“I shall miss them. And Remy,” she said.
“Me too!” added Bingley with a sigh.
It was too cold to remain out of doors, and they quickly moved inside. As they warmed themselves by the fire, Richard sidled closer. “Georgie looks too happy today. I do not have the heart to spoil it. Let us give her some time.”
Darcy nodded. “Very well, but we must tell her soon.”
“On the morrow.”
“Not a day later.”
Their agreement resolved, Darcy listened to his sister extol Miss Elizabeth’s artistic skill until she moved her attention to practicing her instrument, allowing him to return to his unfinished correspondence before dressing for dinner. Georgiana’s happiness continued throughout the evening, multiplying his torture with the knowledge that he would have to disturb it on the morrow.
He tossed and turned that night, hardly sleeping a wink before it was time to rise. He dressed, making his way to the morning parlor, expecting to see his sister in the breakfast room in her riding habit, and preparing what he would say during their morning ride. However, she wasstillin her bedchamber when he returned after going on his ride alone.
It was not until the Hursts and Miss Bingley took the carriage into Meryton to call on Miss King thatGeorgiana joined them in the billiard room. Darcy and Richard were attempting to distract Bingley from his misery and convince him that it was too soon to call at Longbourn.
Georgiana walked right up to Bingley. “Excuse me, please, but I could not sleep for concern for Miss Bennet.”
For not being able to sleep, she had slept away most of the morning. Still, at the mention of Miss Bennet, she had a captive audience in Bingley.
“Me too!” he said.
She nodded gravely. “She could not have sufficiently recovered from her cold before undergoing such a trip.”
A distance of three miles bundled up in a comfortable carriage with blankets and heated bricks at her feet and Bingley’s own footmen to carry their trunk indoors and hold umbrellas over their heads? What was Georgiana about?
Her eyes glistened. “What if Miss Bennet has taken a turn for the worse? I would feel positively wretched.”
“As would I,” agreed Bingley. “I asked my sisters if they would call with me, but they had other plans.”
Georgiana lit up. “Perfect! I would be pleased to accompany you, my brother, and Cousin Richard to Longbourn.”
Darcy nearly snapped his cue. He had cut his morning ride short and refused to venture out of doors in hopes of speaking with her about Wickham’s ghastly fate. To delay a moment longer was unacceptable,and yet they could not very well tell her the bad news now.
She circled the table, resting her hand on his arm and blinking up at him through her dark eyelashes, a trick that always got her what she wanted. “You did agree that I may make a quiet debut in the country. I would very much like to make my first social call at Longbourn with the Bennets.”
He stifled a groan, knowing he could not refuse her. When he looked to Richard for help, the coward merely rubbed his jaw and looked away.
All the way to Longbourn, Darcy cursed himself. Their horses’ hooves sank in the mud in the poorly drained fields. Grass and weeds spotted the gravel drive. The walls at the top of the house were water-stained, a sure sign that the roof needed repair. Only one boy came to take their horses. An elderly servant opened the door, soot on his cheek from the fire he no doubt kept burning and slivers of wood on the arms of his patched wool coat. He saw them into the front parlor while he called the master of the house.
Mr. Bennet joined them shortly, polishing his spectacles as he entered the room and stopping before them to make his bow. “Mr. Bingley! How good to see you, sir, and your guests.” He was a lively man with silver hair and clever eyes that crinkled at the sides as though he were laughing at a joke. Darcy could see where Miss Elizabeth’s humor came from.
Bingley performed introductions, after which Mr.Bennet turned to Darcy and Richard with a twinkle in his eye. “I trust you are enjoying the wet weather?”
Richard laughed. “So much so that we decided to tempt fate by riding out in it!”
“So I see. Shall I send for tea to warm you? I fear I have precious little else to offer you but weak tea and my own company. Mrs. Bennet and the girls are in Meryton.” This he said more for Bingley’s benefit than anyone else’s. They could rest easy that Miss Bennet was hale enough to walk into the village, thus accomplishing the purpose of their call.
Georgiana tried to hide her disappointment, but Mr. Bennet, negligent as he was with his estate, was too often surrounded by females not to notice. “It is a pity, as I am certain that my younger daughters would be enchanted to meet you, Miss Darcy. Whether the feeling will prove mutual or not, I shall let you decide.”
His comment was meant to be humorous, but Georgiana did not know how to reply. The conversation having taken an uncomfortable turn, Bingley inquired further about Miss Bennet’s health. Once he was satisfied that she was not on death’s door, they rose to take their leave.
Mr. Bennet bowed. “I wish you greater success next time.”
The clouds parted, allowing a burst of sunlight through the windows. Mr. Bennet cackled. “The weather wishes you a prompt return! And I shall do likewise to my study.” He gestured down the hall to adoor that had been closed when they arrived but which was now wide open.
Light flooded the room, illuminating a painting hanging behind the desk. Darcy’s heart lurched in his chest. Even from a distance, he knew Georgiana’s painting.
