Page 109 of A Most Beloved Sister
As Darcy helped his sister from the carriage, Elizabeth flew down the stairs to greet them. Mindful of the servants and aware that she and Darcy were merely friendly acquaintances, she gave him her hand, which he bowed over. She then turned to Georgiana, who gave a shy curtsy.
Elizabeth returned it, then laughed. “Now that we’ve satisfied decorum…” She drew the younger girl into a warm embrace that was timidly returned.
The three arrivals were then ushered inside, where a very pregnant Louisa greeted them. It had been decided in advance to not have Miss Darcy meet all the inhabitants of Netherfield at once, so as to not overwhelm her in the first moments of her arrival.
Upon spying her hostess, Georgiana cowered behind Elizabeth’s small frame, but due to the young girl’s height, the effort did nothing to obscure her face.
Louisa, to her credit, didn’t even blink as she met Georgiana’s eyes during introductions. “I am so glad to meet you at last, my dear Miss Darcy. What a refreshing change a young person like you will bring to our home! I look forward to endless hours of discussing music and the latest fashions with you.”
“Mrs. Hurst hasmuchmore patience for lace and ribbons than I,” Elizabeth whispered loudly to Georgiana, who smiled. “I daresay you will enjoy her company more than mine, and I just may lose status as best of friends to both of you.”
She gave a great sniff and wiped away an imaginary tear, and Georgiana became somewhat distressed. When Elizabeth followed her dramatics with a wink and a grin, Georgiana’s alarm melted away into giggles.
“You will have to learn that Elizabeth is quite the tease,” Louisa said, casually taking Georgiana’s arm and leading everyone towards the stairs to take them to their rooms. “It took me quite some getting used to, but now I have learned to not believe everything she says.”
“Come now!” Elizabeth cried, laughing heartily at this picture of herself. “You will teach my new friend not to believe a word I say! It is quite ungenerous of you.”
The merriment of the group continued throughout the day, putting Georgiana at so much ease that she barely felt any awkwardness or insecurity when she was introduced to Bingley and Mr. Hurst.
The only time she felt the slightest bit of discomfort was when she met Jane for the first time. She’d heard much of Mrs. Bingley’s beauty, and she was terrified at her scarred face being on display.
“It will be all right,” Elizabeth said. “Jane’s heart is as lovely as her face.”
Gripping her friend’s hand tightly, Georgiana stepped quietly into the dimly lit room with Elizabeth, her heart heavy with anticipation and a touch of nervousness. The room was hushed, the only sound the soft rustle of fabric as Georgiana approached the bed where Jane lay, pale and fragile beneath the covers. Her gaze softened as she took in the sight of the woman before her, so gentle and serene despite her obvious frailty.
“Jane, this is Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth said. “Georgiana, may I present Mrs. Bingley?”
Jane’s eyes, clear and bright despite her weakened state, turned towards Georgiana, a gentle smile gracing her lips. “Miss Darcy,” she said softly, her voice as sweet as a summer breeze. “How kind of you to come.”
Georgiana felt a swell of gratitude at Jane’s warm welcome, her nerves dissipating in the face of the other woman’s gentle demeanor. “It is vy vleasure to vake your acquaintance, Vrs. Vingley.”
“Please, sit down. And you must call me Jane, as Lizzy does! We are to be friends, after all.”
Georgiana nodded, returning the invitation, and Elizabeth beamed as the two women she loved best settled into conversation. The room seemed to brighten, filling with warmth of shared laughter and easy camaraderie.
Only once did things get awkward, when Jane innocently asked, “Are your scars very painful?”
Elizabeth froze, praying silently that Georgiana would not take offense. Thankfully, the young woman was able to answer with aplomb. “Not as much as when the surgery first happened. They itch and tighten, but Dr. Carson has given me a cream to use that can help.”
Bringing Georgiana’s wounds into the light of open conversation lifted a burden from the girl’s shoulders that she hadn’t known was there, and in that moment, Georgiana knew that she had found not only a friend, but a kindred soul whose presence would forever enrich her life.
∞∞∞
Thus the middle weeks of March quickly became the happiest that Georgiana had ever experienced. She was introduced to Kitty Bennet and George Wickham—who shared a few stories about Georgiana’s dear mother—as well as Charlotte and Maria Lucas.
Kitty was at first taken aback, both by Georgiana’s appearance and how openly it was discussed at Netherfield. She quickly regained her composure, however, and she was soon so accustomed to the situation that she hardly noticed its unconventionality.
Their welcoming arms gave her the courage to attend services her second Sunday, and she was amazed and delighted to discover that no one child went screaming from the building at the sight of her face. Nor did Dr. Fields condemn her from the pulpit and order her from the holy building.
The only negative reaction came from Lydia, who, upon first seeing Georgiana at church, declared loudly, “La, if my face looked like that, I daresay I’d never go in public again!”
Mr. Bennet, who happened to overhear the comment, immediately ordered the girl to the carriage. He then personally apologized to both Georgiana and Darcy for his youngest daughter’s impertinent remarks, and he was quickly forgiven.
∞∞∞
“I think, Vrother, that I could live in Hertvordshire all vy life,” Georgiana said to Darcy one evening. “The feefle are uncovvonly kind.”
“You may find this extremely difficult to believe,” he said, “but many of the residents of Derbyshire and Lambton are of the same ilk. One or two residents even have similar marks as yours, and yet not a one has ever been treated as anything different.”
