Georgiana's companion and ladies maid had been much slower to enter the house than his excited sister. Darcy heard Georgie introduce Mrs. Annesley and Amy to Mrs. Evans when they all met in the hallway. All four then proceeded to the rooms upstairs.
His sister had returned a little while later full of praise for her room with its view of the orchard, the house in general and Mrs. Evans in particular. Her delighted chatter wound down only when the housekeeper entered with the tea set and a tray of small cakes.
"This is good!" Georgie squealed as she swallowed the first bite.
Darcy bit into his own cake and nodded in agreement as he chewed.
"I am so glad to be here," Georgie said between bites. "I know I disappointed you at...at Ramsgate,," she said, looking away as she stumbled over the words.
"Oh, Georgie," he said kindly, "I was never disappointed in you. While agreeing to elope was not a good decision you were led to it by the poor advice of your companion and by George Wickham's lies." He signed and added, "I am disappointed in myself for leaving you to face a decision like that alone."
Darcy was interrupted by a small bout of sneezing. He made use of his handkerchief then continued, "I forgot that you are growing up and are ready to make some of your own decisions in life. You cannot make good decisions without good information. While I never expected Wickham to target you, I should have warned you about his poor character. I thought I was protecting you by keeping silent about the flaws in the man you knew from childhood."
"I still should never have agreed to elope," she said sadly.
"That is true," he said, "but thankfully I arrived in time to stop you once you told me what was happening." He smiled and continued in a lighter tone, "I have recently been advised to remember the past only as it gives me pleasure. I think we both can benefit from that advice."
"Who is she, Will?" Georgie asked eagerly.
"One of the daughters of our landlord. It is due to her and one of her sisters that I asked you here and leased this house. The ladies have expressed a great desire to make your acquaintance and I think you will enjoy their company."
"You leased the house because of them?" she asked, eyes wide with astonishment.
"Not quite, dearest," he chuckled, "I leased the house because of you. I was given the idea as a way to save us both from the trials of Miss Bingley's company."
She sipped her tea and nibbled her cake for a moment in silence.
"Are you sure they will like me?" she timidly asked.
"Very sure," he replied firmly, followed by another sneeze. "I am not really feeling up to traveling today," he continued after catching his breath, "but with your permission I will send the carriage with a note for Mr. Bennet asking if Miss Elizabeth and Miss Mary could join us for a visit this afternoon."
She nodded and quietly said, "I think I would like that, Fitzwilliam."
"It is settled then." He got up and walked over to the desk to compose his note.