Her dear brother had found love at last, and it was all a sham!

A gentle hand rested on her shoulder, and she looked up, stunned that William could be approaching her so kindly after what she had just done. It was not he. Jane’s sweet face, warmed by an understanding softness, smiled into her own. “Come, Miss Darcy. Shall we find someplace out of the cold where we can talk?”

“E lizabeth Bennet, are you out of your senses?” Edward Gardiner paced the floor in his brother-in-law’s cramped study. His niece hunched in a seat, her hands pressed anxiously together between her knees and her eyes studying the carpet. “Lizzy! Look at me!” he snapped impatiently.

Elizabeth raised her face. He could still see the bright mark against her cheek from that horrible Darcy girl. “How did you become mixed up with this dreadful family? Indecent, both of them! I will not see this go any further!”

Elizabeth closed her eyes, and a fat tear escaped. What she would have given two days ago to be able to depend upon just such a determination from her uncle! Now, searching her feelings, she found it was the last thing she wished. “Uncle, please, there is so much you do not know! Please let me try to explain!”

He blew air through his teeth, running his fingers over his thinning pate. Exasperated, he, at last, took a seat. His vibrant and spirited niece sat wilted and lost before him, dejected and defeated. No, he could not allow this to continue! Whoever this Darcy fellow was, if he held this kind of power over the indomitable Elizabeth Bennet, his society must not be tolerated.

Elizabeth took a deep breath to begin, but the door to the study creaked open. Holding up his hand to stay her explanation, he looked to find his wife entering the room. She closed the door softly behind herself and took a seat next to Elizabeth, patting her niece’s hand. Mr Gardiner studied his wife shrewdly. Madeline had a fair bit of the romantic in her, but she was not known to him to take leave of her senses where the decent comportment of young ladies was concerned.

“Well, then. Which of you is going to tell me what is going on?” His gaze shifted from one to the other. The women exchanged a look, Elizabeth surrendering easily to her aunt’s firmness.

“My dear, it is not as bad as it appears,” Mrs Gardiner suggested sweetly. “Perhaps if I start at the beginning?” She repeated to her husband what Elizabeth had told her of the hours immediately following Mr Bennet’s accident and Darcy’s unexpected announcement, keeping her eyes on her niece’s for confirmation that she had got it right.

Mr Gardiner pinched the bridge of his nose. “My dear, what you are telling me does not improve my opinion of the gentleman. And you, Lizzy, I have never known you to tolerate officiousness! How is it you can accept this situation with equanimity?”

“I did not, Uncle. Not at first.” Elizabeth spoke around the tightening in her throat, willing her heart to steady and her breathing to slow. Carefully, she spent some minutes elaborating on her improved understanding of the man in question. With deepest humility, she laid bare all her misconceptions and regrettable conduct. “I have come to see that I was wrong about him, Uncle!” she concluded. “You must believe me; he is a good and honourable man.”

“Indeed. Is that why I caught the two of you in a compromising position in the middle of the road?” Mr Gardiner spoke with a brittle edge in his voice. “Well, tell me, Lizzy! Are those the actions of an ‘honourable’ man?”

Mrs Gardiner turned widened eyes on her niece. Elizabeth flushed guiltily, confirming her uncle’s accusation. “Lizzy!” she whispered in scandalized awe.

“And that sister of his!” Mr Gardiner continued. “An unprincipled hoyden! She attacked you, Lizzy! Scandal or no, I will not permit you to ally yourself with such a family!”

“Miss Darcy was not herself!” Elizabeth cried defensively. “She is a sweet and vulnerable girl, Uncle! I do not know what has set her off, but she clearly believes I have wronged her somehow.” Suddenly she straightened. “Where is she, Aunt? Did she go? Poor Georgiana!”

Her uncle snorted derisively and rose, stalking to the window.

“I expect she has returned to Netherfield, Lizzy,” Mrs Gardiner supplied. “Her maid left the kitchen a while ago. I believe Jane and Mr Bingley saw her home.”

Relief washed over Elizabeth’s face. “Dearest Jane! She will know what to do. Is Mr Darcy…?”

“Do you mean that rather pathetic figure in the garden?” Her uncle turned a wry expression on her. Elizabeth leapt to her feet, joining her uncle at the window. Darcy did indeed look morose. He sat alone on a little stone bench, his head in his hands and light snow crusting his greatcoat.

Elizabeth’s breath fogged the glass, and she lightly traced a small hole in the mist so she could still make out his shape. Mr Gardiner watched her carefully. He had never seen Elizabeth offer the slightest concern for any gentleman, but she seemed markedly anxious over this fellow’s disturbance of mind. It showed some propriety of feeling, he supposed, that the gentleman had remained at Longbourn after the others had departed, and by all appearances, suffered greatly over the afternoon’s events.

Mr Gardiner sighed. “Send him in, Lizzy. I will speak with the man— alone .”

C aroline Bingley had spent three out of the four hours it took to travel to London weeping in desolation. All of her plans were lost to her! There would be no glorious Pemberley to impress her friends, no handsome and prestigious Mr Darcy to usher her about London society. He was so perfect for her! Why could he not see it?

Everything was going along so smoothly until those wretched Bennet sisters had spoilt it all! Jane had begun it with her porcelain face and milk toast ways. Ninny that she was, Caroline could have predicted Charles would fall for her. Why could he not have pursued Georgiana Darcy instead, as she had desired? Jane possessed no virtues that the Darcy heiress did not, and was penniless besides!

Still, all might not have been lost if it had not been for that horrid Eliza Bennet. What on earth was Darcy thinking ? If he wanted a woman with a little spirit to warm his bed, she would have been more than willing to fit that bill! Had she not always been enthusiastic and clever when he was around? Impossible man!

Eventually, she dried her tears. It would take a good hour’s rest for the effects of her lamentations to fade decently enough to make herself presentable at her London home. She closed her eyes in thoughtful repose. Surely it was not yet too late! What could she do, so far from the centre of it all?

She had to concoct some excuse, some means of returning to their prior intimacy. There remained no avenues before her! Desperation turned in her breast. She needed Darcy! Hours—years!—spent gazing longingly at his chiselled profile had cultivated a powerful feeling within her. Dared she call it love? It was near enough. What was love but a strong desire and affinity of disposition? He would make her the perfect husband!

His ample material consequence and his established societal capital were his primary attractions, but Caroline was no ice queen. Darcy’s person was by far the most pleasing she had encountered in her circles of influence. She had come to believe that his physical assets matched to perfection what she had always sought in her ideal mate.

His deep voice, with its rich timbre, made her inner parts tremble. That dark hair, the way it curled just a little over those expressive eyes! She imagined running her fingers through it as he exerted his marital rights. A shudder ran through her. No unpleasant duty would it be to tolerate his attentions! She could almost feel his heat, his strength. That firm mouth, those sensual hands and powerful shoulders….

The carriage jolted as it left the rougher roads and entered the cobbled pavers of the city. Caroline swallowed, ashamed of her scandalous musings. London was closing in upon her, but she was no nearer relinquishing her designs on Mr Darcy. There had to be some last option available to her!

It is a well-known fact that despair does not often make one wise, and so it was with Caroline Bingley. Her anguished mind dredged up a succession of ideas, most of which she dismissed as impossibly gauche. At last, a thought took seed and blossomed in her mind.

She rapped on the outer door of her carriage, summoning her driver’s attention. “Daniels, I should like to pay a call before I return to the Townhouse. Take me to Grosvenor Square.”