Revelations

by Kirsten Bij't Vuur

  And Elizabeth told him about their time at Pemberley, how she picked up riding again, and how being outdoors and active was something they both enjoyed very much.

  'Well, at least you won't get fat, either of you, unlike Mr and Mrs Collins.

  Though your mother can find true satisfaction in their progressing portliness since she has no fears anymore of being left destitute in case of my untimely demise. I suppose she'll spend most of her time with you if that happens, of course she loves Lydia and Wickham much better, but living in a dingy apartment never was much to her liking. She'll prefer to accompany Mr and

  Mrs Darcy everywhere, probably with Mary in tow.'

  Now he laughed heartily at his daughter, of course she must have shown some abhorrence at the very idea, though Fitzwilliam would undoubtedly buy his mother-in-law a nice little house near her sister in Meryton, or near her brother in London, if the very sight of Charlotte as mistress of Longbourn were to prove too much to bear.

  'Never mind, Elizabeth, just tell Jane to put her up, she won't dare refuse.

  Please don't mind my teasing, I've missed you, let me hear more, how's he really, your brand-new husband, he seems to love you more than anything, is that feeling mutual at all?'

  And for some reason Elizabeth found herself telling her father all about her feelings for Fitzwilliam, her sudden reservations about entering a marriage pennilessly, and how her beloved took those away with his constant devotion to herself, how they talked about everything that concerned them, how they discovered passion together, how she really felt like one half of the same person.

  'We're so close I haven't even missed you or Jane very much, papa. I never believed in my wildest dreams that marriage would be like this, he loves me so much and shows it, too, tells me how much he admires me, how broken-hearted he was when he thought me lost to him. And he's so easy to love himself, so loving and sweet, and handsome too, of course. I'm very happy, papa, with Georgiana as sister as well.'

  Her father, truly affected now, took her hand and said, 'That makes me glad to hear, I was worried about you, even though I really liked your fiancée.

  But some people turn out completely different than they seemed, and the thought of you living with a dominant, influential man like that gave me a few sleepless nights, hoping he wouldn't grow to regret marrying below his class and above his intelligence.'

  Despite being affected by her father's kind concern of course Elizabeth couldn't have her father say that of her beloved and she defended him almost vehemently.

  'Fitzwilliam is as smart as you or I, papa, don't insult his intelligence. He's a bit shy with strangers but he can hold his own against me easily. You'll find out when you stay here.'

  'All right, no need to be angry at your poor father, I'm sorry to have underestimated your dearest husband. I dare say he's the smartest of my

  three sons-in-law. And that, conveniently, brings me to the purpose of my visit. You know I have borne my own mistake in choosing my life's partner reasonably well, I suppose that proves your husband must be smarter than I for his choice of the best possible partner, even if it meant waiting for nearly a decade and marrying a lot below him, proves him to be a very intelligent man indeed. Things have been different, Lizzy, with you gone and Jane at Netherfield most of the time, but I managed quite well with my books and my solitary hunts.

  Until yesterday, when Lydia and Wickham arrived in Hertfordshire for Jane's wedding. Though I should have suspected it, our friend Bingley may be easy going but not so much as to allow George Wickham to stay in his house when his best friend Mr Darcy is expected to reside there, I didn't, and your mother didn't see fit to inform me beforehand either. So there they were, the happy couple, noisy and foolish as ever, Wickham flattering your mother and thanking her profusely for allowing them to stay at Longbourn for the duration of his leave. Then she graciously offered him the use of my library for his privacy, and my company to spend some time shooting my birds.

  Dear Lizzy, I was not going to quarrel with your mother before your sisters and Mr Wickham, I must have lost my edge, and I accepted defeat. I had my bags packed and my horse saddled, and used that time to hide away a few treasured possessions where my esteemed son-in-law wouldn't find them and to instruct Hill on the finances of the household until my return. Then I put on my coat and mounted my horse. Now your mother made the scene, demanding where I was going, but I merely told her I was going to visit you in London, and buy a new pair of shoes since my current pair is not fit to wear to a wedding, then set off.

  Hill will keep them out of trouble, you know I hired her because she could handle your mother from the very first day they met and she has never disappointed me yet. I hope your husband will not mind my hiding out with the both of you until the day before the wedding, I promise I will not bother you at all, I'm pretty sure your library will keep me entertained for days and I really need a pair of shoes for the wedding. I suppose you'll let me return to Hertfordshire with you? I can keep up with your carriage if I do my very best, I've been riding a lot recently.'

  Elizabeth could not help melting at her father's plight, Wickham in his

  library and on his solitary rides, and to have to admit defeat to her mother, no matter how painful the realisation that he saw his marriage as a continuing war in which he had lost a battle.

  'Poor papa, to have to flee your own house from George Wickham!'

  Actually, Elizabeth was glad to hear that Bingley would not let him stay at Netherfield, her father could bear with Wickham more easily than Fitzwilliam and Georgiana could.

  'Did you speak to Fitzwilliam about this? Does he know you mean to stay, and have you told him why you left?'

  Her beloved could not possibly have expected her father to go back to Longbourn the same day.

  'I did about the first, but not the second. Considering what you told me about the dealings those two had in the past I didn't want to mention my favourite son-in-law without you present. Your husband had my things taken to a room and offered me the use of his library without my asking.

  Then he raved about you until you came in. I feel almost relaxed already, can you imagine how much I've missed you? And Jane, though she still comes home at night. Kitty has some sense as long as she's not with Lydia, but not like the two of you.'

  Kitty!

  'Papa, have you left Kitty alone with Lydia?'

  'I most certainly have not, Lizzy, I have learned from my mistakes. Kitty is staying with Jane at Netherfield, she was there for the day with Maria Lucas, they are bridesmaids you see, and I rode by and asked Bingley to put Jane and Kitty up together for a few nights. Kitty needs to stay away from Lydia and Jane prefers to stay at Netherfield. They can chaperone each other.'

  They were discussing the latest news from Hertfordshire when Georgiana and Fitzwilliam entered once more. Those letters were probably still waiting, but Elizabeth supposed they had been an excuse from her beloved anyway, to give her some time alone with her father. Georgiana readily greeted Mr Bennet, not very shy at all, and he asked, 'How are the piano lessons going, Miss Darcy?'

  Both Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam were surprised but Georgiana boldly answered, 'Very well, Mr Bennet, thank you for asking. I've mastered two very difficult techniques since you and I last talked, that's not even two

  months ago, and my teacher says that is very quick. He asked your daughter and me for advice on a very important composition today, we were the first people to ever hear it. Isn't that incredible?'

  'I'm looking forward to hearing you play, my dear, with your brother's permission I'd like to stay a few days, until the wedding actually, one might say I've been driven from my own library by one of the wedding guests.'

  As if to redeem Elizabeth for standing up for her husband's intelligence, Fitzwilliam now blurted out, 'You mean to say that Bingley refused George Wickham entrance to his house and he is now staying in yours?'

  To his credit, her father did acknowledge Elizabeth's victory, answering,<
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  'You were right, Elizabeth, he's smarter than I for seeing through your mother's plot instantly. For indeed, Darcy, my wife invited my esteemed son-in-law into our own home when she heard from Mrs Wickham that they would not be invited to stay at Netherfield while you were residing there.'

  'Fancy Bingley standing up for me.'

  Fitzwilliam was truly amazed by this, and quickly added, 'Of course you are more than welcome to stay here, especially since it's my presence barring George Wickham from Netherfield. Will you ride along with us to the wedding then, Mr Bennet?'

  'If you think I can keep up. I've seen your team, I don't know whether you'd want to wait for an old man on a middle-aged horse.'

  Fitzwilliam laughed at Elizabeth's father's description of himself, he was not even fifty after all, then observed proudly, 'You mean my thoroughbreds?

  They're incredibly fast, but I've sent them back to Pemberley. Keeping four thoroughbreds penned up in a city stables for an entire winter may be dangerous, I've never dared to try. I've a special team for use in the city, we call them the lead-foots, you'll keep up with them pretty easily. And Elizabeth and I are going on horseback ourselves, we've been riding every day and she really wants to explore Hertfordshire with her faithful Daisy to ride.'

  'In that case, I'll stop worrying. Except about Mr Wickham in my library.'

  'A library is a man's sanctum, Mr Bennet, you are right to worry about it.

  But I'm sure it will be all right, I knew Mr Wickham very well at one time of my life, and he never spent much time in a library. He prefers company to solitude, and conversation to books.'

  'Thank you for trying to ease my worries, Darcy. I can spare a few birds, but none of my books. Now I'll just need to find a new pair of shoes for the

  wedding and I can sit back and let myself be spoiled by your staff the rest of the time.'

  'Do I guess correctly that your flight is preventing you from hunting birds with your son-in-law?'

  'It is indeed, my dear man, Mrs Bennet wanted me to take him out shooting, like you and I did last fall.'

  Now Fitzwilliam bowed politely and observed, 'Maybe you will be so kind as to accompany me on a hunt then, this very week?'

  'In the middle of the city?'

  'Oh, yes, we have good hunting here. We city folk call it hunting, and take it very seriously. Other people call it shopping. I know several good places in town, we're certain to find a nice pair of shoes for you there, and maybe a coffee or a pint, whichever you prefer. We'll return triumphant, and show our spoils to the ladies. We'll take my man Bob as our driver.'

  Fitzwilliam was certainly holding his own, Elizabeth was glad to hear she had not been wrong defending him, he felt comfortable here and managed to entertain his father-in-law quite adequately.

  'Now let me show you the library, and your room, and I'll introduce you to the house staff, and we'll let our ladies attend to an old piano they are bent on tuning today. We'll meet again for lunch. Oh, and Elizabeth?'

  'Yes, my love?'

  'Mrs Annesley wanted to talk to us for a few moments. On a matter of etiquette, she said. I'm afraid she is planning to scold us for kissing in public. Anyway, I told her we'd receive her right after lunch, is that agreeable to you?'

  'It is. Can we kiss in public just once more, if it is to be forbidden from now on?'

  He didn't answer, but took her in his arms and kissed her with ardour. It would have to suffice until tonight, with her father in the house it was not very likely they would be able to slip away to their bedroom for an hour or so in the afternoon.

  Chapter 30

  The room on the second floor was one Elizabeth hadn't seen before, it was at the end of the hall and clearly used as some kind of storage space. There was a mishmash of furniture and fabrics collected in it, and some China.

  How much China could one household own?

  'I like your father, Elizabeth,' Georgiana observed, 'he has been very kind to me the evening before you got married, and at your wedding.'

  'That is more remarkable than it might seem to you, Georgiana. Most people dislike my father or fear him because he usually isn't nice to people. He tends to find them boring or dumb, and then he can be very abrasive. He must like you a lot to be nice to you.'

  'Fitzwilliam used to be a bit afraid of him, didn't he? He held his own pretty well just now, I thought. Hunting in the city.'

  'He must have been very pleased to hear of Bingley not allowing Wickham to stay at Netherfield. I'm glad they thought of that, of course my sister may have had a hand in it as well, she wouldn't want you to run into him all the time.'

  'And again I'm glad you confided in her. I would have, if I had a sister I loved so well. You must be very glad to see her again so soon.'

  'I am, though I'm afraid it will not be the same, we're both married now, and we'll live three days apart for half the year. Do you think they'll come to London after the wedding?'

  'Bingley usually stays at his town house for a few months in winter, yes. It's pretty close to ours, you'll be able to meet with your sister every day. Can I join you sometimes?'

  'Of course, Georgiana, we're sisters now, I'd love to visit friends with you. I guess we'll plan Kitty's visit when Jane's in town, she'll be able to go to Jane's sometimes.'

  The piano seemed dry enough and they set to work, Georgiana hanging over

  the body of the piano, Elizabeth taking her place on the stool. The tools were already where they could reach them, and Elizabeth struck the key that should sound the same as the tuning fork. It wasn't even close, and as Elizabeth played a little melody they both burst out laughing, it was so awful.

  'Let's tune the first octave, then leave it until tomorrow and if it's still in tune, try for the next octaves. Hopefully we can impress Eric. Can you hand me the muters?'

  Elizabeth handed over the muters and the tuning hammer, holding on to the tuning fork. Muters in place, Elizabeth struck the key again, and sounded the tuning fork. Striking the key while Georgiana was tightening the wire worked really well, and Georgiana had it at perfect pitch pretty quickly. The other wires followed, and one key was tuned. Only seven to go this morning.

  When they both agreed that the next key was at the right pitch, they moved on to the next, and the next, until one octave was in perfect tune. Then they quit, with the piano so old and the wood possibly still damp they didn't want to waste more time than necessary. If it was out of tune again tomorrow, they'd tune it again and go for another octave, hoping it would stay acceptable until Mr Fielding could test it.

  Lunch was very enjoyable with Mr Bennet present, Darcy could not deny he had a bit of a shock when the butler came in and told him there was an elderly gentleman with a tired horse standing outside, asking for Mrs Darcy, but Mr Bennet soon explained he had only come to see his daughter. His father-in-law was clearly not a very demanding visitor, once Darcy had shown him his room and the library it was quite difficult to catch his attention to introduce him to Simon and Mrs Annesley. Still, that was managed, too, and Darcy was free to write his letters of business.

  And Georgiana was not at all shy towards the sarcastic gentleman, very remarkable and yet very encouraging. Apparently the two had come to some agreement to like each other instantly, which made things a lot easier, not just here, but also at the coming wedding. Mr Bennet might have fled from Wickham's presence in his library, he would not hesitate to stand up for Georgiana if she should find herself in any kind of trouble with his self-proclaimed favourite son-in-law.

  After lunch Mr Bennet was back to the library, he was seriously impressed

  by its size and the number of books, realising this was just the tip of the iceberg compared to Pemberley. He was in for a fabulous surprise come spring. Georgiana was practising, her fifth or sixth hour in the company of a piano, and Elizabeth and himself were waiting at the dining-room table anxiously for Mrs Annesley to correct their behaviour in a matter of etiquette. Actually they were not anxious, at least, Eli
zabeth was not. She had never had a governess and was therefore not trained in taking them very seriously, as he was. Mrs Annesley arrived and seated herself on the opposite side of the table. She was not entirely at ease either, this had to be bad, she had to be very embarrassed to say this. Still she started to speak.

  'Mr Darcy, I've written to Mrs Reynolds at your request, to ask her to reserve a place for Fanny Baker as a maid this spring. I have taken the liberty to advise Mrs Reynolds to allow Fanny the chance to develop towards becoming a lady's maid, I have come to appreciate her immaculate appearance and her fastidious habits in the last few weeks.

  Which is what I wanted to talk to you about right now. I know Mrs Darcy and Miss Darcy are not used to having their own personal maid to attend to their toilette, which is not exactly customary, but then letting one's valet and one's former lady companion share the position of housekeeper isn't either, and it works very well so far.

  'But, Miss Darcy is approaching the age where she will be expected to spend more attention to her appearance, and Mrs Darcy is the lady of the house, and while there is no objection to dressing simply and doing the work oneself in one's own household, I feel obliged to point out that at the coming wedding party they will be expected to bring their own maid. If they don't, people will talk. May I take the liberty to suggest that you, Mr Darcy, let Simon do his job as a valet for the duration of your stay at Netherfield, and that you, Mrs Darcy, and Miss Darcy, take one maid to at least present the right impression to the other ladies? And if you both agree, may I suggest you take Fanny Baker with you? She has a natural ability to fit into all kinds of company and is possessed of an uncommon delicacy where talking about the master and the mistress is concerned. In short, she doesn't gossip, which I can assure you is a rarity among house staff. Since you are both well-able to dress yourselves and only need help doing up your hair and accessories, Miss Baker will do very well.