“What!” Both Jane and Elizabeth sputtered together, staring at each other and then their mother wide eyed.
Mrs. Bennet sat up higher on the sofa and said with an air of dignity, “You did not believe it an accident that Jane was born eight months after our wedding?”
The sisters looked at each other. Elizabeth asked Jane in a hesitating voice, “Did you and Bingley ever…”
“No, never!” Jane replied in a shocked voice. “Of course I did not!”
Mrs. Bennet sniffed. “The worse for you and Bingley. Elizabeth, you should have given them more space during all of those walks — you were a quite poor chaperone. Entirely different frommysister.”
Elizabeth looked wide-eyed at her mother.
“Lizzy was a perfect chaperone!” Jane exclaimed.
“Surely not…” Georgiana looked around at all three of them. “I cannot believe anygoodwoman would—”
“Believe it!” Mrs. Bennet spoke firmly. “I did, Lady Lucascertainlydid. I remember her, they were much poorer then, and I was still a girl, but she wasshowingwith Charlotte’s bump on the day the marriage was solemnized. Sir William had not been too eagerthenfor her, so they waited till the babe quickened to start the banns.” Mrs. Bennet laughed disgustedly. “Nowshe hurts a perfectly sweet girl to gain position over me by harmingmy daughter’sguest.”
Elizabeth could not repress helpless, horrified giggles at the story and the very unwanted information about Jane’s conception.
Jane laughed with her, followed by Georgiana and Mrs. Bennet.
The children gathered around the adults, begging to be told what was so funny.
Jane picked Bennet up and swung him around. “An adult matter — quite boring.”
Mrs. Bennet beamed adoringly at the children. “You must be hungry after all that running! Lemon tart? Do you want? Come with me to the kitchen.”
Elizabeth smiled to herself; it was notwiseto feed children sugary treats so early in the morning, but they both happily clapped at the promise. Jane went with Mrs. Bennet, but Georgiana hung back, and from her expression Elizabeth saw she wished to say something to her alone. Mr. Hume hopped onto Elizabeth’s lap. Georgiana folded her hands together and looked to the side, demurely sitting in a graceful curve on the sofa.
Elizabeth smiled encouragingly. “The two of us, we shall be good friends.”
“You could see I frightened, when your mother suggested a large group.”
“Shyness is no reason for shame.”
Georgiana smiled and ducked her head. “I cannot even correct servants when they are wrong for fear of giving offense.”
Elizabeth laughed, and slowly petted the lightly purring cat on her lap. “Good servants can be dreadfully hard to correct.”
Georgiana smiled, but she then gripped her hands tightly together and twisted them around.
“Out with it. Out. What is on your mind?” Elizabeth smiled comfortingly.
“You quarreled with my brother again — Bingley said.”
“Ah.”
“Please, I wish us to be dear friends as well — Fitzwilliam is so good. Do not smile with that doubting manner. He is!”
Elizabeth replied in a philosophical tone. “What is goodness?”
“My fault put you at odds. He was in an ill mood after Sir William banned my attendance.Iinsisted he attend the assembly nevertheless and…”
“You need not defend your brother. His behavior and opinions are his own.”
“He was so angry I’d been refused entry. I do not even desire to go to a ball. Not much. I would only like to watch one once, and dance a set with Fitzwilliam — pray, think kindly of him…”
“I blame him no longer for the night of the ball. Yesterday, he irked me with no excuse of ill temper.”
