A Constant Love: A Pride & Prejudice Continuation, page 14
Catherine was all amazement. “Georgiana, you did not just invite them to dinner!”
“I believe I did,” Georgiana said, a bit shocked at her own actions. It was what Elizabeth would have done in her place, had she been there, and her brother had been encouraging her to act as more of a hostess, before his marriage made this less necessary. But still, it was so very unlike her to think to do such a thing, and then to actually follow through!
She was interrupted in these thoughts by an embrace from Kitty which very nearly knocked the breath out of her. Kitty thanked her exuberantly, and only later did she seem to realise that Georgiana might not have been acting entirely in Catherine’s interest.
“Now that I consider it,” she said, looking up from a watercolour she was working on, “you and Captain Stanton seem to get on quite well. And he was at the musical club, was he not?”
Georgiana replied that he was.
“Georgiana, I never thought you had it in you! You must hope that you never go to a ball with the both of them there, because if you dance twice with Lord Alfred, and twice with Captain Stanton, you shall hardly have any other dances left! And who shall you waltz with?”
“I – did not expect to like Captain Stanton’s company so much as I do,” Georgiana admitted, blushing furiously. “I do not know what to do!”
“You see each of them in company as much as ever you can, without showing either of them preference, until you are sure which of them you do prefer,” Mrs. Annesley said, her voice filled with level sense. “You are quite a lucky young lady, to have two such suitors to choose from. Viscountess Tonbridge indicated that Captain Stanton is a man of both fortune and family; either he or Lord Alfred would be a good match.”
This put an end to Georgiana’s outward debate, but she was not so sure Mrs. Annesley was right. Some ladies might enjoy having two such men to choose from, but all Georgiana could think of was making the wrong choice, of imagining herself to be in love with one of them, when truly she was not.
In turmoil over such thoughts, she retired early again after they returned from dinner at the Hursts’s. Elizabeth, who had been positively shocked, as had Darcy, over the news (eagerly supplied by Kitty) that the two gentlemen from the navy had called, and Georgiana had invited them to dinner, went to check on her.
Georgiana had changed into her nightgown and dressing gown, but was sitting in her room, reading, when Elizabeth knocked and then entered.
“We are all in a bit of shock over your dinner invitation,” she said.
“Oh, Elizabeth, I am so sorry! I did not mean to overreach your role,” Georgiana said, looking quite upset.
“Never worry about that,” Elizabeth said. “You are a lady of the household and you should always feel welcome to make a dinner invitation such as that. Indeed, I would have done the same thing if I had been here, so I am glad that you did.”
“But you said everyone was shocked!”
“The shock was not that it was inappropriate, only that it was quite out of character for you,” Elizabeth said. “Most everyone concluded that it was a kindness to Kitty. But then Kitty and Mrs. Annesley filled me in on your conversation, earlier.”
Georgiana felt a wave of embarrassment pass through her. She made no reply, but moved over so that Elizabeth might sit beside her.
“Captain Stanton is very handsome, is he not?”
“Yes, I believe he is one of the handsomest men I have ever met,” Georgiana admitted. “I might have forgotten him easily enough, if that were his only good quality; but he also has such a great love of music, and he is – I just find him so very interesting. Every time I am in company with him I want to know more about him.”
“Then we shall have to find you more opportunities to get to know him.”
“But what of Lord Alfred? I feel so guilty for being interested in another man when he has shown me such attention over the last few months. And I do truly enjoy his company!”
“Captain Stanton is new to you – it is natural that until you spend more time in company with him, you should be more intrigued by him. At some point, when the acquaintance is less new, you will be able to be more objective about which of them you prefer.”
“What if Lord Alfred makes me an offer of marriage before I reach that point, though?”
“You need not give him an answer right away; as I said before, if he truly loves you, he will wait.”
“Even if he knows I have another suitor?”
“I do not expect the two of them to have many common acquaintances, aside from Lady Tonbridge. It is possible he will never know, but even if he does, it is no matter, if there is no understanding between the two of you. Your only duty will be to ensure you show neither of them too much preference until you have made a decision.”
“That is what Mrs. Annesley said.”
“She has been through this process more times than any of us; her advice is very sound.”
“Yes,” Georgiana said. “However, sometimes I think the previous ladies she was companion to were very different from me.”
“If you mean they were not nearly so intelligent nor so accomplished, I will certainly agree with you on that,” Elizabeth said, hugging her sister.
After Sarah had helped Elizabeth change, she made her way to her husband’s bed. Although she did not share the particulars of her conversation with Georgiana, she did let him know that Captain Stanton had been one of the motivators behind Georgiana’s dinner invitation.
“A naval captain?” he asked. “I never should have thought her interested in a naval captain.”
“You have met the man. He is very much a gentleman, and I have it from Lady Tonbridge that his uncle is the Earl of Anglesey, and he has done well in prize money.”
“Well is relative. He would have to capture quite a lot of ships to be Georgiana’s equal in fortune.”
“Lord Alfred is not her equal in fortune, and you had no objections to him.”
“I did not say I had any objections. I do not know enough about the man to know whether to object to him or not. Captain Ramsey as well – we know even less about him, and he and Kitty seem to be forming a rapid attachment.”
“I could apply to the viscountess for more information – has she never mentioned Captain Stanton before in conversation with you?”
“She might have. I know she is well-acquainted with Lord Anglesey, but there are so many sons and brothers in that family it is difficult to keep count of them all,” he said. “My acquaintance with her comes through her husband’s side of the family; my father and Lord Tonbridge were good friends.”
“Well, she seems quite willing to speak of him,” Elizabeth said. “He had barely conversed with Georgiana and she was singing his praises to Mrs. Annesley and myself.”
“Speak to her then, if you may,” he said. “And I will ask around with some of the admirals who are members at White’s – opinions of those less close to the captains will be more disinterested.”
Chapter 18
A few days later, Darcy and Charles Bingley having dined at White’s that evening, Elizabeth went to his bedchamber hoping he had some intelligence to share with her. Her hopes were met; he was rather more drunk than she had ever known him to be, and she soon found out that the cause was the large quantity of brandy he and Charles had drank with the three admirals who had been in attendance that night.
“They were all of them quite happy to talk, after a few toasts to the navy,” he said, making a visible effort to control his deportment as he spoke, and still smelling a bit of the coffee and cigars he and Charles must have consumed to try to rectify the brandy.
“And what did they say about our captains?”
“Ramsey’s family is from trade,” he said. “They own a successful shop in Salisbury, but he is a third son, so with no hopes of inheriting the shop, he went into the navy. He has done fairly well with little help in promoting his interests, and he is said to have about fourteen thousand pounds in prize money.”
“It would be a good match for Kitty,” Elizabeth said. “With her dowry, they would nearly clear a thousand pounds a year. And I must admit, although he is always in quite good humour, he is a far more sensible man than I should have thought Kitty would attach herself to, a year ago.”
“Yes, that was my thought, as well. And even if he does not return to sea, he would also earn half-pay for the rest of his life.”
“Then it is even better than I had thought – he could certainly support a carriage. What of Stanton?”
Darcy paused for so long Elizabeth began to fear the man was some sort of secret rogue. The pause, however, was because although the two men might be equal in rank in the navy, they were not so in the eyes of society, and his brain was a bit too muddled to ensure he would impart such information well.
“As we knew from the viscountess, he is the nephew of the Earl of Anglesey. His father was a third son of the previous earl, and thus chose to become a rector. Stanton was the second son of the rector, and despite no military background in the family, fixed on the navy as his profession. Lady Tonbridge was also correct, that he had earned a fortune during the war: he has earned more than sixty thousand pounds.”
“Sixty thousand pounds! All in capturing other ships?”
“Much of it was prize money, although there is also something known as freight – carrying goods in one’s ship for a profit – which they assume contributed to his fortune, for it is commonly done. He is known to be one of the navy’s more successful young frigate captains, in the way of fortune, at least. He has not been without help, either – his uncle has used his influence to ensure that Stanton was always promoted early, and had fortunate ships and assignments. One of the admirals also assured me that Stanton is quite a man for king and country, as well; he would be even richer, had he not burned two prizes rather than taking them up after capturing them, so that he might chase after an American frigate.”
“I take it he was not successful?” Elizabeth asked, for certainly the capture of another American frigate would have been widely celebrated in the papers, as the Shannon’s victory and others following had been.
“No, it would seem not. However, it does not diminish the fact that he would be a suitable match for Georgiana. Ideally, he might be closer to the succession in the earldom, but perhaps it is overly critical of me to note that. He would certainly bring more fortune to a match than Lord Alfred.”
“So you would approve of the match, if Georgiana’s preference is for him?”
“Oh no, I am far from approving the match. I shall have to have quite a few talks with the gentleman before any such thing. However, I am open to considering an approval of the match,” Darcy said. “All of this may be needless, anyway. Perhaps the presence of another suitor will convince Lord Alfred to spread a little more canvas and make his offer.”
“Fitzwilliam Darcy, did you just say spread a little more canvas?”
“Good God, I did. I must never drink with the admirals again.”
“Oh no, I encourage you to do so frequently,” Elizabeth laughed. “I find it quite diverting.”
“If you want a diversion, Elizabeth, I will show you a true diversion,” he said – and then he did.
Chapter 19
When the ladies arrived at the next musical evening, they found Captain Stanton had come early once again, and was talking with the viscountess. The battered cello was gone, and in its place was a very fine-looking new cello, which they all complimented him on after they had exchanged greetings.
“I fear it is made for a much better player than I,” he said, “but I felt the temptation of a sailor ashore to spend more of his prize money, and this seemed the most noble thing to spend it on.”
“It is indeed a most noble instrument,” Georgiana said. She wanted to note that he was in violation of their truce, to once again be so modest about his playing, but it would be too embarrassing to do so with the others around her.
Soon enough, however, they all saw – or feigned to see – acquaintances come into the room they wanted to greet, so that Georgiana and Captain Stanton were left alone. Shyly, she held up the sheets of music in her hands, so that he might see what she had brought to play.
“Scarlatti! You have brought one of his pieces – delightful – I am all anticipation to hear it.”
“I hope you will like it,” she said, colouring deeply, for he had entirely been the reason for her choice. “I think there is something very beautiful about his music on the pianoforte; my brother took me to a concert of his, once, and although it was very well-played, I find there is not so much emotion in a harpsichord.”
“I would agree with you there, Miss Darcy. I do enjoy a good baroque piece, but there the harpsichord supplements. It does not stand alone so well as a pianoforte.”
“Yes, that is exactly what I mean.”
“This should be quite a delightful evening,” he said. “The other gentlemen and I have fixed on a Bach quartet to play tonight – it was my suggestion of the pieces we were all to learn.”
“Oh, lovely – I know I did not mention him as a favourite of mine, but I do quite enjoy his work. I look forward to hearing your quartet.”
Hear it Georgiana did soon enough, because after Captain Stanton had been introduced to the members of the musical club who had been unable to make the previous meeting, he and the other string players were encouraged to begin the night with their quartet. As soon as they began playing, Georgiana could sense Captain Stanton’s discomfort with his new cello; he was hesitant, his tone was not nearly what it had been during the last evening he had played. It also became clear to her that he must enjoy Bach because the cello parts were so integral to the music, and quite challenging. On this night, however, they were past his capabilities, and she felt for him.
He made his apologies as soon as they had suffered through the first movement, and was given comforting remarks by many in the room. Those in attendance, however, were soundly split as to their estimation of his skill; those who had heard him the previous evening thought him to be a capable player whose new instrument had got the better of him, while those who had not heard him play before thought perhaps the viscountess was getting a bit desperate in her attempt to recruit a cellist.
Georgiana’s own exhibition went much better. As she was not singing, she went to the front of the room with a great deal more confidence, and she found herself more sympathetic to Captain Stanton than intimidated by his presence, on this night. There were complexities in the Scarlatti piece that had challenged her skills as a player, but she had already mastered them, so she was able to infuse real joy into her playing. As always, she was roundly applauded as she returned to her seat.
Captain Stanton had sat with the other members of the quartet on this evening, rather than beside Georgiana. He did, however, make his way over to her soon after they broke for refreshments.
“Well, Miss Darcy, I find I am in agreement with you on your Scarlatti,” he said. “I have not heard it on a harpsichord, but I cannot imagine how it should sound better than you played it on the pianoforte. And so difficult – I hope you will not deny your skill in playing, as you did in singing, when you have performed as you did.”
“I thank you,” Georgiana said, blushing deeply. “There was one passage I felt like I was attempting for weeks – it took forever to figure out the fingering. Even my instructor, Mr. Palmer, was completely vexed by it.”
“You have certainly mastered it by now – your playing shall be the highlight of my evening,” he said. “It will distract me from the infamy of having butchered one of my favourite composers, and in front of such an audience, no less.”
“You did not seem so comfortable with your new cello as you had been with your old, if you do not mind my saying so.”
“I do not mind at all – you are both correct, and tactful. I should have put in much more practise with the new instrument before attempting to bring it to this group. My old battered piece has suffered through much abuse and sea air, but it has also been my constant companion for many years.”
“I know what you mean,” Georgiana said. “My brother bought a new pianoforte for me last year, and it was magnificent – a much better sound than my old one – but it still took me months to feel comfortable with the keys.”
“I hope it shall not be so long for me, or Lady Tonbridge will begin to rethink her invitation.”
“I do not think she will; this group is very kind regarding mistakes, if they are made by someone endeavouring to become a better player.”
“I am glad to hear that, Miss Darcy. It does make me slightly more at ease here.”
+++
After spending much of the refreshment break with Captain Stanton during the musical evening, for this time they did not seem to suffer for topics, Georgiana was to look forward to his company again the next day, as it was the date she had invited the captains to come to dinner.
There had been little opportunity for a close comparison between Lord Alfred and Captain Stanton thus far in her acquaintance with Captain Stanton, as she had seen very little of Lord Alfred over the past week or so. He called, however, the morning of the dinner, and apologised for not doing so earlier; first there had been the poor weather, and then with so many acquaintances returned to town, his days had been filled.
He begged her to fill him in on the viscountess’s ball, and all else that had occurred since she had seen him last. She did note that the family had made two new acquaintances in Captains Ramsey and Stanton, but hoped she was able to divert Lord Alfred’s thoughts from any special connection to herself by noting that Captain Ramsey called frequently for Catherine.
