A/N Thank you again to all you lovely people who have taken the time to read/review/favourite/alert this story! All the feedback is great and really helps. Sorry about the lack of updates, I know it's terrible loads of work and lack of inspiration I'm afraid. I will try and update more regularly and thanks again to all those of you who have stuck around!
Chapter Three
"Lord Morecroft, I thought you were staying in Hertfordshire for the season?"
"My dear Miss Bennet" Morecroft replied ignoring Elizabeth's icy glare, "I suddenly found that Hertfordshire had lost the hold it had on me. I brought this up in conversation with your mother and as you know, she is a most attentive hostess and she lost no time in suggesting ways to improve my mood."
"Really."
"Indeed. She was most useful, she suggested London might be a good place to start and I can safely say she was perfectly correct." Before Lizzy could issue a scathing retort Morecroft decided to see who else was assembled. "Why Miss Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, it has been a while."
"My Lord."
"Morecroft! It's been five years at least has it not? It seems you have not changed a bit." The Colonel commented.
"I could say the same for you Colonel, Miss Darcy however, you look so grown up, I only just recognised you!"
Georgiana only smiled in response whilst the Colonel fixed Lord Morecroft with a hard stare. Mr and Mrs Gardiner then appeared after spotting Lizzie's distressed posture, Georgiana also saw her new friend's discomfort and together with Mrs Gardiner skilfully moved Lizzy away from Lord Morecroft.
Throwing Miss Darcy a grateful look Elizabeth introduced her Aunt to Georgiana.
"Miss Darcy it is a delight to make your acquaintance, and can I say how much you resemble your mother?"
"You knew my mother Mrs Gardiner?"
"Only a little, I grew up in Lambton where I occasionally worked with your mother in various charity events, she was a very generous and gracious woman."
"I always enjoy meeting people who knew her, for I never did you see." Georgiana paused a moment and looked around to see that Miss Bingley had already moved on before asking her new companions if they would like to join her for tea the following day.
"I am afraid that I cannot make it Miss Darcy for I already have an appointment but Lizzy is free to attend."
"You shall have to come another time then Mrs Gardiner, Miss Bennet here is my card. I look forward to getting to know you better. I must bid you farewell I can see that my cousin is ready to go to our box. Farewell Mrs Gardiner, until tomorrow Miss Bennet."
"Goodbye Miss Darcy."
That night whilst in her room Elizabeth reflected on the evening's events. The performance itself was superb and she thoroughly enjoyed the show, to see one of her favourite stories acted on stage was always a treat. The chance meeting with Miss Darcy and the subsequent invitation was also a pleasant surprise. She would like to know the young girl better, even from her limited interactions with Miss Darcy she could sense that underneath the slightly shy exterior there was an intelligent, witty woman that was waiting to make an appearance and Lizzy was determined to coax it out of her.
The unwanted reappearance of Lord Morecroft was infinitely less desirable. Elizabeth had hoped that she would have a little bit more time before her persistent suitor invaded her life once again. After being whisked away by her Aunt and Uncle when Miss Darcy left with her cousin Lizzy had managed to avoid him for the rest of the evening. She opted to stay in the box the Gardiners had secured for the evening, she did not know many acquaintances in London anyway and she would rather miss a chance encounter then risking another run in with Morecroft. As she pondered on the wayward Lord she felt resentment well up within her. Who was he to curtail her enjoyment? Hadn't she always prided herself that her courage rose with every intimidation? Elizabeth squared her shoulders and made the decision to not let her knowledge of Morecroft's presence in town to ruin her visit. She would put all this behind her, give him no encouragement and act with the bare minimum in regards to civility, surely if she continued to mark her distaste he would grow bored and inflict his company on someone else, hopefully someone as boorish as he, she would never wish her fate on another innocent party.
The next morning when Lizzy awoke the resolution from her musings from the night before was still fresh in her mind. She dressed and put her hair in a simple style as she set out on her regular morning walk before breakfast, she would get Claire to restyle it before she departed for the Darcy house.
The members of said house were also early risers and Georgiana was excited at the prospect of furthering her acquaintance with Elizabeth. She was a refreshing change from the horde of women who only spoke to her to gain access to her very rich, very handsome and very single older brother. When Miss Bennet had found out her name she showed no recognition and had not that gleam in the eye of many women of marriageable age when making her acquaintance. Yes, even though she had only very brief interactions with her she had a good feeling about Elizabeth. Living at Pemberley had many advantages and she was grateful for what she had, but sometimes it was lonely, her brother, though very caring was over ten years her elder and not someone she felt she could confide all her hopes and desires to, Mrs Annesley again was a fine companion and teacher but the age difference and the very nature of their relationship did not let Georgiana feel as though she could truly unburden herself to her companion. Even if her general shyness did not prohibit her making friends easily, the area where she lived afforded no-one of her own age to associate with. All in all Georgiana Darcy was quite lonely at times and the liveliness of Miss Bennet could only be endearing to her. It was with this frame of mind that she happily progressed into the dining room for breakfast where she was excited to set her eyes upon a young man, whose curls of dark hair could be seen over the morning newspaper as he scanned the business section, clearly he had not noticed her arrival and was startled when a petite blonde figure rushed up to him.
"William! I did not realise you were back? When did you arrive? I have missed you these past weeks!"
Mr Darcy, who had missed his sister as much as she apparently had missed him warmly returned her hug.
"Georgie, it is good to see you too little one, I arrived back rather late last night, you were already in bed and I did not want to disturb you. How have you been? Not been getting into any mischief I hope?"
"Brother, I am not so little anymore and you know I would not have minded if you had woken me. I am well thank you, I went to the theatre last night with Richard to see "Much Ado About Nothing". You should go, it was a wonderful performance, I would not be averse to watching it again. Also I made a new acquaintance; her name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I first met her in the park whilst I was walking with Mrs Annesley one day and then again I saw her at the theatre. She seems a delightful person, so lively and confident, in fact I invited her for tea, I hope you do not mind, I did not realise you would be back. I could postpone it if you would prefer?"
Darcy, who was very much surprised at his sister, as he knew her to be even shyer than him with people they had never met before. He could see how pleased Georgiana was with her new friend and after her recent disappointment she had not shown much initiative in putting herself out there to new people. He was happy that she had started to come out of her shell.
"Sorry Georgie, I forget you do not like that nickname any more, I have read the play of course and many years ago I saw a production of it, I think I would quite like to see it again, we can wait a while to go though considering you have only just seen it! As to postponing your tea with Miss Bennet was it? There is no need, I have business I need to complete in town and so I will be out for the majority of the day I think to get it out of the way so I can spend time with you later. Have fun with your new friend."
With that Darcy rose from his seat gave his sister an affectionate kiss on the forehead and went to ready himself for his day of errands.
