Susan shook her head. “I need do nothing on that score, for I have never seen a man as besotted with a woman as Mr. Bingley.”
“Oh, to be certain,” agreed Matlock.
Since arriving in town, Miss Bennet had accompanied them to a few events they had attended. Her beauty turned heads wherever she went, not that she noticed or hinted at superiority because of her ability to attract attention. Matlock knew at least a part of the interest she had generated was because society at large knew her to be the sister of the mysterious new Mrs. Darcy. As Darcy was known in society to a degree, most of those wondered about the new Mrs. Darcy, but Miss Bennet was impervious to them all.
“I wonder how long it will be before Bingley must endure a challenge to his control of her attention. The lure of a connection to the Darcy family is not insubstantial—other men might see a path forward in her gentle manners.”
“If she were any other woman, she might not receive so much attention even then. Beauty and angelic manners will convince many to swing the balance in favor of her connection to Darcy over her origins.”
“Yes, I suppose it will.”
“Perhaps I should have a word with Bingley,” mused Lord Matlock. “If he is not prepared for interference, it may come as a shock to his sensibilities.”
Susan laughed. “I think you do not need to worry about such things, Jacob. Mr. Bingley knows what he is about. Miss Bennet is a woman who will put at naught such things as standing andwealth, so I cannot imagine she will look away from Mr. Bingley even if others attempt to distract her.”
“I am certain you must be correct.”
The one member of the party at the house was not a member of the family as such, for a companion was nothing more than a glorified servant in the end. Matlock had met Mrs. Younge, of course, but he had exchanged but few words with her. To his mind, she appeared to grow ever surlier by the day, and while he did not understand her, he was soon to learn the reason for her unhappiness.
“Lord Matlock,” said she one day, not long after their arrival, after asking for a moment of his time. “I have a matter I should like to discuss with you.”
“Yes, Mrs. Younge?”
The woman gathered herself, leaving Matlock bemused. It was curious, to say the least. She was not employed by him; her wages were paid by the Darcy estate. Her behavior was odd from what Matlock had seen of such women.
“I believe, your lordship, that it would be best to separate Miss Darcy from Miss Kitty.” The inflection in her voice told Matlock that Mrs. Younge was little less than contemptuous toward the young Bennet girl. “Before his passing, Mr. Jameson Darcy and I spoke of a holiday for Miss Darcy, which she earned by her diligence in her studies. The proposed location for the holiday was Ramsgate, which the master is using at present, but I think the lakes would be an equally desirable location, and I know there is a Darcy property there.”
“Yes, there is,” agreed Matlock, wondering at her insistence on this scheme, for he was aware she had pushed it to Darcy more than once. “What I cannot understand is why you believe it is necessary, as Georgiana appears comfortable in London and has become famous friends with Miss Kitty.”
“If I may speak plainly,” said Mrs. Younge, “Miss Kitty’s influence on Miss Darcy is not beneficial to her behavior. She is a member of an influential society family, and I have tried to train her to be a credit when she comes out. If she continues in this vein, it will undo the work I have done and lessen her in the eyes of her future peers. We must separate her from this disruptive influence!”
“Mrs. Younge,” said Matlock, any bemusement he felt washing away before the effrontery of her language, “I believe that is quite enough. Please recall that you are an employee of the Darcy family and have no say in with whom they associate.”
“Lord Matlock, I do not mean to disparage the girl,” said Mrs. Younge, clearly attempting to control her temper. “You do not see them in unguarded moments as I do. The girl isnota beneficial influence on Miss Darcy; I feel it is my duty to point out the drawbacks of the acquaintance to you.”
“Again, I will ask that you cease this objectionable behavior.”
Mrs. Younge fell silent, but her displeasure was not hidden.
“You will not raise this subject with me again. Do not suppose that I am so blind as to be unaware of the behavior of my niece in my house. I have noticed nothing, and more to the point,my wifehas noted an overall improvement in Georgiana’s spirits.
“Remember your place and do not speak in such a way again, for you are not irreplaceable. Now, return to your charge, for I will hear nothing further.”
“What do you suppose she means by it?” asked his wife when he told her of the event later that evening.
“I cannot say that I know,” replied Matlock. “This is not the first time she has proposed this holiday, for she mentioned it to Darcy and Anthony several times, and she has grown more insistent.”
“The notion that Kitty is causing Georgiana to misbehave is absurd,” said Susan. “The girls are thick as thieves. They both provide something the other lacks; Kitty has changed more than Georgiana, if anything.”
Matlock nodded. “I shall raise the subject with Darcy when he returns. I do not suppose he understands Mrs. Younge’s insistence any more than I do, but he should know, regardless.”
“It may be time to search for a new companion.”
“I do not disagree, but I shall leave the details to Darcy and Anthony.”
Chapter XXV
Elizabeth had no wish to return to London, for she had enjoyed her time alone with her new husband. William wanted to return no more than she did, as he told her himself.
