Desire and Duty: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

by Ted Bader

  Privately, at the end of the evening, Mr. Gardiner asked Mr. Darcy if there were any written communication he would like the Gardiners to present to Thomas, should he be discovered. Mr. Darcy provided the following letter:

  Dear Mr. Staley,

  This is a letter of sincere and strongly felt apology for our grievous error. In not trusting you, and forcing you away, we committed an unforgivable blunder.

  It is with shame that we relate the confession of my late aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She obtained the false testimony against you.

  Mrs. Darcy, the children and I are most anxious to see you again in person to reiterate our sincere repentance. My sister, Georgiana, most of all wishes to communicate with you. Your father is also very desirous of contacting you. I am sorry to cause further pain; but, the doctors have told him he has only months to live and he wishes to see you immediately at Staley Hall.

  We have spent the last month using every possible method of discovering your whereabouts. We pray that Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner will be successful in delivering this note to you.

  Yours, most sincerely,

  Fitzwilliam Darcy

  The reaction of Georgiana, during her solitary hours, to the recent events was several fold. Mentally, she determined to resign herself to being single the rest of her life if Thomas were never found, or if he despised her family. This resolution gave her a steady mental consolation, which was not always matched by her heart and soul.

  When she would dwell upon it, her soul was filled with shame at the attempt of Lord Percy at marriage. Georgiana was a virtuous woman, since she had been tempted and emerged the victor from the aborted elopement of Mr. Wickham many years ago. Only a virtuous woman can feel the sort of disgust against repeated and chronic sexual indiscretion in others. She had heard of the hypocritical behavior of promiscuous men who, when they finished sowing their wild oats, would endeavor to engage a woman who had not participated in similar behavior. This she felt about Lord Percy, but she tried not to dwell on it. She would set her heart on forgiveness and forgetfulness. Tincture of time would heal.

  Her heart was another matter. Despite her mental resolution and the comfort of a charitable soul, her heart suffered the most unevenness of all. Most days, she tried to keep her hope at small levels to lessen despair when a lead about Thomas turned out false; other days, thankfully less often, she feared Thomas would never be found alive, or that he would despise her family if he were discovered.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  The following day during breakfast, Mr. Darcy inquired, “Do you think it is time we return to Pemberley?”

  Elizabeth replied, “I am anxious to return to the children; but, perhaps Georgiana would wish to stay?”

  “Is there any hope, my dear brother, of further inquiries which may be made concerning Thomas?”

  “Unfortunately, I have exhausted all contacts among my friends and the government. Many of them have promised to be on the watch for any clue to his whereabouts. The visit to France by Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner will perhaps prove to be productive.”

  “I believe you have done your best,” replied Georgiana. “I think we can wait in Derbyshire as well as London, and I much prefer Pemberley Hall to our house here.”

  Elizabeth said, “I hope it will be agreeable to both of you that we stop over in Hertfordshire for a few hours so I can visit my parents before heading on to Derbyshire.”

  Her husband and sister nodded in assent and suggested they would be ready to leave in the morning.

  “Good. I will send a message by express to tell them of our arrival tomorrow afternoon.”

  The following day, Elizabeth and Georgiana were seated in the parlor of Longbourn with Mrs. Bennet and Mary. Mary, Elizabeth’s next to youngest sister, was a serious young lady given to reading great works. Her talk was filled with sensibility, which often sounded pedantic. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy set off to hunt in the two nearest fields.

  Mrs. Bennet started with “Oh, Lizzy, we have so much news to relate. Last night, Timothy Jackson was here and, well. . . perhaps Mary should tell you.”

  “Thank you, Mamma. Father gave consent to Mr. Timothy Jackson for my engagement.”

  “Congratulations,” Elizabeth and Georgiana said simultaneously, and rose to hug Mary. Elizabeth continued, “Now tell us about Mr. Jackson. Is he the same one Mamma has been telling us about these many years?”

  “The very same. He is a clerk for Uncle Phillips’ business, a very sober and serious young man. . . .”

  “Just the type for you,” Elizabeth interjected and they all laughed.

  Mary gave a rare smile and said, “Your joking is a compliment. Marriage is a serious business, and I am glad I have finally found a young man so well suited for my connubial felicity.”

  “When is the marriage to take place?” Elizabeth inquired.

  “Mr. Jackson’s apprenticeship is to be finished in six months and we shall be married at that time.”

  “And then I shall be desolate!” interrupted Mrs. Bennet. “To think I worried one time about any of my daughters getting married! Now, I shall lose my last; though, at times, I thought Mary would never get married. My heart will break with your leaving. . . .”

  “Mamma, it is not certain we are going to leave Meryton. Uncle Phillips may offer my fiancee a partnership.”

  “Good, and I shall do everything to influence my sister to convince her husband to do so.” Turning the conversation, Mrs. Bennet continued, “Have you heard about the trouble Mr. and Mrs. Collins’ are in?”

  Elizabeth said, “We knew there was difficulty brewing at Hunsford and Rosings.”

  “Well, Mr. Collins has been dismissed from the rectory at Hunsford. He has had no other offers; so, he and Charlotte have come crawling back to Lucas Lodge.”

  “Mamma, he was offered a curacy in Sussex.”

  “A curacy!” her mother continued. “What a step down to be a poorly paid representative of a rector in another parish! I do not blame Mr. Collins for not condescending to it. Further, Charlotte told me it paid one-tenth of what Hunsford did.”

  “Poor Mr. Collins!” Mary said. “What an imperfect soul. His pride and vanity hath finally caught up to him.”

  “Mary is right,” Mrs. Bennet continued. “He is sorely depressed over the state of affairs and will eat very little. Charlotte says she is unable to console him. He has lost weight, and she is so distressed over him.”

  Elizabeth said, “I am sorry to hear such a sad report of my cousin. To think I might have been trapped in Charlotte’s position. If business at Pemberley were not so pressing for us, I should like to visit Charlotte to see if there is anything to be done. Tell her, however, I shall write to Lucas Lodge as soon as I can.”

  With this information and further details about Mr. Timothy Jackson, the visit to Longbourn ended. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet hugged Elizabeth and repeated their desire to see their children, but they were uncertain when they might return to Pemberley.

  As the carriage headed for Derbyshire, Georgiana was very quiet. She was happy for Mary, but the subject of marriage opened her feelings again in an uncontrollable way. She told herself she would have to learn to control her emotions about such a topic, or be ever after subject to vexation! She could eventually resign herself to a life as an unmarried aunt and sister, if only she could obtain a final communication about Thomas!

  With the additional hope of receiving a letter from the Gardiners, the subsequent week seemed to pass dreadfully slow. At Pemberley, however, she had more diversions in her nephews and niece, and with her pleasant walks in the garden and over the bridge.

  Elizabeth called Georgiana excitedly one day from the music room to hand her a letter from Mrs. Gardiner.

  Paris, June 4

  My dear Elizabeth,

  Your uncle and I have b
een in France two days and we have very little to report to Georgiana.

  My nephew has shown us around Paris. What a pretty city! Some of the Parisians still resent the war, but for the most part, they are friendly.

  We are to head south tomorrow. Mr. Gardiner is still mum about his plans concerning the search for Thomas. Not even I can wrench the secret from him. I am afraid this excites more hope than it otherwise should.

  I will endeavor to write every three days, or whenever I have anything to relate.

  Yours, very sincerely,

  M. Gardiner

  The next letter was received in two days and read:

  My dear Elizabeth,

  We have discovered Mr. Thomas Staley! He is alive and well and has been staying at General D’arbley’s chateau here in southern France. Mr. Gardiner now tells me that his office, in the course of other events, had occasion to meet with Colonel Fremantle of the British Army whose life was saved by Captain Staley. When your family’s difficulty was discussed with the Colonel, he suggested General D’arbley be contacted, since the French General had invited the British negotiating team to visit his estate after the war.

  Upon arrival last night, we were immediately ushered into the welcoming hall. Mr. Staley arrived, and we handed him the letter Mr. Darcy had previously written, in case Mr. Staley should be located. You will have to apply to Mr. Darcy for the contents of the letter.

  Mr. Staley sat down and read the letter with visible relief. We conversed for thirty minutes or so. He seemed quite interested in hearing about Georgiana, and particularly about her recent involvement with the Duke.

  At the end of the conversation, he stood and thanked us. He said he would be returning to Staley Hall as soon as possible and would leave the next afternoon. The General graciously offered us rooms last night. Mr. Staley then spoke to the General in French. My nephew and I are not nearly as good in French as we should like. Mr. Staley said something to the effect that Juliet should follow him to England in a few days. In the hustle and bustle that followed last night and this morning, it did not occur to me to follow-up on this reference to the person, Juliet, until shortly before our departure from the chateau.

  We did not meet any such woman here. As I am writing this letter, I wish I had tried more to ascertain who this woman is. Before writing this letter, we inquired of several servants, and they did not seem to understand the reference to Juliet either.

  We shall post this letter by express. In any case, Mr. Staley should be home within a day or two of your receipt of this letter. We are going to finish our tour of southern France and return to Pemberley in a few weeks.

  We are most happy to have been of service to you, and to help repay Mr. Darcy’s kindness towards our family with regards to Lydia.

  Yours, most sincerely,

  M. Gardiner

  The above letter was quickly given to Georgiana

  after Elizabeth perused it. This news was indeed a mixed blessing to Georgiana. It was joy indeed that Thomas was found alive and was returning soon to Derbyshire; however, the possibility that he was returning with a woman was not at all anticipated by Georgiana in her months of reflection about him! Now that she clarified her thoughts, in the event that he no longer cared for her, she had always pictured him as unattached to anyone else. It would be much easier for her to stay single if he were single also! In retrospect, she upbraided herself for not having accounted for the possibility that Thomas might fall in love with another woman. Nonetheless, he had promised life-long love! However, she wondered how relevant his promise would be, since it took place before the terrible and unjust accusation. Surely, he was justified for not feeling bound by such a vow. Upon further reflection, it remained possible that Juliet was not a woman he loved, but perhaps only a friend or a servant. Georgiana’s heart would certainly not put much faith in the latter possibility. The following day another letter arrived by express:

  Mr. Darcy,

  Mr. Thomas Staley is a gallant man in war and peace. He is a gentleman whose word is honor. You English are so foolish! I cannot understand you. You accuse him unjustly, and then expect with an apology for everything to go on as before. If I were Mr. Staley, I should hate and despise you for the rest of my life.

  General D’arbley

  Lyons, France

  The above letter caused discomfiture at Pemberley Hall. Because of their status in English society, no one had given them a severe reproach for their clumsy behavior towards Mr. Staley. While the Darcys had felt these feelings as a family, the letter from the French general heightened their anxiety about Mr. Staley and his response to their family. The letter caused a refreshing eagerness to make amendments to their former tutor. Since the road to Staley Hall ran east of the river and their bridge, Mr. Darcy instructed Mr. Reynolds to have a watchman placed upon the bridge at all hours of the day and night to observe for any horseman or carriage that might indicate Thomas was returning to Staley Hall.

  The following night, they were rewarded with a report by an observance of a man matching Thomas’ description passing in the late evening. In the rain, the watchman could not be certain if it was Mr. Staley in the dim light; the horse paused on the road for a minute while its rider appeared to stare at Pemberley Hall. The horse was then reined to head in the direction of Staley Hall.

  Georgiana heard the latter report when she came down in the morning. She did not expect any communication from Thomas the day after his arrival. Three days after his arrival at Staley Hall was confirmed (by the Pemberley servants interaction with Staley Hall tenants) and still Thomas did not appear or write. Her anxiety reached a point of impatience and restlessness. She called Elizabeth to the entrance parlor and inquired, “My dearest Lizzy, what can we do about Thomas?”

  “I am not sure. Mr. Darcy and I have been discussing at length what we should do.”

  “What is my brother thinking he might do?”

  “He is inclined to visit Staley Hall to offer amends. Thomas may be reluctant to visit this house since his last memory is an unpleasant one.”

  “Oh! Please ask him to go today!”

  “Your approval will certainly stimulate his visit. He has been reluctant to do anything that might further aggravate the situation, but your favor in the matter will help him be confident.”

  “Lizzy, I would like your opinion on what my brother can say.”

  “Pray, continue. . . .”

  “I have the distinct feeling that, for the moment at least, I must overcome my shyness and carefulness to make a critical request of my brother.”

  “And what would that request be?”

  “I feel that I must take the unusual step of having my brother tell Thomas, if the circumstances are right, that Thomas has permission to engage me for marriage if he so desires. . . . There now, I have spoken my heart. . . . Do you think it too shocking for me to request that?”

  Elizabeth took a moment to reply, and then proceeded slowly, “Not shocking, but as you know, a most exceptional approach. Why do you think this is necessary?”

  “I feel Thomas is going to slip away, as he did once before. I will never entertain marriage to anyone else, so I should like to know that I made every effort to express my affection.”

  “What about this Juliet that we are uncertain about?”

  “That is what I meant by ‘if the circumstances are right’ during my brother’s visit. I should like him to ascertain who this woman is and what Thomas’ marital intentions are, if any, towards her.”

  “This may be rather indelicate.”

  “I trust my brother to assess the situation and communicate my wishes.”

  Elizabeth thought for a few moments and said, “I see your position entirely. I will heartily recommend it to Mr. Darcy. My only fear is that our grievous injustice to Thomas will greatly weaken the impact y
our offer, if made, will have.”

  “But I feel we must attempt it.”

  “I agree,” Elizabeth said, with as much of an encouraging smile as possible.

  That evening, after the supper was finished, Mr. Darcy prepared to go to Staley Hall. Georgiana asked her brother if he understood her desire and the reason for her bold move.

  He agreed to try to ascertain the status of Thomas and make Georgiana’s offer if it appeared propitious. “You know, sister, I would do anything for you.”

  “I know. You are the best brother a sister could have.”

  They embraced and Mr. Darcy strode out the entrance hall doors with his riding boots and coat on. It was quite late when Mr. Darcy returned. He came into the hall parlor, which was illuminated by candlelight, and sat down quietly by Elizabeth.

  “Well, my dear, what happened?” Elizabeth finally inquired.

  “I am uncertain what to think.”

  “Pray tell us what happened,” Georgiana eagerly requested.

  “Mr. Thomas Staley received me graciously into their front room. He had the servant put more wood on the fire and light more candles. He appeared surprised and mentioned his appreciation for my visit. I related our profuse apologies for our unjust and shocking behavior. I am glad that he gave a formal reply of forgiveness, rather than saying the matter was of no import to him. He raised his eyebrows when I told him of the Gardiner’s communication about ‘Juliet’. He said I could see her for myself.”

  Georgiana gasped, “Then there is another woman!”

  Mr. Darcy smiled, “Not exactly. He called the name, and a large collie came into the room and tried to jump up on my chest. You can imagine my great relief when the dog seemed to respond to the name of ‘Juliet’. It seems the dog is a gift from General D’arbley to Mr. Staley.”

  “These results gave me confidence to proceed with your request, Georgiana. When I related your desire and added my sincere approbation, he turned away from me and asked me to leave. I could not see his reaction because of his position and the low light. After a moment, he excused himself and left the room. I waited for thirty minutes, but he did not return.”