Page 69 of The Secret Diary of Anne de Bourgh

“I came to apologise.”

“You need not…” Georgiana came towards me.

“Yes, I do. You were trying to be kind, and I was very unkind in return.”

Her face had begun to take on the expression which I had found so unbearable before. I looked down at the music.

“I am sorry that I spoke to you so. You had done nothing wrong.”

“I am not angry with you,” Georgiana said gently. “I was only sorry that you were unhappy.”

I swallowed. “I know.”

She took my hand, and this time I permitted it.

For a little while neither of us said anything. Then she asked whether I would help her find a piece which had somehow become separated from its other pages.

I was very grateful to have something to do.

We discovered it among music she had not played for several weeks, and carried the whole collection into the next room to put it properly in order.

By luncheon, I felt rather less afraid of seeing everybody.

Nobody asked me why I had remained upstairs. Elizabeth wished me good morning and passed me the salt. Darcy asked whether Georgiana had found what she was looking for, and Kitty began to tell me about a letter which had arrived from Mrs Gardiner with exceedingly exciting news.

Mr Ackermann wishes to publish one of her designs.

There is to be an alteration to the cuffs, which Kitty considers unnecessary, but even this objection did not prevent her from looking very happy as she told me.

“He says they are too elaborate.”

“Are they?” I asked.

“No!”

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows.

“Perhaps a little,” Kitty conceded. “But that is why I liked them.”

Mrs Gardiner had sent the drawing back with the letter so that Kitty might make the requested change. After luncheon we all went to look at it.

I remembered the gown at once.

“It is the one I wished to wear! Oh Kitty, this is so exciting.”

“I know.” Kitty looked pleased. “I have not altered the sleeves where they troubled you.”

“Then I shall be quite satisfied, whatever you do to the cuffs.”

Mary suggested a simpler arrangement, which Kitty rejected, considered, and then began to draw upon a separate sheet, Georgiana hanging over her shoulder.

I was glad to be there. Kitty had been so generous in making all of us look our best that I should have been very sorry to miss her pleasure in having her work appreciated elsewhere.

I told her so, and she looked up from her drawing.

“Then you must sit for me again when I have finished this.”

“I thought you had done with me?”