“They were very interesting,” Darcy replied. “And now, I think it was time you were in bed. You’ve had a lot of excitement today.”
Georgiana gave her wrap to the maid at the front door, then started peeling off her gloves. She climbed the first few steps, then turned around. “Oh, brother, I am so glad you allowed us to come here! I feel I am finally understanding how to make friends and entertain others. Miss Elizabeth Bennet has been so kind to me. I feel it is only right we return the invitation to supper, do not you?”
The sentiment surprised Darcy. He glanced at Mrs Younge, but tried to hide his alarm. “Do you?” he asked.
“Yes, I do. It is only the polite thing to do. And besides, I like them. I should very much like to plan a supper this time. It is a valuable part of my education, is it not? To plan suppers and run a household?”
Darcy raised a brow, but a smile crept onto his lips. “You have never tried to run the household at Pemberley.”
Georgiana looked away sheepishly. “It is such a large house, brother. I should hate to make a mistake and disappoint you.”
“This is the first I am hearing of this, Georgiana,” he said. He took her hand. “I always thought the idea of running the household was dull to you. But let me put to rest any fears you might have. You could never disappoint me. The way one learns is by making mistakes, and I should never come down on you for an honest mistake.” He thought for a moment. “But perhaps you are right. This would give you the chance to plan a supper party in a much smaller household, and for friends who would be gracious.”
“Oh, thank you, Fitz! I shall not disappoint you, I promise!” Georgiana hugged him and then scampered up the stairs to dress for bed.
Mrs Younge waited until she had disappeared down the hall before stepping up beside him. “You think it wise to encourage this acquaintance? After what you saw this evening?” She wrung her hands and gave him a look of deep concern. “I do not wish to speak out of turn, but it seems to me the Bennets are a rather coarse family. In their actions, if not their antecedents.”
Darcy looked in the direction his sister had gone a moment before. “I am unsure if keeping her from Miss Elizabeth Bennet is the answer. She seems kind enough, even if she is trying to weasel her way into my affections for money’s sake. I am quite able to outwit a fortune hunter, I think. In any case, I will be gone shortly, and I see no reason for Georgiana not to try her hand at hosting a supper party. Indeed, it would be a good experience for her.”
A flash of annoyance skittered through her gaze before Mrs Younge masked it and shrugged, giving a coy smile. “Of course, you know best. I am sure it will bring no harm, as you have said.”
She walked past him, and he stood at the bottom of the stairs alone, wondering if he had made the right choice. There was little that could go awry, especially while he was there to make sure Georgiana was not taken advantage of. Besides, it would give him a chance to further observe how the Bennets were in company. Perhaps they were more comfortable in their own home, and thus more casual in their treatment of guests. At any rate, he would not allow himself to be taken in by the intriguing Elizabeth Bennet, no matter what she tried.
∞∞∞
Georgiana lost no time in sending the invitations, and the Bennets did not delay in accepting. The night of the supper party found Georgiana all aflutter with excitement and running back and forth attending to last-minute details. She walked past him in the drawing room as he tried to read the newspapers that had arrived from London that afternoon. “How can you sit so still?” she asked, stepping around him to fluff the flower arrangement on the side table.
Georgiana had worked tirelessly to make sure the evening was a success, from choosing the menu to preparing the floral decorations and selecting several pianoforte pieces that she and Mary Bennet could play for their entertainment. She had even expressed a hope that the elder Bennet sisters might be persuaded to dance with him. He had shot her a warning look, as she well knew he detested dancing, especially with young ladies on the hunt for wealthy husbands.
When she passed him in a fluster again, he grabbed her hand and had her sit beside him on the settee. “You have done everything that can be done to ensure this evening is a success. Now sit back and enjoy the splendour of it all.”
“Are you sure everything looks well?” Georgiana asked, wringing her hands. “I do so want them to feel at ease here.”
Darcy looked around the drawing room. The formal parlour was about the same size as the drawing room at Longbourn, though not even half as large as the one at the Pemberley estate. If they were not at their leisure here, theywould not be anywhere. “They are not here for the house, Georgie. They are here to be with you. Is that not so?”
She blushed and smiled. “I suppose ‘tis. They will not mind if the flowers are not perfect, or if the courses are not just so.”
It hardly mattered, for they were surely used to dining more simply, Darcy thought. And their rented home was nothing to scoff at since the Bennet property was not a whit more elegant, though rather larger. It was an old dwelling, but not without its charm. The rented house he had procured for Georgiana and Mrs Younge was done in the latest fashion. It was nice enough in its way, though to one accustomed to a house grown smooth and comfortable with age, it sometimes felt rather flat.
“You have done a wonderful job planning everything. Not a detail has escaped your notice. I am sure they will be very pleased by what you have planned for us this evening.” Darcy let go of her hand, took up his newspaper, and was about to start reading again when a knock sounded on the door.
Georgiana sprang from the settee. “They are here!” she exclaimed. She snatched the paper from his hands and tucked it into a basket near the bookshelf. “Now, remain calm.”
Darcy chuckled and stood, smoothing his waistcoat and cravat. “You are the one who needs to calm yourself.” He went to her and stood behind her as she checked her appearance in the small mirror near the drawing room doors. He placed his hands on her shoulders, then smiled at her reflection. “You are a vision. Just like Mama,” he said softly.
Georgiana stilled. “I have rarely heard you speak of her.” She turned, tears misting her eyes. “Do I really look like her?”
He kissed her on the forehead. “More and more each day,” he replied. “And she would be so proud.”
Georgiana smiled and placed her hands on his arms. “Thank you, brother.”
Before his emotions could run away with him, Darcy took a deep breath and took Georgiana’s hand, placing it at the crook of his elbow. “Mrs Bailey will let them in. Come, let us go and greet our guests.”
He opened the drawing-room door for her and walked out. The housekeeper waited for him to give the signal to open the door, and their guests soon appeared, dressed with careful finery. The ladies wore what must undoubtedly be their finest gowns, and Mr Bennet had even donned a jacket of unexceptionable smartness. True, it was done up in the style of about ten years prior, but the older man had clearly made a special effort. Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth Bennet were dressed in becoming gowns of simple elegance, but their mother and two youngest sisters were overflowing with frills, lace, and flowers from the top of their heads to their slippered feet.
In a rather startling contrast, Miss Mary Bennet wore a dull shade of brown without so much as a feather in her hair. She carried a leather portfolio of what Darcy could only guess was sheet music for the pianoforte.
“Welcome, our most esteemed guests,” Georgiana said, letting go of his arm and stepping forward. “Please, come into the parlour until Cook announces supper.”
