Last chapter: Georgiana is extremely conflicted over Elizabeth, thanks largely to the Wickham connections and her family's disapproval, and also realises the expectations now weighing on her. She puts both matters out of her mind, however, due to the stress of a masquerade ball she reluctantly attends. She dances with a series of men, flirtatious or irritating or both, and is re-acquainted with her Willoughby cousins.

Chapter Nine

The Gardiners and Darcys enjoyed a degree of tranquillity after the Twelfth Night ball. Meg and Amelia were sleeping, exhausted from the evening before, while Mr Gardiner and Mrs Darcy played with the little boys; Georgiana and Mrs Gardiner sewed, and Fitzwilliam was contentedly absorbed in a new book.

For a little while, Georgiana felt utterly at peace, her fingers embroidering almost of their own volition, and a smile on her face as she watched the scene before her. Belatedly, she remembered what she had forced out of her mind the evening before — Mrs Wickham's letter.

She pricked her finger. Georgiana surreptitiously wiped the blood off, forcing herself to think. Fitzwilliam always says I have sense, she told herself. I shall prove him right. I will be rational. She took a breath.

She had seen the date, and she remembered when Mrs Darcy's letters had arrived that week. It was before she heard Mrs Gardiner ask if there had been any word from Lydia; Mrs Darcy was not there, but Fitzwilliam was, and he said that the sisters did not write. That meant that at least he believed they were not corresponding, and therefore did not know about the letter.

Georgiana swallowed the lump in her throat, staring down at the sampler, her mind working faster than her hands could. Mrs Darcy might have any number of reasons to keep the note secret from Fitzwilliam. It did not necessarily mean anything sinister. She had seen, seen with her own eyes, how strong Elizabeth's affection for Fitzwilliam was — usually warm and lively, but with what seemed to Georgiana a slow growth of tenderness as well. No. Bad as it looked, it did not mark anything truly bad at heart. Perhaps she was simply embarrassed; if Georgiana had received such a letter, well — well, she would have told Fitzwilliam, but that was different.

Why?

She wished she could quash the sharp, critical side of her mind. It was not ladylike at all. Georgiana chewed on her lip.

It could not be the same for Elizabeth, not really. Not after only a year's acquaintance, though he was her husband. After all, Georgiana had looked up to and trusted Fitzwilliam for sixteen years. She knew that he was trustworthy, even if nobody else was.

A new thought flashed into her mind. If she was trying to keep it secret from Fitzwilliam, she clearly did not mean to intercede on the Wickhams' behalf with him. Any aid would come from Mrs Darcy alone.

Fitzwilliam should know, she thought, but perhaps it is not so bad after all. Perhaps everything shall be well.

Georgiana smiled in Elizabeth's general direction and concentrated on her sampler once more.

They were interrupted not long afterwards by the arrival of the Cardwells. Mr Cardwell was properly introduced to Mrs Darcy and the Gardiners; 'you know Mr and Miss Darcy, of course.'

'Of course. It is an honour, sir, ma'am.' He bowed smartly to them both, and quickly made his way to Georgiana's side. She would have wished for a larger party if it had meant other eligible young women to distract him; her fingers shook so badly that she set her sampler down.

'It has been rather a long time since I last saw you, Miss Darcy,' he remarked. 'You were just a child in the schoolroom.'

'Oh — yes,' she stammered. 'Yes, that was rather some time ago.'

'You must be what, seventeen or eighteen by now?'

'Sixteen,' Georgiana said meekly.

'Sixteen!' he exclaimed. 'Why, you are very — tall for your age.' He laughed softly to himself. 'You must have five or six inches at least on Mrs Darcy.'

'Probably,' she agreed, 'Elizabeth has a rather slight build.'

'They are a very striking couple,' he observed. 'Your brother and his wife, I mean.'

'I — I suppose so.'

'They are not at all alike, dark as they are.' He studied the couple with interest. They were carrying on what seemed a very dull conversation with Lord and Lady Cardwell. 'Her skin is so brown, and she has such an air of healthy vigour, not at all the usual. Yes,' —he nodded his head decisively— 'I think she is very pretty, though not really handsome. Your brother is, of course — I have seen statues in Rome that are exactly his likeness. What a remarkable couple.'

Georgiana smiled to herself. 'Yes, they are.'

'Their dispositions do not seem especially similar either.'

'They are not so different, I do not think,' Georgiana said, feeling very brave.

'Oh? In what respects?'

'Well, they are both very clever and strong-willed and forthright.'

Mr Cardwell chuckled. 'That seems quite true. Mrs Darcy rather startles my poor mother.'

Mrs Darcy rather startles me, Georgiana thought, but said nothing.

'She, however, has such a lively, open manner — your brother is many things, but I would not judge vivacity among them.'

'No,' she agreed, 'he is quiet.'

'A family trait, I think?' He smiled at her with a touch of mischief. 'Forgive me, I should not tease you, even though we are such old friends.'

Georgiana did not consider that tagging along behind Fitzwilliam and Richard and Courtland necessarily made him her friend; she scarcely knew him. He was friendly, but that did not mean anything, except that he was friendly. Perhaps it was natural, or perhaps sheer calculation. She looked away.

'Tell me,' he said, abruptly changing the subject, 'how does my little niece? You were, I believe, at Houghton recently?'

'Yes, to give Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth time alone.'

'I can imagine,' he said; 'they seem very . . . devoted, particularly she. I confess myself surprised.'

Georgiana, though her habitual reserve concealed it, was instantly indignant on her family's behalf. 'Surprised? Whatever for?'

'My dear Miss Darcy, when a man of your brother's consequence marries a girl with only her charms to recommend herself — considerable though they may be — one does not expect the affection to be mainly on her side.'

She lifted her chin. 'I think you misread my brother. He is . . . very fond of his wife, I think he esteems her above anybody. That his feelings are not on display does not mean they do not exist.'

Mr Cardwell laughed. 'Forgive me, madam, I am inapt. I meant no slight to your brother, only that such expressiveness on the part of a lady who makes a splendidly unequal match is quite a novelty.'

'Unequal? Whatever do you mean?' She did not even notice that her clenched fingers were perfectly steady.

'Oh, I did not mean character, only— Your brother could have married an heiress of an hundred thousand pounds; instead, he chose a young lady without a farthing to her name.'

'Yes,' Georgiana said, straightening her form and her eyes flashing as they met his, 'yes, of course he could have traded our pedigree for a great fortune in trade — I am certain that would have been a perfectly equal match for Mr Darcy of Pemberley, rather than a respectable gentleman's daughter who loves him.'

She could scarcely believe the words were her own; the moment they left her mouth, she actually gasped aloud, recoiling back, her cheeks burnt scarlet, and quite incapable of even looking towards him. What had she been thinking? She was so horrified, she felt almost physically ill; her head spun, her heart pounded, and she really thought she might faint on the spot.

Georgiana was never so pleased to see Ellis' plain homely face in her life. 'Lady Aldborough, Lord Courtland, Lady Dorothea Willoughby, Mr Willoughby, and Miss Willoughby,' he announced.

Another round of introductions went about the party, the Willoughbys begged pardon for their intrusion and were promptly forgiven. Georgiana quailingly met her brother's eye from across the room, and he promptly walked over and commanded her to walk with him by the window, away from the others.

'Georgiana? Are you unwell?'

She bent her head against his shoulder and took a shuddering breath. 'No, I am perfectly well, thank you— ' she clung to his arm, only then daring to lift her eyes to the landscape before her. It was as beautiful as ever, every tree, rock, and hill covered in a blanket of white, the stream frozen. The rapid pulse of her heart slowed, no longer burning from her fingertips to her chest, and she felt herself able to breathe properly again. Slowly she straightened her back, and smiled, soothed by the scene before her and her brother's silent, reassuring strength beside her. 'Forgive me, sir, I did not mean . . .'

'There is no need to apologise,' he replied; 'did he do something to upset you?'

'No — yes — it is my fault really,' she said incoherently. 'I said something . . . intemperate. I only hope he is not horribly offended.'

'Is that all?' He met her astonished gaze with a smile. 'Intemperate remarks are the order of the day among family, Georgiana; I am certain it will be forgiven. Do you think you are recovered now?'

'Yes, sir.' She managed a smile. 'Thank you.'

'Thank Elizabeth, not me,' he replied, to her astonishment, 'she saw how distressed you looked before I did. You are certain you will be well?'

'Yes, I think so.'

Bewildered but gratified, Georgiana followed him with every appearance of demure modesty, her eyes cast down, and felt almost herself when Fitzwilliam escorted her back to her seat, his forethought extending to a quiet word to Lady Aldborough.

The marchioness seated herself at Georgiana's side, with scarcely a glance for Cardwell. She was about sixty and peculiarly pretty, like a china doll. 'Here you are, Miss Darcy. Why, I have scarcely set eyes on you since you were a child — but you are only now out?'

'Yes ma'am, since this last summer.'

Lady Aldborough nodded to herself. 'I remember my first season — I knew your mother then. Such a handsome girl — you and your brother are very like her, though you have your father's eyes, and something of his face.' She smiled. 'I hope you take every opportunity of enjoying yourself, my dear. This time is for you and such a thing will never come again.'

'I — I shall try,' Georgiana said.

'I am certain you shall. Your brother assures us that you are the most dutiful, sweet-tempered girl in the world.'

Georgiana blushed scarlet.

'Though you may have other cares than dances and young men before long.' Lady Aldborough gave a wispy sort of sigh. 'Mr and Mrs Darcy seem very much in love — they are really quite, quite charming together, one scarcely ever sees anything like it.'

Georgiana turned her eyes to Elizabeth, who sat with her usual easy elegance as she talked to Lady Dorothea and Lord Courtland. Fitzwilliam was standing behind her, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder; during a brief pause in the conversation, his wife turned her head to smile affectionately at him, clasping his fingers before returning her attention to the others.

'That is quite true,' Georgiana said. 'M-my sister Darcy, she is delightful. My brother has made an excellent choice, I think.'

'Oh! Mr Cardwell!' Georgiana reached out her hand. 'I am so terribly sorry about my behaviour earlier. I hope you may forgive me.'

He laughed. 'My dear Miss Darcy, there is nothing to forgive; you are perfectly right to defend your family.'

'Not like that,' she said, 'I do not know what was wrong with me, but I assure you it was most unlike me and I shall never speak in such a manner again.'

'Oh, "never" is a dangerous word, Miss Darcy.' He took her offered hand and kissed it. 'I hope I shall have the pleasure of your company very soon.'

'We have always seen a great deal of your mother and father. I daresay you shall.'

The Willoughbys and Cardwells left together; Georgiana, exhausted, received her brother's leave to retreat to her chambers, and she slept through the rest of the calls. The house was silent when she rose again.

'Sarah,' she said, when she saw Mrs Darcy's maid, 'where is everyone?'

'Oh! Miss Darcy!' the girl exclaimed, turning white at the sight of her, and begged her pardon for not seeing her. 'The master is in the library, and Mr and Mrs Gardiner retired about, oh, a half-hour ago. The mistress was in the chapel, the old one, the last I saw.'

Georgiana's brow furrowed, but she shrugged the matter off and softly made her way to the library. She knew she had to explain her behaviour to Fitzwilliam, and besides she needed a new book to read. She could just see the crack of light under the door when a slim figure in white passed by, taking no notice of her in the dimness; it was Mrs Darcy, humming a little to herself. She pushed the door open, leaving it ajar as she swiftly passed through, and Georgiana after a moment of hesitation approached it.

Elizabeth had slipped her arms around her husband, and was leaning against him, one of her hands tangled in his hair, whispering something in his ear. Georgiana instantly withdrew, a smile creeping over her face, and though she was not at all tired, she returned to her room.

She studied the letter she had been reading, then pulled out her own unfinished reply and concluded,

As for F. & E., believe me, they have no cause to repine; they are truly the happiest people I ever saw in the marriage system and if there is any earthly bliss superior to theirs, I never saw it. I truly have nothing to wish for, except that we all might enjoy a fraction of their good fortune.

I remain your affectionate cousin,

Georgiana Darcy