Page 52 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

“I am Mrs. Hill, miss,” she said, taking the bonnet when Georgiana passed it to her, and then folding the pelisse over her arm.

Miss Elizabeth hurried into the front hall, her apron around her. Her sister, Miss Mary, also wearing an apron, trailed her. Both stopped to curtsy. Darcy bowed his shoulders, and Georgiana curtsied.

“Welcome, welcome,” Miss Elizabeth said, smiling broadly. “Is it not a lovely day?”

“Yes, very warm for October,” Georgiana said, smiling back at the two sisters.

“We have opened the outer doors to the orangery so the fresh air might enter and take some of the animal muskiness out of the space,” Miss Mary explained.

“I do not mind the smell of animals,” Georgiana admitted. “Neither does Fitz.”

“Well, that is excellent news,” Miss Elizabeth said, chuckling a little. “Before we go to the orangery, my father has instructed me to bring you to his bookroom. Kindly come this way.”

Darcy noticed that Miss Mary hung back in the front hall while he and his sister followed Miss Elizabeth. With a grin for her guests, Miss Elizabeth tapped once on the door, and then entered, opening the door wide for them.

“Papa, I have brought Mr. Darcy and Miss Georgiana Darcy,” Miss Elizabeth said.

Darcy glanced at the older man who had risen and was coming around his oak desk where open books showed him in the midst of studying something or other. A deep red and blue Persian carpet covered the floor. The shelves lining the walls held thousands of books. Mr. Bennet bowed his shoulders, Darcy bowed, and Georgiana curtsied.

“Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy, this is my father.”

“Mr. Bennet,” Darcy murmured. Then, he noticed the youngest two Bennet sisters standing next to chairs where open books had been set down on the seats. He nodded to them and they curtsied. “Miss Kitty, Miss Lydia.”

“Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy,” they said.

“Hello,” Georgiana said, curtsying slightly.

“So, you have come to see Lizzy’s menagerie?” Mr. Bennet asked.

“We have, sir,” Darcy said.

“Yes, sir,” Georgiana said, grinning with anticipation.

“My wife says we are to have refreshments at one,” Mr. Bennet said, glancing toward the clock. “You will have plenty of time to see them all, I warrant. We will be able to visit then.” He nodded genially, in what Darcy took to be a dismissal.

Darcy and Georgiana followed Miss Elizabeth out of the bookroom, around the main staircase, and into the orangery, where Miss Mary awaited them, holding an apron for his sister.

“Ooh, a fox!” Georgiana cried, stepping toward the pen and beginning to crouch.

“Wait, wait,” Miss Mary said, hurrying forward. “Please, put on your apron before you kneel.”

“Oh, yes,” Georgiana said, holding out her arms for Miss Mary to assist her into the garment.

“This is Carl,” Miss Elizabeth said, stopping beside the fox’s pen. “He is almost well enough to be released back into the wild. Fox hunting begins soon, however.”

“Aiding foxes may be a fruitless endeavor,” Darcy mentioned.

Miss Elizabeth nodded, sighing. “I know, but I cannot let a wounded animal die if I can help him. Staying alive once I release Carl is his God-given responsibility. I have a soft heart, but I must be practical.”

“I suppose I should not touch him,” Georgiana said, looking up from where she now kneeled in the aisle. “He should not become familiar with humans.”

“I think that ship has sailed,” Darcy offered. “But you are right, my dear.”

“I have other animals that you can hold, if you wish?” Miss Elizabeth asked. Georgiana nodded swiftly. “Here, we have set some stools over near the open doors.”

“May I hold Jeffry first?” his sister asked, putting her hand in Darcy’s so he could help her up.

“Please, sit here,” Miss Mary begged. Georgiana sat on the stool next to her. Miss Mary held a thick tapestry square in her hands. “Put this on your lap.”