Chapter Thirteen

Elizabeth was rather disappointed when her dance was cut short. She had rather enjoyed herself teasing Mr. Darcy and watching his frustration. She was going to enjoy telling Jane in her next letter what had occurred. She had never expected to have the opportunity to make Mr. Darcy pay for being so unpleasant at their initial meeting. It was a pity that she would probably never see him again. When they had stopped discussing their past encounters she had enjoyed having him as her partner and he had danced with a great deal more skill than she would have suspected him capable of. He'd even smiled at her once and that had been a surprise. It softened up his severe features and she decided he really should smile more often.

"That was a little abrupt," observed Mrs. Gardiner. "A great pity. He seems a very personable young man."

"I told you, Aunt. That is not the case at all. I'm surprised he was prepared to make your acquaintance. We do not normally move in the same social circles as Mr. Darcy."

"But I thought you said he was a friend of Mr. Bingley's?"

"He is indeed, but the two men are very different." Elizabeth was about to say more when she saw Mr. Darcy was approaching.

He stopped beside them. "Mrs. Gardiner. Please forgive me. May I talk to Miss Bennet for a moment. I would like her assistance."

Elizabeth looked puzzled. She could not imagine what Mr. Darcy needed her help for.

"Lizzy?"

Elizabeth nodded. "If you wish."

Mr. Darcy guided her out of the room into the large hallway and led her to a corner where they could talk undisturbed. "Miss Bennet, this is most unorthodox, but I require your assistance. My sister is in the cloakroom and I have been informed she is refusing to come out. I wondered whether you would be kind enough to go in and talk to her. I must take her home."

"But what is the matter, sir?"

"I cannot go into details, but Georgiana is distressed by a family matter. I should not have persuaded her to come. It was too much. You saw how she drew attention to herself in the ballroom. I would not wish for her to disgrace herself again."

Elizabeth wasn't sure what to say. "But she does not know me, sir. Why would you think she would talk to me?"

"I don't," said Mr. Darcy, "but she is refusing to come out and I know you have younger sisters who have sometimes behaved a little…"

"Inappropriately?" said Elizabeth.

Mr. Darcy looked pained. "That is not what I meant, madam. You seem keen to twist my words."

Elizabeth felt ashamed. It was not worthy of her to make sneering remarks when he was concerned for his sister. "I apologise, Mr. Darcy. If you would show me where she is, I will certainly try."

Mr. Darcy ushered her back across the hallway and down a passageway, where a maid was standing outside the door. She opened the door as they approached and Elizabeth went in.

At first Elizabeth assumed that the room was empty, until she suddenly heard the sound of quiet sobbing. She followed the sound to the closet. The door was not quite closed, so she gently pushed it open. Miss Darcy had her back to the door.

"Georgiana. It is Elizabeth Bennet." It was an informal greeting, but she felt it appropriate in the circumstances. "Can I help you?"

"No one can help me," came a muffled reply.s

Elizabeth was not sure what to say. She wished Jane was with her. Jane's gentle manner would be far more useful in such circumstances. She felt quite out of her depth and yet Mr. Darcy had tasked her to try and persuade his sister to come out, so she must do her best.

"Georgiana, it is a little cramped in here. Why don't you come and sit down? There are chairs here. You need not converse. We can sit in silence, if you prefer, but at least let us do so in comfort."

Elizabeth wondered if Georgiana would refuse but after a moment's hesitation she turned around. Her nose was very red and her cheeks were streaked with tears. Elizabeth immediately felt sorry for her.

"Come." She held out her hand and Georgiana took it and Elizabeth guided her to one of the two small chairs that were near the basin.

Elizabeth sat down beside her, sitting on the edge with her body half-turned so she could observe Georgiana.

"I suppose he sent you in here," muttered Georgiana.

"Mr. Darcy is worried about you."

Georgiana shook her head. "He is only worried about the family reputation. I embarrassed him by shouting out."

"Do not think about it. The musicians were playing and few would have noticed."

"But you did."

"I was dancing with your brother," said Elizabeth.

Georgiana looked fretful and she was pleating the skirt of her dress with shaking hands. Fresh tears started to fall from her eyes. "I just couldn't do it."

"What?" asked Elizabeth.

"I couldn't dance with another man. It reminded me of…."

She stopped talking and continued to sob and Elizabeth worried that she was not doing a very good job at trying to comfort her.

"Georgiana, Miss Darcy, please don't upset yourself." She pulled out her own handkerchief from inside her dress and handed it to Georgiana, whose own was sopping wet.

"Would you like to tell me about it?" she asked carefully.

"I cannot. Fitzwilliam has forbidden it."

"But if it would help."

Georgiana shook her head. "I cannot."

Elizabeth gave up. It was not for her to pry into Darcy family business. "Your brother is outside. I think he is ready to take you home."

Georgiana suddenly looked worried. "Will you accompany me?"

Elizabeth was surprised by the request. "Miss Darcy… your brother. Colonel Fitzwilliam. I am sure they will see you home."

"But I want you to come… you said you would help me… please."

Elizabeth could not argue, but she could not imagine that Mr. Darcy would allow it.

She rose to her feet. "Stay here. I will speak with Mr. Darcy."

If Mr. Darcy considered his sister's request outrageous he gave no indication. "If you are willing, Miss Bennet, then I should be very grateful if you would accompany us."

"My aunt and uncle… I must speak with them…"

"I will do that," said Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had joined them. "Take Georgiana home, Fitzwilliam. I will make my own way."

"Assure the Gardiners that Miss Bennet will be returned to them shortly."

Elizabeth felt rather guilty not going to talk to her aunt and uncle but she knew they would understand. It was clear Mr. Darcy wanted to remove his sister from the awkward situation as quickly as possible. As soon as their carriage had been ordered and cloaks had been found, Georgiana with a hood over her head emerged from the cloakroom and was soon assisted out of the house, into the waiting carriage, and away from the ball.