Page 63 of A Question of Character

“No restriction beyond the ordinary. Georgiana is not to walk alone, of course, nor receive visitors without your knowledge.”

“Certainly.”

“And the carriage may be used whenever the weather is uncertain.”

“You are very thoughtful, sir.”

Darcy gave a short nod. “I am leaving her in your charge.”

Mrs. Younge lowered her eyes in acknowledgement. “I shall not forget it.”

That ought to have satisfied him.

It did, nearly.

The next morning arrived bright, windy, and salt-scented, with gulls making a scandalous amount of noise above the roofs. Darcy found Barton in the dressing room, arranging shirts with the grave resentment Georgiana had predicted.

“You are displeased,” Darcy observed.

“I am never displeased, sir.”

“That is untrue.”

Barton smoothed a cravat into the portmanteau. “I am professionally inconvenienced.”

“By Kent?”

“By sudden Kent.”

Darcy took up his gloves from the chair. “You may console yourself that Bingley’s suddenness is seldom malicious.”

“I shall try, sir.”

“You need not sound so doubtful.”

“I beg your pardon, sir.”

The apology was delivered with such perfect emptiness that Darcy abandoned the subject.

Georgiana was waiting below when he descended. She wore a morning gown of pale blue, her bonnet hanging by its ribbons from one hand, and her hair arranged more carefully than was usual before breakfast. Mrs. Younge stood a little behind her with a shawl folded over one arm.

“You are going out?” Darcy asked.

“Later,” Georgiana replied. “Mrs. Younge says the wind will lessen by noon.”

“I said it may lessen,” Mrs. Younge corrected with a faint smile.

“That is nearly the same thing.”

“It is not.”

Georgiana accepted the rebuke with good humor. Her spirits were high, nearly too high for a sister whose brother was leaving her for several days. Darcy told himself he was being absurd. He had wished her happier. Now that she was happy, he found a new way to object to it.

The groom brought his horse around to the front. The animal tossed its head, impatient with the wind and the delay. Darcy drew on his gloves and gave Georgiana the instructions he had already given twice the night before.

“You will send for me at once if anything is amiss.”

“Of course.”