Page 118 of Dear Friend

“I am very glad to hear it.” Georgiana’s gaze moved between the two women once more, and her curiosity finally overcame her reserve. “I confess I had not expected the resemblance. Had I met you separately, I might easily have mistaken one for the other.”

“You would not be the first,” Elizabeth said, with a glance towards Darcy.

Darcy caught the meaning at once. “Nor, I suspect, the last.”

Georgiana looked between them, plainly aware that she had missed something.

Elizabeth only smiled.

“Do not give Lizzy ideas,” Julia said. “She required very little encouragement even before she discovered she possessed another face with which to cause mischief.”

Elizabeth gave her a look. “You speak as though yours has always been entirely innocent.”

Georgiana laughed, some of her shyness disappearing with it. “I begin to understand why my brother has spoken so much of you.”

Elizabeth glanced towards Darcy. “Has he?”

“Georgiana.”

The warning in his voice only made his sister’s smile brighten. “You are the first lady I have ever known to banish my brother from seeing her. You should have seen him when your letter arrived and removed the banishment.”

“Georgiana.”

Elizabeth stared at her before laughter escaped her. “A banishment?”

“I never called it that,” Darcy said, with a look which suggested he was already reconsidering the wisdom of bringing his sister to Hertfordshire.

“You said you were permitted to see Miss Bennet again,” Georgiana replied. Her confidence deserted her only after the words were spoken, and colour rushed into her cheeks. “Forgive me, Miss Bennet. I ought not to have said so much.”

“On the contrary,” Elizabeth said, still amused. “I had wondered how my letter was received.”

Darcy met her eyes. “With considerably more happiness than my sister has been kind enough to describe.”

Georgiana’s smile returned. “I was attempting to spare you.”

“You have failed remarkably.”

That brought another laugh from Elizabeth, and this time Darcy joined her.

Julia laughed softly beside her, and Elizabeth decided there were entirely too many observant people in the room.

Mrs. Bennet arrived before the matter could progress further and greeted the Darcys with an enthusiasm which would once have astonished Elizabeth. Upon learning they had come from London that morning, she immediately enquired whether Netherfield had been their first destination.

“No, madam,” Darcy replied. “We came directly here.”

Elizabeth's eyes went to him before she could stop them.

He was already looking at her.

Mrs. Bennet, delighted rather than suspicious of this preference, immediately insisted they remain for Christmas dinner. Darcy accepted after only the briefest glance towards Georgiana, who seemed perfectly content with the arrangement, and Elizabeth found herself smiling again.

The conversation had scarcely settled when Darcy turned to Mr. Bennet. “Sir, if I might have a few minutes of your time.”

Mr. Bennet regarded him for a moment before rising. “Certainly.”

Elizabeth watched the two gentlemen leave together for the library and resisted the immediate temptation to wonder what Darcy intended to say. She had little success. Mr. Harding had already explained enough that her father knew both the nature of her understanding with Darcy and what had caused it to become so painfully strained. Whatever Darcy wished to say to him now, Elizabeth could make a very good guess at the subject.

Georgiana spared her from dwelling upon it by asking Julia something of Hertfordshire, and Elizabeth joined their conversation. She liked Miss Darcy increasingly as the young lady's first reserve eased, though every few minutes her attention wandered towards the door despite herself.