Elizabeth drew the note from her reticule and placed it in her friend’s hand. “Does he? I believe he may be a little taken with me. Yet he has conducted himself with decorum and respect. I have no cause to fear him.”
“Perhaps you should, Lizzy.”
Excerpt of Mr. Collins’s note to Elizabeth:
My dear sister, during the tea service today, you must bear in mind that you are the daughter of a humble country squire of modest means. Keep your eyes lowered at all times. Do not speak unless you are addressed, and keep your replies brief. Take care not to put yourself forward, and under no circumstances are you to look at or speak to her ladyship’s esteemed nephews, for they are your betters, and she may take great offense and cast us all from her presence as grasping upstarts.
As Miss de Bourgh was reading the note, she grinned, then snorted. She covered her gaffe with a coughing fit. Elizabeth patted her back and offered her a glass of water. The young woman drank, then apologized. “Please excuse me, Mamma. I swallowed wrong, but I am quite recovered now.”
“For goodness’ sake, Anne, do take care. You nearly gave me a heart seizure. I was certain you had taken Mrs. Jenkinson’s illness.”
Elizabeth noticed movement at the door and saw a young lady, near Lydia’s age, standing at the entrance. Her fair face colored when every eye turned toward her. Mr. Darcy rose and went to her. “Aunt, you remember Georgiana?”
Lady Catherine did not, but she was disposed to approve and smiled. “Come here, child, and let me look at you.”
Her brother guided her forward and remained by her side as Lady Catherine questioned her. When she had done, she said, “Niece, there is a place beside your cousin and her companion. Assist Miss Bennet in raising your cousin’s spirits. As you are near relations, it is proper that you begin to know one another.”
Miss de Bourgh murmured to Elizabeth, “For you shall soon be sisters.” Then, in a lower tone, “Lizzy, what think you of Fitzwilliam? He is a tall, well-muscled man. I fear I should not long survive such a bridegroom, for I should soon be crushed beneath the weight of him.”
Elizabeth bit her lip to suppress her laughter, though her shoulders betrayed her.
“You wretched creature. I shall be undone if my cousin observes me. I must make room for Miss Darcy to sit between us. It isthe only way I shall get through this tea without censure for an unladylike want of propriety.”
She shifted her place accordingly, and the young girl settled between them.
At dinner, the rector was seated at the foot of the table, with Elizabeth and Mary seated one on either side of him. Lady Catherine presided at the head, flanked by her two nephews. Miss de Bourgh sat in a place of honor near her handsome cousin, Mr. Darcy, while Georgiana was placed opposite, beside Colonel Fitzwilliam, a lively gentleman who contrived to amuse all but the rector. Even quiet Mary was drawn into his conversation.
When dinner concluded, the ladies withdrew while the gentlemen remained over their port. Lady Catherine requested Elizabeth sing until they rejoined them, and not long after, the party was dismissed. Lady Catherine retired for the night and directed Anne, Georgiana, and Elizabeth to do the same, while the rector and his wife were conveyed home in her ladyship’s carriage. The gentlemen repaired to the billiards room, expecting to pass a long evening in play.
Chapter 14: The Constellations
At Lady Catherine’s bedchamber door, Anne kissed her mother’s cheek, wished her goodnight, and continued down the hall to Elizabeth’s room. “Come, Georgiana, let us visit with Elizabeth for a few minutes, then we will walk to the folly and look at the stars.”
Once in the bedchamber that Elizabeth occupied, Miss de Bourgh disappeared into the dressing room and came out with a thick woolen cloak.
“Will you come with us? I have an extra cloak. In truth, I have six. They are all equally hideous, but they are warm and serviceable. Mamma purchases a new one each year. I cannot account for it, for they are all the same color and no better than the last.”
Georgiana laughed. “Cousin Anne, I like you very much. You are exceedingly witty.”
Miss de Bourgh leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I am glad you think so. Lizzy, will you change into something warmer?”
Elizabeth set down the blanket. “Yes, I believe I shall.”
Twenty minutes later, the three young women crept down the servants’ stair and encountered Sarah.
“Are you off on your adventures, miss?”
“Yes, Sarah. Pray ensure we are not locked out. We have my little cousin with us this evening. This is Georgiana Darcy.”
As Georgiana stood several inches taller than the diminutive maid, Sarah looked up at the young girl and laughed. “I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, little cousin.”
Georgiana curtsied. “And I am pleased to meet you, ma’am.”
They slipped into the kitchen garden and then silently made their way to the grove. It was dark beneath the trees, but when they emerged, Elizabeth saw the pale outline of the folly at the edge of the bluff.
Georgiana drew close. “Anne, it is frightening here. Brother says there is a ghost.”
Anne chortled. “There is no ghost, my dear. It exists only in my mother’s imagination. Though she wrote to Fitzwilliam of it, which may explain his visit.” She gestured toward Elizabeth. “Perhaps it was Lizzy she described. In this light, she does appear quite spectral, as do you, Georgie.”
