Chapter 2

Happy were the thoughts of both young women when they met again at the threshold of the Gardiners' rented cottage the following morning. Elizabeth was a bit nervous that her family would overwhelm her young friend. From their discussion yesterday, she knew her new friend to be wealthy - and therefore proper - and to be quite shy from her lack of socialisation. She was grateful that Georgiana would be meeting this small subset of her family, who mostly stayed within the bounds of propriety. However, the children were often rambunctious, and her uncle had a witty streak that could be quite intimidating if one had not Elizabeth's quick rejoinders at their disposal.

So it was that Elizabeth and her Uncle alone welcomed Georgiana and her companion at the threshold. Mrs Younge was a shrewish woman, with a tight face and angular proportions. Mr Gardiner invited her to his study where she was at liberty to ask as many questions as she wished to him and his wife. The girls instead chose to follow the sound of playful shrieking to a small garden at the back of the house, where the young Gardiners were enjoying a great pirate battle, using sticks as swords and their mother's bonnets as pirate hats.

Sensing a presence at the top of the stairs, the eldest cried "Ahoy mateys, it is the great evil Captain Lizbeard." He thought for a second, "and she seems to have captured a hostage. We must free the young maiden."

Elizabeth looked at her new friend with a sheepish smile. But to her surprise, Georgiana responded quickly in a high-pitched wobble "You must save me." And then, as if realising what she had said, shot an alarmed look at her friend. Elizabeth did not drop a beat, and replied in a thick pirate accent.

"Captain Edward the Terrible, so you think the Great Lizbeard would be scared of four such diminutive pirates coming for my precious treasure." She gently held Georgiana's hand, after a quick glance to ascertain her consent, and the game continued, much to the satisfaction of all parties. The hostage was successfully rescued, and introduced to her unlikely saviours in due course. Georgiana couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so hard or so long. Lizzy enjoyed spending time with her cousins and her new friend, and her spirits felt greatly lifted compared to recent weeks. It was healing to return, if only temporarily, to the land of childhood.

They took a break for coffee after Mrs Younge's interview was completed to the mutual satisfaction of both parties. The younger children let their parents and guests alone in favour of nap time, save for the eldest, who curled up like a dog at his cousin's feet. She rifled through his hair absent-mindedly whilst passing a pleasant tea-time with the adults. She was pleased to see Georgiana coming out of her shell with her Aunt, for Lizzy had set them off towards the topic of Derbyshire, and the great countryside around her aunt's small village - which they soon ascertained was a neighbour to Georgiana's family estate. Lizzy was half listening to the tales of beautiful Pemberley whilst simultaneously attending a lively discussion with her Uncle and Mrs Younge about a mutual interest in trade, Mrs Younge's previous employer.

Before long, it was time for Georgiana and Mrs Younge to return to Ramsgate, but not without plans fixed for their next meeting a day hence to promenade along the shore, followed by tea and cake at Anne Cottage. The Gardiners had decided to take their children to the beach at Ramsgate so they could accompany Elizabeth to greet her friend.

~:~

The excursion to the beach was enjoyed by all parties, with a fast friendship forming between Georgie and Lizzy, for those were their chosen names for each other at the morning's conclusion. They took great delight in the many colourful fashions on show, with Georgie noting a few she would sketch and add to her sampler after tea. The tea itself was a decadent affair, with Lizzy realising upon arrival at her friend's 'small get-away cottage' that the Darcys must indeed be frightfully wealthy. She had suspected as much from the snippets of conversation between Georgie and aunt Gardiner the day before, as well as her own conversations about Pemberley with her aunt, but the lush furnishings and rich fare of tea and cakes confirmed her suspicions. It was one thing to know that someone's wealth and standing in life was so superior to one's own, but to stand amongst the evidence in one's hand-me-down gown was something much more intimidating. However, never one to allow her courage to fail her, Lizzy continued in the same vein as the past few days, after the initial shock at the grandeur of the place wore away.

Seated on a deep red armchair after her third slice of cake, Lizzy cleared her throat and thanked her friend for her generosity. "You must send my compliments to your kitchen, Georgie, these cakes were divine. How fortunate for us that our paths crossed - such a pleasant few days I have never passed."

"Surely you must know, your pleasure in our meeting is most definitely a shared one," Georgie replied. They were both silent for a moment, reflecting on their rather unconventional first meeting. It was Elizabeth whose curiosity broke the comfortable quiet.

"Are you a great writer, Georgie?" She asked, her tone marked by curiosity. "I mean to ask, has your new pen been used to your satisfaction?"

"I am an adequate writer," Georgiana stated, and then chuckled. "I am no Mr Shakespeare, that is for certain, but I do enjoy corresponding with my brother when we are not in company. In fact, I have used my lovely new pen to write him of my time in Ramsgate so far. I had completed a painting of the view from this window" she gestured "- a favourite of his, which I intended to send to tempt him to join me. You found me shortly after realising I had left my pen at home."

"A painting!" Elizabeth exclaimed, "how delightful, and what a thoughtful gift. I should like to see your paintings before I leave Ramsgate - I never had great skill but have always been a great admirer of the arts."

"I am not confident at showing my work to others," Georgiana protested. She looked at the kind face of her friend, hesitated a moment, then continued. "But I suppose I can show you my current work in progress. So long as you promise to judge it kindly."

Such ap promise was readily agreed to, and she walked her friend to a table next to the window, atop which sat Georgiana's "sketch". It took Elizabeth a moment to respond, as she was appreciating the handiwork before her. It was definitely not complete, but the work in progress already held so much feeling in the expressiveness of the waves that made the chief of the composition. She recognised it immediately as the view of the sea from broad street.

Lizzy's effusive praise was sufficient to draw her shy friend from her quietude, and Georgiana proceeded to open a black sketchbook for her friend to peruse. Inside were a handful of small charcoal portraits and other sketches. Lizzy recognised Mrs Younge, and a couple of staff members she had seen that day.

Her gaze held for a fraction longer on a male figure, whose features bore a striking resemblance to Georgie herself. Tracing a finger along the long bridge of his nose, she asked her friend if this was her brother.

"Oh yes, that is Fitzwilliam," she said softly, "well, it is a dubious likeness of him. It's frightfully difficult to capture the expression in his eyes. And he is difficult to encourage to sit still for any length of time." Her tone belied any real annoyance, and Elizabeth felt herself warming to the image of the doting elder brother.

"Of course I cannot judge whether this is a true likeness," whispered Lizzy, "but it is a skilful drawing nonetheless." And a handsome face, she finished silently to herself. She wondered if she would ever have occasion to see him - just to compare to Georgiana's likeness, of course.

Georgie thanked her friend for the praise, and suggested a tour of the small gardens. Lizzy happily accepted and the two spent a pleasant half hour in the modest green haven at the back of the house. Elizabeth tried to put the image of the handsome man with the sad eyes out of her head, but her curiosity was very much piqued. Georgie continued to sing his praises, but she would reserve her judgement until they met… if they met.