Page 51 of Her Whole Heart
“I know you will do well, dearest,” he told her warmly, placing her hand on his arm and moving them both forward. “But please attempt to simply enjoy yourself. I trust that you will find no prying eyes or capricious tongues here, only loyalty and friendship.” As he said the words, he realised that with Miss Elizabeth and her sister present, he actually believed them.
Some of the tension bled away from her posture, and before she could voice any further doubts, the door swung open and a group of five women stepped out, Miss Elizabeth Bennet among them. Garbed in a warm morning dress embroidered in wine-coloured thread and cut to enhance her figure, she fairly glowed with welcome as her eyes alit first upon Darcy and then shifted to his sister.
“Georgiana,” she exclaimed in gently modulated tones, “you are the just the bit of sunshine we have been awaiting. Will you come inside? We areplanning to begin in the music room. Jane plays the harp, Diana, Amelia, and I play the pianoforte, though Diana managed to find a copy of theMéthode complète pour guitare ou lyrerecently and has also begun to use it to learn how to play the guitar—and Cordelia plays both a cello and the violin!”
“Truly?” Georgiana asked, any trepidation washed away.
“Oh yes,” Miss Elizabeth replied with an impish smile. “Mr. Darcy, it is lovely to receive you amidst our circle once more, howevertransientthe reunion may be.” She eyed the carriage and then lifted a brow at him. He nearly laughed aloud at her, taking charge of his sister and shooing him away.
Wryly, he replied, “You are too generous, as always, Miss Elizabeth.” He doubted that his cool delivery would disguise his friendly regard. This was the woman he had insulted—what an arse he had been. Most women—most men, come to that—would have held a grudge a great deal longer and exacted a terrible fee for his behaviour. But she had as much as explained that he was not important enough to her for his words to sting for long. And now, though she was friendly towards him, she was more interested in greeting his sister than she was in him.
Wise woman. Georgiana was in every way the better Darcy, and Miss Elizabeth would profit from knowing her. And he knew that the reverse was also true.
“When should I call back for my sister?”
“Oh, not for hours yet, Mr. Darcy. We plan to spend the entire day together.”
Georgiana appeared a little faint at the idea, but before Darcy could make an alternative suggestion, Miss Elizabeth took Georgiana’s hand. “There will be a quiet room for you if you wish to step away for a bit.”
“Will no one be offended?”
“Not at all. I mentioned to everyone that there would be such a room as even my sister Jane requires restorative time every so often.”
Darcy felt a surge of pride as Georgiana raised her chin and squared her shoulders, appearing, for the first time in his memory, trulypoised.It made her look older than her fifteen years and was a glimpse into her future and his. It could all have gone so terribly, unalterably wrong, and now, a bit more than a week later, he had hope that she would truly find her footing. With a final, fleeting look to him for reassurance, she accepted Miss Elizabeth’s proffered hand and permitted herself to be drawn into the group of waiting women. The ladies passed over the threshold and the door clicked shut behind them, leaving Darcy rooted to the spot for a moment, his thoughts working over the scene that had played out before him—Miss Elizabeth’s unspoken promise to care for his sister’s particular needs while coaxing her into strength and vibrancy.
He returned to the carriage and climbed inside. Fitz startled awake from the corner where he had been snoozing.
“Georgiana is in good company here,” Darcy said. “Miss Elizabeth will see to her.” He kept the image of his sister gaining her courage to himself for now. Fitz would only laugh at his imagination, and he was unsure he could explain it in any case. But he knew he could trust Georgiana here. And that was no small thing.
“Excellent. Our day will not be as pleasant, I fear.”
“This conversation has been brewing for a very long time. It is best to have it rather than allowing it to continue to fester.”
“As much as she has angered me, my sister is not an infection, Darcy.”
Darcy said nothing, and Fitz crossed his arms over his chest. “Have it your way.”
He took Fitz at his word and remained silent. His cousin expressed anger in a volatile way that threatened to ignite, but then burned out, whileDarcy’s ire was a slow-burning fire fuelled with coal rather than wood. It did not burst into flame, it did not erupt—it glowed, white-hot and long-lasting.
As the gates closed behind the carriage, a subtle widening of Fitz’s nostrils was the only outward sign of his resentment and distress. He clasped his hands together and rested his forearms on his thighs as he leaned forward. “I could wring her neck,” he murmured. “But I am her brother. I am allowed.”
“Were it not for Lady Carlisle’s intervention, the gossip would be unbearable, particularly for Georgiana. But even Lady Carlisle’s reach has its limits. Your sister cannot be permitted to spread her poison any further.”
“I believe we are all aware of that, Darcy.”
They did not speak again until they reached Matlock House. Milton spied them in the hall and came to join them. “Shall we beard the lion in his den?”
The earl was standing by the window in an attitude Darcy recognised, for he adopted it himself more than he cared to admit. His uncle was looking out over the street, his hands clasped behind his back. “You are here to speak about Henrietta, boys?”
“It is time, is it not?” Milton inquired drily.
Darcy certainly agreed. “Loath though we may be to confront it, Lady Henrietta’s conduct was unconscionable. She was both calculated and malicious in her behaviour towards Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth. She was more interested in hurting them than in Georgiana’s welfare.”
The earl pinched the bridge of his nose. “There was talk at the club. Lord Carlisle himself pulled me aside to discuss what the Carlisles intend to do. He mentioned you were already aware, Darcy.”
“Aware and participating, Uncle. Georgiana is visiting with the ladies at Carlisle House even now.”
The older man nodded. “Good, good.”
