Chapter 6

"Do stand up straight, Mary," Jane said as they came to the lodging number that had been supplied on Miss Darcy's calling card.

"I am standing up straight," Mary argued with a scowl.

Elizabeth smiled to herself at the exchange. Jane, ever motherly in her care for her younger sisters, was always gently reminding them of how they ought to act and present themselves. She could not deny that the reminders were necessary. For her part, Elizabeth knew her own spirit to be sometimes more wild than the dictates of society would prefer. Mary's troubles were of a different kind. The poor soul was standing as straight as she could, she imagined. But with her jutting chin and severe scowl, she looked as if she slumped. The top of her back rounded ever so slightly, like a preacher leaning forward to deliver a fire and brimstone sermon to his congregants.

"Everyone, remain calm. We had a pleasant visit yesterday, and we are here to repay Miss Darcy's kindness. Now, just be yourself, and all will be well," Elizabeth encouraged, drawing the faintest smile from Mary. It was remarkable how becoming it was to her, particularly in contrast to the severe expression more often seen on her face.

They knocked on the door and were admitted by a smartly dressed maid. She left them in the foyer, staring at the lavish surroundings. Evidently, some improvements had been done to the small house before they had moved in, for all the furnishings were obviously quite new and first-rate in quality.

Mary walked over to an open doorway and gasped with pleasure. "They have a pianoforte!"

Elizabeth laughed. "She told you they did."

Mary smiled more broadly still and rejoined them near the door.

"I suppose the rumours might be true, then?" Jane whispered. She nodded toward the crystal chandelier hanging above their heads.

"What? That Miss Darcy is to have a dowry of ￡30,000? I suppose they are. But I do not think that should change our perspective on her. From what I saw yesterday, she is a lovely young woman in need of true friends."

"Of course. I was not saying that the knowledge should change our opinion of her, nor put weight on our treatment of her. Not in the slightest."

Elizabeth nodded but could say nothing else on the subject, for the maid returned and showed them to the room where Mary had just been snooping. A moment later, Miss Darcy and her companion joined them in the drawing room.

"How good of you to come!" Miss Darcy said. She scampered over to Elizabeth, and as if with an afterthought, dipped into a quick curtsey. She took Elizabeth's hands warmly, just as Elizabeth had done with her the day prior. "Have you had trouble in the rain?"

Elizabeth frowned, then looked down at her hem. It was indeed a little damp. "Oh, no, not at all. It was not raining when we walked over, but I went for a short walk this morning." It was not entirely an accurate description, for the walk had comprised all of give miles. But there was no need to draw such attention to herself as this would have brought. "I prefer to be out of doors."

"Oh, so do I. Especially in the mountains beyond Pemberley. They are breathtaking, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. You shall have to come and visit me there, and I will show you."

The invitation at once pleased and surprised her. Elizabeth had never been invited to anyone's home outside her own family, and it was startlingly early in the acquaintance to make such a suggestion. Nonetheless, it was very pleasing. "That is very kind of you," Elizabeth replied without hesitation. "I am sure I would be delighted."

Miss Darcy turned and her eyes lit up as she greeted Jane and Mary. She turned her attention to Mary and stepped aside so she could point toward the pianoforte. "Is it not pretty? I think it would be a travesty if we were to leave it looking so lonely. Do not you agree, Miss Mary Bennet?"

Mary was no less eager for the chance to play such a beautiful instrument, and the two girls went over to the piano. The room was soon filled with the delightful sounds of piano music as the two girls played one piece after another, each taking turns in showing off their skill.

After some time, Elizabeth turned to Mrs Younge with a small smile. Civility surely bade her to offer a little conversation. "From where do you originally hail, Mrs Younge?"

The older woman looked down her nose at Elizabeth before answering. "I am like the wind, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. No one knows where I come from or whence I am going."

Elizabeth hardly knew how to reply. Mrs Younge's answer was odd in the extreme, and she could see no reason for the older woman to object to such an innocuous question. "I see," Elizabeth said at last, keeping her tone light and friendly with a slight effort.

Mrs Younge gave a tight-lipped smile. "Do you, indeed?"

Jane exchanged a concerned glance with her before turning to Mrs Younge with an air of determination. "How long have you been a companion to Miss Darcy? She is a charming young woman, I must say."

"I have been with her for the past six months. And I cannot but agree. She has much potential."

The glint in her eyes left Elizabeth ill at ease. Something about it stirred old memories, nearly forgotten over the years. One of her father's books described the creatures of the West Indies. There was an illustration that had always frightened her as a young girl, of a crocodile with its head just above the water, grinning at its prey. Odd indeed, that something about Mrs Younge called that crocodile to mind. "Do you have any family close to Pemberley? We hear it is a lovely place."

Mrs Younge turned back to Elizabeth, her eyes narrowed into slits. "I have no family. Not anymore."

Something in the cold, flat statements made Elizabeth's blood run cold. Yet surely it was absurd of her. Yes, Mrs Younge did not wish to discuss her past, and was less than gracious in her refusals, but was that really so strange? Perhaps she was still grieving the loss of her late husband, and could not bear to think of her former life. Elizabeth had the strangest feeling that she did not have Miss Darcy's best interests at heart, and yet it must be ridiculous for her to imagine anything of the kind. She hardly knew Miss Darcy or Mrs Younge, and she had not seen the companion do anything amiss. If she was less charming than might be wished in conversation, that was no real cause for alarm. Elizabeth was merely being too suspicious of a stranger, as Jane had sometimes told her was the case.

She pushed away the disturbing thoughts and turned her attention back to Miss Darcy and Mary, playing contentedly away at the instrument. "Miss Darcy speaks very highly of her brother, even in the short time since our acquaintance has been formed. Is he much older than she?" Elizabeth asked.

"Mr Darcy can do no wrong in her eyes, I am sure. He is older by quite a few years—twelve, at least—I think. He dotes on her, as you can see." Mrs Younge waved her hand around the room and halted at the pianoforte. "The place was not furnished with a pianoforte when he first let it. I believe he had it delivered all the way from London to accommodate Miss Darcy. However, it is nothing compared to the instrument he commissioned to be built for their home in Derbyshire. It is the most beautiful thing you've ever laid eyes on, I am sure. Rich canary wood from South America, carved with a figure of peonies—Miss Darcy's favourite."

Mrs Younge glanced down her nose at Elizabeth and Jane. "I believe it cost him upwards of two hundred pounds."

Elizabeth knew she was meant to be shocked by such a sum. And she was. But she did not allow it to show on her face. "How fortunate for Miss Darcy to have such a thoughtful brother." To think of spending two hundred pounds on a present — it made her head swim.

The girls got up from the piano bench then and joined them in the little sitting area. "That was delightful, Miss Darcy. Thank you for allowing my sister to play with you. She practises so often but has rarely had an opportunity to set her fingers to such a magnificent instrument."

Mary sat down, straight-backed but not as stiffly as she was wont to do. "Yes, the Kings have a very good instrument, but nothing as pretty as this. And it often goes out of tune," she said fretfully. "As a matter of fact, ours is often out of tune as well. I am always telling Papa that the pianoforte should go into a room that does not so often change temperature. But there is not room for it in the drawing room."

Georgiana took Mary's hand, as they had seated themselves close to each other on the settee. "Well, you shall come here and play this one whenever you like. I do so enjoy playing four hands with you." Elizabeth liked her all the more for her easy acceptance of Mary. Her poor sister was often too serious for her own good and thus had very few friends outside of her own gaggle of sisters.

"It is a pity your two younger sisters could not accompany you this time. I do long to make their acquaintance," Miss Darcy said.

Jane shifted uneasily, but Elizabeth handled making the excuses. "My sisters had already made an engagement with Mrs King and her daughter to go to the market in the next village over. Apparently, the militia is passing through."

"I believe they are coming to winter in Meryton, if I am not mistaken?" Miss Darcy put in.

"I believe so," Elizabeth replied. Unfortunately, Kitty and Lydia had been quite carried away by their excitement over the militia. Ever since learning that so many eligible men would be coming to Meryton, it seemed as though they had nothing but flirtation and officers in their heads. Kitty and Lydia — not to mention their mother — had hoped that the officers would be in attendance at the public assembly, but they had evidently been delayed.

"Tell us, Miss Bennet, are you and your sisters all out?" Mrs Younge chimed in.

Elizabeth's brows shot up. But Jane handled herself beautifully. "We are," Jane replied.

"Very odd," Mrs Younge said with a frown. "All out at once. And you—the eldest—are not yet married?"

Elizabeth felt the heat rising in her cheeks. She glanced quickly at her sisters, but Jane had been shocked into silence. Yet someone must respond, or the awkwardness of the ensuing silence would soon become unbearable.

Elizabeth took a quick breath and pasted a social smile on her face. "I think it would be a very hard thing for younger sisters to bear — not being able to have their share of enjoyment — simply because the elder sisters are not married. After all, not all have the inclination or the means to marry early."

Mrs Younge gave her an icy, contemptuous smile. "I see. Well, I suppose everyone is entitled to their own opinions."

"I am glad you are all out," Miss Darcy chimed in brightly. "It must be comforting to have sisters with whom to share this very exciting — and I daresay somewhat trying — season of our lives. I am just embarking on my own coming out and I must confess I have been frightened out of my mind at times. I am afraid I made quite a nuisance of myself at the public assembly the other night."

Elizabeth wanted to comfort her, but could not entirely disagree. "It is difficult to converse with people one has never met, is it not? I am sure you will be more comfortable at the next public assembly or ball, whichever comes first, and will show yourself to be the kind, warm young lady we have come to know."

Tears sprang to Miss Darcy's eyes, making Elizabeth wonder if she had overstepped the bounds. "Thank you for saying so," Miss Darcy whispered. She sniffed back tears and put a brave smile on her face. "Shall I call for tea? And in the meantime, I can show you the pretty little garden at the rear of the house."

Miss Darcy did so, ringing the little silver bell on the mantle, and sent the maid off to prepare afternoon tea. She then led them all out to the corridor, past the stairs that led to the second story of the house, and out the back door to a small but charming garden. "I know it is the wrong season for the garden, but you can just imagine how lovely it would have been in spring and summer. I do so love peonies," she said.

"Yes, Mrs Younge was just telling us about the pianoforte your brother commissioned for you," Elizabeth said. "It sounds exquisite." They strolled along the little winding paths, glancing past the spiky stems of roses that had long since lost their vibrant blooms. She could only imagine how it would have looked during the growing season.

Miss Darcy's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes, it is the same instrument I was telling you about. I do not mean to brag, I hope you do not think so. But my brother really is the most thoughtful person I have ever met. I have only to think of something I would like, and then it appears, as though he can read my mind." She looked down at her hands, giving a self-deprecating smile. "I really do not deserve him."

"I am sure it brings him great pleasure to see your enjoyment of the gifts he gives you," Jane replied.

Miss Darcy nodded in agreement. "Even so, I sometimes wonder why I have been blessed with such a guardian. I am fortunate to have the love and care of a brother like him." Some of the sparkle drained out of Miss Darcy's tone.

"And what of your parents?" Elizabeth asked slowly. From the look in her eyes, she could only guess that they were no longer with them.

"My mother died shortly after giving birth to me. I never knew her. And my father passed away some years ago. He was a kind soul, very giving and generous, like my brother." Miss Darcy sighed heavily. "I miss him every day."

"I am sorry for your loss."

"Thank you. It was difficult to bear, once, but while I do not miss them any less than I did at first, the pain has lessened. I do not know what I would do without Fitzwilliam."

They walked through the garden for a while longer, then sought shelter inside when the clouds threatened another downpour. The rain began trickling down the glass windowpanes not long after they sat down in the drawing room for tea. Everything had been beautifully laid out, and they busied themselves sipping cups of steaming green tea and helping themselves to a very fine selection of delicacies: petit fours with delicate frosting decorations of flowers and leaves, madeleines, and tiny apple tartlets that were the perfect amount of sweetness and tartness.

"These are divine, Miss Darcy. You must compliment your cook for us," Jane said, taking a ladylike bite of the tartlet.

"Thank you. My brother sent our cook from Pemberley with us, as he will be in London much of the winter attending to business. He is really the most thoughtful man," Miss Darcy said. "He is coming to visit in a few days; had I mentioned it before? I cannot wait for him to meet all of you. You have been so kind to me."

Elizabeth caught Mrs Younge's scowl out of the corner of her eye and wondered at it. It was almost as if she did not want Miss Darcy to make friends while she was visiting their little village. Or did she think the Bennets were not desirable acquaintances? Whatever the case, she would keep an eye on the woman. The more time she spent with Miss Darcy, the more she felt the young woman could become a dear friend to her.

"We will be delighted to meet him," Elizabeth replied. She was indeed intrigued to meet the man. By the way, Georgiana had painted him, he might almost walk on water.