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“Is that she?” Captain Wentworth repeated incredulously. “Do you mean to tell me that in three years, you have not once called upon her in person to discuss her husband’s estate?”
“I see no purpose in such a discussion.”
“Fortunately for her, she now has a friend who does,” Wentworth said, “and since you have not been forthcoming in response to my notes of enquiry regarding Mr. Smith’s West Indian property, I have dispatched letters to both London and Spanish Town. Your cooperation, however, could save us all considerable time and trouble, and expedite the settlement of his estate—a matter too long unresolved. That poor good lady—”
“That ‘good lady’ is a harpy who ca
“I take this to mean that I should not expect any information from you regarding the present legal status of the property?”
“There is nothing to be said about it. There is nothing to be done about it—by me, by you, by anybody. If you truly wish to act as a friend to Mrs. Smith, leave the matter rest. Your time and effort are better spent encouraging her to look ahead, not back, and in devising some other provision for her maintenance rather than allowing her to continue to pin her hopes on recovering foreign income that will never materialize.”
“Thank you for your counsel, Mr. Elliot.” Despite the closeness of the room, the air immediately surrounding Captain Wentworth held a chill. “Depend upon it, I shall act in Mrs. Smith’s best interest.”
Distress shadowed Georgiana’s face as she and the Ashfords talked with Sir Walter and Miss Elliot.
Rather, Sir Walter and his daughter talked, commandeering the conversation away from Georgiana and directing it almost exclusively toward Sir Laurence. Miss Ashford was granted the indulgence of an occasional interjection.
“… three godparents of name—the same number as the Prince Regent—and five in all,” Sir Walter said.
The older baronet’s painfully evident attempt to impress received polite acknowledgment from the bemused Sir Laurence. “Doubtless, Alfred will benefit from such ample sponsorship.”
“How many godparents have you, Sir Laurence?” Miss Elliot asked.
“Only three,” he replied. “The Duke of Manchester, and the Earl and Countess of Sommerfeld.”
“The godson of a duke!” Though the exclamation was Miss Elliot’s, both she and her father were euphoric at the news. Oblivious to the fact that their lofty co
“Not particularly, since he lives so far away.”
“My brother did, however, visit him several years ago,” Miss Ashford added.
“He is a valuable co
Sir Laurence accepted Sir Walter’s social advice with great civility, though it was neither needed nor wanted.
“And you enjoy the patronage of Lord Sommerfeld, as well.” Miss Elliot regarded Sir Laurence as if he were the heir to the throne.
“My godfather was an earl,” Georgiana ventured.
Considering the interest Sir Walter and Miss Elliot took in anybody’s co
“I have not yet had the pleasure. He was rather beside himself when we arrived.”
“Oh, do not let his earlier behavior color your impression of him. He is calm now.” She smiled. “Come, I shall introduce you and Miss Ashford.”
“That is not necessary. We can wait for another occasion—”
“Why wait? He is such a sweet child—I simply adore him. You must allow me to present my new brother to you—a future baronet to a current one.” She turned to her father. “Sir, you should come, too—three baronets.”
“An excellent idea,” said Sir Walter.
Without waiting for a reply from Sir Laurence, Miss Elliot and her father began walking. After a few steps, she turned to see whether Sir Laurence and his sister followed.
Sir Laurence had no choice. To refuse would embarrass both his hosts and himself. He looked at Georgiana apologetically. “Will you come with us, Miss Darcy?”
Though stu
“I will look for you later, then.”
She nodded. Sir Laurence took his sister’s arm, and Georgiana watched them walk off. Miss Elliot smiled victoriously as they joined her.
“It is not worth your trouble,” said a male voice behind Georgiana.
She turned round to discover Lieutenant St. Clair. He was in civilian clothes today, as he had been when she had first seen him. He stood near a wooden column, one of six that dotted the room at regular intervals to uphold the ceiling.
“I beg your pardon?”
“The lemonade.” He had a glass in his hand, but stepped forward to set it on a nearby table. “It is too warm to provide refreshment.”
“I know.” Despite having no interest in her own half-empty glass, Georgiana sipped from it and glanced back at Sir Laurence. Miss Elliot had not gone directly to Mrs. Wentworth, who held Alfred; she had instead paused halfway across the room, and the party was now in conversation again. Georgiana watched them, her expression apprehensive.
“For the record,” St. Clair said, “I do not have a single titled godparent.”
His statement drew her attention back to him. “It is a wonder, then, that you were admitted to this grandiose affair.”
“I keep the fact a closely guarded secret.” His mouth quirked, and his eyes held irreverent liveliness. “Pray, do not expose me to Miss Elliot, or I might be shown the door.”
His entreaty elicited the begi
He offered to fetch her more lemonade if she truly wanted it. She declined, setting her unwanted glass beside his. “I would much rather hear how you managed to survive all these years with such shockingly ordinary co
“I am terribly ill equipped, am I not? But my godparents are a most beloved aunt and uncle—two of many. In assorted relations, I am plentifully endowed.”
“Have you numerous siblings, as well?” she asked.
“What would you consider ‘numerous’?”
“Having grown up with only a single brother, I would deem three abundant.”
“I have seven.”
Her eyes widened. “Seven! All brothers?”
“Three sisters. The eldest is married and lives in London; the other two are still at home.”
“I have often wished I had more siblings. But seven! Have you also a generous number of nieces and nephews?”
“Not quite a full dozen—at least, at last count,” he said with a fond look in his eyes. “Incidentally, I am godfather to two of them. We shall have to hope they grow up none the worse for the co
As they spoke, the sun’s angle shifted just enough that now its rays lanced the window and raised the temperature in the room still more. Georgiana withdrew a fan from her reticule and waved it slowly. “Whatever is it like, being part of such a large family?”