“Yes, I will give it to you, Georgiana, once the trunks have been brought up and unpacked.”
She nodded. “Of course. Meanwhile, Miss Bingley, I am sure you will want to refresh yourself after your long journey. Mrs. Reynolds will see to your accommodation. Dinner should be ready soon.”
She indicated the housekeeper, who was back, waiting for a signal. As Darcy was about to move past her to the stairs, she caught his sleeve and held him back. She was looking pleased with herself.
“William, I have invited a guest to dine with me tonight. She is in the parlor with Mrs. Annesley. Would you like to meet her?”
A guest? Someone he did not know? He hoped Georgiana had not gotten herself into trouble. His impression from Mrs. Reynolds was that she was completely desolate. From Georgiana’s cheerful expression, this was not the case. What was going on?
“Of course I would like to meet her,” he said, trying not to show his consternation. Had she learned nothing from her ordeal? “Then I really must go up and change. Cook will have my head if we delay dinner so much the food is spoiled.”
He was more than curious to discover this unusual person who had somehow wrangled an invitation out of Georgiana. It was not like his sister to be impulsive, and, really, he was not sure how he felt about her inviting a stranger to Pemberley when he was away. It was highly irregular.
“I am coming with you,” Bingley chimed in.
“Do you have nothing better to do?”
“Nothing at all,” said Bingley, cheerfully.
There was no way of stopping Bingley when he had set his mind on something, so Darcy didn’t even try. “Well, then, lead the way, Georgiana.”
Georgiana walked ahead with a light and eager step. Darcy had expected her to be down in doldrums, but this new acquaintance of hers seemed to have somehow brought her out of it. They must have met soon after he left. Normally, he would have been delighted, but bitter experience – in the shape of Mrs. Younge – had taught him not to trust anyone.
As he stepped into the parlor, his eyes went immediately from Mrs. Annesley to the other occupant of the room. He was astonished to see she was a young lady who could not have been more than twenty. She was dressed in a fashionable but simpledinner muslin, finely embroidered with delicate green sprigs, a pretty silk shawl and matching silk slippers.
“Oh, Mr. Darcy. You have returned!” said Mrs. Annesley, stepping forward and blocking his view.
He was obliged, of course, to give Mrs. Annesley his whole attention. She was a kind of relative of theirs – through one of those convoluted family trees that someone could point to on paper but were impossible to work out otherwise. Darcy had only met her once, but his cousin Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam knew her reasonably well. Since Richard shared with him the role of Georgiana’s guardian, Darcy accepted the recommendation gratefully. Georgiana needed a companion, and Mrs. Annesley, while not ideal, was at least trustworthy.
He bowed. “Mrs. Annesley. I hope you are settling in well at Pemberley?”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I am very comfortable, and it has been delightful to get to know Miss Darcy. And may I say, welcome home.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Annesley.” He turned to the other lady in the room. “Would you like to introduce me to your acquaintance, Georgiana?”
While his sister did the introductions, Darcy took the opportunity to examine the young lady. To his surprise, he found that, he, too, was being closely assessed by a pair of dark eyes. He did not know quite what to make of the young lady’s direct manner, but she met his gaze straight on. He was accustomed to blushing young ladies with lowered eyelashes. He found it disconcerting.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Bennet. I do not believe I have heard of anyone with this name in this part of Derbyshire. Are you from these parts?”
“No. I am from Hertfordshire. My father owns an estate near the town of Meryton.
“And are you here with your family?”
“I am taking a tour of the area with my aunt and uncle.”
“Ah. Are they Bennets as well?”
Miss Bennet gave him a half smile. “If we are to continue this conversation, Mr. Darcy, may I sit down? My tea is getting cold.” Her eyes were twinkling.
He could scarcely believe his ears. Hewasbeing appallingly rude to leave the ladies standing. But did she really have the gall to take him to task? Under his own roof, no less? What impudence!
As if reading his thoughts, her lips twitched. Was shelaughingat him? His mind reeled.
“By all means let us sit down, Miss Bennet,” said Bingley, casting him an odd look. Another reminder that Darcy was forgetting his manners. “I could do with some refreshments.”
Darcy had been caught off guard, his world tilting just a little. He needed to recover his balance.
“I am not planning to take tea,” he said, “I had better dress for dinner. I need to refresh myself after our long journey.” He caught himself echoing Georgiana’s words to Miss Bingley. It was an indication of how unsettled he was.
