However, conversation was one of the things at which Elizabeth excelled. Before he could launch a new topic, she said, “Georgiana, I have heard that you play the pianoforte. I enjoy playing, as well, although I am certain I am not nearly as accomplished as you, given that there were five of us vying for practice time at home.”
“I cannot imagine having four sisters. It must have been so diverting,” Georgiana said to her grapes.
Elizabeth laughed. “It was. Exhausting and enlivening, frustrating and amusing, noisy and…noisier. But I always wished for an older brother.”
Finally looking up, Georgiana flashed a look into Elizabeth’s warm eyes; Georgiana looked at Darcy, who nodded encouragingly, and then back to Elizabeth. “It is quite wonderful to have a brother,” she murmured.
“I am certain it is.”
Darcy smiled at both of them.
“Brother, are you well?” Georgiana looked a little concerned, and Darcy raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“I am very well, thank you.”
“You just seem…odd. Not yourself,” his sister said.
Darcy wanted to cry, or laugh, or something. If smiling while hosting guests in his beloved home was odd, then he obviously used to be a monster.
Plunge right back into the conversation, he told himself. He would just have to keep on acting “odd” until it seemed commonplace. He turned to Elizabeth and said, “Georgiana has been exploring the works of a variety of composers. Do you have a favourite composer, Miss Elizabeth?”
“I always find it so difficult to name just one or two favourites.” Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled, and she explained, “Most of the time, I prefer Mozart and Haydn, because so much of their music is quite cheery. But when I am in a mood…” she chuckled but then pretended a frown,“I would rather play Beethoven.”
Georgiana giggled—a sound Darcy had not heard in a very long time. She said, “You are not nearly so adept at frowning as my brother is.”
Of course, Darcy frowned at her words. Both Georgiana and Elizabeth laughed, and he did, too, pretending that his frownhad been playful. He decided that he would make every effort to frown less in the future.
“I love music by all of those composers,” Georgiana said. “But I am also exploring Bach, Clementi, and Cramer. Are you familiar with them?”
“I am afraid that I was leaving Bach out of my list for a rather silly reason. I adore his work, but I did not wish to bring him up in case you despised him. I know several people who do.”
“Oh, I could never despise music. And I love Bach’s canons and fugues.”
“TheCanon per tonos!”
“TheGoldberg variations!”
“TheCrab canon!”
Darcy shook his head and allowed the two young women to carry on. As usual, he could hardly tear his eyes away from Elizabeth—and she looked especially well, with her excited smile and dancing eyes. But he felt the need to check Georgiana’s expression as well. He was astonished; he did not remember seeing her with such a wide smile, such pink cheeks and sparkling eyes, in a very, very long time.
Mrs Gardiner made a small noise of appreciation—a light laugh—and he looked at her with raised eyebrows. “They seem to have found a shared interest,” she said.
“Yes.” He let the single word stand for a long moment, and then he added in a soft voice, “My sister has had such a difficult year—a betrayal by a long-time friend—and I am heartened to see her finally respond positively to someone. I knew that Eliz—Miss Elizabeth—would be able to draw her out. I shall never want you to leave.”
Then he cast an alarmed glance at Mrs Gardiner’s face. She just smiled. “I have seen my niece charm all sorts of people out of all sorts of moods, from ennui to anger, from sadness to fear.”
“Yes, she is very charming.” Darcy could not help allowing a sigh to escape him, but then he was embarrassed to see a knowing look pass between Mr and Mrs Gardiner. He schooled his features and turned to Mr Gardiner. “I am excited to do some fishing, sir,” he said. “But afterwards, I should love to discuss your itinerary. I would enjoy showing you the wonders of the Peak District, if you have the time for such sightseeing. And that would benefit me so much because then Georgiana would have more time with your niece.”
“That would be wonderful,” Mr Gardiner said. “We can speak of such, but of course we should also discuss the possible outings with all who might participate.”
“Of course,” Darcy replied, grinning. “Are you warning me away from issuing commands to my sister? ‘You shall go to the cavern, and you will enjoy it!’ That sort of thing?”
“Well, your sister is half a decade older than my eldest, but I have never had success mandating enjoyment, much less happiness.”
“Wise words, indeed.” Darcy continued to converse quietly with the aunt and uncle of the woman he could not help but watch.
As promised, the fishing was excellent. Elizabeth’s uncle looked downright boyish as he scrambled down a rocky river bank to a likely fishing hole, here, and celebrated yet another trout on the line, there.
