Chapter 14
London
At Miss Darcy's insistence, Elizabeth, Mrs. Gardiner and Jane made their way to Darcy house Monday morning for tea. They found Miss Darcy at her instrument as they were shown into the music room.
"Mrs. Gardiner, Elizabeth!" The young girl exclaimed as she rushed over to greet them
"Miss Darcy, may I present my niece Jane Bennet. Jane this is Miss Georgiana"
"I am so pleased to meet you Miss Bennet"
"And I you, Miss Darcy. Elizabeth and my aunt have told me so much about you"
Georgiana blushed at the compliment
"Let me call for tea"
"Thank you my dear" Mrs. Gardiner said with a nod of appreciation
"How was your journey to London Miss Bennet?"
"It was good, thank you."
"Do you play duets Miss Elizabeth"
"Only when forced Miss Darcy"
"Mrs. Gardiner, you must force her!" the girl cried with delight. She led Elizabeth over to the piano and placed a new piece of music on the stand.
"Do you like Beethoven, Miss Bennet?"
"In moderation, I am not particularly accomplished at the piano so I do tend to avoid the harder sonatas"
"They are lovely pieces of work, my brother just bought me these duets."
"That was very kind of him"
"Yes, he is the kindest of men. He thought perhaps we would enjoy playing them together."
Now it was Elizabeth's turn to blush at the compliment.
"My brother, Miss Elizabeth, regretted very much that he had business this morning. He hopes that perhaps we would favor him with one of the duets when he returns"
"I believe your brother grossly overestimated my ability! Let me see here...G, C, ..."
Elizabeth plucked out the harmony line of the piece in its entirety, Georgiana joining in when Elizabeth started back at the beginning again. After the girls had fumbled their way through the piece together, they were met with thunderous applause.
"What a beautiful instrument Miss Darcy!"
"Thank you Miss Bennet, my brother gave it to me for my birthday. I do hope that I play well enough to deserve it someday"
"I think you play beautiful! Such an instrument is very fortunate to be in such worthy and careful hands" Elizabeth stated with a smile
By the time Georgiana and Elizabeth had put the piece together, the maid brought tea and cakes for the party.
"Are you looking forward to the theater tonight Miss Darcy?"
"Oh yes! I love the theater, but I do not get to go very often, only when Fitzwilliam takes me. Do you like Shakespeare Miss Bennet?"
"Yes I do, but I have not read this particular work before. Are you well acquainted with it?"
"I have just been studying it with Mrs. Ansley, my companion. We have determined to read through the works before we see them on the stage"
"That is a very wise choice. A book is never the same once I have clouded my mind with images from the theater. It is much better to form an opinion first" concluded Elizabeth
"Are you often at Pemberley?"
"Mrs. Gardiner I am there as much as I can be. My piano instructor is in London, so I must stay for most of the year. Usually my brother and I travel to Derbyshire for the summers"
"My husband and I have decided to go on a journey to the peaks this summer, it is such a spectacular sight"
"But that is not twenty miles from Pemberley! You must come and stay with us! I am sure my brother would insist upon it if he was here"
Just then the man in question entered the room. He bowed and walked towards his sister.
"Brother, Mrs. Gardiner just informed me that she and Mr. Gardiner are journeying to the Peak District this summer."
"You must come to Pemberley then, we are not twenty miles away."
"That is most kind of you Mr. Darcy, but I would not want to trespass on your summer with your sister."
"No, it would be our delight. You must stay with us. Does your husband care much for fishing?"
"Yes, very much so"
"Excellent! We have a very well stocked lake, it would be a pleasure to have company while waiting for a bite"
"And Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth must come too!" exclaimed Georgiana
"That is very kind of you Georgiana, but I would not want to trespass on my aunt and uncle's time"
"Oh no Lizzy, your uncle and I were going to invite you and Jane to come with us tomorrow night"
"Then it is all settled" Darcy stated in his authoritative voice "we shall make up a party this summer for the Peak"
Darcy took a cup of tea and headed for the chair near Elizabeth.
"Miss Elizabeth, did my sister happen to share her music with you?"
"She did indeed Mr. Darcy. It was so kind of you to pick something for us to play together"
"It is good for her to have friends to enjoy the music with her. She would far rather play duets than talk of hats and lace, and I confess that I rather encourage that. Perhaps you could recommend some books for her?"
"I would be glad to, although I am not sure that she would care for my taste in reading"
"As long as you do not spend your days reading Fourdyce, I am sure that Georgie could benefit from your suggestions" he chuckled
"I do enjoy the greek philosophers, would she take any interest in such a thing?"
"Perhaps not, but I certainly do. What have you read?"
"Oedipus Rex was an oddity, the Illiad and the Odyssey were the suggestion of my father, but my recommendation would be Dante. It always leads to intriguing conversation, and is that not the goal of reading? To improve our minds and cause conversation?"
"You are absolutely correct. Have you read the famed Byron?"
"How would I form an opinion without it? His work has caused quite the stir"
"Indeed it has. I quite enjoy his work, myself"