“What do we do now, Fitzwilliam?” Georgiana asked after he had hugged her to his side for a brotherly embrace.
“We live on,” he said in a determined voice.
Having understood his past, he now felt he was clear to make plans for the future. As he readied for bed for the evening, he thought of Elizabeth, and all that was now in his heart. Soon, there would be no more separation, and she would be with him always. There might still be foes to defeat before their happiness was assured, but he now felt confident that they could forge a new path from their love and with the support of their families.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dearest C —
Words cannot convey how anxious I was to read your last letter. How awful that you were caught in London when the riots began. I will ever be thankful for your survival and good health. God bless G for coming to your aid! When you visit us next you should bring A. My girls would dote on her. Dottie quite misses her friend.
Yours,
A.F.
The following day at Gracechurch Street, Elizabeth sat with her aunt and sisters. Mr. Gardiner had returned to his warehouse, and even Mr. Darcy had business to see to earlier in the day. It did not escape Elizabeth’s notice that the ladies had nothing to do but fret and worry while the men had other matters to occupy their time.
“Do you really love Mr. Darcy?” Lydia asked from where they had gathered in her guest chamber.
Elizabeth blushed. “I would never marry without love.”
“But he is so…so boring. I thought you liked Wickham. It is one reason why I took such triumph in gaining his notice.” Lydia said, and fresh tears sprang from her swollen eyes. She had spent most of the last two days wretchedly crying.
“I was wrong to be charmed by his demeanour,” Elizabeth said. Pain pierced her heart. Blame rested on her for encouraging their friendship with a man they knew so little about.
“Yes, the charming ones are a problem,” Jane said and jabbed a needle through her embroidery.
Elizabeth glanced at her aunt, and they shared a troubled look. Neither had ever seen Jane cross for more than a moment. “You are certain you are pleased for me?” After all, Jane had been the one who encouraged her to accept Darcy’s hand.
“Of course,” Jane lifted her eyes from the fabric. In the face of familial concern, she instantly returned to her usual self. “I am disappointed, but it will soon be over. From what you say of Darcy’s aunt, a lady may be a spinster and spend her days happily.”
Left unsaid is that great wealth and a title afforded her such luxury. Although, Jane did not have the independent streak that Lady Darcy had, perhaps living on the charity of others would not trouble her the way it would some. On the other hand, Darcy’s mother did not wed until she was thirty. Surely Jane had plenty of time to love again and marry.
“Let us think of other things,” Mrs. Gardiner said. “Lydia, you have always wanted to visit the theatre.”
“Yes! It is the one thing keeping me from despair,” she sighed dramatically.
Thinking of the letters Darcy’s mother received from her aunt, Elizabeth fixed an eye on Lydia. “You may wallow in self-pity if you wish, but the time will come when no more will be tolerated. Others care very deeply for you.”
Jane gaped at Elizabeth’s words. “Should she not mourn the loss of her future? She had hoped to marry him!”
“For how long?” Elizabeth directed her words at her elder sister. “How long had she fixed such thoughts on him?”
“True love will last a lifetime,” Jane whispered.
Lydia remained mute, understanding that the current conversation was not about her.
“Yes, but it does not mean one must be miserable for the rest of one’s life.” Elizabeth shook her head. “No, I refuse to let my sisters live as though they have no control of their own happiness. How much of our thought and talk is consumed with marriage and men?”
“That is very easy for you to say, Lizzy,” Lydia said. “You have a husband.”
“No,” she insisted. “Lydia, you have been thinking of officers since your come out.” She did not need to say that it had been at too early of an age. “Jane, Mama selected Bingley for you upon first sight. I do not mean to say either of your feelings are not genuine, but it sprang from a fanciful imagination.”
Seeing Jane and Lydia simultaneously open their mouths to refute her statements, Elizabeth hastily added, “So it was with Wickham and me as well. I was eager to believe him in love with me and just as convinced Darcy could never care for me. It compounded our misunderstandings.”
A knock on the door alerted them to the time. “Tonight, we begin again. Promise me, you will try to find happiness.”
Neither Jane nor Lydia had a chance before the servant announced that the Darcy carriage was ready for her. Elizabeth bid them farewell until the evening. She would spend the remainder of the day with Georgiana and dine at their house. Once outside, she laughed to see Darcy standing beside Anne’s phaeton. “I had wondered what the servant meant when they said your carriage had arrived. I had thought perhaps Colonel Fitzwilliam had returned.”
Darcy shook his head. “No; although, I need to speak with him as soon as possible.”
From the wrinkle in his brow, Elizabeth perceived matters were not well between the two. “What is wrong?” she asked when he sat beside her and flicked his wrist for the horses to trot forward.
“Can I not court my betrothed before we worry about our family trials?”
“Do you have poetry to recite me, Ben?” She looked around the small carriage. “I see no bouquet.”
“Peace, I will stop your mouth!” Darcy said.
Elizabeth raised a brow and smirked at the Shakespearian quote. “You can hardly be serious, and thus I am perfectly safe to tease you away.”
He leant toward her ear. “I will collect later.”
His breath fanning her skin caused her pulse to race, and she blushed. Still, she would not retreat. “Is that supposed to frighten me? I will hold you to your words.”
Darcy took one hand from her lap and raised it to his lips. “See that you do, madam.”
Catching the amorous look in his eye, Elizabeth’s breath caught. If Darcy’s attention was not required for their safe journey to his house, they might be in danger indeed.
He turned his attention back to the road and cleared his throat. “Georgiana is finishing her lesson with her new pianoforte master. I had thought we could ride through Hyde Park, although it is not the fashionable hour.”
“I would love that,” Elizabeth said and tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow.
After they had turned into the park, she felt Darcy tense beneath her hand. While not the most popular time for a ride in the park, many people were strolling and he attracted curious looks. Now and then he stopped and introduced her to an acquaintance. Elizabeth recognised that he felt ill at ease under the observation of so many. A part of her wanted to point out that she had not asked for this, but another part was touched by his thoughtfulness. He did this for her. He wanted his world to begin to know her. If only he understood that all she needed in the world was him.
“Is there a less crowded path?” Elizabeth asked. “I have never ridden in the park before. I would hate to spend all of it on well-travelled avenues.”
“Certainly,” Darcy said and directed the horses away from the more populated area of the park.
Elizabeth felt Darcy’s arm relax. She steeled herself for his reserve to emerge at the theatre as well. “I think we had better discuss matters now.”
Darcy sighed and slowed the horses to a stop out of earshot of others. “If you wish.”
“Yes, and I will tell you that I never wanted to be one of those other prim couples. I would much rather be here, exploring the wilds with you.”
“Wilds, eh?” Darcy chuckled. “And does that describe this part of the Park or your companion?”
“Ben, I would never dare call you wild.”
“When we arrive at Pemberley, you will likely hear tale after tale of my reckless antics in childhood. I believe the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, might very well have called me wild as a youth.”
Elizabeth smiled fondly at Darcy as a rare and mischievous twinkle lit his eyes. She could imagine him as a lad traipsing about the grounds of his home, part boy and part master in the making. One day, if she were fortunate, she would see it for herself in the image of their son. What a father he would make! Elizabeth gently placed a gloved hand on his cheek.
“Ben,” she sighed.
“What is it?” He looked warily at her, apparently expecting bad news.
“I love you.” She said with a smile.
The words escaped her. The day she confessed her love and accepted his proposal was full of tears and despair. Yesterday, they had spent the whole of their time together with Lady Darcy and Georgiana.
Darcy closed his eyes and relief flooded his features. He clasped his hand over hers before bringing it to his lips. “I will never tire of hearing it. Words cannot describe my love for you.”
“They are not required,” she shushed him. “I do not need words when I can hear your heart.”
He kissed her hand again. “Soon, I will be able to show you. When we are husband and wife…”
The passionate look that filled his eyes before appeared again. She delighted in seeing it. How had she once thought he only admired her mind? “Speaking of that,” she said as he lowered her hand. “Have you arrived at a date?”
“Yes, with your uncle’s permission, we can wed in three days. The archbishop was sympathetic to our situation with desiring to marry before my aunt passed.”
Elizabeth nodded. She had known it would be soon, but somehow it seemed impossibly near. She was not worried about who she married, but rather the foreignness of it all. She had not yet seen his London house. She had never seen Pemberley. How could she manage all of it? And his bluestocking club? What of Georgiana? Elizabeth had not had time to return to Longbourn, to pack her belongings or say goodbye to her friends. “Will we go to Longbourn after?”
“I had thought you might wish it,” he said. “I only wish I could tell you Bingley would return as well. Netherfield would afford us more comfortable apartments. However…”
“Yes, it seems matters between Jane and Bingley are entirely closed. It would be better for them to see as little as possible of one another.”
Darcy nodded. “I apologise again.”
“Shush. They have made their own decisions. Did you hear something of the Colonel? From the look on your face when I mentioned him earlier I had thought you had.”
“No, I have not heard from him since before we left Rosings,” Darcy frowned. “He and Bingley both have to account for themselves. It seems they both have been posturing as a suitor for Georgiana.”
“She is too young!” Elizabeth gasped.
“I entirely agree. Richard knows of her near elopement with Wickham. Bingley, of course, does not. I admit, there was a time when I had thought that, in the distant future, they would be well-matched but I never encouraged it.”
Elizabeth cast her eyes over the park. Darcy may not have, but Bingley’s sister had made it perfectly clear. The fact that Darcy tolerated it at all proved how good natured he really was, all the while she had believed him to be otherwise.
“Additionally, I cannot understand why Bingley would propose to Jane one day and then pay court to my sister the next.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Can you not? My cousin did not take my refusal well and immediately soothed his ego with not just any lady, but my friend Charlotte.”
“You would compare Bingley with Collins?”
Elizabeth shrugged. “Pride infects us all.”
Darcy made no reply and squinted at the sun. He directed the horses back the way they came, and soon they were on cobbled streets again. The Mayfair district contained a variety of homes. Although on a larger grid than seen in the commercial district, they contained a similar footprint as all terrace houses. A few stood detached and large enough to take up one side of a square. Thankfully, Darcy’s house was not so grand.
Elizabeth was greeted cordially by the servants and Darcy proudly introduced her to all that came in their path. Leading her to the drawing room, they could hear Georgiana playing. When the door opened, Georgiana excitedly leapt from the bench at the instrument. “Elizabeth!”
“Good morning, Georgiana,” Elizabeth chuckled.
“You must see the music Fil—Signor Clementi has brought for me to practice.” She dragged Elizabeth to the pianoforte.
Darcy chuckled from the door. “I will allow you ladies to begin your visit. Mrs. Annesley, Clementi,” he nodded at the others.
“Look! Is not the legato sublime?”
Elizabeth looked over the sheet. The slurs between the notes would create a beautiful mixing of harmony. “Indeed.”
Before Georgiana retook the paper, Elizabeth thought she read at the top per Clara il mio amore. For Clara, my love?
The instructor had been watching their interaction. “Play for Miss Bennet,” he said in a slight Italian accent proving he had spent many years in England.
Elizabeth recognised the name. Signor Clementi had the reputation of one of the brightest new composers and a talented teacher. He watched Georgiana with fondness, but it could just be pride in her skill.
“Lovely,” Elizabeth said while her future sister played. “Is it yours?” she asked Clementi.
“Si,” he replied. “A new piece.”
Perhaps he was overly fond of his work? However, the events of the last few days had taught Elizabeth that ladies of Georgiana’s age and situation in life were very susceptible to the advances of talented men their superiors in years. She did not have any sort of proof of anything inappropriate. Even now, Georgiana’s companion sat with them. Still, she would warn Darcy of her suspicions.
“Bellissimo,” Clementi sighed next to Elizabeth. “A muse, no? She makes the music come to life.”
Elizabeth smiled in reply and applauded when Georgiana finished. The master said his farewell and the ladies began their visit. Elizabeth attempted to steer the conversation away from music, which Georgiana would naturally wish to talk about always, but was met with short answers. If her own sisters suffered from a lack of interest in anything beyond fripperies, Georgiana had the opposite problem. She needed to broaden her interests, for the sake of conversation if nothing else.
Their silence was interrupted when callers arrived. Caroline Bingley and Lady Charlotte Leveson-Gower, daughter of the Duke of Beaufort, sat stiffly in their chairs across from Elizabeth and Georgiana. For the first half of their visit, they had not paid Elizabeth any attention at all. Lady Charlotte seemed to follow her cues from Caroline. At last, Caroline seemed ready for attack. “How interesting to find you here, Miss Bennet.”
“How so?” Elizabeth calmly replied while stirring her tea.
“I had not thought you were very acquainted with the Darcys. In fact, I had believed you were not inclined to desire their friendship at all.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Elizabeth saw Georgiana wrinkle her brow.
Caroline smirked and added for good measure, “When we last spoke you had made your preference for Mr. Wickham very plain.”
Georgiana nearly dropped her tea cup which had been halfway to her mouth.
“Oh, my dear!” Elizabeth attended to her. “You must be fatigued from your lesson.” Looking back at Caroline, she said, “Miss Darcy was kind enough to show me her latest music and allow me the treat of listening.”
“You mean to say that she was helping your skills,” Caroline nodded knowingly.
“Oh, no. No, I could never dream to achieve her skill. Attempting that work would be the height of folly. No, I have had the pleasure of a private concert.”
Caroline frowned. “Miss Darcy does not play for anyone.”
Georgiana met Elizabeth’s eye and r
aised her chin. “I play only for my closest friends and family. Forgive me, but my nerves were not made for performing for others.”
“That is just the sort of thing the proper example would help you with. When your brother marries, your sister will see to your education which has lacked in some areas,” Caroline said.
“Yes, a lady must perform for guests,” Lady Charlotte added.
“I am surprised, Miss Bingley,” Darcy spoke from the doorway, startling the other ladies, “to hear that you find my sister’s education incomplete after all the praise you have given her and me.”
“Well…I…” Caroline stammered.
Darcy came behind Elizabeth’s chair and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I do not believe you have heard, as I have yet to tell your brother. It gives me great delight, however, in being the one to inform you. Miss Bennet has accepted my hand in marriage and we will very soon wed.”
Caroline and Lady Charlotte’s mouths dropped open in unison, identical looks of disgust mingled with fury swept over their faces. Lady Charlotte recovered first. “My congratulations,” she said through a tight jaw.
“Yes, I am all astonishment, Eliza. I am surprised you — or your family — were able to keep it such a secret,” Caroline sneered.
Inwardly, Elizabeth laughed at this lady who was not wise enough to befriend the future Mistress of Pemberley and Baroness Darcy. “Our engagement is not of long standing,” she smiled.
“No?” Caroline asked.
“I was sure you had heard from your brother,” Darcy said. “Miss Bennet and I met again in Kent.”
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