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FROM THE COMFORT OF her bedroom, Georgiana Fitzwilliam had an excellent view of the garden. Before her accident, Pemberley's garden was one of her favorite places in the world. She used to stroll its many paths, get lost in the hedges, and count the butterflies and bees. Those days ended long ago.
She sat near the window, as she often did, dreaming of a better life. She imagined herself waltzing by the flowers, tangled in the arms of a handsome gentleman. Like her elder sister, she used to think dancing was a burden. Now that it was no longer possible, she missed it. Georgiana's metal legs were functional enough, but her mobility was sorely limited.
As she gazed at the flowers with longing in her eyes, Georgiana saw something unusual. There were two young men, close to her in age, chasing each other around the garden. It was strange to see boys her age, and even stranger to see them acting in such an ungentlemanly manner.
“They must be servants?” Georgiana tried to guess. “When did my sister hire new servants? She never told me.”
She guessed their status based on their actions, but their attire suggested they were young men of quality. They were handsome as well. The taller boy had curly black hair and round, friendly cheeks. The shorter one had thick brown hair, and was blessed with one of the most adorable smiles in the world.
When he suddenly caught her gaze, his adorable smile was wider than ever. Georgiana turned away from the window with a gasp, closed the curtain, and hoped she was too ordinary to make him curious. She didn't want him to seek her out.
Unfortunately for Georgiana, Lachlan Bennet was a curious young man with an insatiable appetite for mystery. As soon as he saw her face in the window, he needed to know her name. He questioned the groundskeeper until she finally revealed the truth: Darcy Fitzwilliam had a young sister in the house, and she was well-loved by Pemberley's staff. When Lachlan demanded to know more, the woman abruptly dismissed herself, claiming her attention was needed elsewhere.
When Lachlan returned to the garden, Georgiana's face had reappeared in the window, and to his surprise, she didn't recoil or attempt to hide. Lachlan's adorable smile morphed into a devious half-smirk as he wandered around the garden, plucking flower after flower. He bundled pink peonies, primroses and lilies into an impressive bouquet. When he pointed at the bouquet and pointed at her, his mysterious young lady finally retreated from the window.
Lachlan tried to guess her location in the house, based on the position of her window. It wasn't too difficult. He counted windows and counted doors and arrived at what he believed was the correct room.
With his bouquet in one hand, Lachlan rapped on the door.
No response.
A few seconds later, he tried again.
Still no response.
Lachlan was arguably the most persistent Bennet brother. Once his heart was set on a goal, he rarely relented. He took a deep breath, opened the door, and hoped his family wouldn't be thrown out of Captain Fitzwilliam's estate.
As soon as she saw the door opening, Georgiana's mechanical legs carried her across the room as quickly as they could. She dove into bed, pulled her blankets to her chin, and tried to look as normal and calm as possible.
“Greetings, my lady!” Lachlan dipped into a bow as he slipped into her bedchamber. “I apologize for being improper, but... I saw you in the window, and I had to make your acquaintance. After all, only a fool would pass up an opportunity to meet the most beautiful woman in the world!”
It was blatant flattery, and Georgiana was too wise to fall for it. Even so, color crept across her cheeks. “I'm not that beautiful,” she softly objected.
“I disagree. I know beauty when I see it, and your face is one of the fairest I've seen. You took my breath away.” As he showered her with compliments and presented his bouquet, Lachlan slid closer to the young lady's bed. “My name is Lachlan Bennet, my lady. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“Are those flowers for me?” Georgiana's green eyes admired the plethora of flora in Lachlan's outstretched fist.
“Of course.”
Georgiana wanted to accept the bouquet, but if she revealed her arm, she knew she would reveal the scars on her neck and shoulders. So she kept herself buried beneath the blanket. “Uh... put them on the table over there,” Georgiana suggested.
Lachlan laid the flowers on the table at her bedside. “Do you not like them?”
“No. I do. But I'm... cold.”
“Oh dear.” Lachlan's sly smile suddenly faded. “Are you unwell?”
“Perhaps. A bit.” Georgiana was in perfect health, but she needed a reason to stay bundled in blankets. If he thought she was ill, she doubted he would question it. As she eyed the flowers, she said, “You know, Mr. Bennet, it is the woman's job to woo the man, and yet... you seem to be reversing our roles.”
“I like to break from tradition. Now... are you ever going to tell me your name, or will I be forced to guess?”
When he sat at the end of her bed, Georgiana's eyes swelled. He was uncomfortably close to touching one of her metallic legs. “My name is Georgiana Fitzwilliam. I'm the younger sister of Darcy Fitzwilliam.”
“I know. One of your servants told me.” Lachlan smirked at her. “I always thought your sister was pretty, but she doesn't come close to you. The color of your hair is similar, but yours has more luster.”
Once again, she colored at his compliments. “Th-Thank you, Mr. Bennet. You are truly too kind.”
“And your eyes are so green. They're stunning,” he continued. “Are you courting anyone?”
Georgiana chuckled. She had not spoken to a gentleman in nearly a year, let alone, ever thought about courting one. “No!”
“Would you like to court me?” Lachlan's dark eyebrow suggestively wagged.
Georgiana replied with a sobering remark. “We shouldn't be alone together, you know. It isn't proper. You should hope no one learns of this, because it would be harmful for your reputation!”
“I don't care if you ruin me,” replied a winking Lachlan. “If I'm ruined, you'll have to marry me, and I can think of worse fates than being married to the loveliest woman in the world.” He suddenly picked up the book near her feet and read its title. “Frankenstein.”
“I haven't read it yet, but I've heard it's good,” Georgiana said. “It's about an automaton who is brought to life entirely with... artificial parts.”
Lachlan quickly lost interest in Georgiana's novel. Unlike his bookish brothers, he had little interest in fictional stories. “Sounds horrifying,” he dismissively replied.
Georgiana, whose body was partially comprised of artificial parts, was secretly offended by his opinion. “Is it horrifying?”
“Well... yes,” Lachlan said. “Robots are getting better and better every day. What if they rise up and conquer the world?”
Georgiana scowled over her blanket's edge. “That's silly. That would never happen.”
“It could,” Lachlan insisted. “One day, Frankenstein may very well be real.”
Georgiana recommended another book instead: John Eyre.
“I recently finished it,” Georgiana told him. “It's about an orphaned young man who accepts a job as a tutor. He meets Mrs. Rochester, a woman with many secrets. It's one of my favorites.”
Lachlan opened the book, and after reading the first page aloud, he couldn't stop yawning.
“I'll recommend it to my brothers, but... honestly... it's not for me. Sorry.” He returned the book to Georgiana's desk. “I'm not much of a reader.”
“It's alright.” A tiny smile tugged at Georgiana's lips as she watched him move across the room. “Even if you don't like books, I still think you're handsome.”
Lachlan's somnolent eyes suddenly swelled at the compliment. “Do you?”
“Absolutely. Any young lady would think you're quite cute. I happen to think you're a bit of a cad, but I find you intriguing.”
“Good.” He stood at the end of her bed with his arms crossed and his head cocked. His posture exuded poise. For such a young man, Lachlan Bennet had an impressive air of confidence. “May I call on you tomorrow, then?”
Georgiana nibbled her lip in hesitation. Thus far, she had enjoyed his company, but she didn't want to risk getting invested in him. If he knew her secrets, how quickly would he abandon her? How quickly would her heart be hurt? “I... suppose.”
“Good. I shall see you then.” As he slipped through the door, Lachlan added. “Expect more flowers.”