Page 41 of Her Whole Heart
“I beg your pardon, Miss Elizabeth,” Miss Amberley stated with some affront.
“Yes, Miss Amberley?” Elizabeth asked sweetly. Her inquiry, however, was overrun by Lady Henrietta’s snide retort.
“They are from the country,” Lady Henrietta said to her friend. “You can hardly expect better.”
Miss Amberley turned up her nose and addressed Elizabeth. “Perhaps you were unaware, but introductions are my office as hostess.”
As if they were unaware. But if Elizabeth waited for Miss Amberley to introduce them she would be waiting forever.
“Oh, please do introduce us,” Miss Darcy said, causing Lady Henrietta to frown and leaving Miss Amberley no choice but to comply.
Elizabeth decided that she liked Mr. Darcy’s sister very much.
These introductions were completed quickly, and they were all finally invited to sit. To her cousin’s clear annoyance, Miss Darcy took a chair next to Elizabeth and nearest the door, while Jane and Amelia sat on the settee with Lady Henrietta.
“Country gowns,” Miss Amberley was saying. “Those Harris girls, you know.” Elizabeth ignored them, knowing that the two women were in fact speaking of her and Jane. It was all foolishness, but Miss Darcy frowned and glanced at her own clothes.
“Miss Amberley said that you are very fond of music?” Elizabeth inquired in order to distract her.
Miss Darcy blinked. “Yes.”
“Do you have a favourite composer?”
“No.”
Lady Henrietta glanced over at them and smirked before returning to her conversation with Miss Amberley. Jane and Amelia were attentive, but apparently not required to participate.
“I myself am fond of Clementi.” Elizabeth hoped that this would prompt Miss Darcy to speak a little more.
The girl looked up, her posture relaxing a bit. “I do like Clementi. I am working on his Sonata opus 26 just now.”
“The opening to that piece is so clever,” Elizabeth replied.
“It is!” Miss Darcy nearly beamed. “He lifts the spirits.”
Elizabeth wondered why Miss Darcy, of all people, might require such a thing, but immediately chastised herself. Wealth did not solve every problem. Everyone needed something to make them feel lighter from time to time.
“I do not practice nearly as much as I should since we have come to London,” she confessed, “but I really ought to make the time. I am not naturally gifted at the pianoforte, so I must notneglect it.”
“I would not say that I am gifted either,” Miss Darcy said quietly, “though my brother always praises me. I feel it is too much, sometimes.”
Elizabeth was sympathetic. “It can be difficult to perform to his standards, then?”
“Oh no,” Miss Darcy said, her expression earnest. “My brother is an excellent man. It is only . . . he thinks more highly of my talent than it deserves, and I fear I must disappoint when he asks me to perform for others. I do love to play, though.”
“Whereas I love having mastered a piece, but not so much the learning of it.” Elizabeth was pleased to see a very small smile appear on Miss Darcy’s countenance. “You must come visit us at Carlisle House and we can play music together. Perhaps you will teach me to enjoy scales.”
“Oh, Iwouldenjoy that, but I am not truly out,” Miss Darcy said softly. “My brother only allowed me to come today because Miss Amberley is Lady Henrietta’s friend, and she is my cousin. You may require more practice on the pianoforte, but he believes that I require more practice with other ladies.”
“Did he say that?” Elizabeth was both aghast and amused.
“No, of course not,” Miss Darcy said with a very quiet chuckle. “But I can tell.”
Elizabeth considered this for a moment and decided that propriety might not be the best way to reach Miss Darcy. “I have a question to ask you, Miss Darcy. Please feel free to be frank—I will not be offended. May I?”
“Yes,” Miss Darcy said softly.
“You do not know me well, but if he approved, would visiting with me, my sister, Miss Hamilton, and perhaps a few more of our friends be at all palatable to you?”
