Her countenance brightened. “Oh, yes! I am particularly fond of reading—as you already know—and I also enjoy playing the pianoforte.”
“Ah, a lady after my own heart!” I declared. “Save for the pianoforte bit. While I do enjoy it, I play only passably well, myself, and in a house with four sisters, you can imagine that we hear that instrumentfartoo often.”
She giggled. “Fitzwilliam says he likes it when I play, but perhaps he is only trying to be kind.”
My interest pricked. “Surely not. But, ah… now that you mention him, what is your opinion of your brother’s taste in such matters? Has Mr. Darcy an appreciation for the finer things in life? Certainly, he is on your list of family to purchase a gift for, so what ought we to seek for him?”
“Well, let me see.” Georgiana’s tongue peeped over the edge of her lower lip. “Fitzwilliam has always been a great admirer of the arts. He encouraged my love for music from a young age and has often attended concerts and plays with me. Oh, and he can spend hours and hours reading a book, but never just any old book. I believe his tastes to be quite discerning.”
“Indeed,” I mused, filing away this new information about the enigmatic Mr. Darcy. “It is heartening to hear that he is a man of such refined sensibilities. One can only hope that this extends to his conduct in other areas of life as well.”
Jane sent me a warning look, but I only smiled and waited for Miss Darcy to answer.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” she replied, her brow furrowing. “I have never known anyone else who always acts above reproach. He has always been the most kind and supportive brother, and I know that he is held in high regard by those who are fortunate enough to call him a friend.”
“That is certainly high praise!” I murmured, my curiosity piqued. Here was yet another facet of Mr. Darcy’s character that I had not anticipated. The man was a puzzle! At first, I’d seen only a cold exterior. Then he had begun to show me a rather provocative side of his character—seeming to relish an argument for the sport of it, and testing me for what I would say next. And those times when he had leaned close to me… perfectly scandalous, the way he made me shiver inside! But according to his sister, he was a paragon of virtue, and his inner soul boasted a wealth of kindness and devotion.
“Elizabeth!” Jane called out suddenly, drawing my attention to a nearby stall. “Look at these exquisite little silver bells. Would they not make a lovely addition to our aunt’s collection?”
“Indeed, they would,” I agreed, momentarily distracted from my musings on Georgiana’s revelations about her brother. “Let us make haste and secure them before another eager shopper snatches them up.”
Jane and I made our purchase—pooling our coins, for the bells were dearer than I had expected—and then we were about Miss Darcy’s search again. “Now, then,” I said, “whose gift should we find first?”
“Well, I was thinking of Mrs. Reynolds. She is our housekeeper at Pemberley. Fitzwilliam always gives her something very fine, and I know my gift cannot compare. I already got her a nice thick pair of stockings, but that seems so dull and practical. But what about this?” She fingered a few exquisite handkerchiefs. “Would these not make a splendid gift? Mrs. Reynolds has always been so fond of delicate embroidery, and I would like to find something for her that is pretty.”
“Indeed, they would be perfect,” I agreed, admiring the intricate handiwork. “She will surely cherish such a thoughtful token of your affection.”
“Ah, and what of this?” Jane inquired, drawing our attention to a stall displaying watch chains. “Might one of these not make a fitting gift for some gentleman of your acquaintance?”
Her eyes lit up. “For my cousin, Richard—that is, Colonel Fitzwilliam. He is often tardy to my aunt’s soirées—my brother teases him about it mercilessly, because everyone knows Richard does it on purpose. He always claims his batman has misplaced his watch, but now he shall not have that excuse.”
I laughed. “Your cousin sounds like someone I would like to meet.”
“You would like him very much, I think. My brother thinks Richard would like you, as well.”
I narrowed my eyes. “He what?”
Miss Darcy colored. “Should I not have said that?”
“No, no, I do not think there was anything inappropriate in it, but I am curious. Why would Mr. Darcy think of me when mentioning his cousin?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Richard is like a brother to us. Fitzwilliam often defers to him for advice, and after we met you out skating… oh, I cannot remember precisely how it came about, but I think it had something to do with ladies in general, and Miss Bingley in particular, and how Richard had cautioned Fitzwilliam to distance himself from her as far as possible. And… oh, dear…” Her face fell. “I am sorry to change the subject, but I ought to find something for Miss Bingley. I only now realized I had not purchased anything at all for her, and she will most certainly be expecting some little token from me.”
“Nothing quite so genuine as a gift given out of obligation,” I muttered. “But surely, between us all, we can find something suitable. Jane? Have you any ideas?”
Jane puckered her lips and shook her head, a knowing smirk growing on her face. “You probably should not ask me that, Lizzy.”
“But I have, so let us set our minds to the task. What do you say? Perhaps something green?”
A slow grin curled Jane’s mouth. “A symbolic color, Lizzy?”
“But of course. And let me think. Something with peacock feathers seems suitable.”
Jane covered up a rather unladylike snort by pretending to cough.
“She is always admiring my handwriting when I write to her,” Georgiana offered. “I do not know why, for it is nothingthatremarkable. And she always laments how my letters are not nearly long enough to please her, but I daresay they are twice as long as what she writes back. I could find her a writing quill.”
I laughed. “A capital idea, Miss Darcy. Something tipped with green dye, if we can find such a thing.”
