Page 64 of Her Whole Heart
“He is, he is—and so very fond of our young friend here,” Mrs. Hurst simpered.
Georgiana’s mouth twisted into a frown. “I am afraid you are mistaken, Mrs. Hurst,” she said. “I am very rarely in company with your brother, and only when he is visiting my brother. And, as you know, Mr. Bingley is courting Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth’s sister.”
Elizabeth was torn. She now wished that this new, more confident Georgiana had not relayed that information but left it to Mr. Bingley to inform his sisters. She was becoming a good deal like Amelia. Ah well.
“I do not believe there is anything so formal as of yet,” she warned Georgiana quietly.
“I beg your pardon,” Georgiana said, truly chagrined, but fortunately not crushed by the correction. “Do you think Jane will mind my having said?”
“It is nothing but the truth, Georgiana,” Elizabeth murmured.
“Iassureyou that there is nothing formal,” Miss Bingley said, bristling at the informal address, her eyes darting between Georgiana and Elizabeth. “Our brother would have asked for our blessing if such was the case.”
“Of course,” Elizabeth remarked drily. “Most brothers do request the blessing of their sisters when determining who they will wed.”
The Bingley sisters shared a glance.
“It was wonderful to see you again, Georgiana,” Miss Bingley said, lightly touching Georgiana’s forearm with her fingers before turning away with her sister.
“I fear this is not good news for Jane,” Georgiana said ruefully.
“Jane can hold her own,” Elizabeth replied, watching the women as they bustled off in search of their brother. “What is truly at issue is whether Mr. Bingley can do the same.”
Chapter Twenty
Darcy was weary of social engagements. He understood how important it was to his sister’s reputation and Miss Elizabeth's, and so he had done everything he had been asked. But more than a month after the near accident, things had calmed somewhat. Georgiana was working with both her music and Italian masters, and so he felt able to visit at Matlock House to speak with Fitz about his sister’s vastly improved state of mind and the possibility of winding down the parts of their designed show of unity that required the most effort.
He was peering at a sculpture he had not seen before and awaiting Fitz’s arrival for breakfast when two ladies descended the staircase. Lady Penelope had either visited exceedingly early or had remained overnight, something Darcy knew happened often when both women were in town.
Lady Penelope smiled at him. “Good morning, Mr. Darcy.”
He bowed. “Lady Penelope, Lady Henrietta. I hope you are both well.” Darcy did not wish them well. He wished them both dyspepsia so they could not join him for breakfast. It was unkind of him, but he was not feeling at all gentlemanly towards the two.
Lady Henrietta merely nodded, but her friend was not as tentative.
“I am, Mr. Darcy,” Lady Penelope said cheerfully. “I have been in Bath with my parents, but they wished to spend the spring in town.”
Darcy groaned silently. The last thing they all needed was the presence of Lady Penelope encouraging Lady Henrietta to more poor behaviour.
“Do you see, Hen?” Lady Penelope said quietly. “He is not angry.”
Lady Henrietta must knowthatwas not true, for she glanced away, clearly uncomfortable.
“Henrietta tells me that you and your cousins have spent a great deal of time and effort repairing Miss Elizabeth’s reputation,” Lady Penelope continued.
“There is nothing to repair, as you put it,” Darcy replied directly. “Miss Elizabeth is a perfectly proper young woman.”
“Oh, I do not doubt that it is advantageous for you to have her viewed as such, Mr. Darcy. I would not have you unfairly tied to her, and I am certainly not one to cause any problems.”
He might have laughed scornfully at her, but discretion seemed the wiser course. There would be no avoiding this conversation in any case, and it might be useful to know what the woman intended. So Darcy listened.
Lady Penelope smiled at his cousin and said, confidently, “You see, Mr. Darcy, Miss Elizabeth Bennet has a talent for inserting herself into events to make herself appear worthy, but it is all quite calculated.”
She glanced at Lady Henrietta, who added, “Miss Elizabethhasalways been skilled at drawing attention to herself.”
“Has she?” Darcy inquired, perhaps a bit too sharply. “How?”
Lady Penelope waved one hand carelessly as though she was brushing away an insect. “When we were at school together, she was forever making up to the teachers and even the masters. She refused to sit lower at table than girls who came from more prestigious families. She helped theservants to shirk their duties.” She paused to ascertain that she had his attention. “And she was not in her room the night of the fire.”
