“Practice with me some, and we can do duets regularly. I would like that very much.”
“I would as well.” Elizabeth smiled at Georgiana, and Georgiana smiled back at her.
Then Georgiana added, “I am very glad Fitzwilliam married you. He is… happy. Different — I was wholly surprised, when I received his letter which informed me that when he returned to Pemberley for Christmas, it would be with his wife. In just two weeks — I hardly knew what to think. I was happy… but…”
“Confused and scared.”
“I’d never imagined he would behave in such a way… so… quick. And he… he always told me about the importanceof marrying well, and marrying a solid man who would make a good alliance for the family and where I would add to his fortune, rather than him living off of mine.”
“And you knew I was penniless, or the nearest thing to it.”
“It shocked me.”
“I was exceedingly surprised as well to find myself engaged to him,” Elizabeth replied quietly. She stared at the ceiling.
“You did not know that he would ask you to marry?”
Elizabeth felt the pain of that day, and even though she had begun to accustom herself to her new life as Mrs. Darcy, even though she had found a great deal to admire and like in Mr. Darcy…
It would be both impossible, and likely unwise, to give Georgiana the details of the day. Certainly she could not tell Georgiana that Mr. Darcy had never asked her if she wanted to marry him,andthat if hehadasked her, she would have refused him.
“Was that why you were so quiet at first? Were you worried that your brother had married a fortune hunter? I know there must have been rumors to that nature, little Juliacannothave been the only one to think that way.”
“Oh, no! Not Fitzwilliam. I was surprised, but he… he…” She shrugged. “I only was quiet because I find it very hard to speak to strangers.”
“I have noticed,” Elizabeth replied dryly.
Georgiana laughed. “I ought to be less shy, but it is difficult.”
Elizabeth nodded. It was exceedingly difficult, perhaps impossible, for a person to change their nature. Though what Georgiana perhaps needed was simply confidence and the opportunity to spend more time in unfamiliar company.
“I’m always so astonished to watch you speak withpeople,” Georgiana enthused. “I would never have been able to argue with Lady Matlock. I just wear whatever Lady Susan tells me to.”
“And it looks very well on you.”
Georgiana blushed, flattered. “Everyone says that my cousin is one of the best dressed women in England.”
“She has devoted her life to it, like you do with the piano.”
“I do love to play.”
“That is howyouspreadbeautyinto the world,” Elizabeth replied. “I now must determine what methodIought to use to spread it.”
“Why don’t you listen to her advice?”
“I have dressed myself for many years, and I will not have my clothing choices made for me. It ismychoice.”
“Perhaps you shouldtrygoing to Madame Aubert — One does not know how they will feel about a thing until they have done that.”
“Very wise.”
“Fitzwilliam told me that.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I still do not plan to purchase more than fifty pounds in a year of clothes.”
“Why are you so insistent on that?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “It is a painful subject.”
