Page 9 of Rumours & Recklessness (Sweet Escapes Collection #1)
Chapter 8
“W illiam!” Georgiana rushed into her brother’s arms with relief.
Darcy pressed his baby sister close. It had been over two months since he had last seen her. He had been a fool to leave her alone so long, but the alternative would have been to bring her along. He knew she would have been uncomfortable spending so much time with Caroline, and she had truly begged him to go as Bingley had asked.
“Georgie… why, I believe you have grown!” He held her back at arm’s length to inspect her. She blushed, smiling shyly up at the brother who was more like a father.
“Bingley said you were ill. What is the matter?” He looked away, trying to evade her penetrating gaze, but did not have the heart to try very hard. She cocked her head, inspecting his bloodshot eyes and weary face. “William?”
“I am well. Truly, Georgie,” he replied gently but firmly, taking her small hands in his own. “I want to hear about you. How are you finding your new painting master?”
She narrowed her eyes sceptically, a perfect imitation of himself. “William,” she spoke softly, “will you not tell me how it is with Miss Elizabeth? You wrote so well of her. I was so hoping to meet her. Mr Bingley’s letter said… well, I was worried.” Georgiana cast her eyes down bashfully.
“Georgie…” he sighed, pulling her to the small sofa in her dressing room. “I cannot say what will happen with Miss Elizabeth. I have offended her greatly, you must know.”
“How could you possibly? You are the kindest and most wonderful of men, William! Can she not see that?” Georgiana’s lip quivered slightly. In her innocent mind, there was no better man than her brother, who had been everything to her for nearly as long as she could remember. Even before their father’s death, William had been her companion, advisor, and protector. It was impossible for her to fathom that any woman could fail to see his worth.
“Georgie, it is more complicated than that. I put her in a most unforgivable position yesterday.”
“You were only trying to help! Mr Bingley said that a man she did not like tried to force her into an engagement in public, and that she was finding it difficult to maintain her refusal. I think what you did was wonderful and noble. She did not?”
He gave a short, bitter laugh. “Far from it. Collins is not the only man who is not high in her graces. I have been completely wrong about her, Georgie. She informed me yesterday that she has never cared for me, and she believes… well, some things do not bear repeating. It is enough to say that she has heard unsavoury rumours of me, and I fear my behaviour to her has not been such as would cause her to overlook them as false.”
“Rumours? But what rumours could there be of you? You are always just and upright.”
“Sweetling,” he sighed, grasping her hand gently, “you know that not everyone in this world speaks the truth. In our position, you must realize there are many who would seek their own aggrandizement at our expense.” She began to colour, but he touched her cheek in encouragement, raising her eyes back to his.
“Georgie, the trouble is not what Miss Elizabeth heard but what she has believed. Had I somehow earned her good opinion prior, she might have been less willing to believe me capable of the things of which I am accused. The fault is mine, not hers.” He spoke softly, the truth of his own words seeping into his heart.
Georgiana’s eyes clouded with stinging moisture. Her lonely girlish heart longed desperately for a sister, and her hopes for Miss Elizabeth had been high. William never wrote approvingly of any other young woman of his acquaintance, and he certainly had never been inspired to shield any others from gentlemen they did not like—and at such a cost to himself!
She blinked rapidly, a few errant tears spilling on her cheeks. With a sympathetic smile, her brother tugged her close to his chest, tucking her under his arm as he had when they were children. Georgiana burrowed her face into his dark morning coat.
They sat, comforting each other in silence. Georgiana gazed devotedly up at him as he stared vacantly across the room. William was always so kind to her. He deserved a woman he could love and who could love him in return, but most only courted his wealth and position. Most cared little enough whether he was kind or honourable, and certainly, none would have dreamed of turning down the heir to the Darcy fortune because he had offended them.
Hope began to breathe again in her breast. If Miss Elizabeth had tried to refuse him, then it meant she was not the kind of woman who relentlessly pursued him solely to become Mistress of Pemberley. She must have a heart. Perhaps...
“William?” Georgiana fingered the rumpled collar of his jacket hesitantly.
“Yes, Dearest?” He was looking better already, the effects of the previous night gradually giving way to the light of day and his pleasure at his sister’s comradeship.
“Do you think I could meet her? I mean… would she talk to me?”
He peered down into her earnest face. His heart longed for exactly that, despite what he had told Richard. He had ruminated in endless frustration on how Georgiana would love Elizabeth since the first day the latter had stayed at Netherfield.
In truth, Georgiana needed someone like Elizabeth. Her easy playfulness would go far toward cheering and encouraging shy Georgiana. Since her narrow escape from Wickham’s clutches, she had been increasingly unsure of herself and nervous in company. He did not wish her to follow in his own footsteps, despising social settings because of his awkwardness in conversation. If anyone could brighten his dearest sister and set her at her ease, it was Elizabeth Bennet.
“I do not know,” he answered slowly. “Her father is injured, and the family is rather troubled just now. I am certain she is expending most of her time and energy caring for him, as well as her mother and younger sisters. I must speak with her, however. The entire town believes us to be engaged, and it could prove disastrous for her if it is broken off. We will certainly be expected to call, but whether she will be in a mood to receive me, I cannot say.”
Georgiana rose suddenly, unsettling him. “Then let us go now!” she smiled invitingly. She tugged at his unwilling hands, pleading with him to rise and join her. “Come, William, you must eat something, and then you will feel better. May we call on her today, do you think?”
A reluctant smile forced itself upon his lips. “We shall see, Georgie. Though a square meal does sound very appealing right now.” He followed her, and, arm in arm, they strolled down to the family dining room for a belated luncheon.
“W hy dear Georgiana!” Caroline Bingley greeted them exuberantly, spreading her arms in magnanimous salutations. She strode toward Georgiana, but her eyes were on Darcy. He stood stoically, ready to intervene if Georgiana appeared overwhelmed. He completely sympathized; anyone would be ill at ease in the presence of Bingley’s sister.
“And dear Mr Darcy, I was in such distress when I heard you were ill this morning. Just look now. You are so well recovered! I am certain we owe that to the arrival of our dearest Georgiana.” She patted Georgiana’s hand in a great display of affection. He proved resolutely non-committal.
Undaunted, she rattled on, this time addressing herself to Georgiana. “I was so surprised and delighted to hear you had come to us! I was just saying to your brother the other day how I admired your newest sketches. Was I not, Darcy?”
Caroline beamed at him. He remained silent, refusing to relinquish Georgiana’s arm lest she be seized by Caroline. “I was simply in raptures , how you captured the beauty of Pemberley’s lake! Why, I never saw the like, were we not saying so, Louisa?”
Louisa nodded and smiled obligingly across the table, but Caroline paid her little attention. “Come, darling, sit by me. What a merry party we shall be! We have so much catching up to do!”
Georgiana cast a braver glance than she truly felt toward her brother, and only then did he turn loose of her elbow. With some trepidation, she followed Caroline to a seat at the opposite end of the table from her brother. She never knew what to say to Caroline Bingley. She always felt like the woman was a gale force of gossip and chatter, the likes of which it was impossible for her to follow. There was little substance to her conversation and little opportunity to contribute to a dialogue.
“How lovely it is to settle in the country for the holidays, is it not, dear Georgiana? So much pleasanter than Town, I always say.” Georgiana managed a wan smile. On the brighter side, if she allowed Caroline to prattle on, she would not be required to speak herself.
There had been a brief time, a few years ago when she had feared William might marry this woman. Caroline Bingley’s first visit to Pemberley had very nearly been her last, when she had tried to assume hostess duties at their Michaelmas feast. William had been scandalized! He had not very kindly set her in her place... as it happened, that place had been as far from himself as possible. Georgiana fought to suppress a wholly inappropriate smirk at the memory. Caroline, meanwhile, had forgotten her love of the country, and she droned on about the dullness of Hertfordshire and her plans once they reached Town.
At the other end of the table, Darcy helped himself to a heaping pile of smoked meats, cheeses, and scones. He topped them with a tantalizing cranberry sauce and cream, then a second plate full of fruits from the hothouse joined the first. Bingley’s eyebrows raised dubiously, but whatever he considered saying was drowned in his cup.
Fitzwilliam sat nearby with an empty plate, already leaning back from the table somewhat further than was proper. Darcy tucked into his luncheon with as much zeal as Hurst ever had, finding relief even in the first few bites from the light-headedness which still plagued him.
Bingley waited for the beast to finish wolfing down his victuals before broaching the subject of the Bennets. Once he felt safe, he began. “Darcy, I sent a note to Longbourn this morning to ask after Mr Bennet.”
Darcy paused, very properly setting down his fork and wiping his mouth before replying. “Has there been any improvement?”
“None so far, but he is no worse. Miss Jane Bennet wishes to thank us—by which I assume she means you—for arranging a nurse for him.” Bingley stared pointedly at him.
Darcy reddened, feeling Richard’s questioning gaze on him as well. “Go on,” he urged.
With a surreptitious glance down the table, Bingley went on in a lower voice. “I also asked permission to call on the family this afternoon, and the reply was favourable. We are invited to stay through tea. I intended to go directly after luncheon.” Bingley stared at him briefly, clearly demanding for Darcy to agree to join him.
Darcy nodded without enthusiasm. He would have expected an arrangement of the kind, though he did not yet feel ready to face Elizabeth. He returned to the remains of his scone with less zest than before.
His eyes wandered to the end of the table to see how Georgiana was faring with her companions. He hoped they would be able to avoid Caroline Bingley’s company while they paid the call. It would be difficult to extract his own sister without inviting Charles’ sister as well, but this day would be trying enough without Caroline’s unwelcome moodiness and excessive attention to himself.
Looking long at Georgiana’s stretched features, he knew it would not be acceptable to leave her alone at Caroline’s mercy while he went alone. Georgiana would have to come to pay the call, and he would just have to leave Caroline to her brother to manage.
Fortunately, he was not alone in those sentiments. The three men excused themselves to make ready for their departure and found themselves unanimous in their desire to encourage Caroline to remain at Netherfield. “I brought your smallest coach, Darcy. I am afraid it can only seat four comfortably,” Fitzwilliam winked at him.
“Well, Colonel, how fortunate that we have one larger to suit us all!” Caroline breezed into the entryway where the gentlemen were receiving their outer coats from the footmen. She already wore her muff and coat, and she sidled comfortably up to Darcy as he settled his scarf over his collar. She had no intention of relinquishing her prize without a fight, and she would not sit idly by while Darcy visited Elizabeth without her. Only look what kind of misunderstanding had happened when she did not go the day before!
Darcy forced a neutral expression, looking down to his buttons to avoid acknowledging her. Bingley cleared his throat. “I am afraid, Caroline, that Mrs Nicholls wished to discuss preparations for the reception I planned to hold for the tenant farmers in a fortnight. Had she not mentioned it to you?”
Caroline turned, her face betraying her outrage. “Charles! A tenant reception? You never mentioned that to me! Only yesterday, we were quitting this country for good, and now you want to host a party for the farmers?”
His eyes shifted nervously to the other two gentlemen, who both resolutely avoided his gaze. Bingley was on his own for the moment. “Y-yes, well…” he stammered. “We are still invested in the estate, and it is the proper thing to do for our tenants. I understand it is quite the expected thing, though it is late in the season. I will not be planning to return to Town for any duration in the immediate future, and I think this scheme will do very well.”
Her mortified stare drifted disbelievingly between the three men, settling on Darcy. “Surely, Charles, the housekeeper can manage sufficiently. It is only the farmers you are receiving! My hostessing skills are not required,” she attempted to recover smoothly.
Bingley bit his lip. Caroline would deepen her humiliation by refusing to accept the situation with grace. Why could he not have had a sister with some measure of taste and decorum, more like Georgiana? She never did anything wrong. To his relief, Darcy and Fitzwilliam tactfully excused themselves out of doors, leaving him to handle his sister in privacy.
“Caroline, we must not leave this to the housekeeper. As the present lady of the house, it is your place to plan these events. It matters not whether we are hosting the farmers or the local gentry or our friends from London. I must insist you heed my wishes on this point, for I will not yield!”
“Charles! These Bennets have been a poor influence on you, I fear. You are entirely forgetting your place! We should have been in Town, not dallying further with these mean country folk. We owe nothing to the farmers here!”
Charles Bingley was fed up, enough so that his impulsive decisiveness from the previous day made a reappearance. He set his jaw, much as Darcy might have, and made an unshakable reply. “Caroline, you forget that you were in favour of my forming an establishment in the country. I have made a commitment to this place for the term of my lease, and I will honour it! If you find your duties as hostess so distasteful, take heart. I intend to relieve you of those duties as soon as may be.”
Her eyes flashing her wrath, Caroline screwed her mouth into an outraged scowl. She turned on her heel and marched toward the stairs in a fit of pique. Deflated, he watched her go. How he hated confronting her! It was not in his nature to be so firm, and it was very uncomfortable to him. His life would be so much easier with more amiable relatives!
His eyes followed her hastily retreating figure and were caught by Georgiana. The girl was peeking guiltily around the corner from the sitting room. Apparently, she had witnessed much, if not the whole of the scene. She could scarcely have avoided it! With a sigh and a contrite smile, he encouraged her to follow him by offering his arm. Together they joined Darcy and Fitzwilliam in the carriage.
“So, Darcy,” Fitzwilliam settled himself next to Bingley, leaving Georgiana to sit with her brother, “do you have a plan of how you may win the fair lady’s affections?”
Darcy clamped his teeth. He was not best pleased to discuss his plans regarding Elizabeth in company, even as trusted as each person in the small compartment was to him. Seeing the expectant stares of all the parties in the coach, he finally gave way. “I wrote her a letter,” he replied stiffly.
“A letter?” the colonel sputtered. “You cannot simply hand the lady a letter! Trust me in this, Darce. You have to talk to her. Egad, man! Bingley, am I not right? Criminy, it is little wonder you are still unmarried. Ladies appreciate a little romance! Invite her for a pleasant stroll, bring her small gifts, tell her how lovely she is… I presume the lady in question is lovely?” He looked to Bingley for confirmation, who gave an agreeable nod of the head. To him, no other lady could compare to his angel, but her sister was most pleasant to look upon.
“Aha!” Richard put a finger to his lips, then traced it in the air, fabricating a mental picture. “She must be tall, fair… blonde, I should think. Blue eyes?”
Georgiana giggled. “Miss Elizabeth is not quite my height, Cousin Richard. She has dark hair and curls and very fine dark eyes!”
Richard roared a great guffaw. “You described her to Georgie! In a letter, no doubt.”
Darcy tried unsuccessfully shrink his tall frame, his ears reddening.
“Oh, Cousin, you are dead gone. Indeed, she does sound quite fetching, I cannot wait to make her acquaintance.”
“Your description could fit her sister quite nicely though, Fitzwilliam. You shall see, Darcy and I are quite in disagreement over which sister is the loveliest. You must help us settle the dispute!” Bingley put in laughingly.
“Oh, Darcy!” Richard wiped his eyes, still chuckling. “Tell me seriously. You cannot truly be planning to just hand the lady a letter and return to Netherfield whilst she reads it? No, it is unthinkable. You must secure a private audience, and I hope you have something worthwhile to say.”
Darcy shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Talk to Elizabeth? He would be lucky to untie his tongue while in her presence. She, who never seemed to lack for a clever repartee, would utterly demolish any plea for reason and forgiveness he might try to present in person. He had never doubted that if they should reach a good understanding, he would quickly be completely at his ease with her. He knew he would trust her utterly, and she would tease him in that delightful, intimate way he had seen her reserve for those she loved. Until then, he had much he truly needed her to know and dared not chance the important communication to his uncertain conversation skills.
He opened his mouth to defend himself, but his rescue instead came from an unexpected source. Georgiana looked approvingly at him and squeezed his arm. “William says Miss Elizabeth is very intelligent. I think he must know best how he can tell her what he needs to clear any misunderstandings. Surely a clever woman of sense would value sincere communication, no matter what form it takes. Do you not agree, Mr Bingley?”
Bingley stared for a moment, gathering his thoughts. Miss Elizabeth was perhaps unique among the women of his acquaintance. It was true that Darcy had rarely maintained a conversation with her without falling victim to her playful wit. To be fair, most of the time, the gentleman seemed rather to enjoy his loss, but with so much at stake he feared his friend would be at a disadvantage.
Still, he felt the colonel had the right of it. “Surely, Darcy, if her family considers you engaged to her, you will be granted some little time to speak privately if you wish. There can be nothing improper in that. Does not the lady deserve to hear you speak your case and make reply?”
“That, Charles, is the material point. I do not have reason to believe she will consent to another private conference, no matter how favourably her mother might view such an arrangement. Miss Elizabeth vehemently denied the engagement, and with good reason, for I regret that I surprised and offended her in the extreme. I have the greatest doubt that she will lend ear to what I must say.”
Glancing down at Georgiana’s trusting blue eyes, he froze with a sudden fear. There was much in the letter which concerned her directly. Though he had written the letter with the sincere hope that Elizabeth and Georgiana would meet one day, he had not anticipated the meeting would come so soon. He had expected and hoped that a conversation, perhaps several, would follow before Georgiana was introduced to her acquaintance. Had he shared too much? Would Georgie be hurt?
He closed his eyes, heart hammering in his breast. Vainly he tried to calm that wilful organ, knowing that for the first time in his life it was becoming increasingly impossible.
“I say, William, at least try talking to her. A compliment or two would not be unwarranted either. You would be amazed how smooth words can tame ruffled feathers. If you still feel you must give her that infernal letter of yours, do so as a last resort.” Richard straightened his red coat for emphasis, craning his neck to look out the window. Just around the corner, a homey estate dotted with barren trees began to come into view.