Page 50 of Colour My World
“And what else?” the earl interrupted. “Tell me. Does he keep companions? Has he friends? A man to confide in? A woman to soften him?”
“He has Richard,” she said.
A long silence.
“No,” the earl said at last. “Richard has him.”
The words struck like a blow.
A quiet clink of porcelain, as if the countess set down her teacup with great care. “That is not fair.”
“Is it not?” the earl asked. “Tell me, my dear, when Darcy was a boy, what did he do?”
Softly, his aunt said, “He followed his father.”
“And now?”
She did not answer.
The earl exhaled. “Darcy is not yet his father, but he is walking his path. He believes that duty and devotion are the same, that providing for Georgiana means he has done all that is required of him.”
“And has he not?”
Then, the countess, almost too quiet to hear:
“She does not wish to live in Darcy House when she is in London. She wishes to remain with us.”
Darcy went still.
“She says Richard listens. That he alone understands when something weighs upon her.”
That is not true!Darcy wanted to shout the words, but they stuck in his throat.
“She is grateful for his care,” the countess said. “But she feels more like an obligation than a relation.”
Darcy felt as if the air had been knocked from his chest.
“How can she say such a thing?” the countess murmured. “How can she believe it?”
The earl’s voice was quiet. “Because it is true.”
* * *
Pemberley, December 1809
The carriage rolled to a stop before Pemberley’s grand entrance. A footman rushed forward, pulling open the door before Darcy could step down himself. Barty, seated across from him, made no move to disembark.
Darcy drew a breath. The air was crisp, edged with frost. Home.
The doors opened. Darcy expected Georgiana to rush to him, as she always had. Instead, she stood at the base of the staircase, hands clasped before her. A woman unknown to him stood behind her, one step to her left.
He descended the carriage steps. Georgiana did not move nor reach for him. Her face revealed nothing.
“I had hoped you would greet me at the door, Sister.”
She studied him. “You had hoped. But I stopped waiting.”
Darcy blinked.What had she just said?“Would you introduce me to your companion?”
