Free More Letters From Pemberley by Jane Dawkins

company began to appear. Including everybody we were almost 100, which was more than we had expected, and quite enough to fill the back drawing room and leave a few to be scattered about in the other. The music was extremely good, and all the performers gave great satisfaction. The house was not clear until after 12, after which we retired immediately to bed. You will also wish to know that I wore the new white gown, made very much like my yellow one, which you always told me sat very well—also the pretty diamond Darcy tiara. My Aunt looked most stylish in dove grey silk overlaid with lace of the same shade, and hair dressed with three ostrich feathers of differing lengths, artfully arranged. Georgiana was simply though fashionably attired in a plain, cream silk, the neckline edged in seed pearls—I dare say we were the three most elegant ladies present!
    Georgiana and the Colonel have been here at Grosvenor Street during most of our stay, making London immensely more tolerable than usual. They are both such good company and perfect guests with their quiet ways and manners. While Georgiana looks as well as ever, I did at times notice an almost imperceptible veil of melancholy about her, so contrived that we should spend some private time together that I might either pry out the cause, or satisfy myself that my imaginings hold no cause for alarm. Colonel Fitzwilliam had similarly hinted to me his concern that something was amiss. A morning came when the Gentlemen were from home and the weather confined us indoors. Her protestations that all was perfectly well were so violent that I was convinced I was right, and persisted in my enquiries. At last, she confessed her fear that she is unable to give the Colonel Children. We set aside our blushes and spoke frankly upon the subject. It was my opinion that while they have been married almost two years, that in itself does not prove her fear. She had shrunk from speaking to her Husband, and from consulting the Fitzwilliam physician, hoping that an opportunity might arise for them come to Pemberley, where she could consult Brownley, whom she knows and trusts. Agreeing that, unpleasant as the notion may be, a medical consultation was the only means of putting her fears to rest, we decided to ask the Darcys’ London physician (whom G. has also known since childhood, though not as well as Mr. Brownley) to wait upon us here in Grosvenor Street and seek his advice. We further settled it that, for the time being at least, the appointment would be our secret alone.
    Mr. Clark arrived on the due date, and after a thorough examination declared that he saw no reason in the world why Georgiana should not bear as many Children as she desired! You should have seen us, Jane, holding hands and dancing around the room, by turns laughing and crying. Nurse and Annie happened to pass the open door at that very moment, so we each took one of Annie’s hands and swung her around the room. Bewildered at first, then, seeing us laughing so much, she caught our spirit, laughing as her little legs tried to keep up with us. We were still dancing when the Gentlemen returned, much to their astonishment, but we refused to state the reason for our gaiety, no matter how hard they tried to winkle it from us!
    I have since extracted a promise from G. that she will never keep such a problem to herself again. If, for reasons of delicacy, she cannot discuss something with her Husband, she must write to me and we will unravel it together.
    What dreadful, unseasonal hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of inelegance. I hope it will be a tolerable afternoon for I have promised to take Annie for a drive in Hyde Park (she would dearly love to see the Prince out riding!) and if the weather continues so hot she will not be in the best of tempers, I fear. She has lately become most perverse and saucy, her favourite words being shan’t, can’t, won’t, etc. Nurse assures me this is natural behaviour which