Page 58 of The Talented Daughters of Longbourn

Pemberley

“Mr. and Mrs. Bingley will occupy the blue suite at the west end of the guest wing, and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst will be in the yellow suite across the corridor. Miss Bennet will be in the green room and Miss Bingley, as usual, will be in the pink room.”

Darcy nodded at his housekeeper and said, “Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds. I believe that will do very well. As always, I appreciate your diligent service.”

“It is my pleasure, sir,” the older woman returned. “Is there anything else?”

“I think that is all, thank you. ”

The lady bobbed her head and departed, leaving Fitzwilliam Darcy, master of the great estate of Pemberley, alone in his study.

A quick glance at the clock showed it was but seven o’clock in the morning, and Mrs. Annesley would not be here for another thirty minutes.

There were, of course, agricultural papers to read and letters to write, but nothing was of great urgency.

Darcy wandered over to the large window facing east, beyond which lay a well-manicured lawn and the paved path which led to the extensive stables of Pemberley.

His friend, Charles Bingley, would arrive in a few hours along with his two sisters, his brother by marriage, Bingley’s new wife, and the new wife’s sister.

Darcy ran a weary hand down his face and released a soft sigh.

He should have known that Bingley would get into trouble in Hertfordshire without his own guiding hand and direction.

Last autumn, Bingley had leased Netherfield Park, located only four and twenty miles from Town, which seemed a perfect opportunity for Bingley to practice overseeing an estate.

When Bingley had first spoken of finding an estate a year previously, Darcy had offered to assist his friend for a few months as the younger man learned about the various responsibilities and challenges of managing an estate.

Darcy was very fond of Bingley, and the two were great friends, despite the fact that Darcy was closely related to the Earl of Matlock and Bingley was merely the very wealthy son of a successful man of trade.

But then last summer came the catastrophe at Ramsgate.

Darcy’s sister Georgiana had been greatly distressed by both George Wickham’s lies and treachery.

Darcy had known, in his heart of hearts, that it would be unconscionable for him to leave Georgiana alone at Pemberley, which forced him to bow out of his plan to join Bingley in Hertfordshire.

Thus, the two friends had not seen each other for a year, and in the interim, Charles Bingley had met a blonde angel in Hertfordshire by the name of Miss Jane Bennet and promptly married her.

Darcy groaned again, more loudly now. He knew very little about the new Mrs. Bingley except that she was (of course) exceptionally beautiful along with (of course) being celestial and pure.

Bingley had fallen in love many a time with blonde beauties, but he had always fallen out of love in short order.

Darcy was certain that if he had been at Netherfield with Bingley, he would have talked sense into his friend before Bingley took the fatal step of marriage.

But Darcy had been at Pemberley in Derbyshire, not at Netherfield Park in Hertfordshire, and now it was too late.

For better or for worse, Bingley was married.

Darcy was certain that the new Mrs. Bingley had married her husband for his wealth, but he hoped that the lady would treat Bingley well and be faithful to him.

His friend was not the sort of man to marry for money or connections, which was just as well.

The Bennets, while members of the minor gentry, could not boast of either advantage.

Well, he would find out soon how bad it was.

Bingley had spent the early part of the Season in London with his new bride and two of her many sisters, and he now was traveling north on a protracted journey with yet another sister, which included visiting some of the great houses along the way.

Darcy, informed of this plan, had naturally invited Bingley and his party to Pemberley for two weeks.

He was looking forward to seeing his friend very much, as he had found the last year a lonely one.

On the other hand, he was anxious about being faced with the reality of how poorly his friend had chosen without his wise oversight.

His gloomy thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sight of his sister, Georgiana Darcy, dressed in a sprig muslin dress, walking briskly across the lawn toward the walled garden near the southeast corner of the mansion.

It was still very early and most young ladies of her age would still be abed, but Georgiana was not most young ladies.

Indeed, she was not like most young ladies.

Darcy lifted his hands and covered his face, swallowing hard in an attempt to retain control over his emotions.

Of all the tasks which had been laid on his shoulders in the last seven years, the heaviest was his dear sister.

He loved Georgiana more than his own life, but he was often at a loss as to how to care for her properly.

Lady Anne Darcy, who had never been strong, had died when Georgiana was but five years of age.

Their father, George Darcy had passed on through Heaven’s gates when Darcy was one and twenty and Georgiana but nine.

It fell to him, to a mere older brother, to guide an unusual young woman through her adolescence, to arrange for her welfare and her instruction so that when the time came, she could make her way, head held high, through the shoals of London society.

He knew he had failed in this, at least. Georgiana was still awkward around strangers and often unpleasantly blunt in her speech.

She had made some progress in relating courteously to others in the last years, and then he, fool that he was, had sent her to Ramsgate with Mrs. Younge, who had proven entirely treacherous.

The entire episode with George Wickham had been agonizing for both Darcys, and Georgiana had withdrawn even further into her shell.

She was, he knew, happy here at Pemberley, but she could not stay here forever!

There was a whole, beautiful world out there, and Georgiana, with her intelligence and her position as a Darcy, would be a pearl of great price to some lucky gentleman .

There was a rustle behind him, and Darcy turned to see that Mrs. Annesley, Georgiana’s current companion, was standing in the doorway of the study.

“You wished to see me, sir?” she asked courteously.

“Yes,” Darcy replied. “Please come in and close the door behind you.”

/

Miss Elizabeth Bennet cast an experienced glance out of the window and bent her head over the desk.

The sun on the eastern horizon glowed through a haze of pinks and purples, which meant it was still very early.

She knew from long experience that once she was awake, there was no point in staying in bed, and she owed her friend, Charlotte Collins, a letter.

The Galloping Goose

Derbyshire

June 3rd, 181 2

My dear Charlotte,

I write to you from the Galloping Goose, which is, I hope you agree, an absurd name for an inn.

I have observed geese flying and fluttering and even running, but certainly never galloping.

It matters not. The feather beds are comfortable, and the inn is not as noisy as many of the places in which we have stayed on our journey north.

Oh, and the cook is marvelous! I am thankful we stayed here two nights as it gave us the opportunity to walk to a nearby waterfall yesterday morning.

It was quite magnificent, Charlotte, with the water falling into a deep basin and swirling ominously.

Mrs. Hurst, who accompanied me and Charles on the walk to the falls, was in ecstasies over the wildflowers growing along the path.

I confess to some surprise in Louisa; I found Charles’s sisters proud and condescending at Netherfield last autumn, but now that Jane is married to Charles, Louisa has thawed toward both of us considerably.

She also finds true joy in observing and sketching plant life, which gives us something to talk about during our times together.

We will drive today to Pemberley, the magnificent estate of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy himself.

I concede to being most eager to meet the gentleman.

Charles has said, more than once, that Mr. Darcy is the very best of friends, but then Charles, like Jane, looks for excellence in everyone.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh also had nothing but good to say about her nephew, but I must confide that your husband’s patroness and I do not agree about everything.

Against these cries of praise are the words of Lieutenant George Wickham in Meryton; he claims that the Mr. Darcy is jealous, resentful, and proud, and that he cruelly refused to bestow a valuable living on Mr. Wickham, his own father’s godson.

I believe I can hear your very voice in my ears, my friend, and of course you are correct. I ought not to cast judgment until I meet the man. And I do promise you that I will be courteous and well-mannered during our time at Pemberley. At the very least, the grounds should be a joy to observe.

I am glad to hear that the early peas grew well, and that Mr. Collins continues to enjoy working in the garden. I did enjoy my time in Hunsford this spring very much and often remember our pleasant hours of conversation together. I...

She broke off writing at a tap at her door and looked up in some surprise. The maid who brought her tea would not knock .

“Come in!” she called, and a moment later, the door swung open to reveal her beloved elder sister, Mrs. Jane Bingley.

“Jane! You are up early!”

“I am, Lizzy,” Jane agreed, her handsome face drawn with weariness. “I woke up feeling quite ill and then could not get back to sleep.”

“My poor Jane,” Elizabeth said sympathetically. “Would you care for some tea?”

“I already had some, thank you,” her sister responded, walking over to sink down on an overstuffed chair near the cold fireplace. “I wished to ask you a favor, but I do beg of you to say no if you cannot bear it.”

Elizabeth lifted a dark eyebrow and smiled. “I cannot imagine a request of yours that I would deny, my dear sister.”

“You might deny this one,” Jane returned with a comical twist of her lips.

“The Hursts’ carriage has a broken lynchpin, you know, and it has taken longer than expected to fix it.

Two of the servants can wait here and ride with it to Pemberley tomorrow, while Charles and I, Caroline, the Hursts, and you take the servants’ carriage to Pemberley along with our own. ”

“That sounds reasonable. ”

“Yes, it is, but the servants’ carriage is not well sprung, and Mrs. Hurst suffers greatly from motion sickness, so she wondered if...”

“If she could ride with you, and I could ride with Caroline,” Elizabeth finished.

“Precisely.”

Elizabeth considered for a few seconds and then shook a reproving finger, and responded dramatically, “I will do it, of course, but you will owe me a great favor in return.”

“If it is really too much,” Jane began worriedly, only for Elizabeth to interrupt her by saying, “I am teasing, my dear. I can manage a few hours of Caroline’s company, I assure you. In fact, I daresay I will find our discussion most instructive. She knows all about the Darcys, of course.”

Jane cast her eyes heavenward and said, “Yes, and is most eager to speak of her companionship with both Mr. and Miss Darcy. I do not know, Elizabeth; perhaps you should sit with the Hursts, and Charles and I should journey with Caroline.”

“Nonsense,” Elizabeth replied briskly. “It would not do for my beloved elder sister arriving at Pemberley wilting and nauseous. You are with child and ought not to be bumped around in a poorly sprung carriage. ”

“Thank you, Lizzy. I hope that Caroline will not be too exasperating.”

“I do as well,” Elizabeth returned with a smirk. “Now do go lie down again and try to get more sleep before we depart.”

/

Pemberley

“Please sit, Mrs. Annesley,” Darcy suggested.

His sister’s companion, a pretty dark-haired woman of some five and thirty years, obediently walked over to a brown leather chair and sank into it, clasped her hands in her lap, and waited.

Darcy made his way slowly to his desk and sat down behind it, deep in thought, and then said, “You are aware that Mr. Bingley and his party will be arriving today.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I am concerned about Miss Darcy. Mr. Bingley is a kind gentleman, but his sisters, while eager to please, are overly talkative at times. Furthermore, Mr. Bingley’s new wife and her sister are completely unknown quantities.

I think that it would be unwise to bring Georgiana down to meet the party until I have the opportunity to meet and evaluate them. ”

“I agree, Mr. Darcy,” Mrs. Annesley said composedly.

“Miss Darcy is currently working diligently on her new piece of music, and of course she is devoted to her activities outside. I believe she would not be pleased to meet the new guests today, as she is intent on mastering a particularly difficult passage.”

Darcy sighed. His sister did not especially like new people at the best of times and now was not the best of times.

“If I may say, Mr. Darcy?” Mrs. Annesley said hesitantly.

“Please, do go on,” Darcy invited.

“I believe Miss Darcy would do better if she met the newcomers one at a time or, in the case of the couples, two at a time. I fear she would find an entire group to be overwhelming.”

“That is a wise recommendation, Mrs. Annesley. I will consider how that can be arranged. Thank you.”