Page 84 of A Life Diverted
“Do we have to go visit the Bennets for Easter, Mother?” William Darcy asked almost petulantly the day after he returned from Eton.
“Yes, we are going, William. When will this nonsense of you not wanting to be around Elizabeth end?” Robert Darcy asked pointedly.
“You are sixteen, William, not a little boy any longer. What you did five years ago has been forgotten by everyone except the two of you,” Lady Anne told her son.
“You seem to enjoy your debates with her, Son,” Darcy pointed out.
“She is intelligent, far more so than I would expect from a little girl, but she does not like me,” William complained.
“Have you allowed her to know you the way we do? For whatever reason, when you are around her, some of your old arrogance and hauteur makes an appearance. It is like you wear a mask in her presence.” Lady Anne looked at her son quizzically.
“The rest of us know the month you spent in the stables after we returned from Holder Heights in 1795 chased the last of your improper pride from you, so why can you not relax around Lizzy?”
“I am not sure, Mother,” William answered honestly. “Mayhap it is because she makes me nervous, and I do not know why.”
“You will need to get over it, William,” Darcy instructed. “We will be there for three weeks complete. You have not yet met the science and maths masters, Mr. May and Mr. Deacon, have you, William?”
“No Father, I have not,” William owned.
“You like astronomy, do you not?” William nodded. “So does Lizzy, and other than your Uncle Thomas, I have yet to meet one more knowledgeable than Mr. May. That may be a good way for the two of you to at least call a truce and become more relaxed one with the other,” Darcy suggested.
“You are good with maths, William, so there is another area of commonality you have with Lizzy. I am sure you will learn from Mr. Deacon while we are at Netherfield Park,” Lady Anne told her son.
“Then there is the love of books you share,” Darcy added.
“It is true, she does love the library at Pemberley,” William allowed.
“You two have far more in common than not,” Lady Anne pointed out. “The only problem is you are two of the most hard-headed people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. You both have an element of pride which holds you back from letting go of the past.”
When William Darcy thought about the situation between himself and Elizabeth Bennet, he had to admit that there was no real reason for the distance between them other than neither was willing to give an inch to the other.
Mayhap it was time to change that dynamic.
As he was the older and the one who inflicted the first blow, he decided he needed make the first overture to Elizabeth.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Will Uncle Freddy be with us for Easter, Mama?” Lydia asked as the family was breaking their fasts.
“No, Lyddie, I am afraid not. He has to spend it with his family in London,” Fanny shared.
“You mean with the King, Queen, and the other princes and princesses?” Elizabeth asked.
“That would be his family, Lizzy,” Fanny agreed.
“I will miss Uncle Freddy too, Lyddie,” Elizabeth informed her younger sister. “He is always fun to be around, is he not?” None of her sisters or brother disagreed with her.
“The Darcys and Fitzwilliam arrive this afternoon, so we will not be alone for Easter,” Fanny related.
“Uncle Edward and Aunt Maddie will not be able to join us, but Uncle Frank and Aunt Hattie will, as well as the Lucas, Goulding, and Long families on Easter Day.” Fanny looked at her son, “You may go to Nick or have him here as much as you want, so you have another boy to play with.”
As the children departed the breakfast parlour, Fanny put a restraining hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “Please remain, Lizzy. Papa and I want to talk to you.”
“How many years has it been since William was rude to you—all of us—at Pemberley?” Fanny asked once the other children had departed.
“About five years,” Elizabeth owned.
“Then for what reason are you still standoffish with him?” Bennet asked. “He has not been rude to you since, has he?”
“No, he has not,” Elizabeth confirmed.
“Then what is it, Lizzy?” Fanny pushed.
“He…he always thinks he is right about everything,” Elizabeth got out. She was not happy with her parents, who laughed at her response. “What is so funny about that?”
“Do you know who you have just described, Lizzy?” Bennett asked through his laughter.
“Yes, William Darcy!” Elizabeth insisted indignantly.
“Mayhap, but also another. Do you know who that would be?” Bennet asked as he wiped tears of mirth from his eyes.
“I am sure I know not who you mean, Papa.” Elizabeth gave a sniff and would not look directly at either of her parents. Neither of her parents were fooled; they were fully aware she knew exactly to whom her father was referring.
“Lizzy, if you gaze in the looking glass, you will see one who dislikes being told she is wrong as much as—if not more than—William,” Fanny said gently as she took her daughter’s hand. “You are both stubborn to a fault.”
“Neither of you are right all the time, and neither wrong all the time. The truth is, if you would both listen to what the other is saying more closely, you would both benefit from learning together,” Bennet told his daughter.
“You know that William sometimes has a valid point when you are debating, do you not?” Elizabeth nodded.
“Just as I am sure he recognises the same in you.”
“Even when he disagrees with you, does William ever dismiss your opinions because you are a silly little girl?” Fanny asked.
Elizabeth searched her memories and could not find one instance William had been dismissive of her. “No Mama, I do not believe he has ever done so,” Elizabeth owned.
“Is it not a sign of respect of your intellect that he who is six years your senior is willing to debate seriously with you? Would he do so if he felt your points were nonsensical?” Fanny pushed her daughter to look at the situation with a new perspective.
“There is nothing I can say to refute your points, Mama,” Elizabeth deduced.
“If you two would move past your stubbornness, then I believe you would enjoy each other’s company,” Fanny opined.
“You have my word, Mama and Papa. I will try to be more open to William’s points of view,” Elizabeth allowed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Georgiana was bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement when she saw the Darcy coach coming to a halt in front of the entrance to the manor house at Netherfield Park. She loved being with the Bennets, but in these three weeks at Netherfield without them, she had missed her family.
As her father exited the carriage, and before he had a chance to hand out his wife, his daughter launched herself into his arms, her blond ringlets flying as she hugged him tightly.
William helped his mother out of the conveyance, and as soon as Lady Anne was on solid ground, Gigi was in her arms, and William was not overlooked for one of her hugs.
“Only a few more months and it is off to Cambridge, Wills,” Georgiana stated. “I have missed you.”
“And I you, Sprite,” William said as he hugged his sister to himself again.
“How many years has it been since you saw Wills, Gigi?” Andrew Fitzwilliam asked after he, his brother, and parents greeted their hosts.
“I last saw him when he was home for the Christmastide break, Andy,” Georgiana informed her cousin.
“And you did not miss Rich and me?” Andrew teased his young cousin.
“If Gigi did not miss you, we did,” Mary informed Andrew.
“You were missed as well, Andy and Rich,” Georgiana stated firmly, “I just missed William more!”
“You cut me to the quick, Gigi,” Richard said with fake hurt as he dramatically placed his hand over his heart, his antics earning him a punch on the arm from both Andrew and William.
After he greeted the rest of the Bennets, William turned to Elizabeth. “Hello Elizabeth,” William said as he gave her a half bow.
“William,” Elizabeth returned his bow with a half curtsy.
“It is my understanding that there are new masters who teach science and maths,” William saw no reason to delay his attempts at friendliness and engage Elizabeth in conversation, regardless of the audience they both knew were watching.
“Yes, Mr. May is very knowledgeable in the sciences, but especially astronomy,” Elizabeth replied pleasantly. “Mr. Deacon used to teach at Oxford and is very skilled in his field.”
William did not miss the knowing looks between their parents who knew that it would not be hard for them to converse about mutual interests. “From what I hear, you have a physician on staff now as well.” William stated.
“We do, Mr. Taylor. Mama told me it is because Uncle Freddy is here so often,” Elizabeth told William innocently.
William wondered why the doctor stayed at Netherfield when the Prince was not in the area, but decided not to ask, understanding it would not be one of the Bennet children who would know the reason—if there was one beyond what Elizabeth had told him.
“And the new singing master?” William asked. “Do you enjoy your lessons with him?”
“I, we all, do,” Elizabeth told William.
The questions were so pointedly asked that her replies were more genuinely warm when given.
“Mr. Mercury has one of the best voices I have heard. Signore da Funti introduced him to Mama and Papa.” Elizbeth paused and added, “Sometimes, the masters and the doctor get together and play music. It is ever so good to hear them play, especially when the Signore plays the pianoforte with the rest of them.”
As they followed the rest indoors, both William and Elizabeth accepted their parents had been correct; it would not be hard to become friends and enjoy conversation with one another when they were in each other’s company.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After his son George turned fifteen, Mr. Lucas Wickham told him that he was to be sent to a carpenter just outside of York to be apprenticed. George had begged and pleaded for his father not to send him away.