An (Un)believably Artful Theft (Love’s Little Helpers #4)

Chapter 28

CHAPTER 28

W atching his sister pale under Mrs. Hurst’s scrutiny, who knew very well what assumptions the lady would make if she knew Georgiana had been walking without a chaperon when the regiment was camping at Meryton, Darcy felt angry.

After all he and Richard had done to save his sister’s reputation at Ramsgate! How could she act in such a way that she might place herself under the thumb of a ton -pleaser like Mrs. Hurst? Had he not impressed upon her how easily a lady’s reputation could be ruined? Voices echoed in his mind, the sounds of malicious gossip spreading beyond his ability to contain. Why had Georgiana sneaked out of the house? Where had she gone, and why had she risked being observed by a woman whose discretion could not be trusted?

His head pounded, which must explain why he did not hear the front door open or the heavy footsteps and petulant whining preceding Bingley into the parlor. Miss Bingley was in high dudgeon. She pointed at her brother. “He promised to host a ball.”

Mrs. Hurst finally looked away from Georgiana to smile disapprovingly at her sister for her unbecoming display. “Surely, you can find no fault with?—”

“In nine days!” Miss Bingley interjected.

To this exclamation, Mrs. Hurst had no ready reply. However, the look she gave her brother showed clearly where her sympathies―and lack thereof―lay.

Bingley ruffled Archie’s fur, ignoring his sisters entirely. “And where did you go off to, old boy?”

Whether Bingley’s imperviousness was a form of self-preservation or a skill learned from a lifetime of practice, Darcy could not determine. His timing was perfect, and Darcy was grateful for the interruption it had provided. Mrs. Hurst, in her shock and anger, had forgot Georgiana… at least for now.

“Do not ignore me, Charles. You created this mess,” hissed Miss Bingley, hands on her hips.

“Yes, Caro, you have made your vexation plain not just to me but also to our guests. It is true that I promised to host a ball here, but it need not be an extraordinary affair. Louisa and I will help.”

Miss Bingley clenched her hands, her tone displaying a control which would make most brothers worry. “And give them reason to criticize us? No, Charles, our reputation depends on us exceeding their expectations, or else word will get back to London that we have become countrified and dull and are unable to afford the extravagances expected of those in our position.”

“Our position? What concern is it of ours what people in town think of us? They are not here.”

“Only a fool would discount the opinion of the ton . Do you care nothing for our father’s wishes?”

“Of course, I do, which is why I wish to arrange a gathering wherein we can extend our hospitality to our closest neighbors and get to know them better.”

“And dance with their handsome daughters,” muttered Richard loudly enough for Bingley to grin his agreement.

Mrs. Hurst rolled her eyes. “Caro is right in this, Charles. We will be judged by our friends in the ton if our arrangements fail to meet our usual standard. This cannot be a small affair.”

“Your friends are much harsher and demanding than mine. I would encourage you to find better ones.”

Darcy inwardly applauded Bingley’s good advice. Richard nodded in agreement.

And then Bingley turned to Darcy. “What do you think, Darcy? You are in the first circles.”

“At times, I would rather not be.” Now was one of those times. Darcy would never ask his sister to host more than a small dinner party with only nine days to plan but could not say that without seeming to side with Miss Bingley.

“You are too modest.” She tittered and waved off his reply as if he could not possibly have meant it.

Bingley plucked a bur off Archie’s coat and held it up. “Where did you get this, you rascal? I will have you know that I searched the house high and low! You were out of doors the whole time? How did you get out?”

Mrs. Hurst looked at Georgiana as one did who had power over the other. “Archie prefers Miss Darcy’s company over yours, Charles. Who can blame him?”

So she had not fallen asleep in front of the window as she had claimed. Just what had she seen?

Georgiana shrugged. “My apologies, Mr. Bingley. I should have told you sooner, but Archie accompanied Miss Elizabeth and me for a walk out of doors. Cook gave me some bread to feed the ducks.”

Her sensible explanation appeased Darcy somewhat. She still needed to explain to him why she had slipped away without a word and with only Archie for protection until she met with Elizabeth, but at least she was not reliant on Mrs. Hurst’s discretion.

That lady arched a brow. “Eliza Bennet? E-liza Bennet?” she repeated with exaggerated emphasis, though Georgiana had spoken clearly enough.

“Yes, she is known to be a great walker.” That said, Georgiana turned to Bingley, “How exciting for you to host a ball!” Her swift change of subject was suspect, as was the flush tipping her ears and invading her cheeks.

Miss Bingley groaned. “Any ball worth having requires at least six weeks to plan, and he has only given me nine days!”

Richard replied, “If anyone can do it, it is you, Miss Bingley. With Mrs. Hurst’s help, I am convinced it will rival any high society ball either Darcy or I have attended in London. You can show the locals the meaning of fashion. Now, if you will excuse us, I require―and I suspect Darcy does as well―the tasteful eye of our young cousin to select the right waistcoat and cravat for the occasion.” Before any objections could be raised, he ushered Georgiana out of the room.

Darcy followed them, leaving Bingley to toss a ball for Archie and Mrs. Hurst to whisper frantically in her sister’s ear.

Once Darcy closed the library door behind him, Richard crossed his arms, dropped his chin to his chest, and looked intently at Georgiana. “You have some explaining to do, young lady.”

She bowed her head. “I did not stay in my bedchamber.”

“We are aware of that. You had your brother in the grips of panic, and me, too.”

Her eyebrows bunched together in the way they did before she cried. “I—I did not mean to worry you. I only wanted to think, to be on my own.” Twisting her fingers, she spoke rapidly. “Mrs. Annesley is not at fault. I told her I wished to sleep and arranged the pillows in my bed to make it look as though I slept. It was wrong of me, I know, and if I could go back and do it all over again, I would have acted differently.”

Darcy took some comfort in her willingness to accept full responsibility for her actions, but it remained that she had been agitated enough to plan an escape. He had hoped that her heart had forgotten George Wickham by now, but apparently she had not. What else would trouble her so deeply that she would overlook propriety and her own safety?

She continued, her voice slower and repentant. “I regretted venturing out alone as soon as I lost sight of the house, imagining all the things that could go wrong and how foolish I was being. By then, I had scared myself beyond sense. Fortunately, that was when Archie found Remy and Elizabeth. They returned us to Netherfield Park safely.”

That was kind of Elizabeth, but who would see to her safety? It was apparent that nobody else bothered.

Richard glanced at the clock in the corner. “Miss Elizabeth is likely within sight of Longbourn by now.”

Darcy had to believe it was so. She might feel comfortable walking alone, but if it were up to him, he would start taking long walks just to be with her and ensure she always made it home.

Georgiana wrapped her arms around herself. “She is a far better friend to me than I can be to her, and she was right.” She looked up, her eyelashes glistening with tears.

Both Darcy and Richard took a step toward her, ready to console, but she held her hands up. “I do not love George,” she blurted. “I am convinced that I never did.”

Darcy reached her before Richard did. Whether he held Georgiana up or she held him, he could not say. He was too stunned to know anything at all.

“Why, Georgie?” asked Richard. It was a question which could be interpreted a half dozen different ways, but any answer would give them more understanding than they had presently.

With a sniff, she pulled away from Darcy’s embrace, and he handed her his handkerchief. “I was lonely,” she said. “After Father died, you were so often occupied and away…”

Darcy bowed his head, guilt twisting his stomach. “I should have stayed with you.”

“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “We just grieved differently, that is all. You missed him as much as I did, and you had more demands on your time. Other people depended on you.”

She gave him more credit than he deserved. It had been a relief to keep his mind and body occupied, riding between Pemberley and London and anywhere else he was required to be. Had he not been so selfish, he might have noticed how often Georgiana was alone. “You ought to have been my priority. You are my sister.”

“You did the best you could.”

Her kindness made it worse. “I failed you. Wickham saw what I did not.”

Fire burned in her eyes. “Do not compare yourself to him! He was good at making promises, none of which he ever intended to keep. You, on the other hand, are a man of your word.”

Except when it came to her painting. He still did not know what to do, and it killed him to disappoint her.

She returned his handkerchief, a little damper than it had been, but none the worse for wear. “I know it is still two weeks more before you said we could return to Pemberley, but do you think we might find a reason to leave sooner? Maybe after Mr. Bingley’s ball?”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. I would very much like to return to London for a fortnight before we go to Pemberley.”

“To London?” asked Richard incredulously. London was south of Hertfordshire, farther away from Pemberley. It was a strange request.

“To bid farewell to Aunt and Uncle, of course,” she explained.

A strange request that would lengthen their journey. Well, if she was willing to sit longer in the coach, then Darcy would agree. “Whatever you wish. I only regret we will not be returning with your painting. Not yet.”

Far from looking perturbed at the news, Georgiana looked serene. She even smiled. “I have a feeling everything will be resolved satisfactorily.”

Darcy wished he could be so confident.

There was one thing he was confident he could do right, and he seized his chance. With a bow, he asked, “If walking is what you are fond of, it would be my pleasure to accompany you anytime you wish.”

“Anytime?” she teased.

“Anytime, anywhere.”

“Very well, then I would very much like to return to the duck pond on the morrow.”

“I shall ask Cook to save some bread. ”

“Do I have to invite myself to come, too?” asked Richard.

Georgiana’s brow arched. “Do you require an invitation?”

“Well, it would be nice.”

“As would be your company,” she replied lightly.

Feeling light and eager for the next morning, they left the library and found Bingley walking up the hall. He looked as happy as Darcy felt.

“Louisa wished for me to apologize to you, Miss Darcy, for her and Caro’s absence. They left only minutes ago to call on Lady Lucas.”

Georgiana’s happiness faded. “I did not know that Mrs. Hurst intended to pursue a friendship with Lady Lucas.”

“It took me by surprise, too! Until now, I have had to coerce my sisters to call anywhere with me. Had I known this was how they would react when I asked them to help me throw a ball, I might have done it sooner. Finally, they are taking an interest in our neighbors!”

Georgiana’s smile did not reach her eyes.