Show a Fair Presence and Put Off These Frowns

"Things are often spoke and seldom meant"

April 4, 1518

A chilly spring night took the edge off of the crush at Darcy House. Lady Anne had invited all of Verona into her home to celebrate her son's birthday, and few had turned down the opportunity to sample her generous hospitality. However little the honoree wished for such a celebration was not a consideration. 

Notably absent from the crowd was Fitzwilliam's sister, Georgiana. Lady Anne had decreed earlier that her daughter did not look sufficiently recovered from her recent cold, and Georgiana, though perfectly healthy, was grateful to be spared the mortification of attending such a large party. Kindly, she suggested to her brother that he could use the pretense of checking up on her if he felt overwhelmed. About halfway through the evening, just as the guests had been hearded to the tables for supper, he decided to take his sister's suggestion.

At the staircase, Lady Constance, who had been taking the air, stopped her grandson. "Fitzwilliam, my dear, where are you going?"

"I am going to visit Georgiana for a moment. I want to make sure she is well."

"My dear, we both know she is perfectly well. You, on the other hand..."

"There is nothing the matter with me, Grandmother. I only do not like these large celebrations."

"You must learn to be comfortable with crowds. You have a duty now."

"A duty to be put on display like a monstrosity at the fair?" He twisted his signet ring - his latest habit. "Excuse me. That was unfair."

"It will become easier, I promise you."

"I only... I do not see what is accomplished at these events but drinking and gossiping."

"And both have their place, my dear, as you will learn. But, Fitzwilliam, you look too glum to be only shy. What else is on your mind?"

"There is nothing else, Grandmother. Will you excuse me? Mother will be looking for me shortly."

Lady Constance knew her grandson was not being truthful, but she was a much more indulgent grandmother than mother. If he wished to keep his troubles to himself on such a night, she would let it go. "I understand. We are not all as gregarious as your mother.

"Or you."

"Or me," she agreed. "Go on up to see your sister. Tell her I will bring her a sweet later."

Fitzwilliam patted his pocket on his way up the stairs, glad he had concealed something for his sister already. Georgiana's delight had long been a main source of his happiness, and he did not wish to share it, even with their grandmother. He knocked out of politeness but went directly into her room for secrecy's sake.

She was not alone.

"What is this, sister?"

Georgiana walked up to her brother and hugged him fondly. "Happy birthday, brother." With one glance back at her friend, she slipped out of the room, leaving the pair alone.

"Why are you here?"

She shrugged, biting back a smile. "It is your birthday."

"I thought I was a heartless, addlebrained snake you never wanted to see again." Repeating the words himself hurt almost as much as hearing them from her lips the first time.

"That was an exaggeration."

"You didn't think so at the time, Juliette." But the game was over before it began. He didn't care why she was here or what she had said when they last parted. Five weeks of emotional solitude had softened his resolve.

"I'm sorry, dearest." Impish as ever, she added, "You know how much I hate to lose at cards."

"Be serious, I beg you. Tell me you have at been at least half as miserable as I."

Juliette softened. She and Fitzwilliam had been quietly nursing a strong mutual attraction since Christmas, but certain things about him were still foreign to her. Frequently, she forgot that the teasing that was so natural to her was alien to him. "Twice as miserable. I knew I did not mean what I said even as I said it, but I did not know how to fix what I did. I did not think you would forgive me very easily."

"There is nothing you could do that I would not forgive, Juliette."

"You owe your sister a great debt - an expensive trinket, at the least."

He smiled. "The sweet in my pocket will have to suffice until tomorrow. Will you come down with me after I give it to her?"

"I should not."

"You will give me up to my mother's matchmaking? She is in rare form tonight."

Juliette frowned, but she couldn't be moved. "There has been such hideous news at home that I dare not see my aunts in the crowd. They will not scruple to ruin the evening if the fancy strikes them."

Fitzwilliam guessed aloud that the current antagonism had to do with Juliette's older brother, Tybalt. While he was friendly with Tybalt, who was a couple of years older than himself, they had quite different personalities. Fitzwilliam had graduated with honors from the Académie a year early; Tybalt was still there after being heavily penalized for his part in a bone-breaking brawl. When Juliette said it was not Tybalt who had angered Goneril and Regan, he was surprised. "Must I go challenge them to a duel for your sake, then?"

"No, it is not me."

"Who then?"

"It is Hermia."

"Hermia? What, is Goneril against the engagement now?" Puck Summerdream had recently proposed to Hermia Capulet.

"No. Hermia is... increasing."

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