A Constant Love: A Pride & Prejudice Continuation, page 7
Darcy returned Catherine to the group and held out his hand to Mrs. Annesley, who laughed him off and said she was enjoying watching everyone else dance far more than she would have enjoyed it herself.
An instructor was found, and the ladies spent the next few days alternating between dance practise and the pianoforte, or, for Catherine, with sketching various items around the house in the deliberate fashion of a new student. Now that Mary and Georgiana knew that their level of talent was appropriate for the viscountess’s musical club, they felt less pressure to be practising all the time, although they still spent more time at the pianoforte than they had before Lady Tonbridge extended her invitation.
Indeed, for Georgiana, she would have been looking forward to the next musical evening wholeheartedly, if not for the fact that she knew she would have to speak to Mr. Davis. She spent much of Monday in a state of apprehension, thinking of various ways she could politely tell him she did not want his company.
They ate an early dinner, so that the ladies would have ample time to get into the carriage and make their way to the viscountess’s house on Grosvenor Square. Elizabeth had worried a bit at leaving Darcy and Catherine alone together – the two people in the house who had perhaps the least to converse about – but Catherine had asked at the end of dinner if he would mind terribly if she went to the conservatory to get some more drawing in before her next lesson. Darcy had told her that he did not mind at all, and that he would be in his study if she needed anything, and Elizabeth left secure in the knowledge that her husband would have what was likely a much-needed evening of solitude.
Elizabeth was roundly welcomed by the group, applied to for any musical skills she might possess, and when she mentioned she played the pianoforte a little, encouraged to join in and play. She demurred; she had not the skill of the others in the room, and she would much rather hear one of the other ladies play than do so herself.
The viscountess pulled her aside as the other ladies made their way into the music room, which had been filled with rows of neat little gilt folding chairs.
“I am glad you are come, Mrs. Darcy,” she said. “I did not like the attentions Mr. Davis gave young Miss Darcy in our last session, and an extra set of chaperone’s eyes will not go amiss. You do let me know if she is too uncomfortable, and I will ask him not to return. He plays but a mediocre trumpet, anyway.”
“Thank you, Lady Tonbridge. I would ask you not to intervene just yet – I should like for Miss Darcy to gain some practise in fending off suitors. It is a skill she will certainly need.”
“Ah, there you are correct. Perhaps an even more important thing for her to practise than the pianoforte,” the viscountess chuckled. “You do just keep in mind that I will speak to him if it is needed.”
Elizabeth thanked her, and they made their way into the music room.
As she had last time, Georgiana took a seat beside Mary up near the front of the room. The seat beside her was empty, and she steeled herself, knowing that Mr. Davis would likely take it. She was correct in her estimation; he sat down beside her just before Lady Julia began a beautiful piece on the harp, so that she had no chance to escape.
“You are looking very well tonight, Miss Darcy,” he whispered.
“Thank you, sir,” she said coldly, and she made no move to continue the conversation.
“How have you been these last few days?” he said. “I must admit I was so enchanted by our meeting that I have hardly been able to think of anything else.”
Georgiana felt it, that this was the moment she must put a stop to his attentions; she trembled for a moment, and then gathered up her courage and spoke.
“Please, sir, I have come here tonight for the music, not for your conversation. I beg you would stop talking and pay Lady Julia the respect of listening to her beautiful playing.”
He was silent, following this. Georgiana did not dare look over at him to see his reaction, but she trembled again in the relief of the deed having been done. Following Lady Julia’s piece, as Miss Green took her place at the pianoforte, Mary, who had overheard much of the exchange and sensed how awkward it must be for Georgiana to continue to sit next to him, asked Georgiana if she would take a look at the trim on the back of her gown; she thought it had come loose.
Mary stood, and Georgiana – who had never known Mary to care at all about trim – stood with her and inspected the trim, pronouncing it to be fine. Mary indicated her relief, and then, through some manoeuvring, ensured that she sat back down in Georgiana’s seat, so that Georgiana was at least one person removed from Mr. Davis. Georgiana gave Mary a look of great relief, and tried to focus her attention on Miss Green’s playing.
“Well done, Mary!” Elizabeth said to herself, watching the entire exchange. And well done Georgiana – it was clear the young lady had said something to Mr. Davis that caused him to stop leaning over and whispering into her ear. With such difficulties out of the way, Elizabeth could now sit for the rest of the evening and drink her ladyship’s excellent tea, listening to some very beautiful music and seeing her sisters each have the chance to exhibit, which they did, wonderfully.
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The next morning found Elizabeth and Darcy reading in his study, Catherine back in the conservatory, and Mary practising the pianoforte in the ballroom, so that only Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley were in the drawing room when Mr. Davis came to call.
“Good morning, ma’am,” he said to Mrs. Annesley. “I would like to request a private audience with Miss Darcy.”
Georgiana, who had been sitting at the pianoforte in that room, trying to make her way through a new, very difficult piece, heard what he said with mortification, and looked over at Mrs. Annesley, pleading with her eyes not to leave them alone.
“As Georgiana’s companion, I am not allowed to leave her unchaperoned with anyone,” Mrs. Annesley said.
Georgiana felt a bit of relief at this, but Mr. Davis made it clear that he was not going to leave.
“Fine, then,” he said, making his way over to the pianoforte’s bench. “I suppose I shall have to say what I have come to say with an audience.”
“Miss Darcy,” he said, kneeling down before her. “I admire that your love of music did not allow us to speak more last night, and so I have come to tell you today of how deeply I have fallen in love with you. I have come to request you would make me the happiest of men, by consenting to be my wife. You know of my home, in Wales, and I am sure you would give it much grace as its mistress. Certainly it would be difficult for you to be so far away from your family at first, but I have no doubt that our love will make up for such a separation in time. As I have mentioned, your dowry would enable the expansion of the estate such as to make us one of the most powerful families in the area.”
Georgiana glanced over at Mrs. Annesley, who gave her a look of deep sympathy, but also made it clear that she must be the one to speak. Only Georgiana could refuse the offer. Her cheeks burned as she listened to him, longing for him to finish and yet unsure of what she would say when he did.
“Sir, I thank you for your proposal,” she said, finally. “I do acknowledge the sentiments you have expressed, but I am of a hope that as they arose from less than a fortnight’s acquaintance, they may be suppressed in as short a time. I must decline your proposal.”
“Oh, of course, the lady demurs on lack of time for acquaintance,” Mr. Davis said, reaching out and patting her hand. “I understand, my Georgiana. We should have a long engagement so that you may have more time to get to know me. I am sure you will need time to grow used to the separation from your family, as well.”
“Sir, I do not believe you are comprehending me. I have declined your proposal. I do not believe there is any reason to speak any further on the matter.”
“Miss Darcy, I can hardly believe you would decline such an offer. Please let me know of your objections so that I may do away with them.”
Georgiana could not believe the gall of this man! To continue to press his suit when she had clearly declined him twice spoke of more terrible manners than she had originally suspected of him. She wanted nothing more than to run out of the drawing room; she did not know what she could say to make him leave and end such a horrible discussion. She opened her mouth to speak again, but Mrs. Annesley spoke before her.
“I believe the lady has made her regrets clear enough,” Mrs. Annesley said. “I would suggest that you leave now.”
When he made no such move to do so, and continued on discussing his merits and those of his estate, particularly when it was enlarged with Georgiana’s thirty thousand pounds, Mrs. Annesley rose and walked over to the drawing room door. Georgiana feared for a moment she was going to leave them – how could Mrs. Annesley do such a thing as to abandon her now? Soon enough, though, she saw that Mrs. Annesley was talking to Mr. Miller, who had noticed a tension in the room on announcing Mr. Davis, and stayed near the doorway in case assistance was needed.
After a few painful minutes, Georgiana saw her brother stride through the doorway, his face tight with fury. Georgiana could only remember him looking this way once before, when she had confessed her intent to elope with Mr. Wickham, and he had called Mrs. Younge into the room to speak with her.
Mr. Davis rose to bow to Darcy, perhaps expecting an introduction to be made. None was forthcoming, however.
“You, sir, will leave this house at once, and you will not return,” Darcy said. “The lady has made her refusal quite clear.”
Under such a command, and with Mr. Miller standing beside her brother, and both of them looking as though they would pick him up and throw him bodily out if necessary, Mr. Davis did finally leave, to Georgiana’s extreme relief.
She found herself much caressed by her family in the wake of his exit. She shakily thanked her brother, Mrs. Annesley, and Mr. Miller for their assistance, and felt Elizabeth press a glass of wine into her hand. She overheard Mrs. Annesley telling her brother that there had been nothing lacking in Georgiana’s refusal; the man had simply been too stupid and too short of manners to cease. She took some comfort in this – part of her had feared she had not refused him properly, and that was what had made his proposal so interminable. She felt even better when Elizabeth recounted a proposal she had received, before Mr. Darcy had offered for her, that had also seemed to go on without end, no matter what Elizabeth had said.
Georgiana drank the wine, and felt her spirits gradually revive. Catherine and Mary came into the room, as well, offering such support as they could provide. She turned down Mary’s offer to practise their duets together, as she was not yet feeling up to the concentration required for music, but when Catherine suggested they go shopping as a diversion, she agreed to the scheme, and if Georgiana’s hand was still a bit shaky as her brother helped her into the carriage, the look on her face was complacent enough that he let them go willingly, assured that this would not be so much a setback for his sister as Mr. Wickham had been.
Chapter 8
The days before Lady Catherine’s dinner passed quietly. Georgiana was relieved to find that Mr. Davis did not attend Lady Tonbridge’s next musical evening, and found she could finally enjoy the company and the music to its fullest extent. Everyone continued to take great care around her – Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth, and Mrs. Annesley especially – but she assured them she was fine. She had been discomfited in the moment, but suffered no permanent harm from it.
She did not have any enthusiasm for attending Lady Catherine’s dinner, but rather saw it as the final obstacle she must overcome before the ball, which she did have the deepest anticipation for. She and Kitty had been practising their dancing every morning, and she felt quite ready to dance in company.
The object of her aunt’s intentions became clear as soon as they arrived, and introductions were made. In attendance were the Duke of Bolton, and his sons: Stephen Mallory, who went by the title Viscount Burnley; and Alfred Mallory, whom, as the second son, was introduced almost as an afterthought by Lady Catherine. Georgiana knew her aunt might have preferred to see her own daughter Anne married to the heir to a dukedom, but as Anne’s health had not allowed her to come out, Lady Catherine would focus her efforts instead on seeing whether she could get her niece so married.
She found her aunt steering her to sit beside Viscount Burnley in the drawing room before dinner, although she took an almost immediate dislike of him. His dress showed him to be part of the set of fast young men in town even before his manners did, and all he could speak of was of how he had won or lost at cards on this or that evening, and of nights he had spent in various frivolities with his friends. Georgiana’s one consolation was that he did not seem to have any interest in her at all, and so she felt she was in no danger of suffering another proposal of marriage from a man she disliked anytime soon.
Lady Catherine had arranged the seating carefully, so that precedence was generally observed, particularly for the duke and duchess, but Georgiana was forced to sit beside Viscount Burnley through the course of the dinner. Now he spoke of the food, comparing it against other dinners he had been to, before returning to cards. Georgiana was grateful when Elizabeth drew her in to a far livelier conversation about books she was having with Lord Alfred.
Georgiana found herself sought out by the younger son, when the gentlemen had returned to the drawing room after dinner. He took a seat beside her, and said, quietly: “Tell me, did my brother speak of nothing but gambling, or did he perhaps broach the topic of horse racing, as well?”
Georgiana laughed in spite of herself, but could think of no appropriate response.
“Ah, you are too polite to say anything in censure,” he said. “I have spent too much time with him to be so discreet. I had hoped perhaps we might be able to continue our conversation from dinner – we had just broached Shakespeare, I believe, and Shakespeare is a topic I would not like to see uncanvassed. But do let me know if you would prefer I talk about cards, or horses. Or perhaps fencing is more to your interest?”
“No, I should much prefer Shakespeare,” she said, smiling.
Georgiana considered Lord Alfred. He was a young man of three- or four-and-twenty, perhaps not quite fully handsome, but still very pleasant to look at, and he possessed an amiable air that was nothing like his pompous brother. Like his brother, he was quite tall, but his clothes were conservative, although well-tailored. She realised with a little thrill that he was the first man she had met in quite a while that she would not mind furthering her acquaintance with, although this realisation was followed immediately by the thought that she knew nothing about him, and must still be very careful with her heart.
They talked only with each other for much of the rest of the evening, and this did not go unnoticed by the others in the room. Lady Catherine was disappointed Georgiana had not gone for the first son, but still felt that any connection with a family as powerful as the Duke of Bolton’s would be useful, and could help make up for her nephew’s unfortunate marriage. Darcy and Elizabeth felt a great deal of relief that she had not shown any interest in the first son, and Darcy intended to tell her as much the next day.
Rather than calling her into his study after breakfast, which he knew would draw attention, he instead asked if she might like to go for a ride in Hyde Park. Georgiana had been raised by a horse-loving father and brother, and riding, to her, was a natural part of life. She realised it had been quite some time since she had ridden – Elizabeth did not like it, and Mary and Catherine were indifferent – and eagerly agreed to the scheme.
They made a handsome pair, the brother on his tall bay stallion and the sister on her lovely grey mare, and were noted as such by more than a few people as they made their way down Rotten Row. Both horses were a bit skittish from want of exercise, and they cantered back and forth along the Row quite a few times before finally slowing to a walk.
“I am glad to see I did not have to warn you away from Viscount Burnley,” Darcy said. “That man is clearly a rake.”
“I know Lady Catherine would like me to marry the heir to a dukedom,” Georgiana said, following the rush of relief brought by her brother’s statement. “You and Elizabeth do not feel the same?”
“I should not mind if you married the heir to a dukedom, as long as it was not that particular dukedom,” Darcy said. “Georgiana, you know that Elizabeth and I were fortunate enough to make a love match. You have sufficient fortune to do the same, and that is what we would like to see for you. Granted, I would prefer you not fall in love with a chimney sweep if you can help it.”
Georgiana laughed and thanked her brother for his reassurance.
“I did find I enjoyed Lord Alfred’s company,” she ventured to add.
“We noticed that,” Darcy said. “He seems to have far more sense than his brother. I could hint to your aunt that it would be good for the two of you to be in company with each other more often, if you would like that.”
“Yes, I believe I would. Thank you, Fitzwilliam.”
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Georgiana spent the day of the ball in a state of nervous excitement. She did not want to practise her dancing, for fear of making herself too tired for the actual event, and she lacked the concentration for music practise or reading. They had no callers, so she resorted to sitting in the conservatory with Catherine while her friend drew a succession of rather well-done ladies outfitted in elegant ballgowns, both of them chattering their anticipation. Would there be a waltz? How many partners would there be? How large was the Allens’s ballroom?
It was a relief when Elizabeth finally came into the conservatory and noted they might go upstairs to dress and have their hair done. But Georgiana’s lady’s maid, Miss Hughes, was both quick and good in her role, and Georgiana found herself rapidly dressed and her hair done up so perfectly that even a nervous debutante could not find fault with it, and she was the first lady to return downstairs. This was the first in a succession of new ball gowns she was to wear, and she enjoyed the way the silk swished around her feet as she walked down the stairs. Her brother was already there, emerging from his study, and he gave her a very strange look as he approached her.
