The Christmas Heiress by Melanie Rachel

Author:Melanie Rachel [Rachel, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thistlethwaite Press
Published: 2024-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

It was almost two hours after he and Miss Bennet had breakfasted that Mrs. Bennet and Georgiana hurried out the front door of Hollydale. Georgiana, who had been nervous about such an excursion only last evening, smiled fondly at Mrs. Bennet, who was chattering gaily as she approached the waiting carriage. Her voice carried across the drive.

“Oh, Miss Darcy, what a kind brother you have. Such a lovely day for shopping! I am anticipating how darling you will look in one of these . . .” She waved a coloured plate she had removed from The Repository, which she had been pouring over with Georgiana. Darcy had to admit, it would be a fetching style on his sister.

Georgiana followed Mrs. Bennet more sedately, glancing back at Darcy and Miss Bennet as they approached the steps up into the conveyance.

“Brother, I hope you do not mind,” she said, her voice pitched so low that no one else could hear.

He turned away from the other ladies to focus on his sister. “Mind?”

“I know that having left school, I ought not be spending my time shopping.”

Darcy was surprised. “Is that the reason you were uncomfortable when Mrs. Bennet suggested this outing?”

Georgiana nodded solemnly. They were so much alike, he thought as he gazed down at the face that reminded him so much of his mother. They both looked for blame to shoulder where none existed. He would have to improve himself so that Georgiana would have a better example. “My only concern was saving you from a trip you did not wish to make. If you are happy, Georgiana, then so am I.”

The shy smile on her face told Darcy he had, thank goodness, said the right thing. Freedman helped the ladies into the coach and then climbed on the back.

Mrs. Bennet opened the carriage window. “Now, Mr. Darcy, you need not worry about a thing. I will take excellent care of your sister, and we shall have a wonderful time.” The window remained open long enough for them to hear her say to Georgiana, “After the milliner’s, I shall require your assistance at the bookshop, Miss Darcy. I have an idea for a present, you see, perhaps more than one, and you are just the person to assist me.”

Miss Bennet held up a hand in farewell as the carriage trundled away at last. “You have given my mother a gift, Mr. Darcy.”

“How so?”

“She has always wished to have untold wealth at her disposal to dress a daughter. It may not be her wealth or her daughter, but it is close enough.”

He did not move. “Untold wealth?”

“Oh dear,” she said, lowering her arm and turning her attention to him. “You do have a limit on your accounts, I hope?”

He was still for a moment longer. “You are teasing me.”

She laughed lightly. “I am, a bit. Your account at the milliner’s might be strained before the day is out, but Mamma will not make you a bankrupt.”

Miss Bennet had inherited a portion of her father’s teasing humour, though she was kinder when employing it.

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