Chapter 4

A week later, Darcy received a surprise. They had been back to the Gardiners' twice, and both times both Melody and Darcy had found delight in it, but for different reasons. They were getting ready to go riding, when Darcy was shocked to hear his sister being announced at the front door.

"Lady Dunmore," announced the butler.

"Georgiana!" Darcy cried in delight. She raced forward, and they shared a hug. He had not seen her for years, not since her first child was born.

"Brother! I thought I would surprise you."

"But what are you doing in London? Is Dunmore here?"

"Oh, yes, he is back at the townhouse getting the children settled. But I just had to come and see you at once. I have missed you so much!"

"I have missed you too. Why did you not write to tell me you were coming?"

"We did not know ourselves until about a week ago. But I got your letter saying you were in London and begged Malcolm to bring us all here for the season. We have not been in London since Aileen was born. I wanted to surprise you. It appears I was successful!"

"You were indeed! Melody will be glad to see you!" he pulled her to a chair to sit down. "But you must be exhausted! It is a long trip from Scotland."

"It was long, indeed," she sighed, "but we are glad to be here. Hopefully we can take in some of the delights of the season and I can go shopping. We also thought we might spend the summer at Malcolm's smaller estate in Derbyshire."

Georgiana's husband, the Earl of Dunmore, was a Scottish lord who also had an estate close to Pemberley. That was, in fact, how he and Georgiana had met, when he was visiting his estate one summer.

"That would be wonderful," said Darcy. "We would be glad to have you so close."

"I have even been trying to convince Malcolm to let me host a house party there. It has been so long since we have seen our friends and neighbours."

Darcy was less enthusiastic about a house party, but did not let it show. It would be worth it simply to spend time with his sister again.

Just then Melody entered the room. "Are you ready to go, Papa? Oh, excuse me."

"Melody, come here. Your Aunt Georgiana has come. Do you remember her?"

She shook her head.

Darcy waved her forward. Georgiana stood and took her niece's hands in hers. "You certainly have grown up since the last time I saw you, Melody," she said. "You have turned into quite a lovely young lady."

Melody blushed shyly. "Thank you, Aunt Georgiana. Do you have any children?"

"Yes, I have two of my own. Aileen is six and Callum is three. Would you like to meet them?"

"Oh, yes!"

Darcy looked at his sister. "Are you sure? You are not settled in yet. We would not wish to intrude."

"You and Melody could never be an intrusion, Fitzwilliam. Malcolm and the children will be delighted to see you."

"Let us go then. We can go riding later, Melody," Darcy said.

Melody readily agreed, and they followed Georgiana out into her carriage.

"Aunt Georgiana lives in Scotland, Melody," Darcy said. "Do you remember where that is from your geography lessons?"

She nodded. "It is in the North," she replied. "Even farther north than Derbyshire."

"That's right," said Georgiana encouragingly. "They speak with a special accent there, too. It sounds a bit like this." She imitated the Scottish brogue.

Melody laughed with delight. "How do you even understand them?"

"I have gotten used to it over the years. Fortunately my husband has an English education so I have no trouble understanding him." She grinned and Melody smiled back.

"Do they have badgers in Scotland, Aunt Georgiana?" she asked.

"I daresay they do," said Georgiana. "Why do you ask?"

"Miss Lizzy told me a story of a badger who was seeking for honey. He was from England, you see. I did not know if they had badgers in Scotland."

Georgiana looked bemused but did not question her niece further.

Soon they reached the Dunmore townhouse and Georgiana led her brother and niece inside. Servants were racing around, trying to get the house ready for its sudden occupants.

"They must be upstairs. Come," said Georgiana.

They followed her to the nursery where a dark-haired man of about thirty-five was wrangling two young children. He looked up at their entrance.

"Darcy! It is nice to see you," he said in a faint Scottish accent.

"Dunmore." Darcy took his hand to shake. "I'm glad you could make it to London. Do you remember my daughter, Melody?"

"Of course. Hello, Melody." He knelt down to her level. "I am your Uncle Malcolm. Would you like to meet your cousins?"

Melody nodded. "Yes please, Uncle Malcolm."

"This is Aileen. Aileen, say hello to your cousin Melody."

"Hello, Melody," said the girl shyly. She had her father's accent.

"And this little scamp is Callum. He is only three, so you must be patient with him."

Callum was currently smacking a book up and down on the floor. Melody looked on with a pained expression. Darcy hid a smile.

"You will stay for dinner, I hope?" asked Georgiana.

"We would be delighted," said Darcy.

"I have some paperwork I must see to. I will let you two catch up," said Malcolm.

Darcy and Georgiana settled into chairs in the nursery and watched the children play while they talked, exchanging all the news that they had not written in their letters. Darcy was so glad to see his sister again that the cloud lifted from his heart, for a time at least.

A few days later, the Darcys and Dunmores had both been invited to the Matlocks for dinner. Their cousin, the earl, and his wife had just had a baby, and Constance, Lady Matlock, had just risen from her confinement. When the sexes separated after the meal, Constance and Georgiana sat down together to talk. After they had discussed their children, Georgiana had a question for her cousin.

"I have been with Fitzwilliam and Melody every day since we arrived, and Melody will not cease talking about a Miss Lizzy who plays games with her and tells the most wonderful stories. Apparently my niece and my brother have been to their home several times to 'play.' Do you know who this 'Miss Lizzy' is? Is my brother interested in her?"

Lady Matlock looked surprised. "I thought your brother was firmly against the idea of being married again."

"So was I, but I do want to see him happy. Anne never made him happy, you know. And I am afraid he has been so alone."

"Well, I have a friend, Lady Sedley, who said that he asked to be introduced to a young lady at her ball. He left soon after dancing with her and did not dance with anyone else."

"A young lady?" asked Georgiana, excited. "Who was this young lady?"

"Lady Sedley's younger brother is engaged to an heiress from Hertfordshire. Her name is Jane Bennet, and her sister is Elizabeth Bennet."

"Elizabeth… Miss Lizzy…" Georgiana pondered.

"Perhaps the same person?" queried Lady Matlock.

"I do not know. How can we find out?"

"I can ask Lady Sedley, confidentially of course."

"Oh, would you? I do want to see my brother happy."

"Are you sure this is not simply a young lady who is his daughter's playmate?" asked Lady Matlock.

"No. I have seen the way my brother's eyes light up when she is mentioned, although he never speaks of her himself. Fitzwilliam has always been reserved, but I can read him better than anyone."

"Well, if you are sure. I will ask."

Elizabeth was just putting the finishing touches on her newest drawing when Mr. Cranfield stopped by for his usual visit. The wedding was going to be in the autumn and they had lots of time to plan everything. He said that he brought an invitation from Lady Sedley. "My sister would like to have you both for tea," he said.

"Me too?" asked Elizabeth in surprise.

"Yes. I think she would like to get to know you better," said Mr. Cranfield.

"That is very gracious of her. Please thank her for us."

"Yes. We shall be there tomorrow," added Jane.

As the two lovers sat on the chaise to talk together, Lizzy turned back to her drawing, all thoughts of the invitation forgotten.

The next day the ladies dressed in their best and Mr. Cranfield escorted them to his sister's home. Lord and Lady Sedley lived in a fashionable part of town. Jane had been there before, but Elizabeth had not. Elizabeth had met Lady Sedley, of course, but she was thankful that the lady wanted to get to know her better. They would soon be sisters-in-law, after all.

When they arrived, however, Lady Sedley had two friends she wanted to introduce the Bennet sisters to.

"Jane, Miss Elizabeth, how nice to see you," said Lady Sedley, standing to greet them.

"It is a pleasure, Lady Sedley," said Elizabeth as the sisters curtsied.

"May I introduce my friends? This is Lady Matlock, and her cousin, Lady Dunmore."

The ladies exchanged pleasantries.

"Thank you for dropping off the ladies, Nicholas. Off you go now," said the viscountess to her brother.

Mr. Cranfield grumbled, but went to find his brother-in-law to have a glass of brandy.

Lady Sedley drew Jane into a conversation with Lady Matlock, so Elizabeth was left to talk with Lady Dunmore. She was a lovely lady in her late twenties with fair hair and twinkling blue eyes.

"Miss Elizabeth, it is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard much of you from my niece, Miss Melody Darcy."

Elizabeth's eyes rose in surprise. "Miss Darcy is your niece?"

"Yes. My brother is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, but I know from my niece that you have met him also."

"Yes. He is a very kind gentleman," said Elizabeth.

"I know he thinks very well of you too, Miss Elizabeth."

Elizabeth was a little confused by this, but managed to smile. "How is Miss Darcy?"

"She is doing well. My husband's estate is in Scotland, so we have not seen my brother or niece for some years. We decided to come to London this season to surprise them."

"I'm sure it was a delightful surprise for both of them."

"We were very glad to see them, indeed. My brother and I have always been close. We had distant parents, which is common among high society, but not good for the children, I do not think."

"I agree," said Elizabeth. "When I have my own children I certainly will not treat them that way."

"Do you wish for children then, Miss Elizabeth?" asked Lady Dunmore interestedly.

Elizabeth was not sure why the lady was interested in this topic. "Yes, of course. Do not all women wish for children?"

"Not all of them, I suspect. I had an aunt who was not fond of children in any way. She only had one daughter, my cousin, Anne, whom my brother married."

"I had heard he was a widower. I am sorry for his loss."

"Oh, I am sure he did not suffer any great grief over it. They did not love each other, you see. They married for dynastic reasons. And I believe my brother wanted to get Anne out from under her mother's thumb. My aunt was controlling and officious."

"That must have been difficult," said Elizabeth. "How long has Melody been without a mother?"

"All her life," replied Lady Dunmore. "Anne died giving birth."

"I am so sorry," said Elizabeth.

"She had never been in good health. I think the rigours of childbirth were too much for her."

"Do you have children, Lady Dunmore?"

Elizabeth listened with interest as the countess expounded on her two young children and her life in Scotland.

"I would love to see Scotland," Elizabeth said. "I have never travelled further than London."

"Perhaps you shall see it one day," said Lady Dunmore with a smile.

She asked Elizabeth about her home and Elizabeth was happy to describe Hertfordshire and growing up at Longbourn with her father and sister. Lady Dunmore seemed to find everything she said interesting, and Elizabeth found her to be a very agreeable lady. She did not look like her brother at all, but they were both kind people.

After the half an hour was over, Jane and Elizabeth rose to leave. As they said their goodbyes, Lady Dunmore surprised Elizabeth by inviting her to tea at her home.

"I would like to get to know you better," she said with a smile. "I think we could be good friends."

Elizabeth was flattered, and agreed with enthusiasm.

"Perhaps we can have my niece over when you come to visit. I know she would like to see you."

"That would be lovely. Thank you, Lady Dunmore."

With that, the ladies departed.

When they reached Gracechurch Street, Elizabeth told her Aunt Gardiner about the invitation. "Lady Dunmore is a very agreeable lady," she said. "What I do not understand is why she and Lady Matlock wanted to meet us."

"Could it be that Mr. Darcy mentioned you to them? They are his relations after all," said Mrs. Gardiner with eyebrows raised.

Elizabeth was surprised. "Why should Mr. Darcy mention me? I have only played with his daughter a few times."

"You have, and I know Miss Darcy likes you very much. That could be enough reason for Lady Dunmore to take an interest in you."

Elizabeth was not sure it was quite that simple, but she was glad to have met the lady anyway.

Georgiana arrived home and went immediately to find her husband. He was sitting in his study and greeted her as she came to sit beside him.

"Well? How did it go?" he asked.

"Very well," Georgiana replied. "She is a delightful young lady. I do not think she sees my brother in a romantic light yet, but she is eminently suitable for him. She will cheer him from his glooms, I can tell."

"Are you sure Darcy is interested in her? He has said he will never marry again."

"If he is not, then I will not have done any harm. But I want to help him, Malcolm. Anne never made him happy. Indeed, I do not know if he has ever been truly happy."

"I still think you should keep out of his business, my love," said Malcolm, shaking his head.

"You just leave matchmaking to the women, my dear," she said, patting his arm. "I have it all in hand."