Page 29 of Unwillingly Mrs. Darcy
He turned to find Georgiana standing in the doorway, her embroidery hoop held in her hand. She approached cautiously, as she often did when discussing matters she thought might unsettle him.
“Is something troubling you?” she asked softly, perching on the arm of a nearby chair.
“Not troubling, exactly,” he replied, though his voice carried a distant note. “I was contemplating Elizabeth’s sisters. Mary and Kitty. They don’t seem to be adapting well to life here.”
Georgiana frowned thoughtfully. “I’ve noticed the same. Mary, especially—she’s so quiet. She rarely speaks during meals, and when she does, it’s with such solemnity. Kitty, too, though it seems as though she’s putting on a brave face. I think their father’s illness weighs on them more than we realise.”
“Elizabeth told me as much,” Darcy said. “It’s their concern for Mr Bennet that keeps them so subdued. I feel… inadequate, in some respects. I can handle issues of estate management, negotiations, even politics, but this? I don’t know where to begin.”
His confession felt heavier than he intended. Georgiana regarded him with quiet understanding.
“You begin by making them feel as though they belong here,” she said.
Darcy leaned against the back of a chair, his brow furrowed. “Easier said than done. I hardly know their personalities. Elizabeth, of course—she is endlessly captivating. But her sisters… they are still an enigma to me. Their concerns, their hopes, their interests—it’s all beyond my understanding.”
“Maybe not entirely,” Georgiana said after a moment. Setting her embroidery aside, she clasped her hands in her lap. “When I first returned to Pemberley after…” Her voice faltered,but she steadied herself and continued. “After Father died, I thought nothing would ever bring me joy again.”
Darcy straightened, his jaw tightening at the memory of their shared loss.
“But then,” Georgiana went on, “you encouraged me to take up my music lessons again. You never pushed me, never demanded anything of me. You simply provided me with something to do, something to hold on to when my thoughts threatened to overwhelm me. I didn’t realise it then, but it saved me, Fitzwilliam. It gave me purpose.”
Darcy’s face softened at her earnestness. He understood how much it had cost her to share this.
Georgiana continued, her tone more assured. “Perhaps Mary and Kitty need something similar. Distraction, yes, but also something that will give them a sense of accomplishment—a reminder that they’re more than their worries.”
Darcy looked at her, a faint glimmer of hope shining in his expression. “But what? I hardly know what would engage either of them.”
Georgiana tilted her head slightly, a smile playing on her lips. “Well, I’ve noticed a few things during their stay here. Mary has a natural affinity for the pianoforte, though she plays as if she’s unsure of herself, as if no one has ever encouraged her to see it as more than a chore. With a proper instructor, I think she could truly flourish.”
Darcy considered this, the gears in his mind already beginning to turn. “And Kitty?”
Georgiana’s smile deepened. “She enjoys being around children. At church, she was practically surrounded by them. They seemed to flock to her. She has a warmth about her that draws them in, and she seemed different with them. Lighter. Happier.”
Darcy raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been paying closer attention than I realised.”
Georgiana shrugged modestly. “It’s easier to observe when people don’t see you as a threat. They hardly notice I’m there half the time.”
Darcy crossed his arms, pacing slowly as he absorbed her words. “A music instructor for Mary… perhaps lessons with one of the local masters. And for Kitty… there are orphanages nearby. A placement could give her the opportunity to connect with children regularly.”
Georgiana’s expression brightened. “That sounds perfect. I think they might surprise you, brother. A little kindness and effort could go a long way with them. And Elizabeth will appreciate it too.”
The mention of Elizabeth caused Darcy to pause, his thoughts briefly straying to her. It was strange how the act of understanding her sisters—their complexities, their struggles—seemed to draw him closer to understanding Elizabeth herself. She was deeply intertwined with them, and as he sought to ease their burden, he wondered if it might win her a small measure of trust.
“You are correct, Georgiana,” he said finally, his voice resolute. “I shall make the arrangements at once. Mary and Kittydeserve more than mere comfort. If I can give them a sense of fulfilment while they’re here, it’s worth the effort.”
Georgiana smiled at him. “It suits you, you know. This new side of you.”
Darcy gave her a quizzical look. “What side?”
She shrugged playfully. “The side that listens more than it broods. Elizabeth must have had quite the effect on you.”
A flicker of amusement lit Darcy’s eyes as he shook his head. “Enough of your observations, sister. If you’ll excuse me, I have arrangements to make.”
As he strode towards the door, Georgiana called after him, “I’m sure Mrs Darcy will be impressed!”
He didn’t dignify the comment with a reply, but a faint smile touched his lips as he left the room.
Chapter 17
