Musical Attachment
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Actually, I confessed that I always disliked Sir Anthony Robinson, one of
my brother¡¦s college friend. He was cold and unfeeling. There cannot be a man
duller than him. To him, I am always the little Georgie, Fitzwilliam Darcy¡¦s
younger sister and a child. A child. The last time I had ever seen him
was the time when I was only twelve, before I met him again some five years
later.
Our reunion started here: A year after my brother married a Miss
Elizabeth Bennet of Hertfordshire, who I met in one summer. My sister-in-law was
a good friend and guidance to me. Lively, always patient and kind. She had four
sisters of her own, with one of them I was particularly fond of: Kitty.
That year was a fateful year to our family. Lizzy, my sister-in-law, was
pregnant with her first child. Kitty was invited to stay with us in town. There
we met my brother¡¦s old college friends at my debut ball, and I found Sir
Anthony was in the party. He had not much changed in these five years. However,
I immediately found a dislike in him again.
The ball ended in success, at least to me, because I was introduced to a
very nice man, Mr. Grandly. Kitty, however, was not satisfied. One of my
brother¡¦s younger friends, Lord Thornfield, had deeply offended her. The Earl,
in return, was rather rude in his treatment of her.
Strangely, the rude treatment changed into gentle teasing, and my friend
started to know more about him.
As for my case, it bitterly turned into nothing. Thanks to the odious Sir
Anthony, we disappointedly found out that Mr. Grandly was after my fortune, not
me.
I was despaired, therefore I returned to my music. One day when I was
playing, I found someone turning pages for me. It was Sir Anthony. He smiled at
me as I stopped and said, ¡§Well done, Miss Darcy.¡¨
My heart warmed at this kind comment. It was the second time I had ever
been fooled by a fortune-hunter. I knew that he thought I was nothing but a
silly girl. Yet, instead of censuring me as he did when I was young, he showed
me warmness.
At that moment, I found he really kind.
Soon after Kitty was engaged to be married to Lord Thornfield. I was very
happy for her but sorry for myself.
The last note of the sonata brought me from memory. I found Sir
Anthony¡¦s eyes turned to me, I smiled and said, ¡§You played beautifully,
sir.¡¨
¡§Not as beautifully as your performance, Miss Darcy,¡¨ he replied with
a blush.
I was surprised at how much my opinions of him had changed. It was a week
after Kitty¡¦s wedding, and I was enjoying my chat about music with Sir
Anthony.
I was lying if I told you that I treated him as only a friend.
¡§Perhaps you would want some tea, Sir Anthony? My brother would be back
soon,¡¨ said I calmly, reaching for the teapot.
He stood up, the usual serious look on his face, ¡§I believe I have
disturbed you, Miss Darcy, I¡¦d better leave.¡¨
Actually I wanted him to stay a longer while, but with all the lessons of
propriety I had learnt in all my life, I instead asked politely, ¡§Oh, then
perhaps sir, you can come back tomorrow to see my brother.¡¨
¡§No,¡¨ he answered, ¡§I am leaving town the day after that.¡¨
My heart ripped into two parts, but I had no rights to make him stay. He
turned his back and walked to the door.
I knew it might be my last chance of happiness. Gathering all my courage,
I asked, not shyly as I always was, ¡§Sir, perhaps you can stay longer. Would
you mind if I played a song for you?¡¨
He turned and looked at me, ¡§For what? Waiting for Darcy¡¦s return?¡¨
¡§No,¡¨ I smiled, ¡§Not for my brother, for me. Can you stay and hear
my song?¡¨
I walked over to the piano, and sat down to play ¡§Andante Favori¡¨,
the song I played when Lizzy first visited Pemberley.
He stood next to me, his fine eyes sparkling. I enjoyed having him
turning pages for me, and when the song ended, I asked him, ¡§Do you like it,
Sir Anthony?¡¨
He simply nodded, and said, ¡§I enjoyed every song played by you,
Georgiana.¡¨
My eyes widened at the use of my Christian name. The last time he used it
was many years ago, when I was a child.
¡§Would you like to hear more?¡¨
¡§I would love to. Will you play the pianoforte for me for the rest of
my days?¡¨
¡§Will you like a silly girl¡¦s performance?¡¨ I asked him.
He looked nervous. ¡§Of course, you are not a silly child anymore,¡¨ he
said with a smile, ¡§Repeating the question, will you play for an old man like
me?¡¨
I smiled and stood up, ¡§I shall love to,¡¨ whispered I.
His looks changed from anxious to happiness. He wrapped his arms around
me and said softly, ¡§Georgie, it was the music that draw me to you. I know I
can never escape from you since that.¡¨
¡§My dear Anthony, I am sure that it is one of the charms of music.¡¨
I said no more. He said no more. We remained there, holding each other
until my brother returned, demanding to know what had happened.
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The End
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