Georgiana leaned up and kissed his cheek, then wrapped her arms around his neck to give him a tight squeeze. “Oh, thank you, Fitzwilliam! Thank you!” Georgiana leaned away and ran off in the direction they had come. She jumped up and down for a moment in front of Mrs Younge, who had been peacefully reading at a little bench in the shade. “He said yes!” Her voice echoed over the garden and came back to him.
Darcy frowned, watching as Mrs Younge stood, no doubt told Georgiana to calm herself, and then took her hands as they discussed in hushed tones. Had the plan been Georgiana’s idea, or had Mrs Younge pressed her into asking him? He was not opposed to Mrs Younge suggesting things to help improve Georgiana’s education. But he did not much like the idea of being corralled. He frowned, looking after his sister as she chattered excitedly with Mrs Younge about all that they would do and see that winter. No doubt it was nothing. Mrs Younge had simply seen that Georgiana was too nervous to enjoy London and suggested another town that might suit her. There was surely nothing more to it than that.
Chapter 3
Elizabeth Bennet approached Longbourn from the rear of the property as the sun was beginning its descent. The golden light cast over the house sent a thrill through her. “What a lovely sight,” she breathed, smiling to herself as she walked down the hill with a book clutched to her chest. It was a shame that someday they would all have to leave this place. Elizabeth’s heart sank at the thought. She loved her family, but as she had a surfeit of sisters and too few brothers — namely, none — they would all have to find other means of supporting themselves one day. With the estate entailed upon the male line, a cousin would inherit Longbourn after Mr Bennet’s death, leaving nothing for the women of the family. While five daughters arrived in succession, Mr and Mrs Bennet had remained convinced that surely their next child would be the son who would join with his father in cutting off the entail. Alas, the son never came, and when Mr and Mrs Bennet at last gave up hope, it was too late to begin saving for their daughter’s futures.
When Elizabeth entered the house, she was immediately greeted by her youngest sister, Lydia. “Have you seen my bonnet? The one with the white flowers and the blue ribbon? Ihave been looking high and low and could not find it and Mother and I want to go to town —”
“Here it is, Lydia,” Elizabeth said, reaching behind her sister’s head toward the coat rack. She placed it on top of Lydia’s head and tied the ribbon for her. “There. Pretty as a picture.”
“Thank you, Lizzy.” her sister smiled. “I shall buy a new ribbon for you while we are in town, if you like?”
Elizabeth laughed. “With the money you want to borrow from me, I suppose?”
Lydia pouted and followed her in supplication. “Please, Lizzy. Only a shilling! I promise I will pay you back once Papa gives me my pin money.”
Elizabeth swirled her sister around in a circle, making her dress flow out around her. “I’ve already loaned you twice that amount this last month, Lydia. Whatever do you need more ribbons for?”
Lydia looked utterly appalled. “Have you not heard? The militia is coming to winter here in Meryton!”
“What is that to me?” she asked, continuing through the house.
“Well, it means that we will all find husbands, of course. Have you not heard Mama say so? There will be ever so many men! Perhaps then we shall have some excitement.”
As they came around the corner and passed the drawing room, Lydia walked away hurriedly, but Elizabeth stopped short, narrowly avoiding colliding with her mother and her sister Kitty. Older than Lydia by a year, but ever the follower in whatever Lydia did, Kitty was constantly looking for approval.
“Mama, look at this sketch. I have been doing a botanical study in the garden —” Kitty began breathlessly.
“Yes, that is nice, dear,” her mother said. She finished tying her bonnet strings, flitting about like a butterfly floating from flower to flower, unsure of where she wanted to land. “Ah, Lizzy, there you are. I wonder if you might finish the menu with Cook while Lydia and I go into town?” she asked breathlessly. “Oh, and your father —”
“I will see him after I finish with Cook,” Elizabeth said, kissing her mother on the cheek. She turned her attention to Kitty’s drawings. “These are lovely, Kitty. You have done a wonderful job capturing the essence of the old oak at the end of the garden.”
Kitty’s face lit with the praise. “Thank you, Lizzy.”
“The pond would make an excellent study as well, you know, with the late afternoon sunlight streaming through the trees…”
A faraway look came into Kitty’s eyes, and her eyebrows raised. “What a splendid idea. I’ll go right now.” She hurried away and disappeared out the back door.
Her mother joined her at the drawing room door once more and clicked her tongue in disapproval. “I wish you would not encourage her so, dear. What man wants a silly wife who only knows how to draw plants and things?”
“A great many men want accomplished wives, I suppose.” Elizabeth held up her book. “Perhaps Kitty and Lydia would not be so silly if they were encouraged to read more.”
Her mother scrunched up her nose in distaste. “No, I do not think so, my dear. And now, I am away. Do check in with your father after you’ve seen Cook.”
Elizabeth turned from the drawing room door and walked down the hall toward the breakfast nook. Their small pianoforte stood against the southern wall, its black and white keys beckoning her to play.
She was more than willing to comply, especially while the instrument was without its usual companion. There would be plenty of time to speak to Cook and see her father, as her mother had requested. Elizabeth waited until the front door had closed behind her mother and Lydia’s commotion, playing a little ditty she had made up.
Her solitude was short-lived, for Mary, the middle child of the five daughters, marched into the room with a stack of sheet music under her arm. “Oh, Lizzy, you are here.”
Elizabeth stopped her playing, tucking a stray brunette curl away from her face. “What is it, Mary?”
“Nothing in particular. I only thought to play this piece,” she said, holding up the sheet music on the top of the stack. “But I see you are using the instrument, and so I shall come back later.”
“Nonsense. Come and sit down. I was only playing for sport for a few moments.” Elizabeth got up and let Mary take her place at the piano bench.
She kissed her sister on the cheek as she sat down at the bench, a gesture that was rarely returned. Poor Mary, considered by all the county to be the only plain one of the family. While the judgement was rather harsh, Elizabeth could not entirely dispute it. Mary’s hair was a mousey brown, herfeatures less elegant than those of her sisters. Far worse, she did not make the best of what she had, all too often choosing the very colours and cuts that were least flattering to her. Mary would say that caring about one’s appearance was only vanity, and ought to be avoided. The results were sometimes unfortunate. But Elizabeth knew what others might overlook: she had a good heart. And that made up for outer beauty any day.
