Mr. Darcy's Little Sister (12 page)

“I never thought of it that way,” Georgiana said slowly, remembering her attempts to keep her equanimity over the past month.

“The other thing that you must realise,” Elizabeth added,” is that you have the felicity to be able to choose your marriage partner without having to worry about fortune causing difficulties. When you are in society you will often have the superior status, so you need not be embarrassed or worried about what others will think of you; they will be more concerned with gaining your favour than in criticising your behaviour.” She gave Georgiana a sidelong glance. “Anyway, those who are your superior in rank will also want your favour because of your dowry and impeccable family background.”

“I know that,” Georgiana said, hanging her head, “I sometimes feel like a prize heifer at auction…”

Elizabeth gave a rueful laugh. “Sometimes the interactions between single men and women
are
not much different from a livestock sale, Georgiana. Just be sure
you
are the one making the purchase, dear girl.”

They embraced and then went to their rooms to change for dinner, each meditating upon the conversation.

And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,

And all the daughters of the year shall dance!

—William Blake,
Poetical Sketches,
“To Autumn”

The Bingleys and the Bennets arrived the next afternoon. The footman announced the appearance of the carriage to the ladies as they sat in the music room, Georgiana playing the harp while Elizabeth listened and fitfully worked on her needlepoint. They went downstairs and met Darcy and the colonel in the hall as they came from the library. Georgiana had hesitantly agreed to Elizabeth’s suggestion that morning that she introduce the colonel to everyone, but, in spite of their practise, her hands were shaking and her palms damp.

Miss Bingley entered first and greeted them, her face wreathed in smiles.

“Mrs. Darcy, Mr. Darcy,” she said effusively to Elizabeth and Darcy as she curtseyed. Then she embraced Georgiana fervently and exclaimed, “And of course, my dear Georgiana! How wonderful it is to see you!”

“Welcome to Pemberley, Miss Bingley,” Georgiana replied with a stiff smile. “May I please introduce you to my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam?”

Miss Bingley’s eyes had already found the colonel, and she curtseyed gracefully. “I am very happy to meet any relation of the Darcys, Colonel. I was desolated that I did not have the chance to be introduced at my brother’s wedding.”

The colonel bowed and murmured, “
Enchanté
,
Mademoiselle.”

Georgiana looked sharply at him, but his face was a picture of unexceptional courtesy and Miss Bingley did not seem to notice the dryness in his tone. Jane and Bingley appeared and Elizabeth embraced and kissed them both.

“Welcome, my dear sister and brother. And of course you know Georgiana.” Jane embraced Georgiana and Bingley shook her hand cordially.

“Georgiana, it is so good to see you again,” Jane said to her and smiled her gentle and irresistible smile. Georgiana felt her stiff posture relax, and after a moment she recalled herself, saying smoothly, “Mr. and Mrs. Bingley, you are, of course, acquainted with my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

Jane offered the colonel her hand. “I am delighted to see you again, Colonel.”

Bingley shook the colonel’s hand and the two men fell into conversation.

Mr. Bennet and Kitty had come in behind the others. Mr. Bennet embraced Elizabeth tenderly before he greeted the others and then Kitty kissed Elizabeth on the cheek and shyly curtseyed to Darcy and the colonel. Georgiana was relieved when the colonel picked up the conversation and she could listen from the background.

After the visitors had changed out of their travel clothes and refreshed themselves upstairs, they all met in the drawing-room. Georgiana wanted to hide at the edge of the group, but she saw that Kitty was more than a little awed by her surroundings, so she exerted herself to go over to her new sister. After they had talked awkwardly for a few minutes about the drive to Derbyshire, Georgiana said, “Would you like to see my puppy? My brother and sister gave him to me for Christmas. Your Aunt and Uncle Gardiner kindly brought him…” She chattered on as they went upstairs and then brought Lucky down to the salon to meet everyone. Kitty was enraptured by the puppy and soon the two young women were at ease, playing with Lucky and talking without embarrassment to each other while the rest of the conversation ranged freely around the room.

“Darcy, I would like to discuss a couple of things about Netherfield with you when we have a chance,” Bingley said. “I would like to increase the bird population, but I do not want to take too much of the land out of production.”

“Perhaps we could sit down and talk about it tomorrow morning?”

“Splendid. I brought the maps so you can see more clearly what I am talking about, but you are already familiar with the Netherfield lands.”

Elizabeth was sitting with Jane and Mr. Bennet and catching up on all the news of Longbourn and Meryton. When they had covered everything in Hertfordshire, Elizabeth told her sister about the ball she and Georgiana had planned. Miss Bingley had managed to seat herself next to Colonel Fitzwilliam and appeared, to Georgiana at least, to be quite satisfied with her companion as she demanded his attention with as much determination as she ever had Mr. Darcy’s a year ago.

***

After dinner, when the gentlemen had rejoined them, Elizabeth, at the colonel’s request, played the pianoforte and sang and then she and Georgiana played a duet they had been practising for the occasion while their guests enjoyed their coffee and tea. Colonel Fitzwilliam sat next to Kitty during the performance, but Kitty looked down at her hands during most of their conversation, her cheeks pink.

After they had finished playing, as the guests circulated around the room, Elizabeth found herself standing next to the colonel, a little apart from the others.

“I have not had the chance to speak to you much since my arrival,” the colonel said quietly. “I wanted to thank you for all that you have done for Georgiana. I can see that she is already a little more comfortable in company, and Darcy tells me that you have taken her under your wing as a true sister. She is still very young, even for her age, and it is reassuring that she will have you to advise and guide her—it is very difficult for two old men like Darcy and me to care for the needs of a sixteen-year-old girl without a woman’s advice. Mrs. Annesley, of course, has been very good to her, but a sister just a little older than she will understand her far better than we can.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Colonel,” Elizabeth said in some embarrassment. “Georgiana is a sweet girl and I love her dearly already.”

“Well, I won’t mention it again, but I just wanted you to know that I appreciate your efforts,” the colonel murmured absently as he looked over at his ward, who was giggling with Kitty at some of Lucky’s antics.

***

The days passed quickly. The Friday of the ball soon arrived and the house was filled with the bustle of preparations. Elizabeth and Georgiana met with Mrs. Reynolds immediately after breakfast, but dealing with the many details of the ball took them most of the morning. When they were finished they returned to their guests and found that the younger gentlemen had gone for a ride, while Mr. Bennet was reading in the library. The ladies spent the rest of the morning talking and working on their needlework as it was too cold for a walk.

Georgiana had shown Kitty the conservatory earlier in the week, and they enjoyed playing with Lucky among the tropical foliage. He was already learning to fetch a rubber ball on command, although he was still clumsy and often tumbled head over heels trying to chase it, landing on his nose with a very surprised look on his face, to the amusement of the girls.

The morning of the ball, Georgiana asked casually, “Have you been to many balls, Kitty?”

“Oh, yes. When the militia were quartered in Meryton last winter there were several private balls. Mr. Bingley gave one at Netherfield Hall and the militia gave one as well. Most of the time, though, we had smaller dances, parties, and teas, as well as the balls at the Assembly Hall. It was really lovely having all of the officers available for dancing, although not all of them could dance well.” She giggled, remembering a couple of ensigns who had been hopeless, and then shrugged. “Then, in the summer they moved to Brighton and life in Meryton was very dull in comparison.”

“Your youngest sister is married to an officer, is she not?”

“Yes, Lydia is married to Mr. Wickham. He was a lieutenant in Colonel Forster’s regiment, but he changed to the regulars when he and Lydia married, and they are stationed in Newcastle.”

“Do you miss seeing your sister?”

Kitty considered a while and then slowly said, “Lydia and I spent all our time together as the two youngest of five daughters. We were not interested in anything but the officers from the moment they came, and they absorbed all our thoughts. But they left for their summer quarters, and Lydia was invited to go with them as the guest of Colonel Forster’s wife… I was mad with jealousy. Why should she be allowed to go when I was not, particularly since I was two years older? Then she eloped with Wickham. My father was furious, and my mother swooned and took to her bed while he went off to look for them. When she had first written and hinted that this might happen, I thought it just a lark; she told me that they were eloping to Gretna Green to marry. Their actions almost destroyed my family. After the news came out we heard all sorts of bad things about Wickham and about his gaming debts.

“When Wickham was finally induced to marry Lydia, with the assistance of my Uncle Gardiner, they came to stay for a fortnight before leaving for Newcastle. When they arrived you would think that nothing had ever been done wrong by them. They did not have an ounce of shame between them. I do not want to do that to my family. I know that I will not find a husband such as Mr. Bingley or your brother. I have no fortune, no family name, no particular qualities of intelligence or grace, and I do not have enough beauty to tempt a gentleman to overlook those deficits. I am just an ordinary girl whose father is a gentleman, and the men who are in a similar situation cannot afford to marry without money.” There was a note of despair in her voice.

Georgiana took her hand and squeezed it. “I think you do not give yourself enough credit, Kitty, but you must consider one thing. When you do find a young man who wishes to marry you, it will be because he loves you, not because he wants to enhance his social standing with your fortune or your family name.”

Kitty looked at her friend and sighed.

“And, my dear, since your sisters have married well, you will at least have a chance of meeting some gentlemen.”

“I know, I know; Lord knows that’s all my mother talks about. I wonder if Elizabeth will invite me to come to London when you go.”

“We will just have to make sure that she does.” Georgiana gave her a grin which finally caused an answering smile on Kitty’s face. After a moment, Georgiana leaned over and wrapped her arms around her and patted her gently on the back. Kitty whispered, “Thank you, Georgiana.”

***

They had an earlier and larger repast than usual that afternoon, not quite dinner but more than tea, for they would need time to prepare for the ball and supper would not be until midnight. Georgiana and Kitty sat side by side on the settee and sipped their tea and whispered nervously to each other. Elizabeth saw that they were not eating and said, “You must try to eat, my dears. It will be a long evening before supper is served.”

Georgiana swallowed, her face pale, and nodded. Jane passed them each a cucumber sandwich.

“Please try, my dears.”

They obediently bit into their sandwiches and slowly ate them, but neither was able to eat any of the cakes or scones offered on the tray, and eventually the gong sounded that it was time to dress.

***

Upstairs, everything was in a state of hushed pandemonium as the ladies’ maids and valets rushed to and from their masters’ and mistresses’ rooms on urgent errands—to touch up the ironing of a cravat or find a needle and thread for a repair. Georgiana’s lady’s maid, Durand, had come to Pemberley with them but she was young and still learning, so Elizabeth’s maid was to do Georgiana’s and Kitty’s hair. When they knocked on Elizabeth’s door Durand admitted them. Lambert was in the middle of telling her mistress, with a somewhat malicious twinkle in her eye, that she and Oliver had agreed that the master and mistress should be especially dazzling tonight.

“I have been planning a new hairstyle for you, Madame Darcy, which I saw while we were in London and have been waiting for an occasion to try. I think it will be
très chic
, Madame, and will be
magnifique
with your new gown. Oliver has selected, pending monsieur’s approval
naturellement
, a black waistcoat which has a very thin, pale yellow stripe in ze pattern, which will thus pick up ze
couleur
of Madame’s gown. Nothing blatant
vous comprenez
, but just a leetle hint to ze other ladies that Monsieur Darcy belongs with Madame.”

“Very well, Lambert,” Elizabeth said, as Lambert’s accent became more and more pronounced in her excitement. “I put myself entirely in your hands.”

With an air of supreme satisfaction, Lambert began her work. When she finished Elizabeth twirled around so the girls could see her.

“You look wonderful, Elizabeth!” Georgiana applauded, and Kitty nodded her agreement, her face beaming.

“Thank you, ladies. Lambert, you should do Miss Darcy next because she will need to be ready early to greet the visitors.”

“
Oui,
Madame Darcy.” The maid tested the heat remaining in the curling tongs and turned to Georgiana.

***

When she looked down over the balustrade and saw everyone gathered downstairs for the ball, Georgiana was dazzled by the rainbow of colours. Jane’s pastel pink gown competed with Miss Bingley’s vibrant russet. Elizabeth’s lemon-coloured gown shimmered with iridescence in the candlelight and the newly set diamonds in her ears and around her neck reflected a million points of light around the hall. Georgiana felt a little musty and worn compared to their splendour, in spite of her pale satin gown and the strands of pearls Lambert had woven into her hair.

Georgiana had just begun to look around for Kitty when she appeared behind her, gowned in blue-grey silk, her hair a confection of curls and ribbons.

“Georgiana, you look lovely!”

Georgiana smiled ruefully. “Thank you. I just wish that my gown was a trifle more stylish. The one part of my official debut that I am looking forwards to is that I will be allowed to wear lower-cut bodices on my gowns.”

“Well, you look very well anyway.” Kitty took her arm and they walked down the stairs together.

“You ladies look splendid,” Elizabeth said as she kissed Georgiana and Kitty and smiled at Miss Bingley.

The gentlemen soon joined them, and the guests began arriving for the ball. The Darcys were kept busy greeting their guests and introducing them to the Bingleys and the Bennets. Georgiana was relieved to find herself between Elizabeth and her brother in the reception line. She had merely to say “good evening” and curtsey, and the responsibilities of greeting and introducing would be left to her brother and sister. When Jonathan Walker arrived with his parents, he greeted Darcy and Elizabeth and bowed over Georgiana’s hand. Georgiana was embarrassed at this public display of peculiar regard and felt her cheeks burn. To divert his attention, she gestured to Elizabeth’s other side and said, “Mr. Walker, this is Miss Catherine Bennet.”