Page 17 of I am Jael (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
“Good morning, Brother,” Georgiana beamed.
“Georgie,” Darcy replied, his downcast expression shifting into a pleased smile, “I had no idea I would find you up so early.”
“The roosters woke me. I find that my sleeping schedule is shifting to country hours quite naturally, and I am delighted as I get to spend more time with my favorite brother.”
Darcy chuckled at this and went over to the sideboard where he selected food from the buffet set out by the servants.
“Does Mr. Bingley generally rise early?” Georgiana asked, taking a sip of tea.
“Not particularly. He usually appears at the breakfast table mid-morning, and his sisters after that.”
Georgiana nodded with a satisfied smile and waited for her brother to sit down.
“Mr. Bingley seems much attracted to Miss Bennet,” she observed.
Darcy lifted his eyes from his plate and looked at her, “Yes, he is.”
He hesitated before continued carefully, “What is your view of the elder Miss Bennets, Georgiana?”
Georgie took a bite of her roll, considering, “Miss Bennet is a very kind, soothing, beautiful lady. She speaks gently about others. She reminds me a little of Mrs. Annesley in her character.”
“Do you think she cares for Mr. Bingley?” Darcy asked cautiously.
“I think so, yes. She smiles a great deal when she is with him, and gravitates toward him in every social situation I’ve observed.”
Darcy frowned, “I do not wish to disparage Miss Bennet, but her mother, whom you have not met, is a vulgar woman who speaks openly about her ardent desire that her daughters marry wealthy men.”
“So she speaks honestly,” Georgie pointed out. “I expect many society matrons have exactly the same goal, but they do not speak of it directly.”
“I am concerned that Miss Bennet encourages my friend because he is wealthy, not because she truly cares for him. She is open and cheerful with him, but I see no signs of particular regard on her part.”
His sister pursed her lips thoughtfully, “After my failure in identifying the true nature of Wickham, I know I cannot claim to understand the heart of another human being; however, I do not have any sense that Miss Jane Bennet is pretending to care for Mr. Bingley. In fact, given our experience with Wickham, her sedate nature is perhaps encouraging. If she was seeking to entice him into a marriage offer, would she not use her considerable beauty and elegant speech to draw him in? Instead, she is very modest and ladylike. I admire her.”
“I admire her as well,” Darcy agreed, his heart lightening. He knew that Bingley was very close to proposing to Miss Bennet. After the Colonel’s comments on the topic, Darcy had been struggling as to whether he should interfere at all. His sister’s words were wise. He would let well enough alone.
He cleared his throat unobtrusively and took another sip of tea, “What do you think of the second Miss Bennet, Georgiana? Miss Elizabeth?”
Georgie lifted one surprised eyebrow. It was unusual for her brother to ask her opinion about women, and she was flattered.
“She is, in some ways, much like her sister, in that she is kind and generous,” she stated thoughtfully.
“In other ways, she is very different. If Miss Bennet is a placid pool, Miss Elizabeth is a rushing stream. Both are beautiful, but the eldest Miss Bennet is a very calm person and Miss Elizabeth is ...”
“Not,” Darcy finished, his expression admiring. “That is a poetic and extremely apt description, Georgie. Do you like Miss Elizabeth?”
“I do, very much. She is clever and quick, far more than I am, but she never uses her intelligence and wit to make others feel foolish. She is also a compassionate woman. I told her about Jenny Reynolds and she was absolutely horrified. I fear many gentlewomen would be indifferent to the fate of a maid.”
“Did you tell her ...?”
“About Ramsgate, no,” Georgiana continued slowly, “though I do not think she would condemn me for it.”
“I am certain she would not.”
The girl lifted her gaze from her plate and stared at her brother intently. Her eyes widened in surprise, “Brother! You admire Miss Elizabeth!”
Darcy flushed slightly, “Is that so amazing, my dear?”
“Yes,” Georgiana said baldly. “I am not aware that you have ever cared for a young woman of marriageable age before. Miss Elizabeth is absolutely delightful, but I am still startled.”
Her brother groaned softly, “My dear, please forget this if you can. I do admire her, very much, but I fear her family is not well connected. It is not possible for me to make her an offer.”
His sister frowned, “You are a gentleman, she is a gentleman’s daughter. So far, you are equal.”
He shook his head and sighed, “We live in a society which values connections and propriety above all else. Miss Elizabeth’s mother has ties to trade, and regrettably both her mother and her two youngest sisters do not behave well at times.
I would not wish for my marital choice to unhappily affect your chances of making a happy union. ”
Georgiana added some salt to her eggs and took a bite, thinking.
“I would not advocate you marrying a dairymaid, William, of course, but Miss Elizabeth is of your rank, regardless of her mother’s background.
She is well educated, she is witty, and she has a surprisingly broad range of knowledge.
She has read books and articles about sheep and cattle, William!
Just think how much Pemberley would benefit from a woman interested in the more practical aspects of the land instead of focusing entirely on societal success.
She also does not treat you with undue deference . ..”
“And you believe I would enjoy that in a wife?” Darcy asked in a teasing tone.
“Indeed I do. You, more than most, need a wife who will challenge you. Admit it, you find the vast majority of society women dull. I would far rather you married a woman whom you truly loved and respected than for you to marry a drab society woman with excellent connections. Truly, Brother, I want you to be happy.”
Fitzwilliam Darcy stared at his sister as hope grew in his heart, “Thank you, my darling. You have given me much to think about.”
/
“Miss Elizabeth!”
Elizabeth turned in surprise and the slightest bit of alarm, then relaxed in relief, “Mr. Bingley!”
“You truly are an intrepid walker,” Bingley said with a smile as he dismounted his horse. “I was most impressed when you walked to Netherfield to care for your sister when she fell ill a few weeks ago, but it is much colder and windier today.”
“I will not walk nearly so far today,” Elizabeth assured him, wrapping her scarf more tightly around her neck. “Indeed, I was just about to turn back. I do enjoy a few minutes of exercise every possible morning, Mr. Bingley, as do you, apparently.”
Bingley hesitated and gestured in the distance, “Actually, I rose early and decided to ride towards Longbourn, Miss Elizabeth, though I intended to exercise my horse for an hour and then circle back as it is too early for visiting hours.”
“Oh?” Elizabeth inquired, her heart beating a little faster.
“I hoped, that is, I was wondering if I might be able to have a private moment with Miss Bennet today.”
Elizabeth felt tears form in her eyes and her face flushed with delight, “I can say, with confidence, that Jane would be delighted to meet with you privately, Mr. Bingley.”
The man smiled broadly, “Perhaps I could walk you home and wait until visiting hours?”
Elizabeth actually laughed now and picked up her pace, “I assure you, Mr. Bingley, for such an occasion as this, you are welcome to come early. Jane is, I know, awake and prepared for the day and the sooner you arrive, the more pleased she will be.”
/
“Where is Mr. Darcy?” Colonel Fitzwilliam asked the butler, handing the man his hat and coat.
“He is in the library, sir.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded and strode into the library of Netherfield. Darcy stood looking out a window, staring out at the darkening sky which presaged a midday rainstorm.
Darcy turned slowly to face his cousin, “Is it done, then?”
Fitzwilliam nodded, “Wickham was hanged this morning at dawn.”
Darcy’s jaw clenched and he strode over to a nearby table where a decanter of brandy waited. He poured two drinks, handed one to the Colonel, and threw down his own.
“A sad end,” Darcy said softly, his eyes fixed on a poorly rendered painting of a hunting party.
“He brought it on himself,” the other man stated sternly.
“Yes,” Darcy agreed, turning to face his cousin directly. “I worry about Georgiana. Will she regret her actions in the end?”
Fitzwilliam snorted with grim amusement, “Our Georgie has turned into a warrior before our eyes, Darcy. Any lingering doubts on her part, and I hope, yours, will be assuaged by the knowledge that he can no longer harm those around him.”
Darcy bowed his head, “Death is so very final.”
“Indeed it is. But Darcy, you didn’t order his death. His commanding officer did, with the full concurrence of the military tribunal. He deserted his post, he stole a horse from his commander and money from his fellow officers. He brought it on himself.”
“I could have interfered.”
“You interfered far too many times,” Fitzwilliam said in a bitter tone. “You cleaned up for him for years. He had many chances to repent and alter his course.”
“You are right.”
“Of course I am,” the Colonel stated as his expression softened. “You are permitted to grieve for the boy who was once your friend, Darcy. I too quite liked George Wickham when he was but a child, when we ran the fields of Pemberley together. But the boy became a vicious, unprincipled man.”
Darcy nodded again, “It is done, at any rate. And while I do feel sorrow, I also admit to feeling great relief that we will no longer need to deal with him.”
“Yes, it is finished.”
There was a sudden burst of noise from the main entrance and both men turned as Bingley almost leaped into the library.
“Darcy, Fitzwilliam, you must congratulate me. I asked Miss Jane Bennet for her hand in marriage, and she said yes!”
Darcy smiled openly and the Colonel stepped forward, his hand outstretched, “Many congratulations, Bingley. You are a fortunate man.”
“Yes, Bingley,” Darcy said truthfully, even as a shaft of envy smote his heart, “many, many congratulations.”