Chapter 34

34

D arcy had been listening with pleasure to the music. He smiled slightly; Georgiana would be ecstatic at having had this opportunity with Miss Elizabeth.

Then he heard the start of The Song , as he thought of it — the song he would never forget; the first time he had ever heard her voice.

Slightly amused, he watched Richard's head snap up. Within a moment, he had excused himself from Mrs. Bennet's conversation and left the room. Darcy followed him. But Richard had stopped outside the doorway, his expression stunned and emotional. Darcy placed a hand on his shoulder. He sensed Bingley coming up beside him, and looked at him from the corner of his eyes. His friend's astonished expression showed he was really listening to the words this time.

But it was not more than a moment before his own emotions obliterated any thoughts of other things, and he could think of nothing but her voice. Miss Elizabeth.

The final haunting notes from the piano closed the piece, and she bent her head to look at the keys.

"Thank you," Georgiana murmured. "Thank you." She pulled out her handkerchief and wiped her eyes.

Miss Elizabeth drew his sister closer for a brief embrace. "There, I sang at your request and now it is your turn." She glanced up at them standing in the doorway. "We will send the audience away and close the door, and then you will be more confident."

"Not today, Lizzy." Bennet's voice came from behind him. "It is the end of the calling hour, and after the gentlemen have escorted the ladies home, I will request that Mr. Darcy and his cousin return, as I have a serious matter to discuss with them."

Darcy frowned, what could the man mean? But he did not have time to think about it; Georgiana was rising from the piano stool. "Elizabeth, do you think I might impose on you by calling again tomorrow? Please?"

Elizabeth smiled at her. "Thursday. I will be at home on Thursday and be delighted if you call, but I am not at home tomorrow."

"Oh, I will practice a song to show you!" Georgiana didn't seem to be upset that she would have to wait an extra day, and Darcy felt a powerful emotion well up within him.

"Come, my dear, we need to return to Netherfield." He went into the room and offered her his arm. Then he smiled at Miss Elizabeth.

"I thank you for your kindness to my sister." She dipped her head in acknowledgement, but there was no warmth in her smile, and he wondered what he might have done to cause her displeasure. But he did not have time to think, because Richard had pushed his way forward.

"Miss Elizabeth," he bowed over her hand. "That was the most moving and beautiful thing I have ever heard." He glanced at Darcy. "I wonder my cousin had not mentioned it to me." He looked up at her face. "When I tell my mother about you, she will wish to make your acquaintance — she will be envied throughout the town for the quality of her soirees."

"If you mean Lady Matlock," she said sharply, "she already knows, Colonel. I pray you speak to your cousin first before you do anything so rash as write to your mother."

She turned to Georgiana. "Do not trouble yourself about it, Georgiana," her voice was kind. "I look forward very much to seeing you on Thursday."

Bennet saw the party to the coach. "If you gentlemen can return this afternoon, I would be very grateful. It is a serious matter that concerns the whole neighbourhood. I received word from Sir William while you were engaged on your call."

Darcy nodded to him as Richard quietly handed Mrs. Hurst and then Georgiana into the coach.

"We will be here, sir. I thank you for the opportunity to assist you." He lowered his voice. "Miss Elizabeth seemed rather cool this morning, both in your library before the formal call, and just now. I hope you will tell me if I have erred in any way."

Bennet met his gaze. "Time. These things take time. If you can prevent your cousin from speaking to anyone outside the area, it will assist her."

Darcy had much to consider in the coach, but he was given little opportunity. Richard took up the attack at once.

"Tell me how Mother knows of Miss Elizabeth's talent."

Darcy nodded. "I will, before lunch. But first I wish to speak to Georgiana." He turned to his sister.

"Are you pleased that you have met her?"

"Oh, yes!" she said rapturously. "She was so kind to me, and we know a lot of the same music. I have never met anyone like her; she is much better than all the masters who have ever taught me." She beamed at him. "I was telling her how you were trying to find the direction of Santorio, because I really want to meet him, and she said she didn't think she did."

"Did what?"

"Want to meet him. She said she liked to imagine him composing on his terrace in the sunshine looking out over the olive groves, and actually meeting him would spoil the picture in her mind."

He nodded. "What did you think of what she said?"

"I agree with her. I still want to be able to correspond with him, and perhaps see him performing somewhere if we can, but I don't want to go to his home any more."

Darcy was extremely thankful for that — and grateful to Miss Elizabeth.

"But surely, a composer has to be by a piano while they're writing music?" Richard's brow was furrowed. "I've always imagined them in some dark garret somewhere, scribbling away by candlelight."

"Don't spoil things," Darcy warned him. "And that is supposed to be authors anyway. What do you know of how either composers or authors work?"

Georgiana frowned. "But Italy is a warm country and has quite a dry atmosphere, I believe. Italians have covered terraces, too." She smiled again. "A piano, outdoors, in the hot sunshine. Better and better!"

Darcy laughed. Miss Elizabeth was good for Georgiana, and she seemed to be disposed to be friendly to her, and for that, he was utterly grateful.

The gentlemen convened for a drink in the library before luncheon, and Richard immediately spoke to him.

"Tell me how my mother knows about Miss Elizabeth."

Darcy nodded. "I will. But first, tell me how you felt, listening to her sing."

Richard smiled. "Probably the same as any other man in the kingdom. Her voice ensnares one, wanting to possess it." He shivered. "I have no idea what it must be like to hear her often."

"Quite." Darcy looked steadily at him. "I made the grave error of writing to your mother, thinking Miss Elizabeth would be grateful for the opportunity to be assisted to gain standing in the first circles. Aunt wrote to Bennet, asking if she might hear Miss Elizabeth and have her take part in one of her upcoming musical soirees." He cleared his throat.

"The reply from Bennet was a fairly terse refusal. Oh, he was polite on the surface, but he said that his daughter had no intention of being in town society." He ran his hand through his hair.

"He said that when she was commanded to a private presentation by the queen, they thought that by not being in society at all after that occasion would mean people didn't remember her, and that she liked being in the country, amongst people who know her. But even here …" he knew his voice was laced with anger, "… she hasn't been safe, and I understand there have been several attempts to compromise her, to possess her talents."

"What!" Richard jumped to his feet. "What protection is she getting?"

Darcy scowled; he was not going to say anything more about his suspicions — that Miss Elizabeth received Santorio music before it was published, or that somehow the song — the lyrics fitted the situation of the eldest Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth too, too well. There was something to be discovered, but he must be very careful.

"Bennet makes sure she is never out alone without a footman to protect her. And her friend, Miss Lucas, spends much time out with her."

Richard sank back in his seat, looking discontented. "I would not like her to be forced into an unwelcome marriage."

Bingley shook his head. "I think she would refuse. Jane — Miss Bennet has said to me that her sister would be quite content not to marry."

Darcy and Richard both stared at his friend. "How could that be?" Darcy could not believe it. "She would not only be ruined, but the estate is entailed, and she has little, if any dowry."

Bingley shrugged. "I am just repeating what Miss Bennet said. And you must have divined what a strong character Miss Elizabeth is. I cannot see her agreeing to anything that would give control of her to a man who would compromise her."

"True," Darcy was thoughtful. "But she would wed for the sake of her remaining unmarried sisters, would she not?"

A knock on the door ended the conversation, and the gentlemen joined the ladies for luncheon.