Page 98 of Companions of Their Youth
“Children tend to flourish when they know someone else is at the helm.” Mr. Bennet added. “They need structure and rules, something against which to chafe.”
“She may flourish into a cactus,” Darcy muttered, studying the board.
Elizabeth laughed, genuinely this time. “That may be, but even cacti bloom—when watered with consistency and sunlight.”
“Perhaps,” he said, and then looked up at her. “I am grateful for your help. Both of you.”
Mr. Bennet merely grunted. “You may express your gratitude with your next move—preferably a foolish one.”
The game resumed, and Elizabeth watched her father’s knight cut a clean path across the board and land triumphantly at Mr. Darcy’s king.
With a satisfied exhale, Mr. Bennet leaned back, fingers steepled beneath his chin. “Checkmate, I believe.”
Darcy stared down at the board, frowning with something between frustration and admiration. “Indeed. I am rather out of practice,” he said at last.
“And I rather never lose,” her father replied with a smirk. “But I commend the effort. You kept me on my toes.”
Darcy glanced toward Elizabeth, catching her smile and softening under it. “Then I have no regrets.”
It was at that moment that raised voices echoed faintly from the stairwell—Mrs. Hill’s firm insistence, followed by a high, furious tone that could only belong to one person. A door flung open above, and heavy footsteps raced down.
Georgiana burst into the room, cheeks flushed with exertion and eyes blazing. “You are here?” she cried, staring at her brother and Colonel Fitzwilliam. “Why did no one tell me my brother and cousin had arrived?”
The entire room went still.
Mr. Bennet cleared his throat, rising from his seat. “Because you are not yet out, Miss Darcy, and thus not expected in company.”
Georgiana’s head snapped toward Lydia, who sat composedly on the settee beside Kitty. “And yet she is here! She is younger than I am!”
“Lydia finished her lessons early today and was therefore present when your brother and cousin, along with Mr. Bingley, escorted us home from Longbourn. She has also learned to behave herself in company. Haveyoufinished your work for the day?
Georgiana's mouth opened, but no sound emerged.
“I thought not,” Elizabeth said. “Then you may return to the schoolroom.”
Georgiana turned away from her and fixed her glare on the men. “You will not let them treat me this way,” she said, her voice rising. “You cannot allow me to be degraded in such a household. I am the granddaughter of an earl! These people are—are no one!”
Everyone froze. Mrs. Bennet, her mouth twitching between affront and mortification, turned bright red but said nothing. Jane looked down at her hands. Kitty fidgeted with her sleeve.
But Lydia stood up.
She folded her arms and met Georgiana’s furious gaze without blinking. “Better to be no one than to be someone who acts like a spoiled brat. At least we do not throw tantrums and insults when we do not get our way. You have the manners of a fishmonger’s wife.”
“You little—!”
With a guttural cry, Georgiana snatched a porcelain vase from the side table and hurled it across the room.
Everything happened in an instant. Elizabeth lunged forward, shoving Lydia down and shielding her body as the vase struck her shoulder and shattered, shards scattering across the floor. A sharp sting flared across her arm.
Gasps broke out. The colonel shot to his feet. Mr. Bennet strode forward, face thunderous.
Elizabeth winced but waved off Jane’s cry of concern. “I am all right,” she murmured, touching her sleeve and coming away with a thin line of blood.
Georgiana, panting, looked not triumphant, but stunned.
Mr. Bennet turned to her, his voice like ice. “Go upstairs. At once. We will speak when you are calm—and not before.”
Georgiana looked between the angry faces, then fled the room with a sob, her steps echoing down the hall and up the stairs.
