Lady Catherine turned to her sister by marriage and shook her head. “Do not put ideas into the girl’s head, Eleanor!”
Anne replied at once, “Oh, yes, Aunt Eleanor, pleasedoput ideas into my head, for I wish very much to go to Matlock House in London with you and go to tea parties and balls,and buy lovely gowns, and – well, everything that I should be doing!”
Lady Catherine immediately said, “Absolutely not!”
And at the same moment, the Countess said, “Of course, my dear!” Then she turned to Lady Catherine and said, gently, “Come, Catherine, you have had her entirely to yourself all these years, but surely you can see that she needs to acquire some town polish and marry. Or did you intend her to die an old maid?”
Lady Catherine closed her eyes and shook her head, mutely.
Anne hugged her mother hard. “Oh, Mama, I will be back. Surely you know that I will always come back to Rosings!”
“Do not make a scene, Anne,” Lady Catherine said, sniffling back her tears. “Very well, you shall go.”
“You are doing the right thing, Catherine,” the Countess said, mildly. “And I will see to it that she writes you regularly.”
Elizabeth found a moment to sidle up to Charlotte, now the Viscountess Worthing, and murmur, “Tell me, Charlotte, do you now believe in romantic fancies? For I recall you saying that I was too intelligent for such beliefs.”
Charlotte blushed. “I suppose I refused to believe in them because I thought they could not happen to me, but I was entirely mistaken, and I do not mind admitting it.”
Elizabeth laughed and hugged her friend. “I shall miss you so, Charlotte!”
And Jane found a moment to whisper into Charlotte’s ear, “Oh, I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you spoke to Mr. Bingley!”
Charlotte whispered back, “And I am so glad that he acted quickly! Be happy, dearest Jane!”
***
Georgiana had eaten very little. She was more interested in finding the young woman in the pale green dress. Ah, there she was, standing beside the bride, both of them laughing. Her Cousin Reggie stood beside his new wife, beaming widely. The trio were surrounded by guests.
Georgiana caught her cousin’s eye, and he beckoned her forward. “My dear Charlotte, allow me to present my young cousin, Miss Georgiana Darcy. Georgiana, this is Mrs. Fitzwilliam, and this is her dear friend, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Oh, well done, Reggie! A very perfect introduction!” the new Mrs. Fitzwilliam laughed up at him. She turned, then, to Georgiana. “You must be Mr. Darcy’s sister; welcome to Meryton! I am so glad you could attend.”
Georgiana said all that was proper, but her eyes kept returning to Miss Bennet’s face. Her eyes were green; how very lovely they were.
Elizabeth, seeing the girl’s interest, spoke kindly to her. “Miss Darcy, your brother speaks of you a good deal. He is obviously very, very fond of you.”
“More so than I deserve, I fear,” Georgiana replied.
“Not possible,” Elizabeth replied at once. “We all deserve love, I think.”
“That is what I tell him as well!” Georgiana replied, eagerly. “Miss Bennet, might I speak with you?”
“Of course.” Elizabeth turned to Charlotte, kissed her cheek, and promised to return.
“Come, Miss Darcy; let us find a quiet corner, if that is at all possible.” Elizabeth knew Lucas Lodge well, and she found the quiet corner she sought in the library. “There is no fire here, sadly, but that is common enough in this room,” she said.
“Is the library not much used?”
“Not unless I come here to find a book,” Elizabeth said, smiling. “But let us be grateful for the quiet, in any case.”
“My brother is in love with you,” Georgiana blurted.
Elizabeth’s mouth fell open in shock.
Georgiana immediately burst into tears. “Oh, I should not have said that!! I am so sorry! He will be so angry!”
Elizabeth calmed the girl down, her mind whirling. Mr. Darcy in love with her? Was it possible? When Georgiana’s tears finally stopped, Elizabeth said, softly, “Why do you think so?”
