She looked over and noticed her acquaintance smirking in a most unladylike manner, much to her approval. “Oh dear, have I lost the thread?”
Georgiana laughed gaily. “I shall boast of having stumped you. My brother claimed it was an unlikely aspiration.”
“I am certain you have a very clever answer. Am I to be privileged to know what it is?”
“Exactly 1!”
Elizabeth stared at her for a moment, then smiled from ear to ear. “Why, yes—a classic framing error—ignoring cascading results. I quite forgot to dig down to root causes. Tell me this. Was the one decision your mother or grandmother?”
“Mother! I have been told my grandmother’s taste was hideous. Had you spent any time in her home, you would have described Rosings as understated elegance and travelled there just to rest your weary eyes.”
“Well played, young lady. Well played indeed. I presume you will be insufferable with your brother?”
“Of course, I—”
Georgiana grew shy at the mention of Mr Darcy. “Be easy. Your brother and I have a complicated acquaintance, but I am not bothered by mention of him. Shall we sit?”
The ladies retired to a sofa as beautiful as it was elegant. Georgiana offered refreshment, and Elizabeth declined. They sat, and it was time for the conversation.
“Now then. Do you remember the first question you asked upon my arrival this morning?”
“Whether I should treat you like an acquaintance or someone I want for a friend?”
“Exactly! We shall simplify. Let us decide here and now that we are friends. After that, everything becomes ever so much simpler.”
“But you hardly know me. I can esteem you because I learnt much about you from my brother, but you do not have such an advantage.”
“I often rely on first impressions, and my first impression of you was good, so we are to be friends. That is just the way of it, so there is little point arguing.”
“Are your first impressions usually right?”
“Good heavens, no!In fact, my success rate is nothing to boast of. I must refine them over time, and failure to do so has caused me grief from time to time—sometimes more than others. For example, do you know what my first impression of your brother was?”
“I would dearly like to know.”
Elizabeth smiled and winked. “Let us just say his first impression was not auspicious. I spent weeks searching for the perfect term to describe him; advancing through all the customary expressions such as haughty, rude, proud, ill-mannered, stiff, awkward, numskull—you understand?”
Georgiana’s mouth hung open. “What did he do?”
“Oh, a capital offence! We were at an assembly on his first night in the county. I sat out a dance because we were short ofmale partners and I wanted to give others a chance on the floor. His friend, whose name is no longer spoken, tried to persuade him to dance with me. He spoke the immortal words, and I quote, ‘She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.’”
Georgiana gasped in horror, but Elizabeth laughed. “Pray, do not take it too badly. I was not slighted but rationally evaluated. I am aware I am merely tolerable. I do not mind.”
“Perhapsyoudo not mind, but if he were present, he would feel the sharp end of my tongue. Even Lady Catherine would not dare something so outrageous.”
“It is past. Pray, do not mention it to him. The incident is long forgiven and forgotten.”
Georgiana smiled shyly. “Hisfirst impression seems to have been amended, as he can hardly speak of you without a faraway look in his eye. I can assure you he isverytempted.”
“I suppose that might be why you wanted to know what I did to him?”
“Among other things.”
“That was my first impression, and it did not improve in the slightest for some time. In fact, I honestly believed we shared a mutual antipathy right up until… well, we shall not discuss that. Let us just say it was recent.”
“But your first impressionhaschanged?”
“It has. I will not reveal exactly how or why, or how it might change again… but rest assured I hold him in some esteem now.”
