Page 68 of Mr. Darcy's Runaway Bride
“I would like that,” Elizabeth said, grateful to have a little distance between herself and Darcy for once.
“Very well, then I shall escort you, Darcy. What do you say? You can tell me all the latest from Derbyshire,” Richard said and patted Darcy’s back.
Georgiana led Elizabeth to elegant rooms on the eastern side of the house. The chamber was beautiful but lacked Pemberley’s warmth.
“Cousin Anne had these rooms before her marriage,” Georgiana explained. “They’ve been redone since, of course. Myrooms are down yonder, around the corner near the dreadful painting of one of Sir Lewis’s great-great-greats.”
“Sir Lewis was Lady Catherine’s husband, yes?”
“Indeed,” Georgiana smiled and pushed open the door to the chamber Elizabeth was to occupy. “It is a shame you cannot stay longer,” she said as they entered into the room. It was smaller than her chambers at Pemberley but well appointed.
“It is,” Elizabeth agreed, though she did not mean it. “But I believe you are to come with us when we depart, yes?”
“I am,” Georgiana replied. “And I am eager to. I have not been home in so long. First London, and now here,” she said. “But I was glad to be of help.”
“Help?” Elizabeth frowned as she leaned against the bed.
“Ah, Fitzwilliam did not tell you. I volunteered to stay here when you left together, so I could serve as spy on his behalf. Not that there was much to report; they never talk in front of me at all, and Lady Catherine has been mostly occupied with Cousin Anne’s lack of a child.”
Elizabeth’s curiosity got the best of her then. “Pray, you said there was not much to report, but was there anything?”
Georgiana chuckled. “At first, Lady Catherine hoped to convince me Fitzwilliam had lost his mind and needed family intervention.”
Elizabeth couldn’t help laughing. “She clearly finds me unsuitable for the Darcy name.”
“Lady Catherine finds most people unsuitable for one reason or another,” Georgiana replied with unexpected spirit.“Until recently, she insisted I should marry a viscount at minimum, though she’d prefer an earl. She is more amenable to a knight or baronet now, however. But now you must tell me about your writing. Fitzwilliam wrote that your story will be published? It is so very exciting.”
Pleased to have someone to talk to, Elizabeth sat by the fire, Georgiana opposite her, and the two talked until the gong rang for dinner.
***
At seven on the dot, Elizabeth was escorted into the dining room by a still withdrawn Darcy. During the meal, Lady Catherine dominated every conversation, issuing pronouncements on everything from music education to clergy standards. Elizabeth answered direct questions but otherwise kept quiet, painfully aware of Darcy’s occasional glances.
It wasn’t until dessert that Lady Catherine acknowledged Elizabeth’s writing.
“I understand, Mrs Darcy, that you engage in some form of scrawling,” she said, as if accusing Elizabeth of picking pockets. “Georgiana mentioned it during yesterday’s music practise.”
Elizabeth met the lady’s stare without flinching. “I write stories, yes. I’ve recently completed a manuscript for Nocturne Publishing in London.”
“Nocturne!” Lady Catherine’s eyes widened in horror. “A commercial venture? No Darcy connection has ever stooped to trade or public authorship!”
“I wasn’t aware that creative pursuit constituted stooping,” Elizabeth replied, her cheeks warm despite her steady voice.
“A gentlewoman’s accomplishments are for private appreciation,” Lady Catherine insisted. “To publish is to expose oneself to vulgar scrutiny. It cannot be borne.”
She waited for Darcy to speak up but he stared at his plate. To Elizabeth’s surprise, Lord Matlock, silent throughout dinner, suddenly leaned forward. “What sort of stories do you write, Mrs Darcy?”
“Gothic romances, mostly,” Elizabeth said, grateful for the unexpected interest. “Tales of mystery and moral fortitude.”
“Like Mrs Radcliffe?” he asked. “My wife adoresThe Mysteries of Udolpho.”
“Similar in some ways, though I wouldn’t compare my modest efforts to Mrs Radcliffe’s genius.”
“Nonsense,” Colonel Fitzwilliam cut in. “Darcy has read your work and says it’s excellent. His judgement in literary matters is unimpeachable.”
Elizabeth glanced at Darcy, whose face showed discomfort. “My wife has considerable talent,” he said quietly. “I see no reason why it shouldn’t be shared more widely.”
Lady Catherine sniffed. “Next you’ll tell me she intends to profit from these publications.”
