Mrs. Bennet, who had been presiding over the feast, saw her guest’s discomfort and promptly guided the conversation in a different direction. “Given your age, I would imagine that you are not yet out?” she asked.
“No, certainly not,” Georgiana said, her eyes wide.
“Kitty and I are both out,” Lydia said at once. “But I suppose it is different in the country.”
“But just think! You will probably be presented to the Queen at your come-out!” Kitty marveled.
This, too, seemed to make their guest uncomfortable. Mrs. Bennet sent a quick glance around the table and then said, “Have you met our neighbours, the Lucases?”
“No; I have only met your family,” Georgiana replied.
Elizabeth leaped in with a funny anecdote involving John Lucas, herself, and a race to the top of an apple tree, and soon everyone was laughing.
Mrs. Bennet’s keen eye had seen Georgiana’s discomfort with the subjects of her guardians and her future come-out, and knew something had happened to this girl. It was likely that she would never know the details, but she would do her best to make certain Georgiana Darcy felt safe at Longbourn.
Elizabeth took the opportunity to ask Georgiana about her upbringing with respect to society manners.
“Oh! Well, when I had a governess, I was drilled in all sorts of things! How to pour tea, how to respond to impertinent comments, how to address people of rank, exactly how low to curtsey to different people, how to sit, how to stand – all sorts of things!”
“How to sit? I do not understand,” Kitty said, blankly.
“You never lean back against a chair,” Georgiana informed her. “It is considered slothful.”
“I have noticed that you sit like that; also that you walk in a particular way,” Lydia added.
Georgiana got up from her chair and walked around the room, chanting, “Up, up, up! Grace! Ease! Elegance!”
Kitty and Lydia burst out laughing. “Is that what your governess taught you?”
“Yes; she said that you could always tell a well-bred young lady by her deportment as well as her language.”
“Language?” Lydia asked.
“Yes; speak clearly, enunciate. Do not insult anyone in the room.” She went on, describing all the things she had been taught.
“I will say that you have excellent manners,” Kitty said, slowly.
“She certainly does,” Elizabeth said, hoping that some of this would be retained by her younger sisters.
***
When Mr. Darcy came to retrieve his sister, he was astonished to find that she and the Bennet girls were now all calling one another by their Christian names, exchanging promises of seeing one another again soon, and hugging each other in farewell.
Mr. Darcy managed to whisper to Elizabeth, “She had a good day?”
“Heavens, yes! She tried on most of Lydia’s clothes and half of Kitty’s, had her hair arranged and then rearranged, and did not even manage a minute to play the piano with Mary! We dohope you will let her come again, Mr. Darcy. She is delightful company.”
“I would be happy to do so,” Mr. Darcy said, smiling.
Ellizabeth hesitated and then said, “She said that she has no close friends at home. I hope I am not being impertinent when I say that young women need friends of their own sex, friends to whom they may safely confide and, well, just have fun with hair and ribbons.”
Mt. Darcy sighed. “You are not impertinent at all, Miss Elizabeth. I have long thought the same, but it is difficult in our part of the world. Pemberley sits on over four thousand acres, and there is no one close at hand. There are young women in the nearby village, of course, but they are not of her social class.”
“But perhaps they would be better than nothing, Mr. Darcy. A merchant’s daughter would be as happy to play with hair and clothes as any heiress. In any case, we will hold you to your promise and expect to see Georgiana again quite soon!”
***
That night, in her room at Netherfield, Georgiana thought back over her day at Longbourn. Never had she had such a day! How lucky, how very lucky were the Bennet girls to have sisters! And such nice ones, at that! Oh, she imagined they bickered enough between them, but Georgiana had been treated so very kindly! Not once had anyone remonstrated with her, or told her how wrong she had been! Not once had anyone glanced at her stomach! She would go there every day, if she possibly could!
