The Mistress of Pemberley
Chapter Four
"Is that a carriage?" Elizabeth jumped up to peer out the window at the drive.
"I heard nothing."
"I thought I heard a carriage." Elizabeth turned away from the window, disappointed.
Her husband smiled at her. "They will not arrive sooner because you watch for them."
"I know; but I long so to see Jane--there, that is a carriage!" She ran to the window once again. "They are here!"
It took all of the patience she could muster to wait for their guests to be announced; but at last, there was the butler: "Mr. and Mrs. Bingley; Miss Bingley; Miss Catherine Bennet."
Elizabeth flew to Jane and embraced her warmly; the extra visitor did not immediately register in her mind until she released her sister and saw the silent apology in her eyes. Elizabeth kissed Bingley and Kitty, and finally turned to Miss Bingley.
"Caroline had just come to visit when we were preparing to leave Hertfordshire," Bingley was saying. "We didn't think you would mind one more person--large house and all, what?"
Elizabeth swallowed her annoyance and shook hands with Miss Bingley. Of all the people she least wished to see!--but she would do the honours of the house. "I am glad to see you again," she said.
"Pray forgive me for turning up uninvited, Mrs. Darcy," said Caroline with cool civility. "Charles assured me it would be no bother, and the Hursts are spending Christmas at Mr. Hurst's cousin's house."
"Of course. You are welcome at Pemberley, Miss Bingley." Elizabeth rang the bell for the housekeeper. "Reynolds, have Miss Bingley's usual room prepared."
"Yes, Mrs. Darcy," said the housekeeper, who had given that precise order as soon as she saw Caroline Bingley descend from the carriage, though she would never have dreamed of saying so. Miss Bingley had not endeared herself to the Pemberley domestic staff on previous visits, being a demanding guest and not especially generous with her vails. As far as Mrs. Reynolds was concerned, Caroline Bingley would have no hint that Elizabeth was anything but in total control of every aspect of the running of the great house. She waited for Mrs. Darcy to order refreshments for her guests, an order that Mrs. Reynolds had sent to the kitchens before she came into the room, and departed after a deferential curtsy to her mistress. Mrs. Reynolds was not only an efficient housekeeper, but an intelligent and fiercely loyal one as well.
Georgiana came in a moment later, and was presented to Mrs. Bingley. If Jane thought it strange to at last meet a young lady once described to her as a rival for her husband's hand, she did not show it. Instead she greeted Georgiana with a smile, and received a tentative smile in return. Jane had already heard about the younger girl's diffidence, and was careful to not overwhelm her.
Kitty had perched on the edge of an elegant chair and was looking around her with wide-eyed wonder. Elizabeth attempted to include her in the conversation, but she made only monosyllabic replies to her sister's questions, and Elizabeth soon gave up the attempt. She had hoped that Kitty would improve once she was away from Lydia's influence, but it was clear that a more direct approach would be required. Well, Kitty would be at Pemberley for a month; with Jane's help, much could be accomplished.
Barely had that idea entered Elizabeth's head when, to her astonishment, Georgiana sat next to Kitty, and the two girls were soon chatting together in a very friendly manner. Elizabeth exchanged a glance with Darcy, who looked equally surprised, but not displeased. Elizabeth breathed a silent sigh of relief. Perhaps Kitty could be influenced by Georgiana, who was so much closer to her own age and situation; and Darcy did not seem to dislike the idea.
"When will the Gardiners arrive?" Jane asked Elizabeth.
"Tomorrow; and we are expecting Colonel Fitzwilliam at any time."
Miss Bingley's head turned sharply toward Elizabeth. "Colonel Fitzwilliam will be in the party?" she asked with great interest.
"Yes," said Elizabeth, reflecting with some amusement that the poor Colonel had no idea that two young ladies with dreams and ambitions concerning him most particularly awaited him at Pemberley.
The Colonel joined them shortly before dinner and, between his worldly air and his regimentals, created no little stir amongst Elizabeth's guests. Even Kitty, she noticed with dismay, began to speak loudly and attempt to draw his attention to herself. Remembering her sister's behaviour with the militia officers billeted in Meryton, Elizabeth determined to speak quite seriously to Kitty before the night was over. Seeing Georgiana's deep blush and the way she followed her cousin's every movement with her eyes, Elizabeth wondered if she should speak with Georgiana as well. She trusted Georgiana to behave as she ought; but perhaps some warning to not lose her heart? Then she thought, who am I to meddle in Colonel Fitzwilliam's concerns? He had told her at Rosings that he meant to marry a lady with a fortune, and either Caroline Bingley's twenty thousand pounds or Georgiana's thirty thousand pounds would be an admirable catch. No, Elizabeth would not interfere; but there was a part of her that was still her father's daughter, and that part of her would delight in all the absurdity that was surely to come, even while the mistress of Pemberley might sigh over it.
Colonel Fitzwilliam himself was perfectly unaware of the romantic tensions that swirled around him. He greeted Elizabeth with a kiss-- "We are cousins now, are not we?" --and a request to call him Montgomery. "Or even Monty. My mother and sister do; you might as well."
Elizabeth readily agreed, quite pleased at being placed on the same footing as a sister. Colonel Fitzwilliam's charm had not lessened in the year since they had last met.
He took Miss Bingley in to dinner, and she contrived to get him to sit by her in the drawing room after dinner as well, drawing off his attentions and company from the rest of the party. Kitty was openly put out by his desertion, and finally removed herself to a far corner with a book; Georgiana sat quietly, but her downcast eyes excited Elizabeth's pity.
"Why do you not play for us, dear?" she asked Georgiana gently.
Georgiana shook her head. "I have a touch of the headache; I would not play well. Why do you not play, Elizabeth?"
"If you want music," cried Miss Bingley, who could listen well enough to other conversations when it suited her, "I shall play, Mrs. Darcy." She took a seat at Georgiana's new Broadwood grand pianoforte, pointing Fitzwilliam to a nearby seat where he could admire both her form and her production, and began to play a showy piece that seemed to involve a great deal of flashing the jeweled bracelets that circled her thin, languid wrists.
Georgiana rose suddenly and whispered to Elizabeth, "The music--my head aches--forgive me, Elizabeth, I am going to retire."
"Of course," said Elizabeth, taking her arm, but Mrs. Annesley stepped in and said, "I'll see her upstairs, ma'am."
Darcy had half-risen from his chair, looking from Georgiana to Elizabeth. He would have followed his sister, but Elizabeth touched his arm and said, "Let her go."
He looked down at his wife for a moment, then nodded and pressed her hand. They all sat down and picked up the conversation as if nothing had happened, while Miss Bingley thundered on the piano, and Fitzwilliam watched.
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