Through Pemberley Woods: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Emily Russell

Author:Emily Russell [Russell, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-07-08T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

At Pemberley, Georgiana led them to a saloon where she called for tea. She took a seat beside Elizabeth and with her brother’s encouragement and Elizabeth’s, conversed with her guests. Elizabeth made them all laugh with a lively description of the previous night.

“Your brother, Miss Darcy, dances like an angel. He did not tell you this? How wicked of him. You will never be without a partner as long as he is to hand. I am sure I was the envy of every young lady in the room, as well as every not so young lady.”

Georgiana smiled. “I did not think my brother cared to dance. He has only danced with me occasionally to practice my steps but his friend, Mr Bingley has complained many times he will walk about a ballroom in what he calls a — what he calls a — I am sorry, Fitzwilliam. I mean no disrespect and I only repeat his words — in a stupid manner.”

Elizabeth and Aunt Gardiner burst out laughing. Georgiana’s smile grew in confidence when her brother rolled his eyes but smiled to show he was not at all offended.

“I shall speak sternly to Bingley. He talks too much. I am surprised he has the leisure to notice what I do when he is too busy making himself charming to all the room.”

“He said there had been evenings where you did not dance a single dance,” went on Georgiana a little more boldly. “He says there were many balls when more than one lady was in want of a partner, but you would not ask them.”

“Bingley says far too many things,” said Darcy.

“I should like to meet this Mr Bingley,” said Elizabeth. She gave Darcy an arch smile. “I am sure he could tell us tales of you that would shock us all.”

“You would like Mr Bingley, Miss Bennet,” said Georgiana. “He is so warm and cheerful, is he not, Fitzwilliam? Always in good humour and sees the best in everyone.”

“He sounds exactly like my sister, Jane. She is just such a person. And if he is anything like my dear sister, I can see why he is such a valued companion.”

“He is rather less valued when he tells my sister tales of my doings at balls,” said Darcy. His voice was dry but there was affection in his eyes as he spoke of his friend.

“Or your lack of doings, Mr Darcy. Those poor ladies.”

“I am sure they survived the ordeal.”

“Perhaps, but we shall never know. I read enough novels to know what happens to ladies who are slighted. At best, they will flee to nunneries on the continent. Now, shall we discuss our excursion? Captain Waters will return soon, and then we shall be free to go. I cannot tell you how much I look forward to it, Miss Darcy.”

Georgiana was interrupted from answering when the door opened, and a footman came in, carrying a tray of tea. Mrs Younge followed, and although she smiled, Elizabeth thought she detected the usual hardness in her eyes at the sight of her and her aunt sitting close to the Darcy siblings.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.