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Three days after the St. Cecelia's ball, Georgiana moved from her uncle's home to her brother's to prepare for her debut. She could not help but breath a sigh of relief when she was situated in her new home, for Cordelia was making the Matlock residence unbearable for all who lived there.
Following her father's refusal to come to her aid with Lord Robin, Cordelia had kept mostly to her room, refusing to see any of the numerous gentlemen who called. Lady Matlock informed everyone that Cordelia was recovering from a slight chill she had sustained from spending too much time near the open doors at the ball. When she did appear, she was hateful and rude to everyone, even her younger sisters. Poor eleven-year-old Isabella had wept for nearly an hour after Cordelia told her that the gowns she took such pride in were hideous. She took Ariel to task for borrowing her favourite pair of gloves and soiling them, and told Juliet that if she did not get her head out of a book that she would be a spinster before she even debuted.
On Georgiana's last night there, Matlock declared at dinner that he had had quite enough, and that if his eldest daughter could not act in a manner fitting her station that she could stay home for Georgiana's debut ball and all the others until she had got a civil tongue in her head.
Cordelia coolly replied that she had no interest in attending Georgiana's debut. "What point is there in going when I shall be miserable?"
"Why will you be miserable?" Juliet asked tentatively.
Cordelia glared at her. "Never you mind."
"I bet it is because Lord Robin is going to ask Anne to marry him," nine-year-old Miranda said, not having learned to curb her impulsive tongue and heedless of the anger Cordelia was feeling toward the world.
The activity at the table stopped as everyone turned to look at her.
"I do not think such intimate things should be discussed at the table," Anne murmured.
"Well, he is, is he not? You two have been out every day since the ball. The servants have been talking about it--"
Cordelia rose swiftly and ran out of the room. With a clink, Anne set her silverware on her plate and ate no more.
Georgiana found that she had little appetite as well. Matlock did not scold his youngest daughter, hoping that perhaps if the situation were discussed more in front of Cordelia, she might see that this infatuation with Lord Robin was a hopeless business. So far, it had not seemed to help.
The following morning, Georgiana's things were sent to her brother's, and at three in the afternoon, Georgiana prepared to join them.
Anne stopped her at the doorstep. "I wish I could join you," she whispered, giving Georgiana a hug. "This is only going to get worse before it is over."
"You could join me," Georgiana told her, giving her a squeeze before letting her go. "I think our uncle would allow you to come."
"It would be the cowardly thing to do. I have created this mess and I must see it through."
"Annie, how were you to know what would happen? You cannot blame yourself for liking someone, possibly even loving him. You did not think you would ever esteem any man enough to consider marrying him, least of all Lord Robin. You agreed to help Del because you did not think you would care."
"I should have respected that and not--"
"You cared for him before you knew you did. Before you agreed to help her, I think. You just refused to see it." Georgiana looked up at the window above their heads. The curtains were drawn and Cordelia had made no pretense of being sorry to see her go. "And I do not think she cares for him a jot."
"Why would she act this way if she did not care for him?"
"She sees a handsome man she had a girlish admiration for when she was fifteen and thinks it is love because he still excites feelings of girlish admiration in her years later. She sees a man of great character and family and thinks these are admirable qualities because her father has trained her to think that way. She sees a man who has been chased by many women and wants to be the envy of all her friends. She does not think she should have to be without him because she has never been denied anything."
"Yet it might be said that we are the same way. Have we ever been denied anything?"
"Were you not denied the chance to become a truly accomplished woman because your mother was overprotective? Was I not denied..." Georgiana hesitated a moment. "Well, other than George Wickham, I can think of nothing I was denied, and once I realized the sort of man he was, I did not want him anymore. Perhaps you could make a case for being denied a mother, because mine died when I was little more than an infant. Then my father died when I was a little girl. Fitzwilliam and Richard could only do so much to take the place of parents."
"I would say we were greatly deprived compared to Del."
Georgiana nodded. "Yes. But I am reminded of something Fitzwilliam told me soon after he married Elizabeth. He told me that our parents had raised him with good principles, but after they died he grew proud because they were no longer there to guide him. I remember what I was like before the debacle and I think I was much the same way. We learn from our experiences, Anne. Cordelia has not encountered unpleasantness yet, and thus has not learned from it."
"It does not appear she intends to learn from this," Anne mumbled.
"She might...but it might not be the correct lesson."
"I made a decision last night, Georgie. I have decided that I am not going to speak of Cordelia any longer, or about this situation. Talking about it helps nothing, and I am sure you are finding the topic quite tedious."
"Then I shall not mention it again--unless you do. You know she is not speaking to me either," Georgiana said quietly. "She asked me to choose between you and her, and I chose you."
Anne sighed. "I do not think it is right that you had to choose."
"As Cordelia herself said, life is not fair. I made a decision based on what I hope is an impartial look at the situation." Georgiana looked at the carriage waiting for her. "I am the one who feels cowardly right now. I should not leave you alone with her."
"You know me. I shall be fine. Besides, it is not as though you are going too far away. You are but a few minutes' walk from here. If I have any trouble, I can call upon you at any time. And you know that it is the same for you, should your brother drive you mad."
"Thank you, Annie." Georgiana gave her cousin another hug before walking down the steps and into the carriage. She waved good-bye as the carriage pulled away.
She could not resist one last look at the window above the front entrance. She noticed that the window was cracked open ever so slightly...meaning that Cordelia had heard every word of their conversation.
Georgiana leaned back on the carriage seat and tried to take Anne's advice--and not think on Del.
Amid the whirlwind of activity going on in the Darcy townhouse, Georgiana found little joy in the preparations for her upcoming debut. In addition to the trouble she had left behind, she was truly terrified about being presented in front of five hundred people, in spite of the fact that she knew them from the ball she had already attended. Her brother had taken her to court to be presented, and later that day, Elizabeth had informed her that she had been granted permission to dance the waltz at her ball.
"It was not likely that you would not have been given permission," Elizabeth added with a smile. "A member of the illustrious Darcy family, the granddaughter of an earl, turned down? Heaven forbid!"
Georgiana managed to smile, but she saw the flash of concern in Elizabeth's eyes and knew she had not fooled her sister. Later that afternoon, when Fitzwilliam had left for an afternoon at Business, she received a summons to join Elizabeth in the front parlor. With a heavy heart, she did so.
Elizabeth awaited her there, standing at the window. When Georgiana cleared her throat, Elizabeth walked away and sat in a chair. She motioned for her to take a seat across from her.
"What seems to be the trouble, Georgie?" she asked softly. "Are you nervous about your debut?"
"A little," Georgiana admitted. "I find London rather daunting, to be quite honest. All of those people, watching your every move and hoping you do something wrong so they have plenty to gossip about over tea the next morning. I would much rather be home, where it is cozy."
"I thought much the same way you did when I first made my debut. Of course, I was also terrified that people were going to instantly know I was a fraud, but that is another matter entirely. You were born into this world."
"I do not think it matters whether or not one was born into it. I am still scared. I do not think I like London, and...well...I do not think I shall find the sort of husband I wish here."
"And what sort of gentleman would you like to marry?" Elizabeth's dark eyes were looking mischievous.
Georgiana looked at her for a minute before saying, "I have absolutely no interest in marrying Sir Lysander Overton, nor does he have any in me. How could he? I am seeking a husband. He seeks nothing but...but good times."
"I do not know Sir Lysander well, though I do know his reputation. I think that if the right woman were to come along--"
"Elizabeth, I know you mean well. But believe me when I say that I harbor no feelings for him. I recognize that to do so would be foolish."
"I would not have you marry where you could not love and respect your husband, so I shall push no further."
"Thank you."
"I noticed that you put a coin in the fountain at the St. Cecelia's ball. Who did you think of?"
"Elizabeth..."
"I thought so."
"As Anne says, it is a silly tradition. Besides, who believes it? Did you think of my brother when you tossed your coin?"
"I did not toss a coin. Lady Grace never said anything about it, and Robin certainly would not have thought of it." Elizabeth's eyes misted, as they did from time to time when asked about her first Season. "I have a feeling you would have been proven right in my case. The man whom I would have thought about would not have been your brother."
"Who would it have been?"
"A story for another time, perhaps. Let me leave it by saying that the things you want as a girl are often the wrong things for you when you become a woman."
I wish Cordelia would realize that.
"If you truly have no interest in Sir Lysander, there are many other eligible young men in London. I am surprised that none have come to call upon you at your uncle's."
"They did," Georgiana admitted shyly. "But Wilberforce, thinking they were there to see Cordelia, bid them leave because she claimed to be suffering from illness."
"I was not aware that something was wrong with Cordelia."
"There isn't."
"Why did you not correct Wilberforce when they left?"
"Things are in such turmoil that I did not think I was ready to face anyone."
Elizabeth stared at her for a long moment. Georgiana felt a little uncomfortable and knew that she was in for an interrogation.
"Why are things in such turmoil? I thought Robin and Anne were getting along splendidly the other evening."
"They are," she replied. "That is the problem."
"I am not sure I understand you."
Georgiana told her the situation, including Anne's first meeting with Robin the night of his engagement ball three years earlier. The only thing she left out was what Anne had said to her at the ball.
"Oh, good Lord," Elizabeth said with a laugh after hearing the tale. "No wonder Anne looked so terrified when Robin walked into the hall that day at Denby Park. She was afraid he would recognize and expose her."
Georgiana finished by telling her of Cordelia's behaviour over the past three days. Elizabeth shook her head with disgust.
"And to think I told Robin that he should concentrate on Cordelia! I feel much deceived by her."
"When did you tell him that?"
"When he first came to Pemberley. I reminded him of...something--"
"You mean the inheritance his mother left him when he marries? We know about that."
"I should have known you cannot keep a secret in this country. I told him about Anne and Cordelia. I suggested that Cordelia would be the better choice."
"We are all deceived at times," Georgiana reminded her. "And when she gets her way, Del is quite charming. As I told Anne, this is the first time she has been unable to attain her heart's desire."
"Anne has no intention of giving up on Robin now, has she?"
"No." Georgiana looked around, as though someone might be spying. "Where is Lord Robin?"
"He is looking at that vacant home on the corner. Although he still refuses to admit it, I think he was able to capture that scoundrel and get his money back, for he is thinking of taking it."
"Good, then I shall tell you what I have held back. Anne told me that she was falling in love with him."
Elizabeth gasped, clearly delighted. "She does, truly? How wonderful!" She blinked several times and composed herself. "Lord, I sounded like my mother just then. What a hideous thought."
Georgiana could not help giggling.
"I promised Anne I would not talk of the subject with her anymore. She says I must find it tedious."
"I think Cordelia's behaviour would get tedious. What has the good earl done to end it?"
"He told her she could not come to my debut if she did not stop. She said she did not care."
"Let me guess. She said something dramatic, like, 'How could I possibly attend a ball when I have not the man I love?' Or, 'I shall die an old maid with a broken heart because my cousin is in love with Lord Robin?' Am I close?"
"Quite close. She did not come right out and state that it was because of Anne and Lord Robin, but we all knew. I would not be surprised if all of London knows by now."
"Wonderful," Elizabeth muttered. "If there is one good thing about this mess, it is that the right couple is finding their way to each other. Robin knows he wants Anne, and it seems as though Anne finally knows she wants Robin. That is a good sign. I do not suppose there is anyone else whom Cordelia has an interest in?"
"Before you and Fitzwilliam brought Lord Robin to London, I could have named you a dozen. Lord Gravenstock, the Earl of Stowbridge, Lord Austen, Sir Richard Ryan, the Marquis of Wakefield...there were any number of men she chattered on about. Her favourite before this was the marquis, I believe."
"Danbury's heir," Elizabeth mused. "A handsome fellow."
"And he liked her as well. I think they would have made a match of it last year, had Uncle Matlock not announced that Del would not wed before Annie." Georgiana sighed. "I wish it had never happened."
"There are many things that could have been, Georgie. What we must do, in order to get on with life, is to stop reflecting on them."
"How did you get so wise?"
Elizabeth laughed. "I am not as wise as I appear. Believe me, I have been quite foolish in the name of love."
"I believe we all have been at one point," Georgiana said.
Elizabeth put an arm around Georgiana. "Not all men are like George Wickham, you know. There are a great many men who are fine, upstanding gentlemen. Even Sir Lysander has some redeeming qualities."
"What would those be?"
Elizabeth's brow furrowed as though she were thinking. "Well, for one thing, I have never heard of him mistreating a woman. He is unfailingly polite to them."
"But he is distant," Georgiana replied. "Otherwise he would have married by now. I must face the facts, Elizabeth. Were I to fall in love with Sir Lysander Overton, I would be chasing an impossible dream."
"I think he has been disappointed in love," Elizabeth said. "There is nothing that makes a man wary of marriage like being crossed in love."
"People would know if it had been anything like that, would they not?"
"You would think so, but maybe not. It could have been an unrequited love he never declared. Occasionally, something does escape the ton's notice."
"When?"
"I do not know. But there have been a great many women who have wondered what lies beneath Sir Lysander's grey eyes. None have determined what it is yet. Perhaps you shall be the first."
"Elizabeth..."
"I know, I know. You have no interest in Sir Lysander."
The tone of her voice indicated to Georgiana that she did not believe her. Georgiana was beginning to doubt it herself.
The night of Georgiana's long-awaited debut arrived, and the Fitzwilliam household was in an uproar. Cordelia had continued to hold them hostage, refusing visitors, glaring at her father and cousin, treating everyone with the same anger and hatred. It was enough to drive everyone mad.
The earl was as good as his word. When he overheard Cordelia making plans to attend Georgiana's ball, he informed her that she was not going.
"But she is my cousin, Papa!" she exclaimed.
"I told you that if you could not keep a civil tongue in your head that you were staying home."
"How would it look if I were not to attend?"
"You have claimed illness the past two weeks. We shall tell people you are still weak."
"You cannot do that!" Cordelia was aghast.
"I am your father, miss. You have forgotten that with your childish temper tantrums, and tonight you shall pay the price."
Cordelia recognized the set of his jaw and knew she would not be able to sway him as she had in the past. With a resigned, tragic air, she proudly marched herself back to her room.
A few minutes later, there was a timid knock on her door.
"I do not wish to talk to anyone," Cordelia snapped.
"Please, Del, let me in." It was her mother. Cordelia quickly got up from the bed and walked to her door, unlocking it and letting her inside. Once she shut the door, she faced her mother, full of defiance.
"What did you wish to say, Mama?" she asked.
"You have been so unhappy these last weeks, my dear," Lady Matlock said softly. "I shall not pretend not to know why. You wished to marry Lord Robin."
"If Papa has sent you to tell me yet again that I cannot not marry him--"
"I have not come to say that, for I know it would do no good. The heart heals only when it is ready to do so."
"Mama, do you think I should be allowed to marry him instead of Anne?"
Her mother hesitated. "Del, I cannot say who should marry him. It is not my choice to make."
"I know," Cordelia said, tears forming. "It is Papa's."
"No, dear. It is Lord Robin's. Ultimately, he is the one wanting to marry. He has no doubt considered his options and Anne is his choice."
"But why Anne? Of all the women in London, what is it about Anne that fascinates him so?"
"These things are always hard to figure out. I know that a great many people wondered what your father saw in me when our betrothal was announced."
Cordelia looked at her mother for a moment, considering her statement. Lady Melissa Fitzwilliam had not been a beauty in her youth, and though maturity had given her dignity, she still could not be considered lovely. She had been Miss Melissa Foster, the daughter of a baronet who had no prestige, but something about her had caught the attention of the handsome, charming Viscount Branson, who went on to become the Earl of Matlock.
"Why does it hurt so bad?" Cordelia asked, allowing herself to cry.
Her mother took her in her arms. "Because he is the first man you have truly considered marrying," she replied. "Because you are not used to having to yield to anyone. You have always been the most beautiful, popular, accomplished, sought-after."
"It is not just that. It is not a competition. I love him, Mama. I love him. Anne does not."
"If you had paid attention to Anne in the past few weeks, you would know that that is no longer true. I think Anne has fallen in love with him. Your father expects Lord Robin to propose soon."
"But...but it has only been a few weeks! She cannot possibly be in love with him, nor he with her, after a few short weeks. That is not love. That is something else."
"You have known him for the same amount of time, yet you say you love him."
Cordelia did not want to hear that. It was exactly the same thing Georgiana had said to her the day after the St. Cecelia's ball.
"Mama...do you think you could talk to Papa, convince him to let me go to Georgie's ball?"
"You have said for the past week that you do not want to go."
"I have changed my mind. I want to go. Georgiana needs me. When we were girls, we swore we would be there for each other."
Her mother sighed. "I cannot go against your father, Del. You know I cannot."
Cordelia lost her last hope of anyone in her family taking her side against Anne. Georgiana had turned against her. Her father was refusing to help her. Her sisters had loyalty only to themselves. Now her mother was telling her that she could not go against her husband's wishes.
"I understand," Cordelia said brokenly. "Tell Papa and everyone that I am sorry for the way I have been behaving. I shall take my punishment this evening and...and start anew tomorrow."
Her mother smiled. "I am glad. I have been so disheartened to feel the tension in this household. I have been grieving for you, and although you do not want to believe it, your father has as well."
Cordelia nodded. "I know. Tell Georgiana that I hope she does well this evening. I mean that with all my heart."
"I shall." Her mother gave her a kiss on the cheek before rising and walking to the door. "Have a good evening, dearest."
Cordelia lay curled up in the center of the bed long after her mother had left, thinking of the situation she was in and thinking of what she could do to get through it.
She did not think any of these catastrophes had befallen her, but London did that to a girl. She was properly introduced to people and had her partner for the two first chosen for her by Fitzwilliam, who nonetheless glared at the poor gentleman the entire time. Georgiana wanted to groan, for her brother was becoming more and more protective as the days wore on. Ever since she had danced with Sir Lysander at the St. Cecelia's ball, Fitzwilliam had been seething. He was keeping an even closer eye on her than before. She was surprised that Fitzwilliam had not asked the man to reveal his personal history before allowing him to dance with her.
For her brother's sake, she wished to be a great credit to him. For her own, she wished this night were over so someone else could be the center of attention and she could go about the business of finding a suitable, gentle, kind, generous husband.
And not a rake.
Georgiana would have cursed if she had known any curse words, for she had sworn to herself that she would not think of Sir Lysander during the course of the evening. To be certain, he would not attend this, a debut ball. According to Cordelia, he had not attended Lady Agnes Woodleigh's debut last season, and she was his own cousin. It had caused quite a stir.
Which Georgiana supposed was another reason she should be glad he would not be coming to her ball. If he did, what would people say? It was bad enough they had danced together, raising her brother's ire and the ton's eyebrows. If he attended, people would continue to talk and she did not know that it would all be complimentary.
Still, there was a small part of her that wished to see him. Foolish, really, when she stopped to realize that they had only seen each other but a handful of times, the last being a chance meeting in the park one sunny afternoon three days earlier.
She had been walking with Elizabeth, the two of them trailing a good distance behind Lord Robin and Anne, who were leaning quite close together and laughing about something. Elizabeth had been trying to reassure Georgiana that nothing was going to go wrong with her debut when he had appeared.
"Overton!" Lord Robin had called.
"Oh, Lord," Georgiana had murmured, her traitorous heart beating rapidly in her chest. She gave Elizabeth a quick, panicked glance as they approached them.
"Good afternoon, Miss de Bourgh." Sir Lysander's eyes swept past them before settling on Elizabeth...and then Georgiana.
Was it her imagination, or did they linger on her? Nonsense. She was a debutante, and he had a habit of avoiding them like the plague.
"Mrs. Darcy, Miss Darcy, it is always a pleasure."
"Sir Lysander. How are you on this lovely day?" Elizabeth asked.
"Quite well, and improving by the moment. How do you do, Miss Darcy?"
"T-tolerably well, thank you," she replied, wishing she had not stuttered. Why the man should bother her quite so much as beyond her reckoning.
Sir Lysander had concentrated most of his conversation on Lord Robin and Anne, to Georgiana's great relief, and then bid them good day. Georgiana could feel her sister's eyes on her the entire time. Later, when Elizabeth had made the remark that Sir Lysander had looked quite handsome in his green overcoat, Georgiana said that she had not taken note of his attire.
Of course, she had, and she quite agreed with her, but it would not do. Even if she did have feelings for the man, he did not have them for her. And even if he did, her brother would never permit her to marry a man with such a reputation. And she could not go against his wishes. The last time she had, she had brought herself to the brink of disaster.
Georgiana's partner--for the life of her, she could not remember what his name was--escorted her to the dance floor. She would lead this first dance. Next to her stood Anne, who was being partnered by Lord Robin. The sight of the two of them together gave Georgiana a slight pang of grief at the thought of Cordelia, alone by herself in the Matlock townhouse. Anne told her that their Uncle Matlock had stood firm by his decision to forbid her to come.
But Georgiana had no time to think about that now, for she had the unenviable task of leading a dance without looking like a fool--not an easy one when her partner stepped on her toes no fewer than three times.
Sir Lysander did not allow himself to be announced, instead sneaking in as a group of latecomers snagged the butler's attention. It would be bad enough that the ton would be talking about his presence here until next Season without having to go through the agony of having every eye in the place suddenly on him. He had always thought the practice of announcing people as they arrived a rather outdated one, but one he doubted would go away anytime soon.
The dancing, he could see, had already begun. He spotted Georgiana quickly, as he seemed to do when their paths crossed these days. She was dancing with an overeager gentleman who, every two seconds, glanced over his shoulder in fear. Sir Lysander noted that Georgiana's brother stood at the edge of the dance floor, glaring at the couple.
Good God. At this rate, she shall never catch a husband.
Sir Lysander recalled quite well how it had felt to have that cold, dark gaze fixed upon his person. When he had approached the table to sit with Georgiana at the St. Cecelia's ball, Fitzwilliam Darcy looked furious enough to call him out on the spot, as though he could ruin Georgiana's reputation just by sitting at supper with her. The man had asked several questions about the various women who had drifted in and out of his life. Mrs. Darcy had chastised her husband something fierce, and Georgiana had blushed.
And he had tried not to notice that Georgiana looked quite becoming when she blushed.
"What the devil are you doing here?"
Lysander had been so lost in his thoughts that he had noticed Rupert walking to him.
"If I could answer your question, Rupe, I would. As it is, I have no earthly idea what possessed me to attend a debut ball," he replied.
"You shall have all of London wondering what the girl is to you soon," Rupert said.
Lysander shrugged. "She is nothing to me. Nothing at all." He observed that his friend did not look in the best of health and added, "Does something ail you?"
"She is not here. Of all the places I expected her to be, this was it. And she is not here."
Lysander sighed. In spite of Rupert's admission that he could not come up with a reason why he was so enamoured of Lady Cordelia, he still pined after the girl.
"I somehow doubt her name was left off the guest list on purpose. I have heard she is not well."
"I have heard the same, but something Miss Anne told Robin the other day had me wondering if her ailment has a different cause."
"What would that be?"
"She said that Lady Cordelia and her father had been out of sorts with each other for the past two weeks. Although Anne would not tell him why, Robin knew that it must have something to do with him."
"I shall never understand what it is that makes you a glutton for this sort of punishment," Lysander said. "You know she thinks she is in love with Robin. She even went so far as to make the suggestion that the two of you do something to break them up. Why do you still want this girl?"
"Lysander, having never been in love, you cannot understand. If I am a fool for still wanting her after she tried to force Anne to give up any chance with Robin, then so be it. I think that once she gets over this foolish infatuation she has with him, she shall look for a husband. Her father shall not stand in the way of her making a match. I hope to be the person she chooses."
Lysander could think of nothing that would ease his friend's malady, and hoped with all of his heart that perhaps, in spite of what he felt certain to be true, Lady Cordelia would prove herself worthy of his friend's affections.
Georgiana and her partner danced in and out of his vision, Georgiana giving a small wince of pain when the man stepped too close to her. He doubted that she had had the opportunity to see him, and for that, he was grateful. In spite of her partner's utter lack of aptitude at dancing, Georgiana looked divine.
"I begin to think that you do have an interest in Miss Darcy," Rupert said, sounding bewildered.
Lysander swung his head around sharply to frown at his friend. "What rot. She is a nice young lady and I hope she has a lovely future, but that is the end of it."
"Which brings me back to my initial question. What are you doing here?"
Lysander hesitated, and Rupert smiled.
"I begin to think that perhaps you are deceiving yourself about your feelings for Miss Darcy."
Lysander glared at him and said, "You think wrongly, my friend."
"Do I? You were the one who could not answer my question." With that, Rupert left, leaving Lysander frowning after him, telling himself that Rupert was only trying to seek revenge upon him for his teasing bout Lady Cordelia.
Imagine! Thinking that he had feelings for Miss Georgiana Darcy, or any other debutante for that matter. What nonsense.
Even if he did, and even if he were foolish enough to want to act upon them, her brother would never allow him to marry her. His reputation was too known and Fitzwilliam Darcy too protective for it to ever work. Lord knew, he would never want to be married to a girl whose brother would be watching over their shoulders even after they were married.
Still, he could not help but feel a pang of envy for the lucky man who wound up being married to her. He hoped the man would realize what a treasure he had in her.
Immediately after the first dance, Anne grasped Georgiana's arm and pulled her aside. "Did you see him?" she asked.
"See who?"
Anne whispered, "Sir Lysander Overton."
Georgiana gasped and turned about to see if she could spot him. When she did not see him, she frowned at Anne. "I think you are teasing me, cousin. I--"
She did not finish her sentence, for just then she saw him, standing ten feet away from her. He was half-hidden by the shadows of the room, but there was his gleaming blond head, nonetheless. His grey eyes met hers, and he gave her a small bow.
"Dear Lord," she breathed. "He is here. Oh, no."
"What is wrong with him being here? I know you have thought about nothing but him for the past three weeks."
Georgiana glared at her. "I most certainly have not, Anne de Bourgh. I have had my mind filled with equally distressing thoughts, such as the situation between Del and yourself and this hideous affair." She could not resist a second look, but by this time, Sir Lysander had left his spot. "It would be a hopeless business to do so. Were you not the one who told me of his reputation and warned me that he was not marriage material?"
Anne's lips thinned, which Georgiana took for what it was--a sign that Anne knew something about Sir Lysander.
"What is it?" Georgiana asked. "Is his reputation untrue? Has something Lord Robin said made you change your opinion of him?"
"I cannot say," Anne replied. "It is a secret, and one which I should not have knowledge of, I think."
Georgiana could make no reply to that. "Tell me this. Should I consider him now, given whatever it is you know?"
Anne hesitated. "I do not think...that is to say...given what I know now, I find it even less likely that he shall marry until it becomes necessary for him to produce an heir."
"Annie!" Georgiana blushed, as she always did when Anne spoke outrageously.
"Sorry, Georgie."
"This whole talk about Sir Lysander is pointless, you know. He shall never offer for me, and if he did..." Georgiana turned to look at her brother, who was looking back at her.
"Lord, yes. I sometimes think I have it easy with Uncle Matlock when I consider the possibility of having Cousin Darcy for a guardian."
"I sometimes wish things had been left that way. Perhaps he would have been easier on me. Oh, no."
"What is it now?"
"Here he comes with another of those mincing fops. I know he has real friends among the ton, but I have yet to meet any of them. He goes to his gentleman's club and talks to them there, and here I am at my own debut ball and he is forcing me to dance with these featherheads."
"I think I am going to seek out my uncle and apologize to him now," Anne said. "Enjoy your dance."
Georgiana managed to restrain from the childish gesture of sticking her tongue out at Anne, but it was close for a moment. At the last, she checked her behaviour and smiled as graciously as she could at the man her brother was bringing forth.
Sir Lysander almost laughed as Georgiana took the dance floor with Mr. Jonas Portsmouth. Portsmouth had set the record last Season for ripped hems, and yet this was the man her brother had chosen for her to dance with. All of London's finest dying to dance with the lovely redhead, and her brother was ignoring them altogether.
As Georgiana danced the second, Lysander made a circle around the dance floor, observing everything he could. He heard tidbits of gossip as he went around, and a few quips about Fitzwilliam Darcy having turned into an overprotective wolf in matters concerning Miss Darcy. There were some who clicked their tongues behind their teeth and spoke words of sympathy for his infant daughter, who would someday be the recipient of her father's watchful eye.
Lysander spotted Robin walking his way and smiled. "You look rather pleased with yourself right now," he said.
"Rupert told me you were here, but I refused to believe it until I saw you myself," Robin replied.
"Whatever you do, spare me from the fanciful conjectures I suffered while speaking to him. Where is he at the moment?"
"In the card room, winning sinfully, as usual. I suppose he is fortunate to have such luck in cards. I could only wish he had better luck in more personal areas."
"Indeed." Lysander noticed Georgiana deftly avoiding her partner's awkward feet. "We must consider ourselves fortunate that Lady Cordelia is not present this evening. The sight of her pining for you would likely do the poor man in."
Robin said nothing, but he did frown. Lysander knew how displeased his friend was at this frustrating business.
"Fitzwilliam Darcy is making his sister something of a joke," Lysander said. "Does he intend to single out every single fop and heavy-handed dancer in London to dance with her?"
"I think he might," Robin replied.
"She shall never catch a husband that way."
Lysander had become so occupied staring at Georgiana dancing that he did not notice the dawning suspicion in Robin's eyes until it was too late.
"She certainly seems to have caught your attention," Robin said.
Lysander turned abruptly. "I take notice of her only because she is the cousin of Anne de Bourgh and that Lady Cordelia. The poor girl is trapped in a bad place between the two of them, and I feel sorry for her. That is the extent of it."
"Yet you are worried about her catching a husband."
"I only commented on the unlikelihood of her catching a husband if her brother continues to choose partners who make her look bad on a dance floor."
"And you have been staring at her throughout the whole of this conversation."
"I have not."
"You should ask her to dance."
"Why on earth would I do a thing like that?"
"If for no other reason than because it shall shock the ton. I know how you enjoy doing that."
"Yes, but not at an innocent young woman's expense. I know what London would say if I were to walk up to her, ask her to dance with me, and whirl her away, her brother glaring the entire time. Her reputation would mean nothing."
"Or perhaps it would mean everything. People might think you had finally decided to marry. People might think you are considering her for your bride."
"I would never do that, and when they realized it, they would torment the poor girl." Lysander looked again at Georgiana. "A woman's reputation is as brittle as it is beautiful. I would not wish to see her reputation ruined because of me. I am a rogue, Robin. We both know it. It is something I cannot change even if I wished to--which I do not."
Lysander saw a ghost of something flash across Robin's features, as though he were remembering something.
"What is it?" he asked when Robin did not speak.
"It is nothing."
"If it were nothing, you would not have looked like that."
"I was trying to remember something and was not able to do so."
Lysander knew his friend was still lying to him. Robin's gaze was now directed at Georgiana Darcy as well, and Lysander sensed that whatever Robin was thinking about, it had something to do with her.
Interesting.
He is looking at me. I can feel it.
Georgiana had no idea of how she managed to stay as nimble on her feet as she was. She knew Sir Lysander was staring at her and it made her so nervous. The only tangible benefit she saw to his continuous staring was that she was no longer concerned about the eyes of London upon her.
Her dance ended, and though she did not know it, the ton had become highly impressed with the young woman for maintaining her composure in the face of having to dance with such a hideous partner. They were also amazed at her ability to avoid his pouncing feet, which had strayed quite close to her skirts.
Georgiana saw her brother coming toward her with another gentleman in tow. The man looked properly cowed. Georgiana closed her eyes with the softest of groans, praying with all her might that when she opened them again, her brother would no longer be coming toward her with another ninny and someone far more interesting would be asking her to dance.
Before she could open her eyes, she heard a sudden hush fall over the guests. Georgiana was puzzled and wondered if perhaps she had said something aloud that she should not have said, but when she opened her eyes she discovered the reason for the silence.
Sir Lysander Overton had stepped before her and was bowing.
"Miss Darcy," he said.
"S-sir Lysander," she murmured, remembering in time to curtsy. "What a surprise to see you here this evening."
"Were you to ask the people assembled here this evening, they would tell you that I am often to be found in the least likely of places."
"Yes, but I have been told that debutante balls are the least likely of all."
"So they are, but I was informed that you were now being allowed to waltz."
Georgiana nearly gasped. He wanted to waltz with her? It was not enough that everyone was going to be talking about his appearance at her debut ball, but he wanted to dance the waltz with her? Waltzing was still considered quite scandalous, which was why a girl had to have permission in order to dance it. To dance with a rake such as Sir Lysander...
She looked into his eyes. There was an undefinable emotion brimming within, something that wanted to make her trust him. But it was barely there, and all Georgiana saw was the danger, and the daring.
She had not been daring in nearly four years. And the last time she had been, it had nearly cost her everything. Sir Lysander may have more money than George Wickham, but he was a rogue nonetheless.
"Georgiana, I would like to introduce you to Sir Harry Wilkes-Burton," Fitzwilliam was saying, nearly elbowing Sir Lysander out of the way. "I have granted him permission to dance the next with you."
"Miss Darcy," Sir Harry said, bowing to her and extending his hand.
Georgiana felt something deep inside her heart that she had not felt for a long time. The seeds of rebellion. Her brother was making her the laughing-stock of London, she just knew it. She knew Fitzwilliam was scared that she might meet another George Wickham and run away again, but he was not giving her a chance to trust her own judgment.
And she was beginning to resent it.
"I am afraid that I cannot dance with you at the moment, Sir Harry," she said. "I have promised this next dance to Sir Lysander."
"Georgiana!" Fitzwilliam hissed.
Sir Lysander gave her a lazy smile. "Allow me, Miss Darcy."
To her brother's horror, and the shock of London, Miss Georgiana Darcy appeared on the floor with Sir Lysander Overton for the second time. Even more shocking was that it was a waltz.
"I think you have shocked the ton, Miss Darcy," he said as the music started. It did not surprise Georgiana to discover that the orchestra was indeed playing a waltz.
"I do not think I care," she replied.
He laughed aloud. "You shall care a great deal tomorrow when all of London is at your door, wanting to know if I am on the brink of declaring for you."
Georgiana looked at him calmly. "Are you?"
Sir Lysander stiffened but did not stop dancing. "I do not think I would make any woman a good husband."
"How would you know, if you have never been married? I have heard that the worst rakes often make the best husbands."
"That is an old wives' tale, Miss Darcy. I believe that rakes make the worst husbands because they cannot undo the habits of a lifetime. However, they do make magnificent fathers. Much like your brother, they know which sort of men their daughters should avoid and they are lenient with their sons."
"Was your father a rake?"
Sir Lysander stifled a laugh. "Hardly. My father was too busy making money to involve himself in licentious behaviour. Though he had an ample fortune of his own, he married my mother for her fortune alone. Her beauty mattered not to him. She was the wealthiest debutante of that year, so she was destined to be his."
"Was your mother happy?"
"I could not tell you. She died when I was born."
"Oh. I am sorry to hear that. My mother died in childbirth as well." Georgiana did not speak, fearing that she might have said something she should not have said. When she finally plucked up her courage again, she asked, "And your father?"
"He died when I was nineteen."
"Did he never remarry?"
"He had his heir. What need had he for another wife?"
"Perhaps as a stepmother for you, or for...for companionship. Even the most mercenary of men get lonely."
"Not my father. He had his wealth to keep him company." He sounded bitter. "As soon as I was old enough, I was sent off to school. I hardly saw him after that."
"My father died several years ago," Georgiana said quietly. "Sometimes I have trouble remembering him, though I should not. I do know that he was an excellent father. He provided well for the people he cared about."
"Would he have been as strict as your brother?" Sir Lysander asked.
"I cannot say. He may have been, but I doubt it. Had he lived..." Georgiana blushed, but forced herself to finish. "Had he lived, certain events would not have happened."
"I see."
"No, sir, you do not see. You cannot possibly see, because you are a man and not a woman. You do not have to worry about the gossip that shall follow you after this waltz, for you are a man. You do not have to go through this agony of a night as I do. You do not have to endure idiot after idiot for dancing partners because your brother does not trust you to choose your own husband."
"Why does your brother not trust you?"
Georgiana said curtly, "When you reveal your reasons for not marrying, I shall reveal my brother's reasons for what he does."
She saw a muscle in Sir Lysander's jaw tighten and feared that she might have pushed him too far. He continued dancing, but did not speak to her for two minutes.
Georgiana began to feel bad about what she had said. Clearly, whatever it was that put Sir Lysander off marriage was none of her business, but he had so upset her by wanting to know everything about her without giving in return.
"Sir Lysander...I think I should apologize for what I said."
"There is no need," he said.
"There is every need. Your reasons for not marrying are personal, and it was impertinent of me to even mention them."
"It was equally bad of me to ask you why your brother does not trust you, so we are even, Georgiana."
"Miss Darcy," she corrected him. "And my brother does trust me, for the most part. I think he does not wish for me to fall into the hands of a fortune hunter."
"Or a rake," he added. Surely she was dreaming to think he sounded sad about that.
"Yes," she agreed.
"Why did you accept my invitation to dance?"
"I did not wish to dance with Sir Harry Wilkes-Burton."
"You could have politely told your brother you did not wish to dance with him."
"And hurt his feelings? Since you were there, I could honestly say that I had had another offer."
Sir Lysander laughed again. "Hurt his feelings? Oh, Georgiana, what an innocent you are!"
"Miss Darcy," she hissed, fearing that someone might hear him call her by her Christian name.
"Forgive me. I should not take liberties," he replied.
"No, sir, you should not. Especially if you do not intend to call upon me."
Sir Lysander looked at her with a speculative eye. "I think I shall," he said.
"You shall what?"
"Call upon you. Tomorrow morning, as a matter of fact."
It was Georgiana's turn to laugh. "You are having quite a lark at my expense, Sir Lysander. I know quite well you shall do no such thing, and it is cruel of you to raise my hopes," she said.
"I am quite serious."
Georgiana nearly froze in place, but remembering Anne and Lord Robin at the St. Cecelia's ball, persevered in her dancing.
"That is not funny."
"Do you not wish to have me call upon you? If you do not, please say so. I figure the only callers you shall get with your brother doing the choosing are the best dullards London has to offer."
"My brother would never permit it."
"I always did love a challenge, Miss Darcy."
"Is that the only thing you have an interest in, Sir Lysander? The opportunity to infuriate my brother? Do you not like him for some reason?"
"Were Robin not as happy with your cousin Miss de Bourgh as he is at the moment, I would have an excellent reason not to like your brother. As it is, I have nothing against him and my intentions toward you are purely honorable."
"I find that difficult to believe coming from a man who has stated as recently as moments ago that he shall not marry."
"I do not recall saying that."
"You most certainly did! You said that you would not be a good husband for any woman."
"Did I?"
"Yes!"
"Ah, well, the follies of youth. 'When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married.'"
"Do not go quoting Shakespeare to me. 'Thus goes everyone to the world but I, and I am sunburnt.'"
"From Much Ado About Nothing as well. Most impressive, Miss Darcy. 'Will you have me, lady?'"
Georgiana could not prevent herself from showing her surprise. Was this a proposal, then? And if it were, should she accept it?
Deciding that it was not a proposal, or at least, not a genuine one, she replied, "'No, my lord, unless I might have another for working days. Your Grace is too costly to wear every day.'"
Sir Lysander smiled. "I take it you are as great a lover of Shakespeare as I am."
"You read?"
He again laughed aloud. "Yes, I read. It was occasionally required of me at Cambridge. But Shakespeare I have read numerous times."
"As have I," Georgiana said eagerly. "I think Much Ado About Nothing is my favourite." She laughed. "I sometimes notice the resemblance between the courtship of Beatrice and Benedick and that of my cousin Anne and Lord Robin."
"Along with a dollop of The Taming of the Shrew," Sir Lysander said. He hastily added, "Only because of your uncle's declaration, not because of any bad behaviour on your cousin's part."
"Of course," she replied.
"Are you intending to allow me to call on you?" he asked.
"I thought you had given up that silly joke."
"I told you, it is not a joke. I am not going to call on you just because your brother would oppose it."
"Then why are you wanting to call on me? I cannot figure that out. I am no different from any other young woman who comes to London for a Season, and I have heard you despise us all."
"No. You are not like every other young woman here. You are different. I cannot explain it, Georgiana. I have been standing in the shadows of this room, watching you dance with other men and feeling something like jealousy."
"Jealous? Over me?"
"Yes. I try to fight this, because I have felt this way before and..."
Georgiana looked into his eyes and saw what had eluded her earlier, something she suspected he did not show to anyone but kept locked inside his heart. He looked scared and vulnerable. She had responded to that hidden glimpse when she agreed to dance with him.
"It came to no good," she murmured. "Did she, whoever she was, reject you for another?"
He nodded but did not speak.
"And that is why you do not go to debutante balls, and why you act the role of a rake. You are afraid of being hurt," she continued. "You fear losing yourself like you did with her."
"Yes."
She hesitated a moment, fearing that she was about to reveal too much of herself. Finally, she took a deep breath and said, "The reason my brother does not trust me, try though he might to deny it, is because I made a disastrous mistake three years ago. I ran away with...with a fortune hunter. Someone who made me believe..."
She could not bring herself to finish and looked away, afraid of the contempt she might see in his eyes upon hearing her secret.
"I suspected that was the case," he said quietly.
"My brother was able to hush it up, and no one ever found out. I should not even speak of it now."
"Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me of it. I assure you, it shall go no further."
Tears formed in her eyes as she whispered, "Thank you."
"You should probably smile at me. Your brother is glaring at us both and he shall wonder if I am torturing you if you do not. He might even send Bow Street Runners to kidnap me until he has you married."
Georgiana smiled at his silliness. "I shall be home tomorrow if you wish to call," she told him.
"What about your brother?"
"Hang my brother. I am wiser for having had a bad experience and he should trust my judgment."
"Excellent! Now you just need to tell him that."
"Are you mad?"
They laughed together as the waltz came to a close. He bowed to her and said, "Until tomorrow morning, Miss Darcy."
Anne was still pondering over Georgiana's wisdom in agreeing to let Sir Lysander Overton call on her the following morning. She knew he was capable of loving a woman, but he had been hurt so badly, and in such terrible circumstances. She did not know if he would ever love anyone again, and Georgiana deserved to have a man who loved her with all his heart.
In addition to that, it was bound to cause a stir with cousin Fitzwilliam, who had already been in enough of a fury about Georgiana's waltzing with Sir Lysander. It had been little consolation to him that the gossip about the two of them was not bad. People were now saying that shy little Georgiana Darcy was about to pull off the match of the century. The fact remained that, in his eyes, a certified rake was toying with his innocent sister.
Anne sat at the dining room table, thinking of what had gone on the night before and enjoying a light repast of eggs and toast. She was about to pick up her cup of tea when Cordelia swept into the room. Anne's hand froze over the teacup, her heart sinking. After not being at the ball the night before, Anne expected to be greeted with the full force of her cousin's fury.
"Good morning. May I join you?" Cordelia asked, smiling.
Anne hesitated, which only made Del smile wider.
"I have been a complete harpy these past weeks, I know," she said ruefully. "I have come to make amends."
"You have?" Anne was doubtful.
"Yes." Cordelia took the chair across from Anne. "I wanted to say something to you in private."
"Del, please--"
"First of all, I want to apologize to you for the dreadful way I have treated you. And for all the nasty things I have said." She looked down at the table, a blush rising in her cheeks. "I was wrong to say them."
Of all the things she expected Cordelia to do, apologizing was among the lowest possibilities. "As recently as last night, you were being hateful to me. What has changed since then?"
"You are right to doubt me. I would doubt me if I were you." She sighed. "Last night I realized just how bad my behaviour was. My mother and father disapproved of it enough to keep me from the one social event I was looking forward to this year. And it got me thinking about why I had behaved so badly."
"And?"
"I realized that everyone was right. I am not in love with Lord Robin. I never have been." A tear trickled down Cordelia's cheek. "I thought I was. I felt like I was. And I shall not lie to you by saying that I did not care for him or that I do not care for him now. But I do not think it was love."
"You certainly made it seem like you were in love with him."
"I know. Years ago, when I first met him, I thought him the embodiment of everything I wanted in a husband. Then I forgot about him and...then he came back, and I remembered all that, and I thought it was love. I thought I could make him love me." She gave Anne a weak smile. "I never stood a chance, did I?"
"I cannot answer that for you. You would have to ask Lord Robin."
"No! Please, do not tell him anything. It is bad enough to have acted like such a fool, without him and everyone else knowing it."
"I have told him nothing. No one knows your feelings except for Georgiana and myself."
"And the rest of the family. Lord, I am shocked that all of England does not know by now."
"I am sure that is not the case."
"I hope not." Cordelia hesitated, then continued. "You have not said whether or not you will accept my apology."
Anne wished she could say that she would not. Cordelia had made everyone, from her father down to the parlor maids, miserable. It was an easy thing for her to say she was sorry, but Anne could not be certain that she would continue to be civil.
"Annie, please accept my apology." Cordelia reached across the table to clasp Anne's hand, which rested by her plate. "I have missed our talks so. More than that, even. I have missed you. And Georgie. We were going to take London by storm, and the only thing that has been stormy is our relationship."
"I don't know. I think we have managed to shock the ton," Anne said, thinking of last night. Still, although she had been furious with her cousin, she had missed her, too. Fighting with her dearest friend in London had been difficult, especially over something she still felt guilty over. She accepted the peace offering. "Of course I forgive you, Del. I have missed you, too."
"Then we are friends again." When Anne nodded, Cordelia squealed with delight.
"Wonderful! Now, you must tell me everything that happened last night. Was Sir Lysander there? Did he dance with Georgie again? What did Cousin Darcy have to say about it?"
"Oh, heavens. There is a great deal to tell you," Anne said. "Yes, Sir Lysander did attend, and yes, he danced with Georgiana again. As for Fitzwilliam, he was less than pleased, to put it mildly."
"He did not embarrass her in public, did he?"
"Not after she danced with him."
"What was he doing before then?"
"He was making her dance with people like Sir Harry Wilkes-Burton."
"Oh, Lord! I suppose he made her dance with that awful Jonas Portsmouth as well."
"Yes. This lasted for about three dances until she danced with Sir Lysander, and after that, I guess he figured anyone was better than him."
"Good for Georgiana!"
"Actually, I do not know that it is good. Sir Lysander asked to call on her."
Cordelia's mouth gaped. "No."
Anne nodded.
"Did she consent?"
"Yes."
Cordelia laughed. "Good grief. First, you and Lord Robin cause a stir, now Georgiana. I cannot imagine who I shall have to encourage to top that."
"I would not advice it, Del. Being the talk of the town is not nearly as much fun as it might seem. Speaking of talk, I hear that the Marquis of Wakefield has returned from his home in the country."
Cordelia's eyes brightened. "Jason is in London?"
"Jason?"
She blushed. "Well, I know it is not proper to call a man by his Christian name, but we were becoming quite close at the end of last Season and he asked permission to call me Cordelia so I naturally asked for his permission to call him Jason."
"It sounds like he was positively wild for you. Why did he not offer for you, Del?"
"He did."
It was Anne's turn to gape at her cousin. "You did not tell me that!" she exclaimed.
"Well, I was afraid of hurting your feelings. I know you said you did not care about marrying, but still...besides, nothing could come of it. Jason asked Papa for permission to marry and even he could not get it."
"The Duke of Dorchester could not get your father's consent at the end of last Season. You should have eloped."
"Jason would not hear of it. He insisted we be properly wed."
"You could have eloped and then remarried."
Cordelia put her hand to her chin. "I never thought of making that argument. I suppose it does not matter now. If he still feels as he did when we last met, we can be married soon enough."
Anne felt her cheeks getting warm. "Robin has not asked me to marry him yet."
"But it is just a matter of time, is it not?" Cordelia smiled. "And then I can marry Jason."
"Do you love him?"
Cordelia blinked. "I do not know. It is not the same sort of feeling I have for Lord Robin, but I do not think it is a bad thing. What I felt for Lord Robin was some sort of madness."
"I would agree with that."
"With Jason, I feel...safe. He is a wonderful young man, and my father can have little objection to my marrying him. I think I shall ask Papa...oh, no, I cannot do that. What if..." Anne saw dawning fear in Cordelia's eyes. "Oh, Annie, what if Jason has changed his mind about me? What if he does not love me anymore?"
"When he was informed that you would not marry before me, what did he say?"
Cordelia thought for a moment before smiling. "He said that if he had to, he would...well, I suppose I should not tell you that. You might get mad."
"Was he going to bribe someone to court me?"
"No. He made mention of having you abducted and then forcing my father to let him marry me before releasing you."
Anne laughed. "An ingenious plan, and one that I would have gone along with willingly. You should have asked me."
"Oh, no. I could not have done that. Besides, what if Papa had refused? What were we to do with you then?"
"True."
There was a short lull in the conversation. Cordelia finally asked, "Annie, could I ask you for a very large favour?"
"What is it?"
"Would you accompany me to see Georgiana? I am afraid she might not want to see me unless I am with you, after everything I have said to her."
"Surely it cannot be as bad as what you have said to me."
"I wish I could be as certain. Would you?"
"Of course, Del. I shall be grand to have the three of us together again."
"I hope we are."
Anne gave her cousin's hand a comforting squeeze.
Georgiana had been unable to sleep that night, anticipating and yet fearing what would happen the next day when Sir Lysander came to call on her. Would her brother forbid him entrance into the house? Would he make a scene? Would Sir Lysander be nice? Would he even come at all?
Other things bothered her as well. All night long, people had come up to her and asked her about Sir Lysander. It had been worse than at the St. Cecelia's ball. At least that night, people assumed he was trifling with her and she, being new to Society, had no idea of his reputation when she accepted his offer of a dance. Most people had warned her away from him.
Last night, people had asked her more personal questions. Several young women had asked if she accepted a proposal.
It was only a dance, for God's sake! Why can every other young woman in London dance with a man without everyone thinking they were soon to be married? Even Anne did not get such grief when she danced with Lord Robin.
She had again heard some warnings, but Sir Lysander dancing with a marriageable young woman had not been seen in quite some time and thus people were not sure what to make of it. Georgiana had given them no ideas.
As a result of her sleepless night, her face looked rather pale and there were dark circles under her eyes.
"Lord, I look a fright," she mumbled as she stared at herself in the mirror. "He shall take one look at me and never return."
Georgiana wished she could be back at her Uncle Matlock's home. Annie would be there to give her courage, and Del...well, best not to think of what Del's opinion on the situation would be.
She spent nearly an hour preparing to receive her caller, even though it was unlikely he would show. Her maid got frustrated by Georgiana's constant indecision about what to wear, and although she wished to take her into her confidence, Georgiana knew that no one should know who might be coming to visit. If anyone did, it would get back to her brother and she held the slim hope that Sir Lysander would know to call on her when her brother was not home.
Finally, having decided that a peach gown did the most for her decidedly unhealthy complexion, and thinking she looked much better having pinched her cheeks to give them color, she walked downstairs to break her fast.
Her brother was waiting for her.
"Good morning, Fitzwilliam," she said with far more composure than she felt. She picked up her plate and walked over to a side table, where the food had been set. She picked up two of Cook's excellent strawberry muffins, all she usually ate for breakfast, and sat down.
"Leave us," he told the efficient serving girl who had been pouring Georgiana's tea. With a brisk nod, she left.
Georgiana reached for her knife and split her muffins and half, studiedly ignoring her brother.
"I want to know what you thought you were doing, making a spectacle of yourself with that man," Fitzwilliam said.
"I was dancing with a gentleman who had asked me," Georgiana replied calmly, spreading butter on her muffin halves.
"I told you what I thought of that man after that ridiculous St. Cecelia's dance, did I not?"
"I believe you did. I told you that you were being foolish and his only concern for me was due to my being Anne's cousin. He has a great interest in seeing Lord Robin and Anne married."
"Why would they not marry?"
"That is not the issue, Fitzwilliam. Since we are on the subject of behaviour, I would like to know what gave you the right to force those silly nincompoops on me last night."
"They were perfectly presentable, which is far more than I can say for--"
"You are not friends with them, are you?"
"That is neither here nor there."
"What do you think it says about me if you do not introduce me to your friends? What do you think people are saying when you forcibly drag those dandies over to dance with me--and only after thoroughly going over their credentials?"
"I would hope people in London would have better things to gossip about than that."
"You are deceiving yourself, Fitzwilliam. Everyone is talking about it. People are already making wagers that you shall be twice as bad with Gracie when she makes her come-out. People are eventually going to start wondering what it is about me that makes you so protective."
"No one knows, Georgie. I made certain of that."
No one except Sir Lysander. Georgiana looked down at her food, her appetite all but gone. The main worry that kept her up last night, the thing that she feared would keep Sir Lysander from coming this morning, was that he now knew her secret. Most men would not wish their wives to be so foolish, to have been compromised as she had been, even if nothing had happened.
"You made certain of it," she said quietly, "but that does not make it disappear, does it? Not in your eyes. You fear that I shall do it again."
"I do not think you would," he replied. "But despite what happened, you are still so innocent in the ways of men. There are any number of gentlemen who would think nothing of having you abducted and forced to marry them."
"If that is the case, then I do not see what your objection to Sir Lysander Overton could be. The last thing in the world he would do is abduct me and force me to marry him."
Fitzwilliam looked like he would like to say something, but he could not. Georgiana congratulated herself on coming up with a logical argument.
"As to his reputation, well...I have a suspicion that there are a great number of gentlemen who are worse than he is. They just hide their true selves. I commend him for being honest about his likes and dislikes, for it gives me no reason to believe that I shall be in danger as I was with Wickham."
"Bravo, Georgiana!" Elizabeth swept into the room, beaming brightly. "She is absolutely right, Fitzwilliam. While I must say I was shocked to see Sir Lysander's interest, your sister has a point. She is at no risk with him, and if at some point he does wish to marry her, you can be certain he shall do it with all decorum."
Fitzwilliam's face was turning red, but still he did not speak.
"I doubt that ever happens, Elizabeth," Georgiana said. "As I have told you before."
"Stranger things have happened." Elizabeth gave her husband a pointed look. "Georgie is right. You should give her credit for being a sensible young woman. Having had the bad experience she did, she is certain to choose an excellent husband."
"I do not like this," Fitzwilliam said.
"Of course you don't. You are her brother and guardian. It is only natural that you do not like the idea of your sister being old enough to marry. You must face the fact, however, that she is. And she is not duty-bound to choose a husband you like."
"I would prefer it if you did, of course," Georgiana said quickly.
"So now I am to be left out of the equation altogether?" Fitzwilliam looked outraged. "How on earth did this happen? I came to breakfast intending to tell her that she was not to dance with that scoundrel again, only to have Georgiana tell me that he is the best person for her to be around and...and you! You are saying I shall have no say in whom she marries!"
"Would you have liked it if Lady Catherine had had a say in whom you married?" Elizabeth asked. "I dare say Robin and I would have managed to get along nicely, but I must confess that I much prefer being married to you and Robin shall greatly enjoy his marriage to Anne."
"That was a completely different situation--"
"Why? Because you are a man and Georgiana a woman?"
Georgiana wished she could slink out of the room. On occasion, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth fought about such issues and it was best not to be around when they did so.
"I did not say that."
"It is what you are thinking, Fitzwilliam Darcy."
Oh, dear. When Elizabeth used his full name, it was definitely time to leave the room. Georgiana gave her muffin one last longing glance before rising from her chair and walking out of the room. The two of them did not notice her departure.
Georgiana walked aimlessly down the corridor from the dining hall to the front parlor, still able to hear her brother's voice rising sharply. I wish he would see reason, she thought sullenly.
The sound of someone tapping on the front door snapped Georgiana's gloom and made her stand stiffly.
He was here.
The butler opened the door with his usual flourish, but instead of Sir Lysander standing there, it was Anne and Cordelia.
Annie and Del? Together?
Anne was smiling, as was Cordelia, as the two of them greeted the Butler and rushed past him.
"Whatever are the two of you doing here?" she asked.
"What are we doing here together, that is what she means," Anne told Cordelia.
"Er, well, yes, that was what I meant."
Cordelia smiled. "We have mended our fences, Georgie. And I have asked Annie to come lend me support as I beg your forgiveness for the absolutely wretched way I have behaved over the last several weeks. I have treated no one fairly, so I thought I would get the two hardest apologies over with and then carry on with the rest of them. I even intend to apologize to Flowers."
Georgiana was surprised. "You are even apologizing to your maid? Whatever brought this on?"
Cordelia looked downcast when she said, "Mother. She made me realize how beastly I had been acting. When even your mother thinks it best that you not go out in public, you know you are being horrid. And I was."
"You were missed last night, Del."
"I somehow doubt that."
"Nonsense. I had no fewer than a dozen of your besotted swains fearing you were on death's door. Lord Upham even told me he had written a requiem in your honor," Georgiana said.
"Lord preserve us," Cordelia said with a groan, for Lord Upham was a great lover of music and a terrible composer. Anne and Georgiana laughed.
"He shall have no occasion to perform it now that you are...recovered, shall we say?"
"It's as good a word as any." Anne clasped Georgiana's hand and took Del's in her other one. The three girls looked warmly at each other and Georgiana knew that things were as they had been.
There was another knock at the door, and Georgiana's heart leapt once again.
"Are you expecting someone, Georgie?" Cordelia teased, her blue eyes revealing that she knew full well who was expected.
"Not that I know of," Georgiana replied primly. "I doubt he comes. He said he would, but having had an entire night to reflect upon his situation..."
The butler opened the door and there he was.
"Good morning, sir. Is Miss Darcy at home?"
"We should have asked her to make a wager," Anne told Cordelia.
"Hush," Georgiana hissed as Sir Lysander walked into the house. "Good morning, Sir Lysander."
"Miss Darcy. What a..." He seemed taken aback at her other guests. Georgiana thought it was her imagination, but she felt certain he was glaring at Cordelia. Well, she thought, who could blame him? He does not know that Cordelia has apologized and promised not to be so foolish in the future. All he knows is that she was trying to come between his friend and Anne.
"Good morning, Sir Lysander," Anne and Cordelia chorused.
"As you can see, my cousins have come to lend me moral support," Georgiana said. "I am pleased to have them here, but if you wish them gone--"
"That is not for me to decide, Miss Darcy. This is not my home."
A flurry of furious footsteps coming from the dining hall indicated that her brother was coming, and that he was none too pleased. He came to a stop when he saw Sir Lysander standing in his hallway.
"A bit early in the day for you, isn't it, Overton?" Fitzwilliam said coldly.
"Perhaps so, but I was hoping to have a head start on the other lovesick puppies who were sure to be littering your household come this afternoon," Sir Lysander replied easily. "Mr. Darcy, I have come to call upon your sister, but I would not wish to do so if I did not have your permission first."
"Oh, Lord," Anne muttered under her breath as she, along with Georgiana and Cordelia, turned so that they could see Fitzwilliam.
Fitzwilliam did not speak. His jaw twitched and his color was red again.
"I realize that I do not have the best of reputations, but I assure you, sir, I have the best of intentions where your sister is concerned."
"Why should I believe you?"
"Fitzwilliam!" Georgiana hissed.
"It is a legitimate question, Georgiana! He has never approached a young lady of marriageable age before now. I would like to know why he has chosen you."
"If I could explain it to you, sir, I would, but I cannot. What I can say is that I told myself that she was just another girl on the marriage market but it did not matter. I have become intrigued with her, just as I am certain you were intrigued with your wife when you met her, Mr. Darcy."
"I met my wife when she was an infant, and that is not the emotion I felt at the time."
Georgiana, Anne and Cordelia coughed delicately to prevent laughter.
"You know what I mean. Your circumstances were unusual, but the emotions, I suspect, are the same."
"You cannot deny that, dearest," Elizabeth said, bemused. She stood behind them, arms crossed.
"Please stay out of this, Elizabeth."
"Absolutely not. Georgiana is my sister as well as yours, and when you are acting like an arrogant prig, it is my place to remind you that once made me promise if you acted in such a manner, I was to hurt you severely. I see that the time has come to do just that."
"I never said any such thing."
"You most certainly did! The night Lord Robin returned from the Continent, do you not recall? He told us about what's-her-name's father refusing him because he was not a prince."
Fitzwilliam flushed, and Georgiana knew that Elizabeth would win the day.
"I do not like this at all," Darcy mumbled.
"I know you do not, dearest, because Georgiana is your sister and you have had the guardianship of her since she was quite young. But we must accept the fact that she is a woman grown and can make her own decisions. Sir Lysander is a gentleman of some reputation, but you cannot say that he has done anything that is truly beyond the pale."
Fitzwilliam looked as though he would like to dispute that, but there would be no stopping Elizabeth when she knew she was right.
"Oh, very well," he muttered. "I shall agree to a courtship. However, my sister is never to be alone with you. If she leaves this house, she shall do so in the company of my wife or her aunt and cousins."
"I would not have it any other way," Sir Lysander said with a stately bow. "Thank you. And since her cousins are here at present, may I have your permission to escort Miss Darcy through the park?"
Fitzwilliam looked ready to do battle again, but then he turned to Georgiana. She gave him what she hoped was a sufficiently begging look and was rewarded when he said, "You have my permission."
"Thank you, Fitzwilliam!" Georgiana could not contain her joy and threw her arms around her brother, hugging him tightly. Under normal circumstances, Fitzwilliam might chuckle at his sister's exuberance, as he had done often in the past three years, but this time he merely hugged her in return and let her go.