Page 7 of The Blackmail of Mr. Darcy
Of course, Elizabeth gave no hint of her irritation while giving a report on Jane’s health. She sat near Georgiana and graciously accepted a cup of tea. Just a minute later, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Hurst entered the room.
“Miss Elizabeth!” Mr. Bingley said with his usual happy smile, “I am so glad to see you downstairs. I hope that means that your sister is doing well.”
She reported what Mr. Jones had said and that Jane was ready to sleep after she finished her fever-reducing tea. Mr. Bingley seemed encouraged and reminded her to let him know if he or his sisters could do anything more to bring relief.
Miss Bingley stood and said, “Dear Georgiana, it is time to exhibit your mastery, your very decided talent, on our instrument. I have been so looking forward to your performance.”
Georgiana looked at Elizabeth, and she appeared quite panicky. Elizabeth shot a look at Mr. Darcy, hoping he saw his sister’s face, but he was looking down at nothing at all that she could see. Then she glanced at Mr. Bingley—surely he, with all his friendly concern, would notice his guest’s discomfort. But he was just smiling at the room in general, saying things about how jolly it is to have accomplished ladies playing music in one’s own home.
Poor Georgiana looked the opposite of jolly, and Elizabeth stood up, “Miss Darcy, would you mind if I went first?”
It was terribly rude, and everyone stared at Elizabeth, but Georgiana looked as if she was her saviour, so Elizabethdecided she could stand the others’ probable disapproval. “Oh, yes, Elizabeth!” Georgiana said in quite fervent tones. “I mean, please do play for us. I do not mind at all!”
Elizabeth glanced at the sheet music on the piano, and, as she suspected, it was much more complex and difficult than anything she had ever attempted. She chose to play something she knew by heart, instead. She felt that she acquitted herself well, and the accolades she received were exactly what she expected: enthusiastic praise from Mr. Bingley, a polite compliment from Mr. Darcy, snores from Mr. Hurst, nothing at all from Mr. Bingley’s supercilious sisters, and vehement applause from Georgiana.
Elizabeth rose from the piano bench, certain that her rudeness had only delayed the misery Georgiana expected, and indeed, Miss Bingley grabbed the young girl’s elbow and walked her over to the pianoforte rather forcefully. Mr. Darcy’s eyes widened, but instead of doing something himself, he looked straight at Elizabeth. His eyes seemed to be attempting to express something, but Elizabeth had no idea what he was trying to say, or ask.
With two Darcys looking at her as if she should act, as if she could help, Elizabeth almost laughed. Why was Mr. Darcy so incapable of being rude to Miss Bingley, in defence of his sister, when he had seemed, not so long ago, perfectly capable of being rude to her for no reason at all?
Chapter 4
Darcy
Fitzwilliam Darcy was furious with Miss Bingley. And with himself, too.
He wanted to protect Georgiana, of course. That was his first priority, always.
But there was protecting her reputation, generally, amongst theton, and the family, and wider society, and then there was protecting her right this minute as she felt overwhelmed by Miss Bingley’s unwanted, fawning attention—and as she was overcome by her own shyness.
If Miss Bingley were a man, a man grabbing his sister’s arm and practically dragging her across the room, Darcy would rush to his sister’s side and demand that she be released and no further importuned. Everyone in the room would be supportive of him for acting thus, as Georgiana’s brother and guardian. And if Miss Bingley were a man, it was very likely that such an action would be effective, given Darcy’s height, strength, and consequence. Although Darcy had never challenged anyone to a duel, and he intended to never do so, most gentlemen knew of his unbroken string of fencing victories at Angelo’s, and of his reputation as an excellent marksman on a hunt—and they would back down in actual fear for their lives.
But…Miss Bingley was a woman, and she was the sister of his host and longtime friend. Darcy felt frozen, shocked that polite drawing-room manners were being bent into such bullying actions. He wondered again what power Miss Bingley thought she wielded over him. And he pondered what on earth he could possibly do or say to counter her actions, to ensure his sister’s long-term reputation as well as her short-term comfort.
Darcy shot a look at Elizabeth, and he felt a sort of jolt as she seemed to understand that he needed someone—her, really—to do something.
And…Miss Elizabeth did it! She spoke up, and offered his sister a way out of having to perform solo. Somehow, she managed the situation so that Georgiana was with her, instead of Miss Bingley, so that his sister was giggling instead of frightened.
He felt himself falling further in debt to the lovely Elizabeth.
And further into the feeling that it was hard to do anything at all other than think about this woman. He found her so very distracting, so very attractive, so very…everything.
Chapter 5
Elizabeth
Elizabeth was uncertain exactly what Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy were silently asking of her, but their eyes did seem to express some sort of entreaty. Elizabeth thought fast. She then turned to Georgiana and asked, “Are you ready for our duet?”
Georgiana’s eyes seemed to be protesting,We have no duet prepared!but her mouth said, “Yes.”
The single word was barely voiced, but Miss Bingley obviously heard it and looked as shocked and affronted as anyone could. “Georgiana, dear, you have practiced a duet withMiss Eliza? Even though each of you has been here such a short time?”
“Yes,” Georgiana squeaked again.
Elizabeth sat down on the piano bench and moved to one side to allow the younger girl to sit at the centre of the piano. She leant over and whispered in Georgiana’s ear, “We will just play the major scales, starting with C, and then we will play the minor scales.”
Georgiana’s wide eyes seemed blank, but Elizabeth hoped for the best and turned to her audience, “We have practiced thisincessantly, quite separate from one another, for the most part. I hope you like it.”
Georgiana giggled. Elizabeth sent her a sideways smile and whispered a starting count.
