Free Trouble With Wickham by Olivia Kane Page B

entered into with a local man, the Earl of Buckland, an innocent enough misjudgment of character on my part of which he relentlessly reminds me. Having an older brother yourself, I am sure that you have been in a similar position and will be sympathetic to my case. Pray, do tell: Does your brother enjoy reminding you of your recent follies as mine does?”
    Georgiana laughed out loud in surprised agreement, thinking to herself how tightly Fitzwilliam’s nerves were wound where she was concerned, how vigilantly he investigated the society she was exposed to, and how her very presence there that night was evidence of how little trust he had in her.
    It was as if Charlotte read her mind.
    “What is it with older brothers?” Charlotte continued, leaning conspiratorially toward Georgiana. “As if by virtue of being first born, and a man, they are somehow granted the right to judge our poor little lives, expecting perfection at every turn, entering our mistakes in some kind of mental log book, while at the same time escaping any blame for their own errors of pride or drink or recklessness, with no stones ever thrown at them. It is almost Biblical in its hypocrisy, isn’t it?”
    Hugh stood stock still in amazement as he listened to his sister’s rant. When she finally paused to take a breath, he roared with laughter, tilting his head back and meeting Georgiana’s gaze with a twinkle in his eyes.
    “Now Charlotte, please, stop! What a sorry picture you paint of me in front of our guest to whom I have just been introduced! Can I not have the courtesy of enjoying five minutes of her esteem before you regale her with my many faults? Miss Darcy, I beseech you to believe that, despite partaking in mild brotherly mischief, I am not the worst acquaintance you could make here tonight.”
    Georgiana was looking in wonder between Charlotte and her brother with envy. If only she and Fitzwilliam could banter together as easily as they did. Lately, it felt as if their conversations were marked by hurt feelings and harsh words. But before she could respond Guy joined in the fun.
    “Five minutes of esteem? Surely here is the most pompous man in the room! Miss Darcy, I have known the young Mr. Radcliffe since he was a wee one and I can assure you that he is indeed the worst man you will meet here tonight. You would do well to avoid his company for the duration of the party.”
    Georgiana laughed in response, wondering if perhaps it was partly her own fault she took Fitzwilliam’s oversight to heart and so seriously. Perhaps she should laugh at her brother more, instead of pouting. Perhaps he exerted control over her because she allowed him to? Perhaps a different sort of girl would be carving out her own life in spite of her brother’s heavy-handed supervision?
    Chastened by her self-approbation, and suddenly determined to change her approach, she looked Mr. Radcliffe directly in the eye and spoke with levity.
    “Perhaps you overestimate the value of my esteem. I am sure that if you asked my brother for his opinion he would say my errors of judgment are worse than your sister’s.”
    “Is that so?” Hugh asked with incredulity, convinced she was exaggerating.
    “Indeed!” Georgiana continued, happily supplying just enough background to explain her brother’s obvious anxiety without coming out and revealing her short-lived plan to elope with Wickham. “He considers me a slippery eel of a girl who cannot be left unattended at Pemberley for even the shortest period of time, and must be dragged along through the countryside with him and inflicted on strangers such as yourself for my own safety. Yes, I confess that my own faults are to blame for my presence here tonight, and why my brother watches me like a bird of prey. Surely I must be the worst person in the room for you to make an acquaintance with,” she teased back.
    Both Guy and Hugh blinked in startled response. Hugh could not help but be curious as to the particular nature of