Page 10 of Her Whole Heart
Darcy shared a look with his cousins, but they appeared as bemused as he.
“Why were they not introduced to me?” Lord Matlock bit out, agitated.
“Ought they have been, father?” Fitz finally straightened and stood.
The earl sighed. “No, I suppose not, but Henrietta was at school with them. Certainly she would like to see them.” He was lost in his thoughts then.
“Who, father?” Lady Henrietta asked as she entered the room. Darcy always used her honorific, even in his thoughts, for she was almost strident in requiring it of everyone other than her father and brothers.
“The Bennet sisters are in town. They were apparently at the Ashfords’ ball last night.” His uncle stood, his attention far away.
Lady Henrietta’s expression was cool. “Ah.”
“It was a crush,” Milton offered. “Not surprising you did not see them.”
“Perhaps they thought being insulted by one member of the family was enough,” Fitz grumbled as Darcy tucked his note away.
“Who insulted them?” Lady Henrietta asked, the ghost of a smile flickering upon her lips.
“Darcy here,” Milton said with a brusque wave of his hand. “Called Miss Elizabeth a fortune hunter.”
“Darcy!” Lord Matlock exclaimed. “Please tell me that is not true.”
Darcy remained silent.
“He was right,” Lady Henrietta said with a little shrug. “Sheisa fortune hunter. I happen to know she and her sister have nothing. Her father has an estate, but there is an entail and no son. How they even managed to outfit themselves for the season is beyond me.”
“She and her sister have twenty-thousand each, according to the general report,” Milton informed his sister. “That may not be the equal of your fortune, sister, but it is quite respectable.”
“And they are being sponsored by Lady Carlisle,” Fitz added. “I think your information must be wrong, Hen.”
Lady Henrietta pursed her lips. “I do not know how they came by so much or have reached so high. Their father had a friend from university who secured their place at school, or so I was informed, and when I knew them, they had no friends in good society and were nearly penniless.” Her eyes suddenly shot over to her father, who met her gaze unflinchingly. Her colour was high as she said, “At least the elder one is pretty and knows when to be silent, but the second girl . . .”
“Henrietta,” Lord Matlock said, his words tipped with ice, “you will mind your tongue. We owe a great deal to that second girl. At least Miss Hamilton’s family seems to appreciate that.”
Darcy did not understand his uncle’s reference or why Lady Henrietta’s expression suddenly pinched, but he did surmise that Miss Hamilton and the Bennets knew one another from attending the same school as Lady Henrietta. It must have galled her sense of superiority to attend with girls who had no titled relations. His interest piqued, Darcy watched the exchange as closely as he had ever observed a match at Angelo’s.
“I should like to meet them,” Uncle Matlock said. “Perhaps I will call on the Carlisles. Henrietta, will you accompany me?”
It was not an order but a request. His uncle did not know what to do with Henrietta any more than the rest of them. What could they know about raising a girl? Darcy was doing the best he could with Georgiana, but it was not easy.
“I would prefer not to, father.”
Lord Matlock frowned.
Darcy himself had at least had the experience of Lady Henrietta to guide him in whatnotto do with Georgiana. Do not fulfil her every whim, do not send her away to school. He had instead done his best to be fair but firm and had hired masters and a companion to manage her education.
He recalled that he would need to arrange interviews to replace Mrs. Ketterman while in town this season. The older woman had remained in Derbyshire, wishing to spend her remaining years with her own children and grandchildren. Darcy understood, but selfishly wished she would not leave them. She had been with the Darcys since Georgiana was very young and truly loved his sister. Such a relationship would be impossible to replicate, and though rather accomplished for a girl her age, Georgiana was shy. Between their aunt Lady Catherine, her daughter Anne, and LadyHenrietta, he had thought he might be able to findsomeoneto advise him on a girl’s needs, but he had no luck there. His youngest cousin had no wish to be bothered, Anne was too ill, and Lady Catherine’s advice was to send Georgiana to Kent so that she might mould her into a proper woman.
His idea of a proper woman did not match that of Lady Catherine’s.
Sending Georgie away was never going to happen, so he muddled on as best he could, hoping he was offering his sister everything she truly needed. She was here in town with him, for there was truly nowhere else she could stay. He would have a new companion hired soon enough.
“You should accompany Darcy, father,” Fitz said with a sly smile. “You can have your meeting with the ladies whilst he is brought to book.”
Darcy rolled his eyes, forgetting for a moment that there was a lady in the room.
“Manners, Darcy,” Fitz warned him.
