Page 63 of The Shades of Pemberley

Lydia did appear happy, and their schedule for the next few days proved the supposition.

While disagreements and even arguments must inevitably arise, the girls got on in a state of harmony such that Darcy could not deny the good they were doing each other.

Kitty was old enough to come out the next year, though Darcy agreed with Lady Susan’s assessment that she might prefer to wait a year for Georgiana, and while Lydia would feel left out again when they entered society, she was now on the path of acceptance and behaving with credit when her turn came.

One who did not appear to appreciate Lydia’s arrival at his house was Mrs. Younge.

The woman said nothing during the first few days of Lydia’s presence, but the sour expression she wore appeared etched upon her face.

In time, Darcy’s curiosity about the woman and her behavior aroused again from its dormant state, for there was something unusual about her, and Darcy could not put his finger on it.

Thus it was that she stood before his desk in his study, making her case again about the Ramsgate scheme, though the notion she was there unwillingly would not leave him; Darcy could not understand this last, but he felt it, nonetheless.

Unlike the last time she had applied to him, this time Darcy was not angry, for an intense interest in her inability to allow the subject to rest despite repeated reprimand was now urging him to discover the reason for it.

Such an application to the woman herself would be fruitless—Darcy knew this with no need to ask her.

There were other ways to discover what he wished to know, and Darcy shunted those thoughts to the side for the moment, focusing his attention on her instead.

“I am curious about your rationale for continuing to press this issue, Mrs. Younge. What do you mean by it?”

“What I mean is to fulfill a promise I made to Georgiana and planned with your predecessor. Georgiana has been in London long enough; it is time she separated from it and enjoyed some time of her own in Ramsgate. If you will pardon me, you have had your holiday. Do you not suppose Georgiana deserves a holiday of her own?”

“Georgiana deserves everything I can give her,” said Darcy, amused rather than offended at her attempt to appeal to his sense of fairness. “That is not at issue here. If you will pardon my saying it, I thought the girls were getting on well together, and yet you wish to separate them?”

Lips in a tight line, Mrs. Younge refused to speak.

While Darcy thought she had the same opinion of Kitty, enhanced by Lydia’s arrival at the house, she would not disparage them again, given Darcy’s reproof the last time she had presumed to criticize his sisters.

It seemed she had learned something in the time since she last approached him, though in essentials she had not altered.

There was a measure of surliness in her air, again suggesting to Darcy that whatever she meant by these repeated requests, there was something amiss with them.

Perhaps it was time to speak to the earl and his son to learn more about this woman and her background.

She may have been someone prominent before becoming a companion, which would account for her pride, though not account for other facets of her behavior.

“Then perhaps it is best to put the matter to Georgiana,” suggested Darcy, though he had no intention of allowing it even if his ward surprised him by recommending the scheme.

Mrs. Younge offered a curt nod, as if surprised by his acquiescence. “I shall speak to her.”

“Let us both speak to her,” contradicted Darcy. “Unless I am mistaken, I believe the girls are with my wife in the sitting-room.”

Again, the sourness descended over her, though she did not gainsay him.

The sight alarmed Darcy more than anything else, for it was clear she had thought of getting Georgiana alone and bending her to her wishes.

The woman was conniving and no mistake, and Darcy wondered if he would not do best to relieve her of her duties right then and there.

For the moment, he refrained, though he determined to speak to the housekeeper and have her monitor the woman. A word with Georgiana’s maid would also not go amiss.

As Darcy predicted, he found his wife in the company of Georgiana and her two companions, in the attitude of joyful exchange of jests.

A chorus of feminine voices welcomed him into the room, though Darcy noted that no one—not even Georgiana—offered Mrs. Younge anything more than a civil greeting.

Filing that away for the moment, Darcy turned to the task at hand.

“Georgiana, Mrs. Younge has approached me again with the suggestion that you might enjoy a few weeks by the sea.”

Darcy did not think he emphasized the word “again,” but his ward rolled her eyes regardless.

If Darcy had turned to look at Mrs. Younge at that moment, he expected to find her displeasure.

Elizabeth caught his eye, her questioning look prompting Darcy to give her a minute shake of his head, a promise they would discuss it again later when they did not have an audience.

“I thought to put it to you, Georgiana, to learn your opinion. I understand this scheme was proposed some time ago, and while recent events have resulted in a change of plans and situation, I would not keep you from your amusement if you wish for it.”

“The seaside holds no charm for me, William,” said Georgiana, with no hesitation in her manner.

“I enjoy Kitty and Lydia’s company and have no wish to separate from you or Elizabeth.

Perhaps in the summer we can all go somewhere together?

The lakes are so lovely that I think they would enrapture you all. ”

Pleased he had guessed right, Darcy nodded. “The lakes would be a worthy destination, Georgiana. Let us take thought for the notion when the season is complete.”

Darcy turned to Mrs. Younge, noting the woman’s expression was as sour as spoiled milk. “There you have it, Mrs. Younge. I trust you will not raise the subject of Ramsgate with any of us again.”

“I shall not,” was the woman’s succinct reply.

The need to speak to the earl had become urgent. Darcy meant to do so at the earliest opportunity.