by Olivia Kane
“Moore’s farm,” she replied unenthusiastically.
“Moore’s farm, that’s right. The path originates behind the churchyard and passes through that patch of woods to the right of the stream. It is lauded for its charm. Mr. Darcy, please join us. We shall make a party of it, and I will give a picnic. What about the day after tomorrow?”
Mr. Darcy smiled at Mrs. Phillips but before he could reply Mrs. Bennet loudly expressed her horror at the idea.
“I abhor eating outdoors. An enormous burden for the staff and so much effort for a simple meal. What is wrong with cranking open the dining room window if you insist on fresh air? I have absolutely given up on finding any enjoyment in picnicking. Even a cushion cannot protect one from the hard, lumpy ground. Oh, they say it is romantic to be out in nature but I fail to see any romance in bugs or rain ruining my gown and getting the butter wet. Thank you for the suggestion, but I will pass.”
“I love picnics,” Lydia piped in. “Although a picnic requires strawberries and we have none. But I will come on this picnic too anyway, Auntie. Thank you, very much.”
“Mrs. Phillips, you are too kind. I will be happy to attend your walk and picnic,” Mr. Darcy said with that same teasing half-smile that Elizabeth had seen on him once before. Darcy turned to Lydia and said, “Miss Bennet, I have a jar of strawberry jam from Fortnum & Mason. Perhaps that will satisfy your craving for strawberries?”
Lydia’s face lit up with greed.
Noting her reaction, he continued. “I will have my man wrap it up for us and bring it on the picnic for us all to enjoy.”
“Mr. Darcy! You are all kindness,” Lydia squealed.
“It is nothing,” he replied.
“I always love to dine al fresco,” Charlotte Lucas said. “I did not know that the route to Moore’s farm was included in the Grey’s Guide.”
Mr. Collins announced, “I, too, will join the party. I dare say any view of Hertfordshire must fade in comparison to the rolling hills of Kent.” Mary cleared her throat and looked sharply at Collins from across the room in a quick reprimand.
Aunt Phillips was delighted at the positive response to her impromptu invitation. “Mr. Darcy, will your sister be joining us?”
“Sadly, no. She is traveling from the south and arrives in three days, I believe, so she will miss our picnic.
As there were no available young men to flirt with at the picnic, Elizabeth thought that Georgiana would find nothing amusing in the party.
“At Rosings we have many pleasant vistas in which to have picnics, don’t we, Mr. Darcy?” Mr. Collins added.
“Yes, Mr. Collins. However, I must confess to you, Mrs. Bennet, that my aunt Lady Catherine feels much the same as you do about dining outdoors. Although her love of nature quite consumes her, I myself have never seen her accompany us on a picnic.”
“How fascinating. Despite our difference in rank, I am convinced we share the same sensibilities. Mark my words, at a certain age, one is able to think of nothing but one’s physical comfort.” Mrs. Bennet beamed at Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Bennet said, “I had the honor of fishing in the Rosings great pond with Mr. Darcy and had quite a lucky catch.”
“You don’t say?” Mr. Phillips perked up at the news.
“Rosings’ stock of fish is plentiful, but I would love to have you as my guest at Pemberley to fish with me there in the stream,” Darcy said. “Please join us, too, Mr. Phillips.”
Both Mr. Bennet and Mr. Phillips grinned like schoolboys and accepted the invitation immediately.
Elizabeth followed the conversation, bewildered. Darcy still spoke with the same stilted tone to his voice and his manners, while friendly, could not be perceived as totally warm.
She glanced around the room. Every face was pointed in the direction of Mr. Darcy. His every statement was agreed upon with low murmurs of assent. When he spoke, all other conversations halted. She considered the much-loved family, friends, and Mr. Collins gathered in front of her and was embarrassed for them. They did not share the same requirement that she did of Mr. Darcy: that he be as upstanding as he was rich, as polite to those with lower connections as he was to the ton, and generous with those born lower than him such as Wickham. They were all so easily swayed by his favor. Jams and fishing expeditions; such were the currencies with which Mr. Darcy bought his friends. She shook her head.
The rampant adoration of the man continued throughout the dinner, which Mr. Darcy topped off by raising his glass and offering a toast to the health of the Phillips.
Mrs. Bennet, now enamored of Mr. Darcy, sought to constantly praise her daughter while in his presence.
“No one is more clever than my Lizzie, Mr. Darcy. Don’t you agree? Now I know you do not find her half as handsome as my Jane, but Jane’s beauty is rare, a gift from the heavens, I always think. But Lizzy is so intelligent. Her cutting comments on our neighbors’ faults never fail to wound.”
“Do they?” Mr. Darcy replied. Elizabeth felt her stomach turn in embarrassment.
“I heard you have a great library at Pemberley. Do you know she reads at least three novels a month? She gets that from her father, as I can barely read one per annum.”
“Mr. Darcy is a voracious reader. He was telling me that expanding the library at Pemberley is his current favorite pastime,” Mr. Bennet said.
“How wonderful it would be for Lizzy to see your library!” Mrs. Bennet suggested.
“Mamma!” Elizabeth blurted. “I am sure Mr. Darcy is not in the habit of giving tours of his library.”
“No, I am not. But you are invited to tour it, Miss Elizabeth, whenever you desire,” Darcy said. “Why don’t you accompany your father and Mr. Phillips when they come to fish?”
Elizabeth pondered his answer for a few moments, before replying graciously, “Thank you for the offer, but I will not able to visit your library, Mr. Darcy. But I imagine its reputation will only grow in stature as you add many volumes to it throughout your life and I congratulate you on this in advance.”
Mrs. Bennet could not keep her disappointment to herself. “Lizzy, don’t be rude. Say you’ll accept the invitation. Mr. Darcy, my apologies. What Lizzy means to say is that of course she will accompany her father to Pemberley.”
“I appreciate your daughter’s honesty. It is one of her best virtues. The invitation stands, should you change your mind, Miss Elizabeth. There are many pleasant vistas in Derbyshire on which to picnic as well.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy, for the information,” she replied plainly. She would not be picnicking in Derbyshire anytime soon, of that she was certain. As for the upcoming picnic her aunt had in mind, Elizabeth spent the rest of evening praying that a vicious downpour would lead to its utter cancellation.
Chapter 17
But even the weather conspired against Elizabeth, as the following days were some of nature’s best. Clear skies and the littlest hint of a warm wind sent every man, woman, and child out of doors. It was perfect picnic weather.
To add to her dismay, even the roads were in excellent condition, and Darcy’s sister Georgiana arrived in Meryton earlier than expected and was added to the party. Mrs. Bennet stayed back as she said she would and at the last minute both Jane and Kitty were not up for the exertion the day required.
They met in the churchyard to begin their walk. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Phillips gravitated toward Mr. Darcy’s company and the men led the way, following the route the guide laid out and striding ahead confidently. Lydia and Aunt Phillips stayed together, chatting about dresses and officers. Elizabeth found that Georgiana’s pace best matched her own and they fell into a natural rhythm.
To Elizabeth’s great surprise, Georgiana was a quiet girl; meek in nature, exceedingly well-mannered, and an eager walker. Elizabeth admired her fine clothes but thought her flower-adorned bonnet a tad too ornamental a choice for a country walk. Nevertheless, Elizabeth found it hard to dislike Georgiana as much as she did her brother.
As the guide promised, the pat
h that wound around Moore’s farm was blessed with the most stunning, uncultivated natural vistas. The shrubbery was in bloom and the terrain of Moore’s property provided a natural ascent. Upon reaching a small ridge that the guide said promised the best view, they set up their picnic.
Darcy sat down a respectable distance away from Elizabeth and did not seek her out in conversation. True to his word, he presented the jam he promised, much to Lydia’s delighted squeals.
It took little to win Lydia over, Elizabeth noted.
Merely appeal to her stomach and her head will be turned.
Georgiana settled next to Elizabeth, and after the lunch was eaten and the men left to puff on cigars and take in more of the scenery, she leaned closer to Elizabeth and said softly, “My brother’s letters have always been complimentary of you; now that I have made your acquaintance it is easy to see why.”
Elizabeth sought to silence Georgiana on the subject. “Your brother is engaged; is it proper to be writing to his sister of other young women?”
Georgiana sighed and looked across the field toward her brother.
“I have often hoped that he would find a different young lady to court who would enlarge our family circle as it is only my brother and me now,” she said. “You have a large family and I would like that.”
“There are downfalls to having so many sisters, “ Elizabeth warned.
“Perhaps. But as my cousin is very quiet I fear their lives together would not suit him. However, I have reason to believe that my brother has recently made a move to end my aunt’s hopes.”
“In what way?”
“My aunt wrote to me recently of her desire to set a date and has supposedly sent the same request to my brother.”
“A date for their wedding?” An image of the dark and brooding Mr. Darcy coming out of the church with the pale ghost that was Miss de Bourgh flashed before Elizabeth’s eyes and she couldn’t help but smile at the idea.
“Yes,” Georgiana continued. “She wrote that she recently saw my brother pay entirely too much attention to a young lady visiting Rosings.”
“She did?” Elizabeth felt her face flush and she plucked at the clover to hide her reaction. Georgiana’s gaze was sharp and no detail of Elizabeth’s reaction went unnoticed.
“Yes. Pray do not think me impertinent, but after putting her comments together with the high praise my brother awards you in his letters, I was wondering if you were the young lady my aunt was referring to?”
Elizabeth struggled to respond. Georgiana noticed her delayed reaction and imagined herself correct.
“I am so sorry, I do not mean to embarrass you. It is just that this news makes me so happy. You are the type of sister-in-law I have long prayed for.”
“Your prayers must be answered in the form of some other young woman, then. There is no romance on my end.”
“Are you sure? I have never seen my brother so partial to a young lady.”
“And therein lies his interest in me. I must confess, I do know of your brother’s partiality towards me; he has told me so himself and I have asked him to direct his interest elsewhere. He sees me as a challenge and a challenge only.”
“I am sorry to hear that. If you doubt my brother’s sincerity towards you, I would be happy to assuage any concerns as to his character.”
“No, thank you. No effort is required on your end,” Elizabeth assured her.
But Georgiana, like her brother, was not easily dissuaded. This required Elizabeth to be firm in her response.
”There is an assumption that a man of fortune, like your brother, who expresses an interest in a woman such as myself, with only a moderate income attached to her, would be immediately accepted were he to make an offer of marriage.”
“Yes. My brother’s wealth makes him a subject of interest for many mothers. “
“The problem is I require at least a small amount of affection between my life’s partner and myself. Believe me when I say your brother is the last person I would be able to feel any affection toward.”
Georgiana looked confused. “My brother?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand. Surely he would provide a comfortable home for you, and he has always treated me with affection. Nay, he treats all he knows well with affection. In fact, he has confessed to me that he has tried to improve his manners lately, to be more open and amiable in society and among strangers, as a result of some recent criticism he received.”
“As well he should. He is lacking in that department.”
“Perhaps he was not aware of how he appeared to others?”
“When he first came to Meryton he refused to dance at an assembly where male partners were in short supply and women who wanted to dance were forced to dance with each other. Mr. Bingley danced for four hours straight that night.”
“Oh. He is not fond of dancing, that is true,” Georgiana smiled. “Nor always as energetic as Mr. Bingley, but when he does dance he is said to be exceedingly good.”
Elizabeth persevered. “Then there is the matter of my sister Jane’s happiness. Your brother urged Bingley to sever that relationship despite Bingley obviously preferring Jane to all others. Even to the point of packing him up from Netherfield without a word of warning to her. I can forgive him for not dancing but not for the injury to my sweet sister. She stayed home today, but were you to meet her you would make instant friends.”
“I am sorry to hear that. To a fault, my brother is protective. I know from my own past that is true.” Georgiana looked over toward her brother with kindness. “He is the most attentive guardian I could wish for. But nevertheless, the not dancing and the trouble with Bingley; these are all small faults that you can overlook?”
Elizabeth sighed with exasperation at her hopefulness.
“Georgiana, you are one of the sweetest young women I have yet to meet.”
“You are too kind, Miss Bennet. But my brother . . . is there any hope for him?”
“But another matter rests heavy on my heart and that is the matter of George Wickham. He confided in me that your brother has prevented him from the living due him, and to this day George’s fortunes are so depressed that he has taken to stealing. I do not know if your brother informed you of recent incidents but that is the very reason he is here now in Meryton—to make restitution for Wickham’s thievery.”
Georgiana’s face turned white and she seemed to shrink into herself at the news. Surprised by Elizabeth’s bluntness, she was not practiced in the art of defending Darcy on the matter of Wickham. Instead, she looked down at her hands and withdrew from the conversation.
Elizabeth interpreted her lack of response as having no defense for her brother’s treatment of Wickham. Sensing her triumph, Elizabeth ended the discussion by saying, “Please tell your brother not to end his engagement with Miss de Bourgh on my account.”
“I shall do as you wish,” Georgiana replied in a whisper.
Darcy, ever attuned to his sister’s change of mood, sensed some amount of disconsolation in her when returning to the party. Excusing himself from his conversation with Mr. Phillips and Mr. Bennet, he made his way to her and placed his hand lovingly on her back.
“Georgiana, are you unwell?”
She looked up at him and said, “Yes. I wish to return to the inn, if you don’t mind.”
Darcy’s expression was that of alarm and after gaining assurances from his sister that she was well enough to manage the walk back, made their excuses. Mr. Darcy looked directly at Elizabeth.
“We will take our leave now. Goodbye then, Miss Bennet,” he said, with a deep bow. “We leave for Pemberley early tomorrow.”
“Goodbye then, Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy. I do not know when we shall meet again, so I give you and Miss de Bourgh my heartfelt wishes for a life of felicity and health.”
“Please accept my best wishes for your future happiness,” he replied.
Elizabeth was relieved at their quitting the party. As for her harsh words to Georg
iana, she did not regret a word. It was not her fault if Georgiana crumbled when faced with the truth.
As soon as the Darcys were out of sight, Aunt Phillips patted the ground next to her and said, “Elizabeth, come here and join us.” Elizabeth gathered up the remains of her picnic and relocated.
“Well Lizzie, you must tell. What did you say to scare Miss Darcy? I hope you didn’t frighten her with tales of her brother refusing to dance with you?” Mr. Bennet quipped.
“My, how perilously close to the truth you are, Father,” she laughed. “I was only mentioning how her brother deprived Wickham of his profession, among other things.”
“He was to be a cleric, was he not? At least that is what he told me,” Sir William asked.
“I thought he was to study law but was prevented for some reason he didn’t make very clear,” Mrs. Phillips said.
“I am glad to be rid of Wickham,” Mr. Phillips exclaimed. “Thank goodness for Mr. Darcy, whose generosity is very much appreciated, no less for its element of surprise.”
“I am exceedingly grateful that he took the time to travel here. It is no short journey from Derbyshire to Meryton. What an honorable young gentleman,” Mrs. Phillips exclaimed.
“Oh, Mr. Darcy didn’t travel here from Derbyshire. He was in Kent, with his aunt, which is closer. Georgiana told me so herself,” Elizabeth said. “But never mind, near or far, I dare say it is no great effort for him to travel about the countryside as he is a rich man who seems to know all the best innkeepers by their first names. I doubt he deserves credit for his travels.”
“When he was at Rosings I was constantly impressed by his hospitality,” Mr. Bennet mentioned. He then described Mr. Darcy’s generosity in regards to lunches, walks, and fishing trips in detail.
Elizabeth soon tired of hearing Mr. Darcy’s praises sung.
“As he is soon to be married, I expect we will not see Mr. Darcy in Meryton again. With two estates to manage and his sister’s guardianship, he will be too busy for our society. So all these pleasant memories of Mr. Darcy will be just that . . . memories.”
