“Very well, Miss Bennet. If you must make excuses for her, then we shall not argue. But only consider, how would you feel if she acted like that towards my sister?” Darcy countered. Jane looked away, blushing, and shook her head.
Bingley shook his head, “Even were she a saint, she is also fond of gossip. Nobody outside of this room knows what happened to Georgiana. For her own protection, wemustkeep it that way. Caroline tells everything to Louisa, and oncesheknows, we may as well shout it from the roof of St. Paul’s. While my sister is in residence, Miss Bennet, Georgiana cannot be seen.”
Jane sighed. “I wish we did not have to lie.”
Bingley gave her an encouraging look, and she answered it with a shaky smile. Her lip trembled, but gradually stilled. Elizabeth saw something pass between Bingley and her sister, then. A camaraderie against a common foe, a shared love for Georgiana and… something else. Somethingmore.
Aware that she was staring and that the room had become dim, she rang the bell for the servants to light the candles and ready the table for dinner. Like sleepers waking from a witch’s spell, every soul in the room arose, reluctantly summoned from the peaceful afternoon into the beckoning world beyond it.
Chapter 44
It took less than a week for everyone’s routines to be set in stone. The hours fell into place, lists of tasks for the ball were drawn up, and everyone was content to find their own amusements. They also started to know each other a little better.
For example, Caroline never came down for breakfast. She had a tray sent to her room and did not emerge until late morning. Her brother joked that it took her that long to choose a dress to wear. Elizabeth privately thought it must take her that long to sharpen her claws.
She had not warmed to Caroline Bingley at all in the seven days they had spent together. While Miss Bingley was unfailingly polite, she gave off the same delicate, unpleasant aura as an icicle. Every time Elizabeth spoke to her, she felt as if Caroline was listening to someone else. Someone who she detested, who deserved to be sneered at and criticised. Of course, Miss Bingley did none of those thingsout loud. She made the correct replies and smiled when it was warranted. But Elizabeth could not shake the feeling that shewantedto.
Her opinion of Miss Bingley was confirmed by Mrs. Reynolds. The housekeeper had attempted to hide her distaste at first, but Elizabeth realised at once that something was wrong. She couldnot persuade Mrs. Reynolds to complain about one of the ladies but successfully navigated her way around it by asking if any changes could be made for the guests’ comfort. Chiefly, what could be done for Miss Bingley, since she did not seem entirely content?
The floodgates opened. Mrs. Reynolds told her mistress that Miss Bingley was unpleasant, supercilious and demanding. She gave orders in strident tones that would befit a queen, not a mere family acquaintance. Whatever she was offered was never good enough; she demanded the very best. On occasion she had become furious at the staff, accusing them of lying to her and threatening to have them fired. Fired! By anobody!
Several times, Caroline had been discovered wandering around the house, not in the spacious living rooms but in the back rooms, servants’ quarters and intimate family rooms. When the servants stumbled across her she always said that she had lost her way, but it had happened too often to put it down to coincidence.
“She is searching the house?” Elizabeth asked, bemused, “Why?”
“I honestly have no idea, madam.” Mrs. Reynolds looked just as perplexed. “There is nothing to find.”
“Do you think she is looking for Georgiana?”
The housekeeper considered this for a moment, and then slowly shook her head. “She met Miss Darcy before her illness, I believe, but they were hardly close. Miss Darcy has always been shy, and women like Miss Bingley frightened her. I cannot imagine Miss Bingley is suddenly concerned about her. Besides, she has been told that Miss Darcy is taking the waters in Bath.”
It was a lie, regrettably, but one they had all agreed to keep. Only Caroline needed to be deceived, for now. The lie needed to bepracticed, though, for the ball was approaching. Soon it would be all the more important to keep Georgiana safely away from prying eyes.
Georgiana’s room was in the family wing, near to her brother’s. There was always at least one maid and one footman with her, and usually a member of the family as well. If Caroline saw fit to intrude upon the family quarters, then she would be discovered and turned around at once. She could have no excuse for getting ‘lost’ there and would surely not attempt it a second time.
Still, the fact that Caroline was prying made Elizabeth nervous. She told Darcy about Mrs. Reynolds’ concerns and he nodded. He was very familiar with Caroline’s odd ways and knew that she liked to be the centre of attention. For now, they decided, Miss Bingley should be gently encouraged to spend less time in the house and more time in the grounds.
Oh, and a maid should follow her at all times. Just in case she needed a cup of tea.
Without Miss Bingley’s presence, breakfast was always a pleasant affair. The assembled guests and their hosts all took their time and enjoyed each other’s company, making plans for the day together and greeting the world with a smile. Now that spring had come, sunlight streamed into the breakfast room and made it a most cheerful place.
Sometimes, when she was well enough, Georgiana was carried downstairs to join them. She was placed beside a beautiful vase of fresh-cut flowers and an open window, so that she might breathe in the gentle green scent of the waking garden. She easily met her friends’ eyes when they spoke to her and could even move her head a little to shake or nod a reply. It seemed that the need to retort to Bingley’s endless teasing had given her a burst of stubborn strength.
Darcy looked more relaxed with every passing day. While he was as much taken up with schemes against Collins as everyone else, it was clear that his sister’s improvement was a balm for his soul. He no longer looked at her with guilt, but with hope.
The soft chatter always became livelier when the footman brought the post. Every day, more invitations were returned. Bingley had warned Darcy that many people would refuse, given his fall from grace. Surprisingly few of them did.
“Vultures,” Bingley called them, picking at a wax seal. “They want to see for themselves.”
“Perhaps an invitation to Pemberley has tempted them.” Lizzie suggested, “It is a beautiful house.”
Georgiana’s eyes moved to her, shining and soft. Elizabeth could not resist going to her and kissing her cheek.
One letter, however, was far less amusing. It was addressed to Jane, who frowned when she read it. She quickly smoothed her face into its normal serenity. Beside her, Bingley had been too busy tucking in to one last sausage to notice her unease. When the sausage was conquered, he resumed chatting to her with his easy joviality.
Elizabeth had noticed Jane’s reaction, and worried about it, but she was pleased to see her sister’s smile becoming genuine in the face of Bingley’s friendliness. Lizzie suspected that even she would have struggled to cheer Jane up. Bingley was a treasure.
When they had finished their breakfast Jane approached her sister at once.
