Page 26 of The Vanished Bennet Sister

She folded the missive and sealed it. As she did so, she glanced up at the tiny mirror above the writing desk, which reflected her own face to her. She did not often look at herself with any sustained notice, having concluded years ago that it was a task with a poor return.

But she looked now and as she did so, she was reminded that she did not look like the rest of the Bennets.

The same observation had been posed to her, by various well-meaning people over the years. The common explanation given in the family was the portrait in the upstairs hall at Longbourn. It was a painting of Mrs Bennet's mother, a woman who had died long before Mary was born. A serious face above an unfashionable necklace, peered from a frame that needed regilding. Mary was said to look like her and Mary had always accepted this explanation because it was the one available.

She looked at her own face now: the dark hair, the serious set of the features and the absence of any resemblance to Jane's fairness or Lydia’s animated face.

And then she picked up the sealed letter and set it with the outgoing post.

***

Elizabeth

The first thing she established, arriving at the theatre with her mother, Lady Hamilton and settling into their allocated box, were the other occupants in the space.

Colonel Fitzwilliam sat in his regimentals next to a young woman she did not recognise and, just behind them, was Fitzwilliam Darcy in formal evening wear.

Mrs Bennet, who had been conducting an early review of the programme with Lady Hamilton, paused. Colonel Fitzwilliam, whom Elizabeth had encountered several times since Almack's and found reliably pleasant company, acknowledged them immediately.

"Miss Bennet. Mrs Bennet and Lady Hamilton. What a fortuitous arrangement. I had not hoped for such agreeable box-fellows."

Mrs Bennet answered that she was very glad indeed. Lady Hamilton said she was delighted. Elizabeth acknowledged the greeting and observed, in the same moment, that Mr Darcy had risen to his feet.

"Ladies," His bow was correct. "May I present my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy."

The young woman who stepped forward was perhaps fourteen, fair and slight, and appeared to be focused on seeming at ease.

She curtseyed appropriately, glancing at Elizabeth with an interest that was barely suppressed. She then said, with the slight rush of a person who had been holding a remark in reserve: "I have heard a great deal about you, Miss Elizabeth. From Charity and Diana Garroway. They speak of you very often."

Elizabeth smiled and meant it. "I hope not too often. Their attention is not always focused, which I prefer not to encourage."

"Charity told me you made her conjugate French verbs for an hour when she tried to hide a novel under the desk."

"She described the novel to me in some detail before she remembered that describing it confirmed its existence. She had not thought the disclosure all the way through."

The laugh this produced from Miss Darcy was involuntary and then swiftly retrieved, but it was real. Colonel Fitzwilliam, beside her, seemed equally bemused.

"Georgiana has wanted to meet you for some weeks," he said. "I believe she was hoping we would encounter you tonight."

"Richard," Miss Darcy murmured shyly.

"I speak only in your favour," he replied, unperturbed.

Elizabeth was aware that Miss Darcy’s knowledge of the Garroway arrangement implied Mr Darcy's knowledge of it also. She did not panic at this. She reminded herself that she was not here to solicit his approbation, and that what he thought of the tutoring was his own affair.

They all settled in their seats to watch the play. When the curtain rose, Elizabeth admitted to herself that the first act was rather good.

The first act had been, Elizabeth thought as she settled into her seat and the curtain rose, rather good. The central performance was compelling, the dialogue was tight and one or two of the speeches were incredibly stirring, whether it was due to the playwright's work or the actor's was unclear.

During the extended interlude, Colonel Fitzwilliam immediately engaged Mrs Bennet on the subject of the costumes. Lady Hamilton produced her opinion of the leading actress, which was favourable and detailed.

"What did you think of the first act?" Miss Darcy asked Elizabeth keenly.

"I found it riveting," Elizabeth said. "The central performance especially. And there is a speech in the tenth minute that I’m sure I will deliberate upon for the next couple of days."

"The speech where she argues with her brother?"

"Yes."