Page 24 of The Shades of Pemberley

W illiam was right to fear what Lady Catherine might do. Georgiana Darcy could not help but own to trepidation of her own, for her aunt was not the sort of woman to allow a challenge to her authority, though her current ambitions were opaque.

Georgiana had always been terrified of Lady Catherine, for the woman was nothing less than a gorgon.

While she did not like feeling this way, she could not help it.

Jamie had always brushed it off because of her youth coupled with their aunt’s authoritarian ways, and Georgiana could not but suppose he was correct in this assessment.

As she was now sixteen, she thought it was time that she gained an adult’s surety.

Her brother’s sudden passing had not done her confidence any favors, for Jamie had always been her rock and protection against a stormy world.

That day, however, she had glimpsed a hint of a world lying beyond the confines of her narrow viewpoint, though Georgiana could only regard such a notion with dismay; she was the scion of an ancient and wealthy family—the world should be at her feet.

Be that as it may, the foretaste she had obtained was her nascent acquaintance with the two Bennet sisters, and more particularly, Miss Kitty Bennet.

Georgiana thought Miss Elizabeth was no less worthy of esteem, but as William had held her attention from the moment she arrived, Georgiana had come to know Kitty better, though of course, one meeting did not make her a bosom companion.

Yet Georgiana knew the other girl could become an excellent friend.

What was more, Kitty was an open, lively sort of girl, brimming with confidence and eager to make friends.

No one in their right might could call Georgiana lively.

Georgiana was no less willing, for she had often longed for girls her age with whom to associate, of whom there was a paucity in the neighborhood.

Though Georgiana had thought of making friends while at the school, Jamie and Anthony had decided against it, instead hiring Mrs. Younge to see to her educational needs.

Mrs. Younge was not a bad sort, but she was taciturn and demanding, always droning on about Georgiana’s need to focus, her comportment, and other such dry subjects.

Mrs. Younge’s constant comments on the subject did not bother her, for Georgiana knew she needed to learn much to become a creditable young lady and uphold the family’s honor, but the woman could become tiresome.

With Miss Elizabeth for guidance and Kitty for a friend—and perhaps the friendship of their other sisters—Georgiana could see a path forward.

While her relations were wonderful, they were all people of confidence and older than her.

Should she become intimate with the Bennet sisters, Georgiana could at last attain that confidence that had so long eluded her.

More than that, she could also have friends who cared for her, with whom she would be comfortable. Georgiana could hardly wait.

Before she could realize that future, however, there were certain obstacles to navigate.

With Jamie’s passing, Georgiana had no notion of what Anthony had in mind for her future.

While living with the earl and the countess was a possibility, it did not have any allure for a young girl trying to find her way in the world.

William was a cousin—he had already spoken of his willingness to keep her at Pemberley, so would he not agree to take her with him when he returned to Hertfordshire?

Though she did not know how to go about doing it, the thought of William taking Jamie’s place as her guardian was appealing, for then Georgiana could keep the acquaintance of the Bennet sisters.

While it was amazing to Georgiana that she had taken to them so quickly, there it was.

Now she needed to find a way to convince Anthony.

Of more immediate importance, of course, was the business of Lady Catherine and her objectives, whatever they were.

Though she had been engaged with Kitty during dinner and thereafter, Georgiana had not missed the signs of Lady Catherine’s displeasure.

Though Georgiana knew she would have something to say to her, as Lady Catherine never allowed an opportunity for criticism to pass, she felt fortunate that she had yet escaped her aunt’s censure.

The lady’s sharp looks at Miss Elizabeth, the thin line of her lips, and the blazing of her eyes told Georgiana that an explosion was brewing.

Anthony did his best to divert her, and the lady’s temper held while their guests were at Pemberley.

The moment they departed, however, she would not stay her comments, proving that storm clouds were gathering.

The only question was when they would burst.

“It is a relief to have one’s home to oneself again,” said Lady Catherine, the moment William stepped back into the room from escorting his fiancée to the waiting coach.

To his credit, William eyed Lady Catherine for a long moment, and Georgiana thought he would make an obvious reply.

It was a pleasant surprise when he did not speak to her, though Georgiana did not think for an instant that he had defused the situation.

Instead, he turned his attention to Georgiana and Anthony.

“Well? After hearing so much of my family, I am curious to hear your impressions.”

“I was not at all displeased, Darcy,” said Anthony, though Georgiana could see him watching Lady Catherine.

For her part, Lady Catherine huffed her annoyance, though she did not yet speak.

“Your lady appears a lively sort, and one perfectly suited to you, and the other ladies were lovely. You have done well for yourself.”

“I have always said that I am among the most fortunate of men.”

“This conversation astonishes me,” interjected Lady Catherine. “Why, I saw no beauty, little breeding, and an altogether unsavory air.”

“Then you must consider me as having little breeding, Lady Catherine,” replied William, his tone anything but pleasant.

“After all, I am from the same neighborhood, and though I am a scion of the Darcy family, my roots back to the main family line are several generations in the past. Furthermore, my own mother was one of the party.”

Lady Catherine regarded him, her nose jutting into the air. “My nephew did possess something more of nobility, unsurprising as he sprang from the noble Fitzwilliam line. I shall not say you are his equal, but as you are what we must work with, I suppose there is nothing to be done.”

“How pleased I am to have your endorsement,” said William, a hard, sarcastic edge in his voice.

“Unless I am mistaken,” added Anthony, his voice no friendlier than William’s, “Darcy possesses connections to the nobility in excess, though they are more distant. More important than this by far is the nobility of character that is not exclusive to those who consider themselves high and mighty. Those qualities Darcy has in abundance.”

A caustic retort balanced on the edge of Lady Catherine’s sharp tongue, or Georgiana was no judge of her aunt at all. For a wonder, she did not release it, a bit of restraint she rarely possessed.

“As for Elizabeth and her family,” said Darcy, nodding his thanks to Fitzwilliam, “they possess enough nobility of character for anyone, and more particularly for me. I have no notion what you saw, Lady Catherine, but Elizabeth is lively yet restrained, intelligent, witty, capable, and everything any man could want in a wife.”

“I also liked Kitty very well,” ventured Georgiana, earning a smile from her cousins. “We got on famously.”

“Be silent, Georgiana!” snapped Lady Catherine. “Learn what you must, then you may share your opinion when it mirrors reality!”

For the first time in her life, Georgiana felt her dander rise at her aunt’s criticism.

Lady Catherine was such a woman as to defy all description, the nobility about which she celebrated so absent in her character as to make her claims laughable.

It was perhaps for the best that Anthony spoke before Georgiana could tell her aunt what she thought of her, for she did not wish to contemplate Lady Catherine’s anger.

“Do not berate my ward, Lady Catherine. While Georgiana’s opinion does not agree with yours, she has a right to it. If there is anyone in this room who espouses unreasonable and imaginary opinions, it is you.”

To Georgiana’s certain knowledge, Lady Catherine was unaccustomed to enduring challenges against her opinion and authority, though, as she recalled, Anthony had never hesitated to put her in her place when he felt it warranted. As Georgiana expected, Lady Catherine did not appreciate his reprimand.

“None of you are thinking properly. As the new master of Pemberley, Darcy must rise to the first circles, and to do so with any credit, he must act like he belongs.”

“If you will pardon me,” interrupted William, “I have no desire to seek acceptance from those I so little respect. If society cannot accept me as I am, then they will endure me, for I shall not change.”

“Well said, Darcy,” said Anthony, his glare at their aunt never wavering.

“If you persist,” snarled Lady Catherine, “you will reap the consequences. Within a sixmonth, you will learn that I speak the truth.”

“Then it is fortunate that I have many friends in my previous circles, friends, I will note, I shall not give up because of my new situation.”

“You must!” exclaimed Lady Catherine. “Friends of the second circle? Whoever heard of such a thing?”

“ I have many friends of a lower station, Lady Catherine,” said Anthony.

Lady Catherine was already shaking her head. “No, no, no, it must not be! Next, you will tell me you consort with tradesmen and their ilk!”