Georgiana then turned to her footman. “Dunn, pray direct Gibbs to the stalls with the exotic birds.”
“Very well, miss.”
They waited a few minutes until the carriage approached, and then they were off.
Half an hour later, the carriage pulled up before a shop that catered to exotic animals and birds.
The two women entered the small London shop to find it crowded with cages of exotic birds, monkeys, squirrels, and even white mice. The air was filled with fluttering wings, bright chatter, and the peculiar scent of straw and seed.
As they walked along the narrow aisles, Georgiana suddenly stopped before the smallest, most brilliantly colored birds.
“Look, Lizzy,” she said softly. “What vibrant colors. I love this bright yellow lovebird.”
The keeper approached with a practiced smile. “We always sell them in pairs, miss, so they will not be lonesome.”
Georgiana’s eyes widened. “May I touch one?”
“Yes, miss. Those are not trained, but you may handle my little pet.”
He disappeared briefly, then returned with a small blue parrot perched upon his fingers. He offered it carefully to Georgiana and then placed a pinch of seed in her palm.
They remained there for a quarter hour, diverted by the little bird, which chirped and displayed its tricks for their amusement. Even the footmen appeared entertained.
At last, Georgiana turned to Elizabeth. “I am going to purchase a pair, Lizzy. They will give me something to occupy my mind.”
She purchased a cage, a pair of love birds, and a small bag of seed.
The keeper offered last-minute instructions. “Miss, they eat fruits and root vegetables. They will take sallet, and you may feed them leftover egg or beans as well.”
Georgiana laughed. “Lizzy, I shall eat breakfast in my room with my birds while Fitzwilliam is away.”
At the mention of his name, his handsome form rose at once in Elizabeth’s mind, and she felt a sudden longing to see him again. She imagined brushing back the unruly lock that so often fell upon his brow, and the thought of his nearness brought a warm color to her cheeks. Startled by her own indulgence, she checked herself and turned her attention back to Georgiana and the lovebirds. The purchases were paid for, and Dunn was given the cage and birdseed to carry.
From there, they moved on to the monkeys.
Both women were permitted to hold the tiny primates. They were affectionate little creatures, clinging sweetly to their hands. Elizabeth could not help wishing for one herself, though she knew it was entirely out of the question. Instead, she contented herself with holding little Jacko for a few minutes longer.
When it was time to leave, they returned the monkeys to the keeper and stepped back out into the street.
As they sat in the carriage, the birdcage resting on the opposite seat, Georgiana said quietly, “Lizzy, it worked. I did not think of Wickham once all day, until now.”
Elizabeth studied her friend’s face. “How do you go on? Are you still frightened?”
Georgiana shook her head. “No. I am more angry than frightened. We should never have suffered what we did but for a kitchen servant who admitted that degenerate man because she preferred him.”
Her voice tightened. “That means he spent time in our kitchens or meeting privately with the girl. And he held power over Mrs. Younge as well. He must be a very charismatic man, do you not think?”
Elizabeth considered, recalling the two occasions she had been in his company.
“I have met him only twice. Once at Aunt Phillips’s, at a card party, and the second time when he was making an indecent proposal to my fifteen-year-old sister.”
Her expression hardened.
“He is very handsome, as you saw, and his voice is well modulated. His manners are exquisite. I can easily see why women trust him.” She frowned. “His face and manners are very ingratiating.”
Four days passed pleasantly enough for the two young women at Darcy House, and then, one morning as they breakfasted in Georgiana’s room, everything changed.
Georgiana was feeding bits of scrambled egg to her birds by hand when a tap sounded at the door.
