“Oh, I am so glad you have come,” Georgiana said, taking hold of Anne’s hand. “It has been such a long time since we have visited, and I have such good news. I will shortly finish at Mrs. Bryan’s Academy, and thanks to you, I will be released early. After that, we will all go to Pemberley, and after that, I will come out into society.”

“Georgiana, allow Anne to take off her coat and then show her to the parlor while I arrange for tea to be served,” her brother instructed.

After giving Georgiana sufficient time to bring Anne up to date on the most urgent of matters, such as the new bonnet she had ordered just that morning, Darcy came into the room followed by a servant bringing in a tray of cucumber sandwiches.

“Is your mother in good health?” Georgiana asked about her Aunt Catherine.

“Very much so. She is enjoying her visit with my father’s sister, Lady Hargrove. They are a quite a pair, very much alike.”

“Oh, dear!” Georgiana said.

Anne started to laugh, but her brother was anything but amused, giving her a withering look.

“Will, it is all right. Everyone knows what my mother is like. There is no need to walk on eggs amongst us three.”

After that remark, Georgiana quickly asked if Anne remembered her father as she had no memory of him.

“Oh, yes, dear Papa. I was sixteen when he died. Even though I did not see as much of him as I would have liked, since he preferred town while Mama wished to remain in the country, I have nothing but fond memories of him.”

“Are the de Bourghs more interesting than the Darcys?”

After Darcy rolled his eyes at her comment, Georgiana shifted her position so that she was not directly in her brother’s sight line.

“Yes, they are. They made their money quite dishonestly by smuggling goods in from the Continent. That was the foundation of their wealth.”

“Oh, how exciting! Is that why Rosings has turrets? To defend against rival bands of smugglers?”

“Georgiana, defend against smugglers? Smugglers do not launch assaults. When challenged, they run away,” her brother said, amazed at the ideas that came into his sister’s head.

“No,” Anne said, laughing, “the turrets are there because Rosings was built shortly after the Civil War. There was great concern that another such war might erupt, and because of that, defensive elements were included in Rosings’s design. But the de Bourghs are not the original occupants. The family’s name was Belifort, I believe, but their line died out. Because the de Bourghs remained loyal to Charles II, after his restoration, he transferred Rosings to my family. And I am sorry to disappoint, but it was never necessary for any de Bourgh to man the ramparts. And although Pemberley lacks turrets and arrow slits, it is truly lovely.”

“Oh, I know that, and although I dearly love Pemberley, it does not stir the imagination as Rosings does. You cannot imagine anything bad ever happening there.”

“Georgiana, would you please favor us with a tune?” Darcy asked. He was uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation, believing that Georgiana was being overly romantic—again.

After supper, the three played cards, and Georgiana told Anne of all the fine things that Madame Delaine and she had purchased in preparation for her debut. As far as Georgiana was concerned, that day could not come soon enough. Her brother was of a different mind.

The following morning, after Georgiana left for the academy, Darcy apologized for his sister’s overactive imagination.

“Oh, you should not apologize. She is like a breath of fresh air.”

“I am convinced she is writing a novel in her room after she retires each evening.”

“What is the harm in that?”

“None—as long as she knows it will never be published. I do not approve of the gothic novels she reads, and I do not understand why the fathers or husbands of these authoresses allow their publication. It is unseemly.”

“She is quite changed from our last visit at Rosings. At that time, I found her to be cautious in her conversations and reserved in her manners. That is obviously no longer the case.”

“I agree there has been a change in the last month. I believe the alteration is a result of our discussion of that sordid affair involving Wickham. She has convinced me that she would never have married him. Even at her young age, she was able to see through his façade. That conversation seems to have had the effect of clearing the air, and the exuberant Georgiana that lay hidden has emerged. But that is behind us, and it pains me to mention it. So let us talk of your visit.

“You must tell me what you want to do while you are in town, and we will do it. Georgiana has visited Vauxhall and has said that the gardens are ‘a riot of color.’ The Royal Conservatory has an exhibition, and Mrs. Colbert has asked that she be allowed to call. On the other hand, if you do not wish to do any of those things, we shall stay at home, play cards, drink sherry, and if Georgiana has anything to say about it, play charades.”

“We have three weeks, Will. I hope in that time I shall be able to do all you have suggested and possibly more.”

Darcy went over and took Anne’s hand in his and said, “I am so glad you are here. You are so very dear to me.”

“And you are very dear to me, and I want you to be happy. If it is within my power to assist you in that regard, I will always do so.”

“If you are referring to Elizabeth Bennet, I created the situation, and if it is to be set right, I alone must do it.”

“We shall see,” Anne said to herself.

Chapter 17

While Lizzy packed her trunk for her visit with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner to Derbyshire, her sister was watching her closely. Having never been to the Peak District or Matlock or Chatsworth, Jane would have expected Lizzy to be talking nonstop about all the wonderful things she would see in her travels. Instead, her thoughts were obviously elsewhere as she kept folding and refolding every piece of clothing in her trunk.

“We have had another letter from Lydia, but this one is quite different. She is not as enraptured about Brighton as she was in her earlier letters when she wrote of meeting officers at the library and of her new gown and parasol. Apparently, Mrs. Hill was correct about Mrs. Forster, and because of her condition, she is sick for most of the day, thus limiting her excursions. Lydia is chafing at having to stay indoors, even though she writes about visiting the shops, a concert, and a number of dances. But as you and I know very well, Lydia requires constant entertainment.”

“I shall be very glad when she has come home. If we are fortunate, she will return to Longbourn without embarrassing herself or her family,” and then Lizzy returned to her packing.

“Lizzy, what is the matter? Why are you not excited about your holiday? You seem unsettled.”

Lizzy abandoned her packing and sat down on the window seat next to her sister.

“I am excited about our visit to Derbyshire, but I have to admit I have been unsettled ever since my return from Kent. I have had a letter from Charlotte in which she reiterates that she is content to be the wife of Mr. Collins. However, I ask myself, how is it possible for her to be satisfied with her situation when she is married to a man of such meager intellect and who is often ridiculous? But Charlotte says she is content, and I must believe her.”

“Are you afraid that you will be forced into a similar situation?” Jane asked. “I know I am. I do so want to marry for love and not just for the protection marriage provides women like us who have no fortune.”

“Jane, unlike me, you need not worry,” Lizzy said emphatically. “You turn heads wherever you go, and this summer, you will visit Aunt Susan and will be introduced to a whole new crop of gentlemen. You know she is determined to see you well married.”

“I think, if asked, Aunt Susan would include you in the invitation. I would be glad to write to her on your behalf.”

“As you are well aware, Aunt Susan does not like me as I am guilty of having my own opinions and expressing them. Lady Catherine said something similar about me,” and Lizzy imitated the high-pitched voice of Her Ladyship. “‘You have very decided opinions for one so young.’ She did not like me either.”

“Lizzy, you made the mistake of thinking Aunt Susan and Lady Catherine actually wanted your opinion. What they desired was one-sentence responses, so that they could take over the argument. But you will not perform as they wish. If you are to remain in their good graces, you should do as I do. You must say, ‘Yes, no, and thank you.’ That is all that is required, and you will be assured of being asked to visit again.”

“In other words, I should pretend ignorance of all that is going on about me and limit my conversation to the weather and other mundane topics. And I must not read the books or newspapers in Papa’s study or visit the circulating library. It will not do, Jane. I have never had any patience for the things society dictates that a young woman must know or do. My French is painful to the ear. Instead of walking in the meadows, I should have practiced more on the pianoforte, and I would have been better served if I had remained at home, as you did, painting tables and making sketches of the dogs instead of playing with them. Unlike Miss Georgiana Darcy, I shall never be considered an accomplished lady.”

“And yet, Mr. Darcy proposed marriage. It seems he did not care if you painted tables or made sketches, and words of love sound just as beautiful in English as they do in French. I think he was attracted to you because you were different from the other ladies he meets when he is in London. I daresay he had grown tired of deference.”