Suspense & Sensibility

properly. Who wouldn’t choose Georgiana over me?'

'Mr. Dashwood.'

Elizabeth retrieved the hoop from the floor and handed it back to Kitty. 'Mr. Dashwood came here last night with flowers tor you. He spent most of the evening talking to you. And when he left here, he lingered the longest over his farewell to you.'

'That doesn’t mean he will want to marry me.'

'No, it does not. But should he offer, you will know without question that he wants to marry you, not your thirty thousand pounds. That is a fortune Georgiana will never have.'

Kitty turned the hoop around in her hands. 'If he offers. And what are the chances of his ever doing so with his mother wishing him to tender his addresses elsewhere?'

'Let his mother court whomever she wants. He can afford to marry where he chooses.'

Elizabeth said the words in a confident tone, attempting to console Kitty, but she could not help recalling Mrs. Dashwood’s assertion about her son’s sense of family duty. To what extent would he allow filial obedience to dictate his future happiness? Harry was young; his mother’s will, strong. A word from her might be all it took to redirect him.

Mr. Dashwood already possessed Kitty’s heart. She prayed he would not break it.

She placated Kitty with additional assurances, then suggested they take a walk. Fresh air and fresh sights, she hoped, would divert her sister’s thoughts from this unfortunate first meeting with Mr. Dashwood’s mother. Kitty yielded to Elizabeth’s persuasion and the two parted to retrieve their bonnets.

After donning both her hat and a light wrap, Elizabeth found herself descending the stairs to the accompaniment of Mozart. Georgiana had returned to the drawing room, where her fingers now flew through the opening movement of a sonata. Elizabeth approached the pianoforte and located Georgiana’s place in the music, turning the page when Georgiana reached its end. Further observation of the performer, however, revealed that Elizabeth need not have troubled herself. Georgiana played from memory.

When the movement concluded, Elizabeth invited her to join the walk. Georgiana declined, stating a desire to continue at the piano.

'I have been thinking,' she said, starting the adagio section, 'that perhaps I ought not go to Norland.'

'Of course you should go. Mr. Dashwood’s invitation included everybody.'

'His mother’s invitation very nearly excluded Kitty I do not wish my presence to cause your sister any unhappiness. If I stay behind, Mrs. Dashwood might treat Kitty with more civility.'

'Mrs. Dashwood’s behavior toward Kitty has far more to do with Mrs. Dashwood than with either you or Kitty.'

'Nevertheless, Kitty will enjoy the party more without me.'

'Kitty would feel horrid if she knew you missed the fete on her account.'

She paused on a minor chord. 'Then do not tell her.'

Elizabeth studied Georgiana. Her head was bowed over the keyboard, her expression guarded. Did she truly wish to remain behind, or was she declining the invitation because she thought she should? Elizabeth did not want her new sister-in-law to feel excluded from this or any other family happenings. Nor to believe that anyone considered her own happiness secondary to Kitty’s or anybody else’s.

'Georgiana, do reconsider. This season in London was to have been a pleasurable time for you, as well, yet it seems you have not met any gentleman worthy of your esteem.' That Darcy protected his sister so closely had not helped, but Elizabeth refrained from voicing that thought. 'Perhaps someone at the fete will earn your regard.'

Georgiana completed an intricate passage before responding. 'I did not realize you hoped to bring about a match for me this season,' she finally said. 'But of course you and my brother must feel my continuing at Pemberley an intrusion on your privacy now that you are married.'

'Oh, Georgiana! How ever could you think that? Pemberley is your home — for the rest of your life, if you wish. I do not scheme to have its empty rooms to myself. I thought only of you — that perhaps you yourself had begun to long for another home, and a husband to share it.'

'I cannot deny imagining such scenes from time to time, but I am in no hurry to realize them. I — ' She stumbled over a.simple grace note and corrected herself. 'I know my brother surely must have told you of my imprudence two summers ago involving Mr. Wickham. Since that time, I do not trust my own judgment in matters of the heart.'

This marked the first Lime she had spoken of the incident, or how it had affected her. 'It is Mr. Wickham who cannot be trusted,' Elizabeth declared.

'Nevertheless, I am not yet ready to form an attachment with anybody.'

'Your own judgment seems very sound on that point. You are absolutely correct. There is no reason for haste.'

Her fingers slowed as she approached the end of the adagio. 'When I am prepared to accept a suitor’s attention, the right gentleman will reveal himself. Meanwhile, let this be Kitty’s season. Allow me to excuse myself from the Norland party.'

Elizabeth regarded Georgiana doubtfully. 'You are certain?'

'Quite. In fact, my friend Miss Sedgewick has invited me to a concert on the thirtieth and I had hoped to attend.' She struck the final chords of the movement and met Elizabeth’s gaze. 'Please indulge me?' Her expression was earnest.

'As you wish.'

'Thank you.'

She started on the allegro assai. Elizabeth listened to Geor-giana’s perfect execution, repeating their conversation in her mind. Anyone could appreciate her sister-in-law’s accomplishments and gentle spirit. But she was discovering in Georgiana a young woman of greater depth and intelligence than was evident upon first acquaintance, and felt privileged to be developing a more intimate understanding of her.

'Can I persuade you, at least, to join us for our walk?' Elizabeth asked.

Georgiana started to shake her head, but then abruptly halted the music. 'Actually,' she said, rising from her instrument, 'I think I shall.'

Seven

'To say that he is unlike Fanny is enough.

It implies every thing amiable.'

— Mrs. Henry Dashwood to Elinor,

Sense and Sensibility, Chapter 3

Whatever pressure Fanny Dashwood may have exerted on her son to bestow his addresses on a wealthier woman, Harry Dashwood remained steadfast in his attention to Kitty. He visited the townhouse daily, securing Kitty’s affections even more firmly and rising in Elizabeth’s esteem if only for possessing the good taste to adore her sister. Georgiana made herself scarce during his visits, not because anyone suspected Mr. Dashwood vulnerable to fickleness, but to spare Kitty any pain from recollecting his mother’s incivility. An obligatory return call in Harley Street had proven as enchanting as their first visit with Mrs. John Dashwood, and everyone seemed much happier forgetting the existence of Harry’s mother altogether.

Darcy’s opinion of Mr. Dashwood rose, as well, particularly when he encountered the younger man at Angelo’s fencing school and heard of his application for membership in one of the more intellectual gentlemen’s clubs.

'Mr. Dashwood seems to be genuinely striving to improve himself and find more worthwhile ways to spend his time,'

Darcy remarked to Elizabeth one rainy afternoon. She had wandered into the library in search of a novel, but, upon finding him there, had abandoned her errand for the superior diversion of conversation with her husband.