Page 42 of Her Whole Heart
The girl hesitated, and just as Elizabeth was about to withdraw and beg pardon for her presumption, Miss Darcy nodded. “But my brother may not allow it. He does know Lord and Lady Carlisle, but they are not family.”
“Your brother is certainly welcome to join us all for music, tea, and conversation if he wishes to gauge our suitability,” Elizabeth said teasingly. “But he may not find it enjoyable.”
“He might not,” Miss Darcy said, as her eyes danced. “But my cousin Fitz says my brother needs practice with young ladies, too.”
Ah, so Miss Darcy had a sense of humour under the timidity. This boded well. Elizabeth would have to think of a plan to ask Mr. Darcy to allow his sister to visit. It would be great fun to add such a sweet young lady to their circle of friends, even if she was too young to go out to balls and parties with them.
Amelia leaned over from her position on the settee. “You would be very welcome, Miss Darcy.”
Elizabeth looked up at the sound of Amelia’s voice and noticed that Jane’s cheeks were flushed.
“I should not be surprised,” Lady Henrietta was saying, just loud enough for the others to hear while pretending to be speaking confidentially. “Mr.Harrisis a minor gentleman, barely deserving of the name.”
“I see.” Miss Amberley nodded once. “It is no wonder they must resort to accepting charity from others.”
Elizabeth frowned at that. Even Miss Darcy suspected they were speaking about someone in the room. The girl’s eyes widened at the insult, and her hands began to tremble. The poor thing was truly distressed.
Mr. Darcy was right about one thing: Miss Darcywouldneed more exposure to other ladies if she were to survive a season, though Elizabeth doubted that this was what he had meant. She tried to catch the girl’sattention so that she could show the words did not hurt her, but Miss Darcy’s gaze was on her hands, now tightly balled in her lap.
“Poor girls,” Lady Henrietta said in a soft, achingly sweet tone, completely ignoring the effect her words were having on her own cousin. “One can only imagine their mortification, having to seek potential matches with a fortune sourced from others' pity.”
Elizabeth did roll her eyes at that, though no one else noticed. The little pantomime Lady Henrietta and Miss Amberley had devised was quite ridiculous. Even minor gentry were far above the poor in terms of wealth, though Elizabeth understood that the life she lived was a privilege while it was clear her hostess did not.
Miss Amberley opened her fan to speak behind it. “No man will wish to tie himself to a family of beggars.”
“Except the dozen or so eligible men who are already interested,” Amelia said. “TheHarrisgirls are generating an excitement that has not been seen in town in years. Even my aunt says as much, and she is so rarely impressed.” She paused dramatically before inquiring, “Please forgive me, ladies, for I am sadly behind the news. Have either ofyouany gentleman callers?”
Miss Darcy gasped softly.
Lady Henrietta’s expression darkened, and she ignored Amelia, turning instead to Miss Amberley. “There is not even a pedigree to make up for the way in which their fortunes were established.”
Mrs. Smith flinched at the bite in her mistress’s tone and fixed her gaze upon the floor.
Miss Amberley’s eyes had widened at Amelia’s direct assault, but she recovered quickly. “I do wonder how their sponsors could be so misled.”
Jane had heard enough, for she asked, “Why do you notask them?”
“I beg your pardon, Miss Bennet?” Lady Henrietta asked. She was truly startled. Apparently, she had not thought she and her friend would be called out on, well, anything.
“You do well to beg my pardon, Lady Henrietta. Please, do take your concerns to Lord and Lady Carlisle. I am certain you will be well received and that your father will applaud your initiative.”
Elizabeth gaped at the sight of sweet, mild Jane issuing such a set down, though she closed her mouth the moment she was aware of it.
“We were speaking of theHarrisgirls, Miss Bennet,” Lady Henrietta said with a smug pleasure. “If you find there are similarities in your position, do not blame me.”
Well, there was nothing for it. Now that Jane had waded into the fray, Elizabeth would not allow her to do so without sisterly support. All that work to memorize Debrett's was useful at last. “Which Harris girls?” Elizabeth asked. “Do you mean the cousins of Viscount Fordwich or the wards of Mr. Nicholas of Hearthstone have come to town this year? I should be happy to tell either that you hold them in such esteem.”
Lady Henrietta’s lips clamped satisfyingly shut.
Jane stood elegantly. “Come, Amelia, Elizabeth. We shall wait for Lady Carlisle in the hall.”
Elizabeth turned to Miss Darcy, intending to repeat her offer to join them for tea so that the girl would know that nothing had changed. But she was not there. Miss Darcy was not in the room at all, though clearly her cousin had not noticed her leave, either.
She hurried into the hall and glanced both ways. Someone cleared their throat, and she looked up.
Laramie inclined his head in the direction of the front doors. Amelia was his charge, and so he would not be able to follow Miss Darcy to ensure she was well. Elizabeth would have to do it.
“Thank you,” she said as she nearly ran in that direction.
