perfectly.
His sister and her teacher were just teacher and pupil, there was not a single sign of attachment visible in Mr Fielding, and though Darcy knew Georgie and Elizabeth were not making things up, he decided to take the situation at face value and let his sister continue the lessons she so desired. And Elizabeth would be pleased to have her private concert, if indeed Mr Fielding would be prepared to play for them in their family circle. Maybe there was something more Darcy could do for the young man, though apparently he already had a patron and it would not be seemly to interfere in that.
It seemed the lesson was already done after an hour and a half, for Georgie put away the music sheets they had been studying. Now she made room on the stool beside her, and Mr Fielding sat very close to her. He put a few different sheets of music on the stand, looked straight at Darcy and announced, 'Mr Darcy, we've finished our lesson for today, and Miss Darcy has requested we play together first, after which she wants me to demonstrate my skills as well so you can hear what she is aiming for. Please enjoy!'
And they launched into a very gay piece meant to be played by two people on one piano, very diverting, and very well-performed. Georgie's concentration had lessened just a bit, she was clearly enjoying herself hugely, and Mr Fielding was certainly not disdainful of what had to be child's play to him. He was playing his part, refraining from comments or even showing that he heard mistakes in Georgie's performance. So he could just enjoy music, too, he was not always ambitious.
The virtuoso piece ended, Mr Fielding skipped a few pages, and now they played a very mellow, flowing song, quite literally, for Mr Fielding joined the piano singing. He had a magnificent voice, such a talented young man, and after the first verse Georgie's sweet voice joined his in the refrain. This was quality music, and Darcy truly enjoyed himself listening. When that song had ended, Georgiana sat next to him on the sofa, and Mr Fielding removed all the sheet music and settled in the middle of the stool.
Immediately after that he started to play, and though not in possession of a natural ear for music Darcy could hear why Elizabeth had been so overwhelmed by this man's performance. This was superb, as his beloved said, hearing him play made one realise how much Georgie still had to learn. Georgie was totally overcome by what she heard, exactly as Elizabeth
had described, cheeks blushing, face set in rapture, this was what she was striving for, and Darcy could not fault her for feeling admiration for someone who had such a talent.
All too soon Mr Fielding finished and looked at his guest, smiling.
'That was superb, Mr Fielding,' Darcy said, 'I understand now what Mrs Darcy told me about your immense talent, you truly are very gifted.'
'Thank you, Mr Darcy,' the young man observed, 'I'm glad you appreciate my music. I wrote this composition myself, and your sister keeps pushing me to write more, which I must admit I am inclined to do, are in a way forced to do by something inside me; as a player I generally rule the music, but these days the music sometimes takes over, it just presents itself and sings inside me until I write it down. Then when my mind is quiet once more, I play back what I wrote down and arrange it according to the general rules of music, to perfect it, so to speak. It happens very naturally.'
Darcy replied, 'I certainly agree with my sister that your music seems a valuable addition to the music I have heard. But of course she is the expert in the family.'
Wasn't that interesting, Mr Fielding didn't seem eager to take credit for his own magnificent creations, he made it sound as if they were brought to him by some higher power, which might of course feel that way to the artist in a creative spell. Wasn't that where the ancient Greeks got their muses from?
'Mr Fielding,' Darcy asked, and he could see a tiny bit of apprehension in the beautiful, well-dressed young man, 'will you please honour us with a private performance of your music? You have made such an impression on my beloved wife that she has begged me to ask you to perform the piece you played to her in its entirety in our family circle. You will of course be sufficiently compensated for your time.'
That was not what Mr Fielding was expecting him to say, and he didn't seem unwilling to accede to Elizabeth's request.
'I'm honoured you should ask, Mr Darcy,' he replied, 'and I would love to play my entire concerto for Mrs Darcy, she has a natural ear for music and she greatly enjoyed my playing. And I have to admit that I would love to try Miss Darcy's instrument, she has told me its maker and I suspect it is a very superior piano. So yes, please, I would love to play for you.'
'Will you be available in two days' time? We leave for a Hertfordshire next week and will probably stay there for at least a week and a half. My best
friend is getting married, you see.'
'Congratulations, Mr Darcy,' Mr Fielding said, 'and so soon after your own wedding, what a happy circumstance. I suppose Miss Darcy will miss out on her lessons in that time? Hertfordshire is about a day's drive away from the city, isn't it?'
Georgiana clearly didn't like that idea at all, and seeing her disappointment, Mr Fielding added, 'I can give you a lot of homework, Miss Darcy, and if you bring your sister to your last lesson before your departure, I can point out your pitfalls to Mrs Darcy and she can correct you when you practise. I suppose there will be an instrument at your friend's house?'
'A very good one,' Darcy replied, 'but we can drive you over once or twice, Georgie. It's about half a day's drive, actually, but that may be the difference between a private carriage and post. My fast team could make it in four hours.'
'Bingley's piano may be a very fine instrument,' Georgie complained, 'but it's always slightly out of tune. His sisters usually play it and they cannot seem to hear the difference. But I suppose the wedding will be fun, and if you're willing to drive me over for lessons I'll put up with an out-of-tune piano lightly.'
'I'm sorry we have so few days before you leave, Miss Darcy,' her teacher said, 'for I can teach you how to tune a piano, but not in a quarter of an hour, and we do need time for your lesson or you will not have anything to practise at your friend's house. Tuning is not difficult to do, if you have perfect pitch it is merely a trick to be repeated a lot of times, a very time-consuming, meticulous job. But I for one think it is a very useful skill to have for a pianist, even one of a high family, for one can never be certain when a properly skilled tuner can be employed. Also, it is a special treat to play a piano that one has tuned oneself, there is a special connection somehow.'
Darcy now found his sister looking at him intently just before she asked bluntly, 'May I take an extra lesson this week, Fitzwilliam, to learn how to tune a piano? I need that skill, that lovely instrument you bought me for my sitting-room at Pemberley was not perfectly tuned either, I supposed it was difficult to get a good tuner over there and I didn't want to appear snobbish to let you have one over from London. No-one but myself and maybe Elizabeth would ever hear. If I can do it myself I'll never be dependent on others again to have a perfectly tuned piano. Please?'
He had never heard anything amiss with that instrument but it was certainly a waste of resources to get her the best piano money could buy, then use it badly tuned, no matter how few people could actually hear that.
'I'm totally fine with it, Georgie, it's part of your education after all, but I suppose you'd better take Elizabeth to that particular lesson, she can at least hear what all the fuss is about. I'd just hear the same tone played over and over and get bored to death.'
This caused Mr Fielding to smile and he interjected, 'If it is all right with you, Mr Darcy, your wife could attend as well, she seems to have the hearing required to learn. The ladies could help each other out the first few times.'
Then he seemed to picture something in his mind, and obviously experienced some doubt.
'Unless you find it unseemly for your lady to stand bent over a piano, that is.'
That young genius clearly didn't know Elizabeth, if he thought Darcy would ever dare judge what was seemly for his spirited beloved.
'Mrs Darcy is her own person, Mr Fielding, very much so. If she wants to learn how to tune a piano, she will. I'll leave it up to the three of you to decide who stands over the piano and who doesn't. It's not as if the ladies are going to tune pianos in a stranger's house.'
Mr Fielding seemed to find that quite funny, for he smiled again, and proceeded to make an appointment with Georgie for her next lesson, and for her tuning lesson. And they indeed settled for a private concert the day after tomorrow, Darcy inviting Mr Fielding to dine with them first. The young man accepted and seemed reasonably pleased to be dining with his pupil's family, so much so that Darcy again started to doubt that he had unseemly feelings for her.
Satisfied with the morning's accomplishments they took leave of Mr Fielding and put on their coats, Georgiana hailing a cab once they were outside, and apparently some strain had been taken away from his sister for she was positively chatty again.
'I'm looking forward to learning how to tune a piano, Fitzwilliam, imagine a piano that is always in perfect tune, that must be like heaven!'
'I'll be glad never to witness your growing irritation anymore when a tuner is late, or slow.'
'Or when the one in Derbyshire hasn't managed to get my instrument in perfect tune, yet again, one would say he would have learned by now.'
'You managed to hide that pretty well, I never had a clue you weren't satisfied. You should have said something.'
'After you gave me a gift fit for a princess? Nice sister I would have been!
Besides, what would have been the use? He's never hit the mark even once, he clearly doesn't have the hearing required. Do you think Elizabeth will mind coming along?'
No, Georgie,' her brother replied, 'I think she will be thrilled. Has she ever played since arriving in town?'
Georgie considered that question before replying.
'Now you mention it, no. I suppose that's my fault, for being so good at it.
I'm so sorry, I never meant to take a pleasure from her, that is very selfish of me, I only thought of myself, I never offered her a turn at the piano. I cannot seem to stop once I'm sitting behind my piano.'
'You cannot hide behind a piano forever, Georgie,' Darcy gently admonished his sister, 'you know you will be expected to dance with a lot of different gentlemen at Bingley's wedding. Better get Elizabeth to play again so you and I can put in some practice dancing.'
'Will I be expected to dance with George Wickham, Fitzwilliam?'
Shocked to his very core, Darcy had to admit he hadn't even realised his nemesis would be at his best friend's wedding. No sooner had he witnessed the union of Wickham and Miss Lydia than he had totally forgotten about both the young people, though they were to become his sister and brother if Miss Elizabeth would ever find love for him in her heart. The fact that Wickham was actually his brother-in-law had been very easy to forget with the thoughtless couple at least two counties away from them, and Lydia being a very negligent correspondent to her second eldest sister. Or maybe Elizabeth had been writing her but didn't tell Darcy about it, to spare his feelings no doubt.
'Oh my poor brother, you totally forgot. Well, I'm not sorry to remind you of something you put yourself through immense trouble arranging, it's time we both faced the fact that Wickham will be there, chatting up everyone, making himself liked among those who will still fall for it. You seem to be more put out than I am, Fitzwilliam, and you aren't even at risk of being asked to dance with him.'
Darcy was indeed totally shaken by the idea of being in public with George Wickham. Though privately he felt a great triumph at having married the worthless bugger off to the most insipid piece of womanhood Darcy knew, Wickham would no doubt see it as his own great triumph, having squeezed a sizeable amount of money out of Darcy, and being related to him by marriage. Darcy was so distraught with the idea of having to face Wickham in the one place where Darcy had the big disadvantage, a large group of Hertfordshire people, most of whom he didn't know or didn't like, he couldn't even speak for a minute or so.
A kiss on his cheek snapped him out of it, and Georgie's sweet voice.
'Never mind, Fitzwilliam, when all's said and done you have won, you know. He may be your brother-in-law, and you may have given him a lot of money, but he's still broke all the time and has to work for a living, whereas you are one of the richest men in England. But most importantly, Fitzwilliam, you will be entering the ballroom with the woman you both wanted on your arm. Never forget that, you won, and not because of your fortune, but on character.'
She had done done it again, his little sister, pick out the most important fact.
He had gotten the woman he wanted, whereas Wickham had given her her up for mere money. Elizabeth would have married for love, and if Wickham had been worth her affection she would have lived the life he could have offered to give her. George Wickham once had the advantage, a huge advantage, but in the end Darcy had won, on merits, as his sister pointed out.
'I guess Wickham may very well ask you to dance with him, just to make both of us very uncomfortable, he has no shame so he won't feel it. Of course you can hide behind the piano all the time to avoid him, but I really want you to enjoy yourself. Refusing him is an option, but again he would feel pleasure at disconcerting you. Dear Georgie, I have no answer for you here, I'm even stuck with what to do myself, I cannot ignore him, that much is obvious. Let's beg Elizabeth for help, she will think of something, and if we include Simon, they'll come up with a way to turn around any attempt from Wickham to embarrass us to disconcert him instead. We can hide behind Elizabeth, she'll save us from Wickham, she'll rout him horse, foot and artillery. I'm totally comfortable once more, and you can be, too.'
And incredibly, he was, he was not pretending to spare his sister, Darcy really knew Elizabeth would find a solution to this problem, with or without
Simon's help.
By now they were back home, and Darcy paid the driver. Walking back to the house he said, 'Thank you, Georgie, for thinking of Wickham. If you hadn't, I might have forgotten about him until he was right before me, and I seriously don't know what I would have done.'
'Leave things to your wife, undoubtedly,' she replied cheekily, 'and why not?
That is what a marriage is supposed to be, isn't it? A merging of two people to a whole that is stronger than both components separately?'
'Georgie, I love you, you know that, don't you?'
'I do, dear brother, but I'm glad you've taken to telling me every so often, somehow that makes your love even more valuable.'
Darcy felt a strong need to hug his sister, and he did it right there on the pavement in front of their house. Georgie leaned into his embrace with a relish, and Darcy reminded himself he needed to save some tokens of affection for her, just because he was married didn't mean Georgie could suddenly do without intimacy. So far, he was the only one who could give it to her, and he would be more attentive from now on.
But when they got into the house, Elizabeth immediately belied his last thought by embracing Georgie even before she greeted him.
'Something happened, I hope nothing bad?' she asked her sister outright.
Looking down on her brother's wife, she was quite a bit taller than Elizabeth, Georgie admitted, 'We discussed George Wickham's being at your sister and Bingley's wedding. I suppose it disturbed me more than I thought.'
Darcy could no longer wait for his greeting, and he kissed Elizabeth with Georgie still in her arms, but Elizabeth seemed distracted somehow.
'You know, I had totally forgotten about that, but Jane has indeed written me to warn he will be there. I'm sorry, towards both of you. He's absolutely nothing to me, I wondered why Jane mentioned it so pointedly, it seems like she was a bit more attentive than I am. I'd be ashamed of myself if it wasn't so much like Jane to think of others before herself.'
She laughed as she saw both her husband and her sister looking at her in wonder, what did she mean to say with that remark? It made no sense at all!
'Living with Jane all my life I've never had to think of others or feel bad for them, she always did that for me. I went through life wholly unconcerned, just thinking of myself, being reminded of other people's feelings by Jane
whenever it could not be avoided.'
As the tension was broken by this droll remark, and Georgie even managed a smile at her sister's audacity, Elizabeth added, more seriously, 'I didn't feel for you at all after spurning your affections, Fitzwilliam. Though in my defence I may add I did feel ashamed to have treated you unfairly, and to have nursed prejudices against you. But still I didn't feel sorry for the hurt and disappointment I caused you.'
Darcy needed to have her in his arms now, and fortunately Georgie felt that and made way for him. His voice was low and feeling as he nuzzled Elizabeth's neck.
'I don't wonder, Elizabeth. The things I said, the way I behaved, I'm sure nobody would have expected me to be much affected but by anger. I did not show any sign of being capable of even feeling pain. Though I assure you I did feel it, it made me physically ill, very peculiar. I can still remember the sensation.'
But the memory could not get hold of him with Elizabeth holding him tightly, giving him little kisses to prove she now knew he was capable of feelings.
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