Georgiana’s lip quivered. “I do not think he wants to raise himself by marriage, if that is what you mean.”
“If he did, would that mean the woman from a higher rank lowered herself by marrying him?”
“Most would say so,” she whispered. “But not me.”
Now they were getting somewhere. “I guess what matters is what Mr Willers thinks.”
“Mr Willers would not seek a bride solely for fortune or property,” she vowed.
Obviously not, otherwise he would have gone after Georgiana any time in the last thirteen years. But no, the stupid man had to be respectful and never make a move.
“Some men wouldn’t care if their daughter or sister married down a little,” Elizabeth said with as much casualness as she could pretend to affect. “According to your time’s values, I mean. Your brother’s view on rank and connections isn’t the same as it was when I first met him. Fitzwilliam wouldn’t care so long as you were happy, and the man had what he calls ‘a good character.’”
Georgiana gave her a wary look, and she feared she said too much. To distract her, Elizabeth added, “Fitzwilliam married me, after all, and if you judge me by nineteenth-century standards, I’m poor with no connections and I’m a product of divorce. I’m not the sort of wife suitable for a man like Mr Darcy.”
Her voice broke a little, and she hoped Georgiana wouldn’t notice. Here she was, a successful thirty-nine-year-old doubting that she was good enough for her husband. But how could she not? Anyone who knew the full truth could look at what Darcy gave up versus what he gained and think he didn’t get a good bargain.
“But he loved you,” Georgiana said with a fond smile. “I think he loved you even before you brought him here to save his life.”
She never doubted Darcy loved her, but that didn’t mean he didn’t look back with remorse. She redirected the conversation by asking, “Wouldn’t Mr Willers love this hypothetical woman who is socially a little above him?”
Georgiana flushed and nodded. “He is an upright man, honest, honourable, kind, and…and I certainly wish him every happiness if he marries.”
She leant forward a little. “If Mr Willers is leaving for personal reasons, then maybe before he leaves you should tell him how highly you?—”
“Elizabeth.”
They both started and turned round. Neither had heard Darcy and Sandra come in from the school bus. He was outwardly calm, but there was a look in his eye that told her he heard her hint. He would say nothing against her in front of Sandra, or his sister, but the disapproval poured from him.
“Mummy, is Aunt Georgiana performing this weekend?” Sandra asked, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension.
Elizabeth was glad for a reason to avoid Darcy’s eye. “No, honey, she starts Monday. She’ll sing Monday through Friday until we go to the Lakes in August with Charlotte and Mary.”
Sandra frowned. “But then I have to wait until school is out to hear her sing. That’s three more weeks. That’s not fair!”
Darcy would normally have said something about not whining, but he disregarded everyone, staring at his phone. Georgiana looked at him expectantly, hoping for his notice, but he ignored her. Elizabeth watched the small emotions of disappointment and resignation pass through Georgiana’s eyes.
“Why do I not give you your own private performance?” Georgiana said to Sandra. “Would you like to help me pick the first song?”
This attention turned around her mood, and Sandra tugged her aunt by the hand into her room and promised to line up her stuffed animals and dolls so they could all hear the concert.
Darcy didn’t say a word until he heard his sister’s voice from the other side of their apartments. “We had an agreement to not tell her about the future. There is too much at stake.”
“I didn’t,” she snapped. “But she wanted to talk about Mr Willers. Although, I think she would rather talk about Pemberley’s future with you.”
“You are talking to her enough for both of us,” he said sharply.
“I didn’t tell her she marries him or even that she should,” she cried. “I wanted to tell her to speak up if she loves him. But I’m not the one she needs to hear it from. I think she’s worried you’ll think she’s marrying down.”
Darcy shrugged. “If she wants to talk about her feelings and heartbreaks, you are a better listener than me.”
“Yeah, because female-related things like emotions are just beyond your masculine understanding. That sounds a lot like you.”
Normally when she and Darcy talked, whether on small matters or significant ones, whether they were in accord or in disagreement, he listened to her. His complete attention was on her and what she said, whether he disliked it or was captivated by it. Now, he moved around the room, putting things away that didn’t need to be put away, and then looked at his phone.
His body language screamed that he didn’t care.
She wanted to grab him by the shoulders and make him pay attention, make him demonstrate he loved her and was still glad he chose this life in this century. But she couldn’t make this about her, not when Georgiana so desperately needed her brother’s approval. The equinox would be here before they knew it.
