“I agree, but I am simply calling on her. Anything more must wait until we know one another better.” He paused and then his head sank down onto his hands. “And here I am, playing at romance, while my sister endures I know not what at the hands of a villain.”
His cousin replied, very seriously, “Her situation is not worsened by you finding happiness with Miss Elizabeth. Or is it that you feel you do not deserve happiness?”
“You may be right. How can I deserve happiness when I so utterly failed my sister? As well as my father, who placed his trust in me by naming me her guardian? Worse; his dying wordsto me were, ‘Protect your sister!’ And I promised him that I would! I took an oath, as my father lay on his deathbed!” Mr. Darcy’s voice was anguished.
“He named me as her guardian as well; I am equally to blame.”
“You most certainly are not. It was I who neglected to check Mrs. Younge’s references.”
“That much is true. But, Darcy, I have been giving this a good deal of thought. Tell me, what else was happening when you were interviewing companions for Georgiana?”
“What do you mean?”
“What was happening at Pemberley? Was it just a normal time?”
“I do not know if there isevera normal time on an estate the size of Pemberley, but no. It was spring planting, so I was busy with that, and there had been a fire that had burnt two of the tenant cottages to the ground. I was working with craftsmen to have the cottages rebuilt as soon as possible, as well as finding temporary housing for the displaced families. But that is no excuse for failing to check references for a post as important as guardian to my sister.”
“It is no excuse, but it is a reason.”
“It is a reason. Fine. And yet Georgiana is lost to us.”
The two men sat in silence for another minute. Then Mr. Darcy asked, “Any word yet from your men in London?”
“I sent the messages out only today, Darcy. And London is a big place. It will take time.”
“Days? Weeks?”
The Colonel sighed, heavily. “Months, I would imagine.”
Chapter Thirteen
Jane was finally well enough to go downstairs for dinner. It was important that Mr. Bingley see Jane at her very best; Elizabeth helped her dress and put up her hair. Mama had packed several lovely gowns for Jane, including her newest made of silk in celestial blue, with a lace-trimmed bodice. A sudden thought stilled her hands as she put pins into Jane’s coiffure. Jane is far more beautiful than I, she thought. What if Mr. Darcy likes her better?
“Lizzy?” Jane’s voice was concerned.
“Oh, it is nothing, Jane. Hold on, I am almost done.” If Mr. Darcy’s head was to be turned by a more beautiful woman, she thought, it is best that I find that out now, not later.
But she need not have worried. As she and Jane entered the drawing room, arm in arm, Mr. Bingley rushed up to Jane, but Mr. Darcy focused only on Elizabeth. He gave her a small, private smile. She returned it, shyly.
Mr. Bingley settled Jane near the fire so that she might be as warm as possible. Elizabeth would have liked to sit near Mr. Darcy, but Miss Bingley had taken that seat. Elizabeth went to sit beside the Colonel, who gave her a warm smile.
Miss Bingley scowled at Elizabeth. “Your sister is quite well now, I see.”
“Yes, Miss Bingley, and my father’s carriage will come for us tomorrow morning. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for your gracious hospitality.”
Miss Bingley did not reply; she simply inclined her head and turned away.
Mr. Bingley was sitting very close to Jane, whispering in her ear. Her face was pink with pleasure at whatever he was saying.
“Charles!”
He turned his head. “Yes, Caroline?”
“I do not think you should be so close to Miss Bennet; you do not wish to catch whatever she has, do you?”
“She is quite cured, Caroline; I think you need not worry on my behalf.”
Miss Bingley settled back down, frowning. “What say you, Mr. Darcy? Might not a cold still be contagious after the person is supposedly cured?”
