Free Mr. Darcy's Little Sister by C. Allyn Pierson

She paused, her brow furrowed. “I do not know how good the company will be. Would they not be playing during the main season if they were among the better performers?”
    “Perhaps, but if that is the case we can enjoy it as a comedy instead of a tragedy,” Elizabeth said with a grin, which Georgiana returned hesitantly.
    “I am not altogether sure a romantic tragedy sets the proper tone for a new marriage anyway,” Darcy said with a smile at his wife, “but I do enjoy Shakespeare.”
    Elizabeth agreed but commented, “I have never seen Romeo and Juliet on the stage, but I have always thought that the young lovers behaved extremely foolishly. If they had just waited long enough to make sure their messages were received, neither would have died… not that I should be quibbling with lack of proper communication in romantic affairs,” she added in sudden embarrassment. Darcy chuckled over her blush while Georgiana stared at them in confusion.
    Elizabeth reassured her, “Never mind, my dear. I am teasing again, except this time I am teasing myself.”
    A footman arrived with tea, and Mrs. Annesley joined them and welcomed the new couple home. They later had a quiet family dinner at home, and all retired early.
    The next morning Georgiana came down to breakfast in a more resilient mood than that of the day before. She saw Burton’s back as he disappeared down the stairs to the kitchen with the coffeepot in his hand, so she quietly opened the door to the breakfast-parlour herself. Her brother and sister were standing in front of the window which faced onto the garden, their bodies nearly touching. Before she could make her presence known, her brother leaned down and kissed his wife with a tenderness which made her heart ache.
    With a deftness which surprised even her, she reversed her course and backed out of the room, closing the door as silently as she could. She wanted to run upstairs and hide her mortification at invading such a moment, but instead she went back to the staircase, walked part way up, and waited while the redness in her face subsided and her breathing calmed. When she caught the first glimpse of Burton returning with fresh coffee, she walked down the stairs again and crossed the hall. She noticed that Burton’s usual catlike tread was absent and his heels clicked firmly on the tile floor; she smiled to herself. In the future, she too would make sure that her entries gave her brother and sister due warning of her approach.
    “Good morning, Burton.”
    “Good morning, Miss Darcy. It is a lovely day outside.”
    “Indeed it is.”
    The butler opened the door and bowed her in to the breakfast-parlour where she found Mr. and Mrs. Darcy calmly eating their eggs and bacon.
    Elizabeth looked up, a suspicious twinkle in her eye and blandly asked, “And how are you this morning, Georgiana?”
    “I am fine, thank you.” She blushed slightly again and looked down at her lap as Burton unfolded her serviette and offered it to her.
    “Would you like coffee, Miss Darcy?”
    “Please.”
    Darcy cleared his throat and said, “Georgiana, we were just discussing our plans for the day.”
    She raised her brows in a questioning look and said, “Yes?”
    “We thought we would take a walk. Elizabeth has not really seen the neighbourhood or the park. Would you like to join us?”
    She glanced from one to the other and decided that they were not just being polite in their invitation.
    “I would love a walk. We may not have many more nice days before winter.”
    Elizabeth smiled at her. “Very true, my dear.”
    Georgiana ventured, “W-would you mind if I asked my friend Catherine to come with us?”
    Her brother answered without hesitation, “Of course, Georgiana. If you will write a note to her I will send one of the footmen to Freemont House.”
    “I will do that, thank you… both of you.”
    She finished her breakfast, went upstairs to write the note to her friend, and received an acceptance by return