Page 19

Library

Darcy House

Two Days Later

Darcy poured brandy into two glasses and walked over to hand a glass to Charles Bingley, who was seated by the fire in a comfortable chair.

It took a moment for the younger man to notice the glass because his eyes were fixed on a full shelf of books nearby, and when he did finally observe Darcy’s offering, he said, “Oh thank you, Darcy. I apologize for my inattention.”

“Is there a book you wish to read, perhaps?” Darcy asked, lowering himself onto a seat across from his friend.

“No, but I was wondering whether Jane would like me to purchase more books for the library at Netherfield. She is not a great reader, but still…”

“If she enjoys reading at all,” Darcy interposed with a grin, “she will want more books. The library at Netherfield is truly pathetic. ”

Bingley looked startled for a moment and then laughed. “Darcy, I think that Miss Elizabeth is already having a marvelous effect on you. Much as I esteem you, I have never observed you to have much of a sense of humor.”

Darcy’s mind instantly turned to Elizabeth Bennet’s dancing eyes and lively speeches, and he said, “I entirely agree. I only hope I can convince her to marry me when the three months are over.”

Bingley, to his credit, did not instantly declare his confidence in Darcy’s success in wooing the second Miss Bennet, but instead said, “I will pray that you will be able to accomplish exactly that. I believe you and Elizabeth would do well together, but she is not the sort of woman who will marry for fortune or connection, and you have a challenge before you.”

“I know I do,” Darcy began, and then broke off as the door opened to reveal his butler, who said, “Sir, Miss Darcy and Mrs. Annesley have arrived from Pemberley.”

Darcy was on his feet in a moment, his lips forming a joyful smile. “That is wonderful news, Knoakes. Would you kindly arrange for tea in the east sitting room?”

“Of course, sir,” Knoakes said in a tone which made Darcy quite certain that order had already been given. “The ladies are refreshing themselves above stairs, and they will be down in half an hour.”

“Thank you,” Darcy said.

***

East Sitting Room

Darcy House

A Few Minutes Later

Darcy stood in the middle of the sitting room, listening to the silence. The clock ticked and the fire crackled softly – too softly. He turned and added another large oak log to feed the flames and keep the chill at bay. The drapes were drawn against the cold outside, but a larger fire would doubtless be welcomed by his sister.

Bingley, upon hearing who had arrived, had excused himself to his room to catch up on his business correspondence. Darcy was grateful for his friend's tact. He was very eager to see Georgiana again and was glad to do so with the two of them alone. He wondered uneasily if she was still grieving over the debacle at Ramsgate. During their journey to Pemberley several months previously, he had assured her many times that it was in no way her fault. The blame lay entirely with the scurrilous Wickham and with the scheming, treacherous Mrs. Younge. But Georgiana was a sweet, sensitive girl and had blamed herself.

Once in the safety of her childhood home, Georgiana seemed to have cheered up. Darcy had stayed with her for some months, attending estate business, and going for long rambling walks and rides with his sister. By October, she had appeared in high enough spirits that he had, at her urging, accepted Bingley's invitation to Netherfield.

They had corresponded during his absence, of course. Darcy was a dutiful brother, and very fond of his young sister besides. He was the onlyclose family she had left in the world, after their father's death some five years previously. Darcy still cherished precious memories of their mother, but Georgiana, quite small still when the delicate Lady Anne had passed, remembered her barely at all. Darcy had accepted the responsibility for his only sibling along with that of Pemberley and her people, and he had, ever since, done his best to do right by his estate and Georgiana.

He had done well enough with Pemberley, Darcy thought, but he had failed Georgiana. He had not been strictly truthful with her regarding the blame for Ramsgate. It had not been her fault; on that point he was adamant. But the burden did not lie solely with Wickham and Mrs. Younge. Darcy had failed in his duty towards his innocent, trusting sister, leaving her vulnerable to the wiles of a treacherous governess and her scoundrel of an accomplice.

And now Wickham was back, dripping his poison into the ears of the uncultured but worthy people of Meryton. Darcy had had much to occupy him of late, but Wickham needed to be dealt with, and decisively. Perhaps Darcy should consult with his cousin, Richard Fitzwilliam? Richard had been incandescent with rage over Wickham's treachery at Ramsgate, and he had strongly expressed a desire to knock the profligate's perfect white teeth down his throat. Darcy had not taken time for that, his focus entirely on his sister's bruised heart and threatened reputation. He had not taken action against Wickham beyond sending him away in the company of the disgraced Mrs. Younge.

In hindsight, that seemed a mistake. Darcy was indeed busy, dealing with the fallout of whispers of scandal surrounding the woman he loved. But without Wickham, neither the scandal nor the rumors would have happened at all. It was high time to deal with the rascal before he caused further trouble for Elizabeth or Georgiana.

The door to the room opened, and he turned to smile at his sister. Georgiana was blonde and blue-eyed like her mother, but she was taller than Lady Anne and already womanly in form. She looked pretty as a picture in the yellow gown which matched her hair, and a delicate gold cross encircling her slim neck.

“Georgiana, my dear,” he said, stepping forward to pull her into his arms. They were silent, the two of them, as they relished being together again after so long apart.

“Do sit down,” he said, releasing her and gesturing toward a chair by the fire. “Where is Mrs. Annesley?”

“I asked her to remain above stairs as I wished to spend some time with you alone, Brother,” Georgiana replied, obediently taking her seat. “I hope you do not mind?”

“I am delighted, my dear. Bingley is staying with me, you know, and he wandered off to take care of some business, knowing that I wished to see you. I am glad that you are looking well.”

“I am well, though I missed you. How are you, Fitzwilliam?”

He sat down across from her and reached out her hands to take them in his own. “I have news for you. I am engaged to be married.”

Her sapphire eyes flared wide in astonishment, and she demanded, “To Cousin Anne? ”

“No, not to Cousin Anne,” he replied and was relieved when she heaved a great sigh, released his hands, and said, “I am glad.”

“Why?”

She blushed and explained, “I do not dislike Anne, but she is such a quiet person that I feel as if I do not know her well. She is also sickly, and you need an heir, so …”

Now she flushed even redder and looked down at the floor, and Darcy said, “You are quite correct that Anne might well not be able to safely bear a child. But let me tell you about my fiancée. Her name is Elizabeth Bennet, and she is the second daughter of a country gentleman in Hertfordshire, whose estate marches next to Netherfield Park, Bingley’s leased estate. Bingley is also engaged to the eldest Miss Bennet.”

Georgiana furrowed her brow and asked, “When were the Bennet ladies presented at Court?”

“They have never taken part in a London Season, nor been presented to the Queen.”

“Oh!”

“Elizabeth is, without a doubt, an unusual choice for my bride, but she is a wonderful person. I am confident that you will like very much. ”

To his distress, his young sister’s eyes filled with tears and she whispered, “But will she like me?”

“My dear! I am certain she will.”

Georgiana gulped and turned to stare into the fireplace. “But have you told her about … you know…”

He suppressed a groan at his obtuseness. Georgiana was still ashamed about Ramsgate.

“I have not,” he said, “but she would never hold it against you. She knows very well that Wickham is not to be trusted.”

“She knows Mr. Wickham?”

“She does,” Darcy said and then sighed. “Let me tell you all about it, but you must promise not to speak to anyone else about this.”

“Of course I will not!”

He did explain at length, of his pursuit of Elizabeth into the library on the night of the Netherfield Ball, and Wickham’s choice to lock them in together, and Elizabeth’s escape down the trellis, and of the subsequent rumors about Elizabeth’s reputation which made it necessary for Darcy to offer for the lady’s hand, which was accepted with reluctance.

By the time he was finished with his accounting of the situation, Georgiana’s expression had changed from discomfort to astonishment and she said, “Miss Elizabeth truly is reluctant to marry you?”

“She is, because I did not behave well when we first met, and I am ashamed of it. The truth is that I love and admire her greatly, while she is still uncertain about me.”

“But Brother, you are so kind and honorable, along with being rich!”

Darcy could not help but laugh at these words even as he shook his head and said, “It is kind of you to say that, but I have been less than kind in my behavior these last years. No, let me explain, dear one. I love you and have done my best to be a good brother, though obviously I failed in checking Mrs. Younge’s references. But I have been pursued for so long by matchmaking mammas and their elegant daughters, and even the occasional noble father who is wishful of capturing a wealthy son-in-law to infuse money into a struggling estate. I have grown proud and cold in company, and I am ashamed of it.”

“I cannot believe that is true,” his sister declared.

He stood up and then bent over to plant a kiss on his sister’s blonde head. “I am grateful for your love and admiration, dear sister, but I am not a perfect man, and my interactions with Elizabeth have made that painfully obvious. ”

“Well, no one is perfect except for our Savior,” Georgiana replied, rising to her feet. “But you are a very good man, and I will do my best to convince Miss Elizabeth that she ought to marry you.”

“Thank you.”