Page 24 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

Half an hour later, Elizabeth slipped out to write a note for Georgiana, which she left with her book under the sleeping girl’s arm. She prayed the book could continue to comfort her as she mourned. When her time was up, Elizabeth softly kissed Georgiana’s forehead and whispered her goodbyes.

“Lizzy!”

“Sleep now, my friend. I must depart, but I left you a note, and your brother will arrive soon.”

“Mmm.” Georgiana’s eyes fluttered shut again, and she was asleep.

Chapter Thirteen

June continued as May had, until young Mr. Bingley returned from school. His sisters insisted he escort them about town. Caroline and Elizabeth were not yet out, but they could join Louisa and Mr. Hurst and the Bingley father and son for strolls through Hyde Park and to museums. Mr. Bingley even arranged an evening at the theater for them all, including Aunt and Uncle Gardiner. Louisa was rarely to be seen in July, however, as Mr. Hurst’s mother had arrived in town to plan the wedding. She was married at the end of July and departed on a three-month tour with her new husband.

The quality of Caroline’s conversation did not improve as the quantity increased. With her sister gone, she clung to Elizabeth more. Though they had little in common, Elizabeth also wished to maintain the connection. She had not formed friendships with any other young ladies in London and had received no news from Uncle Bennet about her education.

Caroline, who celebrated her seventeenth birthday at the beginning of August, had refused to have a music master during her summer holiday, but the two girls continued their weekly painting lessons, and they had added dancing lessons, as planned. With the loss of Louisa and Mr. Hurst, they took turns dancing with Mr. Bingley and the dancing master. Previously, Elizabeth had danced with only her female cousins, and she tried to imagine Mr. Bingley as a suitor. His boyish grin and flopping curls merely made her laugh, however, and she knew she could never think of him in that way. She even called him Charles now, at his request, and he called her Lizzy, as though she were another sister.

Before Elizabeth was ready for the summer to end, Caroline returned to her seminary. Elizabeth knew Charles would not return to Oxford until mid-October, but she would not see him now that Caroline was gone. Elizabeth thought she may not see much of the family at all going forward. The Bingleys’ lease on the London townhouse would end with September. At that time, Charles would stay with friends until returning to Oxford, while his father would return to his factories in the north. Caroline expected her father would take a townhouse again the following spring, as she would have her first Season, but Elizabeth knew she would not be included in any of the amusements.

One evening shortly before Caroline departed for her seminary, Elizabeth asked her uncle for help.

“Has Uncle Bennet given you any indication of his intentions for my further education?” She had come to his study while he worked at his desk, and he had invited her to sit opposite him.

“No. I know you send him frequent letters. Does he not respond?”

Elizabeth shook her head. She had received one letter from Mary this summer but nothing from her uncle since shortly after Easter. Her uncle had always been attentive to her when she had lived at Longbourn, and she felt his loss acutely.

“I assumed you were settling everything between you, aside from the painting and dancing masters you share with Miss Bingley that you asked me to help fund. Do you mean to say nothing is decided for this autumn?”

“Nothing I am aware of, sir. My Uncle Bennet will not reply to my letters.”

Uncle Gardiner appeared surprised and only looked at her for a few moments. He tapped his quill on his blotter absently as he turned his gaze out the window. He inhaled slowly before turning back to her.

“Were you close to your uncle at all, before you came to London?”

Elizabeth was surprised by the question and by the instant tears that threatened to fall. She held them back with effort.

“We were. We spent hours together most days. In the orchards and fields when I was younger and in his study for my lessons when I was older. I had thought…I had thought it would always be thus, though of course I know now that was a foolish idea.”

Uncle Gardiner looked at her with such sympathy that a few tears did fall, but she swiped them away quickly.

“Your Uncle Bennet is a good man. My sister was fortunate to have attracted his notice. His notice is easily lost, however.”

Elizabeth breathed in sharply. She had lost Uncle Bennet’s regard?

“I do not mean to say he does not love you, Lizzy,” Uncle Gardiner was quick to say. “He will likely wish to engage you in as much conversation as ever when you next visit Longbourn. It is only that his attention is fleeting. He concerns himself with what is immediately before him and neglects what he cannot at present see.”

“So, he does not think of me because I am not there.”

Mr. Gardiner gave her a look of pity that made her sit up straight and refuse to cry again.

“I am sure he thinks of you, my dear. He has never been much for correspondence, however, and he procrastinates what he feels can wait.”

Elizabeth swallowed. “What am I to do, then, sir?”

“I shall write to your uncle this evening, and we will begin enquiring into masters ourselves.”

“Thank you, Uncle!”

She would also continue to write to Uncle Bennet, whom she loved dearly, but she would try to accept that he was not likely to respond often.