Read Online The Gypsy Blessing by Wendi Sotis - Free Book Online Page B

said to Jane, “I wonder what Mrs. Younge could have said to cause Miss Darcy to say that she was not at home?”
    “What makes you think that Miss Darcy was at home?”
    “I saw her at the window... or I should say that I only saw the curtain move, but my instincts tell me that it was Miss Darcy watching us.”
    “It does not have to mean anything nefarious, Lizzy. Yesterday, she did mention that the reason she was not at the family’s estate this summer was that she had spent a good part of the winter ill with influenza and wished to take the sea air. She might have expected to be well enough to receive visitors today, but when the time came, she was feeling fatigued.”
    “I suppose—I do hope she is well. Perhaps we should call again tomorrow?”
    “It might be perfectly acceptable to do so in the country, but I am not certain that is entirely proper for the London set to call the next day. I think we had best leave it up to Aunt Gardiner’s discretion. She did leave her card.”
    “Yes, she did.” I have a bad feeling about this.
    ~%~
    July 26, 1811
    Georgiana looked up expectantly from her embroidering when the butler entered the room with a small silver tray. “Is that the post, Barnes?”
    “Yes, miss.”
    He walked across the room to Mrs. Younge, who took her letter from the tray, saying, “It is from my sister, in Bath.”
    Georgiana could not hide her disappointment.
    The butler turned to his mistress and said, “Miss Darcy, there is a gentleman at the door, a Mr. George Wickham. Since you are not receiving visitors, I was about to send him away, but then he mentioned he is a particular friend of the family—”
    “Mr. Wickham?” Georgiana’s face lit up with a smile and a blush. “Yes, of course I will see him, Barnes.”
    Barnes bowed and left the room. Georgiana stood and shook the wrinkles from her gown, then sat again, smoothing the material. Her mind was in turmoil, memories of the handsome young man she had always fancied herself in love with swirling through her head. He could not have thought of her in any other way than a little girl back then—but now she was grown! Adjusting her posture to sit in the straightest manner she could manage, she followed Mrs. Younge’s example and took up her embroidery. A few moments later, Wickham was shown in. The ladies put their work aside and rose.
    “Miss Darcy!” Wickham bowed. “What a pleasure it is to see you again. From the moment I heard that you and your brother were in town, I could not help but wish to visit.”
    Georgiana looked down to hide her blush as she curtsied. “And you, sir. It has been so long. Mr. Wickham, may I introduce Mrs. Younge, my companion?”
    The two exchanged the barest of civil greetings.
    “Will you not sit down?” Georgiana gestured towards a chair across from her.
    Once they were settled, an awkward silence followed. Responding to a significant look from Mrs. Younge, Georgiana spoke again, her voice trembling, “I apologize that my brother is not here to greet you. He had business in London and then will spend a few days at Pemberley before returning to Ramsgate.”
    “I am sorry to have missed him, but perhaps I will see him at some later date. How delightful it would be to reminisce about Pemberley and Cambridge.”
    “I have often enjoyed listening to my brother and cousins recall tales of their time spent at Pemberley and Matlock in their youth.” Her intonation was still measured, but she seemed to be a bit more comfortable than before. “You have often been included in their stories.”
    For an instant, Wickham’s face betrayed a touch of surprise, but almost immediately, an easy smile replaced it. “And how are Colonel Fitzwilliam and the Viscount?”
    The two continued in the same vein, Georgiana bringing him up to date on the accomplishments of her family. Wickham slowly returned the conversation to Pemberley, recalling several occasions when the two had spent time together in their younger