“I should like to return to Pemberley, Brother,” said Georgiana. “It is much more pleasant there and I long to walk the grounds again.”
“Then I suppose we must consider it,” said Darcy. “Perhaps next week?”
With a grateful smile, Georgiana nodded. For Darcy’s part, he supposed part of the reason he had not felt the need to go to the north was the proximity to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, though that was nothing more than a bit of silliness. He would not endure the city in the summer, so there was little choice but to go to Pemberley.
“I might have thought you would hasten to Hertfordshire,” observed Fitzwilliam.
“Hertfordshire?” asked Georgiana, not understanding their cousin’s reference. “Why would William go there?”
“He has not informed you?” asked Fitzwilliam, his amused gaze never leaving Darcy. “In Kent, your brother met an acquaintance from Hertfordshire, a Miss Elizabeth Bennet, a woman I am convinced he foundmostagreeable.”
“A woman?” echoed Georgiana.
“How you came to that conclusion I cannot say.”
As a method of distracting his cousin, Darcy’s comment was a complete failure. “You cannot?” asked Fitzwilliam, one eyebrow rising in disbelief. “I would never call you demonstrative, Darcy, but I could see your interest. Do not forget that I know you as well as any man alive.”
“Brother,” said Georgiana, “it has occurred to me that MissBingley made some mention of a woman in Hertfordshire.”
“What do you mean?” asked Darcy, not understanding why she would bring up the subject of Miss Elizabeth to Georgiana of all people.
“I do not recall, for it was some months ago,” replied his sister, her comment the slow cadence of one in thought. “Yet it was odd, for while I do not remember the gist of it, I had the impression that she wished to know if you had ever mentioned her.”
“Interesting,” said Fitzwilliam. “Not surprising, however—that woman would see any other as a threat and extend her claws to drive the rival away.”
Darcy’s response was a disdainful snort. “Can you imagineMiss Elizabeth Bennet, of all people, allowing the likes of Miss Bingley to chase her away?”
“No, I suppose not,” replied Fitzwilliam.
“Oh!” exclaimed Georgiana. “I just recalled that you mentioned something of a Miss Bennet in your letters in the autumn.”
“She stayed at Bingley’s estate for a time tending to her sister who was convalescing there,” said Darcy. “Miss Bingley and Miss Elizabeth engaged in some rather amusing arguments—I believe I mentioned them to you.”
Georgiana nodded. “Something about accomplishments, as I recall.”
“Among other exchanges,” confirmed Darcy.
“This is all fascinating, Darcy,” said Fitzwilliam, “but I am still curious. This business of you mentioning her in letters to your sister confirms my suspicions. But why did you not seek her out again?”
There was nothing that would make Darcy speak of his aborted proposal to Miss Elizabeth to any living soul, let alone his overly jovial and teasing cousin. As he was casting about fora response, noting that both his companions were eager to hear what he would say, Darcy decided a little misdirection would not go amiss.
“My plans for the summer changed recently. I had thought to invite Bingley to Pemberley for the summer, but I decided against it.”
“Miss Bingley was up to her usual tricks again,” said Georgiana with a huff.
“That is the least surprising thing you said today,” replied Fitzwilliam.
“To go to Hertfordshire,” replied Darcy, “I would need Bingley to be there, so I had somewhere to stay. When I did not invite him, Bingley and his family made plans to go to the north. There will be no opportunity to go to Hertfordshire until September at the earliest.”
“But youdointend to go.”
Darcy shrugged with a nonchalance he did not feel. “We shall see, for I do not yet know what Bingley means to do.”
“Is Miss Elizabeth kind?” asked Georgiana, her typical shyness coming over her. “Do you suppose she would like me?”
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” said Fitzwilliam, “is at home in any company. Do you know that she even endured our irascible aunt and deflected all her ill-bred attacks? If she can endure Lady Catherine and that idiot parson of hers, I dare say she could overcome any challenge she faced.”
“Miss Elizabeth is a capable woman,” said Darcy. “I cannot imagine she would be anything other than friendly to you, Georgiana.”
