The Darcy Cousins by Monica Fairview Page A
Authors: Monica Fairview
Tags: Jane Austen Fan Lit
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would settle soon. It is so difficult to arrange outings at this time of the year."
Georgiana agreed. The recent snow had cast a damper on everyone's hopes for a warm spring.
"And we will endeavour to find some amusements for you in the neighbourhood."
His use of the plural made her curious.
"May I ask why you keep saying 'we'? Do you have sisters or brothers?"
"No, I am an only child. I was referring to Gatley as well as myself."
"Are you and your cousin close friends then?"
"In some ways. We deal together very well. We spent the early part of our childhood together, so he is much more like an elder brother to me than a cousin." He lowered his voice to confide in her. "Though sometimes, I will admit, he is difficult to be with. He demands perfection in those around him, and woe to you if you do not measure up to his ideal."
This was so close to Georgiana's own impression that she gave a little laugh.
"Is he always like this then?"
"Not always," said his cousin, "for how would I then tolerate his company? No, he can be very agreeable when he sets his mind to it, but one never knows when the mood will strike him."
52
THE DARCY COUSINS
Georgiana turned her head to survey the young man occupying the chair next to her. He was talking to Clarissa, a half smile on his lips. Apparently, he was prepared to make himself agreeable, for a while at least.
"I hope I have not given you the wrong impression," said Channing anxiously. "I should not have spoken as I did, for I am very attached to my cousin."
Georgiana assured him that he had not said anything she had not already observed in Mr Gatley, and Channing gave her a look of relief.
"In any case, you need not worry about that, for even a stickler such as my cousin would find nothing to fault in your behaviour."
Lady Catherine's voice broke unceremoniously into their conversation.
"The card tables have been set. We can now commence our play.
Darcy, you may join our table. And Mr Channing. Mr Frederick, you may join Mr Gatley at the other table. I suppose, Mrs Darcy, as usual you prefer reading to card playing?"
"Most definitely," said Elizabeth, her eyes twinkling.
"Or perhaps you would prefer a game of backgammon?"
said Robert. "I have a mind to play one myself if anyone would join me."
"I will join you," said Elizabeth. "But I warn you I have every intention of winning this time."
"That remains to be seen," he replied, taking up the challenge.
Meanwhile, Channing rose with exaggerated reluctance from his seat and threw Georgiana a regretful glance, managing at the same time to express his comic distaste for having to sit with Lady Catherine. Georgiana pressed her lips together to prevent a laugh from escaping.
53
MONICA FAIRVIEW
But a moment later her laughter disappeared when she realised that, while she was paying attention to Channing, she had been assigned a partner--Mr Gatley.
Though by no means outstanding, she was generally a compe-tent player. Tonight, however, she played badly, making the wrong call several times, and growing more and more flustered as the evening wore on.
"I take it you do not like cards, Miss Darcy?" said Mr Gatley.
Georgiana--who was on the verge of saying something similar in order to excuse herself and retire--now was provoked into asserting the opposite.
"I am very fond of card playing, Mr Gatley. What gives you the impression that I do not like to play?"
He could not, of course, answer by saying she played badly. She waited to see what he would come up with.
His eyes glinted. "Merely that you appear distracted, and seem more inclined to watch the people around us than the cards."
Touche. He had answered her question, and at the same time reproached her for not paying attention. He was intelligent, she would grant him that much.
"I admit that I find people more interesting than cards," she replied. "Which is fortunate or I would be likely to turn into a hardened player and become the bane of my family's
Georgiana agreed. The recent snow had cast a damper on everyone's hopes for a warm spring.
"And we will endeavour to find some amusements for you in the neighbourhood."
His use of the plural made her curious.
"May I ask why you keep saying 'we'? Do you have sisters or brothers?"
"No, I am an only child. I was referring to Gatley as well as myself."
"Are you and your cousin close friends then?"
"In some ways. We deal together very well. We spent the early part of our childhood together, so he is much more like an elder brother to me than a cousin." He lowered his voice to confide in her. "Though sometimes, I will admit, he is difficult to be with. He demands perfection in those around him, and woe to you if you do not measure up to his ideal."
This was so close to Georgiana's own impression that she gave a little laugh.
"Is he always like this then?"
"Not always," said his cousin, "for how would I then tolerate his company? No, he can be very agreeable when he sets his mind to it, but one never knows when the mood will strike him."
52
THE DARCY COUSINS
Georgiana turned her head to survey the young man occupying the chair next to her. He was talking to Clarissa, a half smile on his lips. Apparently, he was prepared to make himself agreeable, for a while at least.
"I hope I have not given you the wrong impression," said Channing anxiously. "I should not have spoken as I did, for I am very attached to my cousin."
Georgiana assured him that he had not said anything she had not already observed in Mr Gatley, and Channing gave her a look of relief.
"In any case, you need not worry about that, for even a stickler such as my cousin would find nothing to fault in your behaviour."
Lady Catherine's voice broke unceremoniously into their conversation.
"The card tables have been set. We can now commence our play.
Darcy, you may join our table. And Mr Channing. Mr Frederick, you may join Mr Gatley at the other table. I suppose, Mrs Darcy, as usual you prefer reading to card playing?"
"Most definitely," said Elizabeth, her eyes twinkling.
"Or perhaps you would prefer a game of backgammon?"
said Robert. "I have a mind to play one myself if anyone would join me."
"I will join you," said Elizabeth. "But I warn you I have every intention of winning this time."
"That remains to be seen," he replied, taking up the challenge.
Meanwhile, Channing rose with exaggerated reluctance from his seat and threw Georgiana a regretful glance, managing at the same time to express his comic distaste for having to sit with Lady Catherine. Georgiana pressed her lips together to prevent a laugh from escaping.
53
MONICA FAIRVIEW
But a moment later her laughter disappeared when she realised that, while she was paying attention to Channing, she had been assigned a partner--Mr Gatley.
Though by no means outstanding, she was generally a compe-tent player. Tonight, however, she played badly, making the wrong call several times, and growing more and more flustered as the evening wore on.
"I take it you do not like cards, Miss Darcy?" said Mr Gatley.
Georgiana--who was on the verge of saying something similar in order to excuse herself and retire--now was provoked into asserting the opposite.
"I am very fond of card playing, Mr Gatley. What gives you the impression that I do not like to play?"
He could not, of course, answer by saying she played badly. She waited to see what he would come up with.
His eyes glinted. "Merely that you appear distracted, and seem more inclined to watch the people around us than the cards."
Touche. He had answered her question, and at the same time reproached her for not paying attention. He was intelligent, she would grant him that much.
"I admit that I find people more interesting than cards," she replied. "Which is fortunate or I would be likely to turn into a hardened player and become the bane of my family's
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