“Where have you put him? Have you informed Miss Darcy?”
“The colonel is in the blue drawing room, sir. Mrs Reynolds is having his usual apartment prepared. And, no, I have not yet told Miss Darcy.”
Darcy thanked and dismissed him, saying he would inform his sister himself. Why was his cousin here? He guessed that Georgiana had asked him to come, and it distressed him that she would write to Fitzwilliam and claim a need for his company without telling Darcy what she had done.
He found Georgiana in the sitting room she had taken as her own. She and Mrs Annesley were practising Italian. He apologised for interrupting them, then directed his attention to his sister, watching her carefully as he spoke.
“Hudson just informed me that our cousin Fitzwilliam has arrived. I had no notion he intended to visit.”
The flash in Georgiana’s eyes and short-lived smile on her face spoke of more than delight that he was there. Darcy turned to the older lady.
“I trust you will excuse my sister from her studies for the remainder of the day.”
The look Mrs Annesley gave Georgiana was disapproving, and he had the impression she suspected Georgiana had known Fitzwilliam was expected. He took his sister away. Hersteps were lighter than usual, and as they approached the stairs, he indicated they should stop for a moment.
“Did you ask him to come?”
She bit her lips together and did not seem inclined to speak.
Keeping his tone even to show he was not angry, he said, “I would like an answer, please.”
Darcy was left with the view of the top of Georgiana’s head for what felt like a full minute before she lifted her chin and glanced at him, their eyes meeting for a second.
“I wrote to him when you told me she would be at Pemberley.”
Darcy sighed. It was ridiculous to him that she would not even say Elizabeth’s name. “To which ‘she’ do you refer? Miss Bennet, I assume?” When she nodded, he continued. “What harm has she done you since she and the Bingleys have been here? She does not even ask that you speak to her. I wish I understood why even seeing her disturbs you so greatly, and I wish you had told me that you had written to Fitzwilliam.”
Again, she was silent, and Darcy wondered when he would no longer worry that every word he spoke, every action he took, would cause his sister an injury.
“Well, let us go and greet him, shall we?” He held out an arm to her, offering his support as they descended the stairs and went to their cousin together.
As soon as she saw him, Georgiana flung herself into Fitzwilliam’s arms, greeting him as though he had come to rescue her from a horde of highwaymen. Darcy gritted his teeth.
I suppose I have only myself to blame if that is how she feels. I convinced her that having Elizabeth and the Bingleys here for a few days would not be difficult. Who am I to say what she can and cannot bear?
The spiteful looks his cousin gave him only worsened Darcy’s mood. Fortunately, while the three of them were together, no mention was made of Elizabeth. That changed when Fitzwilliam asked Georgiana to return to her apartment.
“I want to have a chat with your brother.” As soon as they were alone, Fitzwilliam said, “Are you mad?” He sat across from Darcy, his arms spread and one foot resting on the opposite knee, taking up as much space as possible.
“No, I am not mad, and you had no reason to come here in such haste.” A deep fatigue settled over Darcy. How many times had he and his cousin spoken of Elizabeth over the last year? He had no desire to listen to Fitzwilliam again tell him why a union between them would be wrong.
“Elizabeth Bennet is staying under your roof, and you think there is nothing amiss with the situation? Forget how difficult it is for you to see her—you are free to cause yourself as much distress as you like, though I fail to see the charm in it—asking Georgiana to play hostess to Wickham’s sisters?—”
“We both know it is Elizabeth’s presence you—and Georgiana—object to, not Mrs Bingley’s. Georgiana is letting an irrational fear rob her—and, yes, me—of the opportunity to have Elizabeth as part of our family. Why do you refuse to understand how much Georgiana would benefit by it? There is no more sympathetic, understanding woman.”
Fitzwilliam gave a dismissive wave. “I know you believe it, but it is too great a risk to take. What if you were wrong? Consider what that would do to her.”
“I amnotwrong. Georgiana says she is afraid she would have to see Wickham. Since that is the sum of her argument?—”
“You cannot say it would not happen. If Elizabeth were your wife, and her sister turned up at the door, seeking shelter,do you think she would turn her away, even if Wickham was with her?”
“Yes.” Speaking over Fitzwilliam, who surely intended to call him a fool, Darcy continued. “For Georgiana’s sake and for mine, she would, even without me asking it of her.”
Fitzwilliam shook his head. “We are never going to agree. Well, like it or not, if she and the Bingleys are at Pemberley, so shall I be. The only other choice is that I take Georgiana to Romsley Hall with me today.”
“What my father was thinking to make you one of her guardians—” Darcy ran his hands through his hair. “Have it your own way, but remember they are my guests—people I consider friends. If you cannot treat them with respect and politeness, you will leave—withoutmy sister. Elizabeth and the Bingleys will not be here much longer.” Darcy stood and strode from the room, wanting to be far away from his cousin.
Jane, Bingley, and Elizabeth were informed of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s arrival upon their return that afternoon, but Elizabeth did not see him until dinner. She delayed joining the others until directly before they would go into the dining room. She and the colonel greeted each other politely but exchanged no other words.
