Chapter 69

For two dances, the whole world disappears, but then it intrudes in a way Georgiana was warned against, but managed to put out of her mind.

When they separate out of decency, they'd prefer to dance with each other all evening but that would be very suspicious, Georgiana is instantly claimed by the young man who approached Mr Manners earlier. He must be of high rank to introduce himself to a Darcy, and he is.

'Good evening, Miss Darcy. I couldn't help but admire you from a distance from the moment you entered the building. Please allow me to introduce myself, it's Lord Fortescue. Mr Manners told me who you are, we've all heard so much about you, your accomplishments and your beauty, but rumour underestimated you by a great deal.'

Well, he is polite, and not bad looking. But very young, and anyway, not Eric.

'Thank you for your compliments, Lord Fortescue. I've never been in company much, I'm not fond of large groups of people.'

'I'm so glad you decided to honour us with your presence, Miss Darcy. Your new sister-in-law must have wanted to come to the ball very much, she is also very much admired. Well, and envied, since your brother is just as handsome as his reputation made him out to be.'

'Actually, Lord Fortescue, it was Mr Manners who convinced us to come. My brother's new protégé will be playing tonight, and we've all come out of hiding to hear him perform.'

'Was that the gentleman you were dancing with just now? Mr Manners told me he's incredibly gifted. I can't wait to hear.'

It's very tiring, making conversation with men one doesn't know, and doesn't particularly want to know, who are all out to validate rumours someone at some time made up to make people who live outside society a bit more interesting.

After dancing with at least three more eager young men, Georgiana finds herself rescued by Mr Manners, and the first thing on her mind is asking how Eric is. Still she manages to introduce her question with some conversation.

'Mr Manners, thank God! Four dances and I feel wrung out, how do these men know who I am, and why are they interested in me? I still feel like the ugly grey mouse, and they all tell me how beautiful I am, and how fashionable my brother and sister-in-law are for a married couple.

How is Mr Fielding doing? Is he dancing? Or did he flee?'

'Don't worry, Miss Darcy, your friend is as sought after as yourself, girls flock to his beautiful face and excellent manners, and wonder who that unknown gentleman is. I advised him to merely tell them his name and that he is from the north. They'll imagine a craggy castle to his name, and be none the wiser, unless they've recently read the society pages well.

I'll rescue you before he retreats, so you can spend his last half hour before the concert together. He needs you as much as you need him, Miss Darcy. If you're tired of the attention, please let me take you to your family, I didn't convince your brother to attend to have you overrun by eager youths.'

Georgiana considers letting him do just that, for already two other impeccably dressed men are hovering just outside her line of sight. They are making her skittish, and though it is very flattering to be the centre of attention instead of sitting on the side, Georgiana's heart is taken, and she worries about Eric.

'Please do, Mr Manners, but first I'd like to dance with you once more, you're such a nice, strong lead, I can feel myself getting calmer already.'

He looks happy, somehow she has stopped looking at him as a suitor, but suddenly she remembers her cousin's words. Though she knows he wouldn't make such a thing up, she still believes Mr Manners does not love her, except maybe as a kind of sister.

When he leads her towards the table where Mrs Bennet and the Gardiners are observing the dance-floor, Georgiana spies Eric among the men hovering all about her. This is not as it should be, and she involuntarily whispers, 'Eric.'

The yearning in her own voice shocks her, suppose someone heard, but someone already did.

'I'm so sorry, Miss Darcy, you were so self-assured in Hertfordshire, I never realised you're actually rather shy, though you did tell me. This is too much for you, you've been very outgoing and friendly so far, and now you deserve a rest.'

And Mr Manners leads her straight to Eric, delivers her to his arms, saying, 'Don't let her out of your arms, Fielding. She's been beset by hungry young men and needs a bit of rest. Of talking and watching what she says, not of dancing.

Go on, I'll keep an eye on the rivals.'

Georgiana doesn't know whether it's her dancing with that nice northern gentleman again, or Mr Manners telling the crowd off, but after dancing with Eric for two more dances, they manage to reach one of the buffets without being bothered, and after that they dance again, and she dances with her cousin and with her brother, and only one young man dares approach her to get his share of the fun.

He's quite nice, so she dances with him, but after that Mr Manners steps in and saves her once more from too many strangers.

Still, she'd like to watch her brother dance with Elizabeth, and Kitty with her Mr Lascelles, so she begs him to take her back to the table, where he guards her from further attention seekers and she can see the couples she wanted to see dance, and Eric with a gorgeous tiny brunette, the kind Georgiana always wanted to be herself.

The girl is fashionably dressed, and her dancing is light and elegant.

'That's Miss Russell. She has ten thousand, her family is barely respectable since they are in the wrong trade. And I must add she hunted Mr Fielding consistently for at least half an hour before he finally gave in and danced with her.

I'm going to warn him it's time to prepare for his concert.'

And after that dance, he does, and the three of them retreat to the little room behind the stage, where Eric dares to take Georgiana's hand.

He doesn't speak at all, he merely sits there in extreme concentration, but his distant attitude cannot hurt Georgiana because she feels his hand clutch hers. Not in fear or nervousness, she's certain of that since it feels warm and dry, he's holding her to let her know he loves her, even though he seems someone else entirely.

Mr Manners must know both their feelings, or Eric wouldn't do this is front of him, they must have talked, whatever they were doing together. But the situation is too intense to think much, this concert will be so important to Eric.

Then he releases her hand, and asks, much more gently than his demeanour shows, 'Will you lead me through your exercises, Georgiana? They have helped me a great deal, and I seem to have some trouble remembering them in the right order.'

He doesn't seem nervous, but she aches to touch him, so she takes his left hand and lets his fingers perform the right moves. It is almost like a massage this way, she feels for tension in his muscular hand and removes any she finds, gently, lovingly.

The right hand follows, and just when it is totally relaxed, Mr Manners comes towards them from having a peek into the hall, and says, 'It's time, Eric, and I think nearly everyone is here. I guess the ball-room is just about emptied out.

Go get them!'

Eric takes her hand in his once more, and does not let go of it, so she watches him as he picks up his sheet-music, and follows him to the door.

Once there, he turns, and his face comes very close to hers, she can smell his masculine scent clearly, it's making her head spin. His voice is low and thick with feeling as he speaks just to her.

'This concert is for you, Georgiana, I'll be thinking of you the whole time I'm playing. I love you.'

Then he releases her hand slowly and steps through the door, behind which there is a tiny corridor leading to the stage. She can hear when he has reached it, for the applause is audible even through the door.

For a few moments, Georgiana is totally overcome with feeling. Eric's open declaration of love still fills her ears, as the touch of his cheek to hers and the memory of his scent tug her other senses.

'Come with me, Georgiana,' Mr Manners says gently, 'I know a place where you can see and hear everything without being stared at. Remember the paper? Those people out there will, any moment now, if they haven't been swooning over the two of you all night already.'

This must be the very best spot to watch the concert, she can see the whole crowd, and Eric sitting in front of the piano, playing one of his favourite virtuous pieces, the hall is perfect for this, the piano sounds clear and strong enough to reach even the last rows.

After five minutes, the excitement over Eric's words and actions slowly makes way to her usual admiration for his virtuosity. The crowd notices it, too, this is so good, they make less noise than Georgiana thought possible for such a large number of exuberant people.

After each piece he gets a thunderous applause, and he even manages to enjoy it.

Then the moment of truth has arrived, the first notes of his own concerto sound through the hall, clear but vulnerable.

Even though Georgiana knows they will love it, she still feels a little nervous, what if they don't? Then she'll tell him straight away, to comfort him for his disappointment.

But of course the audience is thrilled, she can see it in individual faces, the people are caught up in the music, they are feeling it.

Half an hour, and everyone is still listening attentively. Then the wilder part, they stir a little, changing their seats a tiny bit, it's a long haul, even on a comfortable chair.

But their attention does not waver, it's the body that needs a bit of freedom to move, the mind is still caught.

Finally, the last movement, and the loving finish. His love was so different then, it has grown so passionate, though he is still trying to keep it under control.

After a timid start, the applause swells to thunderous again, and Eric waits until his audience has settled once more.

Then he plays his last composition, the yearning one, and Georgiana is glad she is not sitting in that audience, for she just cannot keep from showing her feelings, she remembers that time he played it for her, and thus stirred something profound deep inside her. Well, it's wide awake now, and nothing will stand in its way, but because he doesn't know that, yet, and she can hear his despair in his music, all her tears of the last few days force their way past her eyelids, and she finds herself crying openly. She's not yet seventeen, why does she feel this strongly already?

It took Fitzwilliam ten years to fall madly in love.

Still lost in her thoughts, she feels a hand on her shoulder, but not creepy, in a comforting way.

'He's nearly done, Georgiana, let's be there for him when he comes back into that room. This affects him, too, he will be wrung out and still he will need to talk to anyone who can do anything for him. It's part of the job.'

And Mr Manners hands her a handkerchief, saying, 'You're not the only one in need of one, I never heard that last piece before and it hit me like a bolt from a blue sky. But I brought a spare, I had my suspicions I'd need it.

Come.'

And now she realises he did sound a bit husky just now, Eric has made Mr Manners cry over his music. He must be a genius.

Standing side by side, rubbing your eyes with a large gentleman's handkerchief each creates a certain bond, as they stand behind the door together to wait for Eric to come back in.

He must be finished, for the applause started when they were halfway to the little room, but still he doesn't come back.

'Let me go in and check,' Mr Manners offers, voice back to normal, handkerchief back where it came from. Georgiana holds on to hers, she may need it again.

But when Mr Manners opens the door, Eric comes through, music-sheets in hand, indeed wrung out, and on impulse Georgiana opens her arms to him. Mr Manners will forgive her.

Soon, they both need that handkerchief, for Eric is crying, too. He clings to her tightly, for what seems forever, but most likely is a mere minute, then he rights himself, unashamed of the tears running down his cheeks freely, releasing her body, but taking her hands in return. Georgiana still feels his body against her own, so different from that time Mr Grenfell leaned on her and it gave her the creeps. Does he feel it, too?

Mr Manners takes the music-sheets from Eric and puts them on the table, then he speaks up, voice a bit unsteady once more.

'I'm sorry to do this to you, Eric, but to make the most of your success you need to go back out there and talk to people. I'll be with you to support you, and of course Miss Darcy may come..'

'But I'll have to let go of her hand.

I don't want to, Georgiana, I want to go through life holding your hand, but I know I cannot.

Therefore, I will dry my tears and go talk to people, to further my career, as I always thought I wanted.'

Still feeling the occasional tear slip down her cheek, Georgiana curses her own foolishness for not having told him long before now, again this is not the moment, but how could she know? She's so young and she knows nothing, she should have read more novels, to know how to propose marriage to the man who loves her so much his feelings make others cry.

Instead of talking, she gently dries his eyes with the kerchief, and when she is done, he is smiling again.

'I did it, Georgiana, I took them by storm, that whole audience! Mr Zumpe will have to eat his words, and I will never again be afraid to play my own work.

Frederick, lead me into battle, I'm ready for the masses!'

And still drying her own tears, Georgiana watches them leave through the little door, then she gathers the music sheets from the table and carefully puts them back in the right compartment of the leather case. When she is done, she picks it up and follows them reluctantly, she's not keen to talk to anyone she doesn't know. The leather case is very heavy, she cannot carry that very far, but she is not planning to. For she merely walks until she is almost on the stage, then puts down the case and peeks into the hall.

Mr Manners is introducing Eric to lots of people, a whole throng of them is waiting to meet him, gentlemen but also ladies with shining eyes holding handkerchiefs. Fortunately he seems to have everything in hand, for Eric certainly doesn't, he's worn out with his huge effort, and to make things worse the celebration for the arrival of the New Year is starting to get noisy.

Spying Fitzwilliam in the crowd, it's so convenient to have a brother that tall, Georgiana picks up the case and carefully walks towards him, trying to act innocuous.

Of course that doesn't work, people are trying to catch her attention, but she merely smiles at them and continues, until she can hand the case to her brother, who is obviously relieved to see her.

'Georgie, I was worried, I'm glad you're back. I think those people really want to ask you some questions, better give them their due or they'll all call you arrogant again. I'll be with you the whole time, don't worry.

Wasn't that great, Georgie? They loved it, that'll convince Mr Fielding he's as good as Elizabeth and you yourself said. I'm very proud of my future brother-in-law.'

Did Fitzwilliam really say that?

'You didn't tell him yet? Oh Georgie, no wonder he set everyone crying! You have to tell him, my love, it's horrible to be sick with love, you know what it did to me.

Though he did move everyone more than he would have if he were happy. But you have to tell him, he'll be going through hell right now.'

'I know, Fitzwilliam, but how? How am I going to get through that? And anyway, I can't tell him here. I did take care to encourage him, I think he need not despair, he knows I love him.'

By then, they are surrounded by friends and family, who wish all the others a Happy New Year and as the party goes on around them, the crowd wanting to meet Eric thins out and slowly he becomes visible once more.

He is now truly knackered, emotions are winning over elation, and Georgiana points out his case so he need not worry about that. A wan smile is her reward, and she so wants to run to him and hug him.

Instead, she merely walks his way and politely greets people wanting to be introduced to her. Mr Manners welcomes her eagerly, and introduces her to even more people, and she replies politely and nods and shakes hands.

Finally, everyone is gone, and Mr Manners is triumphant.

'That's it, Fielding, you own them. They'll talk to their friends and family, and brag how they have to hear your work, and before long they'll fall over themselves to attend a concert. You're going to be a legend!'

Eric manages to look happy, he truly is, but he does need to go home and get some sleep.

'Do you want to go home, Mr Fielding?' she asks.

'I do, I'm very happy, but mainly very tired. I never shook so many hands in my life. I swear, Miss Darcy, one in three of the men, and at least every second lady showed signs of crying. I'm so proud!'

On their way back, Mr Manners talks about how to take advantage of the impact of his success, which halls to book, and which people to talk to, but Eric's heart is clearly not in it.

Georgiana wonders whether Mr Manners knows and is trying to cheer him up, or whether he doesn't see the state Eric's in, and she guesses the first. Mr Manners is a feeling man, he knows something's up.

But when they get home, and she wants to ask Eric whether she can have a minute of his time, to make him the happiest of men, she cannot find him anywhere. On inquiry, the butler tells her he went upstairs straight away, and Georgiana is obliged to be satisfied with telling him the next day.

When the others arrive they all have one more drink together, and talk about the evening, which was a great success according to everyone, even Mrs Bennet, of course it would have been, with three of her daughters dancing with rich men they may officially call their own.

Then they go to bed, Georgiana taking down her hair by herself, slowly removing pin after pin, elated by the memory of the evening, but sorely disappointed by her failure to see Eric in private afterwards.