Darcy's Passions (2 page)

Although a slow process, Georgiana showed signs of recovering from her brush with romantic disaster. Since the age of two and ten when his beloved mother died shortly after his sister's birth, Fitzwilliam Darcy protected Georgiana. He became her legal guardian when their own esteemed father passed away several years back. Yet, Darcy really assumed the position when his father became ill. Only with Georgiana and a select few others would Darcy let his guard down. Her gentleness complemented his staunch manner; he adored Georgiana in a way few could understand. For the last five years, Georgiana's world revolved around her brother.With the age difference, Darcy and Georgiana each possessed the characteristics of being the
only
child, needing solo time each day to focus, to listen to soothing music, to meditate, or to read a book. Over the past few years, he became not only her brother but her parental figure as well; it was a great responsibility, but Darcy was groomed for responsibility.

Maybe I should see about getting a new pianoforte for my sister; it would give her such pleasure.
“A birthday present, perhaps,” he said aloud. He returned to the letter; he wanted to finish it before the Bingley household descended upon him.

Darcy closed his eyes and pictured Georgiana in his mind. For a fleeting moment, he vividly saw the sweetness of her smile on the purity of her face. Then he slowly folded the letter, savoring the moment, and placed it in the inside pocket of his morning jacket. The sound of Caroline Bingley and Louisa Hurst in the morning room interrupted his reflections. Darcy unfolded his frame, stood, adjusted his clothing, and strode purposely from the library to join his hosts.

“Ah, Mr. Darcy, I see you rise before the rest of our party,” Caroline said as he entered the room.

Darcy made a quick bow to both Caroline and her sister. Crossing to the breakfast repast to refill his coffee cup one last time, he politely replied,“It is true, Miss Bingley, I prefer to rise early. It is a habit my late father instilled in me many years ago.This morning, besides your family's hospitality, I read a letter from my sister.”

“How is dear Georgiana?” she replied without any true concern evident in her voice.
Typically Caroline Bingley,
thought Darcy;
she knew the right words to say in each situation, but Miss Bingley possessed no real emotion—no real thought of her own.

“My sister enjoys her time in London with her favorite pastime—music,” Darcy added quickly, hoping this would end Caroline's inquiries.

Unfortunately, Caroline rose and strolled over to Darcy, supposedly to refill the chocolate in her cup, but they both knew she wanted closer proximity to him. As a man of wealth and often targeted by women in pursuit of a husband, Darcy recognized her game. He learned to gracefully avoid the claims of these many potential mates with a haughty, prideful manner; with his fortune,
Darcy could offer indifference to such ambitions. As Caroline sashayed across the room playing up her feminine qualities, Darcy took on a familiar somber face. “I do wish Georgiana could have joined us at Netherfield,” she said, refilling the cup and taking a step closer to him.

“She has her studies to which to attend,” Darcy responded as he walked away, placing distance between them, and taking up a position by the window.Turning to observe the grounds, he continued, “Will your brother be down soon? I hoped to survey the estate with him today.”

As if on cue, Charles Bingley sauntered into the room.“Come, Darcy, I am not that late, am I? We shall have plenty of time to look at my lands. Of course, they will never live up to your Pemberley, but it will be a fit beginning, do you not think?”

Making a slight nodding bow to his friend, Darcy could not help but get caught up in Charles's enthusiasm.“We should survey the fields, the fence line, and observe the homesteads on the estate. Then we may assess what to address immediately and what to delay until the new growing season.We should do so before the obligatory calls from your neighbors begin and before you decide to stay in Hertfordshire.”

“I am most looking forward to meeting my new neighbors,” Bingley replied as he fixed himself a plate of eggs and some fresh fruit.

“I fear,” said Darcy assuming his superior attitude once again, “you will find little true society here in Hertfordshire. It is a country society, lacking in manners and refinement.”

“Darcy, you should open yourself more to new adventures,” Bingley teased.

Coming quickly to Mr. Darcy's protection, Caroline told her brother she agreed about the probable lack of society in the area. Louisa Hurst agreed by tutting her tongue in a clucking sound. Bingley's countenance brightened as he turned to his sister and said, “If that be so, Caroline, you will be credited with changing their lives forever. Every woman will want to copy your style, and
men will be eating out of your hand.”

Caroline dropped her eyes in a coy-like manner after darting a glance at Mr. Darcy's profile and hoping he found her “style” to his liking. Louisa agreed with their brother, and then they excused themselves to dress for the day.

 

Darcy changed to his riding attire and rushed toward the stables; he loved being in the saddle and being out in the open. Cerberus waited for him at the mounting block. Normally, a man of property rode such an inspection of his land in the springtime, but Charles Bingley made an impetuous decision. He only lately decided he should take possession of Netherfield Park, without the usual inquiries of the soundness of the structure or the condition of the land. Then Bingley “begged” Darcy to lend his expertise in what to address in the matter. Darcy's father spent time teaching his son the responsibility Darcy eventually assumed as the master of Pemberley. He began as a child to accompany his father on the spring inspection of the farms and holdings of their estate; therefore, Bingley's learning from Darcy fit the need. Ownership of land determined wealth. Darcy inherited Pemberley through a system of primogeniture. As Bingley's father made his wealth in trade, he held neither ancestral ties to the land nor any real knowledge of the accountability involved in owning an estate.

As the two men rode out that morning, Darcy, in his element, showed his friend the delights of and the responsibilities of being a man of property. Netherfield Park held areas where drainage needed to be addressed, but it also possessed immediate grounds offering paths and parkways for the pleasure of its owner. As both men mounted a hill to take a better view of the prospect leading to Netherfield, Bingley queried,“Well, Darcy, do I have your blessing in this matter?”

“Let us wait a bit longer, my friend,” Darcy began, “until you spend a winter at Netherfield. A fine home in the late summer or early autumn may be a drafty pit in the winter.”

“Darcy, you are the voice of gloom,” Bingley laughed.

Darcy flushed with his friend's taunt.“Gloom seems like sound reason from my perspective.”

Bingley turned his mount toward his home; as Darcy circled Cerberus to follow, he espied a glint of color moving along the road below them and to the right. Upon closer inspection, he realized a young lady walked along at a robust pace, nearly running.
How unladylike
he thought briefly.Yet, her obvious joy at ignoring propriety momentarily intrigued him, and he found himself smiling at the sight of such unbridled freedom.
She is delightfully happy.
He secured the memory of the girl before moving on.

Upon their return, both men washed the dust of their ride away and retired to the study to recapture their thoughts on Bingley's investment.“The lodge is stately and will serve you well, especially for shooting parties.”

“The stream is adequately stocked, although the wooded area was a bit overgrown,” Bingley observed.

“Being able to harvest some of the wooded area for heating purposes will serve the estate, Bingley, and you may choose to sell off some of it for profit.Yet, be sure seedlings are available to replenish the area.”

“I never considered that, Darcy.Your counsel is invaluable to me.”

“As for the house itself, the lighting in the dining room, morning room, and study is pleasantly suited, picking up the early light. Of course, for my taste, I hope, Bingley, you will address the library's need for comfortable furniture and adequate evening lighting.”

“Darcy, I forget how much you pride yourself on the reputation of Pemberley's library. Although I am not the reader you are, I will certainly address your concerns,” Bingley mocked.

Their conversations continued along this vein until dinnertime when the gentlemen dressed for the meal and escorted the ladies into the formal dining room. Congenial conversation followed the meal of several courses. “We received,” confided Miss Bingley, “several cards and invitations from our neighbors.We expect some of them to call tomorrow to pay respects.”

“I am anticipating becoming acquainted with the locals,” Bingley beamed.

“Do not anticipate the local gentry to offer much toward polite society,” Darcy returned to his earlier qualms. “Country manners, I find, are greatly lacking in a sense of decorum and can often be viewed as vulgar. No doubt many of your neighbors will be intolerable.”

The conversation on what to expect continued over dinner and a game of whist. Bingley's usual gracious nature hoped for pleasant hospitality; the rest of the party felt the intrusions upon their privacy to be a necessary evil. Either way, those considered to be from “society” in Hertfordshire soon introduced themselves to the Bingley party.

 

Sir William Lucas and Mr. Bennet numbered among the first to call on Mr. Bingley. Sir William made his fortune in trade, according to Caroline, and the King honored Sir William with a knighthood after an address made at St. James during Sir William's mayoralty. Evidently, Meryton offered Sir William as the only titled gentleman in the village. Mr. Bennet, a member of the landed gentry, on the other hand, possessed a small estate in comparison to Netherfield. Darcy's smugness crept out when his suspicions of country society received confirmation.

 

“Mr. Bennet has five daughters, Darcy,” Bingley applied to his friend as they played billiards after dinner.“Maybe we can find you a fitting mate among them; I have it on good authority they are reputed beauties.”

“Please excuse me if I tell you how I find those prospects to be very distasteful; I plan to marry a woman of wealth and standing, one who will reflect well upon my family. Beauty alone could not be my requisite. I need a woman who is healthy enough to secure future generations for Pemberley. Of course, a woman with superior intellect and strength of character would be desired.”

“What do you say to love, Darcy?” his friend asked incredulously.

“Love would be an asset, but my first concern must be what I owe to my family.” Darcy studied his friend. “Duty comes before affection.”

Bingley stopped and looked up from his shot, “Then I do not understand why you avoided marriage for so long. Surely by now you could find a woman who meets your standards. My own are not so stringent; I still hold with hopes of marrying the woman I love, no matter what her financial standing may be.”

Arching his eyebrow, Darcy said, “Maybe Mr. Bennet has a daughter you will prefer.”

“Maybe so,” Bingley mused.“I think I will return Mr. Bennet's visit in a few days. It is possible I will be able to assess the truth regarding his beautiful daughters.” He laughed as he played the next ball into the side pocket.

 

Mr. Bingley's foray to Mr. Bennet's manor of Longbourn offered no new realities. Unfortunately, he did not meet the young ladies in question. Their reputed beauty remained unconfirmed. The Bennets extended an invitation to dinner, but Bingley deferred; he had obligations in town and could not accept the honor extended to him.

Rumors swirled about Meryton; the Bingley party would attend the upcoming assembly.The rumors included exaggerations of the size of the intended party, thinking it to be eight to ten in number. In reality, after completing his business, Bingley returned to Netherfield with only his brother Mr. Hurst as company.

 

Dressing for the evening, Darcy did not anticipate a pleasing experience. Normally, he detested large gatherings, being animated and congenial only among his close acquaintances; in fact, in large gatherings he took on a different persona. Even among those of refined tastes, Darcy often withdrew within himself. Those who
encountered him found a daunting scowl plastered upon his face. His attitude toward a gathering involving anyone who could afford a ticket bordered on pure disdain. He despised, according to all reports, dancing.

Of a like disposition, Caroline and the Hursts suffered an appearance at the assembly as a social duty to support their brother.A full moon shone brightly as the party descended from their carriage outside the Meryton Assembly Hall. Sir William Lucas welcomed them first, coming forward after the party disposed of their evening wraps. Ironically, as Bingley and his sisters stepped into the crowded assembly hall, the music stopped, and the dancers made their turn and came face-to-face with city fashion. After Sir William's amiable greeting, he ushered the group to a place of prominence in the room, stopping only to introduce his wife Lady Lucas and his eldest daughter Charlotte.