Lydia shook her head. “Angel is too common. I shall call her Angelina.”
Miss Darcy smiled. “Angelina is a perfect name. Serafina would approve.” With her younger sisters, Miss Darcy seemed relaxed, like a girl without a worry or insecurity. “When Angelina is fully weaned, she is yours.”
Their unexpected callers entered the drawing room. Elizabeth’s two youngest sisters beamed, but Miss Darcy’s smile faded.
Lydia leaped to her feet. “Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham!”
Elizabeth saw Mr. Wickham blanch and swallow hard while sensing Darcy tense and grow larger beside her.
CHAPTER25
Wickham flipped his trepidation into a smile in the blink of an eye. He stepped in front of Mr. Denny to swoop an exaggerated bow. Hand over his heart, he addressed Mrs. Bennet. "We apologize for our sorry state, but we knew we could count on you to provide refuge from this dreadful rain."
The skin over Darcy’s knuckles tightened. Wickham never had been one to learn from his mistakes.
Mrs. Bennet divided the last of the cake, poured tea, and fussed over the arranging of the chairs around the fire. She was an attentive hostess, even if one of her guests was a slippery viper.
Darcy was loath to leave Elizabeth’s side, but he moved to the other end of the room to stand behind his sister, his hands wringing the back of her chair. Richard, too, moved closer to Georgiana, closing ranks.
“I thought you were reassigned,” said Richard.
Mrs. Annesley looped her arm through Georgiana’s, lending support.
Wickham smirked belligerently. “To Ramsgate. I had thought you had a hand in the recommendation, Colonel.” His gaze flickered to Georgiana. “How can I thank you for returning me to a place with so many pleasant memories?”
The chair creaked under Darcy’s grip. Elizabeth crossed the room to stand beside him, behind Georgiana. Elizabeth might not yet know the whole of it, but she was perceptive. She glared daggers at Wickham.
"Shall we roll back the rugs and dance?" Mrs. Bennet noticed none of the tension growing in the room.
"No!" Darcy shot her suggestion down immediately.
Richard placed his empty plate on the nearest table. "We have trespassed on your hospitality long enough, madam."
"You mean to leave? In this downpour?" She could not countenance their departure. "You cannot leave when you arrived on horseback! Miss Darcy would catch a terrible chill."
Of all people, how ironic that Mrs. Bennet should say such a thing. Darcy could not help but glance at Miss Bennet, whose lips were pinched together in the most marked sign of disapproval Darcy had yet to witness on the lady. He further saw her shoulders heave up and down in a large sigh, and Darcy nearly laughed at her marked display of restraint. The lady must have nerves of steel and the forbearance of a saint. She would fare well with his own aunts.
And then there was Elizabeth. She observed, "It would not do for anyone to depart in this downpour. If the storm passes as suddenly as it arrived, then it shall not last much longer." She watched Georgiana and deftly influenced the conversation, all the while with a smile on her face and her usual light touch. It made Wickham's presence at the opposite end of the room almost bearable. Would that the flames at the fireplace rise to scorch his coattails!
"Perhaps some music will help us pass the time,” Elizabeth suggested. “Would you agree to a little duet at the pianoforte, Miss Darcy? Something to lighten the mood and help us pass the time?"
Georgiana—play music in front of that lout? She was too shy. She would falter. Darcy opened his mouth to oppose the idea but Richard jabbed him in the ribs, preventing him from speaking.
Rubbing his side and glaring at his cousin, Darcy missed whatever it was that propelled Georgiana to stand. He rushed to her side to escort her to the instrument. The distance was not great, but he would block her and Elizabeth from that devilish rake flirting shamelessly with the younger Bennets.
Darcy shot Richard a look and nodded over to them. Wickham had come so near to ruining Georgie, who now had two protectors to look out for her. Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia had no such advantage. Mr. Bennet had disappeared into his book room, and Mrs. Bennet seemed to think that every man donning a uniform must be an honorable gentleman seeking a wife.
Georgiana sat beside Elizabeth on the bench just as Richard joined Wickham and Mr. Denny. The panic on Wickham's semblance was most satisfying. Richard would tease and torment him at his leisure, like a cat playing with a mouse. Even with a kitten crawling over his shoulders, he looked intimidating.
Darcy’s sister played beautifully, as she always did. Elizabeth lacked her perfected technique, the work of hours of practice under the tutelage of the most proficient masters, and she played with gusto and charm. Darcy could not help but admire her performance.
Their audience clapped. Elizabeth leaned into Georgiana, "You play splendidly! The praise I have heard for your accomplishment on the instrument pales in comparison to the reality."
Miss Mary offered to play, and Darcy tried to conceal his cringe. Mrs. Bennet would have none of it, though, insisting instead that Georgiana play for them again.
Georgiana bowed her head at the enthusiastic praise. "Oh, I could not."
Darcy had hoped she might agree. One act of boldness might lead to another. Unfortunately, the Bennets’ encouragement only wilted her courage. He spoke over the melee of persuaders. "My sister is not accustomed to exhibiting. Perhaps she might play for you when we are not such a sizable crowd."
