“Oh, Miss Bennet, can it not wait, please? Whatever it is, I will help you with it.” Her expression was pleading. “Please do not leave me alone with Miss Bingley,” she whispered.
She would hardly be alone. Miss Annesley was there. Elizabeth sighed. It was impossible to say ‘no’ to Miss Darcy, when her eyes were full of a dread that echoed Elizabeth’s.
“Very well,” she said, resigned. “But if she mentions that Ming vase from Pemberley, you must promise to interrupt the conversation.”
“I will,” said Georgiana.
There was no time to agree on anything else. The butler announced Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, her sister. Miss Bingley swept into the parlor, followed by Mrs. Hurst.
She checked for a brief second when she saw Elizabeth, then continued on her way.
“Miss Darcy! How delightful it is to see you!” She walked up to Georgiana and gave a little curtsy. “I promised myself I would call on you at your new place as soon as I returned to London.” She turned to her sister. “Did I not say that, Louisa? We arrived last night, and here we are! We were worried that you were lonely.”
“I do not believe you have met Mrs. Hurst, Miss Bennet. Allow me to introduce you.” Miss Darcy turned to Miss Bingley. “Thank you for your concern. I have not been lonely at all. Miss Bennet and Mrs. Annesley are here with me now.”
Clever Miss Darcy! Miss Bingley was forced to acknowledge Elizabeth and Mrs. Annesley now, though it was little more than a nod of the head.
“What a fine room this is, Miss Darcy. Your brother has chosen well. Does he visit you here often?”
Miss Bingley was unaware of it, but her statement was unfortunate. Miss Darcy was vexed. She had spent a long time redecorating the room to her own taste, and was very proud of it.
“Not very,” replied Miss Darcy, even though he often came by for tea. “He comes and goes.” Her reply could not have been more vague, nor more misleading.
Mrs. Annesley frowned a little, but she did not look up from her work.
“Are you expecting him today?”
“He has not told me he was coming.”
“Well, then, you must come to dinner,” said Miss Bingley, in a hearty voice. “To celebrate your becoming mistress of such a wonderful home. I will arrange something for the next two days, depending on when Mr. Darcy is available.”
Elizabeth swallowed back a laugh. It was only too obvious who was the object of the invitation, since Miss Bingley had not even bothered to ask Miss Darcy whenshewas available.
“I am so envious!” continued Miss Bingley, twisting a curl around her finger. “How fortunate of you to have your own home, instead of being forced to go hither and thither like so many single young ladies. You have no idea how lucky you are to have a brother like Mr. Darcy who allows you complete independence. Though I suppose I will soon be in a similar situation. Charles is talking with his man of business about a large estate he is hoping to acquire in the countryside. No doubt he will want to go there and take care of everything. I am looking forward to having a large household of my own, though I cannot imagine living in the countryside with only a handful of families for entertainment.” She sighed heavily. “I suppose my brother will expect me to arrange invitations for the local gentry. I am not looking forward to it!”
She yawned loudly, then, catching sight of her arm-bracelet, she exclaimed. “Oh, do tell me, dear Miss Darcy, did you like the bracelet I picked out for you?”
“Very much,” said Georgiana.
Miss Bingley turned to Elizabeth for the first time. Elizabeth saw from the gleam in her eye that she intended mischief, and tensed, preparing herself for the attack.
“Tell me, Miss Bennet. How is it you are here, staying with Miss Darcy? It looks like you have managed to worm your way into Mr. Darcy’s good graces.”
“And it looks like you have not,” said Elizabeth, meeting Miss Bingley head on. She had no intention of mincing her words.
Miss Bingley hissed. It was an actual hiss. Elizabeth had never heard anyone do it before, and she burst out laughing. “You may hiss as much as you please, Miss Bingley, but that will not change anything.”
Georgiana was looking at the two of them, wide-eyed. Elizabeth was vaguely aware that she was behaving very badly and was providing a terrible example for the young girl, but she could not bring herself to care.
As Miss Darcy poured the tea, her hand shook a little. Feeling bad for upsetting her, Elizabeth reached out and took the teapot gently away from her, then resumed pouring.
“How would you like your tea, Miss Bingley?”
“With cream and two spoons of sugar.”
When Miss Bingley looked away, Elizabeth surreptitiously added an extra spoonful of sugar. “Miss Darcy, could you please hand Miss Bingley the tea?”
“Yes, of course,” said Darcy’s sister, meeting her gaze.
