Georgiana interrupted his anxious musings, walking into the study so stealthily that he did not hear her footsteps. “Brother?”
He raised his head. “Yes, Georgiana?”
“I saw that Alfred had returned; is there any news?”
“None.”
“Oh, Brother! I had such hopes!”
“As did I.”
“No news from Bath?”
“I have had messengers arrive saying that so far no trace of her has been found.”
“Will you continue to send out search parties?”
“Yes, I think I must. I imagine the coach overturning, and poor Elizabeth lying –“ Here his voice broke. Rather than appear unmanned before his sister, he rose and turned to look outside the window.
Georgiana had no such compunctions, as tears flowed freely down her cheeks. “We were so, so awful to her when she arrived; I can never forgive myself.”
“No, nor can I,” her brother agreed, softly.
Chapter Sixty-Six
Avery elegant invitation arrived at Darcy House:
Mrs. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth Bennet are requested to attend a
Ball at Landon House, on Friday, 23 of September, at 9 o’clock P.M.
Landon House? Elizabeth was puzzled; she did not recall meeting anyone by that name. It was Mary who remembered, “Oh! Miss Landon was the young lady who played the pianoforte with me at that rout party!”
“You must have impressed her, as evidently her parents have invited us to a dance at their house,” Elizabeth observed.
Mary sighed. “And I suppose we have to go?”
“I will ask the Countess.”
Upon being assured that Miss Landon was ‘all the crack,’ and that the Matlocks would be in attendance as well, Elizabeth immediately sent an acceptance.
“Mary, you do know how to dance, do you not?”
“I do, of course. How could you not know that? Did we not take lessons together?”
“We did, but I – well, I never –“
“You never saw me dance at an assembly; is that what you are tryingnotto say? But no one ever asked me, you know.”
“Oh, Mary,” Elizabeth sighed, sorry to have raised the topic.
“It is of no importance,” Mary said, loftily. “I have a good deal more to think about than dancing.”
“I am certain that you do, Mary, but you might very well be asked to dance at Landon House.”
Mary merely sniffed.
***
