Page 48 of Regrets

But his anticipation faded when the two of them entered the parlour and discovered none other than George Wickahm already there, in the midst of telling some story about life in the militia camp.

Mr. Wickham stood when Mr. Bingley entered with Georgiana, and his delight at seeing the young lady shone on his face. “Miss Darcy! Just when I thought this afternoon could not be more pleasant, I am proven utterly wrong, for now it is in every way perfect!”

Georgiana smiled back and curtsied to him, her eyelashes fluttering. “Oh, Mr. Wickham!” she said, flirtation in her voice. “What an unexpected pleasure to find you here!”

Kitty and Lydia scowled at the newcomers, but Georgiana ignored the scowls completely.

Mr. Wickham was soon seated once again and he resumed his story, pausing periodically to throw in a compliment to one of the three who hung on his every word.

Mary went to Georgiana and attempted to engage her in a discussion of music, but Georgiana could not wrest her attention away from Mr. Wickham.

Mr. Bingley whispered to Jane, “How long has he been here?”

“Half an hour,” she whispered back.

Mr. Bingley scowled. “That is twice as long as he should stay.”

Jane nodded. “He stood up after a quarter of an hour, but my sisters begged him to remain.”

“Miss Bennet, you must know that he is not a good man; Darcy will not be at all happy to learn that his sister met him here.”

“Elizabeth says the same, but I cannot see any real harm in him. He is a flirt, that much is certain, but the same may be said of many a young man.”

Mr. Bingley shook his head. “Darcy says he is not to be trusted around ladies, and I assure you that my friend is not in the habit of exaggerating. I advise you most strongly, Miss Bennet, to warn your sisters away.”

Jane laughed. “Were I to do so, they would seek him out even more vigorously!”

“At least watch them, Miss Bennet!” Mr. Bingley spoke with great urgency.

“I will, Mr. Bingley. I thank you for your concern. But truthfully, were Mr. Wickham to try to engage the affections of a young lady, I would think Georgiana to be a far more enticing target than Kitty or Lydia.”

“True enough,” Mr. Bingley said. “And I can tell you that Mr. Darcy is well aware of the danger.”

Mr. Wickham finally took his leave, swaggering off, and the room was briefly silent. Mary said, “He is gone; come, Georgiana, let us go to the instrument.”

Georgiana agreed, and the two shuffled through some sheets of music before agreeing to a duet. The music filled the room.

“Do you play, Miss Bennet?” Mr. Bingley said, softly, so as not to interrupt the pianists.

“I do, but not well. Mary has all the musical talent in the family, I fear.”

“I am certain that you have other skills,” he said.

“I have learnt how to fashion medicines from herbs, so I manage the stillroom. I also do a good deal of plain sewing for the tenants,” she said, blushing lightly. “I enjoy fancy work; there is not much call for that on an estate, so I do it for my own pleasure when time permits.”

“Did you sew these cushions?” he asked, removing the cushion from behind his back and tracing the elaborate design of vines and roses with a finger.

“I did, yes,” she said. “I very much enjoyed making them.”

“They are everything lovely!” he enthused. “Such talent is a gift every bit as valuable as playing the pianoforte; perhaps even more so, for the music vanishes as soon as it is over, while this lovely cushion will last for years.”

“That is very kind of you, Mr. Bingley,” she said, looking at him with gratitude. “I admit I have often felt rather envious of Mary’s musical gift and Lizzy’s quick intelligence.”

“No one could think you in any way inferior, Miss Bennet, I assure you,” Mr. Bingley said, with rather more fervour than the subject required. “You must not feel envious of anyone.”

Jane looked down, blushing heavily. When she recovered herself, she asked him, “Have you any siblings, Mr. Bingley?”

“I have two sisters, as it happens,” he replied.