It’s been a while ladies and gentlemen, but I’ve had a busy late summer. Firstly, I never had the opportunity to share here that Worthy of her Love is now out in audiobook! I’ll have a sample after the chapter for you to try. In the meantime, Georgiana’s story is finally written and almost ready to see the light of day. I can’t wait for you to read it and see what you think. In the meantime, if you didn’t get to read the prologue, click this link to read Tuesday’s post at Austen Variations. Once you’ve done that, simply scroll down for chapter 1!

I don’t have the paperback cover yet since I haven’t formatted it (You have to have the page count for the spine width), but I do have the Kindle cover. I hope you like it!! In the book there are a couple of scenes with a field of poppies, so I depicted that on the cover.

Note: Charles mostly uses sign language (which had been around for a long time by this point) to communicate. Since he lost his hearing almost 30 years into his life, he still has the use of his voice, although his voice has changed. From my research, most who lose their hearing end up with a monotone voice. Due to this, Charles does not typically use his voice in front of anyone but Henry, Jane, and his valet. For that reason and to help the reader know when he is signing and when he is speaking, the font is normal, he is signing and in italics when he is speaking aloud.

Chapter 1

14^th April 1815

“Good morning, Miss Darcy. Welcome to Albemarle House,” said Bates with a warm smile. “I understand you are removing to Hemel Hill with His and Her Grace.”

“Yes, I am indeed. Mr. and Mrs. Darcy and the children departed for Nottinghamshire this morning with the Greenes and their children.” They planned to break their journey at Dereham, then continue on to Pemberley in a fortnight. Georgiana was not sure why Jane required her aid with the new baby, but her sister had insisted Jane needed her desperately. She could never abandon dear, sweet Jane, so here she was. She adored children, so any assistance she could provide with Clarissa or even Juliana and Emmeline, the duke’s children from his first wife, would be welcome.

“Of course, miss. The duke and duchess have yet to come down, but Lord Bath is at breakfast should you like to join him.” The earl had been Lord Charles when she had first met him. Of course, the death of Simon, his elder brother and the former Lord Bath, had meant Lord Charles assumed the title since it was separate from the dukedom. These things happened from time to time, yet this one would require more adjustment. The former Lord Bath was not a good man. 

“I shall join Lord Bath then, thank you.”

The butler brought her to a small room with windows that curved outward and gave a lovely view of the garden behind. When she entered, Lord Bath stood and bowed as Bates pulled out a chair across from the earl. After she thanked Bates, she clasped her hands in her lap. Why did this gentleman sitting opposite from her rile her nerves so? He could not hear, but that did not matter. In essentials, he was no different from any other gentleman. 

“Good morning, Lord Bath, I hope you are well.” she said, speaking with both her hands and her voice.

He tilted his head. “Where did you learn that?”

“My brother and his wife have been working with a master who came highly recommended from His Grace.”

“Mr. Creasy?”

“Yes, he has been kind enough to let me join. I still stumble and it is difficult to remember every…” Speaking of stumbling!

She bit her lip and was about to place her palm to her forehead when the earl lifted his eyebrows. He spelled then signed “word.”

“Yes, word.” She nodded. “My brother enjoys speaking to you on matters of estate management, and since you will be a part of our family party in the future, we would not want to see you left out of the conversations around you.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed, he blinked several times quickly, then nodded. Was he overcome? He would not receive a great deal of consideration from most, so if he was, his feelings were understandable. She poured herself coffee. Her distraction would give him a moment to compose himself.

He pointed to her cup. “You do not drink tea?”

“I do, but mostly in the afternoon and evening. Lizzy has converted me to coffee in the morning.”

One side of his lip quirked. “I hear she enjoys brandy. Do you partake of the gentleman’s drinks as well?”

“Lizzy drinks brandy, and my cousin Nicholas’s wife partakes of whiskey—she is Irish—but I have yet to try brandy, or whiskey for that matter.” Georgiana spelled the words she did not know. When she had a moment, she took a muffin from a plate and spread jam upon it before taking a bite. In her nervousness to stay with Jane and her family, she had not eaten that morning. Doing so now might not have been the best idea, but she would try.

Lord Bath returned to his food but mostly picked at what was on his plate. After a quarter hour in such an attitude, Jane finally entered with her husband behind her.

“Oh, Georgiana, forgive me. We overslept and took a tray in our sitting room. No one told us you had arrived.”

“Where is Clarissa?”

“Sleeping in her cradle for the moment,” said His Grace. “We did not want to disturb her before it was necessary.”

Jane glanced between the earl and Georgiana. “Have the two of you eaten?” she asked aloud and with her hands.

“Yes, I was not too hungry, so I had a muffin and some coffee. That should suit me for now.” She spoke as best as she could with her hands so Lord Bath could follow.

With a grin, Jane shook her head. “You have become too much like Lizzy.”

Georgiana pursed her lips. “Not too much. I could never be as forthright and witty as she is.”

“I believe you could if you wished it,” said Jane.

“Your Grace, the carriage is in front of the house. Your trunks are loaded, and the servants’ carriage awaits them in the mews.”

The housekeeper entered with the small bundle of Jane’s new babe in her arms. “I took the liberty of bringing your little lady to you, Your Grace. ’Twas so nice to have a babe in the house. I shall miss it.”

“Here, I should like to hold her if you do not mind.” With a slight lurch forward, Georgiana reached for Clarissa and took the small babe, cradling her with care to her chest. As soon as the wee thing was secure in her arms, Georgiana could have wept. More than anything, she desired a family—children to care for as Lizzy and Fitzwilliam did Alexander and Sophie—but how was she supposed to trust her heart to a gentleman? Wickham had wanted her for her fortune similar to the way Mr. Bingley had desired Jane for hers. Somehow Jane had overcome those scars, but perhaps she had not cared for Mr. Bingley as Georgiana had been fooled into caring for Mr. Wickham. How was she to overcome her reticence with most gentleman? She could not imagine being so open with anyone.

“She seems content in your arms,” said Jane, “but you have had plenty of practice with Alexander and Sophie.”

The housekeeper turned her attention back to her mistress. “Lady Emmeline and Lady Juliana are having their breakfast. They will follow with Miss Fletcher.”

“Good,” said Jane. “I know His Grace has business to attend at Hemel Hill, but I did not want the girls rushed this morning. If you have any issues or questions, do pen me a letter.” 

After the housekeeper nodded, Jane hurried out on her husband’s arm. No sooner were they alone than Georgiana’s gaze met Lord Bath’s. What was he thinking? He was so unreadable all of the time. Here and now, he did no more than stare at her while the baby slept in her embrace. With a start, he held out his arm for her to go ahead of him, and she followed Jane and her duke with Lord Bath close behind her. The flesh of her back prickled. She had never experienced such a sensation before. Why would it happen now?

*******

No matter how he tried not to cease staring, Charles could not rip his gaze from the sight of Miss Georgiana Darcy holding his niece. What was it about this lady that disconcerted him so? He had been in company with her and her family more than once since Henry wed Jane, but he had not truly spoken to her until that night in the library—the night when Clarissa was born. That was the evening Miss Darcy had requested he teach her to sign, but what was he to make of her learning on her own? No, he would not consider it. As soon as he lost his hearing, he became unmarriageable. No lady—not even one reputed to be as timid and sweet as Miss Darcy would want him now.

Since that night in the library, he had taken great pains to avoid her company. When he knew she would be coming, he hid away in his sitting room with a book or rode Rotten Row. Most of the time, she called before the fashionable hour, so the Row was not crowded. Without his hearing, navigating the usually busy stretch of dirt track would be dangerous indeed.

His brother helped the ladies into the carriage then took his own seat before Charles climbed in and sat beside him. Thank heavens propriety demanded Jane sit beside Miss Darcy lest he be so close to her. He was attracted to her, but she was the maiden relation of his sister-in-law. He could not act on his desires.

At a light pat to his forearm, his head darted from the floor where he had trained his gaze.

“Are you well?” asked Jane, her mouth moving with her hands.

He nodded, but when the carriage began to move, he dropped his head back into the squabs and closed his eyes. The next couple of hours would be long with Miss Darcy in the carriage. Rather than attempt to join their conversations, he would sleep, or feign sleeping, whichever he could manage.

*******

Once they had all stepped down from the carriage, Charles followed his brother and the ladies towards the house. Jane hastened upstairs with Clarissa while the housekeeper, Mrs. Deaton, showed Miss Darcy to her own rooms, leaving him with his brother.

Unfortunately, Henry tugged at his forearm before Charles could disappear to his sitting room. “I wish to speak to you.”

His brother the door closed behind them after they entered the study. “You are avoiding Miss Darcy, are you not?”

Avoiding Miss Darcy? Of course he was avoiding her. Henry was aware of his aversion to people—aside from his close family that was. Why did he seem to believe Charles would do anything different today?

“Come now. You never sleep in the carriage. I am not stupid.” Well, that part was true.

“What does it matter if I eschew her company? I shall see her at meals and be as polite as possible, as I was this morning, but why must I spend any more time with her than necessary? She is Jane’s guest, not mine.” Unlike when he was in company, he used his voice. Henry had heard it as it continued to alter, so no reason existed for him to be silent with his brother and Jane.

Henry leaned back against his desk. “Miss Darcy is also exceedingly shy and uncomfortable around those she does not know well. She enjoys riding, as do you. Since I need to attend to some business of the estate, I cannot show her the property, but you can.”

After narrowing his eyes, Charles shook his head. “I thought her here to be of aid to Jane and the baby. When would she have time to ride?”

“She is not a nursemaid, and Jane will not require her every moment of every day. I do intend to take Jane to the grotto in the next week or so. The place is a special one for us, and I do not want that tarnished by what happened there.” Two men had ambushed Jane’s footmen just outside the exit and chased a very heavy with child Jane until they caught her and abducted her. “We had hoped Miss Darcy would watch Clarissa for us then and when Jane is required to attend her household duties, but otherwise, she will be tasked with entertaining herself.”

“Does she not have a companion?”

His brother took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. When his hand dropped, his shoulders mirrored the movement. “From what Darcy told me, her companion wed a local landowner a year ago—a country squire from what he described. Miss Darcy opted not to have another.”

“You and Jane are playing matchmaker.”

“Charles—”

“Do you think me ignorant? Do remember that I lost my hearing, not my wits.” Why would he do this? Why would Jane do this? Why could they not let him live his life in peace? One day, when he left this world, he would bequeath his title and lands to Henry’s younger son…if Henry ever had a son.

“I am very aware you did not lose your wits, Brother, but you have lost your confidence. I remember a man who would flirt with the ladies at balls and who, from time to time, even sowed his wild oats with a widow or two. You are not so changed—not in essentials.”

“But why would she wish to be tied to a man no one respects?”

“I respect you,” said Henry, accentuating his statement with a pound to his chest. “Jane respects you. Darcy and Greene speak highly of you as do their wives and Lord and Lady Richmond. Do you honestly believe Jane would introduce you to a lady who would think less of you because you do not hear?”

Charles sank into the chair by the fire. “I visited Mrs. Chapman.”

Henry frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. “When was this?”

“Before Jane’s abduction.” He dropped his head back and closed his eyes. “She has always been a compassionate lady, so I thought to try speaking to her when…” At a touch to his arm, he opened his eyes.

“Did she ridicule you?”

“No, I could not speak—I had no need to speak. I only ever visited Mrs. Chapman for one reason, and she was pleased to see me, so once I bowed in greeting, we adjourned upstairs.” He shook his head. He and Mrs. Chapman had been friends for a few years. She had lost her husband after a fall from a horse and had never intended to marry again. During a house party at a neighbouring estate, she had invited him to her bedchamber. He had not refused. They were not together often, but when they found themselves both in town, or found each other at some event in the country, they indulged.

He shook his head. “I could not bring myself to try to say a word. All I could do is worry that if I made a sound, she would be repulsed. In the end, I could not do it.” He squeezed his eyes closed at the burn. No, he would not cry!

Again, his brother touched his arm. “You never gave her a chance and were likely overcome by your fear of ridicule. That does not mean you will never again…”

“Pray, do not say it.”

Henry sat across from him and rested his elbows up on his knees. “Were you considering offering Mrs. Chapman your hand?”

“No, I do not care for her in that way, and she would never accept it. She is a wealthy widow and as you know, fifteen years older than me.” Most thought her younger—hell, he had believed her to be younger when he first met her.

Henry stood before him. “If I have naught but girls, the dukedom dies with one of us. You need to wed. We are not insisting you consider Miss Darcy but saw an opportunity to introduce two like-minded individuals.”

“Like-minded how?” No lady would want to be shuttered away at Bathwick Abbey with him. They would wish to attend performances and plays in town, which no longer appealed to him, for obvious reasons.

“According to Jane, she has always been uncomfortable around strangers and has no desire to spend time in town. She has been quite content to remain at Pemberley for the past several years.”

“You should have consulted with me before you agreed to this scheme.” He would have never capitulated to it, which is surely why Henry and Jane never mentioned it, but why force this lady into his company when he did not want her there?

“What are we supposed to do, Charles? You hide away from people more and more. The only reason you have come to know Darcy, Greene, and the Montfords is because you met them at the wedding, then were forced into their company when Jane was kidnapped. I do not want to see you lonely for the rest of your life. Would you wish that for me?”

Charles scrubbed his face with his hands and rose. “I shall not court a lady just because you want me to. Do you understand? Now, I do not wish to discuss this further.”

His brother tugged at his arm more than once, but Charles waved him off and departed. He strode upstairs and surely barked at his valet for his riding clothes—he could not know for certain if he barked, but Jennings had startled when he made the request. The assumption was reasonable.

Once atop his mount, he turned the stallion in the direction of the west fields and urged him into a gallop. What he needed now was a good run to clear his head—to for a short time, purge all thoughts of his future, his lack of wife, and the candidate his brother and sister thrust into his notice from his mind. He could not think on any of that now. It was all too much.

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Chapter 2 will be posted at Austen Variations on Tuesday and barring something major arising, I should have the release up by Thursday. I have a coaching conference next week, so it may go up earlier and the release celebration and final preview will still be on Thursday if that happens.

Now, for that sample of Worthy of her Love!

Now, as far as Georgiana and Charles go, I’m not sure what to think at this moment. Do you have any theories?