by Kara Louise
Yes, I believe he was correct. Sadie would adjust easily. I was grateful that my master granted my wish and conceded to bring her back with us, but I was still quite forlorn that he did not make a similar resolve regarding that lively young lady who so enchanted both of us back in Hertfordshire.
Would my master adjust easily? He had resolved to put Miss Elizabeth out of his mind. I knew it would not be any time soon that I would be able to forgot her. I wondered how long it would be before my master did.
Chapter 16
After I saw to Sadie’s comfort in her new surroundings, I entered the house, finding my master in his study. His steward had wasted little time in securing him to attend to the work that had accumulated over the month that we were away. I curled up in the corner, as he was thoroughly engaged by all the information before him.
When his steward finished and was about to excuse himself, my master gave him two sealed letters. My ears perked up when I heard him mention his sister.
“Please see that this is delivered to Georgiana at Mrs. Annesley’s home promptly. It is alerting her to the fact that I am returned to town and wish to see her tomorrow morning, if at all possible.”
I was more than pleased and very anxious to see my master’s sister once again and wagged my tail in eager anticipation. Then he handed off another letter.
“And see that this one is delivered to the Hursts’ townhome. It is for Bingley, explaining my sudden and unexpected presence in town and extending an invitation for him, Miss Bingley, and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst to dinner tomorrow afternoon. Please inform the staff that we will be having these guests.”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy. I shall see to it immediately. Is there anything else?”
“No, thank you. You may go.”
Whilst I looked forward with great eagerness to seeing Georgiana again, I knew that the invitation to the other party was inevitably going to result in the demise of any hopes Bingley and Miss Bennet had for one another, unless he stood firm. I was doubtful that he would be able to withstand this united front that had been planned to bear witness of the disheartening and discouraging accounts of Miss Bennet’s deficient displays of admiration and unsuitable family connections.
For the remainder of the evening, my master immersed himself in work. He spoke not one word to me since I entered his study. But the silence between us only heightened the thought that Miss Elizabeth was first and foremost on both of our minds.
He had resolved to forget about her and he was carrying through on it; outwardly, at least. I wondered if it gave him pleasure to be under such strict regulation. I doubted that it truly would. With little hope of ever encountering Miss Elizabeth again, all I could do was hope that my master might some time soon come to his senses. At least I had a sense of gratitude in that Sadie had been allowed to join us.
*~*~*
The next morning I was awakened by the sound of a howling wind. I could sense, just by its sound that a cold, north wind had invaded London. I was grateful for my warm coat of fur and that I was sheltered in the warmth of the house. A wave of regret swept through me as I considered Sadie outside with only the shelter of a small wooden dog house to protect her from the elements. But again, I reminded myself I had been pampered my whole life whilst she most likely had a coat of fur that sufficiently kept her warm.
Once I began moving about in the bed, my master followed suit. He lifted up his head slowly and looked around and then towards me, giving me a faint smile. He swung his legs out from under the warmth of the blankets and reached for the servant’s bell, giving it a sharp ring.
Even before the lingering peal of the ring ceased, a servant came in and lit the fire, which sent its warmth throughout the room. My master’s valet then entered and proceeded to set out his clothes, informing him that his bath was almost ready. I jumped off the bed and made my way down to the kitchen, where a hearty meal was awaiting me. How wonderful it was to be back where I was indulged and spoiled!
After my master’s breakfast, he and his steward sequestered themselves again in the study. I retreated to one of my favourite corners of the house and settled down, quickly falling asleep.
The sound of voices eventually awakened me and looking up, I beheld Georgiana entering the house. I struggled to arouse myself quickly to greet her, but aches and an overall stiffness prevented me from doing so in a timely manner. I felt as though the cold had not only taken hold of London, it had taken hold of me, as well.
I walked as briskly as I could to greet her, maintaining an enthusiastic wag of my tail, and saw her eyes light up when she saw me.
“Reggie! It is so good to see you!”
She reached down and wrapped her arms tightly about my neck. I gave her face a very polite licking, which made her giggle. “I have missed you, my good friend. It is a joy to have you back.”
Georgiana stood up and when she inquired after her brother, was told he was in the study with his steward and they would inform him she had arrived. We proceeded to the sitting room to await his beckon.
“Tell me, Reggie,” she said as she sat in one of the chairs and leaned over to stroke my head. “Did you enjoy your stay at Netherfield?”
I let out a short bark and wagged my tail in response.
Georgiana smiled and we both turned when we heard the familiar gait of my master approaching the room. She stood up and when he came to the door, he returned her smile and they quickly drew toward each other. They held each other in an embrace that my master did not seem inclined to bring to an end.
Keeping his arms partly about her, he pulled away slightly and regarded her admiringly. “You are grown since I last saw you.”
Georgiana laughed. “You always say that, Fitzwilliam, and if you insist on continuing to do so every time we reunite after a separation, I shall have grown so exceedingly tall that I shall be a giant by the time I am old and grey.”
Smiling, he took her hand, and walking in, espied a bowl of fruit that had been provided. “Come, let us sit down and visit. Would you care for some fruit, Georgiana?” He escorted her over to the table and they each selected a deep red apple.
My master picked up a linen napkin and began rubbing the apple within its folds, whether to clean it or make it shiny, I know not, but he seemed very intent on his task, turning it over and over in his hand. Georgiana, politeness demanding that she not take a direct bite out of it, as was her brother’s intent, handed the piece of fruit over to the servant who was standing nearby, and asked that it be quartered for her.
As my master was about to take a bite, the servant let out a cry. “Mr. Darcy! Stop! I am so sorry, Sir!”
My master abruptly stopped, his mouth wide open as he was about to sink his teeth into the fruit he was holding.
“It has gone bad inside, I fear.”
The servant nervously picked up the whole bowl of fruit and went to retrieve the potentially rotten culprit from my master’s hands.
“I shall dispose of these directly, Sir. They were purchased just this morning from a shipment that arrived from Spain. They must not have been inspected thoroughly. I am so sorry.”
“No harm done, Hannington” my master reassured him. “You might as well throw out the whole lot.”
Georgiana looked at her brother and smiled softly. “It looked like such a perfect piece of fruit… at least on the outside. I would have never guessed that it was unsuitable to eat.”
My master looked at her oddly for a few seconds and then suddenly jumped up. “Hannington! Bring those apples back, please!”
The servant, who had just stepped out the door, turned around. “Pardon me, Sir?”
“Bring those apples back.” He waved his hand as he said, “You may dispose of the one that was cut open, but leave the others.”
“But Sir, if the one is spoilt, the others are most likely, as well.”
“Yes, I am well aware of that.”
The servant gave a slight bow, albeit with a quizzical expression on his face. “As you wish.�
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Once he left, my master took Georgiana’s hand and led her to the small settee, where they sat down. “Tell me, how are you, Georgiana? How is your establishment with Mrs. Annesley?”
Georgiana giggled and I was certain she was as mystified by her brother’s odd request as was the servant. “I am quite well, Fitzwilliam, but would you oblige me and tell me exactly what is the meaning of this peculiar request?” She gave her head a slight nod toward the bowl of fruit.
My master shook his head and poked Georgiana’s nose with his finger. “It is merely for a material lesson to be used later this afternoon. Nothing that concerns you, my dearest.” He appeared to be oddly satisfied with something. “Now, you were about to tell me about Mrs. Annesley.”
“It is an excellent arrangement. Mrs. Annesley is firm, yet kind, just as you wished. She is an especially suitable companion for me.” A brief lull in the conversation seemed to have an awkward effect on her as she suddenly fixed her eyes upon her hands, nervously rubbing them together. Glancing down at them, she hesitantly inquired how the time had passed with Mr. Bingley at Netherfield.
“It went well.” He paused, as if he was going to elaborate, but then did not.
Georgiana lifted her eyes up to her brother and appeared to wish to say something but she averted her eyes from him again. I wondered if there was something that was troubling her.
She hesitantly gave a sidelong glance at him and finally spoke, “Fitzwilliam, I am quite surprised you remained on at Netherfield as long as you did.”
“Did you think me there too long?”
“Yes, I confess I did.”
“I am sorry. I did write. Did you not receive my letters?”
“Yes, I had merely expected you to return much sooner.”
I pondered her apparent struggle to look at her brother and found that she now had turned away to look down at me.
By the narrowing of my master’s eyes, it was obvious that he could see that something was disturbing her, as well.
“Tell me, Georgie. What is it that has you troubled?”
As she continued to face in my direction, I could see the all too familiar pained expression take hold of her features. Her breathing became unusually laboured and her fists were clenched so tightly that her knuckles were turning white.
“I thought perhaps… perhaps…” She took a deep breath as she struggled to find the words. After a few moments, she continued, “Is there anything you wish to tell me, Brother?”
My master looked inquisitively at her. “Tell you?” He shook his head, trying to understand. “About what?”
“I… it is nothing. You enjoyed your visit with the Bingleys, then?”
“Yes. I am expecting them this afternoon.”
“All of them?” Georgiana inquired.
My master seemed perplexed at her query and bringing up his hand to rub his chin, he answered, “Yes. Charles, Miss Bingley and the Hursts have all been invited.” He reached out for her hand and cradled it in both of his. “Tell me, Georgiana. What is it?”
She pulled away and stood up, walking towards the window. Taking a deep breath and straightening her shoulders, she began, “Fitzwilliam, pray forgive me if this is none of my business.”
Her eyes glistened and she pursed her lips together as she seemed to gather the courage to continue. Very slowly, she said, “I know these things happen and I have been anticipating it for several years now…” She confessed softly, “I suspect that you are now inclined to marry.”
My master’s eyes widened and he drew back. He paled and appeared unable to say anything.
She looked back up to him, and knowing her brother as well as I do, saw his reaction as a confirmation to her suspicions. She grasped her hands tightly together. “If you have indeed found a lady... found her to be worthy of your admiration, as I suspect you did whilst at Netherfield, I will embrace her with every fibre of my being. I will do everything in my power to welcome her into our family. It may be difficult, but I will promise to love her as if she were my very own sister.”
My master, who quickly recovered from her words, asked, “Georgiana, pray tell me, of whom are you speaking?”
She looked down, nervously retrieving some letters from her reticule. “Miss Bingley, of course. You are settling on an offer to Miss Bingley this afternoon, are you not?”
He let out a gasping huff and exclaimed, “Miss Bingley? You believe me to have affection for Miss Bingley?”
Georgiana barely nodded. Seeing her brother’s incredulity, she returned her focus to her hands on her lap, a stricken expression on her countenance.
“Why… yes. She was clearly quite constantly in your thoughts throughout your correspondence. In one letter, she was mentioned in practically every paragraph. ‘Miss Bingley inquires after you… Miss Bingley longs to see you again… Miss Bingley is delighted to hear of your improvement on the harp.’ I believed you chose to remain as long as you did at Netherfield and referred to her with such constancy as you did because you had formed a deep attachment to her.”
My master walked up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “My feelings for Miss Bingley are as they ever were, Georgiana. You need not fear that I have any plans to marry her.”
I noticed the release of pent up anxiety as Georgiana’s shoulders slumped and she seemed to let out a long breath that she had been holding whilst awaiting her brother’s response.
“So, you did not form an attachment with Miss Bingley whilst you were at Netherfield?”
“No, I most certainly did not.”
She turned and fell against her brother. “Pray, forgive me for any disrespect towards Miss Bingley, Fitzwilliam, but I am so very pleased to hear that. I believed with all your references to her, you were preparing me to accept her as my sister!”
He let out a bemused chuckle. “No, my dear, I would by no means ever do such a thing to you.”
He pulled her closely and I could see the expressions on both of their faces. Georgiana’s face was flooded with relief, whilst my master’s countenance held no such respite, as he squeezed his eyes closed and tightened his jaw.
“Fitzwilliam?”
“Yes, Georgiana.”
“I confess that with each passing year that you do not find a lady worthy of your regard, I fear that you will merely settle for someone suitable in status only and not as a woman suitable to you in essentials.”
My master pulled away. “What do you mean, Georgiana?”
“I know your feelings about the ladies of the ton; that many look to a marriage of advantage rather than one based on love and respect. I know that who you marry is solely your decision, but I must be honest and tell you that it sometimes frightens me.”
He pulled her chin up so that he could look into her eyes. “What exactly is it that frightens you, Georgiana?”
“Your wife shall be my sister and I would wish, with all my heart, to be able to love her as one.”
“You would wish to love my wife as your sister?” He spoke it as if he had never considered this before. My master briefly looked away, and his eyes closed for the briefest moment before he finally turned back to her. “I am quite confident that you would love any woman I marry and that she would love you, in return.” He glanced briefly at me and then out the window, as I recognized again that reflective countenance that suggested he was meditating upon Miss Elizabeth.
“But I would wish that you would truly love her as well, Fitzwilliam. Will you marry for love or will you merely marry for duty?”
I observed him as he looked down now, his brow furrowed and jaw clenched as he gazed wistfully at the floor. “I should hope that I will marry for love,” he answered without looking up.
“And I am sure I would love anyone you loved, but I must confess…,” and now Georgiana looked down. “I confess that it would be extremely difficult to feel a sisterly connection to someone like Miss Bingley.”
A knowing smile touched each of their faces.
“Do not fear, Georgiana.” Tilting his head and lifting her chin with his fingers, my master reassured her. “Miss Bingley may have designs on me, but she will never be Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy.”
“Oh, Fitzwilliam, I am confident that there is a woman somewhere whose heart will be inexorably entwined with yours.”
My master started at this, as I did, in hearing Georgiana use very much the same words as my master had in the carriage about Miss Elizabeth.
“Fitzwilliam, do you know that I imagine her to be just as I pictured our mother to be?”
My master looked at her oddly. “And exactly how have you pictured our mother?”
“As very handsome and intelligent; someone who made Father laugh and enjoy life. Even though I only knew Father as a man who preferred solitude, I imagined Mother as the one who gently encouraged him to put aside the hundreds of years of Darcy reserve and be the man he truly was deep inside. I saw it come through his quiet demeanour occasionally whilst I was growing up.”
A smile lit up her face. “I enjoyed those few times when he allowed himself the liberty to laugh… really laugh and to enjoy life. I pictured our mother as one who touched his life in such a way that he felt truly alive when he was around her. She brought a liveliness to his life that he had never before experienced.”
She pulled away from my master and looked at him askance with a shy smile. “Was she anything like that, Fitzwilliam, or is it just fanciful thinking?”
My master swallowed deeply, his eyes narrowing. “She was exactly as you described, Georgiana. Exactly as you described.”
Georgiana smiled and my master pulled her close again. How I wished he had spoken to her about Miss Elizabeth or that Georgiana would have pursued her suspicion that he had fallen in love. She seemed content, however, to merely hear he had not formed an attachment with Miss Bingley.