Page 83 of Her Whole Heart
“They were delivered yesterday,” Amelia said. “I think it is the most beautiful gown I have ever owned.” She held out her hand to Georgiana. “Come with me.”
“I will wait to see your gowns when you wear them,” Diana said kindly. “But as Georgiana will not be allowed to attend, I think it is only fair to show her now.”
“Yes,” Cordelia said, her expression speaking of a mischief Elizabeth did not understand. “Do.” She stood to place her cello in its case. “I must hurry away, however, for my father needs me to accompany him to a friend’s home where he will attempt to convince the man to sell him one of his hawks. I am to make polite conversation with his wife while he accomplishes his negotiations, but Mrs. MacIntosh is a good conversationalist, so I shall not spend the time dully.” She smiled knowingly at Georgiana, who blushed, and then made her farewells. A footman came into the room and hoisted the cello case in his arms.
They all walked to the front of the house to see their friends off, and then Amelia led Georgiana upstairs.
“Ohhh,” Georgiana breathed when Amelia brought out an ivory silk gown. The sleeves were short and ever so slightly puffed, the high waistline embroidered in an intricate pattern of light blues and greens that mimicked an embroidered ribbon that was repeated at the hem of the skirt.
Amelia very carefully put her gown away. “Sally would murder me in my sleep if I ruined it,” she said. “Now Jane!”
They moved to Jane’s dressing room, where she removed a very pale blue silk gown that shimmered like a pearl. There was similar embroidery on her gown in ivory and a light green. The sleeves were short, like Amelia’s, but not puffed at all. It was a sleek and sophisticated gown, which was just how Elizabeth saw her sister. Georgiana clapped her hands together and exclaimed in delight.
“Now yours, Lizzy.” Georgiana was already imagining the day she would be ordering new gowns for balls—Elizabeth could tell by the dreamy look in her young friend’s eyes. Well, let her dream. It would do her no harm.
They crossed the sitting room that she and Jane shared and ventured into her dressing room. “Lady Carlisle thought all the gowns ought to complement one another as well as being pretty in their own right,” she said. “So our embroidery colours are the same. Amelia has the ivory, Jane the blue, and I have green.” She withdrew the gown from her wardrobe, being very gentle indeed. “Lady Carlisle actually had preserved the silk from a gown she wore some years past, when her first daughter had her coming-out. She worried it might be too old, but I loved it. I suspect she knew I would.” They had built the other gowns around the pale spring green of this fabric. Elizabeth traced the ivory, green, and light blue embroidery along the waist. It was repeated at the hem of the skirt and the slightly longer sleeves. She adored it.
“It is stunning, Lizzy. Hold it up to you for a moment.”
Elizabeth complied, and Georgiana studied it.
“Your eyes seem greener somehow.”
She nodded. “I know my eyes appear brown, but they are actually hazel.”
“It is perfect,” Georgiana said with a sigh. “You will all be so beautiful.”
“A gown does not determine that,” Jane said firmly.
“Of course not,” Georgiana agreed. “But it does not hurt, either.”
They all laughed softly. “My brother will come to collect me soon,” Georgiana said reluctantly. “I really ought to be downstairs when he arrives.”
“Very well,” Elizabeth said. “Let us go.”
Amelia snorted. “I do not believe Mr. Darcy will mind a jot if I am not with you.”
“Amelia and I must discuss shoe roses for the ball in any case,” Jane added.
“Shoe roses?” Elizabeth inquired. She shook her head at her sister. “You really are the most dreadful liar, Jane. Do not ever attempt a life of crime.”
“Lizzy,” Jane said, colouring. “We are attempting to be thoughtful. Mr. Darcy is calling on you, and we are providing you a few moments to speak with him. Go on, now.”
“Shall we, then?” Elizabeth asked, offering Georgiana her arm.
Georgiana nodded and linked her arm with Elizabeth’s. “We shall.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Darcy arrived at Carlisle House, his heart fluttering with anticipation at the prospect of seeing Elizabeth again. He had planned to escort Georgiana here earlier, but there had been a sudden bit of business to complete, and Fitz had stepped in to do the job. As he stepped down from the carriage, he was greeted by the sight of his sister and Elizabeth emerging from the house, arm in arm.
It made him deeply happy to see them so attached. As they drew closer, Georgiana unlinked her arm from Elizabeth’s, said a quick “Good day, Brother,” and disappeared into the carriage. She had not even waited for him to hand her in, accepting the assistance of a footman instead. He looked over his shoulder at where she had gone before turning back to Miss Elizabeth.
She smiled a little. “She seems to have the idea that you would like to speak to me.”
“She is correct, though I did not expect her to leave our company quite so precipitously. Did you happen to receive a note from Lady Henrietta?”
Miss Elizabeth nodded. “Jane and I were both mentioned. It was a good letter.”
