A Scandal at Pemberley Page 6

  ‘If you have quite recovered, my dear, I believe I can hear people approaching.’

  Immediately she straightened, shook out her skirts and gave him her most disdainful look. His eyes were brimming with amusement and she was tempted to attack him for a second time, but thought better of it. Instead she stalked off and his hateful laughter followed her down the flagstone passageway.

  The family and their unexpected guests, even those that had been injured, were gathered in the Great Hall. She was tardy and expected her brother to treat her to one of his disapproving stares. However, he merely smiled and returned to his conversation with Mr Trelawney.

  As expected the ladies had congregated in one fluttering circle and the gentlemen in another. For some reason this always happened before dinner, but when the gentlemen abandoned their port the two groups mingled. She drifted up and spoke quietly to her sister-in-law.

  ‘I do apologise for not being here sooner, Lizzy. Is there anything you wish me to do?’

  ‘You are not at all late, Georgiana, Jane and I have only just arrived. Now, let me introduce you again to our guests. This is Mrs Garfield and this is her eldest daughter, Miss Garfield, I believe you have already met Miss Emily.’

  Georgiana curtsied politely and the two young ladies returned the compliment but said nothing, their mother merely nodded and she was surprised at this frosty reception.

  ‘Take the girls on a short tour of the downstairs rooms, Georgiana, and Mrs Garfield and I will remain here and have a cosy chat.’

  ‘I should be delighted to show you around. It will have to be brief as we will be called into dinner shortly.’ As soon as they were out of earshot Miss Garfield touched her arm.

  ‘I do apologise for my mother’s rudeness, Miss Darcy. She had great hopes that I would make a match with my second cousin, Sir John’s son, but Lady Rawlings seems set on marrying him to you.’

  ‘Good heavens! I cannot think where she got that extraordinary notion from. Mr Rawlings and I have never been more than acquaintances, occasional dance partners, and I have never looked on him in that way. Indeed, I have just become betrothed to Major Brownstone and we are to be married in the summer.’

  If she had announced that she was about to tread the boards she could not have received a more shocked reception. She wished her words unsaid. Had they not decided to keep the matter secret until after the wedding? Now it was too late – she prayed her indiscretion was not going to cause her dearest friend any upset.

  Miss Emily giggled nervously. ‘Oh dear, I beg you do not mention this to Mama, she will force Estelle to marry our cousin before he sets his cap at someone else.’

  ‘I should not have mentioned it at all, for we are not announcing it until after Miss Bennet is married to Mr King the day after tomorrow. I can assure you nothing will be said at dinner and I would be immensely grateful if you would keep this knowledge to yourselves until my brother makes the engagement official.’

  Miss Garfield nodded vigourously. ‘We shall forget we ever heard the news. Whilst Cousin Peter believes he is a contender for your hand he will not look in my direction. I have no wish to speak ill of him, but I cannot like him, he has an unsavoury reputation. Papa is not happy with my mother’s choice, but he will go along with it, as he does with everything else she decides.’

  This comment had peaked Georgiana’s interest. She thought Mr Rawlings rather wild, but had not considered him unsavoury – whatever that might mean. ‘He was involved in an incident here last year with his cronies, but it was no more than high spirits. He has always been perfectly pleasant to me and I have not heard anything untoward about him. What has he done to earn your opprobrium?’

  The two girls exchanged knowing glances and then drew her into the shadow of a large marble bust. ‘I heard Papa tell Mama that he was “a rackety fellow” and that “this young man spends too much time in dens of iniquity” I am almost certain that means he would not make a suitable match for me.’ Miss Garfield plucked at her fashionable skirt. ‘I have a large dowry and I’m sure I could find someone more to my liking if I was to be allowed a London Season.’

  ‘I am to have one even though I shall already be engaged. If you give me your address in Town I shall make sure you and your family are invited to my ball and that you have introductions to all the eligible young men.’

  There was no time for further conversation as a footman appeared and banged the gong loudly. She escorted her new friends through the vestibule, across the Great Hall and they were able to join the end of the line without their absence being noted.

  There were no designated places apart from those for Lizzy and Fitzwilliam at the head of the table. It would have been more usual for the hostess to sit at the far end, opposite her spouse, but her brother had refused to continue this custom. He had said he had no intention of shouting down the table at his wife when he could have her sitting next to him.

  ‘Look, there are three seats together on the right, shall we go there? If you, Miss Garfield, sit between your sister and I then we can help you. Is your arm very sore? I am surprised that Doctor Bevan allowed somebody with a broken arm to wander about the place as you are doing.’

  ‘My arm is not broken, thank the Lord, merely badly sprained. He assured us I should be perfectly well in a few days.’ Miss Garfield nodded towards her mother who was seated next to Jane. ‘Mama was also fortunate as she only required three sutures and these have been disguised by her turban.’

  ‘The young gentleman and his companion who caused the accident have not been so lucky. One of them will never walk again and the other remains unconscious. Two coachmen were fatally injured.’ Miss Emily dabbed her eyes on her napkin.

  ‘It is a truly dreadful thing to have happened, Emily. However, we must pray that both of the young men make a full recovery. I am certain that provision will be made for the families of the men who died. Now, look at all the delicious treats that have been placed on the table. I cannot remember seeing such a spread before.’ Miss Garfield waved her uninjured arm and her sister immediately forgot her distress and began exclaiming over the various dishes.

  Georgiana wished she had not been so eager to sit with these two girls. She hoped no one in her family had dismissed the tragedy of the two servants so casually. The meal progressed and as more wine was consumed the talk became noisier. Cook had excelled herself, each course had several removes and all were as good as the other. However, she was relieved when eventually Lizzy put down her napkin and pushed herself to her feet.

  Lydia was talking gaily to both Adam and Jonathan but Mrs Bennet was remarkably subdued, not a bit like the garrulous woman she had met earlier. Mary was barely visible at the far end of the table and she had no idea how she was reacting to the splendour of a Pemberley dinner.

  ‘Come along, we must go now and leave the men to their port.’ Georgiana had been surprised to see that both girls had accepted a glass or two of wine and were now even more lively than before. She rather feared she would be obliged to remain with the Garfield girls for the remainder of the evening.

  She took the elbow of each and guided them through the double doors, down the wide central passageway and into the music room and then pushed them gently in the direction of a daybed. ‘If you would care to sit here, I am going to play the pianoforte. Mrs Darcy and Mrs Bingley prefer to sit quietly until the gentlemen come in.’

  Before they could protest at her abandonment she hurried to the far end of the vast room where the musical instruments were kept. Kitty had been sitting with her future husband during dinner and Georgiana had had no time to talk to her.

  ‘Shall we play a duet? I think the Garfield sisters are a little overcome by alcohol, I dread what they might do or say next.’

  ‘We are about to find out, dearest, for they are charging in our direction.’

  Chapter Seven

  ‘Miss Darcy, Miss Bennet, my sister plays the harp and I am said to have a beautiful singing voice. Shall we entertain together
?’ Miss Garfield was a trifle unsteady. ‘It is fortunate that our talents are so arranged as I would have great difficulty playing a harp with only one arm available.’ She nodded sagely and Georgiana busied herself at the pianoforte in order to hide her smile.

  Kitty came to her rescue. ‘I suggest that you and Miss Emily take the lead, Miss Darcy and I shall accompany if we know the piece you play.’

  Whilst the two girls tottered about making themselves ready Georgiana whispered to her friend. ‘We must pray that the gentlemen remain in the dining room until they have completed their performance. I blame myself for their inebriation, I should not have allowed the footmen to replenish their glasses so frequently.’

  ‘Fiddlesticks to that! They are old enough to know better and their behaviour is not your concern. Do you think we should warn the others?’

  Georgiana glanced down the enormous chamber. ‘They are all sitting at the far end by the fire and I doubt they will be disturbed by the music. I am surprised that Lydia and Mary have not joined us but remain with the older ladies.’

  Miss Garfield called across to them. ‘We are ready; we are going to perform Greensleeves. I am certain that you must have the music somewhere if you do not know it already.’

  ‘I know it, Kitty, do you?’ When her friend nodded, Georgiana made room on the wide piano stool. ‘If we play with sufficient energy we might be able to drown out the harp and singing.’

  ‘It might not be as bad as you fear, they both look steadier than they did a quarter of an hour ago.’

  Before either of them had time to draw breath the Garfield girls launched into their version of Greensleeves. Georgiana doubted that even when perfectly well, Miss Emily could play a harp proficiently and if her sister’s voice was considered good then she was glad she was not obliged to attend a musicale in their neighbourhood.

  After a few minutes Kitty was laughing so hard she could not continue. The speed at which this traditional folk song was being performed rendered it impossible to keep pace on the piano. ‘Shall we leave them to it? I am sure they will not notice that we have abandoned them.’ Georgiana quietly closed the instrument and she and Kitty slid from the stool and tiptoed away.

  Once they were ten yards from the caterwauling and hideous plunking they paused. ‘They should have completed the song in ample time. Look, Kitty, the rest of the party are transfixed. We had better join them. We must be careful what we say as their mama might take exception if we criticise their performance.’

  *

  Jonathan had no desire to sit drinking port in the dining room. Georgiana had been studiously ignoring him but he was determined to spend the remainder of the evening in her company. Whatever her feelings on the subject, Darcy had given them permission to marry in the summer and would think it odd if his sister was not talking to her future husband.

  The port was on its second journey round the table when he was sure he heard the sound of cats fighting. He ignored the decanter and pushed it straight on to Garfield who was on his right. What the devil was that hideous screeching sound?

  Nobody else appeared to have heard anything, but he was determined to investigate. After the terrifying incident with the ghosts last December, anything untoward should be explored. He pushed his chair back and nodded at Darcy. ‘Can you hear that noise? Sounds like animals in agony. I’m going to find out what it is.’

  He now had the company’s full attention and the table fell silent as all strained to hear. Darcy slapped his hand on the table and laughed out loud. ‘Not animals, Brownstone, but a human singer and possibly a harpist. Come, this is too good to miss, we shall join the ladies and enjoy the entertainment.’

  Garfield seemed reluctant to accompany them. ‘That will be my girls, I could recognise that sound anywhere. Mrs Garfield has convinced them that they are musical geniuses and unfortunately they take every opportunity to damage the ears of those unfortunate enough to be obliged to listen to them.’

  ‘I beg your pardon, sir, for inadvertently comparing your daughters to cats. Shall we remain here until the performance is over?’

  With a heavy sigh Mr Garfield shook his head and slowly regained his feet. ‘They are not bad girls, I love them both dearly, but they are being ridiculed for their lack of talent and excess of enthusiasm. I have not the heart to tell them, but I wish someone else would, even if it causes them temporary embarrassment.’

  Jonathan was not about to volunteer for this unpleasant task, but he would ask Georgiana if she could tactfully suggest the girls were not as talented as they thought. ‘Are you intending to make a long stay with Sir John?’

  ‘A sennight, no longer. He is my wife’s brother-in-law, no relation of mine. I like Sir John and Lady Rawlings and his daughters are well behaved young ladies.’ His smile slipped a little. ‘My boy, George, is much taken with Sir John’s eldest, Peter, but I think he is a bad influence. He has been given too much leeway, if you want to know my opinion.’

  The dreadful cacophony echoed down the passageway and Jonathan winced. Only the most besotted of parents would imagine the racket to be tuneful. If Darcy did not put a stop to it, then he would do so. The

  Garfield girls did not deserve to be humiliated any further. He entered the music room to find the gentlemen who had preceded him were strolling towards the ladies at the far end. Nobody had intervened.

  He straightened his shoulders, took a deep breath and marched smartly towards the two girls who were apparently oblivious to the mass hilarity they were engendering. He halted beside them – still they continued their performance despite the fact that he was standing no more than an arm’s length from the two of them.

  There was nothing for it. He must speak to them. He cleared his throat noisily to no avail. ‘Excuse me, ladies…’ He could think of nothing else to say that would not be unkind. Fortunately his raised voice had the desired effect and Miss Garfield froze in mid-note and her sister’s hands dropped away from the harp strings. They looked at him expectantly but his mind had emptied of coherent thought.

  ‘Miss Garfield, Miss Emily, we are about to play charades and I would so like to have you both join in.’

  Jonathan ran a finger around his stock which had become unaccountably tight. Georgiana had come to his rescue. ‘Miss Darcy, I cannot tell you how much I’m looking forward to this activity. I have not played charades since I was a boy at home, but no doubt the ability will not have deserted me.’

  ‘Oh, thank you so much for fetching us. We should have hated to have missed the opportunity to participate.’ Miss Garfield beamed. ‘When we are playing together I am afraid that we become immersed in the music.’

  The young ladies happily dashed off down the room leaving him alone with Georgiana for a moment. ‘That was inspired, my dear, I do hope the rest of the party are aware they are about to play charades.’

  ‘Unfortunately not, but I am sure Kitty will understand and smooth the matter over.’ She shuddered theatrically and placed a hand on his arm. She continued, as they strolled towards the others. ‘Fitzwilliam has never played in his life and I’m quite sure he will not do so now. Lizzy and Jane must not and I doubt that Mr or Mrs Garfield, or the other couple, will wish to either. That leaves ourselves, Adam and Kitty, George Garfield and his sisters. That will be more than enough to make an entertaining evening.’

  As it happened the other couple were only too happy to join in the riotous game of charades. Jonathan was delighted Georgiana had suggested this as the two Garfield girls proved themselves to be as good at acting as they had been bad at music. Even Darcy appeared relaxed and thoroughly amused by the antics of those performing.

  There had been no opportunity to converse with Georgiana alone, however, when he said his farewells to the family and their unexpected guests he was convinced that nobody had guessed their secret. That said, it was unlikely anyone would be overly surprised when the announcement was made in a week or two.

  He was committed to a summer wedding and hoped that his du
ties would allow him to join the Darcy family at Grosvenor Square during the next few months. He had no wish for other young bucks to stake their claim with his future wife. For his part, he would be overjoyed to tie the knot immediately, but for Georgiana’s sake he hoped she would reconsider and be happy to wait at least until next year.

  When he and Adam were rattling back to The Old Rectory he was tempted to ask his friend’s opinion. Adam had been a comrade in arms until he resigned his commission and took holy orders, although he had been a man of the cloth for barely six months before he renounced his calling.

  From the darkness at the other side of the rocking carriage his friend spoke ‘That was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, my friend, and the next time I see Kitty it will be to marry her. I rather liked the Garfield family and the Trelawneys, which is fortunate as I heard Kitty inviting them to our wedding breakfast.’

  ‘This is turning into a grand affair, Adam, and I had thought you wished to keep things simple.’

  ‘It is the gentleman’s part to follow and the lady’s to lead when it comes to matters such as this. I care not how many attend the ceremony as long as the knot is tied. Did you know that we are to chaperone Georgiana for the Season? Our wedding trip must be postponed until late summer as Kitty does not wish to be away when her nieces or nephews are born.’

  Jonathan decided now was the time to reveal his own plans. ‘I have spoken to Darcy and he has given his approval to my marrying his sister. She is determined that we will be married this year, but I’m hoping to persuade her to wait until I know whether I will be in the country or not.’

  ‘We guessed as much, but I am of the same mind as you, I would not wish to marry and then be obliged to abandon my wife for God knows how long. Why is Georgiana so set on marrying this year?’

  ‘That is the crux of the matter. Her feelings are not in doubt, but I thought she was not prepared to marry a serving solider and I, if I am honest, do not relish being thought of as a fortune hunter. However, she told Darcy we are to be married later his year and I must go along with her decision.’