Chapter 2

Georgiana ran from the room as tears blurred her eyes. She didn't want her anyone to see her crying like a child who didn't know what was best for herself. She hated the idea of being presented at court, but that wasn't all she was upset about. Her hands trembled as she opened the door to her bed chamber and quickly shut it behind her. Her breath hitched in her lungs and she felt completely undone.

What bothered her was something more than simply being ordered to be presented at court. It was the sense that her life was moving, being pulled by people other than herself.

She felt a deep uncertain fear. Panic, really.

Of being trapped, of living a life that wasn't hers.

She didn't want to be crushed under Lady Catherine's thumb the way her poor cousin, Anne, seemed to be. She knew her brother had her best interests in mind, but she also saw how Lady Catherine tried to dissuade his marriage to Elizabeth. Sometimes she wondered if remaining unmarried were the simplest way to choose the life she wanted.

Tears ran down her cheek and she wiped them away. She needed to act like an adult, not a young girl if anyone was going to take her wishes seriously. She sniffed and willed herself to calm down. One of the orange kittens appeared from under her bed and snaked her soft body along her ankles. She bent to pet her. Another thought flashed in mind like a blinding light.

Adam Merriweather.

His name sparked warm energy in her chest. She, like Darcy, needed to find a way to choose if she ever way to marry. She observed friends marrying men and then found themselves in marriages like gilded cages. She didn't want that.

Darcy would understand, wouldn't he? He had fought to marry Elizabeth. He could help her. She sensed Lady Catherine would watch her more closely because she was a female.

She willed herself to be brave as her maid knocked on the door and let herself in.

"Miss Darcy, may I help you change out of your soiled dress?"

Georgiana nodded numbly as the girl removed her cold, wet layers.

"Are you unwell?" the maid asked, noting her sniffle.

Georgiana shook her head and wiped away any last tears, forcing herself to smile.

Be brave, she told herself.

"I am well. Or I shall be."

Elizabeth heard light, brisk footsteps and wondered who or what was running down the hall.

Georgianna.

She was the only one small enough to make such light steps. She smoothed her hand down her skirts and headed downstairs to see who was there. Then she heard the baby cry. The wet nurse passed her, headed to the nursery.

She would let her attend to Cassandra, she thought groggily. A fog seemed to have fallen over her since Charlotte's birth and she never felt as though she were fully awake. She supposed that was to be normal for new mothers. She stifled a yawn and made her way downstairs to look for her husband. The fact that the baby was quiet meant either that she'd fallen asleep. Hopefully it would last.

Elizabeth heard voices coming from the morning sitting room. She recognized the low rhythm of Darcy's steady speech before another voice sounded.

Good Lord, was that Lady Catherine?

The woman's stentorian voice rang through Pemberley's walls. Elizabeth steeled herself and entered the room. She used to fear being in the same room as the great lady, but now she felt some level of protection. She was married to Darcy and had just given him a healthy daughter. She had more confidence around her now. Or she should have.

Lady Catherine sat resplendent on the blue loveseat, winter sunlight shining on her dark dress and white hair.

"Lady Catherine," Elizabeth smiled widely as she entered, catching Darcy's eyes momentarily. "To what do we owe this honor?"

Darcy stood as Elizabeth entered.

"There is my lovely bride," he said quickly. "Lady Catherine is staying with a friend nearby and decided to visit."

He was nervous. His voice sped up when nervous. Despite some of his family-and, to be fair, hers-they had created their own family. And that was something Lady Catherine couldn't undo, she reminded herself.

The great lady's small blue eyes fell over her, and Elizabeth felt she certain must be judging her appearance and general state.

"You are up and walking around so early?" Lady Catherine said, looking displeased.

"It has been nearly two months, and I feel quite well."

"Hmmm," Lady Catherine said. "In my time, we were expected to be confined for three months. But of course, we didn't have male physicians attend to us. Only midwives."

Ah, here was Lady Catherine's first verbal joust. Elizabeth was about to speak when Darcy jumped in.

"I encourage her to rest more, but she seems to draw more strength from activity.".

Elizabeth nodded calmly.

"I don't see what harm it can do to move around if I'm feeling well. I do take the baby with me. It seems very natural."

"Oh," Lady Catherine's eyes rolled heavenwards. "It sounds positively medieval. Don't you have a wetnurse? You don't want her to become so attached to you that she fears strangers. But, fortunately, she is a girl so you need not worry about being too independent."

Elizbabeth felt an urge to say something contrary, but she knew it wasn't worth the trouble.

Darcy nodded quickly. "She does have a wet and night nurse," he said and coughed into his hand. "When she uses them."

Elizabeth looked at Darcy, who avoided her eyes and gazed at the ground. William, don't give her any ammunition.

Elizabeth smiled pleasantly. She wanted to be honest with Lady Catherine. She knew wouldn't approve of her ways, but she didn't want to hide in her own home either.

"I think a baby's most preferred company must be its mother. Or, failing that, her father," Elizabeth said, setting her hand on Darcy's arm.

Lady Catherine pressed a fingertip to her forehead and shook her head. "New ideas of child rearing are so tedious. Back in my time, fathers might not see their child for several days or even weeks after the birth. But we had a stronger constitution than today."

Darcy's put his hand over Elizbeth's in a small gentle pat, as if he were reassuring her not to take Lady Catherine's words to heart.

Elizabeth continued smiling as her hand tightened on Darcy. "Yes, well, perhaps someday you'll regale me with details of how you did it."

"My word, I would rather perish. Must everything be shared today?" She glanced to Darcy as though she were scandalized.

"Lord, no," Darcy muttered under his breath so that only Elizabeth heard him. She bite her lip to suppress her smile.

"Darling, Lady Catherine has brought us news. I will let her convey it."

Lady Catherine's lips curled into a girlish smile of self pride.

"Georgiana's to be presented at Queen Charlotte's court."

Elizabeth blinked.

"Pardon?"

"I've arranged for Georgiana presented at court this year. One of my dearest friends is Lady Riddle, who is one of the Queen's ladies, of course. She generously insisted we bring Miss Darcy to court in March. She will not have a full season, but she will enjoy a few months of society. And, of course, she will be the court favorite. We will need to go to London to prepare."

A lump stuck in Elizabeth's throat. She peered at Darcy. "Has she been told?"
Darcy coughed again. "He informed her just now."

The memory of Georgiana's quick steps from the room now made sense.

"How did she react?"

Lady Catherine sniffed and looked down as though it was an unfortunate thing she didn't wish to discuss.

Darcy bit the corner of his lip. "She needs to warm to the idea."

No one said anything for a moment. A clock ticked away moments.

Elizabeth tried to stand taller. "If she is amenable to it, I have no objection, but she should not be pushed into it if she doesn't wish it."

Lady Catherine's jaw set. "Posh, every child needs to be pushed at one time or another or they'd never leave the house. We can present both she and Anne at the same time. That should bring her comfort."

Elizabeth's gaze went to her husband. "What did she say?"

"She left the room," Darcy said finally.

Elizabrth sighed. That was her fear. She needed to carefully choose her words. "Georgiana is shy and very private. I don't want her to push her into a situation she finds intimidating."

Lady Catherine flicked a gloved hand in the air. "Being at court may the greatest opportunity in her life. It would be mortifying to turn it down because she's uneasy. Everyone is uneasy at the royal court. That is the point. It must be overcome."

Elizabeth felt her teeth set. She wanted to tell her she was wrong she was about her family and how both William and his sister needed to set their own paths in life. Instead she inhaled slowly and smiled. She would remain calm.

Pleasant.

Polite.

She felt her teeth almost grind with effort.

"It is a very great honor," William said quietly.

Her heart beat faster. She knew how easily Darcy could be swayed by his aunt.

"I think we must discuss it with Georgiana herself and let her decide," Elizabeth said. "Forgive us, Lady Catherine, this is very generous, but please allow us to discuss it with her privately."

Lady Catheriine's frown deepened."Oh, I've never heard such nonsense. She must be made to do this. She will have her cousin for support. It will alter her life."

Elizabeth swallowed and met Darcy's uncertain gaze.

Indeed, that was her very fear.

Elizabeth sat on the loveseat after Lady Catherine left the tense meeting they shared. She could not say she was unhappy to see her go. She watched William cross the room after his aunt made her goodbyes.

"Georgiana's very sensitive. If she doesn't want to do it, I cannot see how forcing her would be helpful."

Darcy stood up straighter and looked out the window. He turned to Elizabeth with a strange look in his eyes and stopped.

"Don't you think I know my own sister better than anyone? I have known her for her whole life."

Elizabeth was befuddled by his tone, but smiled gently. "Of course you know her better than anyone. I don't dispute that. My fear is that pushing her may cause her more harm. What if she is further intimidated and withdraws more?"

Darcy continued pacing before the fireplace. His silence bothered her. Finally he spoke. "Perhaps meeting London society may improve her. I was fearful to go away to school but now I am pleased with my experiences."

Elizabeth sighed. She had not seen William in such a lather. He was beside himself.

"We should speak to her about this," Elizabeth said, and Darcy nodded.

"Perhaps I should speak to her alone."

Elizabeth said nothing.

The baby's cries cut through their silence.

Elizabeth stood. "I will go to her," she said and left the room.

Was he wrong?

Of course not.

Georgiana was his sister, for God's sake. It was his decision. He had the final say. He watched the fire pop and spark as it dwindled after Elizabeth walked out and wondered why a lump of dread sat cold in his stomach.

Elizabeth was not wrong-exactly. Georgiana was a spirited girl who's feelings changed as the wind blew. But she was also nearly of age, and-by God-he wanted her to broaden her society beyond Mr. Merriweather who buzzed around her. True, he wasn't terribly comfortable in London either. The crowds, the noise, and the soot overwhelmed him. But Georgiana was a female, and so her view of brash city would be different, gentled, he reasoned. Dances and frilly dresses and needle point.

Presentation at court was a lofty experience to him as well, but he felt Georgiana could prepare and perform anything she puts her mind to-just as he did. They were Darcys. Perhaps this was truly outside the realm of his wife's experiences after all. He cleared his throat. Hopefully, he could make her see reason.