October 27th. Elizabeth and Jane are with Lady Matlock taking calls.

Ch. 38 – Georgiana's Day

After leaving Elizabeth and Jane in the foyer of the Fitzwilliam residence, Darcy once again sat in his carriage as the conveyance returned home. Having visited and comforted Elizabeth earlier, he was eager to spend the afternoon with his sister, whom he worried, was feeling neglected by her brother. Although she had been in his company daily and included in Elizabeth's plans, he had not made her comfort or council a priority. Indeed, Darcy had been too focused on including Elizabeth in his plans and thoughts that he had rarely considered his sister beyond discerning her whereabouts.

The realization saddened and disgusted him. He spent the short ride thinking of outings Georgiana might enjoy, though he chose not to set his mind on a course without her opinion on the matter. This was to be Georgiana's day.

He found her sitting at her pianoforte considering a piece of music as she sipped on juice and nibbled on a crescent pastry. She smiled widely in greeting. "William! I am glad you are back. You did not tell me about the ball before you left this morning."

Darcy went to lean on the instrument and returned, "I am sorry, Georgie. I will tell you all you wish to know after we form our plans for the day."

Georgiana frowned, "What do you mean, Brother? I thought we were to go to the Gardiner's later this evening."

Darcy nodded, "That is correct. I promised we would see Elizabeth and Miss Bennet from Aunt Helen's, to convey them to the Gardiner's house. I am speaking about the afternoon I had planned to spend it with you. If you choose to play your instrument until it is time to leave, then I shall be your avid listener."

Georgiana's expression suffused with her delight and giggled. "Is that so? You will be my willing captive?"

Without giving in to his desire to smile, Darcy nodded gravely. "Yes. So willing that shackles and ropes shall not be necessary." Sighing dramatically with a hand at his heart, he continued, "It is a tough cross to bear, though I suppose someone ought to stay with you and, as your brother, I self-impose the duty upon myself in order to spare any unsuspecting soul who might venture into your lair."

Georgiana continued to smile at her brother's teasing as she looked up at him in wonder. He rarely jested with her in the manner she had seen him do so often with her cousin, Geoffrey. To her, Fitzwilliam always appeared so serious and weighed with so many responsibilities. His persona had most often been that of a parent, rather than a brother. The teasing overjoyed her heart. Silently she gave thanks for Elizabeth in Fitzwilliam's life.

Darcy's solemn attitude softened when he received no response and with some confusion said, "It is never a chore to be with you, dear one. Please forgive me. What would you like to do? We could go shopping for new books or music. I thought you might like to go to the Royal Menagerie, it has been some time since I have taken you and I know you enjoyed it before."

Georgiana stood up, causing Darcy to stop talking before he finished voicing his ideas. He was astonished when she rushed into his arms and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you, Fitzwilliam. Do not ask for forgiveness; you did nothing wrong." She said quietly against his shoulder.

Darcy was not certain what to think of his sister's behavior. His first coherent thought was, perhaps Elizabeth was right. Georgiana needs me to be her brother. Then, I am two for two today, I shall have my hands full living with two emotional women. And Anne. Three women! He squeezed her tight before moving her away to look upon her expression, his hands on her shoulders. "What is troubling you?"

Georgiana shook her head blinking back her tears of gratitude.

Darcy escorted her to the nearby settee and waited patiently until Georgiana quietly inhaled and smiled adoringly. "I am well, I promise you. I am very happy. Will you take me to the Menagerie, William? I adore the animals. If there is time we can go shopping. I would like to find a duet to play with Lizzy."

Darcy found no contradictory emotions in her eyes so could do nothing but smile and agree. "That sounds perfect. Come," he said standing and offering his hand to assist her, "let us go then."

Georgiana eagerly abandoned her small breakfast, leaving the room willingly on the arm of her brother. When they progressed to the staircase, Georgiana excused herself to collect a matching bonnet and wrap from her dressing room. They met in the vestibule and descended the front steps together toward the waiting carriage.

"So tell me about the ball," Georgiana said when she was seated across from Darcy. "Was it beautiful?"

Darcy nodded indulgently, "Yes, it was lovely."

Georgiana continued to ask questions, which she received short, undetailed answers for from her brother who could not remember much more than what music played and what Elizabeth was wearing. Soon she dropped the subject huffing, "I will simply have to ask Lizzy. You are no help at all."

"Sorry, Georgie." He said with a smile and a chuckle that made his shoulders shake. "I'm afraid that men do not typically devote their attention to the minutiae. I will try harder in the future; however, since I do not plan to attend such events without Elizabeth, you might want to reserve your questions for her until you are out next year."

"Obviously."

"Just in time. We are here." Darcy said just as the carriage moved to the side of the road.

The Royal Menagerie occupied the upper floors of Exeter 'Change, where Mr. Darcy chose a couple shillings from his purse to gain their admittance to the three apartments housing the exotic animals. The siblings had a pleasant afternoon wandering among the animals and reading the information about them.

Georgiana adored Chunee the elephant, who in turn adored the attention of the small audience; Georgiana clapped enthusiastically when the giant animal took Darcy's hat from his head, waved it around and bowed before returning it to its disgruntled owner. Georgiana, laughing into her hand, told her brother that he resembled the Ursine Sloth when he frowned so; which caused him to glare more and tell her she laughed similar to the hyena: "If you had been in a cage, I should hardly know you from that beast yonder."

Hardly able to continue suppressing her laughter after Darcy's proclamation, she entwined her arm with his and said, "Let us go, Brother. I think you must be hungry. I believe I saw a coffee house across the road where we may partake of refreshments and meat pies."

P&P

Elizabeth enjoyed some of the morning callers and tolerated others with refined poise while watching her sister out of the corner of her eye. She regularly worried for her sister's sensibilities, although Jane was unaware of Elizabeth's concerns given that Jane would likely worry in return for Elizabeth's preoccupation.

Jane contributed to conversations with her typically serene smile and nonjudgmental attitude that her sister both envied and prided.

The constant flow of callers seemed to be more tedious than the morning after the opera. During a quiet moment Elizabeth asked, "Do you have so many callers on a daily basis?"

Lady Matlock shook her head, "Oh no, dear. I do not think I could survive the gossip and inactivity. I typically open my home once or twice a week if I have callers and nothing pressing to do. I pointedly made it known about town that you would be here with us today. I am ever so much enjoying the company! I do hope Miss Bennet will join you in town often."

Jane smiled, "I do not know what Bingley and I shall do, though I do hope to visit often with my sister."

Laughing, Elizabeth said, "There is little choice. I shall insist upon your company often, and I suspect that our husbands shall not deny us since they are good friends themselves. I must say that is terribly convenient." Smiles were exchanged in agreement.

Elizabeth had trouble keeping her mind from wandering and her yawns from escaping, while attempting to listen attentively to the unfortunate health problems and subsequent detailed receipts given by the surgeon of Lady Dorothy, who had introduced herself as a dear friend of Lady Catherine and the late Lady Anne Darcy.

Aside to Elizabeth, Lady Esther quietly said, "'Lady' Indeed. Her parentage is questionable." Uncertain about the reasoning behind the comment, Elizabeth chose to give no outward sigh of acknowledgement and did her best to attend the conversation.

Elizabeth would have liked to hear stories of her betrotheds mother, however gathered that Lady Dorothy's intimate relationship with the late Mrs. Darcy was a gross exaggeration when she witnessed the Countess subtly raise an eyebrow and Lady Esther, not so subtly, roll her eyes.

It was fortunate for the assembled that Lady Dorothy did not stay above twenty minutes. "My goodness, is that the time? I must be off to visit the Torringtons and I have an appointment at the draper's and what not. I was ever so disappointed to miss the Marchioness's ball; she is quite accomplished at hosting. My son, Harrison, had a lovely time and breakfasted with me this morning raving about the Bennet beauties and their enchanting eyes." Lady Dorothy eyed Elizabeth speculatively; Elizabeth's discomfort under the probing eye caused her to raise her chin meeting Lady Dorothy's stare openly. Standing to take her leave, the others followed suit. "It was ever so nice to meet you Miss Elizabeth; I cannot wait to tell my friends about our morning. Ladies, Miss Bennet, a pleasure. Ta ta." With a wave of her wrist she was gone allowing the remaining ladies to sigh.

Unfortunately, before Lady Matlock could comment on her most recent guest, another was announced.

Lady Esther was nearly correct in her assessment of the bounty on the refreshment cart; it was above an hour and a half before the tray had to be replenished. When the tray was taken away she smirked at Elizabeth, gaining her attention and a raised eyebrow above her tea cup.

The most pleasant visitor was the Duchess of Rutland, who came just before a group of three dull society ladies departed. Lady Matlock did not tarry with her questions to her friend once the door had closed on the last visitors, "Christiana, I am ever so happy you have come! What is the news?"

The Duchess laughed and turned to look at the faces around the room to be sure to have their attention. "Well, as it turns out Lady Lamb has been sharing the most outlandish stories about her friendship with the Bennets. She has invited herself and Countess Granville to Pemberly."

Lady Esther harrumphed, "That woman has some nerve, and I'll give her that. Hopefully Byron does not put her scatterbrain ideas to paper."

Lady Matlock looked skeptical as her friend answered with a question, "You fancy that his prose all come from his own imagination?"

Lady Esther pursed her lips and reserved comment. Jane however looked troubled, "Lord Byron struck me as a congenial man. You do not believe him capable of plagiarism? I have heard him likened to a modern day Shakespeare."

To which the Duchess of Rutland replied, "Indeed."

Luncheon was served shortly thereafter and the ladies conversed about the tea party the Duchess was hosting two days hence. She was very excited about the prospect and disclosed the guest list and asked Lady Matlock for her advice on seating arrangements. Elizabeth found that she was looking forward to the party and hoped to meet more allies like the Duchess, whom she was becoming fonder of with each meeting.

The discussion seized when Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy entered the scene. Elizabeth noted the relaxed visages of the Darcys and smiled hoping they had spent the morning companionably. The Duchess stood, thanking her friend for luncheon; she took her leave from the party saying she still had preparations to see to. Georgiana was eager to tell Elizabeth about her morning, though she allowed her brother to sit beside Elizabeth, opting to sit by her aunt and Jane instead in the seat the Duchess vacated.

"You look well, William." Lady Esther said after watching him happily take his place beside his betrothed. "I cannot wait to see the progression of this next year. I do believe that marriage will agree with you exceedingly well." Darcy did not answer his astute grandmother in so many words, though his smile agreed with her assessment.

As there was no great hurry to leave, Darcy and Georgiana were given a glass of lemonade as Georgiana began describing her morning outing with her brother. "It was wonderful. Brother has not escorted me to the menagerie for some time and I do adore the animals. Perhaps next time, I shall bring my drawing pencils to sketch my favorites."

Elizabeth smiled, "That sounds like a wonderful idea. I have never had a talent for drawing, though Jane can sketch a fetching likeness." Jane, of course, demurred.

Ignoring Jane's objections, Georgiana replied, "Then Jane shall have to come with us when we return to draw the animals." Keeping her eyes away from Darcy's and her face blank, she continued, "Perhaps Fitzwilliam might pose for us. In front of the Elephant would be perfect."

Darcy shook his head emphatically. "No. I will not. That beast will not get another opportunity to snatch my hat." Georgiana giggled, happy to get a reaction from her brother and happier still that she had not imagined such a perfect morning with him. Elizabeth looked between brother and sister, hoping to be enlightened about the elephant and Mr. Darcy's hat.

Lady Matlock watched her nephew from the corner of her eye as she interjected with a new conversation topic. "Elizabeth, what was your impression of Lady Dorothy?"

Elizabeth raised her brow, "She seemed to be friendly enough, though she also seemed to be full of air and gossip; Lady Dorothy had a lot to say as I recall."

"A lot to say about herself, you mean. Did you catch what she said about her son?"

"Perhaps." Any conversation about another man's interest in her was not a conversation she was interested in—especially when in company with her betrothed.

Lady Matlock chose to disregard her unspoken wishes and continued mischievously; "You are too modest, my dear."

Darcy caught his aunt's implication and inquired, "What exactly did the gracious Lady have to say?"

Lady Matlock turned to her nephew as if surprised by his presence. "Oh, I understand that her son paid Elizabeth a great compliment by singling her out as a beauty at the ball."

Darcy's scowl was instantaneous. "Did he now? What does Lord Harry mean by discussing another man's intended, for drawing room half-wits to toss around compliments in his stead?" With each word, his speech quickened and he appeared more ominous. He would later remind himself that there was no need to feel jealousy; he was simply concerned that men with wandering eyeballs might spread gossip to eager ears.

Elizabeth noticed Darcy's fingers fold in a fist and would have tried to assuage his temper if Lady Matlock had not calmly replied, "Is it necessary for you to ask such nugatory questions? It was said to get to you. So instead of reacting as a jealous suitor, you must understand the context and know who your friends, foes and competition are always. So you are able to protect your reputations."

At his silence, she smiled and excused herself marking the end of morning calls and luncheon.

AN:

Thank you All so much for your reviews. You are amazing readers and without your encouragement I might not have made it this far in the story. I have been writing faithfully, but I have been ill for the last week, which has set me back in almost everything…

Keep reviewing and sending me your story ideas. I love reading your thoughts!