Page 26 of A Maid of No Consequence (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
brOTHERS AND SISTERS
Haringwood Manor, Walton-On-Trent, Derbyshire
D arcy was shown to his sister’s rooms, worried and tired from his ride.
The express said Georgiana had been having pains before her time, and in his need to see her, he and Fitzwilliam had responded quickly and rode out before the morning light.
Much as he had worried for her, he did not hear the welcome from his sister that he desired.
“Brother, what are you doing here?”
Georgiana was situated regally on a chaise longue in the sitting room next to her bedchamber.
He understood from Bingley that she refused to lay abed, telling her husband it was foolish to be in bed all day for a few pains.
She was propped among six plush pillows, and her worried husband took a place beside her, immediately reaching for her hand.
“This was your doing, was it not, Charles? You sent for my brother? ”
“My dearest, you know I love you, but I fear your brother more.” Bingley gave her a mischievous smile, and she laughed.
“Lovely to see you too.” Darcy reached down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.
She reached up and patted him on the cheek. “I am happy to see you, however unnecessary it is.” As Darcy pulled a chair close so he could sit nearer, she added, “You did not have to come. I am well, truly. Mrs Gibson takes wonderful care of me.”
“Who is Mrs Gibson?”
“The midwife,” she said calmly.
“You have no doctor?” Darcy’s eyebrows rose, surprised that Bingley had not secured one. “I shall call Mr Westmore to attend you,” he announced firmly.
“You will do no such thing.” Georgiana winced as she shifted in the bed. Bingley was immediately on his feet reaching for her, and Darcy rose into a sort of half-crouch, ready for whatever was needed.
“Are you having pain?” Bingley asked anxiously.
She exhaled loudly. “You know I love you both, but you must not treat me as if I am some fine piece of porcelain. I am hale, hearty, and Mrs Gibson has seen to my health throughout. I have no doubt she will also see me through a successful delivery.”
“With no disrespect to the lady,” Darcy said, “you must understand our concerns.”
“I am not our mother,” she said softly, reaching for his hand; he squeezed it in return. “I will be well, and so will this child. I merely need rest. Mrs Gibson tells me these pains are not unusual in the weeks before a little one arrives. ”
“I would still feel better if a physician as capable as Mr Westmore were on hand.”
“Mr Westmore does not need to come fifty miles to attend me; I am sure there is plenty to keep him busy in Lambton and the neighbourhood around Pemberley. We have a very capable doctor here, Mr Arbuthnot, who has worked closely with all the midwives of the region. Pray do not worry yourself.”
Darcy’s gaze traced his sister’s countenance.
She was still so very young, scarcely past her age of majority, and seemed even younger despite the assuredness in her speech.
She had told him when she announced her pregnancy that she was not afraid to die.
And he had told her that he was afraid for her to die and would worry incessantly until the matter was concluded.
That had made her laugh but he had meant every word of it. “I shall always worry for you.”
Just then a servant arrived, carrying a silver salver with a calling card on it. Bingley took the card and rolled his eyes immediately.
“Caroline?” Georgiana seemed to perceive immediately what her husband’s expression portended. “Surely you did not send for her?”
Darcy stiffened immediately. He was certainly not equal to seeing that woman, not without real danger of retaliating for all she had done to Elizabeth.
Bingley shook his head. “Of course not! I sent an express to Louisa. Caroline must have been visiting her, or somehow learnt of this in that way.”
Georgiana raised her eyes heavenward and groaned. “Not now! I cannot abide Caroline in the best of times.”
“I will settle this, my love. No need to worry. I will speak to Caroline and send her away.” Bingley’s face had flushed with frustration, Darcy saw, and after he bent to kiss his wife, was out the door quickly.
Georgiana turned her attention to her brother. “You are very quiet. What is that scowl for?”
“I despise that woman and will not tolerate any of her behaviour. She ought to be on a prison hulk, not gadding about the countryside.”
Georgiana’s eyes went wide but she seemed amused. “That is very harsh. Because she once held a tendre for you?”
“No.” Darcy shook his head. “It is nothing. I am here for your comfort and distraction. Now, what can I do for you?”
“You can tell me why your expression darkened when Caroline was announced,” Georgiana said, smirking. “That will distract me.”
“It is a very long story.”
“As you see, I am going nowhere.” She motioned to her rounded belly under the covers.
Evading her, he quickly said, “I ought to see where Fitzwilliam has taken himself.”
“He has come as well?”
“Yes, and he is likely sick with worry, wondering what is happening. He would have come to your rooms to attend you but I daresay he feared what he might inadvertently see.”
Georgiana laughed. “Not the man who has seen bloody battlefields and taken a bullet or two himself?”
Darcy nodded. “He has already told me he would rather see ten battlefields than imagine what it is to birth a child. He will be vastly relieved to know you remain an elegant and genteel lady amongst your pillows.”
Georgiana laughed, and he was again taken with how young she looked. Yes, a mother she would soon be, but his sweet young sister, she would always be, no matter how much time would pass.
“Pray bring him up here then, but be prepared—I may conjure up a pain or two just to see if I can make him faint.”
After consulting a footman, Darcy walked to the blue parlour, where raised voices behind closed doors confirmed who was within. He sighed. There was nothing for it; he would have to endure Lady Pollard and bury his fury at her—for now.
To his surprise, his cousin threw open the door widely.“Ah! There he is now, Lady Pollard, the man of the hour. Cousin, we were just speaking of you.”
Darcy gave Fitzwilliam a small scowl and then shifted his features to a polite but cool expression. His cousin graciously moved aside so Darcy could enter. “Georgiana eagerly awaits you in the sitting room beside her bedchamber.”
“Then I shall be off to see her,” Fitzwilliam replied and made his escape down the corridor.
Darcy made his way fully into the room, nodding to Bingley and offering Lady Pollard the slightest bow which could be deemed civil.
“Well, it will not be long now, until you are an uncle and I am again an aunt, Mr Darcy. An even stronger familial tie between us,” she proclaimed in the grating, nasally voice he had always despised.
“Yes.” He refused to be drawn into a conversation.
She did not let the silence linger. “I believe I heard congratulations are in order for more than just that. ”
“Are they?” Darcy replied calmly. “I am sure I do not know what you mean.”
“Your engagement, sir. Surely you did not forget?” She gave her usual annoying titter, glancing at Bingley as if he might share in her amusement.
“You have been misinformed,” Darcy said. “I am not engaged.”
“I have read it in the papers.It says that you and?—”
“Caroline,” Bingley warned.
“I care not what nonsense made it into print; it is unequivocally false.” Darcy walked to the table where tea had been laid, although he wanted for nothing.
What he really wanted was to rage at this woman, the woman that had mistreated his beloved Elizabeth for months!
He could feel the heat rising to his collar, making his cravat a nuisance.
Behind him, Bingley approached, clapping him on his back. “Darcy, you must be tired from your journey. Please go and refresh yourself. I believe the housekeeper has readied your usual rooms. I will have Tate lead the way.”
“Thank you, Bingley.”
Lady Pollard called out to Darcy as he moved to quit the room. “I hope we may continue our little tête-à-tête when you are rested.”
He said nothing but bowed stiffly towards no one in particular and exited.
Bingley followed him out. “A moment, Darcy. You are not unwell?”
“I am tired and would very much like to change from my travelling clothes.” Darcy paused a moment, looking into his friend’s face, which was amiable as ever but with an undercurrent of worry, undoubtedly for Georgiana. Now is not the time to mention any unpleasantness with his sister.
“That is all,” he forced himself to say. “And of course, concern for Georgiana.”
“Of course.” Bingley said his brow furrowed. “Is there anything to the engagement rumours, then?”
“Absolutely not. I should leave this to Fitzwilliam to share, but it is he who is engaged to Miss Anne de Bourgh. Not I.”
“Ah, I see!” Bingley’s face cleared. “They switched the Fitzwilliams around, eh? Dreadfully ham-fisted of them.”
“Indeed, it was. I expect we shall see a correction printed soon. Now if you will excuse me?” With that, Darcy left his friend to manage his dreadful sister and hastened to his guest apartment.