He knew immediately who she meant, and it filled him with fury to think that the man dared raise his eyes to Elizabeth. “My aunt’s rector, I assume. You would be wasted on him.” The words came out before he realized how improper they were.
She smiled at his discomfort, but kindly, as if understanding him. “From his descriptions of your aunt, I cannot imagine she would be pleased to discover he had married an impertinent miss with no sense of decorum.”
“I would hardly describe you that way, Miss Elizabeth,” he said. “Still, I do not imagine you would enjoy Lady Catherine’s acquaintance greatly.”
Her eyes danced. “You would not describe me as impertinent?”
How neatly she had trapped him with the sharp sword of her wit! And how he loved fencing like this with her. “Upon occasion, perhaps” he allowed. “It does not necessarily follow that is always unwelcome.”
Georgiana said, “I think you are absolutely wonderful, and I am glad you did not marry that man, for otherwise I would never have met you.”
If only Darcy could allow himself to say such things to her! If only he did not have to marry a woman with better connections! But he could not permit himself even to dream of that.
Or that someday he was going to have to face the idea that another man would marry his Elizabeth.
Darcy hated it when Georgiana cried. He was supposed to protect her from anything that would hurt her. He had failed with Wickham, and now again. No matter how brief her acquaintance with Elizabeth was, she was the first person Georgiana had shown any interest in since Ramsgate.
But in this case, he felt as bereft as Georgiana.
“I wish I could at least write to her,” his sister sobbed.
“It would be hard to explain, since as far as the rest of the world knows, you have never met her.” If people discovered they had been at Netherfield secretly, they would start asking why, and that would draw unwanted attention to Georgiana.
“I know, but I still wish it.”
There must be something he could do to help. “Bingley will be living here again soon. When you feel able to be in company again, we could pay him a visit, and then you can be formally introduced to Elizabeth. After that, you can write as much as you want.”
And he could see Elizabeth again. A brief taste of happiness, and then even more memories to break his heart over. He would do it, though. It was impossible to resist.
Georgiana dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief. “Could we?” The relief in her voice made him feel even more guilty, as if somehow he was the one depriving her of her friend.
“When you are ready.” Not that there had been any sign of that so far. His sister hated even having the servants see her.
She took a deep breath. “I could start practicing. Maybe paying a call or two, to people whom I know are at least kind.”
His sister would never have agreed to such a scheme a week ago, and now she was suggesting it herself. All thanks to Elizabeth and her indomitable spirit. “We can do that,” he said, careful not to push her.
She sat silently for a few minutes, and he prayed that she was not going to think better of the plan. Then she said, “I have an idea.”
Chapter 6
Elizabethhadonlybeenin London two days when the Gardiner’s maid sought her out in the nursery. “You have callers, miss.”
Elizabeth looked up from the book she was reading to her little cousin. “For me? Surely they are looking for my aunt.” The only people who even knew she was in London were friends of the Gardiners.
“No, they asked for you.” The maid held out a card to her. “A gentleman and his sister.”
Heat raced through her as she pretended to examine the calling card. No need to read the name, even though her eyes wanted to linger on every letter of it, just like her fingertips wanted to cling to the tiny card that he had touched.
She had been trying so hard to forget him since her arrival in London two days ago, and now he was here. Why? Even at home,where he was well acquainted with her family, he had not called on her, much less bent his pride to appear in Cheapside. And his sister had been avoiding all social contacts. Why was she now seeking out a stranger's household?
And why were they not still at Netherfield? Georgiana had said they were staying through Twelfth Night.
It meant nothing. No doubt Georgiana had wished to see her, and Mr. Darcy had chosen to degrade himself in order to help his sister. He was not the one who was there to see her, and she needed to remember that.
She was not dressed for morning calls. Should she change first? But no, she would not give in to trying to meet impossible expectations; they had seen her when she had been clambering through the Netherfield orchard.
But she would rather not face Mr. Darcy alone. Closing the book and excusing herself, she hurried to Mrs. Gardiner's sitting room and informed her of their illustrious callers.
