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"I have known a great many people who always know what to say," Elizabeth answered. "Some of them ought to speak much less."

Georgiana glanced at her in surprise.

"It is true," Elizabeth continued. "Richard knows exactly what to say when he wishes to be troublesome. Saye knows exactly what to say when Richard becomes troublesome. And I, according to Lady Matlock, occasionally say the first thought in my head before discovering whether it deserves an audience."

"You do not seem afraid of people."

"I have been terribly afraid of people. I was afraid when I first came to this house. I believed everyone might be kind for a week and weary of me in the next."

"But you knew Lord Matlock loved you."

"I knew he was generous. I had not yet learned that generosity could become a home."

Georgiana considered this. "I suppose you had to trust them a little at a time."

"Exactly. I began with breakfast. It was easier than trusting them with everything at once."

At the far end of the path they came upon Saye supervising two gardeners who were debating the position of a newly ordered bench. He welcomed the young ladies and asked their opinion. Georgiana hesitated, but when Elizabeth appealed to her judgment of the view, she ventured that the bench ought to face the rose beds rather than the wall. Saye agreed immediately.

"An excellent decision," he said. "We have spent twenty minutes arriving at less."

"You were considering the direction of the sunlight," Georgiana said.

"And Miss Darcy has considered the direction in which we should prefer to look. I suspect she has the advantage of us."

They left him giving instructions to the gardeners. Georgiana's pleasure at being listened to was slight but visible, and Elizabeth refrained from mentioning it.

That evening Darcy arrived in time for dinner. He studied his sister with particular attention as she entered the dining room beside Elizabeth. Georgiana looked pale, but she was talking about the bench and describing how the roses would appear when the weather improved. It was more conversation than she had offered at their last meal together.

Richard declared that the bench was certain to become a place of conspiracies, and Saye said he had already requested that no one use it to plan an invasion of the kitchen. Georgiana joined the laughter. Darcy looked toward Elizabeth and found her watching his sister with quiet delight.

After dinner he encountered her at the door of the library.

"My aunt tells me Georgiana spent the morning with you," Darcy said.

"We enjoyed the garden. Your sister has better judgment in the placement of benches than the rest of the household."

"I am grateful to you. She has been troubled of late."

Elizabeth looked at him steadily. "I hope you do not imagine that every quiet hour is a disappointment to her, Mr. Darcy."

Darcy frowned faintly. "I should be sorry if she were unhappy in my company."

"She is not unhappy in your company," Elizabeth said. "But when you watch her so anxiously, she may begin to think that a smile is expected of her. It is difficult to be cheerful to order."

He glanced toward the drawing room. "Have I made her feel so?"

"I cannot say. Only give her time, and let her discover her courage at her own pace."

He looked toward the drawing room where Georgiana's soft voice could be heard answering Richard. "I had hoped that by keeping her close, I might make everything easier."

"I expect you have made much of it easier. But she also needs to discover that she may make mistakes without losing your esteem."

Darcy rested a hand upon the back of a chair. His face grew grave. "She has never had cause to doubt my esteem."

"You know that. She may need to learn it afresh."

The answer might have offended him from a less trusted friend. Coming from Elizabeth, whose tenderness toward Georgiana he had witnessed repeatedly, it required consideration. He knew she spoke not to accuse him but to help him understand.