The Countess sniffed. “I see no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. Thankfully for Richard and Anne, it was not thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s family.”
The lady then inquired how many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, whether they were all as handsome as the sisters who were present, where they had been educated, what carriage her father kept, and what had been her mother’s maiden name.
Elizabeth’s cheeks colored beneath the lady’s relentless examination, but she answered with politeness and kept her gaze from straying toward Mr. Darcy lest he perceive how deeply this treatment, and his silence throughout it, offended her.
When dinner finally concluded, the ladies withdrew together. Elizabeth was sorely tempted to plead a headache and retire upstairs, but she would not abandon her two sisters to face the Countess alone.
Once they had settled in the drawing room, the lady asked, “Do you play and sing, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Yes, my lady.”
The Countess addressed Georgiana.
“Niece, I should like to hear both you and Miss Elizabeth perform. You may turn pages for one another.”
The two young ladies crossed to the pianoforte. While Elizabeth seated herself upon the bench, Georgiana whispered, “I am certain I shall not be able to play before my aunt. She is exceedingly particular, Elizabeth. She unsettles my nerves.”
Elizabeth answered in a low voice, “I shall remain beside you and shield you from her view, so you need not look at her. Imagine yourself at home performing for your brother.”
“I shall try, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth began to play, and then her voice rose in song. The music swept away her irritation with both Mr. Darcy and the Countess, and before long, she lost herself entirely in the song.
When she finished, Lady Helen said, “You possess a very fine voice, Miss Elizabeth. Listening to you was no hardship. I should like to hear another.”
Elizabeth offered no reply. She merely began to play again and sang a second piece.
The lady requested two more songs, and by the time Elizabeth finished, the two gentlemen had joined them.
She saw that Mr. Darcy’s gaze was fixed upon her. The expression in his eyes and the smile upon his lips revealed his pleasure in her performance, and her resentment lessened.
She turned toward the young girl beside her.
“Georgiana, have you decided what you shall play?”
“Yes. I shall perform a simple Irish air for her, for my nerves remain quite unsettled.”
Georgiana played “Robin Adair” very prettily. Elizabeth remained seated upon the side nearest the Countess so the girl need not face her aunt directly.
When she finished, Georgiana released a breath.
“There. I accomplished it without a single mistake. Come, Lizzy, let us sit down before she requests another.”
Elizabeth laughed under her breath.
“You may always claim fatigue from the trials of the day and ask to be excused.”
Georgiana looked at her hopefully.
“I shall. She interrogated you throughout dinner, and now it shall be my turn, and afterward Fitzwilliam’s. She has long attempted to marry him to some suitable bride. I do not wish to witness the moment he informs her he is already betrothed.”
Elizabeth drew in a sharp breath.
“Nor do I, my dear. I shall excuse myself as well, and I believe my sisters would feel exceedingly grateful to join our escape.”
“Aunt, I have spent the entire day with Annie, and part of last night besides. I must go to bed before I fall asleep upon the couch. May I be excused?”
“Of course, my dear.”
