All of Miss Bingley’s attempts at friendship were rebuffed. Georgiana kept to her room, refused to practice her music, and played cards with them all only because Darcy specifically requested it. She was a poor partner, making frequent mistakes, and paying little attention to the cards she put down.
He tried spending time with Georgiana alone. He went riding with her. They went to take baskets to the tenants together. They even went walking together. But she remained withdrawn and indifferent. It was impossible to reach her. How was he to bring his sister back to being her former self? He would never have classified her as high spirited, but she had always maintained a steady interest in certain things, especially playing the piano and singing. Yet even these failed to interest her.
One afternoon, after three days of rain was beginning to dampen everyone’s spirits, Darcy asked Bingley for his help in encouraging Georgiana to regain her interest in music.
“Find some way to get her started, Bingley. Perhaps her enthusiasm will return.”
Bingley soon found an opportunity. They were setting up a table for cards in the drawing room, when he turned to her.
“Miss Darcy, this rainy weather is starting to wear me down,” said Bingley. “If you do not plan to play cards with us, would you be kind enough to sing something? I am in danger of sinking into dejection.”
“Of course, Mr. Bingley,” said Georgiana.
She made her way to the piano and shuffled her music until she had chosen a piece.
The moment she started singing, Darcy immediately saw that it had been a mistake. She had chosen a ballad,Rosemary Lane, a melancholy tale of seduction. What on earth was she doing? It was a popular piece, but she knew very well that it wasnot appropriate for a young lady who was not yet out. Seized by a sense of panic, Darcy knew he had to put a stop to it immediately. But how could he do that without making matters worse? He did not want the Bingleys to start putting two and two together.
He looked around for a distraction. There was only one thing to do. He rose to ring for wine, and on the way, knocked down a flower arrangement. He exclaimed loudly as the water poured onto the carpet and the flowers tumbled down to the floor.
Georgiana’s singing stopped and her blue eyes met his. She stood up.
“I will ring for someone to clean up the water,” she said. “And then I will go up to my bedchamber.”
Once three weeks had passed and Georgiana’s mood showed no signs of improvement, Darcy began to worry. He wrote to his cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, who, as her guardian, had a duty to help him work this out. Richard immediately suggested bringing her to London.
There are many amusements to be had in London. Pemberley is no place for a girl who is on the cusp of adulthood. There is nothing to do there. Bring her here, and I will arrange some activities for her. Perhaps we might even find her someone to keep her company who is closer to her age. And perhaps you should find her a place to live, close to yours, to avoid the awkwardness of being in close quarters with a bachelor.
Darcy categorically rejected the idea of setting Georgiana up in her own house. He had done so before, and look how that turned out! After considering the matter for the rest of the day, however, he began to understand why Richard had suggested it. The unfortunate situation at Ramsgate had not only been a blowto Georgiana’s pride, but it had taken away her independence. He had been willing for her to live in her own household before. Forcing her to live with him must seem like a punishment.
Altogether, Richard’s recommendations made sense. A young lady who could do things with Georgiana might well do the trick. Mrs. Annesley was a pleasant lady with many positive qualities, but she had no idea how to deal with a young person. She had weak knees and was disinclined to do anything outdoors. She also liked to go to bed early, so she never joined them in the library after dinner.
He suggested London to Georgiana, and setting up her own house, and she seemed positively inclined, though not enthusiastic. At this point, Darcy was willing to try anything. He could not stop thinking about that impulse Georgiana had talked about. What if she grew worse, and it was no longer just an impulsive thought?
He could not just sit on his hands and hope it would go away. He had to do something about it.
“Would you like for Richard to arrange for someone to come and stay with us for a while? Someone you could be friends with? In addition to Mrs. Annesley?”
“I would be happy to consider it. I cannot agree until I meet the person and see how we get along.”
She had grown bolder and more opinionated, which would have been a good trait, if it were not for the fact that, much of the time, she seemed to disagree with him.
No sooner said than done. He informed the Bingleys that they were returning to London. It was exceedingly awkward to change plans so suddenly, when they had expected to stay much longer at Pemberley, but it could not be helped.
Truth be told, he was tired of Miss Bingley’s marked attention, and he was glad to go somewhere where he did not have to listen to her voice all the time.
Richard, true to his promise, produced five different young ladies as possibilities, but none of them succeeded in getting everyone’s approval. Having the three of them agree about the qualities that were most important turned out to be harder than they expected. They were forced to admit defeat.
In the end, they did not find anyone.
“I will see if my mother can suggest anyone else,” said Richard.
Darcy wondered, not for the first time, whether Georgiana would be in this situation if their mother was alive. He felt the absence of his mother keenly. Georgiana had no other lady to guide her and help her. Except Mrs. Annesley, of course, who unfortunately did not seem to have much influence over his sister at all.
Georgiana shook her head. “If you had allowed me to invite Miss Bennet, we would not have been in such a bind. We would not need to find a companion.”
She was being very unreasonable.
“Miss Bennet travelled to Lambton for a visit with her aunt and uncle. She did not come to Pemberley to take care of you,” said Darcy, his patience starting to wear thin.
