“She is engaged at present, Mrs. Darcy,” the man said.
She did not have time to wait. “Is Colonel Fitzwilliam here, perhaps?” He was Georgiana’s other guardian. He would help.
“Oh, I am sorry, Mrs. Darcy,” he told her. “The only member of the family at home to callers this morning is Viscount Milton.”
Before she could reply, Henry emerged into the hall. “Elizabeth!” he cried, removing a napkin from his collar. “I thought that was your voice. Have you left my dull, dour cousin already? Shall we take his carriage and abscond to warmer climes?”
Elizabeth lifted her eyebrows and treated him to an icy stare. She would not allow him to goad her. “I am here on business, Henry,” she told him. “Will you hear me out, or shall I travel to Angelo’s and speak with your brother?”
He eyed her closely. “Why would you not simply speak to your husband?”
“Because he was already out of the house when I woke. Now he is about to face Mr. Howard, and I do not want him distracted.”
Henry was quiet for a moment before he motioned to the room he had just exited. “And you believe arriving at Angelo’s in his carriage would not distract?”
Elizabeth just stared at him.
He tipped his head in the direction of the room from which he had emerged. “Come in.”
Before she sat, Elizabeth asked, “I was hoping to speak to Georgiana.”
“She is upstairs in a music lesson,” Henry said slowly. “I was going to ride over to Angelo’s myself. The bout is set for later this morning, but I thought to lay a wager on William. Have you ever seen him fence?”
“Will you call for her?” Elizabeth asked, ignoring Henry’s question. “It is important.”
Henry stood slowly and sent a maid in search of Georgiana. They sat together silently as they awaited her arrival.
“Elizabeth,” her new sister said, rushing into the room and taking her by the hands. “It is wonderful to see you. I am in a lesson just now . . .”
“My apologies, Georgiana,” Elizabeth said. “I have a question for you, and I am afraid it cannot wait.”
Georgiana sat down on the settee with Elizabeth. “Very well. What is it?”
Henry sat in the chair opposite and gave her an expectant look.
“When we spoke about Amelia Howard,” she began, “you told your brother and me that you were not intimate friends with her.”
“That is true,” Georgiana said. Henry straightened suddenly, his eyes fixed on Elizabeth’s face.
“Did she have one?” Elizabeth inquired. “An intimate friend, I mean.”
Georgiana’s brow wrinkled. “Well, I have not seen any of them since the summer,” she answered softly. “But last March, before Miss Howard removed from town, Miss Harriet Dixon was her very good friend.”
“Miss Harriet Dixon,” Elizabeth repeated. “You are sure?”
Georgiana nodded.
Elizabeth reached over and gave Georgiana’s hand a squeeze. “Thank you. I will not keep you from your lesson any longer. Please apologize to the master on my behalf.”
The girl nodded and stood. She seemed puzzled, but she did not ask any questions, simply made her way out of the room.
Elizabeth turned to Henry, who gave her a knowing look.
“I will take care of it, cousin,” he told her, and for once, he sounded serious.
“Do you know Mr. Dixon?” she asked, surprised.
“I know everyone,” Henry replied with a shrug. “I really ought to have considered this myself, but we none of us think too much about girls not yet out, do we?”