Page 81 of Her Whole Heart
It was the best Darcy could hope for, really. Though delivered with her characteristic hauteur, Lady Henrietta’s apology did not sound in the least rehearsed. It sounded sincere.
Georgiana was always ready to hear a compliment to her friend. “Yes, Elizabeth is wonderful, is she not?”
The two women regarded each other for a moment before Georgiana extended her hand in a gesture of forgiveness and reconciliation. “I hope we can be friends too. Why do not you join me when I travel to Carlisle House tomorrow?”
“Georgie,” Darcy said warningly, “you cannot invite guests to a home where you are a guest yourself.”
“It is all right,” Lady Henrietta said. “I do not think either Miss Elizabeth or I are ready for that step just yet.”
Darcy waited to make certain that the ladies were finished speaking before he entered into the conversation himself. “Lady Henrietta,” he said sternly, “I thank you for coming here today and offering your apology to Georgiana. I will admit I had expected you sooner, but it takes courage to acknowledge one’s mistakes, and I appreciate your willingness to do so. I know what it is to owe an apology, and it is not easy to deliver one.” He paused to gather his thoughts. He knew what it was to owe an apologyandto be late in fulfilling that obligation. He reminded himself that Georgiana had been the one to leave the house, though she knew it was unsafe. His next words were said seriously, but without anger. “However, I must also express my deep concern over the events that transpired at Miss Amberley’s home. My sister’s well-being is of the utmost importance to me, and I cannot abide having her placed in situations that cause her distress or put her in harm’s way.”
“I do understand, Cousin. I assure you that if Georgiana is allowed in my company again, I will be more mindful.”
He could not think of ever leaving Georgiana in Lady Henrietta’s company now—not alone, in any case. Trust was difficult to earn and easy to lose. “I must also say that you did not apologise for the vitriol aimed at Miss Elizabeth and Miss Bennet.”
“I have written them a letter.”
“Very well. We shall leave it there, then.”
Lady Henrietta glanced at her watch. “I should be going now, as I have an engagement with my father, and I do not wish to be late. But I wish to thank you again for your forgiveness, Georgiana. I hope to be a better friend and ally to you in future.”
“That would be nice,” Georgiana said softly.
Lady Henrietta curtsied, turned, and made her way out of the room. Darcy watched her go, a sense of satisfaction settling over him. His uncle had worked wonders with his daughter in a very short time.
He stood there with his sister for a moment until he felt her hand slip into his and give it a quick squeeze. “I am so fortunate to have you as my brother, Fitzwilliam.”
“I do not know about that, but you are stuck with me in any case, so you may as well like me.”
She laughed. “I am so glad you are calling on Lizzy. She has an excellent influence on your sense of humour. You were so severe before.”
“I was not,” he insisted.
Georgiana lifted her eyebrows, scepticism writ clearly across her features.
“You may appreciate Miss Elizabeth’s influence on me,” he said in mock affront, “but I am not at all certain I like her influence on you. Where is my meek sister?”
“Gone forever, I hope,” she said emphatically.
Darcy kissed her cheek. “You say you are visiting the ladies tomorrow?”
“I am,” his sister said and then tipped her head to one side as she studied his expression. “Would you like to join me?”
“Maybe,” he said, pretending that it had not been his design from the start.
Georgiana laughed. “I have ordered the carriage at one.”
The servants hurried past the music room at Carlisle House as a stream of discordant notes travelled out into the hall. The ladies were gathered to practise Georgiana’s composition for the first time. Elizabeth stood with her flute and peered at the notes on her piece of the composition, fearing that her friend had vastly overestimated her proficiency with the instrument while Jane, seated at the harp, gracefully plucked the strings, her long, delicate fingers already creating a soothing melody.
“In for a penny,” Elizabeth whispered to herself and began to play. Her timing was perfect, but every now and then her fingering was wrong, or she could not adjust the instrument quickly enough to produce the correct sound.
Then Jane plucked the wrong string.
Cordelia, her cello resting against her shoulder, attempted to bring some order to the chaos, but the deep, rich notes only added to the disarray of the high, discordant ones. And Diana, strumming her guitar, struggled to keep up with the tempo, which flagged and sped along without much direction.
Georgiana sat at the pianoforte with Amelia, but she did not play. Instead, she pressed her lips together. “I wonder . . .” she said softly.
“Yes, please help us!” Elizabeth cried, and they all laughed, though Georgiana’s cheeks pinked.
