Page 85 of Heiress of Longbourn (Pride and Prejudice Variations)
An hour later, Darcy stepped into his sister’s music room and walked up to the pianoforte where she was diligently practicing a piece of music.
As soon as Georgiana spied him, she stopped playing and turned a concerned look on the master of Pemberley.
“How did Miss Bryant take the news?” Georgiana asked.
Darcy sighed and sat down on the bench next to his sister. “Very poorly. She refuses to believe that Greystone is a villain.”
Georgiana grimaced and reached out to begin playing again, this time a simple, soft tune which she could do in her sleep.
“I hope you were patient with her, Brother,” she said, her eyes fixed on the ivory keys. “I know she must seem a complete fool, but I understand her very well; it took weeks for me to recognize and accept that George Wickham was a wretch who only cared for my fortune. I loved him passionately, beyond understanding and certainly beyond sense.”
Darcy swallowed hard at these words. If he had not arrived in time at Ramsgate, it was his dear sister who would have been on the road to Gretna Green with a scoundrel and would now be married to George Wickham. It was a horrifying, disgusting thought.
“I promise you that we are treating Miss Bryant very well indeed,” he said huskily. “I do understand; when I fell in love with Elizabeth, I was willing to cast aside much of what I held dear to have her as my wife. Of course in my case, what I held dear – my pride and arrogance – were best left behind.”
“And Elizabeth is charming, honorable, intelligent, and wonderful,” Georgiana declared, bestowing a joyful smile on her brother. “You had the sense to fall in love with a woman of character, whereas Miss Bryant and I were infatuated with rogues. All the same, unless Miss Bryant is truly an idiot, she will realize soon enough that she has been saved from great heartache.”
“I dearly hope you are right, dear sister.”
***
Anne de Bourgh’s study
Rosings Park
Kent
Two weeks later
Anne de Bourgh stretched out the fingers of her right hand and wiggled them as she read through the document on the desk in front of her. It was a full five pages long, and her hand was cramped with writing, so she hoped she had written it properly. Given that it concerned vital business of the League of the Golden Daffodil, she could not afford to make mistakes.
The door opened, and she looked up and smiled at the sight of her mother, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who carried several letters in her hands.
“Mother,” Anne exclaimed, rising to her feet and walking over to give the mistress of Rosings a kiss on the cheek. “I thought you might sleep in late, given that you returned so late last night.
“I would indeed have preferred to sleep more than four hours, but I woke up with the sun because I am excited. Anne, Wynsworth is perfect for our needs!”
Anne’s eyes lit up. “Is it? I am so glad!”
“I am as well,” Lady Catherine agreed, beginning to stride energetically up and down the polished wooden floor of the office. “Darcy was correct in his prediction that the land is in very poor shape and the manor is also not well maintained. Sir Walter Greystone has left all to wrack and ruin, but I believe the buildings, if rather dilapidated, will not fall down before they can be properly repaired. I am confident we can begin settling some of the women and their children at Wynsworth by the end of the summer.”
“That is excellent news, Mother,” Anne said happily. The estate of Rosings already hosted a number of women and children who had been ruined by reprehensible men, and additional housing was needed.
“The tenant farmers have been suffering as well,” Lady Catherine declared, “since Sir Walter has proven such a dreadful landlord. We will need to find an excellent steward to determine which cottages need to be repaired, which fields need drained, and so on.”
“It will cost a good deal of money,” Anne mused, glancing at the ledgers sitting neatly on her desk. “Of course it is worth the money to have another estate for the benefit of the League, but we will need to allocate resources wisely.”
“The Darcys have assured us of their assistance in this matter,” her mother said, “but of course you are correct. I am hopeful that the rents at Wynsworth will be substantially higher in a few short years.”
“Speaking of the Darcys and their activities, have you heard anything more about Miss Annabelle Bryant?”
“I have,” Lady Catherine said, waving the letters in her hand. “We received letters from both Pemberley and the Bryants this morning. Elizabeth is working with Miss Colby to find a safe place for the maid, Marianne, who is, most regrettably, pregnant, presumably with Sir Walter’s child.”
“That is a great pity,” Anne said with a sigh.
“As for Miss Annabelle, she and her family are now at their family estate in Wiltshire. Mr. Bryant is most grateful for our assistance in saving their daughter, along with safeguarding her reputation.”
“How is Miss Annabelle?” Anne asked sympathetically.
“To everyone’s relief, she has realized that she made a terrible mistake and that Sir Walter wished only to marry her for her fortune. Her father says that she is devastated and heartbroken, but better that than believing that Sir Walter is the man she thought he was.”
Anne scowled and said, “She was a complete fool to run off with him, and is incredibly fortunate to learn of his true character before she was married to the man.”
“She is still young, dear daughter,” Lady Catherine pointed out in amusement. “Not many women are as strong willed and clear-sighted as you are, and you benefited from learning the truth about mankind from an early age.”
“I know,” Anne replied, and then added ruefully, “I do not mean to be unkind about Miss Annabelle; I am well aware that men like Sir Walter are very convincing. I think I am a little restless, Mother. I know that managing correspondence and financial reports for the League is vitally important, but it is also a little boring.”
Her mother chuckled and nodded, her eyes alight with mischief. “I have some good news for you then, Anne; Mrs. Jenkinson sent a letter from our house in London with news of a swindler who is cheating women out of their money. Are you interested in assisting us in a scheme to take down the rascal?”
Anne’s face lit up eagerly. “I would be delighted!”
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