by AmyJ
"She is fine. She only wishes to rest a bit longer undisturbed." He cast a quick questioning glance at Elizabeth to which she responded with a small barely
perceptible nod.
When breakfast concluded, Elizabeth announced to the table, careful not to
look at anyone in particular, a desire to walk in the gardens. Unsurprisingly, no one owned to a desire to join her and she quickly departed.
When Darcy left the breakfast room, he returned to his rooms. There, he paced impatiently, waiting until he was certain he would not raise Miss Bingley's suspicion when he too went outdoors. When he felt it was safe, he grabbed a random book from his side table and headed out to the gardens in search of
Elizabeth.
As expected, he found her meandering through the gardens, her face tilted up to absorb the sun's warm rays.
"Li'l Beth!" Darcy greeted.
"Fizzy!" Elizabeth greeted automatically in return. "I suppose you wish to ask after Georgiana."
Without any other preamble, he shoved Georgiana's note into her hands. "She says the two of you spoke. Is she all right? Should I go speak with her?"
Only the earnestness of Darcy's countenance prevented Elizabeth from
laughing at him. She quickly read the note and said, "It appears she will come speak with you when she is ready."
At Darcy's impatient glare, she smiled at him and said, "She was fine when I left her last night. She has much to think on." She looked up at Darcy. "It is not easy to do when there is an older brother constantly hovering."
Darcy looked appropriately chastised. "I have been very worried about her," he said softly.
Elizabeth nodded and placed a comforting hand on his arm. "I understand. I was astounded by her revelation. I can not believe George could betray your family like that!" Her eyes glowed with fiery anger. "I would strangle..."
Immediately she blushed at the unladylike comment.
Darcy's visage darkened and his voice took on a dangerous edge. "He was always jealous of my station. I believe my father's benevolence only showed George what he did not have. He was determined to acquire it by any means
necessary." He took a deep breath and his countenance turned again to one of concern and compassion. "She was all right when you left her last night?"
"I would not have left her if she was not." When Darcy nodded sheepishly, she added, "It was a good talk. I think she is relieved to speak of it. She still needs some time to heal on her own though."
"Thank you, Li'l Beth. Richard and I have been beside ourselves on how to help her. She has become so timid and meek. She hardly speaks to anyone, not even my aunt; and with the exception of the past week or so, it seems she is always on the verge of tears."
"You should not be so hard on yourself," Elizabeth said compassionately. "You have done an admirable job raising her. You should be proud." She was
surprised when Darcy blushed.
"Thank you for speaking with her. I think perhaps she needed a woman's perspective. I had hoped she would confide in Mrs. Annesley, but I think the age difference is too great."
"She had already been betrayed by Mrs. Younge. It will be difficult for her trust another companion so quickly. And you forget, Mrs. Annesley
is your employee."
Darcy was taken aback. He had never thought about it from that perspective.
Was it possible Georgiana was reluctant to confide in the woman because she was scared it would get back to him? He wondered what other blunders he had committed unknowingly. "I see," was all he managed.
Realizing she needed to lighten the mood, she said, "Fizzy, Georgiana is a strong girl. She will recover. Just give her time and space." With a smirk she added, "I have already caught her teasing you once, so I know she is making progress." When Darcy smiled, she said, "I need to look in on Jane." She handed him back the letter and said, "Georgiana will come to you when she is ready." With a stern look she added, "Wait for her to come to you."
Darcy looked after her as she returned to the house. Time and space. That was what Mrs. Annesley had said as well. He grunted at the idea. He hated feeling so impotent, and he hated waiting. He needed to do something. He exhaled
sharply. "Time and space," he repeated to himself again softly. "Very well, Li'l Beth. I will wait. I hope you are right."
With nothing better to do, he returned to his rooms. He sent word to Georgiana he would be in his rooms whenever she was ready. If it took a week of
Sundays, he would stay there.
It was late afternoon before Darcy finally received the knock on the door he awaited. As Georgiana entered his rooms, he greeted her with a relieved and affectionate hug. He was about to say something, but unexpectedly she spoke first.
"Thank you bringing me here, Fitzwilliam." At Darcy's inquisitive look, she said, "I told Elizabeth everything, and she still wants to be my friend." She smiled brightly.
"I was correct, I see," he replied lightly, and directed her towards the settee.
When she and her brother were both situated, Georgiana said, "She was so kind and helpful. She did not judge me as our aunt and uncle did, and she did not patronize me either, like you and Richard."
Darcy's mouth opened in surprise. His sister had never said an ill word against him! He was about to say something, but Georgiana quieted him by raising her hand. "Pray, allow me to finish." When Darcy closed his mouth, she continued.
"You and Richard would have me believe I did nothing wrong." Again she had to stay his tongue. "Despite that, I could not help but feel guilty. And I did not want to believe that something like that could happen to me and it was beyond my control. Elizabeth helped me sort through it and made me realize where I had failed, and that I had I acted according to my conscience things may have turned out differently."
Darcy was intrigued, which was indicated by his raised brows. He still believed Georgiana had done nothing wrong and had been trying to help her overcome
what he deemed unwarranted guilt. Elizabeth however had taken a completely
different approach, not that he could not complain with the results.
"You and Richard were correct about one thing." Georgiana explained. "I was tricked by George. I was not wrong in believing him or believing myself in
love, I was na ve. H
�
owever, I knew that eloping was wrong, but I let him
pressure me into it anyway. I went against my own conscience for him. That
was my first sin. My second was not informing you earlier. I knew Mrs.
Younge was wrong to leave me alone with George. I knew you would be
displeased if you found out about it, so I did not tell you. I was dishonest with you. The consequences could have been disastrous. Had I been honest with you in my letters, I might not have had to suffer a broken heart."
Darcy's mouth hung agape as he listened to his sister. The girl in front of him sounded so mature and wise. He hardly recognized her as his sister. Even
before the incident, she had never shown this level of confidence and
determination.
"Now that I understand better what I have done wrong, and how I might have prevented the situation," Georgiana continued, "I wish to apologize to you for being dishonest. I will never deceive you again, Fitzwilliam. I will apologize to Richard when next I see him."
Darcy could do nothing but hug his sister. She had seemingly healed overnight.
His debt of gratitude to Elizabeth knew no bounds. She had done in one
evening what he, his cousin, and his aunt and uncle could not accomplish in months. Not only that, but there was seeing a new level of maturity in his sister.
He knew that too was the result of Elizabeth. Georgiana continued talking, halting his internal discussion.
"There is one more thing, Fitzwilliam. I am not sorry this happened. I have learned a lesson, a hard lesson, but one I needed to learn. I am grateful I have learned it now rather than after my coming out
. I know now that not all men will have good intentions. There will be other men like... men who will only be interested in me for my dowry, and I need to be watchful." With a defiant look she added, "You can not always protect me Fitzwilliam; I must learn some things for myself. I am almost an adult, and would appreciate you starting to treat me as one."
Darcy opened his mouth to protest, but Georgiana's eyes were filled with the Darcy stubbornness. She was not to be gainsaid. He knew because he had seen that look before. In fact, it was but a split second before he realized he was looking at Georgiana, not his mother. The resemblance was uncanny.
Georgiana's eye's narrowed, and she pursed her lips the same way his mother did when she would not be moved. Even her nose flared, ever so slightly, just as his mother's used to.
His emotions gathered in this throat. He nodded and swallowed, before tears could form as well. It took another moment or two before he felt his voice
strong enough for speech. "Very well, Georgiana. But keep in mind Richard and I are still your guardians."
Georgiana threw her arms around her brother and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you again, Fitzwilliam, for bringing me here and reintroducing
Elizabeth to me. You are the most wonderful of brothers!" She released him and headed for the door.
Darcy watched his sister leave in an astonished daze. She had seemingly healed and matured overnight! Briefly, he wondered if the change was only temporary, but he quickly pushed that aside. Temporary or not, it was a marked
improvement. For the first time since the incident, he believed she would fully recover. He needed to find Elizabeth and thank her.
Shortly after Georgiana departed his room, Darcy went in search of Elizabeth.
Not surprisingly, he found her in Jane's room. Georgiana was also there,
though. He made a polite inquiry after Miss Bennet's health and then took his leave.
A flutter of conspiratorial giggles followed him out the door.
The rest of the afternoon and the whole of the following day continued in the same vein. Each time he sought Elizabeth out, she was either with Georgiana, Jane, or Georgiana and Jane.
His frustration mounted. He needed to speak with her; he needed to thank her and find out what she had said to Georgiana. He had encouraged the friendship
between the Miss Bennets and his sister, but at the moment he was finding it difficult to share Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth visited Pemberley, she had always been free to go riding or
walking with him. Only when he was helping his father on the estate, did she spend time with Georgiana. Now that Georgiana was grown, and they were in
Hertfordshire, Elizabeth's attention was being monopolized by her sister and his! He was not sure he liked it.
He was near the end of his rope the day of Elizabeth and Jane's departure. The carriage had been loaded when Darcy began an almost frantic search for
Elizabeth. He could not allow Elizabeth to leave Netherfield without speaking to her and thanking her. If he did not speak with her now, it could be days before they could have a private conversation.
Thankfully, he found Elizabeth as she exited her room after taking one last look for anything left behind. As she headed towards the stairs, he offered her his arm. "I must thank you for everything you have done for Georgiana. She is a new girl because of you."
Elizabeth blushed under the ardent praise. "It is nothing more than I would have done for any other person," she said demurely.
"My thanks just the same. I would like to know what you said to her. If not now, perhaps on a morning walk we could speak again?"
Elizabeth replied archly, "And betray a confidence? I think not!"
Darcy looked at her blankly for a moment and then shook his head, realizing he might never know what really transpired that evening.
A few moments later, they met the others near the carriage. Jane and Bingley were standing next to each other, talking in low tones; each covered in a light blush. Elizabeth could only shake her head. Jane had not heeded her warnings, and she was certain Jane's heart was no longer her own. She sent up another silent prayer that this time Darcy would be wrong.
Georgiana met Elizabeth with a tight embrace. After a moment, they each took a step back, but continued holding hands. "You must come call at Longbourn, Georgiana. Or at least join me on my walks," Elizabeth said. Georgiana agreed, but could not hide the tears that glossed her eyes. "Thank you, Elizabeth. I shall miss you."
"I am but three miles away; surely that is not so great a distance." Georgiana nodded and stepped in for another hug. Darcy stood nearby watching, wearing a small smile. He had gambled bringing Georgiana to Hertfordshire and it had paid off in great dividends.
Unfortunately, Miss Bingley became impatient with the displays of affection, and all but pulled Georgiana away to end the farewells. "Good day, Miss Eliza." Seeing the Darcys still nearby, Miss Bingley added, "It has been a pleasure having you here at Netherfield." Her voice dripped with insincerity.
"Thank you, Miss Bingley, for your hospitality. It was most kind."
With that, Elizabeth stepped into the carriage, with Darcy's assistance, and Bingley handed Jane in after her. Another wave of goodbyes and the carriage jerked to a start on its way to Longbourn.
Chapter Eight
Longbourn was in an upheaval when Jane and Elizabeth returned. The house
was filled with cries of 租estitution,' 蘇edgerows,' and 礎eing turned out' from Mrs. Bennet. The servants moved swiftly from room to room, carrying
armloads of linens, carpets, and other household goods. Elizabeth watched with curiosity as some of Longbourn's most prized possessions were crated up or
locked away in closets.
"Papa, why all the commotion?" Jane asked the moment she found their father.
"Welcome back, girls. You have returned just in time. We are expecting a guest."
"A guest?" the girls asked in unison.
Mr. Bennet handed Jane the letter from his cousin, a Mr. William Collins.
Elizabeth craned her neck so she too might read the letter. From it, she was able to ascertain they were expecting a visit from the man on the morrow, and that Mr. Collins was her father's cousin and heir presumptive to Longbourn.
With this new bit of information, understanding dawned. Her mother had
ordered all fine possessions to be hidden away in preparation for the man's visit. Having had twenty years to understand her mother's sometimes sketchy reasoning, Elizabeth surmised her mother wanted to appear as paupers in hopes that Mr. Collins might relinquish his claim to the estate.
Elizabeth shook her head, and as soon as she was rid of her bonnet and gloves, she turned to help with preparations. First she would have to pay a visit to her mother's room.
Predictably, Mrs. Bennet was now bed ridden from a fit of nerves. Kitty, Mary and Lydia stood helplessly near the bed, listening to their mother's wailings.
Elizabeth was tempted to leave with barely a greeting. She had not slept well while at Netherfield, and as a result, her patience was not what it should be.
As if to confirm her previous notion, she had not been in her mother's room for more than a minute before Mrs. Bennet began scolding her. "You should not have brought your sister back so soon, Lizzy. Not until Mr. Bingley had a
chance to make her an offer." She fluttered her handkerchief against her bosom.
"Now we will have nothing when Mr. Collins decides to turn us out of the
house." With a mournful wail, she threw her arm across her brow and began once again muttering something about hedgerows.
Elizabeth stood quietly nearby as Jane, with years of trained patience, tried to placate her mother. Thankfully, her sister's soothing demeanour worked its
magic. Before long, Jane was being sent to take a nap, and Elizabeth and Mary were being sent to help the servants see that anything not nailed down was
stored away.
Mr.
Collins arrived the following afternoon, with more pomp and circumstance than Elizabeth deemed necessary or deserving. Unlike her father, Mr. Collins was a short man, standing not much taller than five feet. He was dressed in the black garb of a clergyman. Even when standing fully upright, Elizabeth noticed with some amusement, his posture was one of abjection. It took only a moment of observation before Elizabeth had declared him a simpleton with a strange mixture of servility and arrogance; an opinion she shared with her father.
Even before refreshing himself from his journey, Mr. Collins begged for a tour of the house. Since Mrs. Bennet's nerves were still in a state of fluxion, Jane performed the honours. His proprietary air while looking over the house did nothing to elevate Elizabeth's opinion of him.
Fortunately, it took Elizabeth little effort to escape her cousin's company. She dutifully tended to her chores in the still room and gardens, as instructed by her mother. When her chores were completed, she slipped from the house and lost herself in Hertfordshire's woodlands.
For dinner, however, she was not so fortunate. As if she were being punished for her absence earlier that day, she was seated next to the man. Mr. Collins took it upon himself to lead the conversation that night. He remarked on the quality of every dish -- as if his blessing would make it taste that much better --
and praised Mrs. Bennet for a "most efficient house."
When Elizabeth did not think the man could be any more ridiculous, he proved her wrong. Much to Elizabeth and the rest of her family's chagrin, Mr. Collins began to pontificate in great detail his new situation, that being the rector for Lady Catherine de Bourgh. While she would never deny any man an honest
living, the manner in which he described his post, one might have been
inclined to believe him the personal confidante of the Prince Regent.
Throughout his monologue, Elizabeth struggled to keep her comments to
herself. She bit her lip so hard at the absurdity of the man's shock when Mrs.
Bennet stated she had never heard of Lady Catherine, she nearly drew blood.
Mr. Collins then took it upon himself to educate her family on the benevolence of his patroness, her estate, her daughter, and her generosity. "Were her daughter in good health, she would no doubt bear the title of duchess," he effused.