Do tell your husband that I have obtained the third edition of William Cowper’s translation of the Odyssey.
Your loving parent,
Papa
She could only laugh as she handed both letters to her husband.
Mr. Taggart walked in just as Mr. Darcy had finished reading the second letter from Meryton; his face wore an expression Mr. Darcy had never before seen on the unflappable butler’s face.
“Taggart?”
“There is a messenger here who says he is from the Palace.”
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy both rose to their feet, as Mr. Darcy repeated, in a tone of disbelief, “From the Palace?”
“Yes, sir; and from his uniform and the equipage in which he arrived, I have no doubt of it being true. He has a message for Miss Darcy, and insists on giving it directly into her hand.”
Elizabeth wasted not a moment; she ran up the stairs to Georgiana’s room. The girl had slept in late, but happily she was already awake and being buttoned into a day dress.
“Cathy, pin up Miss Darcy’s hair at once; she is needed downstairs.”
“Lizzy? Is something wrong?”
“There is a messenger here from the Palace, Georgiana, and apparently his instructions are to place the message into your hands.”
Georgiana’s eyes widened; then she groaned and dropped her head into her hands. “Oh, Lord, it must be from the Queen!”
Cathy moved with all haste to prepare Georgiana to go downstairs, and it was not a quarter of an hour before Georgiana and Elizabeth were descending the staircase together.
The royal messenger was waiting in the entryway; Mr. Darcy was waiting as well.
“Miss Georgiana Darcy?”
“I am Miss Darcy.”
The messenger bowed, handed her a letter, and took his leave. Georgiana just stood, staring at the letter in her hand.
“Come; let us go into the drawing room,” Elizabeth suggested.
Georgiana followed her, holding the letter by one corner, as if it would bite her.
The three of them sat in silence for a long minute, waiting for Georgiana to open the letter, but she made no move to do so.
Finally, Mr. Darcy said, “Would you like me to open it for you, Georgiana?”
The girl looked up, an expression of deep relief on her face. “Oh, yes, would you? Thank you, Brother!”
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged glances, both struggling not to smile.
Taking the letter from his sister’s hand, Mr. Darcy noted the royal seal in red wax. He broke the seal open, and read aloud:
Miss Georgiana Darcy and Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy are most cordially invited to tea at St. James Palace on Wednesday next at three in the afternoon.
The signature was difficult to make out, but it was certainly that of the Queen.
Elizabeth gasped. “I have to go as well? Oh, no!”
“Ha!” Georgiana cried out. “Not so funny now, eh, Lizzy? I saw you and Brother trying not to laugh at me!”
