“Really? Why do we not head there right now and you can prove it to me?”
Darcy glanced over his desk, seeing the work which had piled up over the last week. Georgiana would not return for hours. “Challenge accepted. I can always pick this back up later today.”
~ / ~
Lady Matlock and Georgiana spent hours choosing fabric, discussing designs and finalizing two dozen dresses for evening events, dinners, concerts, plays and one very fine ball gown.
Afterwards they went to Gunters to rest their feet and enjoy the ices. It was a reward for all their hard work.
“We shall have to see if we can get your name added to the list for your curtsey before the Queen.”
“I am not concerned. If I do not, it is just as well.”
“Georgie, the curtsey is a very important part of your coming out.”
“For whom?”
“Pardon?”
“To whom shall it matter if I made my curtsey or not?”
“Georgiana, lower your voice.” Lady Matlock hissed.
“Aunt,” she spoke very quietly, “At the end of the day I do give my curtsey before the Queen, I will still be me. I hope to find a good and kind man to love and who will love me in return. I do not care for all the social posturing, the prevarications, the backstabbing. I am a country girl, and such is how I wish to raise my family, as well.”
“Georgiana, I am shocked. I knew you wanted a soft entrance, but is this why? I blame Fitzwilliam for this lack of aspiration.”
“No, Aunt, this is all me. During our travels I met so many varied people, and do you know what I discovered? Well, we are who we are no matter our background. One can find good people in the simplest, most poorly made clothing, and vicious and manipulative people dressed in the finest ensembles available.”
“Your marriage-”
“I will be careful about introductions; however, the basis of my marital relationship will be affection and respect. My parents werefortunate enough to wed for love, and I deserve the same. As does Will.”
“So, if you should happen to fall for the heir to an earldom?” The older lady leant forward in anticipation.
“I shall not hold it against him.” She twinkled a smile at her aunt and both ladies erupted into soft giggles.
Lady Matlock grabbed her niece’s hands and squeezed it. “You dear girl. How you remind me of your mother.” She dabbed at her eye with her handkerchief. “Now, Lady Stapleton is giving a dinner party and when she heard you were in town and finally out, she insisted we come to her dinner party. It will not be a small affair, but perhaps we will omit that detail when telling your brother…”
~ / ~
Later that evening, Darcy’s expression turned stormy as his party entered Lord and Lady’s Stapleton’s drawing room. The “small affair” was most definitely not small. It looked like there were over two dozen couples already present, amongst them were several young men and ladies.
A tightening pressure on his arm called him back to Georgiana beside him. “Brother, pray relax your face lest the company feel you are judge, jury and executioner.”
“Were you aware this was not the intimate dinner I was led to believe?”
The slight pink washing her cheeks gave him the answer. He pressed his hand over her laying on his arm. “Georgiana, I have firmly backed your desires for a soft coming out. You will do me the honour of respecting my wishes in return. Manipulation and obfuscation are beneath you.”
She could not meet his eyes. “I apologise, William. It will not happen again.”
He patted her hand and only said, “Very good.” Then he sighed, “I am still in mourning, I will not have my reputation become a topic of discussion amongst the gossips of London.”
“Our aunt thinks we Darcys will be so in demand, theTonwill not dare spread negative talk.” Now it was Georgiana’s turn to sigh. “Apparently, we shall both be very much in demand.”
Darcy made a sound which was very much like a grunt.
Lord and Lady Matlock came around their side, swanning into the drawing room before them. “Come, Fitzwilliam, Georgiana. There are people I wish to introduce you to.”
