Section I, Next Section
Part One
eorgiana Darcy was not fond of seaside resorts. Her mother had died while she was on holiday in Scarborough and her failed attempt at an elopement had taken place while in Lyme. It was with no great regret then that she opened a letter from her brother informing her that she and Mrs. Annesley were to leave their home in Eastbourne and travel to Lady Emma Gordon's house in London.
Lady Emma Gordon was sister to the Duke of Cumberland and wife of the First Lord of the Admiralty; she was also Georgiana's godmother. It appeared to Lady Emma that Georgiana ought not to remain hidden in Eastbourne or some such place, no matter how prudent the doctor thought it was for her lungs, but make her appearance in London society, in good society. She had written to Mr. Darcy to that effect without much success, he had seemed quite content to hide his handsome and pleasant sister in a town such as Bournemouth with the merely genteel Mrs. Annesley for a companion. However, on receiving a letter from his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, announcing her intention to introduce Georgiana into society, Mr. Darcy had changed his mind and given Lady Emma permission to take his sister out as much as she pleased.
Georgiana was delighted. Lady Emma was beautiful, fashionable, intelligent and her mother's best friend. Her Aunt Catherine was, in the parlance of seventeen, a fright. The idea of being taken out and introduced to people by Aunt Catherine was unendurable; she would rather jump off the pier and drown. Lady Emma was not at all dreadful, not even to someone as shy as Georgiana, and she would know how to keep that fearful Caroline Bingley at bay. Miss Bingley was quickly becoming the bane of Georgiana's existence; her letters arrived, and demanded answered, with a rapidity the poor girl could not manage and the idea of meeting her once again filled her with a nameless terror second only to that of meeting Aunt Catherine.
She set out from Eastbourne with Mrs. Annesley full of hopes and expectation. She could talk of nothing but Lady Emma's promise of theatres and concerts and shopping trips. They stopped for luncheon at a respectable looking inn, and while Mrs. Annesley walked in the garden with the innkeeper's wife admiring the flowerbeds, Georgiana remained in the parlour with her list of things to do in London. She looked out of the window occasionally as Mrs. Annesley progressed further and further up the garden, and finally decided to join her. The passage through the inn to the backdoor was gloomy and she was already in the half-dark when a familiar voice spoke to her - that of George Wickham...
Miss Darcy's Dilemma 2
"George!" she cried, but remembering herself, her cry did not amount to more than a dramatic whisper. She had no reason to be frightened of him beyond the possibility of having anger from her brother if he ever heard of it. George Wickham had always been sweet to her.
"You are the last person I expected to see," he said, "what are you doing here?"
"Traveling from Eastbourne to London," she said, "and you?"
"Almost the reverse, I am traveling from London to Brighton."
"Yes, of course, your regiment is encamped there for the summer."
He smiled, "How do you know that? I would have thought your brother and everyone associated with him would have taken great pains to conceal everything concerning me."
"They cannot prevent me reading the newspapers," she replied.
"Georgiana, do you ever miss me?"
She started and was silent. The passageway was dark, but she knew full well he could see her blushes and contrived as best she could to prevent him continuing an embarrassing subject.
"No. Fitzwilliam... Mr. Darcy advised me most emphatically to put you out of my mind, and I have succeeded. I earnestly hope, Mr. Wickham, you have achieved the same thing."
"I could not!" He replied vehemently, "How can I forget you when I love you so?"
Georgiana was now absolutely silent. Not a single word of truth or falsity suggested itself to her, and she was forced to illustrate her indifference by a concentrated effort on some imagined creases in her gown.
"Georgiana..." he took her little gloved hand in his, "stop doing that, I know your habits, and look at me."
She shook her head furiously and kept her gaze steadfastly on the ground.
"Please... don't you see that Providence has brought us together like this... it must be for a purpose. I do not believe you have ceased to love me!"
Mrs. Annesley's heavy steps were heard on the path outside and Georgiana, overwhelmed by the fear of discovery, bolted for her sitting room, but she was not quick enough for him.
"Are you telling me you have forgotten me?" He demanded closing the door firmly.
"I don't know!" She sobbed, "Oh, George, please go before she sees you. I cannot endure my brother's displeasure, you know I cannot!"
"I know that to my cost," he replied grimly, "I can return to London within a few days and, if I do, will you see me there?"
She looked at him and looked away. Why should she not see him? He was Fitzwilliam's enemy, not hers. She did not even know what he had done to her brother to make him dislike him so; it had not been deemed necessary by either of her guardians to explain Mr. Wickham's history or character to her. She was a child and for a child the words, "he is a bad man," must suffice.
Well, I am not a child! I am not a child to be farmed out to strangers in seaside resorts, and I am not a child to be shipped off to my godmother to relieve her boredom. If you loved me half as much as you say you do, Fitzwilliam, you would not leave me thus, while you gad about with your friends.
"Yes," she replied with fearful resolution, "I will see you."
He smiled briefly and scribbling an address on a scrap of paper handed it to her saying, "Write to me then."
"I cannot write to you!" She cried but he had gone through the other door just as Mrs. Annesley opened the one that led from the passage.
"I wish you had come out with me," she said smiling, "the garden is so lovely. Why, Georgiana, you are pale! What is the matter?"
"Nothing," stammered Georgiana hastily concealing the piece of paper in her pocket, "nothing at all."
Miss Darcy's Dilemma 3
It might be said that Lady Emma Gordon for all her fine qualities was not the most proper person to have charge of a lonely and rebellious young girl. Indeed, it had been said many times by Lady Catherine that Lady Emma was not fit to have charge of a parson, but as no-one suspected Georgiana of being anything but quiet and good, Lady Emma was deemed fit to take care of her. Her brother was away too often to know her really well; he had sent her to a good school and set up a pretty house for her wherever she or her doctor wanted her to go, but beyond that he did not seem to be interested, or so Mrs. Annesley thought.
She had been informed upon entering Mr. Darcy's employment of Miss Darcy's unfortunate liaison with a man called George Wickham and her instinctive reaction was to advise Mr. Darcy to keep his sister with him in future, as there was no need to leave her alone for months on end, but he dismissed her with the remark that he had not the time to superintend Miss Darcy himself. For time read inclination, she thought bitterly on hearing that he was to spend the better part of the year traipsing around town and country with Charles Bingley and his sisters. For her part, Mrs. Annesley did not like Miss Bingley and dreaded the day she should become Miss Darcy's sister, for what other reason could there be for Mr. Darcy to spend so much time with the Bingleys? If Mr. Annesley had spent half as much time in her family, she would have ordered her wedding clothes a good six months earlier. Georgiana equally lived in terror of the day her brother should announce his engagement to Caroline Bingley for, without her companion having mentioned her fears, her mind worked in the same way. There could be no other reason for Mr. Darcy spending so much time with Mr. Bingley unless he intended to marry Miss Bingley!
This point of view was borne out by her godmother. Lady Emma declared almost straightaway that there could be no other opinion on the matter, and one by one all the ladies who had come to afternoon tea on Georgiana's first day agreed with their hostess: no other opinion at all. Georgiana was confounded by this most unexpected and horrid consensus; she had hoped to have been imagining things and that ladies so much her senior would have a different perspective on the subject. Both she and Mrs. Annesley went to sleep that night with heavy hearts; Mrs. Annesley because she knew she could not work for that woman and she had grown so very fond of Georgiana, and Georgiana because she knew she could not live with Caroline and had nowhere else to go.
She imagined Caroline snooping in her nightdress case looking for love-letters; Caroline coercing Mr. Darcy into giving her the emeralds left to Georgiana by her mother; Caroline dismissing Peggy for being too familiar; Caroline getting rid of the old grey pony because it was not elegant enough for a lady to ride; Caroline dressing her in white for every ball until she turned five-and-twenty.... Fitzwilliam, under the pathetic male delusion that a girl always looked her best in white, had bought her so many white gowns that she had quite lost count of the things, but suspected they had required a trunk of their own to get them here. There was white wild silk that made her glister like the Snow Queen in the fairytale; several in cream and ivory that made her look like a child in a chemise; the white lawn that showed her legs and the white muslins that made her look like a cheese; and, at the instigation of Lady Catherine, one with glossy spots that made her look like a deadly anaemic dalmation. Georgiana hated white. Her ambition was to wear pink, deep cyclamen pink.
Of course redheads can't wear pink, she thought regretfully, but one day I shall do it. I shall wear the pinkest dress imaginable with scarlet stockings and walk down Lambton High Street!
And with such happy thoughts she drifted off to sleep and dreamed of pink dresses in a heavenly world where having red hair was of no consequence.
Miss Darcy's Dilemma 4
"Your brother has sent you some money for gowns," announced Mrs. Annesley as they broke their fast together on the second day.
"I will write and thank him directly," replied Georgiana helping herself to some kedgeree and working out how she would see Mr. Wickham without being discovered. I will need a new gown. Pale green and gold with a dark green velvet spencer and a dark green velvet muff. I would like a bonnet like cousin Anne's but they won't let me have one.... oh, no, I'll get another of those upturned sewing baskets....
It might be said at this juncture that if Georgiana Darcy always appeared to be every inch the immaculate, modest maiden of every man and mother's dreams, it was because her fastidious brother had entrusted her wardrobe to Mrs. Annesley, who was nothing if not perfectly particular. Miss Darcy's own taste ran to satins, feathers and lace in quantities more suited to a dowager than a debutante, in short, she longed to wear everything her brother had made it clear to her she must not wear. However, over the months of their acquaintance she and her companion had come to a compromise, in which Mrs. Annesley allowed Georgiana to wear the fashions and fabrics of a woman Miss Bingley's age, provided they were as restrained as they were elegant. Georgiana acquiesced in this, seeing in it an escape from white muslin and all the advantages of donning five years with a bonnet.
She had been aware of the transformation achieved by mere clothes for quite some time, but it was still incredibly satisfying. Especially this morning when Mrs. Annesley went off to visit her sister, and Georgiana changed from seventeen to twenty-two and quite possibly married with a prudent choice of coat and hat. Her freckles though continued to look impossibly girlish, the juice of a thousand lemons and several quarts of Gowlands had not yet improved her complexion.
Part 5
Lady Emma viewed Georgiana's transition from Mr. Darcy's sweet little sister into a fashionable woman without comment, although not without interest. She shared Mrs. Anneseley's disapproval of Mr. Darcy's lifestyle and could not see why he did not marry and settle at Pemberley, thereby taking all the uncertainty out of caring for Georgiana. A sister would provide her with a home and do far more to fend off the advances of unwanted admirers than Mrs. Annesley could. However, she reflected, it was perhaps not fair to expect him to marry merely for the sake of providing Georgiana with a more stable home and, if Caroline Bingley was his choice, the longer he postponed the event for the better. It was the only thing on which Lady Emma, Lady Catherine, Lady Fitzwilliam and the Countess of Matlock could all agree on - that Caroline Bingley must not become the next mistress of Pemberley.
"Shall we go to Elliots for marzipans?" she asked kindly as Georgiana descended the stairs, "They have the best marzipan in London and are conveniently near Mrs. Bigg-Withers, my new dressmaker."
Georgiana had no particular fondness for marzipans but she did like coffee houses and Elliots was exceptionally elegant, therefore she agreed without demur. It would be nice to sit in such an establishment just once without hearing Miss Bingley screech, "GeorgiANA," every two minutes.
They arrived at Elliots with an hour to spare before Lady Emma's appointment with Mrs. Bigg-Withers, although it hardly seemed long enough to order coffee and sample London's finest confectionery and patisserie.
"Divine, absolutely divine," remarked Lady Emma as she bit into her first marzipan, "Oh, look my dear, over there!"
"Where?" muttered Georgiana, who was checking anxiously in her reticule to ensure she had not left Wickham's address where it might be found by Mrs. Annesley.
"In the corner by the fire," she replied shortly, "what are you doing, child? Have you lost a love letter?"
Georgiana felt the blood freeze in her veins as a hot flush rose to her cheeks, it was really most uncomfortable.
"No, ma'am, no indeed."
Lady Emma sighed, "I should hope not. You have no idea how much cajoling and coercing I had to do to obtain your brother's permission for you to live with me, and if he thought for an instant... well, never mind. Look at the girl by the fire, she is an old schoolfellow of yours, is she not? Rachel Edgwood?"
Georgiana looked, "No, it is her elder sister, Sophy."
"Ah, they are very alike. How many sisters are there?"
"Uh... Miss Edgwood, Sophy, Rachel, Julia, Eliz..."
"Stop, stop!" cried Lady Emma, "there seem to be as many Miss Edgwoods as there are Miss Bennets," and she laughed merrily.
"Miss Bennets?" repeated Georgiana unsure of the joke.
"Lord, yes. It seems there are a family of young ladies named Bennet near Netherfield and Caroline Bingley could do nothing but complain about them the last time she was in London. I should like to meet them very much."
"Caroline's disapprobation is greatly in their favour," replied Georgiana, "I think I had better introduce myself to Miss Edgwood as she is now looking at us."
She slipped out of her seat and within moments was ensconced at a cosy table with Miss Edgwood and her companion a Miss Tattersall. Rachel Edgwood, she learned, was living happily with her mother and sisters on the coast, however, Mr. Edgwood and Sophy shared her dislike of seaside towns and had elected to remain in London for the spring and summer.
"And," continued Miss Edgwood, "Papa has gone hunting in Essex and left me and Tattie to entertain ourselves."
"Really?" replied Georgiana. She felt sick and happy and frightened the way she did when Aunt Catherine made her play the pianoforte at Rosings, "You are all alone here except for Miss Tattersall?"
"Indeed," replied Sophy seriously, "and mighty bored we are too. We would do much for a little excitement, wouldn't we, Tattie?"
Miss Tattersall merely smiled but it was mischievous, teasing smile of the sort that Georgiana always liked but did not have the courage to try herself even for the mirror. She took to Tattie straight-away.
"My godmother has an appointment," she said regretfully, "but you must call."
"I promise," cried Sophy, "in fact, come and drink tea with us tomorrow afternoon if you have nothing else planned."
As it happened Miss Darcy did not have anything else planned... yet.
Miss Darcy's Dilemma 6
The very next day Miss Darcy visited her new friend Miss Edgwood at her fashionable home in Mayfair. Mrs. Annesley could not imagine Mr. Darcy objecting to a friend with such an address and so she accompanied Georgiana on the visit quite happily. Indeed, the Edgwoods as a family were thoroughly unobjectionable being both respectable and wealthy, but could Mrs. Annesley have seen inside the mind of their second daughter, she might have reconsidered the project entirely. However, she had not been blessed with such abilities, useful though they are to the mothers and guardians of young girls, and thought no more of the visit than the opportunity it afforded of seeing one of London's finest private gardens.
The tea was drunk, the principle rooms had been shown and, at last, the two companions had been sent out into the garden and the delights of the rhododendrons and herbaceous borders.
"I had begun to think they intended to sit with us all afternoon!" declared Sophy as they watched the two older ladies set off down the central path.
"Please tell Rachel I am glad to hear of her engagement," said Georgiana.
"I will," smiled Sophy, "it is a great vexation to my older sister, though, to see Rachel engaged before her."
"I hope with all my heart Miss Edgwood finds someone to her liking soon." replied Georgiana.
"Oh, I am sure she will. Do you know who she rather likes?"
Not my brother, please God, not my brother! Georgiana had grown quite tired of her friends and their sisters falling in love with Fitzwilliam.
"Fitzwilliam!" announced Sophy triumphantly.
"I am sorry?" Georgiana frowned. Since when had Sophy Edgwood been on first name terms with her brother?
"Your cousin. Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam."
"Colonel Fitzwilliam?" repeated Georgiana stupidly as her brain turned to scrambled egg. Good God, would Richard really consider that Louisa Edgwood with ten thousand pounds and sticky out ears?
"I... have more to think about than Richard's amours," she said resolutely. Richard and Louisa Edgwood - the Countess will have a kitten.
"Georgiana, Georgiana, are you feeling quite well?"
"Quite," replied Georgiana, "Where were we?"
Sophy leaned over conspiratorially, "You were going to tell me everything?"
Georgiana started, "Everything?"
"Yes, for I can tell you have something on your mind. I do not have four sisters for nothing, you know."
Georgiana sighed, "Very well, I will tell you. There is a young man whom my brother dislikes but I... I do not dislike him."
"Oh, I see. Tell me more. Who is he and why does your brother object?"
"His name is George Wickham and I have known him all my life. He was a great favourite with my father."
"But not with your brother?"
"No, Fitzwilliam thinks that he is a spendthrift and an idler and what is worse he does not believe anyone capable of changing, but I believe George has changed. He may have been those things once, but he has joined the army and I am sure he intends to reform himself. He would not have joined the army if he was so great an idler."
Sophy was torn between wanting to believe what Georgiana said, for she was a great believer in romance and wanting to point out that army officers were, on the whole, not overworked. She recollected, though, that Colonel Fitzwilliam was Georgiana's cousin and held her tongue about the lack of industry among those who joined the army. Georgiana was persuaded to confide her affection for Mr. Wickham and her desire to see him again to the extent that writing materials were produced and a note dispatched. Miss Tattersall, explained Sophy, was much more tolerant than most companions, but still it would be prudent to describe Mr. Wickham as merely an old friend of the family when they "chanced" upon him in the park the following day.
To Georgiana's horror Lady Emma had scheduled a visit to her aunt, Lady Elizabeth Hampton, for the next day. She worried about it all night, being equally unwilling to distress her godmother, her aunt, or Mr. Wickham. She was still worrying at breakfast, the simple task of informing her aunt that she had unwittingly made another engagement seemed impossible.
"Here is a letter from Miss Lambe," announced Mrs. Annesley, "you will have time to read it before we set out for Lady Hampton's house."
Georgiana took the letter with little expectation of pleasure. Eleanor Lambe was another school friend whose father was the Officer in command of the various troops stationed at Brighton. It was from Miss Lambe and not the newspapers that Georgiana had obtained her information on Mr. Wickham's whereabouts. Miss Lambe had an eye for a handsome man and references to "our dashing Lt. W," had liberally sprinkled her pages for quite some time. However, given that Wickham was in London, Georgiana did not expect quite as much enjoyment as usual from Eleanor's letter and almost did not bother opening it. She did so only to purchase time in which to make the final decision on walking in the park with Sophy and meeting Wickham or going to her aunt's. She had decided on her aunt, whom she had not seen for two years when, halfway down the page, she glimpsed the following:
Our dear Lt. W has been away for too long and Miss Lydia Bennet's heart is quite broken. Have I told you of Miss Bennet? She is a most silly, frivolous girl but W. seems quite taken with her. I would have credited him with more sense.
Georgiana was astounded. Who on earth was Lydia Bennet and what was she to Wickham? Her plans changed in an instant and an hour saw her safely in the park with Sophy and Miss Tattersall. Wickham was, as usual, entirely charming and Tattie was easily persuaded by her young charge that it was perfectly all right to allow Georgiana to dawdle far behind with him.
Miss Darcy's Dilemma 7
"Your friend seems quite a delightful young woman," remarked Mr. Wickham as Sophy and Miss Tattersall moved out of earshot.
And you have quite an eye for delightful young women, some of them called Lydia Bennet.
"Yes, Sophy is very pleasant," she replied.
They continued a few moments in silence until the others had turned the corner into another path and then Mr. Wickham, taking both her hands, forced her to stand still.
"Georgiana, you do realize how much I love you, don't you? I am taking a great risk seeing you like this and I am not doing it merely to pass the time."
Georgiana felt a little uncomfortable, "You know what happened last time," she said quietly.
"Yes, we both know. Darcy separated us and sent you to yet another strange town with a paid companion... he has a most curious notion of love."
"He believes he is doing the best for me," sighed Georgiana. "We do not talk much, it is difficult to talk to a brother so much my senior."
Yet it is so easy to talk to Colonel Fitzwilliam and he is four or five years older again.
Wickham smiled and began to walk again but very slowly, "He must realize how much you long for a home of your own."
Georgiana said nothing. She had hated Lyme, hated Bournemouth, hated the "establishments" set up for her in these places... she had certainly hated Mrs. Young. She did understand that Fitzwilliam might not want to spend all year at Pemberley himself, but she did not understand why she could not live at Pemberley, to live at home was her dearest wish.
"You have spent your entire life in strange places," he continued, "I shall never forget how you cried when you were sent to school at first."
"That was not entirely Fitzwilliam's fault," Georgiana was quick to defend her brother where she felt it possible, "Aunt Catherine, Lady Emma and the Countess were all involved in that."
"I know how you long for a home of your own. Imagine, Georgiana, a home of your own; somewhere you will never be taken from against your will."
"I should not have such a home married to a soldier," she replied.
"Home is where the heart is, Georgiana, my home will always be with you."
Georgiana choked back a tear, "I do not know what to say."
"Say nothing, my sweet, only listen to me."
Georgiana stopped walking again and looked intently up at him. He was so good-looking with his dark hair and dark eyes--dark eyes that sparkled and smiled all the time.
"You know your father intended me for the church?"
"Yes, but Fitzwilliam told me you that thought better of it and intended to study law."
He shook his head, "No, indeed not. He thought better of giving me the living and offered me three thousand pounds to study law instead. I will admit to taking the money and spending it but it was all a mistake--I am not cut out to be a lawyer."
Fitzwilliam would never lie to me, he might omit certain things but he would never actually lie.
"I am quite sure my brother told me you had requested the opportunity of studying the law--indeed, I remember, we met in the hall as you left. You kissed my hand."
"What exactly did he say to you, Georgiana?"
Georgiana struggled to recall Fitzwilliam's exact words, it had been a long time ago and... "I think he said you and he had decided you would not enter the church and that provision had been made for you to enter your father's profession."
"He decided, my dearest love, and I agreed."
"And now?"
"Now I long for nothing more than a quiet country living where I might do some good. The quiet, the retirement of such a life would answer all my ideas of happiness."
Georgiana thought of the parsonage house at Kympton. It had been the living once intended for Mr. Wickham by her father and was now empty again following the death of Dr Gresham from apoplexy. It was a beautiful fourteenth century house with delicate tracery in the windows and exquisitely painted ceilings in all the principal rooms.
I could be happy in that house. I could be happy with George in that house.
"Do you truly believe you have a vocation, George? Fitzwilliam takes the church so seriously and he expects much from his clergy."
Wickham laughed, "I have often heard his opinion on a truly accomplished woman and I do not doubt his idea of a truly accomplished parson is equally excessive."
Georgiana stifled a grin, "I do not imagine he will expect you to have a thorough knowledge of the modern languages and a certain something in your style of walking!"
But, of course, you do have a certain something.
"Georgiana - believe me - I am sincere. Will you intercede with your brother on my behalf?"
Part 8
Georgiana could not be naive enough to believe everything Mr. Wickham said to her, at least not everything he said about longing to be a quiet country cleric. She did, however, believe him when he avowed love for her - there was truth in his looks. For Georgiana the fact that he wanted to be with her was evidence enough of love, and she had set out on the task of imagining how she would persuade her brother to give Mr. Wickham the valuable family living once intended for him, when her arrival at Lady Emma's house and the sight of her brother's valet quickly put an end to all speculation. She might believe Mr. Wickham was sorry for all he had done and wished sincerely to re-establish his character in the world and in the estimation of the Darcy family, but she knew that her brother would take a great deal more convincing.
Lady Emma informed her that her brother was staying the night, but upon finding Georgiana out he had retired to his club for the rest of the afternoon. Georgiana was sorry but not excessively so; she wanted to wash her hair and she needed to think about the best way of saving Mr. Wickham from an unhappy life in a profession he did not enjoy, and neither task could be accomplished with Fitzwilliam in the room.
She had but got halfway through her hair routine when a sharp knock on the door informed her that her brother had got tired of his club and returned to the house earlier than expected.
"Go away, Fitzwilliam!" she cried, "I am washing my hair."
Perversely he opened the door and came in. Georgiana sighed into her basin, it was too bad of Fitzwilliam never to listen.
"Go away!" she repeated.
"I have not much time," he replied, "Miss Bingley invites you to eat at her house this evening."
Georgiana cringed inwardly, she had not realized Miss Bingley was in London - was Fitzwilliam incapable of doing anything without her?
"What is that smell?" he enquired, "If I am not mistaken it is herb tea."
"Camomile," gurgled Georgiana, still head down in the basin.
"Oh... where may I ask?"
"In the basin!" cried Georgiana lifting her head, "It lightens the hair, you know."
"I know no such thing," he replied, "and why do you want to lighten your hair?"
"You have obviously never known the indignity of red hair," she remarked firmly, "I have endured it my whole life and I have no intention of going to Lady Phoebe's ball next week looking like a carrot!"
Darcy stifled a smile, "You have lovely hair, Georgiana, I remember Nanny saying the day you were born that you had lovely hair."
"Will you be at the ball?"
"No, I have no inclination to dance as you know."
"And the Bingleys?" She had promised to meet up with Mr. Wickham at this ball and could not afford to be seen with him by anyone who knew quite how much Mr. Darcy loathed him.
"No... it seems neither Miss Bingley or Mrs. Hurst have received invitations."
Georgiana smiled very cheerfully. Of course they had not - it would be a long time before Lady Phoebe would forgive Caroline's catty remarks about her taste in gowns or Mrs. Hurst's objection to her son's nose and ears. The Bingley sisters were often offensive in their snobbery but it was usually overlooked because they were fashionable and rich and had a sweet brother but they had really excelled themselves last year at the same house with their sniggering at all and sundry.
Part 9
The evening for Lady Phoebe's ball was crisp and fine with the promise of an excellent full moon later. Georgiana dressed with more than her usual care which, because she was always remarkably careful of her appearance, took an exceedingly long time. On this occasion she voluntarily wore white, having already decided that she would not have a formal wedding and all the pretty things that went with it. She did not usually favour white and had never seen it at a wedding until her cousin, Ameila Hampton, had worn it at her marriage to Mr. Thomas Crombie-Paterson. So impressed was Georgiana with her pure white gown and orange blossoms that she had resolved to marry in white herself and had said quite definitely to Fitzwilliam on the journey home that one day everyone would be doing it. Royal brides, of course, traditionally wore silver but there was not a prince in the House of Hanover that even Georgiana Darcy with her famous imagination could fashion into someone worth marrying.
She watched almost idly as the maid fixed the last of the white wax flowers in her hair and carefully twined their little leaves around an intricate silver tiara. Poor Fitzwilliam, she hoped it would not hurt him too much not to be present at her wedding, but it would hurt her much more to return to another "establishment" in Lyme or Margate or wherever. As for Mr. Wickham she was sure that once married to her, he would be everything Fitzwilliam and her father had ever wanted him to be and how could such a paragon fail in being an attentive, adoring husband?
The Edgwood's carriage, or one of their carriages for they had several, was waiting at the door. It contained Mrs. Edgwood, formerly Miss Sarah de Bourgh of Kent, and as impeccable a chaperone as even Mr. Darcy could require. Georgiana entered the carriage full of smiles as befitted a young woman about to embark upon a ball; Mrs. Edgwood was entirely ignorant of her connection with Mr. Wickham, thank goodness Lady Catherine had not wormed it out of Fitzwilliam or Richard on one of their visits to Rosings. To own the truth, Mrs. Edgwood was ignorant of almost everything, but only Mr. Wickham concerned Georgiana at that time.
Georgiana entered the ballroom a little late due to Mrs. Edgwood's fussing about in the reception room for so long and worrying inordinately about how much lace Miss Rachel and Miss Julia should tuck or not tuck. Georgiana had no such problem; it was not that Nature had not been generous in that department but rather that dressmakers observed Mrs. Annesley's instructions particularly well at necklines. The first person to greet her after her hostess was Lady Fitzwilliam.
Oh, no not Honora!
"Honora, how perfectly lovely to see you again."
Lady Fitzwilliam smiled indulgently. Georgiana was her darling girl largely because she did not know what Georgiana thought of her.
"Do come and join my friends," she crooned, "you remember Miss Augusta Barton, and Lady Westcott? And Miss Metcalfe?"
Georgiana glared, under no circumstances was she going to sit in a corner with those creatures. She had come prepared to dance, be admired and plan her elopement not engage in meaningless chit-chat with four of the stupidest women in England.
"Miss Darcy, you sly thing!" Fanny Metcalfe was upon her in an instant, "You do not answer my letters; now, come here and tell me all about your beaux and your charming brother."
"My brother..." repeated Georgiana seized by an unbelievably wicked impulse, "I cannot tell you of my brother for I have barely seen him these past months... I believe him to be much taken with a young lady in Hertfordshire."
All the ladies around her fell silent. Mr. Darcy much taken with someone in Hertfordshire? It was grievous news for most of them for hope has a deep-rooted home in the female bosom and many had not entirely given up on the idea of capturing his heart and with it, Pemberley.
"Who is this young lady?" enquired Lady Fitzwilliam, ever possessive of her family reputation.
"And what is her fortune?" demanded Miss Barton.
"Is she a beauty?" asked someone else.
"Miss... Miss..." Georgiana searched for a name, Oh, what did Lady Emma say those girls near Netherfield were called?
"Miss Bennet!" she finished triumphantly and had the pleasure of seeing her most detested acquaintances fall into remarkably poor spirits and one by one they wandered off and left her to herself. Of course, she regretted the falsehood immediately but there was no going back. Anyway, she consoled herself, it would be nice if Fitzwilliam did marry a Miss Bennet - they had to be interesting, attractive girls if Caroline despised them.
"I will speak to Lady Catherine about this," said Lady Fitzwilliam decisively, "she will know what to do about Darcy attaching himself to a little nobody!"
Georgiana's heart sank, the joke would go too far if Honora consulted Aunt Catherine on the matter. Lady Catherine was absolutely obsessed with marrying Darcy to Anne and the old dragon would probably fly down to Hertfordshire and threaten the poor girl who, of course, would not have a clue what was going on. She was rescued from her unhappy reverie on the fate of Miss Bennet by her cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, who engaged her for the next two dances. Only the prospect of dancing with Colonel Fitzwilliam could console for the absence of Mr. Wickham, and only Colonel Fitzwilliam could be forgiven for occasioning it. However, after dancing twice with Colonel Fitzwilliam she went in search of Sophy and discovered that Wickham was waiting about for her outside on the terrace.
"I thought you would dance with your old cousin all night!" he snapped.
"I did not even know you were here," she responded, "besides Richard is not old."
"No, of course not," he said in a gentler tone, "I am sorry, sweetest, I thought I would miss you."
"George, please do not be angry with me..."
"You have not changed your mind?" he interjected anxiously.
"Of course not..." Georgiana strained to see in the window - where was Richard? "It is only that I do not think our original plan will work... it is no good. I will never be able to persuade Fitzwilliam to give you the living so that we may marry, we will..."
They were disturbed by the arrival of both Sophy and Miss Tattersall. Wickham dissolved into the shadows again and Georgiana found it prudent to shiver a little and persuade them both back indoors.
"Your cousin is dancing with Miss Julia Bertram of Northamptonshire," commented Sophy idly, "she is a real featherhead... but I suppose he could not stand up with you a third time!"
"The famously beautiful Miss Bertram?" enquired Georgiana.
"No, the beautiful Miss Bertram is the elder, Maria; she is the lady in pink drooling over the fat bore with twelve thousand a year."
She looked in the direction indicated and observed a pretty woman degrading herself horribly for the attention of a portly, red-faced man. It was reminiscent of the pathetic way Caroline Bingley behaved for her brother and Georgiana turned away in disgust.
"Who is the man watching them with such evident amusement?" she asked wondering how anyone could find such a spectacle humorous.
"Oh, that is Henry Crawford but he has only four thousand a year," replied Sophy, "do you think him handsome?"
"No, not at all," answered Georgiana but no sooner had she made the pronouncement than she regretted it. Mr. Crawford was not good-looking but there was definitely an attractiveness about him.
"I did not think so at first either," murmured Sophy keeping her voice down for Miss Tattersall was within earshot, "I thought him plain, black and plain, but on reflection I find him rather well made.. She giggled and Georgiana blushed. She had greater cause to blush a few moments later when the plain but interesting and well-made Mr. Crawford approached and asked for the next dance.
Part 10
Georgiana was well pleased to accept Mr. Crawford's offer for she had begun to think that Lady Fitzwilliam's possessive looks would prevent anyone dancing with her. It was always the same when she was in society with her family - they were all too possessive but Aunt Catherine, Honora and Lord Fitzwilliam were atrocious. She could not engage in the most trivial conversation with any man between the ages of fifteen and fifty without submitting to an interrogation afterwards. Fitzwilliam and Lady Emma were slightly better - they only interrogated her about conversations with attractive, interesting men. And Mr. Crawford was certainly attractive. She gauged his age at twenty-seven or so and knew his income to be four thousand, it remained only to discover if he was as interesting as her first impressions suggested.
The dance began and she was closely observed by the whole room. Mr. Crawford, it seemed, did not object to being the centre of attention and so Georgiana allowed his behaviour to be the guide of hers and pretended to be unaware of the furore she was creating. Lord Fitzwilliam was not entirely displeased with Mr. Crawford but his wife did not consider him rich enough or handsome enough for Miss Darcy and the rest of the room was simply agog with speculation as to Mr. Darcy's opinion of Mr. Crawford as a suitor for his sister. By some, though, she was observed with different feelings. Mr. Wickham from his station outside the window was furious; Colonel Fitzwilliam was strangely confused; Sophy was jealous and Miss Tattersall was having a change of heart.
"Sophy..." she whispered, "I think we have been wrong to encourage Miss Darcy's liaisons with Mr. Wickham."
"Why?" asked Sophy, "You thought it romantic last week."
"I may have been mistaken about Mr. Darcy last week."
"You have obtained some fresh intelligence of Mr. Darcy since then?"
"No," Tattie shook her head emphatically, "but perhaps he has good reason for opposing Georgiana's match with this young man. I cannot get over how rapidly he quitted the room when Lord and Lady Fitzwilliam were announced; he is frightened to be in company with any of the family and that is indicative of more than a personal quarrel with Mr. Darcy, surely?"
Sophy bit her tongue and glanced for a moment at Georgiana and Mr. Crawford. If Georgiana did not marry Mr. Wickham then she might set her sights on Mr. Crawford and Sophy had already settled who he should marry. Besides, eloping to Scotland with a handsome officer was perfectly romantic and poor Georgiana so deserved some romance.
"You would have her marry Henry Crawford, then?" she asked nonchalantly.
Miss Tattersall smiled curiously, her dark eyes brimful of mischief. "No, I do not think Mr. Crawford an entirely appropriate admirer for a young girl in her first season."
"Why is that? Do you know ill of him, is he a gamester or a drunkard?"
"Nay, nay..." replied Miss Tattersall laughingly, "I knew his aunt and sister in Bath and I knew him by reputation."
"I see." Sophy did not see and she was aware she could not ask. "I think you are wrong about Mr. Wickham. I am convinced he loves Georgiana and she could not be happier with him had she studied his character for a twelvemonth."
Tattie made a painful face, "She has had longer than that to study his character and yet she seems entirely innocent of whatever it is that her brother and cousins find so offensive."
Happily unaware of Miss Tattersall's speculation about her darling Wickham, Georgiana was telling Mr. Crawford about Derbyshire and being entertained in turn by descriptions of Norfolkshire.
"Of course, it is very flat," he said, "but beautiful. We have particularly lovely skies and sunsets and there are no mountains in the way of them. Have you ever been to Norfolk?"
She shook her head, "No, and if I should visit your county what do you recommend I see?"
"Everingham," he replied.
"Of course. Is there nothing else?"
"Walsingham and its holy spring?" He suggested, "Remember Ralegh...As you came from the holy land of Walsinghame, met you my true love by the way as you came? Although perhaps the spring is not there today."
"How romantic," sighed Georgiana, "We have healing waters in Derbyshire too, you know, you must not think Norfolk has a monopoly. There is a spa not far from Pemberley dedicated to an ancient Roman goddess - whose name I have forgotten..."
Mr. Crawford laughed, "Yes, I have heard of the spa and I will take your word for the unnamed deity but let me prefer Walsingham and quote again from Ralegh, But love is a durable fire in the mind ever burning; never sick, never old, never dead, from itself never turning."
Georgiana blushed. She tried to say something intelligent and could not, besides Miss Bertram's looks were making her feel ill, I am sure she is willing me to fall and break my ankle - what is wrong with the woman?
"Have you any sisters, Mr. Crawford?" she asked, attempting to draw the conversation away from love and take her mind off Miss Bertram.
"Yes, two. The younger is named Mary and the elder, Anna, is married to a Dr Grant who is a clergyman in Northamptonshire."
"She is married to a parson - is she happy?"
He laughed, "You think that being married to a parson is a recipe for unhappiness then, Miss Darcy?"
"No, not at all. It is only that to some ladies a parson may be a gentleman but he is always something less than a man."
"Ah, my younger sister would agree with that but Anna has more sense. Which is your opinion - can a gentleman be both a parson and a man?"
"Undoubtedly," replied Georgiana, "I consider it to be a most noble calling."
"I could agree with you were there nobler men in it but while it seems full of bon vivants, social climbers and mere fools, I must beg to differ."
Georgiana thought of that groveling idiot Aunt Catherine had lately appointed to Hunsford. Touché, Mr. Crawford.
"I have been, however, careful to appoint decent men to both the livings Everingham has to offer," he continued, "men who genuinely care for the well-being of their flock."
"My brother would commend you for such," she said, "he has often said to me that no man will ever have a living on Pemberley who has not real feeling for the people who live there. Many depend on a landowners like you and my brother - as masters, brothers, landlords you have the power to make and destroy people's lives but their souls are another matter - you must be thoroughly conscientious in choosing the man who has power over their souls."
"Power over their souls," he repeated, "now that is an odd thing to hear from a daughter of the Church of England. You are an Anglican, Miss Darcy, you are not a recusant?"
"Mr. Crawford!"
He laughed, "I have only met one other young lady with such a serious view of the church and I will admit, until this moment, I imagined her unique."
"And who was that?" Georgiana attempted to sound playful but her heart was sinking. I have condemned Wickham out of my own mouth. I have just related to Mr. Crawford the very arguments my brother will use against Mr. Wickham and he will be justified. Oh, George, why could you not have completed your study of the law?
"Miss Frances Price," said Mr. Crawford, "cousin to the Miss Bertrams."
"Is she here tonight?" asked Georgiana, thankfully aware that Miss Bertram had turned her attention again to Mr. Rushworth.
"No," he replied shortly.
The dance ended and Georgiana was taken back to Sophy and Miss Tattersall by Mr. Crawford who seemed to know Tattie from somewhere and had a good deal to say to her. Sophy offered to get tea but did not return with it and Georgiana, under the pretense of looking for her, made her way out on to the terrace again. Wickham was still there playing cards and smoking with some other officers. He stood up directly and grabbing her arm led her down some steps towards the garden.
"I dare say I cannot be surprised at you staying inside for so long," he sneered, "not while you had that fine gentleman to dance with."
"It would look remarkably strange," protested Georgiana, "if I were not to dance but wait about the terrace all night. Do you not think my cousins would suspect something then?"
"Dance with him again then," replied Mr. Wickham, "dance with the fellow all night, it is obvious you will not want a mere country parson when you can have him."
"That is not true!" cried Georgiana, "but George, you must think again about becoming a parson, it will not do for you."
"What do you mean?" he asked in astonishment.
Georgiana took a deep breath, "You and I both know you are not suited to that profession. Please find another - I am sure I will persuade my brother to support you in it until you manage alone. He will do it for my sake."
"Then for your sake he will give me the living of Kympton."
"George, you will not make a good priest!"
"Do not talk nonsense, my love, and do not worry your pretty head about such things. It takes little enough to be a priest - one must only make a sermon now and then and if there is a curate then he may do it."
Georgiana bit back tears. It was as she had feared - he had no vocation; he saw the Church merely as a featherbed to lie on in his laziness.
"Mr. Wickham," she began haltingly, "I think I do love you but I cannot marry you - you have no principles and while I do not really care about money or land I could never love someone so utterly devoid of principle!"
Part 11
He turned away abruptly apparently unable to retain his composure, "I see, Miss Darcy, you do not care about money but you refuse me again immediately after dancing with Henry Crawford!"
"Mr. Crawford has nothing to do with it," she cried as he disappeared into the night. A twig cracked behind her and she turned rapidly, "Oh, Mr. Crawford, what are you doing here?"
"I might ask you the same thing," he replied archly, "but I do not pry into ladies' secrets I merely brought your wrap to you at Miss Tattersall's request."
Georgiana accepted her wrap gladly. What did he hear? She glanced up at him as he offered his arm and led her back into the ballroom but did not have the imagination or the courage to enquire.
Mr. Wickham disappeared from Georgiana's life after that although Mr. Crawford did not. He was a frequent visitor to the Edgewood's home and, when Lord Gordon discovered his connection to Admiral Walter Crawford, he was regularly included in all Lady Emma's dinners and balls. She was not entirely satisfied with Henry Crawford as a suitor for Georgiana for he had but four thousand a year and that seemed too little for the daughter of Pemberley who had more than a quarter of that in her own right. That Georgiana Darcy at seventeen should marry Henry Crawford of Everingham seemed a little less than fair to her. However, four thousand a year was a good income and a man could only exceed it by being a gamester or a drunkard and she was sure Henry Crawford was neither. Lord Gordon, too, furthered his new friend's cause by pointing out that Everingham was an uncommonly fine estate capable of yielding more than four thousand if properly managed. Mr. Darcy, had he been present during those conversations, would have wondered why it was not properly managed but neither Lady Emma or her husband bothered much about such details. They set about measuring the extent of Georgiana's feelings for Mr. Crawford confident of presenting all but an engagement to Mr. Darcy when he arrived from Hertfordshire.
Georgiana, meanwhile, was not particularly interested in Mr. Crawford. He was attractive to be sure with the kind of attractiveness that outlives mere good looks. She smiled at herself in the glass, Henry Crawford will be bewitching long after all that George Wickham has to offer will have degenerated into gout and rheumatism. She sighed deeply, But he had better bewitch someone else. She sat still for a moment and then applied a liberal measure of Gowlands to her face followed by lemon juice to her hands which were then covered in cotton gloves; no one could say Georgiana Darcy was not vain. No, she had worked hard at being vain and intended to have the credit for it. Peggy came in and took down her hair; it was long and thick and required a good deal of brushing, but Peggy had started out with strong hands and practice made the job much quicker than it used to be.
"Will you go out riding again tomorrow with Mr. Crawford and his sister, Miss?" she asked as she began to plait.
Georgiana yawned, "Yes but only because there is nothing else to do."
Peggy sighed, "It is the talk of the servants' hall, Miss, that you will marry Mr. Crawford."
Georgiana thought about it. Mrs Henry Crawford. Georgiana Crawford. Georgiana Darcy Crawford.
"I might, Peggy," she said, "and if I do I promise to take you with me. I promise to take you whoever I marry."
Peggy smiled; those were the words she had been angling for. "My mam says you should wait a bit, she says you can have your pick of men."
This was the sort of talk Caroline would dismiss Peggy for if she ever became Mistress of Pemberley.
"Did you never think of Mr. Bingley, Miss?"
"No, definitely not. I might think about Mr. Crawford but I have never considered Mr. Bingley."
"Glad to hear it," Peggy came to the end of her second plait, "there's none of us at Pemberley wants his sister forever visiting."
Oh, Peggy! If only you knew that it isn't mere visiting we have to worry about.
She tied the pink ribbons of her nightcap under her chin, "You can go, Peggy, do the rest in the morning."
Peggy had already laid out Georgiana's brown velvet riding habit, she smiled, bobbed, wished her young mistress a good night and bounced up to her attic to consider the glories and finery of a Darcy wedding.
Georgiana, Sophy, Tattie and Lady Emma met with the Crawfords on the Row at their usual time. Lady Emma was no horsewoman so she elected to walk with Miss Crawford and her companion, a Mr. Edmund Bertram. Georgiana thought Mr. Bertram pleasant but remarkably tedious and leaving Tattie and Sophy together she brought her horse level with Mr. Crawfords.
"Your sister seems much pleased with her companion," she said.
"Indeed," replied Mr. Crawford sarcastically. "I could not wish anyone else for my bright, charming sister."
"I do not like my brother's choice of wife," sighed Georgiana in a small voice, "and a sister-in-law has much power over an unmarried sister, at least you will be able to avoid Mr. Bertram after the event takes place."
"That is true," he replied more gently, "but I still think Mary is wasted on him."
Georgiana glanced back at Mr. Bertram who was chatting pleasantly to her godmother, "He is not as scintillating as Miss Crawford, that is certain, but perhaps two such bright people would cause a conflagration!"
He laughed, "At least that would be fun. Pray, what do you object to in your brother's fiancée?"
"She is not his fiancée yet," answered Georgiana slowly, "but I fear she must soon be. She is proud and a great snob; she thinks of little else but fine clothes and my brother's estate - she does not love him, she doesn't even see him, only Pemberley!"
"That is a pity, indeed," he murmured, "I believe Mr. Bertram does not see my sister for what she really is but for the oppressed, frustrated parson's wife he hopes she will become."
"It seems that no-one can marry or fall in love without being taken in," sighed Georgiana, "whether taken in at the first or taken in at the last, it is all the same."
He pulled up his horse and checking to ensure the others were out of sight, leaned over and took her hand.
"There is no need to be so cynical at seventeen, Miss Darcy, but remember when you marry to do it for all the right reasons. Do not marry some chap because you happen to be madly in love with him, because the gloss will wear off that in a year or two; do not marry for security and find yourself cheated of joy; and, do not marry for excitement because you will sooner or later need a home and a friend."
Georgiana did not move her hand, "And you, Mr. Crawford, shall you take your own advice?"
"I should like to," he replied wryly, "but I find I believe marriage is heaven's last best gift which is as well because I really do not trust my own judgment where women are concerned."
I think I might be able to restore your faith in your judgment!
Miss Darcy's Dilemma 12
And so Georgiana set about converting Mr. Crawford. At first she did not mean to convert him for herself but for Miss Edgwood or some other deserving young lady but gradually she came to wonder if it would not be a great pity to waste her handiwork. It was with great disappointment then that she heard that Mr. Crawford had gone to Portsmouth to visit friends and would be gone several weeks.
Lady Emma was more than disappointed, she had hoped for the credit of finding Georgiana exactly the right man and had been rehearsing the pleasure of introducing him to Mr. Darcy. It was not to be and Mr. Darcy returned to London again bringing with him Mr. Bingley who was the fortunate man destined for Georgiana's hand by the collective London imagination. He was not good enough, of course, for Lady Catherine for she wanted Georgiana to be quite grand and the son of a tradesman, even a wealthy and distinguished tradesman, could never be quite grand enough. Lady Catherine's opposition to Mr. Bingley as a suitor had endeared him greatly to Lady Emma for there was never anything Lady Catherine said or did but Lady Emma disapproved of it.
Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley arrived in London on Monday and on Tuesday Mr. Darcy received a letter from Lady Catherine absolutely forbidding him to allow Georgiana to have anything to do with Henry Crawford.
"I have never heard any ill of Crawford," muttered Bingley as Darcy read the relevant portion aloud, "and if I haven't and I've seen him at the Club often enough then what can your aunt possibly know?"
Mr. Darcy threw the paper on the fire. "Four thousand a year is not good enough for Georgiana in her eyes. Bingley, why is everyone contriving to have my sister married before she is even eighteen?"
Bingley shrugged, "Dunno," he replied sounding small and boyish, "perhaps they think you do not want her as you are always packing her off to the seaside with a companion."
Darcy glowered, he had heard that before. He had heard it from Lady Emma, from Mrs. Annesley, from Anne de Bourgh and from Georgiana herself; he began to wonder, faintly, if he might be wrong in his idea of what was proper for his sister. No, of course not.
"You will forgive me," continued Bingley, "if I forgo Mrs. Montgomery's ball tonight. I feel rather tired from our journey."
Darcy knew perfectly well that Bingley was thinking about Jane Bennet; he had hoped it would pass and that his friend would have fallen in love again with someone more appropriate but six months later he was still thinking about her. Elizabeth's words, the means of ruining, perhaps forever, the happiness of a dearly loved sister, echoed painfully in his memory. Was she right? Was he responsible for ruining not only Jane Bennet's future but Bingley's as well?
Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam conversed cheerfully in the carriage on the way to Mrs. Montgomery's. Darcy, who was not in the mood for chatter, frowned at them several times but they chose not to see it and he was forced to stare out of the window all the way there and even suspected the Colonel of laughing at him.
Georgiana had found London without Mr. Crawford very dull indeed and she had nothing to look forward to at the ball except, perhaps, seeing Sophia Grey again. Rachel Edgwood had been quite sure that Miss Grey was to attend now that the period of mourning for her guardian was over and like everyone else in fashionable London Georgiana was anxious to know what she would do with her fifty thousand pounds. On arriving at the ball Mr. Darcy very quickly found a window to gaze out of and Colonel Fitzwilliam equally quickly vanished in the direction of some fellow officers. Georgiana was left in the care of both her godmothers for not only Lady Emma but Mrs. Fanny Pearson was in attendance. They stood in the foyer preening and poking at her for an age; each one found evidence of her resembling the parent they had preferred, Lady Emma who loved Lady Anne best was proud of Georgiana's coppery hair and light eyes. Mrs. Pearson, who was second cousin to the late Mr. Darcy, was sure that she had exactly his face and nose. Georgiana bore it for as long as she could, indeed she had been accustomed to it from childhood.
Oh, Lord! Here is Honoria with two of her friends... that disgusting Lady Middleton and what's her name... that uppity chit of a baronet's daughter from Somerset? I remember - Elizabeth Elliot. Well, they are not getting their claws into me!
"Georgi-ANA!" shrieked Lady Fitzwilliam as her cousin belted past her into the ballroom.
"Did you see that?" Mrs. Pearson turned triumphantly to Lady Emma, "Anne couldn't run like that!"
"No, indeed!" replied Lady Emma, "I wonder what got into her. Oh, my dear Miss Elliot, how lovely to see you again!"
Georgiana hid successfully in the crush of the dance floor for a few minutes until the threat of actually getting caught up in the dance became too much and she managed to duck out the other side into a small circle of people which included Miss Julia Bertram.
"Miss Darcy."
"Miss Bertram," Georgiana smiled sweetly, this isn't much of an escape!
"Let me introduce you to my friends," continued Miss Bertram, "I should like you to meet... Miss Amelia Fotheringwell, Mr. and Mrs. John Knightley, Miss Clarinda Henderson and Captain Frederick Tilney..."
The introductions being over and the dance ended she found herself solicited for the next by Captain Tilney who was remarkably dashing and between having a stylish uniform and great charm of manner seemed to combine the most attractive characteristics of both Mr. Wickham and Mr. Crawford. He was also an excellent dancer which, as all ladies Georgiana's age know, is a sure sign of an agreeable man waiting to be fallen in love with.
"I hope I did not prevent you continuing your discussion with Mr. Knightley?" she began.
"Oh, no, of course not. We were merely discussing the respective merits of our abbeys."
"Your abbeys?"
"Yes, he grew up in Donwell Abbey in Surrey and I am to inherit Northanger Abbey in..."
"My house is Restoration," said Georgiana, not liking to be outdone, "and in the Peak District."
"I envy you even before you tell me it is Pemberley," he smiled, "but do not all young ladies like abbeys? Does not Mrs. Radcliffe make a point of teaching you to revel in ancient ruins, dungeons, charnel houses and the like?"
"I do not read Mrs. Radcliffe," replied Georgiana.
"Amazing, truly amazing. I thought all young ladies read such novels but then perhaps I do not have a sufficiently large female acquaintance. I know my sister-in-law thrives on them."
"Who is your sister-in-law?"
"Catherine. She is the wife of my younger brother, Henry, who is a clergyman with a handsome little estate and, if I may say, she is a rather handsome little wife."
"And she is a great reader?"
"She is a great imaginer. When Henry first brought her to Northanger she..." he stopped suddenly.
"What is it?" Georgiana followed his gaze and her eye alighted upon Sophia Grey and a young man with whom she had an obvious intimacy.
"So it is true... he has succeeded!"
"Who has succeeded?" Georgiana followed his gaze and saw Sophia Grey enter accompanied by a tall, fair haired young man in a blue coat. It was immediately a redundant question as it was quite obvious that the young man had succeeded in gaining Sophia's affections.
"What was I talking about?"
"You were going to be improper and put me in a situation where I might laugh at Mrs. Tilney were we ever to meet but, I implore you, do not and rather tell me what you know about my friend Miss Grey?"
"Your friend?"
"Yes, we were at school together."
"Nothing," he said quickly, "absolutely nothing."
Georgiana sighed watching the flock of people around Miss Grey effusively congratulating and well-wishing; she wondered rather sadly if she would ever have occasion to experience the same happiness. Among the throng were Louisa Hurst and her darling friend, Mrs. Fanny Dashwood which put an end to Georgiana's wistful, romantic imaginings. The good wishes of those two would surely be the death-knell of the relationship.
"He looks a gentlemanlike and rather sweet young man," she said.
"I submit to your superior judgment," he replied gallantly, "a lady's imagination may always compensate for what is lacking in a man, even John Willoughby."
The dance ended before Georgiana had a chance to quiz Captain Tilney on his objections to Mr. Willoughby and she returned to her family circle which had grown somewhat with the inclusion of Lady Middleton and her husband, Fanny Ferrars Dashwood and the Hursts.
"What do you know of Mr. Willoughby, brother?"
Before Mr. Darcy could answer Mrs. Hurst informed her that he was the owner of Combe Magna in Somersetshire and Fanny Ferrars added that he was heir to Allenham in Devon.
"Aye, that is right," remarked Sir John Middleton, "he visits the old lady once a year for he is to inherit."
"Once a year," repeated Mr. Darcy in disgust, "I hope her friends take care of her."
"But not everyone is fortunate enough to have an aunt as agreeable as yours, Mr. Darcy!" cried Mrs. Dashwood.
Mrs. Hurst drew breath sharply; Fanny Ferrars Dashwood was Caroline's dearest friend, no-one could compete with Fanny in Caroline's affections, they had been close at school and even closer since, each complementing and understanding the other perfectly. However, on the subject of Lady Catherine de Bourgh there was a dreadful chasm for Fanny was also Lady Catherine's favourite godchild.
"What do you know of Mr. Willoughby, Sir John?" asked Lady Fitzwilliam.
"Well, he has a rather nice little pointer," said Sir John thoughtfully, "pity he could not bring her tonight... demmed good rider, too. I think that about sums it up, what do you think, my dear?"
Lady Middleton yawned and examined her gloves.
"What of his character?" cried Colonel Fitzwilliam, "Is he an honourable man, what does he read, does he attend church?"
"Eh?" Sir John looked disturbed, "For his reading habits, sir, you must ask Miss Marianne Dashwood for I am sure he has never recited a sonnet to me."
Lady Middleton made a shushing sound and Sir John muttered something about Flossie and her puppies before leaping up and welcoming Henry Crawford into their party.
"Crawford, Crawford! Howdy-de-do, it's too long since we last met - look my dear, it is Henry Crawford and his charming sister. Miss Crawford, you are as lovely as ever!"
Georgiana noted with great delight how Louisa's face froze and Fanny found an excuse to leave as soon as Miss Crawford was introduced into their party. She, of course, did not heed either of them and set about enchanting the gentlemen so efficiently that even Mr. Darcy was quite captivated by her. Amusing as Louisa's discomfiture was Georgiana was quite delighted when Mr. Crawford eventually remembered to ask her to dance.
"Did you enjoy Portsmouth, Mr. Crawford?" she asked as soon as the music had started and they were a safe distance from the others.
"No, not at all. It is a place I would never go back to should I have the choice."
"I am sorry to hear that."
"No, do not be sorry on my account."
Georgiana's heart dropped, it was not the reunion she had wished for; Mr. Crawford's thoughts were quite obviously elsewhere.
"Everingham will cure you, I am sure," she said after a while for the sake of something to say for it would look very strange to be dancing together for half an hour with no conversation at all and Mr. Crawford seemed uncharacteristically disinclined to talk.
He laughed bitterly, "Why are ladies always telling me the countryside will cure me of something. I have no wish to be cured."
"I only meant that it might lift your spirits," she replied defensively.
"Yes, you are right, forgive me."
"You are forgiven. Did you go to Portsmouth to see a lady?"
"Miss Darcy, have you no propriety?"
Georgiana raised her eyebrows, "I have dispensed with it for this dance. I am in desperate need of a real conversation."
"I can see that," he answered with a contemptuous glance in the direction of the Hursts and Middletons. "Very well, I went to Portsmouth to see Miss Frances Price and I hoped for some encouragement in my suit but I have left disappointed."
"Is this the quiet, religious lady you told me of before?"
"It is."
"I recommend patience, Mr. Crawford, such women do not give their hearts easily. If you persist gently and kindly I am sure you will be rewarded with her hand."
"She does not love me... hers is a pre-engaged heart."
"Engaged to whom?"
"Mr. Edmund Bertram, her cousin."
"The same man who is so attached to your sister?"
"The very same."
"But if he marries Miss Crawford then Miss Price will have to give him up."
"She will not, she will love him forever."
"No, not if she is as principled as you believe her to be, Mr. Crawford. It would be very wrong to love another woman's husband."
"And Fanny never does anything wrong! Excuse me, Miss Darcy, I fear I cannot be very charming company tonight."
He left hers as soon as the dance was ended and walked briskly over to an expensively dressed young woman whom Georgiana recognized as the elder Miss Bertram but she was not Miss Bertram anymore, she had become Mrs. James Rushworth.
She watched them for a few moments aware that Mr. Crawford knew she was watching.
"Georgiana..." said Mr. Darcy.
She turned towards him, "I thought you would dance with Miss Crawford all night."
"He smiled, I would not be so neglectful of you, you know I would not."
"She is all but engaged to a dull clergyman."
"A man need not necessarily be dull because he is a parson, Georgiana."
"I know but this one is not dull because he is a parson rather he is a parson because he is dull."
"I see. Poor Miss Crawford."
"If you like her pray rescue her." Yes, please do, I would prefer Mary Crawford with her wit and brightness to Caroline Bingley any day.
"I do not like her that much. Her dark hair and her vivacity reminded me of someone, that is all."
Well, Caroline certainly has dark hair but vivacity? Oh, dear brother, you are very far gone in love with the creature.
She turned around again and looked to where Mr. Crawford and Mrs. Rushworth had been but they were not there and they were not in the dance either.
They must have gone for tea. I wish someone would bring me some but as Fitzwilliam does not drink it I imagine I will have to fend for myself.
"Georgiana," Colonel Fitzwilliam had arrived and was all smiles and gentleness, "would you like some tea? Let me escort you."
Miss Darcy's Dilemma 13
Two days later Georgiana, Mrs. Annesley and Mr. Bingley were breakfasting at Lady Emma's house while Mr. Darcy leaned against the mantelpiece and read the newspaper. Georgiana's attention was wholly given over to eating as much as possible without appearing unladylike to Mr. Bingley and equally Mrs. Annesley was engrossed in a letter from her sister in Croydon. Lady Emma who sat opposite her was engaged in reading the reverse side of her page, she loved to know about servants private lives but unlike Lady Catherine was too delicate to ask them aloud.
"Lady Emma..." called Mr. Darcy from the fireplace.
Lady Emma did not respond, she had become quite fascinated by Mrs. Annesley's sister's problems with her servants.
"What was the name of that fellow you had picked out for my sister?"
Lady Emma looked up: the sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable. Bingley and Georgiana also looked intently in the direction of the newspaper and Mr. Darcy began to read.
Author's Note: From MP.
They have eloped - he has run away with Maria Bertram! Oh, no, Georgiana Catherine Darcy, don't you try to imagine it is romantic, there is nothing romantic about adultery and its consequences...
"Georgiana, my dear, are you quite all right?" Lady Emma was standing up and peering at her, "Mr. Darcy, you ought not to have read that aloud in front of the poor child!"
"Child?" repeated Darcy incredulously, "Last week you were set to have her marry him."
Georgiana smiled and swallowed her toast, "I am fine, Lady Emma, a little shocked, but quite fine. May I have more tea?"
Mrs. Annesley poured the tea and Georgiana drank it gratefully while working out where she had gone wrong with Mr. Crawford.
He seemed so promising. He would have made a rather nice husband for Sophy or Rachel or... me...
The footman entered, "Lady Catherine de Bourgh, mi'lady, and Miss de Bourgh."
Lady Emma made an odd unladylike face in Mr. Darcy's direction which he pretended not to notice.
"Excuse me, dears," she said and left the room hastily followed by Bingley who had forgotten his handkerchief or something and would doubtless spend the entirety of Lady Catherine's visit upstairs hunting for it.
Mr. Darcy moved over to the table and sat down in the place Bingley had vacated. Mrs. Annesley took her cue and joined Lady Emma in welcoming the de Bourghs. For a moment the brother and sister sat in silence as he wondered how their mother would have coped with this little version of herself and she wondered what their mother would have thought of Caroline Bingley.
"I hope I did not hurt you," he began, "something got into me - I found myself wishing to tease Lady Emma."
"Tease?" she repeated laughing, "What company have you been keeping, Fitzwilliam?"
"So, your heart was not touched by Mr. Crawford?" He ignored her question about company.
"No, not at all. Well, perhaps just a very little bit but I am not hurt by his behaviour except in so far as it will hurt him and his sister. I like his sister very much."
"So do I," replied Mr. Darcy, "and she will never marry Mr. Bertram now."
That can only be to her advantage.
He sighed, "We had better pay our respects to Lady Catherine and Anne, but before we do, Georgiana, promise me one thing?"
"I promise," she replied, "now am I a good sister? I have promised before you have even asked."
"I am being serious," he said taking her hand, "be careful with men, Georgiana, do not allow yourself to be taken in again. I must see to some business in Hampshire, but when I am through with it, I will return to London and escort you home to Pemberley for your birthday, and meanwhile I want to know everyone you dance with, walk with, drink tea with, do you understand?"
"Perfectly," she smiled. "Are the Bingleys going to Hampshire too?"
"No, the Hursts and Miss Bingley will be joining Charles in London at the end of the week. We will all travel to Derbyshire together."
Another birthday with Caroline, then.
"Fitzwilliam, I worry about you, too. Men are just as likely to fall prey to fortune hunters as women, you know."
He swallowed hard, "I love you, Georgiana. Now, don't fall in love while I am gone - there isn't anyone else is there?"
"Only Captain Tilney," she murmured with a mischievous twinkle.
"No, Georgiana, not Frederick Tilney."
She pouted, "And what ill have we of him?"
"I know no ill of him. Indeed, he will inherit as considerable a landed property as any private gentleman in the kingdom, if his father does not gamble it away."
"I see. So it is not Captain Tilney's own predilections we must beware of, but his father's?"
"You understand me perfectly, Georgiana. The Captain is not free to marry a sweet but penniless girl as his younger brother did, he will be under a good deal of pressure to find himself an heiress and I am determined it will not be you."
"Perhaps Miss Tilney will marry well," remarked Georgiana dully, not wishing to give up on the Captain so soon.
Her brother started a little, "Yes, perhaps. Now our Aunt is waiting."
Georgiana rushed over to where he stood - back at the window. "Fitzwilliam, forgive me - I forgot - I did not intend...."
"It is all over, Georgiana, years ago. Miss Tilney is nothing to me now."
"I am still sorry. Fitzwilliam, when you marry, please let it be someone equally as intelligent and gracious. I would have welcomed Eleanor Tilney as my sister with all my heart."
"I know," he replied gently, "but please do not remind me of my failures with women."
Failures? What can you mean? It would be impossible to fail with Miss Bingley, she has probably ordered her wedding clothes already!