"Shall I transport the cards to your study, sir?" Darcy's butler gestured at the brimming silver salver while Darcy groaned. Just how did people learn so quickly of his arrival in Town? He could only hope that how he'd arrived, with an injured woman in tow, was not being discussed.
"I would much rather you burn them," said Darcy.
"Very good, sir."
"But God knows I can't." Darcy groaned once more. Duty was a harsh taskmaster. "Leave them on my desk. I shall see to them when I return from Bingley's."
"Very good, sir."
The small mountain of cards disappeared from view as the butler turned, offering Darcy brief, momentary relief. He could hardly claim busyness much longer without sounding rude. But Bingley had just arrived yesterday. And if Darcy was unable to do any service to Miss Elizabeth without inciting scandal, he could at least manage her sister a service.
Perhaps, if Jane Bennet married Bingley, the master and mistress of Longbourn might ease their worries and stop pressing their second daughter into an unwanted union. It was hardly a helpful plan to presume upon such a loose link of possibilities. But he'd fretted far too much the entire past week to allow himself to do nothing whatsoever.
With a resigned yet determined sigh, he turned for the door - just as Georgiana's music floated down the hallway.
His sister had just acquired this piece, had she not? And he owed her at least a listen if he were to improve their relationship once more. He might never do what Mr. and Mrs. Bennet did to their own flesh and blood, but he had much to learn and relearn if he were to be the brother he knew Georgiana needed.
A few strategic steps brought him to the music room, and he stepped through the open door at the same time an unexpectedly difficult page turn stalled his sister's music.
"It is a lovely song," said Darcy.
Georgiana turned on the piano bench, looking far younger than her fifteen years in her pale day dress. Her smile appeared genuine, yet small. "I thought you'd left."
"I was about to."
"Forgive me for the intrusion."
Darcy frowned. "It is never an intrusion to hear you play."
"When a piece is polished, perhaps, or ready to be performed." Georgiana blushed. "But I could hardly subject you to the fumbles of the first time I'm sorting out a new piece."
"Georgiana - "
"I know what is expected of me." Her voice quivered slightly. She looked askance. "I am trying my best, Brother."
Darcy felt his own frown deepen. Once upon a time, he would have felt proud that he had managed to instill such self-expectations in his sister. But there was something about the way Georgiana spoke today that made him uneasy. Even at her age, Georgiana Darcy was already one of the most outstanding young women in their circle of acquaintances. Surely, she had no reason to appear so nervous.
"Georgie," he began to say - when Mrs. Jenkins ran up to the both of them.
"Excuse me, Mr. Darcy," the housekeeper huffed, "there's a woman at the door - says she needs you."
Darcy tried to avoid Georgiana's suddenly curious look. "A woman, Mrs. Jenkins?"
"Calls herself Miss Elizabeth Bennet - says it's too risky to leave a card or some other nonsense. Came all by herself too, without a chaperone."
It was not nonsense, Darcy knew. Her lack of chaperone meant that her appearance was not a social call.
And it could only mean that she needed his help, possibly desperately.
Darcy flew down the hallway before Mrs. Jenkins could say another word.
Standing in front of Darcy House with her carpet bag in hand was the last place Elizabeth could ever have imagined herself a mere fortnight ago. And yet, here she stood, at the mercy of the man who had once considered her no better than an ugly country miss. He had offered his help - and it was a little too late now to wonder if he'd meant the offer sincerely or not. And yet she fretted, her hands twisting the handle of the bag as a distraction from her true predicament.
She'd told no one of her venturing here. It was a necessity - for Uncle and Aunt Gardiner could hardly tell Papa they didn't know her whereabouts if they actually did. In order for their plan to work, she had to come on her own. And she could only hope that Mr. Darcy would be able to direct her somewhere safe, perhaps as a temporary companion to one of his wealthy friends or relatives, until it was safe for her to reconnect with the Gardiners.
Elizabeth had only just begun to worry about her reception when a tall, manly frame blocked the entrance.
She looked up. Relief shot down her veins. At least he was not shunning her.
"Mr. Darcy." She curtsied.
"Miss Bennet." He glanced around her, as if checking for any other companions, before ushering her in by the elbow. "I apologize for the wait. Is all well with you?"
He closed the door behind them once she stood completely inside his house - and then he turned to look at her with so much concern brimming in his eyes that the urge to throw herself into his arms to seek solace was suddenly overwhelming. Elizabeth sniffed. "I apologize for intruding."
"Not at all. Please - come in further. I was - is all well with your family?"
Elizabeth felt her lip tremble. "I believe they are well."
"And your uncle and aunt?"
"They have agreed that I should depart for a while."
"Can they no longer help you?" His frown was immediate and sharp. "I had thought that they - "
"Oh, they have been nothing but kind." She reached for his arm. The touch seemed to surprise him, and she withdrew it immediately. Her predicament was making her lose her senses! "It is only that my father has been seeking me urgently - and pressing my uncle and aunt to aid him in his quest."
This time, it was Mr. Darcy who took her hand, his fingers a solid strength through her gloves. "And Mr. Collins - "
Elizabeth swallowed. "Still in Hertfordshire. The banns are being read."
His clasp tightened, and Elizabeth's heart with it. They stood wordlessly for a pained moment.
"I take it you do not approve," he said.
Elizabeth sniffed before shaking her head. "Jane's letter to Uncle mentioned that my parents intend for me to wed Mr. Collins as soon as I could be found."
"Surely, they cannot force you to wed."
"But they can make me suffer for refusing."
"Elizabeth - " The tenderness of his tone made her forgive his indulgence. "I cannot imagine how - "
"May I ask your assistance with references? If you could have a letter prepared, even by your housekeeper, I could perhaps - "
"You can stay here as long as you wish."
She met his eye, surprised by how freely and firmly he'd made his statement. She licked her lips. "I cannot possibly impose."
"No, you would not be." His face softened slightly, growing even more handsome in the light of the morning. "But I just might need your help as much as you need mine."
Her furrowed brow indicated her confusion, and Darcy tried to calm his agitated spirit before speaking again. "As it turns out, Miss Bennet, I happen to have need of the assistance of a lady."
"Do you need a governess?"
"No."
"Or a spinster companion?"
He wanted to argue that she could hardly qualify as a spinster at an age when the law still refused to protect her from her father's unreasonable demands - but he guided her into the drawing room instead.
"May I have the honor of introducing you to my sister?" He let go of her hand, reluctantly, once he had her seated. He very nearly hollered for a footman when he saw Elizabeth still clutching her carpet bag, but she gripped the thing so tightly that he feared making a scene with his offer. "She has not your affinity for making friends - and I believe it would prove beneficial if you could spend some time with her."
"So you are hiring me as her companion then."
No - he did not want to hire her. In fact, what every inch of him was yearning to do was hardly anything he would hire a gentlelady for. But he could hardly indulge himself now when all he needed to do was to protect her.
"To stay on as her guest and friend," he said, "although if it is payment you seek - "
"I seek safety." Her voice shook slightly before she mastered it once more. Her eyes, as always, were bottomless. "I seek refuge. And if I can be of service to Miss Darcy - if it does not offend her pride - I shall be more than willing to."
Darcy wondered what pride had anything to do with securing Elizabeth's help with Georgiana, but he was rather too distracted and relieved by Elizabeth's willingness to consider his offer to scrutinize the thought.
"With your permission, we shall have a guest room drawn up - next to my sister's. We do not need to entertain these days, and I can settle everything else by correspondence. If we were to encounter anyone, we shall introduce you as Georgiana's particular friend, and nothing more."
He watched Elizabeth nod. "I can see why that might work for a few days."
"A few days - right."
She looked up towards him. "Surely, Mr. Darcy, you do not think I could possibly impose upon you and your sister for longer than that?"
Again, he wished to insist that her presence was no imposition. In fact, if he had his way, she would be staying for a few weeks, or a few months, or a few years.
Darcy cleared his throat, hoping it would clear his mind along with it. "You may stay as long as you need to. My offer to help stands as long as I could be of service."
A sheen of emotion seemed to touch her gaze, although Darcy struggled to identify what it meant. The sound of soft footsteps behind him had him turning. His sister had arrived, her eyes round and curious.
"Georgiana, come. Allow me to introduce you to Miss Elizabeth Bennet - a friend from Hertfordshire. Miss Bennet, my sister, Georgiana Darcy."
Georgiana paled slightly, a common occurrence whenever she was compelled to encounter strangers, before dropping into a dutiful curtsy. "Miss Bennet, a pleasure to meet you."
Darcy scrambled for something to say to cover for his sister's temerity - but Elizabeth stood before he could, carpet bag finally cast aside, walked straight to Georgiana, and clasped the younger girl's hands. "The pleasure is mine, Miss Darcy - and it seems that we are to be particular friends."
Seeing Georgiana gradually mirror Elizabeth's smile was all Darcy could ever have wished for.
A/N: Awwww, family moment. People who felt that The Godparents didn't have enough Georgiana will get a lot of Georgiana now! :)