A Constant Love: A Pride & Prejudice Continuation, page 16
“I seem to recall a rather significant period of time when you would not have minded.”
“Well, thank heaven we are well past that,” she said, leaning over to kiss him. “I would mind very much now.”
Chapter 22
The day after the news of Stephen Mallory’s death, Georgiana could not stop thinking of Lord Alfred; she wondered what he was going through, how far he had to travel before reaching his family home, how his parents must react upon reading the news. Her brother had written a longer response to Lord Alfred’s note, expressing the condolences of the family and indicating that they would miss his company, and sent it off immediately, but they could not expect a reply for some time. All they might expect from Lord Alfred for many months might be a few letters; having lost a son and heir, the family could be expected to be in mourning for at least half a twelvemonth, and so Georgiana was unlikely to see him before autumn, if not next year’s season.
Only when she realised they were to attend the Haydn concert in the evening did she return her thoughts to Captain Stanton, for she knew he would be in attendance. Although she had recognised the possibility of his only being a childish infatuation for her, the thought of seeing him again still gave her a little thrill of anticipation, and she resolved to be very careful. Certainly, Lord Alfred’s departure would give her that which she had originally wished for – time to get to know the captain without the potential of a proposal from Lord Alfred looming over her. Yet with Lord Alfred gone from town, she would have no more opportunities to compare the two gentlemen.
The entire family was to go to the concert, and Elizabeth found herself staring wearily at the dress Sarah had chosen for her, and not knowing why. She did not have the dedication for the amount of pianoforte practise her sisters put in, but she still had an enjoyment of music; indeed, she had continued to attend Lady Tonbridge’s musical evenings long after Mr. Davis had ceased to be a threat.
No, it was the prospect of another night in heavy company, of introductions to people who would judge her, and possibly shun her, another night of constantly trying to ensure she was comporting herself as Mrs. Darcy should. This, she thought, was the cause of her weariness, as it was on so many other evenings, although on this particular evening she had the knowledge that her courses had started again that morning – quite painfully – to further depress her thoughts.
“Shall I select another dress, ma’am?” Sarah asked.
“What – oh, no, Sarah. It is fine. I was thinking of something else. Please, continue.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Sarah, are your family in Ireland from the city, or the country?” Elizabeth asked, as Sarah helped her out of her day dress.
“They are from the country, ma’am. A small farm outside of Galway.”
“Do you miss the countryside?”
“Sometimes I do,” Sarah said. “Not that I do not appreciate London, ma’am, or the opportunities you’ve given me here.”
“Of course, but it is not the same as what you have been used to all your life.”
“That is very much what I mean, my lady.”
The realisation had been gradually gaining on Elizabeth, that she felt stifled here in town. She had come to understand why her father did not like it. For all the diversions London held, she missed the close, friendly society of Hertfordshire, she missed long walks, great rambling gardens, even merely fresh air.
After avoiding Pemberley for so long, she came to realise it was where she most wanted to be, as she could not return to Hertfordshire except to visit. She developed a deeper fondness for the walks she remembered, for the stream, and the gardens, and yet she knew they would not likely go there until the summer. Even with Lord Alfred gone, there was still Captain Stanton, and she and Darcy agreed that Georgiana should have a chance to remain in town and become better acquainted with him, as well as participating in all the season had to offer. There was no guarantee either of the gentlemen would ever make her an offer of marriage, or that if they did, she would accept them, and so Georgiana should continue to increase her acquaintance, particularly with single gentlemen of her rank in society. It was irritating to admit it, but Lady Catherine was correct in this regard.
As well, there was Captain Ramsey, and the thought of him did bring a true smile to her face. He and Kitty showed a clear preference for each other; there seemed to be no misunderstanding at all between them, and his calls had been increasingly frequent. She and Darcy had both written Longbourn about him; they had even invited her father to come to town and observe the captain’s courtship if he so chose, but her father did not so choose. So long as the man had Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s good opinions, it saved him the trouble of having to go out of his way to form his own opinion. Her mother’s response was more troubling – her two elder daughters’s marriages had apparently raised her sights higher than Captain Ramsey’s fortune, and she wished Kitty would try for a man with at least three thousand a year. Fortunately, however, Catherine showed no inclination to listen to her mother’s advice when she had found a good-looking, very amiable man who wore a uniform and had more than enough fortune to keep her in pin money for the rest of her life.
So they must stay in town, and as long as they stayed in town, their social engagements would not cease, and Elizabeth knew this was even more difficult for Darcy than for her. She remembered her vow to have the family remove to Pemberley, and realised now that she would not be able to make it happen. Mrs. Annesley was a fine companion, but being left as chaperone for not one but two ladies receiving suitors, plus a third single lady, was too much for any one person. Elizabeth doubted that another Mr. Davis would come along, but his disastrous proposal had made it clear that they could not leave the single ladies without sufficient support during the season. Perhaps, though, she could suggest to Darcy that he spend a week or two at Pemberley; although he received regular correspondence from his steward, certainly he would wish to look in on the estate before summer, and it would give him the break from company she suspected he needed even more than she.
Elizabeth thanked Sarah and offered her a weak smile, and then headed down for what was to be a quick dinner before the carriage ride to Hanover Square. There were some acquaintances there she was happy to see, among them Lord and Lady Brandon, and Lady Tonbridge, escorted by Captain Stanton. There was, of course, also Lady Catherine, who regularly attended concerts here, so that she could fully maintain her reputation as a lover of music.
They made their way around, exchanging greetings with their acquaintances and making a few introductions. Georgiana and Captain Stanton shared a brief discussion about the night’s programme, but their attention was quickly diverted when the viscountess asked how their family was holding up on the news about Viscount Burnley.
“We were only a little acquainted with Viscount Burnley,” Elizabeth said. “The younger brother, Lord Alfred, is a closer friend of our family. He wrote to us to take his leave. We all feel what a tremendous tragedy it was for them.”
At the mention of Lord Alfred’s name, Georgiana coloured deeply, and dropped her gaze. Elizabeth watched Captain Stanton carefully for a reaction, but he only looked as serious as he usually did, except when talking about music and the navy. He stood up a bit straighter, it seemed, but was silent.
“He wrote to take his leave, hmm?” the viscountess asked.
“Yes, he was in a great hurry to reach his family.”
“Of course. News such as that travels a great deal faster than good news,” the viscountess said. “On a brighter note, us meeting here allows me to tell you all of my next ball.”
They were all amazement that she should hold a ball again so soon, but she said she loved nothing quite like hosting a ball, even if she could not dance so much as she had in her younger days, and her previous ball had only served to remind her of such enjoyments. She named the date, and said invitations should be forthcoming. No one was happier than Catherine at the news, for if Captain Ramsey had been invited to the previous ball, there was no reason to assume he should not be invited to this one. Georgiana suffered more mixed emotions; she had no doubt Captain Stanton would be there, and she might have her first opportunity to dance with him. Yet it seemed strange that she would be dancing with him, while Lord Alfred was in mourning.
Soon enough, it was time for all of them to take their seats for the concert. Despite her reservations about going out for the evening, Elizabeth did find herself enjoying it very much. Certainly it was preferable to the stilted conversation and card games that had comprised many of their other evenings, or even worse, the at-homes, and at times, Elizabeth could even remember when London had been novel to her, when every shop she visited with her aunt was cause for excitement, when concerts and the theatre seemed the most diverting thing possible.
During the intermission, the family found themselves intercepted by Lady Catherine, and by the disappointed looks on Georgiana’s and even Mary’s faces, Elizabeth could tell they would have much preferred to discuss the concert with the viscountess and Captain Stanton. However, Lady Catherine was not to let them go, and so Georgiana and Mary were forced to share their observations on pacing and tone with her, instead. Lady Catherine looked at them blankly for a moment, stated broadly that she had of course loved it, there was no greater lover of music than she, and then she turned to her favourite topic of late: how Georgiana was to be a duchess.
“That woman is insufferable,” Darcy whispered to Elizabeth, as they made their way back to their seats, and she was glad he had said it, for she could not very well open such a topic; Lady Catherine was not her blood relation.
“You should look to her as a source of amusement,” Elizabeth whispered back. “For example, during that conversation, I was imagining my mother saying every thing she said. I assure you, not a sentence would have been out of place.”
The muscles of his arm tensed under her hand, but he managed to suppress most of his mirth.
“I suppose I should not criticise her so much,” he said. “If Georgiana does become a duchess, we will have her to thank; she introduced them.”
“And we shall never hear the end of it. She will require our gratitude until the end of her days.”
The remainder of the concert passed pleasantly; they found themselves waiting with the viscountess and Captain Stanton for that lady’s carriage, and so Georgiana and Mary were able to discuss the concert with those they had most wished to.
Back at home, in the comfort of her husband’s bed, Elizabeth noted that it had been quite a pleasant evening.
“Yes, we must find a way to include a greater proportion of concerts in our evening entertainments,” he said. “I infinitely prefer them to cards and at-homes.”
“I was thinking exactly the same thing, earlier.”
“And balls. Concerts are much preferable to balls. All of the music, none of the dancing.”
“I cannot agree with you there, Darcy.”
“You are allowed to sit out a dance, madam. I am not.”
“Poor Mr. Darcy,” she said, slipping her hand across his chest. “There are enough men back from the war now, perhaps I shall let you sit out a dance or two.”
Chapter 23
Georgiana had thought she would not see Captain Stanton again until the next musical evening, but he called with Captain Ramsey the day after the concert, and, as they soon learned, this was because he had an invitation to issue:
“I spoke with an acquaintance at the concert, and learned that there is to be a concert at one of the lesser-known halls Wednesday next, with a programme that includes Scarlatti,” he said. “I did not want to raise the topic last night until I had a chance to inquire about seats; they are still available, and if you are all not otherwise engaged, I hope you will join me. I know Scarlatti is a favourite of yours, Miss Darcy.”
“Oh, we are to dine with the Gardiners Wednesday,” Elizabeth said, then paused, considering. “They are family; I do not think they would mind if the young ladies went to the concert instead. Mrs. Annesley can attend them there.”
Georgiana and Mary were all excitement at the scheme; Catherine was not so sure whether she would prefer the concert or dinner with her aunt and uncle, until she understood that Captain Ramsey was to attend the concert as well, and then she was very much for the concert.
They did not see Captain Stanton again until the next musical evening. He had brought his new cello again, and was speaking with the viscountess and a man older than he, but about the same height, and what appeared to be some family resemblance. He and the viscountess saw them, and beckoned Georgiana and her family to come over to them.
“My uncle has asked if he may be introduced to you and your family, Mrs. Darcy,” Captain Stanton said.
“Of course, we would be very pleased to make his acquaintance,” Elizabeth told him.
“My uncle, the Earl of Anglesey,” he said. “Uncle, the ladies are Mrs. Darcy, Miss Darcy, Miss Bennet, and Mrs. Annesley.”
The earl said he was pleased to make their acquaintance, and soon showed himself to be of the same staid but good manners as Captain Stanton. He was only recently in town, and had already had quite a happy evening, dining with his old friend and long-absent nephew, and now he had the promise of music as a further delight.
This evening also saw the return of Lady Julia Barton to town, and once they had all taken seats, she, like Mary, was one of the first volunteers to exhibit. Lady Julia was not much older than Georgiana, but a much more confident performer; she played the harp with an easy elegance, and this evening she had chosen a piece that sounded lovely, although Georgiana knew from her own experience on the instrument that it was not very difficult. Mary returned to Mozart, although it was a new piece for her to exhibit, and she played as well as she had ever played. Georgiana applauded eagerly for her friend, and whispered her congratulations, as well, when Mary returned to her seat.
The quartet, after the previous week’s less-successful performance, was called upon by the viscountess to play as the last act before refreshments were served. This time, they were to play Haydn, and Georgiana felt a great anxiety for Captain Stanton, to once again attempt work with such complexity in the cello part. He did acquit himself much better than the last time, although his performance was not to the level of his first time with the group. He still seemed uncomfortable with his new cello, but that he had practised enough on this piece that his part at least did not distract from the whole.
The viscountess did not call on Georgiana to exhibit before refreshments, but Georgiana did not mind at all. She had chosen another singing piece, and if she did not exhibit tonight, it would give her another week to practise. When they broke for refreshments, therefore, she happily congratulated those who had exhibited already. What she would have liked was an opportunity to compliment Captain Stanton on his progress with the new instrument, but she found that he and the earl seemed deep in conversation with Lady Julia. On watching them for a while, she also saw that Lady Julia seemed to have an admiration for the captain, and Georgiana was surprised that this observation caused a sudden jealousy to well up inside her.
After the usual time, they all began to make their way back to their seats, and Georgiana noticed Captain Stanton murmur something to the viscountess as he passed her. She could not tell what it was, nor the lady’s response. When they were all seated, however, the viscountess noted that Miss Darcy had not yet played tonight, asking if she should like to exhibit, and Georgiana could not help but wonder if she had been the topic of the brief exchange.
Georgiana was as satisfied with her performance as anyone of her modest character could be, and when the carriages were called, she found herself and Mary being congratulated by both Captain Stanton and his uncle. Lord Anglesey declared himself to have thoroughly enjoyed the evening – such a quality of music from amateurs indicated how much everyone in the group loved to play. They were all enthusiasm in seconding his observation, and the group waited companionably together.
“Captain Stanton, do you find yourself growing more comfortable with your new cello?” Georgiana asked, during a lull in the conversation.
“Sadly no, Miss Darcy. I find we do not get on very well.”
“It did not seem so to me – you sounded much improved.”
“Miss Darcy is too kind to note that last week I massacred Bach as much as ever he could be massacred, and therefore anything would have been an improvement this week,” he said to his uncle.
“I listened to him when he was first learning the cello,” the earl smiled. “I hope it was not such a massacre as that.”
“Only slightly,” Captain Stanton said. “I refrained from outright screeching.”
The earl’s carriage arrived first, and, with parting compliments again to Mary and Georgiana, both he and the captain got in. Georgiana assumed that with the earl now in town, Captain Stanton would shift from his current lodgings to stay in the earl’s house, for certainly an earl would have a town house. The general agreement in the carriage was that they liked the uncle’s company almost as much as the nephew’s, and would not at all mind furthering the acquaintance, if the earl so chose.
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The earl did so choose to further the acquaintance, and called with Captain Stanton the day before the concert; he was to attend as well, and he invited the young ladies to have an early dinner at his house beforehand, so that they might all travel to the concert together. Elizabeth and Darcy saw nothing wrong with the scheme; the Gardiners had already released the young ladies from their later dinner engagement, and so they went thither at the appointed time.
The earl, they learned, was a widower with no daughters, and the ladies found his house lacked the comforts a female might have installed, although it was well-furnished. Captain Stanton had indeed left his inn and taken up lodgings there, and Captain Ramsey had been invited by the earl to do the same, so they did at least have the reassurance of familiar company already there when they arrived.
