asked, “You do not think that it was Miss Elizabeth’s intention to put herself in your way?”
Although his instincts told him that she had not done so, he answered truthfully, “It has been a long time since I have been surprised by the machinations of the female mind, especially when it comes to ensnaring a husband of superior wealth and breeding.”
Georgiana nodded and stared silently at the carpet before her. Even though she was not yet sixteen, she had already learned a painful lesson when she had overheard a group of ladies speaking of her. It was the day she discovered that most of the women of the ton professed an interest in her not because they liked her, but only with the hope of becoming infinitely closer to her brother. Aunt Adelaide had also warned her that even after her brother had married, due to the size of her dowry, she should be cautious. Some ladies would try to further their acquaintance with her only so they could introduce their own brothers to her.
Darcy leaned forward in his chair and took his sister’s hand. “Georgie, I do not want you to be injured.”
Georgiana whispered, “Will I never have a friend?”
Stunned by her inquiry, Darcy’s thoughts were muddied. He could think of only one lady who had truly befriended his sister. “Is not your cousin Anne a friend?”
Unwilling to answer his question, Georgiana did not look up. Although Anne de Bourgh was nine years Georgiana’s senior, she had been as much a friend to Georgiana as she could be under the circumstances—each confiding some of their most intimate thoughts through written correspondence. Most of the time, her cousin was too ill to leave her home at Rosings Park in Kent, and when she did travel to London, it was usually to see a doctor her mother had thought might be able to help her. Rarely was Anne seen at family gatherings, and she was always too weak to attend any other sort of party. For now, they were on even terms, but Georgiana knew that once she was out, Anne would never be able to accompany her to a soirée or ball as friends usually did. She meant no disrespect towards her cousin, but Georgiana longed for more than Anne was capable of giving.
Darcy’s train of thought was travelling along a similar path, and he felt ashamed of himself for not seeing it before now. He could not imagine what his life would have been like without several gentlemen that he had the pleasure of calling “friend,” especially Charles Bingley, on whom he relied for more than he liked to admit. How could he forbid her from forming a friendship with the Bennets? Charles was the son of a tradesman—lower on the social scale than two seemingly well-bred gentleman’s daughters.
“Georgie, you are an intelligent young lady and have been informed of many possibilities of what may be the ulterior motives of others. If one perseveres, one does eventually find the delicate blooms among the weeds.” Darcy hesitated, cursing the fact that this was one of those instances where he would have to make a choice without discussing it with Richard or Aunt Adelaide. “I trust that you will stay on your guard with the Misses Bennet—and any others you may meet—and that you will make the correct decision regarding the chance for any future friendship with either of them.”
Georgiana’s face lit up with a broad smile. “Then, if I do meet them again, I have your permission to invite them to tea or accept an invitation, if offered?”
He swallowed hard, and then nodded. “Use your own discretion. I shall speak to Mrs. Younge—she must be in attendance at all times.”
She launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Brother!”
Darcy laughed and embraced his sister. “Now, I believe it is time to retire. It has been an arduous day.”
As she walked from the room, Georgiana turned and said, “Do not worry, Fitzwilliam. Perhaps you were not attending at the time, but I saw exactly what happened this
Although his instincts told him that she had not done so, he answered truthfully, “It has been a long time since I have been surprised by the machinations of the female mind, especially when it comes to ensnaring a husband of superior wealth and breeding.”
Georgiana nodded and stared silently at the carpet before her. Even though she was not yet sixteen, she had already learned a painful lesson when she had overheard a group of ladies speaking of her. It was the day she discovered that most of the women of the ton professed an interest in her not because they liked her, but only with the hope of becoming infinitely closer to her brother. Aunt Adelaide had also warned her that even after her brother had married, due to the size of her dowry, she should be cautious. Some ladies would try to further their acquaintance with her only so they could introduce their own brothers to her.
Darcy leaned forward in his chair and took his sister’s hand. “Georgie, I do not want you to be injured.”
Georgiana whispered, “Will I never have a friend?”
Stunned by her inquiry, Darcy’s thoughts were muddied. He could think of only one lady who had truly befriended his sister. “Is not your cousin Anne a friend?”
Unwilling to answer his question, Georgiana did not look up. Although Anne de Bourgh was nine years Georgiana’s senior, she had been as much a friend to Georgiana as she could be under the circumstances—each confiding some of their most intimate thoughts through written correspondence. Most of the time, her cousin was too ill to leave her home at Rosings Park in Kent, and when she did travel to London, it was usually to see a doctor her mother had thought might be able to help her. Rarely was Anne seen at family gatherings, and she was always too weak to attend any other sort of party. For now, they were on even terms, but Georgiana knew that once she was out, Anne would never be able to accompany her to a soirée or ball as friends usually did. She meant no disrespect towards her cousin, but Georgiana longed for more than Anne was capable of giving.
Darcy’s train of thought was travelling along a similar path, and he felt ashamed of himself for not seeing it before now. He could not imagine what his life would have been like without several gentlemen that he had the pleasure of calling “friend,” especially Charles Bingley, on whom he relied for more than he liked to admit. How could he forbid her from forming a friendship with the Bennets? Charles was the son of a tradesman—lower on the social scale than two seemingly well-bred gentleman’s daughters.
“Georgie, you are an intelligent young lady and have been informed of many possibilities of what may be the ulterior motives of others. If one perseveres, one does eventually find the delicate blooms among the weeds.” Darcy hesitated, cursing the fact that this was one of those instances where he would have to make a choice without discussing it with Richard or Aunt Adelaide. “I trust that you will stay on your guard with the Misses Bennet—and any others you may meet—and that you will make the correct decision regarding the chance for any future friendship with either of them.”
Georgiana’s face lit up with a broad smile. “Then, if I do meet them again, I have your permission to invite them to tea or accept an invitation, if offered?”
He swallowed hard, and then nodded. “Use your own discretion. I shall speak to Mrs. Younge—she must be in attendance at all times.”
She launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Brother!”
Darcy laughed and embraced his sister. “Now, I believe it is time to retire. It has been an arduous day.”
As she walked from the room, Georgiana turned and said, “Do not worry, Fitzwilliam. Perhaps you were not attending at the time, but I saw exactly what happened this
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