Page 177 of What Change Entails

Georgiana said at the same time, “It is nothing.”

Darcy entered, closed the door behind him, and regarded the table, the string, the guilty dog, and the two young ladies with growing suspicion. “Nothing is rarely so elaborate.”

Lydia stepped in front of Georgiana. “If Miss Bingley should attempt to sit between you and Lizzy at dinner, one might need to retrieve a dropped object.”

“With string?”

“Objects roll.”

“Under tables?”

“Often.”

Georgiana gave up and began laughing into her hand.

Darcy should have reprimanded them. He was older, master of the house, guardian, host, and a man already fighting a losing war against disorder. Instead, he crossed to the table, took the end of the string, and examined the proposed arrangement.

“You would trip a footman.”

Lydia frowned. “Would I?”

“Certainly.”

“That is unfortunate. I like the footmen.”

“Then abandon this strategy.”

Georgiana lowered her hand. “We wished to help.”

“I know.” Darcy set the string upon the table. “And you have helped. Both of you.”

Lydia glanced sideways at Georgiana, then back to him. “Does that mean you shall finally propose?”

Georgiana gasped. “Lydia!”

Darcy stared at Miss Lydia Bennet.

Miss Lydia Bennet stared back with no remorse whatsoever.

“Miss Lydia,” he said, after a moment in which several responses presented themselves and none could be spoken in front of Georgiana, “you will find life easier if you do not ask gentlemen questions they cannot answer.”

She considered this. “That sounds like an answer.”

“It is not.”

“It is a very gentlemanly answer, which means it conceals the true one.”

Georgiana clutched the back of a chair.

Darcy looked toward his sister. “You encourage this?”

“I try not to,” she said weakly.

“You do not try hard,” Lydia accused.

Georgiana’s laughter escaped in a small burst.

Darcy found he could not resent either of them. Their plotting was absurd, improper in conception, and generally doomed by overconfidence, but beneath it lay affection. Lydia’s loyalty had become a shield for Georgiana, clumsy sometimes, but real. Georgiana’s growing courage owed much to that shield. He would be a fool not to honor it.