Beginning, Previous Section, Section III, Next Section
Posted on Monday, 24 March 2008
Georgiana entered the breakfast room the next morning, her slight limp conspicuous to any who wished to see it.
"I thought I was never going to make it to the breakfast room," she announced. "But I was determined to walk by myself. And I have, you see." She waited for the laughter from Kitty or the scolding from her brother, but neither of her company seemed to hear her. Rather, they seemed engrossed in their plates and did not look up.
"Catherine! Fitzwilliam! Good morning!" she said louder. Kitty looked up. Her eyes were slightly red.
"Goodness Catherine, are you ill?" Georgiana was ready to scold her brother for not noticing Kitty's discontent, but as she caught his eyes she realized that he also seemed ill-at-ease."
"No indeed, Georgiana. I just did not sleep well, that is all. I hope your ankle is well." Georgiana sat and looked back at her friend, who had spoken in a monotone.
"It is better, I believe, though there will be no curricle driving today. Did you also sleep poorly, Fitzwilliam?"
He shook his head. "I was out riding quite early. I had to work out a dispute between two tenants."
"I suppose Sandy Knox is involved," said Georgiana dismissively.
"No indeed, for once, Knox is not at the center of Pemberley's problems. The threat of an eviction calmed him a bit after the last time. No, this is an argument between the Horton brothers. ‘Tis over livestock."
"I hope you will work out the quarrel," said Kitty suddenly and rather too loudly.
"I'm sure I will," he said deliberately, his eyes meeting hers. "For I am sure that it is my own fault that such a disagreement was allowed to fester for so long."
"I doubt--" said Georgiana, but she was quickly interrupted.
"It was not, I am sure of it," Kitty said resolutely.
"You must allow me to take the blame, Miss Bennet. Whatever the tenants may think of themselves, it is my responsibility to be a gentleman."
"Very well, but I do not want to talk of the dispute again. I want to think of happier things."
"I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours," he said, raising his eyebrows in a questioning motion. She nodded back at him and they both smiled, visibly relaxing.
Georgiana looked back and forth between her brother and friend.
"I'm glad whatever dispute it was that happened between the tenants seems to have been settled," she said archly.
"Mrs. Hurst, have you had a letter from Miss Darcy lately? I have not heard from Kitty in over a fortnight."
"No, indeed. The last she wrote they were to attend the annual ball at some neighboring estate. Apparently, there was some convincing that had to be done. Mr. Darcy did finally agree to escort them."
"Such amusement," said Lizzy. "And by amusement, I mean scolding an elder brother. It is dreadfully hot for a ball."
"It should be breezy enough in the evening, I should think."
"Do you know the hosts?"
"A very little," replied the elder woman. Mr. Ashley and Lady Eleanor are old neighbors of the Darcys. They have little to do but host balls for the young people of the neighborhood, and as I was already married when I met them, they had little interest in me."
"Ah! I see. Matchmakers are the very worst kind of civilized people! My mother would be pleased to make their acquaintance."
"Perhaps that is why your sister has not written," smiled Mrs. Hurst. "She must know that letters are passed to your mother. A ball might bring on yet another diatribe about poor Mr. Fulton."
"Or another ‘young man of Derbyshire.'"
"I am surprised that your mother does not speak of Mr. Darcy himself as a possible match."
"Come now," laughed Lizzy. "Even my mother knows when a situation is hopeless."
"Miss Catherine has lived under the same roof with him for many weeks," said Mrs. Hurst carefully.
"As did Mrs. Grey when she was still Miss Saylor. As did your own sister once upon a time. I think Mr. Darcy must be immune to the charms of girls under his own roof---even the very wealthy ones. Besides Kitty would not have him."
"Come now, sister, you may have had disagreements with Mr. Darcy, but he is a handsome single man of 10,000 a year and a large estate. I could not see any woman refusing him."
"Could you not?" Lizzy smiled. "But I forget. You have seen his agreeable side. I have been told such a thing exists but I have never seen it myself."
"Indeed it does. He can be quite agreeable among those he knows. Besides, no one, even Mr. Darcy, can maintain a completely disagreeable nature for an entire summer."
"Perhaps not, but I imagine he would certainly try."
"Tell me, Mr. Darcy. Are the Ashleys as terrible matchmakers as Georgiana claims?" Kitty leaned forward in her chair to hear his answer.
He looked up from his book. "Georgiana, what exactly are you telling your friend to expect from this ball?"
"It was at the Ashleys' ball that Mr. Grey was matched with Miss Saylor," said Georgiana. "And it was entirely Lady Eleanor's doing."
Darcy scowled but his glower was much diminished of late. "It had nothing to do with his estate, or her dowry, I'm sure," he said. His normal cynical bite seemed more out of habit than conviction. Kitty laughed.
"From what I have been told, his good manners and her beauty were just as much to blame. But would you not give Lady Eleanor any credit at all for the match?"
"I will admit that she opened her house to a ball. I try to avoid such a thing at Pemberley."
"Ah yes, your infamous hatred of dancing."
"He likes to dance. He is just rather choosy in his partners." Georgiana smirked at her brother. He made a motion of returning to his book.
"I suppose he prefers the pretty, young, and rich ones," said Kitty.
"No indeed!" laughed Georgiana. "Those are the very worst! No, he prefers slightly older, married women of noble blood. They elicit no rumors, they dance well, and they mask his rapidly increasing age."
He set his book down, a sheepish grin settling over his features, alerting Kitty to the truth of his sister's accusations. "Well Georgiana, you are pretty, young, and the granddaughter of an earl, so I guess I may not dance with you."
"But you always save me a dance!" Georgiana stamped her foot. It was hardly proper but he had always danced with her for at least one set.
"Very well, if you insist, but you must stop your teasing."
"Now, you must ask Miss Bennet to save a dance for you as well, Fitzwilliam," Georgiana prompted. Kitty flashed a warning look at her friend.
He shrugged. "Miss Bennet, I would be honored if you danced the second with me, assuming my sister has already reserved me for the first."
"No, no brother, not the second. You must reserve the supper dance with her. Then we all may be assured to eat near each other."
He caught Kitty's eye and sighed in mock exasperation. "Well, Miss Bennet, if my sister has ordered it so... May I reserve the supper dance instead?"
"What girl could refuse such an offer? I thank you...Miss Darcy for finding me a partner. You are well on your way to becoming Lady Eleanor."
Georgiana was not finished. "But Fitzwilliam, I must refuse your polite offer to dance with me for the first set," giggled Georgiana. "Mr. Lawrence asked me at our gathering last night."
"Mr. Lawrence!" gasped Kitty. "But he's a third son, and he still has no profession."
"But he dances well. Do not worry, I discouraged him two years ago. I suspect he wishes to make another young lady jealous. Miss Templeton will be at the ball."
"Ladies, if you are planning to discuss every partner you have an obligation to, I must ask you to excuse me," said Darcy.
"Now this must be the luckiest man in Derbyshire, Darcy," chuckled Mr. Ashley. "To have two pretty young girls to escort! Welcome!"
The trio murmured their greetings and moved into the ballroom. Almost immediately Mr. Lawrence came to claim Miss Darcy. Kitty remained by Mr. Darcy and allowed herself to be introduced to several people. Unfortunately, Darcy seemed most acquainted with only the greyest men in the room. Kitty looked about and finally spied Miss Lindsey at the other end of the room, and made plans to make her way in that direction. But she heard Mr. Darcy's low voice next to her.
"What is he doing here?"
Kitty looked up and saw a rather peculiar-looking man approaching them rapidly. She had never seen him before but something about his manner made her clutch Darcy's arm.
"An acquaintance of yours?" she murmured.
"Miss Bennet. I would appreciate it greatly if you honored me with a dance... immediately, if possible."
"Absolutely." He rapidly drew her toward the line and they joined the set, which was well underway.
"Who was that?" hissed Kitty as they made the first turn and he was the only one within earshot.
"Do you know your cousin, Mr. Collins?"
"Yes, of course."
"Mr. White and Mr. Collins have much in common." He waited until they were close again. "Only White lacks both Mr. Collins's pleasing manners and his moral consciousness," he whispered.
"In that case, this is a very agreeable dance, Mr. Darcy. I thank you for singling me out."
"It is I who must thank you, Miss Bennet. And if you take my advice for the rest of the ball, it would be to avoid an introduction to Mr. White."
"Gladly," she shuddered.
"Charlotte has had her child, a baby boy." Lizzy smiled. "She sounds very happy."
"And are they well?" asked Bingley. He leaned over her shoulder, ostensibly to read the letter, though his eyes were not on the page.
"Yes, quite. He is a big boy, and cries constantly. He is named William, after his father."
"You may send her my congratulations. Though I will undoubtedly have to write to Mr. Collins for your father."
"I wish there was some way to renew my relationship with Charlotte without you having to deal with the ministrations of the Reverend Collins."
"I believe your father rather enjoys his letters. They are most amusing to read."
"Amusing they may be, but he is an odious man. The nerve to allow us back into his acquaintance."
"And what can we do, except to pray your father lives a good long time. Come now, your friend Mrs. Collins is a sensible woman and her son shall be the same, and someday Longbourn shall have an owner worthy of it again."
"You are the eternal optimist."
"I try my best."
Lizzy smiled and drew out some paper to write Charlotte a reply. He husband remained standing over her though. She finally glanced behind her. "Did you wish something of me, Charles?"
"I thought we might take the carriage into Meryton."
"What, now?"
"Why not? I am very suddenly in the mood to purchase new gloves."
She set the paper down. "How kind of you, sir. I shall like my new gloves."
He laughed. "A pair for you and a pair for me then."
"Tell me, Miss Darcy," said Lady Eleanor motioning toward the other end of the room. "Has your sweet friend Miss Bennet acquired a fortune that I am not aware of?"
The directness of the comment surprised Georgiana, who looked up at the matron with some surprise. "No, Lady Eleanor. Miss Bennet is not penniless but she is not particularly wealthy."
The woman smiled. "In that case, your brother must be particularly fond of your friend for singling her out so."
"My brother is a gracious host to my guest. I requested that he dance with Catherine--as she might not know many people in attendance."
"Yet Miss Bennet has been in the neighborhood many weeks and knows half of those here. And she has not sat all evening. No, I think she has danced nearly every dance. Yet to dance both the first set and the supper set with your brother! I do not need to tell you, Miss Darcy, that it will be the stuff of gossip come tomorrow, especially as she is staying at Pemberley."
"Lady Eleanor." Georgiana smiled sweetly. "If you should happen to encounter any gossip, you may remind the tellers that my brother does not appreciate being the center of speculation."
"Oh, you do sound like Mr. Darcy, when you take such a tone. But I think he has improved quite a bit. He's been quite agreeable this summer. And so social! I cannot remember the last time you dined with us more than once in a month."
"Well, that should halt any speculation. If my brother were so fond of Miss Bennet he would not need to increase his social schedule as to vary his company."
"Oh, you are a clever one, Miss Darcy. But, look. Your brother is dancing with Lady Morton. I'm surprised she was able to attend. Her child was only born last month."
Georgiana couldn't help smirking. Slightly older, married, and of a noble family. "She looks well recovered. Lord Morton is right to show her off."
"Lord Morton does enjoy it, I think. Now, did I see you open the ball with Mr. Lawrence? Miss Templeton seemed quite put out."
"I believe that was the goal, Lady Eleanor," smiled Miss Darcy.
Allison OM's April Fools Chapter
Posted on Tuesday, 8 April 2008
"The end result, of course, was Lydia and I at the top of the tree, and Jane fretting about how she would keep me from crying." Kitty finished her story. It was a lovely day in late summer and the trio was lounging outside, having taken part in a spur-of-the-moment picnic. Mrs. Annesley's sister was ill again, and she had left a week before. Kitty had fallen into the comfortable position of being Georgiana's main confidante and companion and was dreading the conversation that might determine the end of her now lengthy visit.
"And what did Mrs. Bingley do?" Georgiana asked, taking a large chunk out of a very early apple that had been picked only that morning.
"Lydia and Lizzy were both laughing so hard, I thought Lydia would fall and Lizzy would be unable to catch her."
Georgiana laughed quietly, her brother echoing her tones a second later. Kitty had thought him reading.
"Ah Darcy, you are eavesdropping again. Tell me, are my childhood exploits that interesting to you?"
"Not in the least," he said, sobering instantly. "But you do seem to have so many of them. It is no wonder that I cannot help but to hear some of them." Kitty laughed.
"Fitzwilliam, you must admit they had a most idyllic childhood."
"Georgiana, I do believe that your brother would rather label us wild."
Mr. Darcy smiled. "Perhaps, but I believe you are laboring under the misconception that I sat studying Latin ten hours a day. I was not always such a dull fellow as you think me now."
"Nonsense," smiled Kitty. "No one would say that you were a dull fellow. Indeed, our outing yesterday would suggest you were not."
"Oh yes, Fitzwilliam, you have yet to apologize for frightening the horses so."
"I did nothing of the sort and I will not apologize."
"Well," said Kitty to her friend. "If he will not apologize, let us make him pay a forfeit."
"And what should my forfeit be, Miss Bennet?"
"Well you must tell us of these childhood exploits you boast of so freely. Come now, I doubt you were ever stuck in a tree."
"I assure you he was not," said Georgiana. "My brother would have never tackled a tree he could not find his way down again."
"Perhaps not, but I did nearly drown George Wickham in the trout stream after he threw a cricket bat at my head."
There was a momentary pause. Darcy moved to Georgiana's side and clutched her hand reassuringly. "Now Ladies, I am afraid if you wish me to tell you childhood stories, I will have to refer to him. He was my primary companion at that time." He looked at Kitty daringly. She leaned forward.
"I am most curious, Mr. Darcy, if you had him nearly drowned, why you did not choose to finish the job."
They stared at each other a minute, waiting for the next bombshell to drop. It surprisingly came from Georgiana, who said very softly but very lightly,
"I would like some light refreshment I believe. If we must speak of George, it is only fitting that we waste some very expensive wine."
One of the under-gardeners was walking nearby when he heard the laughter from the master and mistress. He smiled. There had never been so much gaiety at Pemberley, in his short memory at least.
"No Mary, you did not. I do not remember that at all!" laughed Lizzy.
"Indeed, I do not believe it a bit," said Bingley. "I do not see Kitty allowing that at all."
"Oh, I did. I sat both Kitty and Lydia up on the bench on the garden and preached to them for an hour. Lyddie cried of course after a bit and toddled off somewhere, but Kitty sat and flipped through our hymnal while I talked."
"Playing preacher! How funny! Now Jane and I always played house."
"Oh I remember that too. Jane was the mother. You were the father, and I was the baby."
"Elizabeth the father?" asked Bingley, most amused. "Did she ever tell Jane to obey her?"
"More likely I ran to the library when she upset me," said Lizzy.
"And Jane would cry about her nerves and shoo me away!" cried Mary, making one of the first jokes of her life.
Lizzy and Bingley looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"But turnabout is fair play. I believe you must have stories about Cambridge, Mr. Bingley," said Mary. "For I have been told young men are always up to no good at Cambridge."
Bingley shook his head. "No, indeed Mary."
"Ah, but most young men did not have Darcy to protect them," smiled Mrs. Hurst, who had been sitting quietly, listening to the stories. "I was so concerned for Charles. He was too young to be going to Cambridge---barely 16--- but our father insisted. Luckily, Darcy immediately took notice of him and kept him out of trouble."
"It was not so simple. I got in a few scrapes first. It was purely accidental that Darcy helped me out. I was five years younger than him, far below his notice at first-- both by age and by height," he laughed.
"What was his motivation?" asked Mary.
"I believe he wanted to keep me from going the way of another friend of his."
"You speak of Mr. Wickham," said Lizzy.
"Yes, I think so. Darcy never said as much. He considered Wickham's behavior a private family matter."
Lizzy made a funny sort of sound-- that might have been called a laugh. "How ironic that Mr. Wickham's behavior should become a Bingley family trouble after all."
"I believe Mr. Wickham's existence is a trouble best addressed by the larger family of all mankind," said Mary solemnly.
"Truer words you never spoke, dear sister," smiled Bingley. "But thanks to Darcy's guidance at Cambridge, I did not create many problems for all of mankind."
"No, not many problems," smirked Mrs. Hurst. "Shall I tell your wife about the Tavern on the Green?"
"Oh yes, please do," answered Lizzy merrily.
The Master of Netherfield feigned innocence. "I must stress that the goats were all safely returned to their owners."
"Goats!" shrieked Mary. "I knew I was right to ask about Cambridge!"
"So the letter has been sent?" asked Lizzy, laying back on the pillow. She had been in a rather foul mood for a few weeks, and asked the question a bit spitefully, though in truth she had not thought very much about the letter at all. There were too many other concerns occupying her mind.
"Yes," said Bingley. "It is time for us to return the gesture of hospitality they have shown your sister these months."
"I know. It will simply be... an interesting situation to see him again."
"But Beth," he asked a bit tenderly, "we discussed this a month ago. We agreed to invite him."
"Yes, of course. Pardon me, Charles. I am just a bit emotional these days."
"What is the matter? Have I done something amiss?"
"No indeed. In fact quite the opposite."
He rolled over and eyed her suspiciously. She snuggled a bit closer to him. "Shall I tell you?" She whispered. He smiled, and she told him of the child she suspected that they would welcome in the spring. He kissed her.
"Mrs. Bingley, you have my permission to be as emotional as you please."
"Our Uncle has invited us to the Lodge next month, Georgiana. There is to be a hunting party but all the Ladies Fitzwilliam will be there as well and wish you to join them."
"Oh but we cannot leave Catherine. May she come too?"
Kitty quickly swallowed her meat, looking up rather surprised.
"Georgiana, I have been here over two months. Surely I have outstayed my welcome."
"Nonsense," said Georgiana. "They have about a hundred rooms. I'm sure some room might be found for you-- as you are my especial friend."
Darcy looked curiously between the two women.
"If Miss Bennet wishes to return to her home, you should not prevent it Georgiana."
"I feel somewhat of an obligation..." started Kitty, but she did not quite know how to finish. In truth, she felt no obligation to return home at all. She was happy at Pemberley and wished to remain.
"Miss Bennet, do you mean to tell us that you wish to remain with us?" said Darcy, reading her thoughts.
"I have grown quite fond of your company, and love Pemberley, but the burden of hospitality must be growing old."
"Perhaps you would be surprised to know that your brother has also invited us to his home this fall? You see, my sister and I must decide between invitations."
"You have reconciled then?" asked Georgiana smiling. "Completely?"
"We shall see," said Darcy. "I do not know of Mrs. Bingley's opinions as to the invitation. The letter itself was rather succinct."
"Lizzy would not permit an invitation if she were disinclined to the idea," said Kitty carefully.
"Well then, it is decided. We shall all go to Hertfordshire. I hope you are not tiring of the place, Georgiana."
"You would give offense to our Aunt and Uncle?" Georgiana asked, relieved.
"You wish to go to the Lodge?" asked Darcy surprised.
"Well, no... Mrs. Bingley and Mrs. Hurst are far more affable company than our cousins' wives, I believe."
"It is happy then, that I received the one invitation before the other. We may have already made a commitment to go to Hertfordshire," said Darcy.
"Indeed, we may have," Georgiana smiled. They often talked of their relatives in such a coded manner.
"Besides, we will have to escort Miss Bennet home at some point one way or the other, so the visit would be well timed."
Kitty sat watching this exchange. She was thrilled that she would remain in the Darcys' company for a time longer but felt apprehensive at Darcy and Lizzy meeting again. And she was disappointed that her time at Pemberley would come to an end.
"But you will come again next summer, Catherine," said Georgiana, smiling. She read Kitty's thoughts almost as well as her brother did. "You are always welcome at Pemberley."
"Of course I will come. Unless, of course, the season leads to an engagement for either of you. Then I understand that plans may change," said Kitty.
"Or you may become engaged yourself," giggled Georgiana. "Marriages may very well ruin our plans at our age, I am told."
"Enough of that," said Darcy sharply. Suddenly he was in a rather foul mood.
He looked up and saw his wife in the doorway.
"I've just come to bid you farewell, Charles. A long morning of calls awaits your sister and me."
"Of course, but before you go Lizzy, I have a letter for you from Miss Darcy. She enclosed it in the missive that her brother sent."
She reached out her hand for the single sheet and quickly glanced over it. It was a short message expressing thanks for the invitation.
"Miss Darcy is such a sweet, polite girl. What does her brother say?"
"It is a message similar to his sister's, I think. It is quite short, expresses thanks for the invitation, and gives details as to their trip and the date of their expected arrival. He also writes to ask whether your sister will be staying at Netherfield upon her return or if she is to return to Longbourn."
"Oh, here I suppose. My mother and Mary are finally at peace. It would be unwise to throw Kitty back into the mix, especially after these months of independence."
"I hope this many guests will not be too taxing for one in your condition."
She smiled. "Charles, I assure you that the idea of hosting houseguests is hardly a taxing one. We had the same number of guests in the spring minus one, and there was very little extra consideration involved."
"You will tell me though, if your health is affected?"
"By houseguests?" She raised one eyebrow. "Is there something about Mr. Darcy you aren't telling me, that my health should be affected by his visit? For I know that Miss Darcy and Kitty are not too taxing by themselves."
"No, not by the Darcys. By anything---that is to say I would like to be of use to you, now, in your condition-- if I can."
She leaned over and kissed the top of his head where he sat.
"You are already ‘of use' to me sir. But, I promise that I shall tell you if I feel the slightest bit in need due to my condition. Is that fair enough?"
"Yes, Mrs. Bingley, I suppose it is."
She set Miss Darcy's letter on the desk next to him. "Well, I have delayed long enough. Do you have any messages you wish to send to Mrs. Long or Lady Lucas?"
"Only a pleasant greeting," said Bingley good-naturedly, as he took down the log books from the shelf above him. "Have an agreeable morning. I will see you at dinner."
"Do you have any greetings to send to Lady Eleanor?" asked Kitty, as Georgiana tied her bonnet and Darcy sat down again at his desk where he had been working prior to their interruption.
"Absolutely not, but you may make up what you wish."
"Do not say such things to Catherine, Fitzwilliam! She will make up more than a pleasant greeting."
"I am not afraid of Miss Bennet," he looked from his sister to Kitty, a challenge in his eyes.
"In that case, I shall tell her that she should move up her harvest ball to accommodate our traveling. She will be so pleased to hear that you wish to dance at Islington again."
"You have won, Miss Bennet. I send only a pleasant greeting." He opened one of the estate books in front of him.
"I am glad that Catherine is forcing you to be pleasant," laughed Georgiana. "I never had so much success. Now, bid us farewell. She put her hand up mockingly for him to kiss, as she used to do when she was a child.
He took it and kissed it with an easy brotherly affection. "Enjoy your visit Georgiana-- Miss Bennet." He nodded at both women. "Have a pleasant day."
*Pregnancy and Bennet girls tree climbing of course!
Posted on Monday, 14 April 2008
"Georgiana, I---" Darcy stopped rather abruptly in the doorway when he saw his sister fast asleep in her chair. Her book lay on her lap. Kitty brought her finger up to her lips to hush him.
"Pardon me, Miss Bennet. Is my sister ill?"
She smiled, looking rather pointedly at his state of dress. "No, sir, it is merely hot, as you apparently have discerned."
He looked down, rather sheepishly. "I beg your pardon, Miss Bennet. It is, as you have said, very hot. I have been alone in my study. I will dress for dinner, of course."
"It is no matter. My father often did the same in the summer. Only in front of the family of course." She smiled again. He shifted uncomfortably.
"I should return to my work. I only meant to ask my sister a question."
"I will see you at dinner, Mr. Darcy."
He made no motion to move; instead continuing to stand in the doorway. "Drawing again?"
"As you see." Kitty set down her pencil and looked at him expectantly.
"What is your subject?"
"Your sister, while she sleeps. She has told me the expressions in my portraits are rather frightful. Perhaps I shall do better if her eyes are closed."
"I never found them so frightful. As I see them, they are honest. Not so many people wish to have an honest portrait."
"Perhaps had I started drawing in my youth, I would be able to draw to meet people's expectations."
He smiled. "Some lessons can be just as easily learned after twenty as before. I am sure you will learn in time to meet everyone's expectations."
Her face shifted to the serene expression he was often unable to discern. "I'm not sure that I wish to meet everyone's expectations. I... may have done so in the past, but I believe I am better off when I act for myself."
He smiled. "I think I agree, Miss Bennet. I have learned a similar lesson. I have learned to become far more selective in whose expectations I work to meet."
The saucy grin returned to her face. "And who might inspire such loyalty in a person like yourself, Mr. Darcy?"
He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms, and stared at her a moment before answering. "Why, my sister of course." He directed his gaze to the slumbering Georgiana.
She followed his glance, her smile shifting to one of great affection. "You could do no better, Mr. Darcy, for such a guide in life is to be envied. I confess, I have looked to my own sister Lizzy for direction at times these past three years. While they have very different ways of acting, I believe that Georgiana and Lizzy have much in common." She spoke with simple honesty, having long stopped trying purposely to taunt him with her sister's name.
He was still looking at Georgiana with a brotherly tenderness. "I confess that I never really knew your sister, Miss Bennet. But I will take your word at their similarity. I imagine they both have a certain strength of character."
"As do you, sir."
He straightened and smiled. "As do you, Miss Bennet." He bowed briefly. "I shall see you at dinner."
She watched him leave, a perplexed expression on her face.
"Your brother can be quite the enigma," she murmured to her sleeping friend. "But I am glad that I have been able to know him."
"I am sorry to hear that your mother is unwell. You must take some of our fruit to her. I shall have Mrs. Reynolds see about having a basket packed."
"Thank you, Lizzy. I am sure my mother will appreciate it. Our orchards are nothing to Netherfield's." Maria fanned herself.
"That must have been a dreadfully hot walk. It is no wonder your mother feels so lowly. My own mother has set up camp under the shade tree on the north side of Longbourn and I do not think she moves from the bench for hours at a time."
"I am glad the rest of the summer has not been so very hot," said Maria. "But Lizzy, I have come about a very important matter. I must speak to you."
Lizzy smiled. Maria had called earlier in the summer about such a matter. Her mother and Mrs. Collins had disagreed about some fashion and Maria did not know who to follow. It was fortunate Mrs. Hurst had been in the room. She explained to Maria that the knot of a bonnet depended entirely on the shape of the face of the wearer. It was no wonder that Charlotte and Lady Lucas disagreed, if they were so different in looks as she had heard. The conversation had been amusing but had struck Lizzy as bittersweet. Mrs. Hurst was a woman of fashion and well able to address such inquiries in a serious way, but her situation meant that she would prefer to live in exile in her brother's home, rather than cohabit with her own husband. Of course, the circumstances had also made Mrs. Hurst a much kinder and more understanding person. It was a perplexing state of affairs.
But Mrs. Hurst was not in the room. So Lizzy braced herself for some such question that she would never be able to answer in such a politic way.
"You see, Lizzy, I have agreed to marry Mr. Edwards. And I am afraid that Mary will be terribly upset with me."
It was not a bonnet. Lizzy was oddly relieved.
"I give you my very best wishes, Maria. But why should Mary be upset by you?"
"Why, because Mr. Edwards was meant for her," said Maria innocently. "Everyone said so."
"I do not believe she gave him any encouragement," said Lizzy carefully.
"Oh, I know very well she refused him. It is why we became such friends. He was rather upset, poor fellow. Mrs. Philips had encouraged him to ask, thinking Mary would jump at the chance."
"So you and Mr. Edwards are friends?" asked Lizzy, relieved.
"I know what you are thinking, Lizzy. But he is so much less awkward when one knows him better. He is really a sweet dear." Maria blushed and looked down at her lap.
Lizzy grinned. "Oh, do talk of him all that you wish. It is the prerogative of a newly betrothed woman."
"Kitty may tease me when she returns, but he really is a nice man. And very intelligent. He will make a fine attorney and shall have your Uncle's practice, should Mr. Philips decide to retire."
"Why, Maria, if I did not know any better, I would guess that you esteemed him greatly."
If it were possible, Maria's blush grew more crimson. "I do, Lizzy."
Lizzy reached over and squeezed the girl's hand. "I'm glad of it, dear. I could not imagine a marriage without affection. If he were a good man and you respected him, I would be content, as your friend. But if you love him, I am doubly pleased."
"I'm glad you say so, Lizzy, for you are the first. Charlotte wrote to encourage me but she did not mention affection. And Mama is beside herself at the prospect of another good match. I have nothing to offer, you know. Far less than your sisters."
Lizzy smiled. "The women in your family are known for their pragmatism. But now you may have it both ways. You may be pragmatic, and you may be in love."
Maria grinned. "Thank you Lizzy."
"But what is this concern about Mary? She will be happy for you."
"Do you really think so?"
"Of course."
"Mama thought she might regret her refusal. And Mrs. Bennet..."
Lizzy understood the problem. Maria was not afraid of Mary's reaction, rather the effect on Mary by the reaction of the neighborhood. "I comprehend you completely Maria. What would you have me do?"
"Will you tell Mrs. Bennet? And Mary also?"
"Very well, my dear. I shall tell them when I call tomorrow."
"Thank you, Lizzy."
Maria sighed with relief and sat back in the chair, smiling.
A lively tone crept into Lizzy's voice when saw her friends' eager face.
"Well, it is so hot that I must have some diversion. I don't suppose you and Mr. Edwards have made plans for your wedding or household, have you?"
"Do you really want to hear about our plans, Lizzy?" Maria's eyes grew wide with excitement.
"Absolutely, Maria. I shall ring for some refreshment and you may tell me all about them."
Lizzy had hurried from Netherfield. The news had to be given to her mother without the presence of Mary. Her mother was sitting, as she suspected, on the bench under the tree. Her mother did not often favor the outdoors. But in weather such as this, it was the coolest spot. Hearing the sound of the piano inside, Lizzy knew that the present was the best time.
Her mother took the news as was expected. Lizzy sat through the various effusions, nodding patiently. A particular statement about the Lucas family made her breathe in and hope that the gardener was not about. But then it was over.
"Mr. Edwards is to marry Maria Lucas," sighed Mrs. Bennet at last, fanning herself profusely. "Mary is such a stupid girl."
"And Mary refused him Mama. You know they would not be well suited."
"What is that to do with anything? I should hardly call you and Mr. Bingley suited. Yet, here you are, mistress of Netherfield."
"I consider Mr. Bingley and I to be quite well-suited. I thank you not to question my affection for my husband."
"Well, I suppose the Lucas girls may only get the leavings of Bennets. The young men always call here first."
Satisfied that her mother had found her source of consolation, Lizzy took her leave and went into the house. She suspected that Mary would only find relief at the news.
Kitty's trunk was not completely packed. Her belongings were scattered about the room mixed up in piles of lace and stockings.
"Catherine, you may have the servants do that," giggled Georgiana as Kitty rummaged through what was already neatly stacked.
Kitty ignored her, intent on her purpose. "I have obtained so many things this summer that I hardly think I shall have room. I had not realized quite the extent of your generosity, Georgiana."
"It's neither here nor there. I never spent more than half my pocket money. But I should have thought to buy you another trunk."
Kitty laughed and continued to dive through dresses.
"I must have put my packet of drawings at the very bottom. I cannot think of where else it might be. My chalk and crayons are here. And the two paintings are as well. The third I shall have to leave here at Pemberley. It will not dry in this humidity."
"You silly darling. You left it near the pianoforte in the music room. Go and fetch it and I will have Lucy finish this. It is a good thing she likes you or she would be most put out," laughed Georgiana, ringing the bell for her maid. "I will give her instructions to leave out your traveling clothes for tomorrow."
"Thank you Georgiana." Kitty hurried out of the room.
Darcy had simply meant to glance in the music room when he saw Kitty's folder on the table. She had been working on a scene of his favorite part of the garden, and he was curious to see how it turned out. He walked over and opened the folder. The drawings were not in any order, and he slowly worked his way through various scenes of Pemberley and its environs. He smiled when he saw the drawing of his old mastiff mid-meal. It was rather horrid but quite accurate and amusing- the ancient dog was nearly toothless but also completely satisfied with the offering. The girl did have a sense of humor. He turned the page and was shocked to see his own likeness.
He looked at the drawing. It was one of her better likenesses, to be sure. But that man. The expression on his face. Stubborn, he thought. Prideful. Altogether disagreeable. Was that what she thought of him? Perhaps at first, he had been so. But that scolding from Georgiana. He had changed his behavior, had he not? He thought back on their summer--
"Oh! Mr. Darcy!" Kitty was standing there, staring at him, wide-eyed.
"I'm sorry. I saw the subject and..." He had been caught. He blushed. She blushed.
"Do not look at that one. I started it in June but am not happy with it at all. I have started again, you see."
She looked so eager to please him, indeed so unlike...Catherine... that he did not quite know what to say.
"Now," she said. She pulled out a new sketch from underneath some others. "It is unfinished. But I think I have captured you here. Much more. Don't you think?"
"That is how I look to you?" he asked smiling. She had quite the imagination, if she thought that.
"That is how you look at me," she smiled, shyly.
"That is how I look at you?" he stammered. "That cannot be."
"Why yes, I think so. But I am not so fine an artist that it is a good representation."
"No, I think it shows quite the resemblance," he choked a bit. "I beg you will excuse me."
"Yes, of course, sir. I must oversee the rest of my packing." She shot him a shy glance, taking her folder with her.
He strode purposely along. He did not, could not look at that slip of a girl like that.
He did.
Posted on Thursday, 24 April 2008
"Well at least it's cooled somewhat. I certainly couldn't see him riding so much had we had the weather of the last few days," said Georgiana, looking out at her brother. "Yet I thought he would stay in the carriage at least part of this journey."
"I'm sorry, Georgiana, my mind was elsewhere just now. What is it that you said?" asked Kitty.
"I was merely observing that my brother is acting rather oddly, riding out in the dust unnecessarily."
"I suppose one of the joys of owning such a fine carriage is to be able to not ride in it whenever one should so choose."
"Such a tone you take, Catherine. Have I angered you in any way?"
"Not at all, Georgiana," said Kitty in a softer manner. "But I think I must have angered your brother."
"Nonsense, my brother likes you very much. What should you have done to anger him?"
"I hardly know. I think my drawing him without his knowledge upset him greatly. For you saw him yesterday and at breakfast this morning. He hardly said a word to me. And now he rides yet again!" Kitty could not hide her discomfort at her friend's sudden lack of communication.
"It is not unusual for my brother to take the horse rather than stay in the carriage. I would not think so much about it, Catherine," said Georgiana, staring at her friend keenly. A nagging thought had been reappearing in her mind for some weeks now. She was not certain, but she was starting to believe that it was not merely a figment of her imagination.
"Pardon me, but did you not just say that he was acting in an unusual manner? Does he normally ride or not?"
"I was merely making conversation," said Georgiana, after a pause. "We have so seldom traveled together that I could not say---Still I cannot help but think that our time might be more merry if he were in the carriage with us. I like you very much Catherine, but I must confess I do not enjoy traveling with any company for very long."
"Your brother is an excellent conversationalist. It is odd to me that I ever thought otherwise."
"Was he so very bad when you met him before?" Georgiana smiled. The stories had disturbed her in the past, but she now tended to find them amusing.
"I hardly know. I was not in a position that I would have spoken with him, even had he been the most amiable man in Hertfordshire. That being said... no one thought him the most amiable man in Hertfordshire."
"You are too kind. Mrs. Hurst has given him far less credit as to his opinion on Hertfordshire when he was last there."
"Mrs. Hurst is hardly innocent in that regard. The whole party, excepting my brother of course, was determined to dislike the place."
"And yet now they both return! It must have some attraction."
"Yes, some attraction, indeed," said Kitty, glancing out the window. "Lizzy is an attractive girl, after all," she said under her breath.
Georgiana did discern the words however. "None of that, I beg you, Catherine. My brother would never cause a scandal. And he has promised me to be everything proper and amiable. This visit will heal, not harm."
Kitty swallowed, pausing for some moments. "I apologize, Georgiana. But if this silence continues, will you tell your brother that his friend misses their conversations?"
Georgiana smiled brightly. Her suspicion increased. "I would not give too much thought to my brother's silence, Catherine. You may come to the wrong conclusion."
"They will be here the day after tomorrow," Bingley said in response to his sister's question. But seeing his wife's expression, he looked worried. "Are you nervous, Lizzy?"
Lizzy put some effort into changing her expression. "I'm sorry Charles. I was just a bit uncomfortable just now. Your child leaves me indisposed at times."
Bingley looked alarmed, but his sister was there first. She softly rubbed Lizzy's back. "Just breathe, it will pass."
It did, and Lizzy's face resumed its normal color. "I am not used to such illness. I do not remember if my mother experienced it or not."
Mrs. Hurst smiled. "My earliest memory was of my mother, when she was expecting Caroline. We did not yet know of a baby. My mother was playing with both of us, and she very suddenly pushed Charles into my arms and ran out of the room. She came back ten minutes later with a pale face and didn't say a word-- as if it were the most normal thing in the world to leave such young children on their own."
"Where was your nursemaid?" Lizzy managed to smile despite the knowledge that she too might soon be running from the room.
Mrs. Hurst blushed and said nothing, drawing away from Lizzy on the sofa.
"I'm not certain that we had one, Beth," said Bingley softly. "There were few servants when I was a very young child. Though I believe there was a girl who helped with the babies."
"When Caroline was born, I know there was," said Mrs. Hurst defensively. "And had there been more children, we could have certainly afforded better."
Lizzy stifled her surprise. "Charles has said you had a very pleasant childhood," she said brightly.
"Oh, yes. Our mother was a very pleasant woman, and she loved us dearly. But she died the year we bought our first house in town. Father sent Caroline and me to school, and hired a tutor for Charles."
"And by the time the girls came home, we lived in a much larger home, and had many more servants, but it was not nearly so pleasant," finished Charles.
Lizzy glanced from husband to sister. Charles had often spoken of his mother quite tenderly and she had known about the elder Mr. Bingley---who had thrown himself into work when his wife passed away. How quickly the family had risen into society surprised her greatly, however. That the two elder children should remember a time when there was barely a servant! It was simply extraordinary. The least families in her acquaintance kept three or four servants.
"Our father wanted the best for us, Charles. He earned our path into society."
Sister glanced to brother. He had voluntarily withdrawn from that same society for the love of a woman, and she had done so rather than be pitied as the wife of a man who willingly discarded discretion. She keenly felt the loss, he less so, but both knew that they would have disappointed their heavy-handed father.
Lizzy fought back a third wave of nausea and realized the effort was futile. "When I return, you must tell me how I might make our home as pleasant for the child as your mother made your home for you," she managed weakly as she rose. Bingley rushed forward to take her arm. It had been several weeks now and he was used to leading her from the room for a few minutes at a time.
"Do you really think you can keep your condition a secret from your guests, Eliza?" asked Mrs. Hurst. Lizzy was lying back on the sofa, catching some rest before the Darcys were to arrive.
"I have managed to hide it from my own family. The baby has not yet quickened and I want no disappointments. Can you imagine the reaction of my mother, Louisa? No, it is best to wait."
"Your sister is too observant. She will notice before long. Your shape is changing, as has your appetite."
"If you notice her noticing, do tell me Louisa, and I will tell her the truth, to keep her from speculating with Miss Darcy ."
"They'll discern the truth sooner than you hope, I imagine. Miss Kitty is a sly one, when she wants to be."
Mrs. Hurst picked up her volume again in order to let her sister rest, but she saw the expression on Lizzy's face.
"Did you wish something of me, Eliza?"
"Louisa, we are friends as well as sisters, are we not?"
"Certainly."
"I cannot help but think of our conversation the other afternoon... the one that ended so abruptly with my illness?"
"About my mother and father?" asked Mrs. Hurst. Her voice prickled in defense.
"You know I could never think less of you or Charles, don't you?"
She sighed, running her fingers over the spine of the book in her lap. "I know you would not mind, Lizzy. It s just that we were taught never to reveal the extent of the poverty of our childhood. It was not so hard. We were tainted by the source of our money, but it never occurred to people just how recently that money had been made. You were born a gentleman's daughter. How could you know how it was for us?"
Lizzy rolled onto her side and looked up in surprise. "Louisa, how can I judge you? I have an Uncle in trade, an Uncle who is an attorney. Our family's wealth is entailed away---for goodness sakes, my sister's dowries are a gift from your brother. I can hardly look down at the wealth that sustains me."
Louisa had no answer; she nervously traced the gold lettering on the cover. Her long silence was finally interrupted by what could only been called a chortle coming from the chaise.
"Superior sisters!" squeaked Lizzy, trying to sit up.
"Excuse me?"
"You and Mrs. Blake, the superior sisters. You were quite the snobs, you know, looking down at everything you saw! Here, all this time I took you both for the very top echelon of London society. It was enough to make a simple country girl miserable in comparison. I did not realize that all this time you were suffering from nothing more than considerable insecurity!"
Mrs. Hurst allowed herself a smile; how could she not given the current hysterical state of the wife of her brother?
"I suppose I must congratulate you Eliza. You have found my weakness. I have yet to find yours.... Now you had best freshen up. Your guests will be here soon."
"Of course," Lizzy laughed again, in a more controlled manner this time. "Will you join me in some refreshment before they come?"
"No, I think not. You go and greet your guests. I will see them in a little while."
Lizzy rose, and brushed out the folds of her dress. "I do like you, you know, Mrs. Hurst, despite all of your superiority."
Mrs. Hurst watched her sister leave the room, and gave a little smile. The truth stung a little, but it had not been so very hard.
Kitty saw that her sister and brother had come out to meet the carriage. He was holding onto his wife and only let go of her at the last possible minute to assist the ladies. Bingley was smiling pleasantly as he helped her out of the carriage, though he seemed a bit tense.
"Hello brother," she said, grasping his hand fondly with both of hers.
"Kitty, my dear sister, you look lovely. I think a summer at Pemberley has been very good to you, he said pleasantly. "Do you not agree, Lizzy?"
Lizzy looked up from her tete-a-tete with Miss Darcy. "Indeed. Have you grown taller Kitty? Miss Darcy, I must give you credit as hostess. My sister is positively blooming."
"I had nothing to do with any transformation, if there has been one. I must give credit to Pemberley," said Georgiana shyly, noting her brother had ridden up behind and was busy handing his horse off to the groom.
"Darcy!" cried Bingley, rushing up to meet him, a few yards away from the ladies. He held out his hand in a familiar fashion, and Darcy grasped in a brotherly manner.
"Bingley, I cannot tell you how very good it is to see you again."
The two men stared at each other a moment, their hands locked together. Bingley noted the unusual reticence in Darcy's expression, contrasted with his eager, boy-like handshake. He contrasted it with their last meeting--- and the arrogance and disdain that had accompanied Darcy's heated denouncement of the Bennet family. There seemed to be no false transformation.
"It is, isn't it? We have much to catch up on. Welcome back to Netherfield." Bingley glanced at Lizzy, who smiled reassuringly, though her body had stiffened during the long moment between the two men. "Come now, come greet my wife."
"Mr. Darcy, you remember my sister, Mrs. Bingley," said Kitty rather politely but apprehensively, as neither Darcy nor Lizzy seemed inclined to say anything.
"Of course," he flashed a rather intense glance at Kitty. "Mrs. Bingley, it is a pleasure to see you again." He bowed. He offered Lizzy his arm, determined to be as warm and polite as possible. "Mrs. Bingley, I cannot say how much it pleases me that you welcome my family into your home. My I escort you back inside?"
"You may, Mr. Darcy," said Lizzy. The whole thing struck her as rather surreal and she could only manage a small shrug of apprehension as she took his arm.
Mr. Bingley, the welcoming smile still plastered across his features, offered his own arm to Miss Darcy. He looked to Kitty as well, but preoccupied, she missed his motion. Standing alone, watching the two couples go into the house, Kitty hardly had time to consider her own feelings. A moment in her childhood sprung into her mind. Lydia taking her new doll. Her mother smiling absently. ‘Oh let her take the doll, Kitty. The older doll shall do for you just as well.' The feeling that welled up inside her then---the emotion that had made her hit Lydia with tiny fists and tear the doll into colorful pieces of rag and stuffing. That feeling had faded over time as so many toys and ribbons and dresses had made their way into Lydia's possession. But now that sensation-- pure maddening jealously-- surged across her stronger than it ever had before.
Lizzy had done nothing at all, had barely murmured a polite greeting to Mr. Darcy. Yet Kitty had a sudden and overwhelming urge to slap her sister across the face.
And after a long moment of confusion, she realized why.
Posted on Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Darcy dismissed his valet and threw himself into an armchair. After several days of riding and sleeping on questionable mattresses, his body was begging to collapse across the bed. But his mind was racing, and he found himself unable to take advantage of Bingley's hospitable room. It was not the same room, he noted---no, it appeared Georgiana had been given that room, across the hall. He was sleeping in the room that had been previously appointed to the Hursts. Mrs. Hurst, he thought, must now be sleeping in the family wing, near Catherine. For Catherine had made her way up a different staircase when Georgiana and he had been shown their rooms. It was just as well she was sleeping at the other end of the house. The morning they had departed Pemberley, he had woken up to the sound of her laughter. She had apparently met Georgiana in the hall just outside his own chambers, and they had shared some joke that resulted in Kitty's outburst.
Catherine had three types of laughs. There was her girlish giggle- he heard that often enough. At first it had annoyed him, but now he was rather inured to it. The second type reflected her rather cynical view of men and society. It amused him, and he often agreed with the sentiment that led to it. Her third laugh was true and clear and rang loud through the halls. That morning he had awoken to such a laugh, and it had filled him with a need to find out the source of such pleasure. Before he had thought about it, he had pulled on his dressing gown and taken a half-step out of his room.
"Ladies, I do hope that your amusement was worth my losing a full quarter hour of sleep."
Georgiana had blushed and muttered apologies. But still laughing, Catherine had just turned towards him, her eyes shining bright.
"I thought, sir, that we were to depart early this morning."
He had stared at her for some seconds before shutting the door. And that had been the last time they had spoken more than pleasantries. He had to make a decision soon-- well in truth over the past few days he had made his decision-- but now there were mitigating circumstances. Would it be fair to court Catherine under such a state of affairs? On one hand, he was glad that he had come to his epiphany just as they were to leave Pemberley, for it would not be proper to harbor such feelings for the girl while she was still under his roof. In fact, if he were to court her, it would be better for all if she removed to her mother's house for the duration. He smiled ruefully. She might not forgive him for that.
On the other hand, could he court one sister when he had at one time declared the same feelings for the other? He wondered whether it would relieve or concern the Bingleys. Obviously, they did not think such an attachment was possible or they would have never consented to Kitty's summer sojourn.
Would she have him? He had been misled on such matters before, but he had never undertaken a proper courtship. Regardless of her other feelings, Elizabeth had registered surprise at his proposal---she had not even thought the two of them to be friendly acquaintances. He knew that Kitty saw them as at least very good friends. She had called him a friend---told his sister that she missed their conversations. Georgiana had told him as much the evening before---now that was a promising beginning.
Darcy thought about the possibilities. His first instinct---to propose immediately---he almost as quickly rejected. If she refused him and told her sister, he would suffer both Bingley's and Georgiana's wrath, in addition to considerable heartbreak. He could declare himself--- and formally court her---but he did not want her mother's over eager nature to influence Kitty's decision (he wondered briefly whether Mrs. Bennet's probable effusions would make Kitty more or less likely to refuse him). Lastly, he could make a slow confession over a number of weeks. That would be difficult---it was hard to even look at her now without giving himself away---but it was for now the only option. In the meantime, he would do his best to make amends to the Bingleys---and Catherine's mother and other sister. He had already made a start. He had greeted them both as civilly as was in his nature---had offered his arm to Mrs. Bingley, and had thanked them both for their hospitality. Bingley seemed eager as always, if a bit guarded. Mrs. Bingley seemed to accept his greeting with indifference. He would not call their short conversation overly friendly---but it was not unfriendly. There would be time to have conversation with them both.
In the meantime, he had a few hours to rest. And he desperately needed to sleep.
Kitty laid back on her pillow. It was somewhat confusing, she reflected, that sitting in a carriage could make one so weary. Her room was as she left it, an odd combination of childhood bobs she deemed fit to bring from Longbourn and the redecoration begun by Caroline Bingley before her sudden departure for London three years before. "This is your room. You shall do what you want to it, when you return," Lizzy had said in the spring. "Though I will not permit anything too dark." It was somewhat reassuring to know that this was her room. The room she slept in at Longbourn had always been Lydia's. It still was. It always would be.
Kitty smiled when she saw Lizzy had hung one of her own paintings across from the mirror. Miss Darcy had done the same, in her room at Pemberley. Her room at Pemberley. She wondered if she ever might go back there. Georgiana had invited her to return the following summer, but she did not think she could go anymore. It would not be such a good thing to remain in Darcy's company, now that she had realized the full extent of her feelings for him. Kitty considered that she suddenly understood the extent of the need for propriety. Otherwise a girl might do very desperate things indeed.
Georgiana smiled as she looked about her room. Lizzy had obviously taken into account the way she had kept the room in the spring. She noted that some changes had been made in such a way that reflected her own taste. It was a lovely room.
She hoped her brother was napping. He looked positively worn out from his trip. She had thought that he was merely worried about his meetings with the Bingleys---hence his need to ride and work out the anxiety---but now she knew better. His face when she told him of Kitty's comments was as illustrative as an expression could ever be.
"They did all look exhausted, didn't they?" said Lizzy cheerfully. "Mr. Darcy especially. I understand that he rode most of the way from Pemberley. You should have seen him, Louisa, the dust was simply dreadful."
"Really, Eliza?" Mrs. Hurst smirked. "Six inches of mud on his boots, I imagine."
"Perhaps the idea of three days in a carriage with two giggling young ladies was too much for him," said Bingley, smiling.
"When you put it that way, riding seems quite reasonable," laughed Lizzy.
"The meeting did not go so very badly, did it?" he pressed.
"Not at all. Mr. Darcy greeted me in a rather friendly manner, I thought. I did not think he would say anything at all to me at first, but Kitty prompted him, and then his greeting was all politeness. If it lasts, I may be inclined to completely forgive him."
"Are you still angry with him, sister?"
"I don't believe so," said Lizzy carefully. "Though I am not completely comfortable with his company, I must confess."
"To be given the opportunity to forgive, to truly forgive someone," Mrs. Hurst mused softly. "I feel that is an opportunity not to be missed."
"Would you forgive him, if you were in our situation, Louisa?" asked Bingley.
"I can only speak to my own situation, Charles," said Mrs. Hurst, her voice breaking somewhat.
There was a very long pause. "But," she added finally and in an air of forced buoyancy. "You will have to, for Miss Darcy's sake. She and Miss Kitty are obviously the very best of friends. You have seen the letters from both of them. Two peas in the proverbial pod, they are. Kitty would miss her dreadfully, I think, should her brother continue his estrangement from our family."
"I confess that I've missed Darcy as well," said Bingley. "I did not realize how much until I saw him again. He was like a brother to me."
"Well, you are my husband and I shall abide by your decision," said Lizzy. "And I shall do my part as well. Mr. Darcy and I were never friends before, but for your sake, my dear Charles, I shall do my best."
"I know you shall," smiled Bingley. "Though if he gives any hint that he regrets his contrition, well... well I always will choose a Bennet over a Darcy."
"I'm sure my family will be happy to hear it," said Lizzy, laughing. "But I am no longer a Bennet, as you know. I wonder where Bingleys fit into your scheme."
"And how looks Miss Kitty?" asked Mrs. Hurst.
"Glowing was the word I used," said Lizzy. "She looked lovely and looked more cheerful than I have ever seen her. A bit tan, but no more than might be expected from traveling in the summer months."
"Did you think so?" asked Bingley. "For just before we went back into the house, I thought she looked quite out of sorts. In fact, when I offered her my arm, she looked like she was going to strike me."
"To strike you!?" laughed Mrs. Hurst. "Surely you are exaggerating."
"Louisa, I'm a brother to Caroline. I know what a young lady looks like when she is about to slap someone."
"I must compliment you on the meal, Mrs. Bingley," said Miss Darcy. "How kind of you to recall my favorite dish."
"I thank you, Miss Darcy. I would have served your favorite as well, Mr. Darcy, but Charles did not remember it... Our cook is newly employed or she might have told us."
"I like whatever my sister likes," he said. "It is an excellent meal."
"I believe Mr. Darcy likes lamb," said Kitty, looking up for the first time during the awkward dinner.
He gave her a quick look, setting down his wine glass rather too quickly. "'Tis true. I always forget, Miss Catherine, that you notice such details.
"Well then you are in luck, Darcy," said Bingley jovially. "I believe Mrs. Bingley has ordered lamb for tomorrow's dinner. Mrs. and Miss Bennet are to dine with us tomorrow. My mother is anxious to see Kitty again."
"Yes, of course. I imagine Miss Catherine is equally anxious to see Mrs. Bennet again." He shot his former guest a look of amusement before looking back at his hostess. Kitty awarded him with a quick smile, the first one she had glanced at him in some days. "I shall be pleased to see your family, Mrs. Bingley."
"I'm glad we are all agreed to the pleasure of the company," said Lizzy archly. "Charles was wondering whether the weather in Derbyshire was as bad as it was here," she commented in a kinder voice after heeding her husband's glance. "It was dreadfully hot here."
"Yes, indeed," said Miss Darcy. "One of the footmen went into a faint early last week. He was not ill, but my brother sent him down to the baths to recover, all the same."
"I confess we spent several days in the garden under the trees doing very little at all," said Darcy. My sister read and Miss Catherine and I listened, but I do believe at least one of us napped through her recitation."
"In other words, the master of Pemberley could not be bothered to stay awake in the heat, even to listen to his sister," smirked Georgiana.
"You are equally guilty of such transgressions!" laughed Catherine. "For the very next day we were having a lovely conversation in the music room, and you fell asleep yourself. Oh do not deny it. Your brother walked in and we had quite the conversation in front of you."
"I remember nothing of the sort!" blushed the younger girl, noting but not comprehending the matching shade of pink across her brother's cheeks.
Mrs. Hurst smiled. "I think we might share the same guilt, Miss Darcy. Lizzy and I also napped our way though most of the heat, if I recall correctly. Though my brother hardly seemed to notice the weather."
"No, he went out riding every day, and tended to the estate as if such heat were perfectly normal. We also had a servant faint, one of the kitchen girls. The kitchens were so hot, I had to order cold meals for a few days. Though I did receive some news last week, which forced me to some visiting despite the heat. You might be interested, Kitty."
"What is it Lizzy? For that look shows me that you are aching to tell me."
"Maria Lucas is to marry Mr. Edwards," said Lizzy.
There was a pause.
"Mr. Edwards is a very kind man," said Georgiana finally. "We had several conversations about the law during my last visit. He seems quite knowledgeable."
"Yes, indeed, he is intelligent and kind and eligible. I am glad for Maria," said Kitty politely, though not eagerly.
"He is all of those things," said Bingley. "And Miss Lucas seems to like him a great deal, does she not Lizzy?"
"I would say that he has grown on her-- Miss Lucas and Mr. Edwards were not at first the best of friends, Mr. Darcy, as Kitty and Miss Darcy know. But time and understanding have changed their opinions of one another." Lizzy gave her guest a pointed look. He nodded his head.
"Do you really think there is affection there, Lizzy?" asked Kitty, looking between her sister and Darcy carefully.
"Indeed, I do. I think they shall have a happy marriage-- and I am quite the expert on happy marriages, am I not, Charles?"
"Indeed you are, my dearest Beth," said Bingley, rather tenderly.
Darcy laughed. It was rather sudden. Both Kitty and Lizzy thought, for their own reasons, his laugh a bit too loud under the circumstances. "Ah, Bingley. I thought you had changed in looks, but you now appear quite the same to me. Always agreeable, aren't you?"
"I did always appreciate a pretty face Darcy, as you know. And let me tell you, it is quite the advantage when that pretty face belongs to one's wife." Bingley sat back in his chair in a motion of contentment.
"Brother, I think that Mr. Bingley is telling you to hurry up and get married." Georgiana flashed a cheeky grin at Kitty, who looked down at her plate.
"I can never understand why Georgiana continually asks me to find a woman to usurp her place as mistress at Pemberley," said Darcy lightly, after failing to catch Kitty's eye.
"As long as I may be friends with her I have no need to continue as mistress at Pemberley. As I have told you at least a thousand times."
"I never expected you to be one to allow such teasing, Mr. Darcy," said Lizzy, as the siblings glared the siblings glare at each other.
"I have learned many lessons, Mrs. Bingley. Unlike my agreeable friend here I had much room for improvement," said Darcy sobering.
"What do you think Kitty?" asked Bingley. "Has my friend changed so much since you saw him last? For I always teased him. I am glad that Miss Darcy has finally learned to do so."
Kitty gave her brother a defiant glance. "I am sure that nothing I could do could improve Mr. Darcy in any way. I find him a perfect gentleman."
"Which is Miss Catherine's way of saying that she teases me nearly as much as my sister!" finished Darcy, smiling as broadly as he ever did.
"That must have been quite a summer you had, Darcy!" laughed Bingley. "Don't worry, we'll go shooting tomorrow, and you will have a well-deserved break from their youthful amusement with your person. We have much to discuss and these women will tease us within an inch of our lives.... but then of course, you have a few more inches to spare. I had hoped you might have shrunk in these past years, but you are as horribly tall as ever."
Darcy groaned. "Mrs. Hurst, I must look to you. Will you join with all the others, or will you help me formulate responses to some of their attacks?"
"And what would you have me do, Mr. Darcy?" asked Louisa, surprised at being addressed directly. "We cannot speak of the weather every night. We must have some other amusement."
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine