The Darcy Cousins (2 page)

Mr Channing grinned. "I can assure you they will, Mama," he said. "For after spending so much time in Lady Catherine's presence, they will be more than ready to seek other company. We must invite the Darcys directly as well as Lady Catherine, for that way, even if Lady Catherine refuses, they will not."

Outside the church, Mr Robert Darcy performed the necessary introductions.

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Lady Catherine acknowledged Miss Clarissa and Mr Frederick Darcy with gracious condescension. If her nod held a hint of disapproval and her smile did not quite replace the scowl on her face, one could blame it on the weather. For despite the clear sky, a chill wind was blowing. Now was clearly not the time to exchange pleasantries. Her ladyship was eager to reach her waiting carriage.

Behind her, Miss Anne de Bourgh started to extend a hand out of her fur muff but withdrew it quickly as her mother's voice reached her from inside the carriage.

"Stop dawdling, Anne, or you will take a cold."

The dreaded word seemed to have the desired effect, for Miss de Bourgh hurried in quick small steps to the carriage, followed closely by Mrs Jenkinson, who occupied herself running behind Miss de Bourgh and rearranging her multiple shawls.

Mrs Robert Darcy, formerly Miss Caroline Bingley, smiled at Clarissa and Frederick.

"I hope you do not think us unwelcoming," she said, "You must not mind Lady Catherine. She is like that with everyone."

"Oh, no," said Clarissa, "I do not mind her at all, for I have an aunt just like her in Boston. But I am very pleased to meet my brother's wife at last. We have heard so little about you because of the blockade, but I am eager to get to know the lady who took my brother's fancy. He is not easily pleased, you know."

Caroline smiled. "I hope you will not be disappointed. I wish we could have had the opportunity to meet earlier." She turned to the tall young man who stood next to Clarissa. "I have heard a great deal about your business abilities, Mr Frederick."

Frederick grinned. "I have been fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time," he said, bowing. "As I have now had the fortune to make your acquaintance, Mrs Darcy."

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Robert then introduced his cousin Fitzwilliam Darcy, Mrs Elizabeth Darcy, and Miss Georgiana Darcy.

Georgiana, who had prepared some words of welcome and rehearsed them to herself, was startled to find herself pulled forward by both hands and embraced by Clarissa.

"Oh, I am so glad to meet you!" said Clarissa, her eyes shining. "It is wonderful to have a cousin my age, and a girl too. All my cousins from my mother's family are either too old or too young or boys, and you know what they are like. But look at you! I never imagined you would be so pretty! How tall and straight you are, and what lovely long eyelashes you have! I have plans for us. We will take advantage of Frederick's presence to do all sorts of things, for we cannot rely on Robert anymore now that he is married. I am sure he has become as dull as ditchwater."

"You may depend on me, Miss Darcy. I will endeavour to do what I can to keep you and my sister entertained," said Frederick, bowing over Georgiana's hand.

All the words she had meant to say flew out of her head, but she did not find herself tongue-tied at all. "I have no doubt we shall find plenty to do," she said, laughing. "Though I should warn you that Lady Catherine will have her own ideas about how we should be occupied."

"Then we shall steal out of the window when she is napping,"

replied Clarissa. Her eyes sparkled, and Georgiana found herself gripped by the same sense of expectation as her cousin. Her eyes went to her cousin Frederick, who was twenty-six and seemed in every way as full of restless energy as his sister.

"You had better wait to plan your mischief until you arrive in Rosings," said Elizabeth, a twinkle in her eye. "Lady Catherine will be greatly displeased if we are late for dinner."

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As they left the churchyard and strolled towards the Darcy carriage, a curricle drew up to them and halted. Georgiana immediately recognized the same young gentleman who had stared at her in church.

"Darcy!" said the flawlessly dressed young gentleman. "A very good morning to you."

Darcy greeted him like an old friend. He quickly performed the introductions. The gentleman was Mr Henry Gatley, a property owner from a few miles away.

"And here are my two cousins, newly arrived from Boston."

An amused look passed over the young man's face. "Yes, I am well aware of the fact."

What he did not say, but meant, was that every single member of the congregation was well aware of it.

"You have strong powers of observation, Mr Gatley," remarked Georgiana, stung by his implication. What right had he to judge her cousins when he knew nothing about them?

She regretted the words immediately. Mr Gatley, who had barely acknowledged her beyond a quick bow at their introduction, turned his piercing gaze towards her.

"Indeed?" he said.

She flushed for the second time that morning. As if it was not bad enough that her cousins had drawn so much attention to their party. Now he thought her ill mannered as well. Not that she cared particularly for his opinion.

She raised her chin and met his gaze.

"Your mother is not with you?" said Darcy. "I thought she was most particular about attending church."

"She is unwell," said Mr Gatley.

"I am sorry to hear it. Please give her my regards," said Darcy. "And 10

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you must call on us soon, Gatley. We can make up a gentleman's card party." His easy manner bespoke the ease of long acquaintance.

"I would be delighted," said Mr Gatley.

He bowed to everyone and continued on his way.

There is nothing more irritating to one who has just been rude than a person whose manners are spotlessly polished. Georgiana watched his curricle disappear down the road, irked at herself for allowing his superior manner to ruffle her. On impulse, she drew up to her brother, who was walking with Elizabeth at his side.

"Do you know Mr Gatley well?" she asked.

"We were at school together, though not in the same class. He is three years younger than I am. I have always found him very congenial company," said Mr Darcy.

"He appears to me rather opinionated," said Georgiana.

"He is a very orderly type, and can be severe at times, but there is no harm in him."

Her brother's words confirmed her opinion. Mr Gatley was the type of gentleman who took himself too seriously by far.

"I see that you have taken an interest in your brother's friend,"

said Elizabeth teasingly.

This was so far from the truth that Georgiana laughed.

"Quite the contrary. I have taken a dislike to him."

Darcy regarded her gravely. "It is hardly fair to form an opinion of a person with whom you have hardly exchanged a word."

Georgiana, who did not like her brother to reprimand her, however mildly, replied that one could not help it if one did not take to a person on sight.

At that instant Clarissa hailed her, and she dropped back to join her cousins. The excitement of getting to know them soon took over and she promptly forgot Mr Gatley.

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Mr Gatley took off his boots as soon as he stepped into the house, and tiptoed up the stairs. His mother was indeed unwell, as he had told Darcy. She was suffering from one of her rare migraines--the last one had been several months ago--and he was acutely conscious that the slightest sound could be distressing to her.

When he reached her bedchamber, however, he sighed with relief.

The door was open and the curtains drawn back to allow in the daylight, a sign, surely, that the worst was over. Still, he made every effort to move as quietly as possible, just in case.

She was sitting up in bed, reading.

"I am glad to see you better," he said, smiling. "You have recovered quickly. It usually takes much longer."

"I do believe these attacks are growing less frequent and are no longer so severe. Perhaps some day they may even disappear altogether." She gestured for him to come in. "Anything new at church today? How was Mr Collins's sermon?"

"The same as usual. I suppose Lady Catherine was not particularly inspired today."

It was their joke, a joke they made every Sunday, when he was in the country.

"I do have news though, important news. You will be sorry you missed church with such a poor excuse."

Consternation appeared on her face. "It was not an excuse," she replied firmly, "as you know very well."

"I know," he said affectionately. "But you will regret being ill on this particular Sunday, for you missed the biggest event in Hunsford since Sir Lewis married Lady Catherine."

Mrs Gatley sat up straighter in bed. "When I think of how many sermons I have had to endure and nothing to tell at the end 12

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of it! And now, on the only day for years that I have missed church, something big has to happen. What a misfortune!"

Mr Gatley laughed. "It is a misfortune for me, for now I will have to recount every detail, since if I do not, you will be at a disadvantage when the ladies of the neighbourhood come to visit, and you will blame me for it."

"Spare me the commentary and come to the point, please, Henry. Come and sit on the bed where I can see you without twisting my neck, and tell me what happened."

Her son obliged her by recounting the events of the morning in as much detail as he could remember.

He did not mention, however, that he had met Miss Georgiana Darcy. He knew how quickly his mother's mind would leap from one thing to another, and he had no intention of raising any expectations in that direction.

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Chapter 2

When a group of young people come together, they are unlikely to be inconvenienced by trivialities such as the weather. Despite the chill in the air which Lady Catherine objected to, the younger Darcys elected to walk from church to Rosings, and refused Darcy's offer of a ride.

Georgiana was more than glad to have the opportunity to come to know her cousins. It was not her first encounter with such enthusiastic youngsters. Elizabeth's sisters Lydia and Kitty Bennet had been animated and headstrong young girls. But since their activities were often restricted to looking for officers and buying new hats, she normal y felt awkward around them, and she knew that they were not particularly interested in her. Things were different with these cousins of hers.

It was too early to tell, of course, but she had reason to hope that something would come from the acquaintance. She very much hoped it would. For no matter how much she hesitated to acknowledge this, even to herself, the fact was she found herself at a loss. For it is a truth universally acknowledged that when there is a new baby in the house, one is certain to be ignored.

Or so it seemed to Georgiana, who had always counted on her brother Fitzwilliam's attention when they were together. She now MONICA FAIRVIEW

had to accept that an active baby, crawling around everywhere, seemed to occupy a large part of her brother's affections, along with the wife he adored. It was blatantly unfair, since Georgiana had done everything she could to welcome Elizabeth to Pemberley when her brother had fallen unexpectedly in love.

She ought not think that way--she felt guilty the very moment the idea came into her mind. She loved her nephew, of course. He was a delightful little rascal, quite a miniature of his father. And she could not have hoped for a better sister. Elizabeth was a charming companion. She was merry and made her laugh and, with the assistance of her chaotic family, Pemberley had been transformed from a solemn edifice full of ghosts to a warm and affectionate home.

But there could be no doubt that Georgiana was most definitely de trop. The fate of unmarried sisters had befallen her. For while she did not for one instant feel unwelcome, her place had shifted in the household, and she now occupied the role of an outsider looking into a happy family circle.

The arrival of Clarissa and Frederick was therefore really very fortunate. An express had arrived a week ago from Liverpool via Derbyshire, informing Robert of his brother and sister's safe arrival in England. It had come as a complete surprise, since Robert had heard nothing at all from Boston for the last six months at least.

The letter had occasioned a great deal of excitement with everyone. Except for Lady Catherine, who had remarked that they had timed their crossing badly, since if they had arrived but one week earlier they would have been in time for Easter.

As if any of the ships crossing the ocean could predict the day of their arrival! In fact, it was only because hostilities had ceased between the two countries that they were coming at all. According 16

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to Frederick, who had written the letter, they had sailed on the very first passenger boat to leave Boston since the war.

Robert had immediately proposed opening his London townhouse to receive his family, but Lady Catherine would not hear of it.

The Darcys had always stayed at Rosings Park for a few weeks over Easter. Any attempt to deviate from this custom would brand him an American Darcy and, therefore, already suspect as a renegade.

Robert would not have cared in the least about such branding.

But the peace between Fitzwilliam Darcy and his aunt had been shattered by his marriage to Elizabeth, and it was only with great condescension--after the birth of an heir to Pemberley--that the Darcys were once again welcome at Rosings. Robert's departure would risk putting a fragile reconciliation to the test.

An express message was sent accordingly to the Darcy brother and sister in Liverpool with an invitation from Lady Catherine for them to join everyone in the traditional Easter family visit to Rosings.

And, most importantly, it mentioned that Clarissa was to have her coming-out this Season. Georgiana, whose official coming-out had been postponed because Elizabeth was increasing, could not have been more delighted. She had not particularly been looking forward to the Season, but it would make all the difference to have someone else by her side.