Page 5

CHAPTER 5

Reflections

A rriving back in London, Darcy went directly to his study.

Bingley had chatted most of the way back from Meryton, preventing his mind from wandering as he had wished.

Foremost in his thoughts was Georgiana.

In one of their conversations after the attempted elopement, Georgiana confessed she was frequently lonely at school.

More often than not, the girls who sought out a friendship with Georgiana had done so only for an introduction to her older brother.

Georgiana was too shy to put herself forward and had spent most of her time on her own.

While her new companion was far better than the previous one, Georgiana still needed a friend.

Could Elizabeth Bennet be the friend she needed?

She was intelligent and appeared kind.

She had several sisters herself although he could not remember their ages; surely she could find a way to relate to his timid sister.

However, to bring Georgiana into Miss Elizabeth’s company would require her to reside at Netherfield with Caroline Bingley, Bingley’s sister.

Miss Bingley was probably worse than the girls at Georgiana’s school.

Under the guise of friendship, she constantly talked down to Georgiana and attempted to influence her to behave as she herself did.

Since Darcy did not think well of Miss Bingley’s behaviour towards others, she was not someone he wanted his sister to emulate.

He told Mrs. Annesley, Georgiana’s companion, as much and had a frank conversation with his sister about the matter as well.

One benefit to the incident last summer was that the brother and sister were speaking to each other more openly.

Georgiana had been genuinely surprised to learn that her brother held no regard for his friend’s sister.

Much of her confusion stemmed from Miss Bingley’s own behaviour, for she often spoke to Georgiana in a manner that implied a far closer relationship with Mr. Darcy than truly existed.

Darcy suspected that Miss Bingley deliberately encouraged this misconception, hoping that, through repeated insinuations, she might persuade Georgiana to advocate on her behalf—and perhaps prompt him towards an offer of marriage.

It was largely for this reason that Darcy hesitated to invite Georgiana to join him at Netherfield.

For the present, she remained with their aunt, Lady Matlock, with whom she was getting on very well, but Darcy knew that his sister, still so young, needed the company of girls nearer her own age.

This line of thought turned his mind once again to Longbourn.

While Bennet had evidently made considerable improvements to his estate, Darcy could not help but wonder whether his younger daughters had likewise benefitted—or if any of them still resembled the brash, silly girls he had encountered five years before.

Miss Elizabeth, of course, was clearly very different, but she had not been among the girls he met that day.

From Bennet’s letters, he knew that the youngest daughter had since been sent away to school, and he could only suppose that similar improvements had been made in the others as well.

With this in mind, Darcy concluded that his wisest course would be to first speak with his sister and hear her thoughts on the matter.

If Georgiana was willing to endure Miss Bingley’s cloying attentions for a time, then perhaps she could join him at Netherfield—but only after he had met the other Misses Bennet and determined for himself whether they would prove acceptable companions.

Nearly as soon as he came to this conclusion, his cousin Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam entered his study, interrupting his musings.

“Darcy, how was your trip with that puppy you call a friend?”

Darcy laughed.

“I have never understood what started you calling Bingley a puppy, but I admit, there are moments where being in his company is exhausting.”

“He is easily excitable and enthusiastic without cause,” Fitzwilliam replied with a wry smile.

“One day, perhaps, someone will come along with the fortitude to temper those traits, but it will take a woman of considerable strength. As it stands, his sister has him well in hand, leading him about as if he were tethered to a leash of her own making.”

“Why are you here, Richard?” Darcy asked, choosing to ignore the comment and pouring both of them a drink.

“Be forewarned; I will be joining Bingley in Meryton for a brief visit as he learns to manage the estate he has leased. My father’s old friend, Mr. Bennet, lives near there, and I would like to see him again. Father and I visited him a few months before his death. The estate was not well run at the time, but he has since made significant improvements to it.”

“How do you know that?”

“We have corresponded since Father’s death. He saw the notice in the London paper and wrote to express his condolences. It was a difficult time for me, and I appreciated his words of advice and support. Our letters gradually changed in tone, and we soon began discussing matters related to our individual estates. As my father did, I encouraged him as he sought to make changes, and he did the same for me,” Darcy admitted .

“And Georgiana will remain with my mother during your visit?” Fitzwilliam asked.

Darcy let out a slow breath.

“Mr. Bennet has five daughters, some of whom are near Georgiana's age. I think their company could do Georgiana good, but I am concerned about having her in close proximity to Miss Bingley for an extended period. Your mother reports that she is doing well with Mrs. Annesley, but…” Darcy trailed off, uncertain how to finish the statement.

“What if I were to accompany you?” Fitzwilliam offered. “Mother could come as well. You know that Miss Bingley would preen at the idea of hosting a countess, and Mother would have no difficulty slapping her down when she gets out of control. She will not like that there is competition for your attention in a country hamlet.”

Darcy raised his brow at his cousin in question. “What do you mean?” he asked.

Fitzwilliam laughed. “You are willingly speaking of introducing your sister to a family of young ladies. The only reason you would do that is because one of them has caught your attention in some way. Given your inclination towards avoiding most ladies, that you are even considering introducing your sister to several at once is out of character for you. Your friendship, or rather, your father’s friendship with the gentleman is not sufficient motivation.”

Darcy’s only response was to flush slightly. To say Fitzwilliam was surprised by Darcy’s reaction was an understatement. Fitzwilliam had only been teasing his cousin; he had not expected his words to hit their target in this way. His mouth dropped open for several moments as he gaped at Darcy.

“One of the ladies has caught your notice?” Fitzwilliam asked. “Tell me, which country girl has captured your attention?”

Darcy blew out a breath and raked his fingers through his hair. “The second daughter, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, is around nineteen or twenty years of age. Her father has written of her frequently, and I met her yesterday while Bingley and I rode the estate he was considering leasing. She is a lovely girl; perhaps not what the ton deems as classically beautiful, but I found her captivating.”

He paused, allowing himself to think about the young lady again before he continued. “However, her primary attraction is not her appearance, but her intelligence. In the few short minutes we were together, we spoke of estate management and her visits to the tenants on a neighbouring estate. The young lady has assisted her father in managing his estate for a number of years, and she has aided him in increasing the estate’s revenue from around two thousand per annum to, I believe, a little under four now. When we visited, Mr. Bennet confessed that his lack of involvement and refusal to modernise had caused the income to decrease, but together, Miss Elizabeth and her father have been able to make considerable changes.

“As I said, her father often mentioned Miss Elizabeth in his correspondence at first, but then I noticed that the handwriting appeared different. Initially, I thought he had hired someone to assist him, but something in one letter not long after made me suspect that Miss Bennet was the author. Mr. Bennet wrote to me directly when I enquired and admitted that his daughter often acted as his secretary. However, he realised that she had been interjecting some of her personality into his letters to me which had given it away.”

Fitzwilliam grinned. “What did you do when you learnt this? I imagine you being angry at first, but that obviously did not last long.”

“For nearly half an hour, I raged at the temerity of the girl to risk both our reputations in this manner,” Darcy admitted ruefully. “However, I soon realised that I was being a fool. The letters were signed with her father’s name, and should anyone learn of it, they would assume, as I had, that they were dictated by Mr. Bennet. As I enjoyed the letters written by Miss Elizabeth more than those from her father, and that they were much prompter and more detailed when coming from the young lady, I found I could not complain in earnest. She began to include a line or two from her, and in that way, we have become…friendly, I suppose.”

“And now that you have seen her?” Fitzwilliam asked.

Darcy did not speak for a moment, and Fitzwilliam wondered if he would ignore the question entirely. However, Darcy finally chuckled. “When I met Mr. Bennet, I was shocked that he would allow his fourteen-year-old daughter to act as his steward. However, the more I heard him speak of her on that visit, I considered what it would be like to marry a country miss instead of one of the haughty women I had met in the ton .”

He paused again, and several moments passed before he continued, “Father laughed when I told him what I was thinking. Instead of confirming my duty, as your own father has done so often, he encouraged me to marry a woman whom I could love and not to worry about material concerns like her connections or even the size of her dowry. I think he approved of Miss Elizabeth, and, honestly, now that I have seen her, I admit that I would like to learn more about her.”

“So, the young lady intrigues you?” Fitzwilliam prodded his cousin further. “Now I know I will need to join you in Hertfordshire, for I need to see your attempts at courting. You are so used to women fawning over you that you will not know how to win a lady’s affection. Although, if you do manage it, you will win her by speaking of estate management and animal husbandry, for a woman who could not speak of such things would not interest you one whit.”

He roared with laughter at his jest, guffawing even harder when he noticed the scowl on his cousin’s face. “Oh, come now, Darcy, you know it is true. You avoid females and entanglements of all sorts, and frankly, I am astonished at you willingly putting yourself so near to Caroline Bingley at all.”

Darcy grimaced. “I had hoped Bingley would be persuaded to leave her in London with her sister, but he mentioned needing a hostess. The man needs a wife, but I am afraid he will not be ready to settle down for several years yet, what with all his fluttering about every lovely lady he meets.”

“Hence, my referring to him as a puppy,” Fitzwilliam replied. “A young lady pays him the slightest bit of attention, and he will fall all over himself flirting with her for an evening or two, and then just as quickly he loses interest once she is no longer in his sight. I worry about that sister of his and how she leads him about by the nose. I am not certain your sense of honour would allow you to leave her to her ruin should she compromise you in some public way here in town. However, I think perhaps you will be safer in a small country village. Yes, Darcy, I will write to my mother immediately and insist that she and Georgiana join us at Netherfield.”

“You do not wish to wait for an invitation?” Darcy asked drily.

Fitzwilliam chucked. “Do you truly believe a social climber such as Miss Bingley would turn a countess and the son of an earl from her door? She wants Georgiana for her brother, and you for herself, so she would not dream of insulting your relations even if we turned up uninvited,” he replied drolly. “However, I will do things properly. When will you see Bingley next?”

“We are to meet at my club tomorrow at half-past one,” Darcy answered.

“Then I will be there with you, and within a half hour, will have persuaded the lad to issue an invitation,” Fitzwilliam said. “Would you care to place a wager on it?”

“No, I would not,” Darcy remarked, his face and voice impassive, but his eyes were twinkling with mirth. Darcy had bet against his cousin only a few times, and rarely had he come out the winner. No, he knew better than to take that bet.