She said in a low-toned, pitying voice, “I know.”
Darcy said, “Let us breakfast. Your favorites are cooked and prepared — I have a surprise gift for you.”
“Fitzwilliam, you — I wish you would allow me to marry Mr. Peake. I wish you could give us your blessing, that you could…accept that I choose not to have your pride, our family pride. I am happy being humble, not living up to our legacy.”
“What are you talking of? We have settled matters.”
She cried.
“Oh, Georgie. I am sorry that I have hurt you. That you still hurt. Oh oh, my poor sister. But you will eventually learn to like him less, and forget him and—”
“I will not forget Mr. Peake.”
“You will, you forgot Mr. Wickham, and you—”
“Donotcompare them.” Georgiana rose up, and wiped off her eyes. “I shall notarguewith you. But the men are entirely different. And you… Fitzwilliam, you are too certain of yourself.”
“You had accepted that your engagement to Mr. Peake had been a mistake, like you know Wickham had been a mistake.”
Georgiana looked at her hands again.
This was not what Darcy had expected today. He wanted to see her happy. “You are not — you have…you have not been unhappy. Not very.”
“I stopped blaming you,” Georgiana replied. Her voice was tinny. “I do not blame you in any way. You are who you are.”
“He is a tradesman, and he brings nothing to the family, and he was not educated in the way you were.”
“I know.”
“We will have a wonderful time today. Let me call in your chief birthday present. He arrived yesterday morning.”
Georgiana smiled softly. “I heard horses and coming and going yesterday. But I was good, and did not attempt to discover.”
The famed concert pianist, Mr. Maier was brought in, and Georgiana smiled when the man bowed to her.
“Mr. Maier,” Georgiana smiled and said sweetly, “I am delighted to meet you.”
“I as well to make acquaintance of such a talented girl. I care nothing for the silliness of those others. It is your love for the art — I heard you five years past play. Remarkable skill for a woman of your age, with the natural deficit of your position in society.”
“For a time I abandoned the craft. I believed… It is not important. I was younger and more foolish.”
“You have the basis. If you had not played until you were fifteen nothing could be done. Without steady application as a child you cannot become truly great. But damage from an extended break once full grown is remediable. Mr. Darcy said you wish to regain your past facility.”
“I do.”
“I am yours for the next two months, to learn from.”
“Oh.” Georgiana closed her eyes, as though in pain. “This is your present? It is so thoughtful. It is so—”
“I only wish you to be happy.” Darcy looked at her. “I perhaps have too much eagerness to see you play again; you had planned to take lessons from Mr. Maier after the summer that year.”
“I remember…”
“Then you are happy?”
Georgiana bit her lips. “Mr. Maier, forgive me, but I must have a conversation with my brother. I look forward to speaking with you at greater length.”
“Yes, Miss Darcy.” He bowed and after quickly looking between the two retired from the room.
