Mr. Darcy's Little Sister (13 page)

Walker purred, “Delighted, Miss Bennet” then turned back to Georgiana. “Could I possibly engage you for the first two dances, Miss Darcy?”

Georgiana, her eyes staring at her toes, mumbled, “I am sorry, I am already engaged for the first two.”

“Perhaps the second pair then?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Miss Bennet, would you, perhaps, give me the pleasure of the first two dances?”

“Why yes, Mr. Walker, I would be delighted.” Kitty swept into a curtsey which Georgiana could only envy.

Georgiana breathed a sigh of relief when Walker had passed and she had only some elderly friends of the family to greet.

The orchestra had begun playing as soon as the first carriage rolled up to the door, and when the guests had all arrived Elizabeth and Darcy led the first dance. They were followed down the line by Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam and Jane and Bingley. Kitty followed the Bingleys with Jonathan Walker, her face showing her pleasure in being asked for the first pair of dances.

Elizabeth was kept busy by her husband making the acquaintance of all their guests. Georgiana found herself the centre of attention around the dance floor, with several young men vying for her attention every moment she was not dancing. Kitty stayed by her side and when they had a moment’s peace, whispered, “I am staying with you, Georgiana, so I can catch a few of the disappointed cast-offs from among your admirers.”

Georgiana lifted her brow at her sister and they both giggled, but she could not maintain her good humour when there were so many demands upon her attention. One of the gentlemen in her coterie was Sir Robert Blake, who asked her to dance early in the evening and then gave Kitty equal time. Sir Robert’s handsome looks and genial temper struck Georgiana. She had thought of him as being in the same generation as her brother and too old and experienced for her, but he was quite good looking. He was very kind, his conversation light and undemanding. She enjoyed their two dances and gave him as much encouragement as she was capable of, hoping for another pair of dances after supper. Georgiana, while she was waiting to go down the line, watched Kitty dance with an awkward young man of about eighteen who had crooked teeth and ears like a jug. She had already forgotten his name, but he was most likely a not unpleasing partner as his parents had made sure that he knew how to dance properly.

As the first part of the evening wore on, Georgiana could feel herself tiring from the pressure of all her dance partners. She was relieved when Elizabeth rescued her and made sure that she was seated with her sister and brother for supper, leaving Kitty to sit with Jonathan Walker and Sir Robert Blake’s middle brother, James.

At the supper table, Georgiana studied the Comte de Tournay, who was across from her. He had arrived at his sister’s for Christmas, as expected, and tonight was the first time she had met him. The Darcys had been invited to Kympton Hall for dinner two days hence, so they would all have a better opportunity to learn his tastes and temper then, but this, her first glimpse of him, was intriguing. He was somewhat over forty years old and handsome in a dark, brooding way but looked rather dissipated; his lower lids were pouched, and deep creases marked the line between his nose and mouth. In spite of having lived in England for more than twenty years he was consciously French, with Continental manners. He had tried to make himself agreeable to Georgiana during the first half of the ball, but she had not known what to say to him. Elizabeth must have seen her dilemma, because she had swept him up and introduced him to Miss Bingley. He had seemed to be quite pleased to dance with her and Caroline had appeared entranced to meet a count, even one whose fortune had disappeared into the churning maw of the French Revolution.

Georgiana was not so well satisfied, however, with Jonathan Walker, who seemed to be always hovering near her. When he talked to her, he leaned towards her in an intimate manner which made her want to step back away from him, and only the most stringent effort prevented her from fleeing. Elizabeth had been keeping an eye on them and she again rescued Georgiana when Mr. Walker was pressing her to allow him to escort her to church.

“Please say you will, Miss Darcy. I am counting on you.”

Elizabeth appeared at his side and interjected mildly, “Counting on her for what Mr. Walker?”

He started but quickly recovered himself.

“I am trying to convince Miss Darcy to allow me to escort her to church this Sunday, Mrs. Darcy.”

“I am sorry, but I am afraid that Georgiana will have responsibilities with our guests on Sunday, Mr. Walker.” She managed to infuse the refusal with a creditable counterfeit of real regret, but Georgiana could hear the chill in her voice.

“Ah. Perhaps another time then. Miss Darcy, Mrs. Darcy.” He bowed and moved off.

Elizabeth watched him for a moment as he asked Miss Blake to dance and then turned to Georgiana, who sighed in relief.

“Are you all right, my dear?” Elizabeth whispered.

“I am now. Thank you, Elizabeth. You are my friend forever. I did not know what to do with him,” she said with a brief smile.

Elizabeth grinned at her and went back to Darcy’s side, relieved that Georgiana still had a spark of spirit remaining. Darcy had noticed her defection from his side.

“How is Georgiana doing?”

“She seems to be fine, but I thought I needed to give her a little assistance in detaching young Mr. Walker. I think she is beginning to find him too persistent. He rather reminds me of a limpet.”

Darcy chuckled but had a wary look in his eye as he watched Mr. Walker dance with Miss Blake. “A very apt comparison, but if necessary we will forcibly disengage him and throw him back into the sea.”

“Indeed we will,” she murmured and turned to talk to some guests who were approaching. Colonel Fitzwilliam stopped at her side after finishing a set on the dance floor and commented on the change in his cousin.

“I have never before seen Darcy so relaxed and happy at a ball,” he said. “You are a miracle worker, Mrs. Darcy.” He gave her a courtly bow.

She smiled archly at him and thanked him but commented, “You just keep your eye on Georgiana, my dear cousin. I do not want her to be overwhelmed with all these young men. They are insistent enough to give her, as the Scottish would say, a ‘
cauld grue
.’”

He looked over at his ward and said, “You are right, my dear Mrs. Darcy, and Jonathan Walker is the most importunate of them all. I believe that I will go break up the group and ask her to dance again; I think an old cousin can have a second dance without causing undue comment.”

Georgiana was beginning to feel very limp when her cousin strolled over and neatly captured her from the mass of gentlemen in a manoeuvre that did credit to his military training. She felt her tension dissipate as they danced the set, and she revived enough to notice the other young women watching them. She looked at her cousin speculatively and noted for the first time his soldierly carriage and his pleasant countenance. She could, perhaps, see why (annoying as he could sometimes be) he always had plenty of invitations to parties when he was in London.

She scanned the room. Kitty was dancing every dance and had partnered with Edward Blake, the youngest of the Blakes, at least twice that Georgiana had seen. They made a pleasing couple as they went through the figures of the dance and Kitty’s face was flushed with heat and gratification. Her new friend seemed to be enjoying herself now that she had overcome her awe at being at Pemberley.

She saw Elizabeth go to the door and speak to her father, who had appeared from his refuge in the library. Georgiana was sure that her brother would also prefer to spend the evening in the library; she well knew his dislike of balls and dancing. He, however, was doing his best to be a good host and seemed actually to be enjoying himself. She noted these things while she and Colonel Fitzwilliam were engaged in a conversation with Miss Blake. Georgiana reflected to herself that Miss Blake, pleasant as she was, was rather insipid and silly. Still, her manners were excellent, and it was nice to have another young woman to talk to occasionally. She saw that Miss Blake seemed to be rather taken with the colonel, smiling at him attentively whenever he entered the conversation, which was often, with his easy manners. She coolly examined the two of them while they talked to each other, her face, she hoped, impassive. Miss Blake was attractive and her fortune was suitable for her cousin, but she hoped that he could find someone who was more than just a pretty face for a wife.

She suddenly felt very tired and she went to her sister-in-law and whispered, “It is almost two o’clock, Elizabeth, and I am exhausted. Would it be discourteous for me to go upstairs now?”

“No, of course not, my dear. It is very late for you, and you do look ready to collapse. I am sorry that I did not notice earlier.” She put her arm around the girl.

“It came upon me rather suddenly,” Georgiana said with an attempt at a smile. “I think the war between fear and excitement kept me going far beyond my strength.”

With a pat on the hand, Elizabeth sent her up to her room. Kitty was apparently still full of energy, for she was dancing, but Georgiana could barely drag herself up the stairs. The ball continued until almost three o’clock, and she was still lying awake when the orchestra finished with “Sir Roger de Coverley.” She heard the murmur of the guests who were leaving saying good night to their host and hostess and the guests who were staying the night straggling up the stairs to their rooms. By half past three, the house was quiet and she finally slept.

***

The remaining guests from the ball made their departures in the early afternoon the next day, and the Darcys spent the rest of the day with their family. Everyone was tired from the ball and the Bingleys and the Bennets would be leaving on the morrow, so they were all a little subdued that last day. After the late night Georgiana felt as if her eyes were filled with sand. She spent an hour in the music room playing some of her easier music to try to wake up, but even the “Rondo Alla Turca” did not arouse her. She was still at the pianoforte when Elizabeth came looking for her.

“Georgiana, I am concerned about Kitty,” Elizabeth said. “Miss Bingley seems to be with my sister Jane indefinitely and she barely tolerates poor Kitty.

Georgiana said, “Yes, I have heard her make unkind comments to her several times and then turn around and praise me to the skies in front of her. Miss Bingley is very foolish if she thinks that I do not see through her attempts to humiliate Kitty. I do not like being used as a tool to spite my friends.”

“I thought I would ask Mr. Darcy if Kitty could stay with us when my family leaves, but I wanted to talk to you first. Having Kitty here will affect you more than anyone.”

Georgiana, without hesitation, said, “I would like to have Kitty stay, Elizabeth.” She slid off the piano bench. “Let me ask my brother for permission for her to stay.”

“If you like. Thank you, Georgiana, that is very kind of you.”

She found her brother alone in his library that afternoon looking for a book he and Mr. Bennet had been discussing and broached the subject of Kitty staying with them. He immediately agreed, saying, “Of course, my dear, if you like. I think it an excellent idea.”

When she thanked him, he kissed her affectionately on the top of her head and she hurried off to find Elizabeth; the two of them then went to Kitty’s room to ask her if she would like to stay.

After searching the house, they finally found her sitting silently in the conservatory, watching the snowflakes fall against the glass. When Elizabeth made her proposal to her, Kitty jumped up from her chair and clapped her hands, dancing around the two ladies and saying, “I would love to stay here, Lizzy, Georgiana, thank you
so
much!”

After Kitty’s elation had died down, they spent the remainder of the day quietly and Georgiana, after struggling to stay awake, finally went upstairs in the afternoon to rest. When she rejoined the family for tea, she noted that Miss Bingley was exceedingly attentive to both her brother and the colonel until Sir Andrew Ffoulkes and the Comte de Tournay rode over so the count could make his farewells to his new acquaintances.

“And where is your estate, Monsieur le Comte?” Miss Bingley asked casually as they all drank tea in the drawing-room.

“It is about twenty miles from Windsor, Mademoiselle,” he replied. “It is a small estate but, unfortunately, virtually all of our land was lost during the Terror and the current régime is impervious to the demands of the former aristocracy to be reinstated to their lands. I am resigned.” He shrugged eloquently.

“It must be very difficult to be living in exile from your homeland, Monsieur le Comte,” she purred.

He eyed Miss Bingley speculatively for a moment then put on a sad but noble face and put his hand over his heart. “
Oui,
Mademoiselle, it is a very sad thing, but we must make the best of it. We are fortunate to have had the assistance of our English friends to help us escape from the Terror with our lives.”

Georgiana was tempted to applaud this performance, but Miss Bingley gave a melancholy sigh and said, “Will you be visiting London during the upcoming Season, Monsieur le Comte?”

“
Bien sûr
. I always try to spend part of the Season with friends in London. You understand that I am unable to afford an establishment of my own in town; however, I have friends who are willing to oblige with an invitation.”

“Possibly we will see you there then, my lord, as my brother and his wife are spending the Season in town and have kindly invited me to join them. My elder sister and her husband also live in London and have extended an invitation as well.”

“That would be delightful, Mademoiselle Bingley.”

Both the count and Miss Bingley seemed gratified by this conversation and Georgiana was very well entertained, especially as she noted the sardonic glint in the count’s eye when Miss Bingley turned her attention to his brother-in-law, Sir Andrew.

While Sir Andrew and the count were still visiting, the Blakes arrived on the same errand: to say farewell to the Darcys’ guests. Miss Blake seemed charmed to see all of the gentlemen together but spent most of her time vying for the colonel’s attention, which he seemed happy enough to give. Georgiana watched Miss Bingley and Miss Blake dancing attendance on the single gentlemen with amusement.