Mr. Darcy's Little Sister (23 page)

He chuckled gently and murmured, “I would not want to do anything that would make you uncomfortable, my dear cousin.”

She looked away and continued playing until it was time to leave for their party.

As she closed the pianoforte, Lord St. George took her hand and said, “I hope that you will allow me the first pair of dances again this evening, my dearest cousin.”

She bowed her head slightly in assent and turned to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Interpreting her look, Lord St. George added to his brother, “If you want a dance with our lovely cousin, Brother, you should speak now, for I will be keeping her quite busy this evening.”

The colonel bowed and said, very formally, “I, of course, wish to dance with you as well, Miss Darcy. Perhaps I could have the second pair of dances?”

Georgiana bowed her head again, this time letting a smile play at the corners of her mouth. The colonel smiled in return, and the group left the drawing-room for the party.

***

The entertainment that evening was at the home of another of the debutantes, this one a rather plain girl who was the eldest daughter of a baronet as well as a friend of Georgiana’s. The girl had a lively intellect, which made her popular with her friends, but her family was a large one and of only moderate fortune, so her father made sure that he hosted several parties each Season to attract as many eligible young men as they could.

Jane and Bingley had decided to remain at home this evening, so the Darcys chaperoned Miss Bingley and Kitty as well as Georgiana. The baronet had kindly invited all of them, in spite of the additional competition they provided for his daughter, because the presence of Miss Darcy would ensure that the wealthier young men would attend as well. The house was of moderate size but furnished in an elegant style, and the refreshments were lavish.

Georgiana left her family to dance the first dance with Lord St. George. She danced with little conversation, merely answering her partner’s comments with a small smile or brief comment of her own and then gazing remotely over his shoulder as she thought about her next partner. When St. George escorted her off the dance floor, she curtseyed briefly before moving off with some other young women.

The colonel immediately claimed her for his two dances. She put her gloved hand gently on his offered arm and glanced up at him, briefly meeting his gaze. During the dance she smiled and gazed steadily at him when they were facing each other, still not speaking much but very aware of his every movement and expression. Each touch of his hand burnt through her gloves and she could feel herself flushing. She could see that he was flustered by her steady regard, and soon his easy conversation died and they danced in silence. She could not find any topic of conversation which was not either trite or far too revealing of her state of mind, so she kept quiet, silently blessing Elizabeth for her advice on maintaining an enigmatic silence when unable to converse sensibly. When the first dance finished she thanked the colonel, pitching her voice low and putting as much warmth as she could into her voice, “Thank you, Colonel. Could we sit out our second dance? It is a little too warm in here tonight.”

“Of course, Georgiana, if you wish. Could I bring you something to drink? Some punch, perhaps?”

“That would be lovely, but I will come with you. Perhaps there is a quieter and cooler place where we could sit and drink it.”

The refreshments were in a small parlour next to the ballroom, which was provided with a cluster of chairs for those who preferred to escape the music for a while. They had barely settled themselves when Lord St. George appeared in the doorway with Justina Dalrymple. The two settled themselves noisily next to Georgiana and the colonel. St. George immediately asked Georgiana about the progress of her first Season, and Justina flashed her dimples at the colonel and teased him.

“Colonel Fitzwilliam! No regimentals tonight?”

“No, Miss Dalrymple, I am a private citizen tonight.”

“What a shame. And you look so handsome in them. Do you not love a man in uniform, Georgiana?”

She glanced laughingly at Georgiana, drawing her into their conversation and causing St. George to pout as the attention moved away from him.

Georgiana examined the colonel with deliberate care.

“Indeed, a uniform is a handsome addition to a man’s appearance… however, I have noticed that my cousin does not need the assistance of regimentals to turn the heads of the ladies.”

Justina squealed with laughter and turned an adoring gaze on Colonel Fitzwilliam.

“Indeed he does not.”

The colonel blushed and shook his head but managed to answer in a light tone. “You young ladies will swell my head. Please have a care for my susceptible heart.”

Lord St. George inserted, “And what about me? I am told that my brother and I are much alike. May I not receive my share of praise, Miss Dalrymple?”

After a few minutes more of Justina’s lavish praise for the two gentlemen, Georgiana gave up and said to the colonel, “Could we have our second dance now, Colonel?”

The colonel bowed briefly and answered, a pensive look on his face, “My pleasure, Miss Darcy.”

***

In spite of her own preoccupations, as Georgiana looked around after their dance she noted that Edward Blake had come with Colonel Fitzwilliam and was happily dancing with all of the young ladies, but when he was free he came back to talk to Kitty and danced two sets with her during the evening. Sir Robert Blake had come late to the party and Georgiana, who at that moment was talking to Elizabeth about the frustration of her attempts to talk to the colonel, had an inspiration and said impishly, “You know, I think that I will introduce Sir Robert to Catherine Freemont. He looks far too grave tonight and they would make a lovely couple. She can cheer him up.”

She saw her cousin St. George coming towards them and added, “Elizabeth, why do you not introduce Miss Bingley to my cousin St. George? Since the count is not here tonight she can keep him busy.”

She went to find her friend and took her over to Sir Robert and introduced them. Sir Robert bowed courteously and talked with both of them for a few moments. A young man came to claim Georgiana for a promised dance, and Sir Robert apparently asked for Miss Freemont’s hand for the next set, for they moved onto the dance floor immediately after Georgiana and her partner.

Elizabeth did as Georgiana suggested and introduced Lord St. George to Miss Bingley. Caroline was charmed and danced and talked with St. George with evident enjoyment through the set, and afterwards she and Georgiana both accepted refreshments from him. Lord St. George preened himself before the two ladies, Georgiana looking on indifferently and Miss Bingley hanging upon his every word.

Halfway through the evening, there was a sudden ripple of excitement among those standing near the entry. Georgiana, who was talking quietly to her friend Catherine about Sir Robert, did not notice the raised voices immediately. Her first inkling that there was something disturbing the controlled gentility of the ballroom was when she saw Catherine suddenly stare over her left shoulder, her eyes wide. Georgiana turned and saw Lord Byron awaiting her notice. He bowed gracefully and said, “Miss Darcy, would you honour me with the next two dances?”

Georgiana curtseyed. “Th-Thank you, my lord.”

Byron turned away and it was not long before a crowd of girls surrounded Georgiana.

“Do you know Lord Byron?”

“Have you met Lord Byron, Georgiana?”

The gabble of their voices obscured the questions and Georgiana thought that it was time to try the regal silence again. She gave them a half-smile, took Catherine’s hand, and calmly walked through the gathered debutantes to the other side of the room, leaving them with their mouths open.

Lord Byron came to claim Georgiana for their dances and she glanced at her brother and sister, who were both staring intently at them from across the room. She gave Elizabeth a fleeting smile and faced her partner across the space which separated the lines of dancers. He gave her his seductive half-smile and they began the figure. Byron was a good dancer, in spite of his crippled foot, and while they awaited their turn to go down the line he conversed about music.

“I understand that you are a very accomplished musician, Miss Darcy.”

Georgiana wondered with whom he had been discussing her but answered calmly enough, “I enjoy music, my lord. I do not know if I would call my efforts accomplished.”

“I suspect that you are overly modest, Miss Darcy.”

She gave him a brief smile, her attention distracted by the sight of the colonel dancing with Justina Dalrymple. He seemed to feel her gaze and looked over, almost missing a turn with his partner. He recovered smoothly and again attended to his partner, but Georgiana could see that his mind was not on his dancing. She smiled to herself, and Lord Byron, who seemed to see her interest in the other couple, said, “Does your cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam often attend the debutante balls?”

“Pardon?” Georgiana forced her regard back to her dance partner.

“Your cousin seems to be very interested in Miss Dalrymple.”

“Yes, I suppose so.” She pulled herself together and said, more strongly, “I do not know how often he attended in past years, but he is my guardian along with my brother. It is possible that he attends more this year because of that.” She managed to shrug indifferently. “He has danced with Justina Dalrymple often. She is a very good dancer and her fortune is large. She will make someone a splendid wife.”

“Indeed she will.” Lord Byron watched Miss Dalrymple.

Justina Dalrymple was whispering in the colonel’s ear as they paused at the top of the form. When her partner turned in the middle of her compliments to stare at his young cousin and her partner, her vanity was pricked and she narrowed her eyes at him for a moment. She deliberately turned to watch the two dancing and commented with honeyed sweetness, “Do not worry, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Miss Darcy will not fall for Lord Byron. She is already in love with her handsome cousin.”

He turned and stared at Justina.

“I hope you are wrong, Miss Dalrymple.”

She tossed her head and said, “Trust me. A woman can tell.”

When Georgiana and her partner finished the dance, Lord Byron made his way across the room to Justina Dalrymple, who turned her back on the colonel’s final bow. Georgiana could see Justina beaming at the poet, and soon they were dancing and carrying on a lively conversation. Georgiana smiled to herself and sought out Catherine Freemont again.

***

The evening slowly ran its course with the formal movement of gentlemen and ladies as they met off the dance floor, bowing and curtseying, telling a small joke or anecdote, smiling, sometimes with their mouths alone, sometimes with their eyes as well. It was an endless parade of young men and women showing their looks and their grace, displaying their wealth by their elegant and fashionable clothing and caught in an elaborate dance as formal as any taking place on the dance floor. Georgiana suddenly realised that she was extremely fatigued.

When the evening finally wound to its close and they were on their way home, Georgiana and Kitty sagged like wilted flowers in the carriage, but Miss Bingley looked alert and satisfied with herself. Georgiana’s last thought when they left Miss Bingley at her brother’s house was that she looked like a well-fed cat, and she wondered what mouse she had eaten that night.

But still the great have kindness in reserve.

—Alexander Pope, “An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot”

Finally the day came for Elizabeth’s and Jane’s presentation at court. Although she was nervous about making a faux pas in front of the court, Elizabeth confessed to Jane and Georgiana that she was eager to see the Prince Regent, about whom she had heard so many scandalous tales.

“I realise that I am showing a rather prurient interest in his activities, but he seems to be a man who inspires many different emotions in those around him and I long to make my own judgement in the case, so I hope he is there today.”

Jane chuckled nervously, and Elizabeth reassured her.

“Do not distress yourself, my dear sister. With your beauty and grace you will charm the court. I, on the other hand, hope that I do not disgrace myself by laughing inappropriately at all of the pomp and ceremony.”

Jane smiled more easily at her and kissed her on the cheek. “Dear Lizzy, you always make me laugh at myself.”

Georgiana added, “My dear, if I, the most fearful young woman ever, can survive it you will have no difficulties at all.” She kissed Jane on the cheek and they embraced for a moment.

Lady Whitwell arrived and checked their costumes to see if they were perfectly correct and then had them demonstrate their curtseys in front of her and Georgiana. She would be Elizabeth’s sponsor and a friend of hers, Lady Southaven, would be Jane’s, since court protocol forbade Lady Whitwell from presenting both of them herself on the same day. Georgiana kissed them both and wished them luck before sending them off with her aunt.

The carriage ride to St. James Palace seemed far too short to Elizabeth. The day was a little cool and threatened rain, but they were able to leave their wraps in the carriage and enter the foyer of the palace without mishap, their trains draped gracefully over their arms. Lady Southaven awaited them in the entry, and after greeting her they made their way to the anteroom of the reception area. There, the lords-in-waiting lined up all those who would be presented in order of their rank. Elizabeth and Jane were separated since Darcy, although untitled, had a much more ancient name and fortune than Bingley, whose wealth went no further back than his grandfather, who had been in trade (a fact that Miss Bingley conveniently forgot when she was being superior).

Elizabeth prepared herself for an interminable wait since the line was long, but she, as Georgiana had before, consoled herself with the knowledge that it was, fortunately, an ordeal that need only occur once. Lady Whitwell stood with her and they occasionally exchanged remarks, but mostly they waited in silence, for the room was too noisy with the nervous chattering of the debutantes being presented to make conversation easy.

After they had been waiting a good while and the din had quieted somewhat, Lady Whitwell turned to Elizabeth and said in a low voice, “While we have the opportunity of being relatively unremarked, I must thank you for all you have done for Georgiana.” Elizabeth blushed and started to shake her head, but her sponsor continued, “Do not try to modestly deny it, my dear. I have seen a most remarkable change in Georgiana’s poise and maturity since you and Darcy married. Although he and Edward have done their best as her guardians, two men more than ten years older than she is are much better suited to manage her financial affairs than they are to manage her development into a graceful young woman.

“Unfortunately for Georgiana, although her brother loves her dearly, she has had no female relatives, until now, to help guide her and provide a model from which she could learn. I have several times regretted that I could not spend more time with her, but having only sons I am not sure that I would have been able to do nearly as well as you. I confess that a year ago I was doubtful whether she would be able to face presentation and the Season. She has always been an intelligent and courteous child, prevented only by the excessive shyness she developed a few years ago from shining in the company of others. But she has now blossomed into a confident woman, and I thank you.”

She patted Elizabeth’s hand as she said these last words. Elizabeth glanced up at her and said diffidently, “If I have been in any small way able to help Georgiana in the last few months, she has amply repaid my efforts with her kindness and affection. I am delighted to claim her as a sister, and I do not look forwards to her marrying and leaving home with any anticipation. I will miss her dreadfully.”

Their further conversation was interrupted as the line moved forwards, and they arrived at the front more quickly than Elizabeth had expected. Lady Whitwell gave Elizabeth’s card to the lord chamberlain, and in a few too-brief moments he opened the chamber doors for her and bowed her in. One of the lords-in-waiting spread her train out behind her and she approached the throne.

The Prince Regent, when her name was read, sat up a bit straighter and observed her closely as she walked sedately up to the throne and curtseyed deeply to Queen Charlotte and then to the prince. The Prince Regent nodded in his turn and, after the lord-in-waiting draped her train back over her arm, she backed out of the room, unable to keep her amusement at the false solemnity of the ritual from showing in her eyes above her studiously serious mien. She thought for a moment that she saw a small answering smile play over the Prince Regent’s face, but it was gone in an instant and she was sure that she must have been mistaken.

When she had managed to back out of the room without mishap, she looked at Lady Whitwell and gave a small sigh of relief. Her sponsor’s eyes crinkled in amusement as she led her to a bench in the anteroom where they could relax and wait for Jane to finish her presentation.

Eventually the ordeal was over and, after thanking Lady Southaven for her sponsorship of Jane, they returned to their carriage—not forgetting to turn sideways at the carriage door to get their hooped skirts inside.

At Ashbourne House Darcy, Georgiana, Kitty, and Bingley were all waiting in some anxiety. Georgiana had just begun to pour tea when they heard the carriage arrive, and they jumped up to congratulate Elizabeth and Jane on their presumed success.

Georgiana, after they had all given their congratulations, put on a solemn face and said, “I am so proud that you have both succeeded in this most important milestone in your life.”

This provoked all the laughter she was seeking, and Elizabeth and Jane entered the house with lighter hearts than when they had departed in the morning. After the footman had taken their wraps and Burton had congratulated them, they were more than ready for tea, but first they wanted to change out of their court dresses and into their ordinary gowns for, as Elizabeth pointed out, “If we sit down in these gowns, there will be no place for anyone else to be seated. Whoever created this style must have had investments in the furniture industry and planned to make a vast fortune enlarging all of the furniture in the country so that more than one lady could fit on the settee.”

Bingley choked on the tea he had just sipped and, while Darcy was pounding on his back, she and Jane swept grandly upstairs to change.

The rest of the day passed in a much more restful fashion than had the morning and they dined at the Bingleys’ house that evening. They had not accepted any invitations for later in the evening; they would need an early night tonight, for tomorrow was Lady Whitwell’s ball.