“I will be glad to leave Hertfordshire,” Caroline said as she went back to the card table. Mrs Hurst joined her a moment later, and they continued with their game. “I do not think I shall ever be prevailed upon to return. How little society there is here, especially compared to London!”
Darcy silently exulted in the fact that he would soon be in his own house, free from such frequently onerous society. And he would have his sister’s sweet company to look forward to for the Christmas season. It had been far too long since he had seen her.
Three days later, Darcy and the rest of the party arrived in London, having waited for a pause in the snow to depart. Wise though this intention was, it proved to be in vain, for the snow started again not an hour after they had departed. In the end, the journey had been wearying and rather cold, but thankfully uneventful. Now, as Darcy climbed the steps to his London townhouse, he allowed his mind to settle.
When he walked into the house, Georgiana was rushing to the landing to greet him. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around his neck in a sisterly embrace, as she had done from the time she was a child. He was relieved, for she had not shown such open joy since her near-disaster at Ramsgate. “Oh, Brother! How I have missed you!” she said, burying her face in his shoulder as she continued to cling to him.
“I have missed you too, Georgiana.” He held her close, and when Georgiana released him, he looped his arm through hers. They walked to the drawing room together.
Darcy looked around curiously. “Where is Mrs Annesley? I hope she has been good company for you.”
“The very best,” Georgiana assured him. “Mrs Annesley is in her room with a headache. She offered to wait down here with me, but, hoping that you would arrive soon, I told her it was not needed. She is an ideal companion, Fitz. You need have no concerns on that account.”
“It must be so, for you are looking very well,” he observed.
“And you are looking rather cold and tired,” she returned.
“I cannot deny it,” Darcy said with a sigh.
“I hope you are hungry as well, for I’ve ordered a special tea for us.” Georgiana drew him to sit with her on the settee. He gave a long sigh, and she patted his back. “You must be exhausted. If you would rather lie down for a while before we have tea, I can ask that it be kept aside for us.”
“No, not at all. A good cup of tea is just what I need,” Darcy said. Unfortunately, Miss Bingley had insisted on riding in his coach for the last length of the trip. She had talked incessantly, and there was little else that grated on hisnerves like someone who did not know when it was better to say nothing. Leaving them at Bingley’s townhouse had been a considerable relief. For Bingley’s sake, Darcy could only hope he found his sister’s company more enjoyable.
Darcy settled back on the settee, closing his eyes for a moment. Georgiana turned to him. “Was the journey very dreadful? I was so worried when I received your letter with the news that you would be coming to London. It has been snowing almost every day.”
“Yes, it snowed all throughout the journey. But thank heaven we did not have any broken wheels or come upon any parts of the road that were too muddy to traverse.”
“You needn’t have come, Fitz. Mrs Annesley and I would have been very comfortable at my uncle’s house. Our aunt invited us to stay for the whole week of Christmas. But when I received your letter, I wanted to be here to greet you.”
“You could have stayed if you wished. Indeed, you may still go, if you would like. I am sure our aunt would love to have the company.”
“Oh, she has no end of company. Did you know she is holding a party every night this week?” Georgiana asked. “I am glad I am not out yet, you know, so I can have a good excuse to stay here.”
Darcy turned to her, a little concerned. “You do not want to be a part of the festivities?”
“I do not mind going to one or two of her soirees. But to be out every night in the company of strangers — I did not think my constitution would bear up under such a strain.” She linked arms with him and laid her head on his shoulder. “But now that you are here, I can bear up under anything.”
Darcy chuckled. “Do you know, I feel quite the same way,” he said. After a moment of silence, he turned to her, and she shifted so she could look into his eyes. “I had hoped that you were starting to feel more yourself. But I apologise if my long absence was a burden to your recovery.”
Georgiana straightened as the door opened and one of the maids wheeled in a silver cart with the tea service. Georgiana thanked the girl, then sent her away so they could have their privacy. “I am recovering,” Georgiana said when the maid had gone out and they were alone again. She poured the tea while she spoke. “But it has been awfully lonely without you. I know I am not out yet, but if I can accompany you when you go on your long trips to London, or wherever you might be staying, I would much prefer it. I am not so aggrieved now as to prefer solitude, especially over your company.”
“Really?” Darcy asked. “I would be most happy to have you with me, if you feel yourself equal to it. I wanted to respect your need for privacy after the incident.”
“And I was heartily glad of it, at first,” Georgiana said, sighed heavily as she handed him his cup of tea, and she sat down beside him. “But now I believe I am ready for the next step. The quiet gave me too much time to think.”
“I suppose too much time to think could be just as detrimental as too little. I am sorry it has been so difficult. I should have been there.”
“It is all right, Fitz. I am well. But I realise I cannot keep to myself forever. At some point, I will have to enter society.” She frowned. “I do not know where in the world that horrible man is, but I would hate to think that he could believe me to pine for him. I will not give him that power.”
“Good. I am glad to hear it.” Darcy said. “And I doubt he will ever dare to show his face again. If he does, I shall have some choice words to say to him.”
Georgiana sipped at her tea, then relaxed against the back of the settee with him. Darcy would not normally allow himself to be so lounged about, but there were no callers, and he was exhausted from the long journey. “He is not worth it,” she said. “I doubt we shall ever see him again. But if we do, I shall hold my head up high and ignore him entirely. My words and time are too valuable to be wasted anymore on the likes of him.”
“Bravo,” Darcy said.
“Yes, now let us speak of something pleasant. What have you brought me for Christmas?” she asked.
He laughed. “Well, that, my dear sister, is a secret you will not find out until Christmas Day.” He tweaked her on the nose, as he had so often done when she was a little girl. But she would not be a little girl for much longer. Indeed, she was more woman than girl even now. A terrifying thought, to one who was almost a father to her, but an unavoidable thought nonetheless.
