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Authors: Abigail Reynolds
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quite warm," Georgiana lied. The relief on Mary's face was all the reward she needed.
***
Darcy awoke from a sweet dream of Elizabeth to the sound of Georgiana's light laughter as the coach rattled over the cobblestone streets of London. "Have you seen something amusing?" he asked.
"No, we were just talking."
At least Georgiana was talking to someone outside the family. Even if it was a kitchen maid, it was progress. The girl looked happier, almost saucy, quite a change from the frightened child of the previous night. Still, as soon as they reached the townhouse, Darcy was relieved to leave the girl in the custody of his housekeeper. With misgivings, he noticed Georgiana looking after her retreating form. He had not thought of having to explain his actions to his sister. He hardly knew how to explain them to himself.
"Fitzwilliam?" Georgiana asked shyly.
"Yes?"
"Could Mary be an upstairs maid?"
"Mary?" He realized he had never asked the girl her name. "I doubt she is prepared for such a role."
"She could learn, could she not? She is quite mannerly and pleasant."
"We shall see." He did not like to refuse Georgiana anything, though he would personally be happier if the girl stayed out of his sight in the kitchens. "You have taken quite an interest in her, it seems."
"It must be so strange for her, coming from the countryside. London can be overwhelming." She sounded almost wistful.
He was definitely seeing a new side of Georgiana. He had always assumed she would want a fine house in town and a noble husband. Apparently he had been wrong about that, as he had been about many other things. Georgiana was happier talking to a kitchen maid than among the riches of Rosings. She would like Elizabeth, too, with her lack of pretensions. Elizabeth would be a far better sister to Georgiana than any lady of the ton. But his family would never stand for it.
Suddenly he knew his decision was made. Careful alliances be damned. "Georgiana, dearest, do you remember when I wrote to you of Miss Elizabeth Bennet?"
Georgiana looked up, her cheeks still rosy from the cold air. "The one who was impertinent to Lady Catherine?"
He smiled in recollection. "The very same. I saw her here in town recently. Perhaps I can introduce you to her. I think you would like her."
She looked at him in surprise, but with a smile. "I would like that."
Chapter 6
It was a challenge for Elizabeth when Mr. Griggs called. She knew her duty to her family, but it was hard to be charming when she wished he were someone else. She must put Mr. Darcy from her mind and learn to think of the challenges facing her family and how she could relieve them by marrying Mr. Griggs. Especially as weeks had gone by without seeing Mr. Darcy, but that was just as well. His intentions were unlikely to be honourable. Perhaps that was why he had vanished; he had realized she would not accept such a role.
The thought was amusing in its own way. If she really wished to assist her family, becoming Mr. Darcy's mistress would do more than marrying Mr. Griggs. He would presumably be generous, and she could pass that generosity along. It was such a ridiculous conceit that she could not help smiling, grateful that Mr. Griggs lacked the ability to read her mind. He would hardly be pleased by her train of thought.
Or perhaps he would think her practical. In the sort of society Mr. Darcy frequented, mistresses were a normal part of life, and there was nothing unusual about them appearing in public with their protectors, as if there were no shame attached to their status. Truly, many gentlemen seemed to treat their mistresses better than their wives.
She could never disrespect herself so, though. Despite the guilty appeal of the idea of being with Mr. Darcy, she could never accept the idea that he would eventually marry another woman and go home to her at night, that her own children would be baseborn, while another woman's would carry Mr. Darcy's name. A chill went through her. What was
***
Darcy awoke from a sweet dream of Elizabeth to the sound of Georgiana's light laughter as the coach rattled over the cobblestone streets of London. "Have you seen something amusing?" he asked.
"No, we were just talking."
At least Georgiana was talking to someone outside the family. Even if it was a kitchen maid, it was progress. The girl looked happier, almost saucy, quite a change from the frightened child of the previous night. Still, as soon as they reached the townhouse, Darcy was relieved to leave the girl in the custody of his housekeeper. With misgivings, he noticed Georgiana looking after her retreating form. He had not thought of having to explain his actions to his sister. He hardly knew how to explain them to himself.
"Fitzwilliam?" Georgiana asked shyly.
"Yes?"
"Could Mary be an upstairs maid?"
"Mary?" He realized he had never asked the girl her name. "I doubt she is prepared for such a role."
"She could learn, could she not? She is quite mannerly and pleasant."
"We shall see." He did not like to refuse Georgiana anything, though he would personally be happier if the girl stayed out of his sight in the kitchens. "You have taken quite an interest in her, it seems."
"It must be so strange for her, coming from the countryside. London can be overwhelming." She sounded almost wistful.
He was definitely seeing a new side of Georgiana. He had always assumed she would want a fine house in town and a noble husband. Apparently he had been wrong about that, as he had been about many other things. Georgiana was happier talking to a kitchen maid than among the riches of Rosings. She would like Elizabeth, too, with her lack of pretensions. Elizabeth would be a far better sister to Georgiana than any lady of the ton. But his family would never stand for it.
Suddenly he knew his decision was made. Careful alliances be damned. "Georgiana, dearest, do you remember when I wrote to you of Miss Elizabeth Bennet?"
Georgiana looked up, her cheeks still rosy from the cold air. "The one who was impertinent to Lady Catherine?"
He smiled in recollection. "The very same. I saw her here in town recently. Perhaps I can introduce you to her. I think you would like her."
She looked at him in surprise, but with a smile. "I would like that."
Chapter 6
It was a challenge for Elizabeth when Mr. Griggs called. She knew her duty to her family, but it was hard to be charming when she wished he were someone else. She must put Mr. Darcy from her mind and learn to think of the challenges facing her family and how she could relieve them by marrying Mr. Griggs. Especially as weeks had gone by without seeing Mr. Darcy, but that was just as well. His intentions were unlikely to be honourable. Perhaps that was why he had vanished; he had realized she would not accept such a role.
The thought was amusing in its own way. If she really wished to assist her family, becoming Mr. Darcy's mistress would do more than marrying Mr. Griggs. He would presumably be generous, and she could pass that generosity along. It was such a ridiculous conceit that she could not help smiling, grateful that Mr. Griggs lacked the ability to read her mind. He would hardly be pleased by her train of thought.
Or perhaps he would think her practical. In the sort of society Mr. Darcy frequented, mistresses were a normal part of life, and there was nothing unusual about them appearing in public with their protectors, as if there were no shame attached to their status. Truly, many gentlemen seemed to treat their mistresses better than their wives.
She could never disrespect herself so, though. Despite the guilty appeal of the idea of being with Mr. Darcy, she could never accept the idea that he would eventually marry another woman and go home to her at night, that her own children would be baseborn, while another woman's would carry Mr. Darcy's name. A chill went through her. What was
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