Noting that his cousin stared ahead but suspecting he saw little of the street before them, Colonel Fitzwilliam sighed. Here was a conundrum, and he wondered if Darcy had realised its implications. Somehow, judging by the preoccupation upon his features and the fact that he had said nothing, he suspected that he did not recognise the imminent danger. If Harington’s inference was what it seemed, his mother was on her way to Bath, and might that not lead to her other son and the future Mrs Nicholas Harington arriving there too?
The Colonel threw his cousin a further glance as they strode into Laura Place. They were but moments from their aunt’s lodgings. There was no opportunity now for putting forward such a supposition. He would wait until they were safely ensconced back in Brock Street and trust to an opportunity to reveal his suspicions. It would not surprise him if they were in the carriage and on their way to Bristol docks by nightfall to await the first possible sailing.
~o0o~
Having been persuaded by her cousin to take a chair back to her lodgings, that she might not alarm her mother by any breathlessness – an attention she admitted she would prefer to avoid – Anne de Bourgh arrived in Great Pulteney Street a little ahead of the others.
Thus, she was in the hall, divested of her outdoor garments when Georgiana, Mrs Annesley and Mrs Jenkinson were admitted by the butler, and as her cousin removed her Spencer and bonnet she sent the two ladies to the small sitting room to partake of their tea together. Then, taking Georgiana firmly by the arm, she led her upstairs, only to be greeted by Lady Catherine thus:
“Ah, there you are, Anne. Darcy has called upon you, as you see. Come, greet your cousin.”
Throwing Georgiana a lightning glance, Anne bowed her head and walked slowly across the room, offering a cursory curtsey to both her cousins, who had got to their feet upon the ladies entering the room, before taking a seat as far from her mother as possible.
Georgiana, who knew she would have to bear examination from her aunt, glanced at her brother who gave her a somewhat strained smile that she put down to the company before turning to face Lady Catherine, who looked her up and down critically for a moment.
“You are somewhat dishevelled, girl. You must learn to take a chair rather than walk everywhere. It is not good for your attire to be so – so –” she waved a dismissive hand. “So disturbed.”
Georgiana cast a quick glance down at her clothing. Seeing little amiss other than a button of her sleeve being undone, a situation she quickly remedied, and the bow below her bodice had come loose, she threw her brother a beseeching look, but before he could come to her aid, the Colonel spoke.
“I think fresh air and exercise are more beneficial than such fastidiousness of dress, Aunt. Georgiana, you look very well.”
Giving him a grateful smile, Georgiana hurried to join Anne on the couch, hoping that attention would be diverted from her.
“You were out far too long, Anne.” Lady Catherine turned her eye upon her daughter, who bore her scrutiny with little expression upon her face. “You should not wait to take the waters. Your rank alone should secure you immediate attendance.”
Anne said nothing to this, merely returning her mother’s stare with one of her own.
The Colonel cleared his throat. “Well, Aunt, you were about to inform us of some piece of intelligence, I believe, before the ladies joined us.”
Lady Catherine’s beady eye roamed over Georgiana to Darcy and then to the Colonel before she spoke. “Indeed, I was! It is not a pleasing report, as such, but news is sparse as the Season draws to a close, and one must make do with what one can.”
She gestured towards the side table against the far wall that held various books and papers.
“I happened upon last week’s Chronicle and came across a name that intrigued me – Harington.”
With a start, Georgiana looked quickly over at her brother, but he displayed little surprise, merely exchanging a glance with the Colonel.
“I was curious, the name having been raised so recently in my company. Then, I was called upon this very morning by Lady Gwendolyn Giles,” she broke off to fix Darcy with a beady eye. “You will recall the Sellwoods, of course. Terribly well to do, a connection worth courting, as I have cautioned you often, Darcy.” She gave a flick of her head as her gaze swept the room and Georgiana pressed herself back into the seat as she came under her aunt’s scrutiny. “She knows everybody who is anybody, so I asked her about these Haringtons. It appears they are old acquaintances of hers, and she had only this morning received word from the matriarch that she descends upon Bath herself this very day!”
It took Georgiana a few moments to realise what it was that her aunt might be about to disclose, and when she did, she threw Anne a frantic look. Her cousin frowned at her but before Georgiana could whisper her concern, the Colonel spoke.
“Let us not indulge in idle gossip, Aunt. Let us talk of the pleasures of Bath. Have you had the opportunity to attend any events since your arrival? Anne is looking particularly well – I am certain she could well avail herself of all sorts of amusements here.”
“We have only been to the gallery thus far. Anne was tired by the travelling, for we were on the road three days in all. She has taken the waters, but yesterday we were confined to the house by the inclement weather.”
“Well, we must ensure that we find opportunity for Anne to enjoy some entertainment before the Season finally draws to a close, must we not? Indeed, there will be fewer people here now that May is progressing, and that will mean less crush, which I am sure you will agree is beneficial, Aunt.”
Lady Catherine nodded, and then she sat up straight. “Precisely, Fitzwilliam. And on that note, it reminds me of what I wished to speak. We are, as you know, here at a time when most fashionable people will be returning to Town. Which leads me neatly to my point…”
“Brother!” Georgiana’s interruption was unexpected, and all faces turned to look at her, something she wished to avoid at all costs, but conscious as she was of the danger of her aunt revealing something she might have learned before she herself had chance to acquaint her brother was unthinkable.
“Georgie?” Darcy’s concern was apparent as he came across the room to where his sister sat. “Are you unwell?”
“Yes – yes, I am. I feel – somewhat light-headed. Could we, do you think, return home directly?”
Darcy frowned as he studied her flushed complexion. It was apparent that he did not think she looked in danger of fainting away. He patted her hand and walked over to a long table between the windows, pouring a glass of water from the pitcher there and bringing it over to her.
“Here, drink this and take a few deep breaths. When you are feeling more yourself we will head back so that you may rest. You are possibly fatigued from the journey.”
Georgiana sipped at the unwanted water, exchanging a quick look with Anne.
“My point,” Lady Catherine continued, throwing Georgiana a withering look, “being that no people of fashion would be arriving for any duration at this time of year.”
It seemed to have failed her notice that she was, to all intents, including not only herself in that category, but also her two nephews, but no one chose to enlighten her.
“Lady Gwendolyn informed me that her friend, Mrs Harington, would bring two guests with her to Bath. I would not recall either name, such detail being so trivial, had it not been revealed that one of them is Miss Elizabeth Bennet! She is to arrive in Bath today. Did you know of this, Darcy? I do not recall it being mentioned at your home the other night, even when there was talk of our intended sojourn here. It is very underhand of her to keep this information quiet when the subject is being canvassed, but then, I always did think her breeding in question.”
Silence followed this statement, and Georgiana turned pale as she observed the shock and subsequent sadness that overcame her brother’s countenance, comforted only somewhat by the squeeze of her hand by Anne.
She looked beseechingly at the Colonel, and he gave her an understanding smile before turning his attention to Lady Catherine. “It may well be, Aunt, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet was unaware of her trip to Bath at that time. Plans can alter unexpectedly.”
“Indeed. And that girl is always flitting here and there at the shortest notice. Did she not quit Kent all of a sudden? An inconvenience to her hosts and to me.”
The Colonel snorted. “To you, Aunt? How so?”
Lady Catherine chose not to answer this. “It is all to do with not having a governess. Those girls – brought up at home under a mother clearly unable to tame the spirit in that one. I dread to think what the others are like.”
“You met one of them last Saturday, Aunt. Do you not recall Miss Bennet being of the party?”
Lady Catherine waved her hand dismissively and continued as if the Colonel’s interruptions had never taken place.
“I am only pleased that we shall not have to entertain her presence here in Great Pulteney Street. I am not aware of her Bath abode, but it is unlikely she will reside anywhere but the lower parts of the town where people of her rank tend to be quartered.”
“It is untrue.”
Georgiana’s words fell into a proud silence. She had watched her brother’s glazed expression as Lady Catherine had continued; her heart ached for him, and her aunt’s derogatory words were more than she could bear, drawing from her a defence of the lady who held her brother’s heart.
Lady Catherine’s look of astonishment, not only at being interrupted by her young niece, but at the contradiction, was prolonged. Darcy blinked and looked about as if coming to from a sleep. The Colonel, clearly conscious of his cousin’s distress and Darcy’s lack of attention, smiled reassuringly at Georgiana and walked over to sit beside her.
“What is untrue, Georgie?”
Taking courage from his presence and another encouraging squeeze of her hand from Anne, Georgiana raised her head and looked to her brother who bore an air of bewilderment.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She is not staying anywhere unfitting.”
“And how do you know this?” Lady Catherine had found her voice at last.
Georgiana exchanged a quick look with Anne, who nodded, before turning back to look at her brother.
“Her arrival was noted in the Book. We – I – I happened to see it this morning, in the Pump Room. She is due to arrive today and is staying in Marlborough Buildings.”
The Colonel stood up.
“There we are, Aunt. Marlborough Buildings. Merely spitting distance from our own abode in Brock Street. Not too shabby at all, I would say. Right, Darcy – the day presses on. Let us make a move.”
The Colonel helped Georgiana to her feet.
“Aunt.” He bowed once, turned to his cousin and repeated the gesture.
“Come, Darcy.” And without a backward glance, Georgiana found herself and her brother removed from the room before their aunt could draw breath to protest.