Page 32 of Near Pemberley

“What are you saying, Charles? Mr. Darcy has danced with many. And he dances with me, always.”

Darcy suppressed an expression of impatience. Miss Bingley’s vanity, tolerable at other times, was particularly unwelcome when connected – even indirectly – with Elizabeth. She could not be mentioned on the same day as Miss Elizabeth, he thought to himself in indignation.

Georgiana looked up with gentle curiosity. “Mr Bingley, you have mentioned, I presume, her sister, Miss Jane Bennet?”

“Yes,” said Bingley readily. “Miss Jane Bennet. The handsomest and sweetest-tempered woman in England – though her sister would never allow me to say so in her hearing.”

Miss Bingley stirred her coffee with unnecessary exactness.

“Miss Eliza is one of five sisters, is she not? A circumstance which must make domestic arrangements particularly lively.” She took a sip. “It is too bad there is not one male amongst them. And I believe their estate is entailed upon a clergyman cousin whom Mr. Bingley once described in terms too charitable to repeat.”

Georgiana smiled faintly. “Oh.”

“Four, yes,” answered Bingley cheerfully as if nothing had been said. “Though Miss Elizabeth and Miss Jane are the eldest.”

Darcy, unwilling to hear the conversation carried further by Miss Bingley’s interference, turned instead towards practical arrangements.

“I had thought,” he said, addressing Bingley and Hurst, “that Mr. Gardiner might enjoy trying the river this morning before dinner, if the weather remains favourable.”

Mr. Hurst looked more interested than he had at any previous point in the morning. “The river?” said he.

“Yes. Mr Gardiner expressed particular admiration for it yesterday. I believe he fishes a good deal. I thought you two could join him.”

“Excellent!” cried Bingley. “We shall accompany him, of course.”

Darcy inclined his head. “I imagined you might wish it.”

Miss Bingley looked up quickly. “And what is to become of the rest of us while the gentlemen disappear in pursuit of trout?”

“Georgiana has kindly offered to attend the ladies during a picnic,” said Darcy.

Georgiana looked momentarily surprised at being thus committed but assented with sweetness.

“Of course, we could settle under my tree. That is close enough to the water. I shall talk to Mrs. Reynolds to have the reclining chairs brought there with pillows and blankets.”

Darcy’s voice remained composed as he thanked his sister. “I had thought of showing the house and gardens to Miss Elizabeth, as Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner have already seen much of them, but Miss Elizabeth has not.”

Mrs. Gardiner, having seen much of the house already, might perhaps prefer repose after the walk through the grounds. Georgiana’s presence would naturally engage Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. There might – at least for some short interval – arise an opportunity of speaking with Elizabeth more freely than circumstance had yet allowed.

The possibility alone was enough to unsettle all his composure afresh.

“I would not mind seeing the house with you as a guide,” said Miss Bingley lightly.

Darcy looked towards her with composed politeness.

“You already know Pemberley exceedingly well, Miss Bingley. I believe my sister had hoped you would remain with her.”

Miss Bingley smiled with studied ease. “Surely Georgiana will not suffer from my absence for half an hour.”

“On the contrary,” said Darcy quietly, “Georgiana seldom enjoys showing the house to strangers, and I think she would feel more comfortable supported by those already known to her.”

Georgiana, who understood her brother’s meaning, looked up with mild surprise and gratitude.

“Indeed, Caroline,” said Bingley cheerfully, before his sister could answer, “you must not desert poor Georgiana to Mrs. Gardiner entirely.”

Miss Bingley coloured slightly, though she laughed.

“You all seem determined to make me useful.”