At this, Georgiana at last spoke. “It was Mr O’Donnell who ran to alert us to danger, though by such time it had already passed. He tried to come to our aid, Mr Jefferson.”
Jefferson lifted a brow. “I beg your pardon, Madam, but things may not be as they seem. As Miss Bennet has surmised, someone from the house must have been involved in the attempt, and naturally upon its failure, such a person would wish to appear innocent.”
“How can we know it was not someone from the stables, or even the gardens?” Elizabeth protested. “No secret was made of our destination, so many must have known. Mr O’Donnell does not have about him the air of a traitor to his mistress.”
The steward’s expression flashed with cynicism, and Elizabeth bristled, for she immediately understood the cause. Of course, he assumed that naïve young ladies would be deceived by a well-favoured footman! “Mr O’Donnell is relatively new at Pemberley, and his family has been in some distress. Many such find their loyalty to their employer less valuable than a full purse, Miss Bennet.”
The ladies shared an uncomfortable silence. The tall young footman had been a cheerful guardian these last weeks, often requesting duty near his mistress, assisting with the restoration of the library, taking extended shifts, standing escort at the slightest need—in short, offering services beyond his duties. He had seemed to Elizabeth and Lydia yet one more example of the graciousness of Pemberley, but now the seeds of suspicion left a bitter taste, casting all into doubt.
Elizabeth wetted her lips to speak, then thought better of it. Instead she gazed steadily at Georgiana, who was blinking as though she were about to faint. Her fingers tightened on Elizabeth’s hand, but she understood what was wanted of her clearly enough. She drew a breath, set her teeth, and rose to her feet. She glanced once to Elizabeth, meeting a smile of encouragement, then turned back to her steward. “Please carry on, Mr Jefferson. After each person has been questioned, please send both Mrs Reynolds and Mr Hodges to me, as well as Mr Williams from the stable, and Mr Bishop from the gardens.”
Jefferson bowed properly. “Yes, Miss Darcy. We will discover the truth, I promise.”
He had scarcely finished speaking when another footman appeared at the door and turned stoically to make his presentation. “Lady Catherine de Bourgh, ma’am.”
Chapter thirty-one
“MissElizabethBennet.”LadyCatherine swept her gaze over the three girls, seemingly unsurprised at the identity of at least one of Georgiana Darcy’s guests. Her eyes narrowed faintly as she appraised Lydia, then settled once more upon her niece.
“Lady Catherine,” Elizabeth curtseyed, but she was ignored.
“Georgiana Darcy, I trust you have not entirely forgotten your manners, despite evidence to the contrary,” Lady Catherine spoke coolly, flicking another look toward Lydia.
Georgiana, still shaken by the events of the morning, seemed pale and drawn as she considered her aunt’s demand. Her mouth trembled, her eyes darting first to Elizabeth, and then Lydia. “I—forgive me, Aunt. May I present Miss Elizabeth’s sister, Mrs Lydia Wickham. She… she is here as my guest.”
The haughty brow lifted. “Wickham! I have heard of this woman. Kinswoman to my parson and wed to the dissolute son of a steward! A patched-up job indeed,” the cold eyes passed once more over Lydia’s form. “I am surprised at you, Georgiana Darcy, for receiving such a woman into your house. It proves that things are as bad here as I had feared. You may, of course, be forgiven your youth, butyou, Miss Bennet,” she turned to Elizabeth, “you of age by now, are you not? Are you yet so naïve as to assume a fallen woman could associate with Georgiana Darcy of Pemberley? Or have you other motives in coming here?”
Elizabeth saw the flared nostrils, the flash of rebellion in her sister’s eyes, but she shook her head faintly, then smiled at the lady. “My sister is respectably married to a lieutenant in the Regulars, my lady, who is not always at liberty to entertain his wife. As for my interests, they are certainly the same as yours, Lady Catherine—to attend and console Miss Darcy by whatever means I may. It was most considerate of your ladyship to have come so far to comfort her.”
The lady frowned. “Comfort her! Nonsense. She may be young, but she is the mistress of Pemberley. She must be advised and governed, not coddled! I suppose it was Fitzwilliam’s notion to supply her with impractical company, that she might be kept happily installed here at Pemberley without the benefit of proper female relations. Georgiana Darcy, where is your cousin? I would speak with him.”
“He is… why, Richard has gone—” she bit her lip and rolled her eyes toward her friends as she fumbled for an explanation.
“He is away on estate business, my lady,” Elizabeth interjected. “He will be delighted to see that your ladyship has arrived, for we expect his return at almost any moment.”
“So soon! That is well. I shall depend upon him to make certain arrangements. I seem to recall, Miss Bennet, that your father cannot long do without you. He must be wishing for your return.” The hawkish gaze leveled in satisfaction, and the corner of her mouth lifted, but then creased darkly when Elizabeth spoke again.
“Not at all, my lady. As a matter of fact, I had a letter from him recently, and he asked most specifically after Miss Darcy’s wellbeing. As a parent of young ladies and master of property himself, my father appreciates the difficulties of her position, and was pleased to think that our family might be of service.”
Lady Catherine’s frown deepened. “Of what true benefit can the burden of guests be at such a time? And who is looking to matters of the estate? I wonder at the wisdom of your guardian, Georgiana, leaving you all here without proper escort. How long has Fitzwilliam been away?”
“Some days, my lady,” Elizabeth answered quickly. It was no falsehood—it was merely imprecise. “Your ladyship may be assured that he was reluctant to take his leave, but that it was a matter of the greatest import, and in the interests of Miss Darcy.”
Lady Catherine’s gaze had turned to ice. “I was speaking to my niece, if you please, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth bit her lip, chastened.You are not helping Georgiana!She tilted her head slightly to offer a look of encouragement to the young girl, one which could not be perceived by her aunt. Georgiana was still quaking and had actually taken a step or two backward. She met Elizabeth’s eyes with an imploring look of her own.
Lady Catherine’s cane stabbed the carpet. “Now then, Georgiana Darcy, how long has your cousin been away, and whence did he go? I shall have a straight answer this time!”
Georgiana’s eyes had dropped to the floor, but she lifted them again to Elizabeth before replying. Elizabeth made a faint gesture with her hand, a motion drawing upward toward her heart. She tipped her chin and offered a dazzling smile, lifting her shoulders into a cheerful poise. Lydia seconded the hint with a noise that was part laugh, part cough, and some light came to Georgiana’s eyes. Elizabeth nodded and drew herself back, as Georgiana seemed to perceive her meaning.
The girl cleared her throat, then squared her posture in precisely the same manner as she had seen Elizabeth do. When she spoke, her voice was light and easy, with no trace of distress. “He has been gone since he went away, Aunt, to the place where his business led, and he shall be back the moment we see his carriage.”
Lydia fairly snickered, and Georgiana’s cheeks were bright with both triumph and embarrassment. Elizabeth was rolling her eyes and smiling, but Lady Catherine was not amused.
“Impertinent girl! It is clear to me, Georgiana Darcy, that you want for discipline! Too long have you been left to your own follies,” here, the lady sent a chilling glare toward the Bennet sisters, “and I have thought little enough of that companion of yours.Her, I will dismiss forthwith. As for what is to be done withyou, it is obvious that such liberty and unfettered privilege as you have been permitted has nearly ruined you. You shall accompany me to Rosings at once, where you will be reeducated properly and a suitable husband will be found before your respectability is permanently jeopardised.”
Georgiana emitted a small squeak of dismay, her eyes bulging as her former spark of bravado flickered and died. Elizabeth caught her hand, which had lifted defensively, but it was irreverent Lydia who dared to answer.
