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Elizabeth smoothed her expression into something cheerful and went to join them.

Chapter 13

Though Darcy loved his home in every season, he had to concede that in the earliest days of spring, Pemberley was not at its best. The gardens were still brown and bare, the fountain in the south courtyard was still turned off to protect it from lingering frosts, and the sky fluctuated between grey and white, apparently abandoning blue entirely from consideration.

The house itself was pleasant, of course, with evidence of his housekeeper’s practiced systems everywhere. Mrs Reynolds had directed Pemberley House since Darcy was a young boy, and the skill she had developed in long years of caring for his family showed in the warm fires, orderly rooms and nearly invisible routines that kept everyone within warm, comfortable, and supplied with everything they might need or want.

Still, there was a coldness in the way that the winter light filtered through the tall windows that made the drawing room feel more chilly than it actually was. Darcy supposed it was rather fitting, however, that Pemberley’s presentation was not at its peak at the moment, as he himself was not exactly at his best either.

He had been pacing about the drawing room for the better part of an hour, unaccountably restless while doing his best to appear that he was not. Georgiana sat at the pianoforte, but had not played a note in the last quarter hour: her way of being nervous while trying to appear calm.

Though, Darcy thought with a tinge of inward amusement, she was having about as much success at that as he was in restraining his restless energy. Georgiana normally played the pianoforte when she was happy, when she was sad, when she was inspired by a particular piece of music, or simply when she didn’t know what else to do with herself. Today, she only shifted on the bench, flipped through her music, and occasionally started a piece only to abandon it, declaring it not right for her mood.

“They will arrive today, I think,” he offered when she looked up at him from her music. It was easily the third or fourth time he had told her.

“Yes,” Georgiana said, as had been her response to this news each time he shared it.

Mrs Annesley set down the embroidery she had been working on and tilted her head to regard Georgiana. “Miss Darcy, I cannot help but notice that you do not seem to be very interested in music today. I wonder if there is something else that might be more to your liking.”

Georgiana flushed slightly at having attention drawn to her restlessness. “I thought I would practise the Haydn,” she said, though her tone indicated that she was not particularly excited by the thought.

“You have practiced it quite a bit already,” Mrs Annesley observed with a small smile, “so I understand why doing so again might not feel inspiring. However, I suspect that there is something else that is occupying your thoughts.” She paused, glancing at Darcy. “Is there something concerning you about meeting Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth, or about visiting with Mr Bingley and his sisters again?”

Darcy watched as his sister twisted her hands nervously in her lap. “I am not… I do not wish to embarrass my brother,” she said, speaking to the selection of music on the stand rather than to either of them. “He has been so kind to everyone in arranging this, and I wish I could be… that I did not…” She stopped for a moment, then seemed to gather herself and try again. “I do not wish to seem awkward and foolish, when everyone else is so easy.”

“I see,” Mrs Annesley said in her warm, comforting voice. “Well, as it is Mr Darcy’s guests who are coming, perhaps he ought to speak to that.” And with that, she looked pointedly at Darcy and gave a slight inclination of her head towards Georgiana. Coming from the mild-mannered Mrs Annesley, who was never less than respectful towards her employer, it was likely the most pointed instruction that lady could bring herself to give.

Darcy was not inclined to dismiss it, even as he found himself uncertain of what to say. He crossed the room and took the chair nearest the pianoforte, then took a long breath.

“You could never embarrass me, Georgiana,” Darcy began. “Especially not by being yourself, or by not having an overabundance of foolish chatter ready to inflict on anyone within range. You may have noticed that I myself do not always have a great deal to add, if the conversation does not inspire a reply.” He smiled at her a little crookedly. “I do not see that as a sign of foolishness in myself, but rather as a reflection of it in those to whom I am speaking.”

Georgiana looked at him rather doubtfully, her expression suggesting that she believed his words to be more kind than truthful, but her companion laughed softly.

“You see, Georgiana?” Mrs Annesley said. “Your brother does not share your concern and does not feel that your behaviour reflects poorly on him. I do not believe that Mr Darcy is much inclined to provide comfortable falsehoods, so you may rest easy that he means what he tells you.”

“I do,” Darcy agreed. He nodded firmly to Georgiana, more than a little amused at how Mrs Annesley was managing them.

Georgiana was silent for a moment, then looked up at him. “What if I cannot think of anything to say to them?”

“Then say nothing and listen,” Darcy said. “Listening is a more important part of conversation than most people realise, and you are quite good at it.” He paused. “And at any rate, Miss Elizabeth in particular is easy company. She will not allow the silence to become uncomfortable.”

Georgiana looked somewhat more interested, even curious, at the mention of Elizabeth. She had asked him about the Bennet sisters twice in the last week, in words so carefully chosen that he felt they were perhaps not asking quite what she wanted to know. He replied with equal care. Darcy was not entirely sure what she had taken from his cautious responses, but as he was not sure what he would want her to conclude, he had not pushed any further.

“What is she like?” Georgiana asked. “Not just that she is easy company.”

Darcy considered this. “She is clever,” he said slowly, “not in a condescending or pert way, but in a way that makes conversation with her worthwhile. And she is…very much herself,” he said. “Most people introduce you first to the best version of themselves they have managed to cultivate, and it takes some time before they reveal their true self. Miss Elizabeth is simply herself, and you find that self is rather good.”

Georgiana was quiet for a moment. “I think I should like that,” she said, with a wistfulness that pained Darcy. “To be simply oneself, and find that it is enough.”

Darcy didn’t know what to say to that, and Mrs Annesley, seeing that he was at a loss, came to his rescue.

“It generally is enough, with the right people,” she said. “Which is, of course, the most important — and difficult — thing: to find the right people.”

Georgiana nodded thoughtfully, and Darcy returned to the window before she could ask him any more questions he could not answer.

Five minutes later he saw them — two carriages, coming down the hill with a caution appropriate to a road at the muddy beginning of spring. He turned to inform the others, but Georgiana was watching him.

“Are they coming?” she asked eagerly.