Pride, Prejudice & Secrets (6 page)

“She was our mother’s sister, Georgie,” he said softly. “And, despite her abrasive nature, she and Mother were close. I feel a responsibility to visit her.”

“But I thought you were only going to stay a week, and you stayed almost three.”

“That is part of what I have to relate, and my trip to Hertfordshire is another part. You see, I needed to visit a gentleman and ask for the hand of his daughter in marriage.”

A sudden stab of fear went through Georgiana at these words, for Mr. Bingley lived in Hertfordshire.
It could not be Miss Bingley, could it?
She had watched that lady’s determined pursuit of her brother with trepidation since she could imagine few ladies less likely to make him happy.
And that does not even consider how unsuitable she would be as a sister! But, no, that cannot be; he asked for the hand of a gentleman’s
daughter
, not his sister. But who could it be if not Miss Bingley?

“I…I do not understand.” Her confusion was evident, and Darcy leaned over to take her hand.

“I met the young lady in Hertfordshire last autumn, and I beg your forgiveness for any unkind comments I made of the residents. I have decided I have made too many intemperate comments lately, and I am going to reform myself. The young lady’s name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and you may have heard her name in conversation. Miss Bingley took delight in teasing me about being attracted to a pair of ‘fine eyes.’ The eyes in question belonged to Miss Elizabeth, and I was indeed attracted, though I did not act on it until yesterday. It was her father who I visited, and Elizabeth and I are engaged.”

“I do remember certain comments by Miss Bingley.” Georgiana’s worried expression disappeared as her brother spoke, transforming into a slight smile. “If Miss Bingley is not overly fond of Miss Elizabeth, that is something to recommend her, is it not?”

“I always wondered whether you noticed Miss Bingley’s quest.”

“How could I not? She never deigned to disguise her intentions. Perhaps that is the approved mode in certain circles, but I found it disagreeable.”

“As did I,” Darcy said. “Perhaps we should not let it be known that we do not think like much of society.”

Georgiana laughed lightly then laid her hand on her brother’s arm. “You are trying to change the subject, William, but you know what I want to hear. Who is this young lady who has so suddenly caught your fancy? What is she like? What kind of sister will I have?”

“She is not at all like Miss Bingley…”

“…hence the comments on her ‘fine eyes.’ Yes, I guessed as much.”

“Her manners, for example, are easy and gentle but are not those of the fashionable set. They are to my liking, however, as is her disposition toward being playful and taking enjoyment in many things. While stylish ladies like Miss Bingley would flatter and seek to please me, Miss Elizabeth would tease me and joust with me. She made me
think
, and I came to realize she might relieve my, well, my…”

“Your loneliness?” Georgiana’s voice was gentle, and Darcy looked at her in wonder.

After a few moments, wondering whether he was losing his ability to conceal his thoughts, he nodded slowly. “Yes, to be honest, I believe you are correct, though I hesitated to say as much.”

“I daresay,” she said, and Darcy’s heart swelled as her smile showed the same tender affection as their mother’s. His heart still ached from the grief of her loss, and he raised his sister’s hand to his lips.

“In any case, I believe she will have an excellent effect on both of us: in my case, as a companion to share my life, and in yours, as a friend whose advice can be trusted in the next few years. No, no, do not fret yourself,” he said swiftly, as he saw the old fear return, the fear of facing the outside world after being so cruelly deceived by Wickham. “What happened is over — done. We both learned a valuable lesson, but we cannot dwell on the past lest we forfeit the future. That is true for both of us.”

“I hope you are right,” Georgiana said, and then her expression brightened. “It does sound as if your Miss Elizabeth will be a good sister — better than I often feared. When shall I meet her? Tomorrow?”

“No, she was taken ill, and it will be a few days before she can travel. She will first return to her relations here in town before journeying home, and I am sure you will meet her then.”

But I will not take you to Netherfield until I ensure you will not encounter Wickham,
Darcy thought grimly.
If Bingley has not relinquished Netherfield, he may allow me the use of it. I shall ask when I call, and if he is amenable, I can invite Elizabeth to Netherfield to meet Georgiana. Of course, she will have to meet Elizabeth’s sisters and mother, but I will warn her beforehand.

The thought of Elizabeth’s foolish mother and younger sisters was distasteful but would simply have to be accepted. Her elder sister was certainly agreeable enough and would be a possible friend for Georgiana, and he again wondered how she and Elizabeth could have become so polite and ladylike while the other female members of the family were opposite in the extreme.

Perhaps for similar reasons that Mother and Aunt Catherine were very close despite being so different. In fact, in her own way, my aunt is just as disagreeable as Elizabeth’s relations, so I must remind myself not to be too dismissive. Both sides of the family have more than a few deficiencies of propriety, if truth be told.

“I cannot wait,” Georgiana said, her enthusiasm increasing with each moment. “It will be pleasant to see you well settled, Brother. With a new wife, I doubt you shall be so often absent from home. It will be good to have all of us together. Shall you take Miss Elizabeth to Pemberley when you are married? I know you will want to show it to her, but it might be equally agreeable to bring her here. Has she seen much of the attractions in town, being from the country?”

“I had not thought that far ahead, to tell the truth.” Darcy looked closely at his sister, wondering whether her comment was a sly reference to the physical interests of new husbands in their brides. He finally dismissed the thought, however, thinking his sister too young to be so indelicate.

But, too young or not, he could not deny his desire to take Elizabeth to his bed — in fact, the very thought sent a thrill down his spine as he imagined himself knocking on her door and entering her chambers…

He shook himself mentally. “There will be time to consider such matters after she returns home. I do know she often visits her relations in town, but we both still have much to learn of the other.”

“I am still most anxious to meet her. But…since you have her father’s agreement, I believe you may now write to her?”

“Indeed I may. And that is one of several letters I shall be writing this evening.”

“Then may I also write her and introduce myself? It would not be improper, would it?”

“Not at all, dearest. Go right ahead.”

“I shall start a letter immediately.” Georgiana jumped to her feet and rushed so quickly from the room that she left her brother staring after her.

“Most extraordinary,” he murmured.
It appears I shall not have to worry about Georgiana’s reception of Elizabeth.
On that pleasant thought, he followed her from the room.

Once at his desk, Darcy decided to first write a brief covering letter to this uncle of Elizabeth’s. It was still early enough to send that letter, as well as Mr. Bennet’s note, by messenger. He could then attend to his Aunt and Uncle Matlock before turning to Elizabeth’s letter, which would likely take more time.

It took little time to compose his letter to Elizabeth’s uncle since many of the particulars would be included in Mr. Bennet’s note. Once completed, he quickly read it through:

My dear Mr. Gardiner,

We have not previously had the opportunity of an introduction, but I believe you may have heard mention of my name from your Hertfordshire relations. The included note from your brother Bennet will acquaint you with the particulars of my recent engagement to Miss Elizabeth Bennet and the necessity of this note. If you have no objection, I beg leave to call on you within the next few days to discuss arrangements to return both Miss Elizabeth and her elder sister to Longbourn. Please be so good as to inform me of a suitable time to meet. I am at your disposal as to schedule. Until then, I remain,

Your respectful servant,
Fitzwilliam Darcy

Satisfied, he folded his note around Mr. Bennet’s, addressed it, and rang for his butler.

“Yes, sir?” Williams entered the room after a soft knock.

“Please have one of the lads from the stable deliver this note.”

Williams nodded, and as he turned to go with the note, Darcy suddenly realized the need to make an announcement to his own household.

“A moment, please, Williams. Please inform Mrs. Williams and the rest of the staff that I am engaged to be married. The household will soon have a mistress again.”

Until that moment, Darcy would have been certain he could never disturb the composure of his butler, but that certainty was demolished as the man’s jaw dropped and his seamed face showed his incredulity. It was only a moment before Williams regained his usual aplomb, and Darcy smiled broadly at the man who had been in charge of this house for as long as he could remember. He had a second surprise as the man’s stolid composure was softened by a smile of mingled warmth and chagrin.

“That was well delivered, sir,” Williams said, his chagrin obvious. “I confess it caught me completely off my guard.”

“I have been trying for some years, you know.”

Williams’s expression had resumed its usual imperturbability as he said, “I know, sir. It was a matter of some pride to me that I had withstood all your best attempts. But if I had to succumb, at least it was due to news of some import rather than a mere trifle. Please allow me to offer my congratulations. I do hope I will acquit myself better when you next inform me there will be children about the house.”

“That news does often follow an announcement such as this.”

“So it seems, sir.”

“One of the more important tasks to complete before the wedding will be to prepare the chambers for my future wife.”

“I will inform Mrs. Williams of the fact. May I assume the young lady will soon visit and make known any specific desires she may have regarding colours and coverings?”

“I hope so, but I do not know for certain. I will need to send a letter to Pemberley tomorrow to inform them as well.”

“Very good, sir. Is there anything else before I send this note?”

“No, that will be all for the moment.”

Williams nodded quietly and departed, leaving Darcy humming contentedly as he turned to the remainder of his letters.

He was equally able to complete a letter to his Aunt and Uncle Matlock. He made it brief, confining the information to the bare essentials since Richard undoubtedly had already imparted more information than he could put into anything less than three or four pages. He hoped Richard had been able to make Darcy’s case with regard to Lady Catherine’s displeasure and the inevitable fulminating missive sure to arrive from Rosings.

“I shall do my best to explain things, Darce,” he had promised during the journey from Kent, “and I believe I shall be successful with my mother. But I cannot promise similar success with my father, and you know why. Aunt Catherine has related that story for years about the joining of Rosings and Pemberley, saying ‘my sister and I planned their union since they were both in their cradles.’ I know my mother has been somewhat sceptical, but not so my father. He simply accepts it as given that you and Anne will wed one day, and I am certain his first reaction will be to take Aunt Catherine’s side.”

Richard had then smiled crookedly before saying, “Of course, Father is a sensible man, and I predict he will come around to my mother’s point of view in the long run. She has had much experience in such matters, and once she has a chance to work her wifely stratagems on him, I believe he will incline to her point of view. That will not make the immediate situation more pleasant, but I suggest leaving him to his opinions for the moment and giving him room to change his mind — with Mother’s guidance, of course.”

I do hope Richard is correct about the long run,
Darcy thought as he folded and sealed his letter.
I knew I could expect opposition from some quarters, at least at first, but they will have to realize I will not be swayed by contrarian opinions, especially once they confirm she is not the fortune hunter some may think her. Everyone must come to understand I will not be moved in this matter. We
will
marry, and they will have to either accept my decision or remain silent. I will not tolerate open criticism of her lack of fortune or connections or the inferiority of our stations. None of that matters to me, even though it is mostly true. I am not happy about most of her family, to be sure, but she might also have reason to be dissatisfied with some of mine.

With that letter completed, Darcy turned to his letter to Elizabeth, which, as expected, took the most time. His difficulty was not in making the words come; it was that the words came too easily. After three swift pages, he had to pause to trim his pen and apprehended the need to be more succinct.

At least I am not writing poetry,
he thought wryly, remembering a previous conversation with Elizabeth.
But if I have been tongue-tied when trying to speak with her, it is clear the same is not true when writing! I might go on for pages if I do not take myself in hand! It is time to start over and concentrate on brevity.

It still took several attempts before he was satisfied, and he sat back to think about informing Bingley. He had deferred any previous thought on the subject because of the sensitivity of Elizabeth being the sister of the young lady Darcy and the Bingley sisters had counselled him against pursuing. Though his friend had not openly stated an intention of offering marriage to Miss Jane Bennet, Darcy had been convinced such a step was imminent. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst had argued vociferously against any such attachment, pointing out Miss Bennet’s unsuitability due to her lack of fortune and the low station of her relations. While Darcy had not exactly disagreed with those arguments, he saw they made little impact on his friend.