Page 7 of Cousin Elizabeth
“Well! I had best learn the customs of this country, or I might embarrass myself. Thank you for your instruction, Cousin William. I look forward to dinner tomorrow.”
Darcy showed them all the way to the front door, and as he turned, he saw Georgiana at the top of the stairs. ‘Oh bother. Something else for her to be angry with me about. It did not even cross my mind to call her down. I had best tell her all about our cousin and about dinner tomorrow.’
Chapter Seven
“So, what did you think of Mr. Darcy. Was he kind? How were his manners? I have only read of him in the papers, but I did meet his mother a few times when I lived in Lambton.” Aunt Maddie asked eagerly.
“Until I received his note, I did not realize I would be meeting my cousin, and not my uncle. Apparently, none of our letters reached their destination these past years. He did not know I would be coming to visit until the day before. I found him to be kind and welcoming. At first, I was not sure if he was very arrogant, or as nervous as I was. I eventually realized he is a bit shy and reticent. I like him! He’s also rather good looking. Well, he’s a Darcy, so of course he is! Haha!”
Mamie gave Elizabeth a light tap on the arm but smiled. “Yes, I could see the similarity to your father and brother. The tall, dark good looks. I saw a young lady at the top of the stairs as we were leaving. I imagine that was your cousin Georgiana. She had the look of a Fitzwilliam about her.”
“There was a girl?! I did not see her. I wonder why she did not come down?”
“Her hair and dress were those of a girl not yet out. It would be typical for her to remain above stairs unless she was invited down.”
“Oh.” Elizabeth frowned. “I wonder if she will be included in supper tomorrow. I would like to meet her. She is family also.”
Madeline leaned forward and patted her hand. “Things are quite rigid within the upper echelons, where the Darcys of Pemberley come from. His uncle is an Earl, and so was his grandfather on his mother’s side. Your family is not titled, but they marry into the peerage quite regularly, from what I understand. A young lady of that circle, not being out, often will stay above stairs until she has her come out.”
“Hmmm…I wonder how well I will fit in with that side of my family. My Bennet cousins always seem ‘down to earth’ in their letters. Lizzy describes traipsing all over the countryside and enjoying all their neighbors. Are the Bennet girls all out? Lizzy has never mentioned.”
“If Fanny was still alive, they likely would be, but since Jane took over as the lady of the house at 18, she refused to let any of her sisters out until they turn 18. She and Lizzy are the only ones who came out at a very early age. Mary will be out this autumn.”
“Oh! Well, I hope to be there for her come out! My father threw a ball for me when I turned 18. There were only about twenty families there, but it was great fun!”
“How old are you now, Elizabeth?”
“I will be one and twenty in May. I am between Jane and Lizzy in age.”
“The perfect age for cousins to be. Oh, before I forget, our seamstress sent over the readymade dresses she hemmed and adjusted for you.”
“Wonderful! I am so very ready to put on color again. I will have something nicer to wear for the dinner at Darcy House tomorrow!”
“With the deep color of your hair, you look very striking in black, but you will look lovely in that lavender silk gown. I will make sure they are packed onto your carriage before you leave. And there is the maid calling us in to dinner now.”
Mr. Gardiner escorted Elizabeth and his wife into dinner, while John escorted Mamie. They had a wonderful evening of good conversation and fellowship. The Gardiners were just as Lizzy had described them. They were very genteel and well educated. Theyspoke of travel and the latest plays, of books and museums, and they made plans to all go to the opera together the next week. Elizabeth and John had never been to an opera and looked forward to it.
~~~~~
The next day Cousin Darcy sent over a note asking them to arrive at 7:00 that evening. One of his Fitzwilliam cousins had arrived in town and wanted to be introduced to them if they did not mind. That was agreeable to all of them, so Elizabeth sent a note back to expect them at the requested time.
Georgiana had been very terse with William the evening before. She could not believe he did not call her down to meet their American cousin. He apologized. Said they had lost track of time while getting to know each other, and next thing he knew it was time for them to leave. He told her everything they had spoken of. Finding out she was an orphan too made Gigi even more eager to know her cousin. She would have plenty of time to get to know Elizabeth this evening, so she worried more about what she should wear. “How do I look, Mrs. Young? I do not look too much like a little girl, do I?”
“You look lovely in that dress, but why do you not let your maid put your hair up? It will look more elegant.”
“I do not believe my brother would approve of that before I am out.”
“It is just for an evening with family. You will be sitting as hostess. You should look like it.”
Georgiana often felt like she was at cross purposes. Her brother treated her like a little girl, and her companion wanted her to act more as a grown woman. She never knew quite how to behave. The past couple of years, she never knew how she felt about anything. She would get angry or cry for no reason at all! Other times she wanted to run and play like she always had. Her old governess was not very strict. She was knowledgeable and taught her a great deal. She was also very kind. Mrs. Young gave the appearance of kindness…but she would say snide and scathing things when Georgiana behaved in an ‘immature fashion.’ William thought she needed to start learning the manners of theton, so her governess was retired, and Mrs. Young was hired. Most of the time she was not so very bad, she was just very strict with her lessons and sometimes contradicted what her brother had told her.
“I would like to see my hair up…if you do not think my brother would mind.”
Gigi was still sitting at her vanity when she heard the booming voice of her cousin, and guardian, Richard. As soon as the last pin was in her hair, she rushed down the stairs to greet him. “Richard! It has been an age! Are you well? Are you in town for long? Will you be staying here?”
“Slow down poppet! Yes, I am well. Yes, I will be staying here. Ratcliff has already taken my things upstairs…and what have you done to your hair?”
“Oh, well, Mrs. Young thought, since I am acting as hostess tonight, I should put my hair up.”
