“I don’t understand how you can appear so cheerful in social situations if you aren’t actually enjoying yourself,” said Georgiana. “I genuinely try, but I can’t count the number oftimes I’ve heard others call me spiritless or boring when they think I can’t hear them.”
“It is because I am not pretending,” said Mary. “I appear cheerful, because I am cheerful. I do enjoy meeting new people and conversing with others. I learn so much about the world around me in the process. However, like you, I do not enjoy the crowds or the chaos. When I am chatting with a person, I do my best to ignore everything else so that it does not become overwhelming.”
“I see,” said Georgiana. “I shall try that. I don’t know if it will help me as much as it has helped you, though. You are far more accomplished than I am.”
“Accomplishments mean nothing,” said Mary more forcefully than she meant to. After a pause, she clarified. “They are not worthless. Everything you learn gives you something new to discuss with others. However, simply having accomplishments does not automatically make a person interesting. The confidence you see, which I certainly don’t, is likely simply a matter of practice. I am certain you are more confident now than when you first came out.”
“I suppose,” said Georgiana. “But it is difficult to be truly confident when you can hear others making fun of you.”
“All I can say is to do your best to ignore them. Focus on the person in front of you and getting to know them, and ignore everything else. It is easier said than done. Just remember that the kind of ladies who would whisper such things within your hearing are the kind of ladies who would do the same to anyone.”
“You have a point,” said Georgiana. “I have even heard those same ladies criticize Elizabeth, and anyone would agree that she is one of London’s best hostesses.”
“She is, indeed,” said Mary. “Even before she married your brother, she was the perfect balance of witty, friendly, and intelligent, all qualities of the best guests and the best hosts.”
“It is a shame she doesn’t throw more parties,” said Georgiana.
“You wish for more entertainment at home?” asked Mary in surprised.
“Not precisely,” said Georgiana. “I was simply thinking that it was a waste of talents.”
“How often does Elizabeth throw a party?” asked Mary.
“It varies from year to year,” said Georgiana. “In her first season here in London she threw a ball, two dinner parties, a soiree, and a card party, but the next season we only had a couple of dinner parties, and those were small. I suppose it was likely because Alex was born shortly before the beginning of the season.”
“Do you know if she is planning anything this year?”
“As far as I know there is nothing particularly grand planned,” said Georgiana. “She is holding a card party next Wednesday.”
“Oh, I do like playing cards,” said Mary.
Georgiana smiled. “Yes, I have seen how you seem to forget everything else when you are playing whist.”
“I admit, it is a bit of a weakness of mine,” said Mary. “I hope I haven’t been rude to anyone, though.”
“No need to worry,” said Georgiana. “I am quite used to it. My cousin, John, is the same way.”
Mary had no response to this statement. After all, Georgiana’s cousin, John, was the Earl of Matlock, and Mary was quite familiar with the way he played cards.
Chapter 16
John Fitzwilliam stared at the invitation in his hand. It was one of three that had been delivered that morning. Ever since he had returned to London, it seemed as though the unmarried ladies of London, especially the widows, couldn’t get enough of his company. He was certain it was not due to his charm or good humor. He had neither. He assumed it was simply because they all had ambitions to be the next Lady Matlock.
The idea irked him. A woman in mourning was allowed a full year to work through the loss of her husband, but a man was assumed to be free the moment he stepped back into company.
Because of this he had received far more invitations to various amusements, entertainments, and parties of various kinds than one man could possibly accept. Most of them were simply discarded, but he accepted as many card party invitations as possible. This habit seemed to be backfiring, however. The ladies of London must have noticed that such was his preferred entertainment, for all three of the invitations he had received that morning were for card parties.
Two of them had immediately gone into the fire, but the third held his attention.
It was from Mrs. Darcy.
If Mrs. Darcy was holding a card party, that meant Miss Bennet would be there.
John did not know how wise it would be to deliberately place himself in her company again. She was far too tempting, far too intriguing, and far, far too appealing. The hold she had over him two years ago had not faded nearly as much as John had supposed. The moment he saw her at Lady Castleton’s ball, it was almost as if the last two years had not even happened.
But they had happened, and Miss Bennet was even more amazing and interesting and attractive than ever before. Her complexion was smoother, though still a bit dark, and she held herself with grace and confidence that she had not shown before. She had clearly spent the intervening years improving all her social skills. He couldn’t help but wonder what else she had done in that time.
Had she continued her practice of archery? Had she continued her solitary rambles in the woods, complete with dancing and singing? Had she completed her attempt at cataloguing every type of plant within that forest?
