Georgiana winced at the forced cheer in Lady Amelia’s tone. Like her mother, Lady Amelia was an avid gossip, and they had never been close. At school, Amelia had initially befriended Georgiana only in hopes of meeting her brother. When that did not work, Amelia turned on her. She and several other girls from prominent families had begun teasing Georgiana, causing her already small circle of friends to shrink even further.
Her discomfort palpable to those who knew her best, Georgiana hesitated before responding. She glanced briefly at Elizabeth, who offered an encouraging smile. Drawing a breath, Georgiana forced herself to reply with as much politeness as she could muster. “Lady Amelia, it is a surprise to see you as well. Our trip to town is to be short; I had not notified anyone of our intention to arrive.”
Observing the interaction carefully, Elizabeth noted Georgiana's tension and the falseness of Lady Amelia's greeting and decided that it was best to step in. With her foot, she nudged Georgiana to get her attention and nodded, silently indicating that the introduction should be made.
Georgiana immediately understood the cue. “Lady Amelia, might I introduce you to my party?” she asked. Upon the lady’s nod, she introduced the ladies of her party. Lady Amelia reciprocated by introducing her mother and aunt to the others.
“Mrs. Darcy, I am so pleased to make your acquaintance,” Lady Blackwell stated haughtily. “You simply must join us for a dinner party we are hosting in a fortnight.”
“Thank you for the generous invitation, but I must regretfully decline,” Elizabeth replied graciously. “Our visit to London is to be brief; my husband had urgent business to attend to. My sister and I accompanied him, not wishing to be separated from him, but we will be returning north as soon as his affairs are settled.”
“That simply will not do,” Lady Blackwell declared, her voice cutting through the quiet shop and drawing every eye in the room. “You must stay for the holiday season. It would be utterly improper for you to miss it. Balls, parties—society will be abuzz, and I can hardly imagine that Lady Julia would not wish to take you under her wing. Surely you would not deny yourselfthe chance to make the proper introductions and connections.” Her tone, dripping with condescension, implied that Elizabeth's departure was not only foolish but socially irresponsible.
“We are newly married, my lady. My husband and I wish to spend the winter at Pemberley with my new sister. Once his business is concluded, we will pay a brief visit to my family before retiring to his estate. Perhaps we will return to London for a part of the Season, but as I am sure you are aware, my husband does not care overly much for Town,” Elizabeth replied. It was growing more difficult for her to keep her composure at this lady’s audacity to reprimand her.
With an exaggerated huff, Lady Blackwell shifted her attention to Anne. “Mrs. Hargrove, surely you agree that Mrs. Darcy ought to spend some months in town acquainting herself with the society she has now joined. After all, your husband is the son of a baron, is he not? I would imagine the two of you plan to make a proper appearance in London now that you are married. Your mother kept you hidden away at Rosings for far too long—surely you are eager to finally experience the world you have been so long deprived of.” Her tone carried an air of superiority, as if she were generously offering advice to someone she presumed lacked understanding.
“Not at all, madam,” Anne replied, mimicking her mother's haughty tone when addressing those she deemed beneath her. “We are in town only briefly. Mr. Hargrove has his own business to attend to with my cousin Darcy’s assistance. Once it is concluded, we shall return to Rosings. Like my cousin, we may come back in the spring for a month, but neither my husband nor I have any desire to linger in town longer than necessary.” Anne’s cool, dismissive response carried all the weight of her mother’s typical imperious disdain.
Lady Blackwell was visibly taken aback by the firm refusals from both women, her haughty composure slipping for a moment. “Well, I must say,” she sniffed, attempting to regain her air of superiority, “it is rather unorthodox for women of your station to neglect their social duties. Society will expect to see you in town, particularly after such momentous marriages. One cannot simply vanish back into the countryside without making the proper introductions.”
She looked down her nose at Anne, her gaze narrowing. “Mrs. Hargrove, I would have thought you, of all people, would wish to make an appearance after so long in isolation. Surely, your new position warrants more visibility. As for Mrs. Darcy, society will not take kindly to such… eccentricities. The sooner you realise that, the better.” With that, the lady stalked out of the shop with the rest of her party, apparently forgetting that they intended to take tea.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Once the ladies had gone, Elizabeth glanced at the rest of her party before breaking into quiet laughter. “Well, that was certainly interesting,” she remarked, her voice still laced with amusement. “I have not been to London in years, but I cannot imagine anyone would find such behaviour acceptable, no matter their standing in society.”
Georgiana smiled shyly, and Anne allowed herself a small, satisfied smirk. Elizabeth’s laughter had broken the tension, and the three women seemed to relax in the absence of Lady Blackwell’s overbearing presence.
Mrs. Gardiner, who remained quiet during the exchange, shook her head with a bemused smile. “Interesting is one way to put it, my dear,” she said, her tone mild but edged with disapproval. “I daresay Lady Blackwell's conduct is not something to aspire to, regardless of how entrenched she believes herself in society. That kind of arrogance is more often mocked than admired behind closed doors.”
Elizabeth grinned at her aunt’s words. “Rightly so,” she agreed. “If this is what passes for respectable society, then I think I will not regret missing more of it.”
Anne, who had maintained a composed façade throughout, finally allowed herself a soft laugh. “I cannot say I am surprised. Lady Blackwell seems to act much as my mother does, believing that others must view her pronouncements as absolute truth.”
They kept the conversation light while they finished their tea and cakes. No one else approached them, but they did notice that eyes were constantly on them. Soon, they finished and made their exit.
As the ladies stepped out of the tea shop, Elizabeth felt a sudden unease. The atmosphere seemed to shift, and she glanced over her shoulder, noticing two men lingering in an alleyway, their eyes fixed on the group. Their presence struck her as odd for the middle of the afternoon, and an instinctive sense of danger crept over her.
"Do not look now, but I believe we are being followed," Elizabeth whispered to Mrs. Gardiner, her voice low and cautious. Mrs. Gardiner immediately tensed, her gaze sweeping the street. Anne, sensing the change in mood, glanced towards Georgiana protectively. Instinctively, she stepped closer to the younger girl, signalling to the four footmen who were walking discreetly behind them to move closer and keep a watchful eye on the men trailing them.
The footmen, alert and well-trained, responded quickly. Two of them subtly shifted their positions: one walked a few paces ahead, blending into the crowd but keeping a sharp lookout, while the other moved slightly to the rear, ensuring no one could approach from behind. The remaining two kept their watchful positions, flanking the group to the sides. Though their presence was unassuming, it offered a layer of protection that went unnoticed by the general public.
Mrs. Gardiner kept her voice steady, masking her concern. "Let us continue as if nothing is amiss. We should make our way to the carriage quickly, but without drawing attention."
As the group quickened their pace through the bustling streets, the two men behind them mirrored their movements, narrowing the gap. The crowded thoroughfare offered some cover, but the men were closing in with alarming speed. Just as they neared the corner, a third man stepped forward, blocking their path.
“Excuse me, ladies,” he said, his voice dripping with false politeness, “but I believe you have dropped something back there.” He gestured to the empty ground behind them.
Mrs. Gardiner stiffened, and Anne instinctively gripped Georgiana’s arm protectively. “Leave us be, sir,” Mrs. Gardiner said firmly, attempting to step around him. “We have not dropped anything.”
The other two men emerged from behind, cutting off their escape. “Now, now, no need to make a fuss,” the first man sneered. “We’ve been sent to escort two of you ladies somewhere a bit more… private.” He pointed towards Elizabeth and Georgiana. “You two are to come with me. Someone wishes to speak with you,” he growled, and the men moved closer.
At that moment, the footmen found their path blocked by a cart passing through the street. Though they were still aware of the situation, the brief obstruction delayed their immediate response.
Before the men could make another move, a commotion erupted behind them. Darcy and Mr. Hargrove, having completed their business and eager to rejoin the women, appeared just in time to see the men closing in. The footmen manoeuvred around the cart, positioning themselves on the opposite side of the group to create a protective barrier. Two footmen subtly blocked the path of the men in front, while the others ensured no one could approach from behind.
Without hesitation, Darcy stepped forward, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Unhand the ladies,” he commanded, his voice low but filled with authority.
