Georgiana laughed. “So it is up to the gentlemen to figure this out!”
“Precisely; is that not a relief?”
“It most certainly is!”
“Dinner invitations are always sent out by the lady of the house, and must be replied to promptly, so as to allow her to adjust her guest list accordingly, possibly inviting more guests. As you have just seen, an equal number of ladies and gentlemen is ideal,” Mrs. Annesley explained.
“This is why in romance novels, the governess is called down to make up the numbers,” Georgiana said, eagerly.
“Yes, and then captures the attention of the unmarried but very handsome Duke, no doubt.” Mrs. Annesley’s tone was wry. “We will save our discussion of polite dining for the dinner table, I think, if instruction during dinner does not distress you, Mrs. Darcy.”
“Not at all; I cannot imagine how else we would practice such a thing,” Elizabeth replied, promptly.
“Miss Darcy, you have a lady’s maid, of course,” Mrs. Annesley went on. “Is she a country girl?”
“Yes, she is the niece of our Cook.”
“You will need someone else when you make your debut, I fear, as your maid must be up to snuff on London fashions.”
Georgiana’s face became stubborn. “Margaret and I are good friends; I could not leave her behind.”
Mrs. Annesley said, “Indeed? Ask her, then, how much jewelry may be worn in the morning and let me know her response.”
There was a moment’s silence; then Georgiana said, softly, “I see.”
“Yes. There is a world of difference between your society here at Pemberley, isolated as you are, and London society.”
Elizabeth interposed, “Georgiana, I know that your formal education stopped two years ago. Have you had any training in the duties of the mistress of the estate? For it is expected that you will marry into the landed gentry, at the very least.”
“My daughter will marry a Duke,” Lady Anne announced.
Mrs. Annesley replied, immediately, “As of now, Lady Anne, there are two unmarried Dukes; they are both old enough to be Miss Darcy’s father and both have already buried two previous wives.”
Georgiana shuddered; Lady Anne rose and left the room without a word.
Mrs. Annesley continued as if she had not noticed Lady Anne’s departure. “Introductions are of key importance, Miss Darcy. You should never speak to anyone, particularly not a gentleman, if you have not been introduced by a mutual acquaintance. When someone introduces you, they are essentially stating that this person is worthy of your notice; someone who approaches you without an introduction likely fears that he or she is not worthy of your notice. Does that make sense?”
Georgiana nodded. “So do not speak to anyone who has not been introduced to me.”
“There may be exceptions, of course. If you are at Almack’s, for example, and another young lady happens to introduce herself to you, she is likely to be a safe enough acquaintance simply because she is there at Almack’s. The Patronesses do not invite anyone they do not think worthy of that high honour.”
Georgiana nodded again.
“It may be that you are required to introduce two people to one another. In that circumstance, the lower-ranked person is presented to the higher-ranked person. However, ladies are always given precedence over gentlemen.”
Here Georgiana looked puzzled. “Say that again, please, Mrs. Annesley.”
Elizabeth added, “Perhaps an example would best serve.”
Mrs. Annesley nodded. “Indeed; let us say that Sir Fork is a baronet and Lord Spoon is a viscount. Sir Fork would be presented to Lord Spoon.”
Georgiana giggled. “That is easy enough to remember.”
“Very well; but now let us say that Miss Knife, who has no title, is in the room. Though Miss Knife has no rank, both Sir Fork and Lord Spoon would be presented to her!”
Elizabeth chuckled. Mrs. Annesley was a wonderful teacher!
Chapter Forty-Nine
