Page 105 of The Governess of My Heart
“I cannot express how happy I am to see you,” Georgiana exclaimed with tears in her eyes. Elizabeth felt extremely emotional as Georgiana reminded her of Mary, and she could not control her tears. “How have you been?”
“As well as I wrote to you a week ago,” Elizabeth said, and Georgiana laughed.
“I wish to know about you.”
“I have been wretched without your company. Mr. Anderson often mocks me for being a different person without the company of my best friend.”
Elizabeth was eager to know about Darcy.
“Well, I have returned, and we can spend time together. Is Mr. Dar… I mean, your brother returning soon?”
“As I mentioned in my letters, he has no plans of returning soon, and honestly, I don’t know what is distressing him. Hisletters prove that he is unhappy, and Richard says the same. He is assisting his friend with his new estate.”
Georgiana saved Elizabeth from agony by not mentioning Hertfordshire.
“Will you be joining him in town?”
“No, not at all. He did not mention anything about that either, but I am glad you are back.”
Elizabeth felt uncomfortable keeping Georgiana to herself, and they joined the rest in the parlor.
“There you are, Miss Darcy. Would you like me to accompany me to the village? We plan to go after dinner,” Miss Anderson asked.
“I apologize, but I must return to Pemberley. Mrs. Reynolds wants me to spend time with her looking over the preparations for the ball.”
“Oh! I see. Is there any chance of Mr. Darcy arriving before that?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You must press him. Please do mention that we are here; it may coax him to come,” she said, smiling.
To Elizabeth, it was clear that Miss. Anderson fancied him. She felt a pang of jealousy and ridiculed her feelings.
She had no right over him, and she never could. Georgiana suggested a walk in the gardens; Miss Anderson and her mother accompanied them. Both mother and daughter ignored Elizabeth and conversed only with Georgiana. All the conversations were directed around Darcy. Lady Anderson slyly asked whether Darcy was courting someone in town, and Elizabeth could sense Georgiana’s discomfort. She understood they had been acquainted for many years, yet Georgiana felt uncomfortable in their company. She wanted to see the children before she left, so Elizabeth took her upstairs and found them sound asleep.
“Well, they will certainly ask for you once they are awake.”
“That is all right. I will call again tomorrow; let us not disturb them. Do you have a few minutes to talk?” Georgiana asked.
“Yes.”
Elizabeth took Georgiana to her room.
“I am so sorry; I should not have suggested the walk. Both Lady Anderson and her daughter ignored you. I did not know what to do,” Georgiana said with feeling.
“Do not apologize for something as trivial as this. They have known you for many years, and we just met. Miss Darcy, I do not expect everyone to treat me as you do. Please do not think ill of people who do not prefer my company.”
“You are too kind. I felt uncomfortable, and Miss Anderson always mentions my brother. I feel so stupid when people use me to get his attention.”
“I understand.”
“I wish he would be back soon. Now that you are here, I am happy. But without Fitzwilliam, Pemberley seems so lonely.”
“I am certain he will return soon,” Elizabeth said, guilty for the misery she had caused both siblings.
The day passed swiftly, and Elizabeth only met the other household members during meals. She received a lot of hostility from Lady Anderson and her daughter, but it did not bother her. As for Lord Anderson, she felt a strange sense of uneasiness around him. From his conversations, he found him to be well-learned and intelligent. But he seemed restrained, and she only saw him smile when he met the children.
Maybe he reminds me of Mr. Darcy.
