Once Adams closed the door, Darcy greeted his mother’s relatives while Georgiana watched them carefully. Only Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed genuinely glad to see them. The girl spoke to each relative but took Colonel Fitzwilliam’s arm, saying, “Come Richard, allow me to show you to your room.”
“I say Georgiana, I take precedence over Richard!” the viscount complained.
“In my father’s house while we are mourning his passing, I shall take the arm of my guardian,” Georgiana explained. “There is no one here to see my give my arm to the younger brother.”
“Surely it is time to end the mourning,” Lady Catherine exclaimed. “It has been months since...”
“The household is in mourning,” William said. “Now, we shall show you to your rooms to rest for a time. We dine at eight.”
“I remember my way to the family rooms,” Lady Edith replied.
“But you are staying in the guest wing,” Georgiana said. “I decided that those rooms were better suited for your stay.”
“I have my own requirements...” Lady Catherine replied but once again William interrupted his aunt.
“My sister decides these matters in this house.”
He smiled coldly at his relatives. “You will be in the guest wing.”
**++**
In the parlour before William and Georgiana arrived for dinner, Earl Matlock, the Countess and Viscount met before the bright fire with tumblers of whiskey in their hands. The countess watched her husband swirling his liquor and waited. Lyndon was quiet and waited for his parents to begin.
“The boy will be difficult to manage,” Matlock finally said. “He has his father’s temper for certain.”
“I believe we can cajole him to accept Abby and betroth Lyndon to Georgiana before Christmas breakfast,” Lady Edith said. “They are both still in mourning and if we play upon the sentiments of family, they will agree to our suggestions.”
Lyndon shook his head. “You underestimate William and my brother. I believe Uncle George names Richard as guardian along with William and my brother will not agree to the betrothal.”
“Richard will do as I wish if he wants his allowance to continue,” Matlock announced.
“No, I shall not,” announced a new voice from the doorway. Looking around the three seated individuals saw Colonel Fitzwilliam striding into the parlour. “And it is damn cold here in the north.”
“Richard you should not be eavesdropping.”
“And you should not be plotting, Mother,” her second son scolded. “The Darcys will best the Fitzwilliam family this Christmas as they have for the last twenty-five years. Once Uncle George discovered that his bride was as faithless as her brother and sister to their spouses, he stepped back and allowed you to ruin yourselves.”
“Richard, we are almost bankrupt,” Lyndon explained. “If William married Abby and I married Georgiana, we would be flush again.”
“Until Father gambled it away or you spent it on your horses,” Richard said. “No. The Humphries family no longer receives any Fitzwilliam and your eldest daughter is a prisoner until she bears a son to carry on the family name.”
“What are we to do?” asked the countess.
“My father can stop gambling; my brother can sell his horses and you can relinquish your position as a leader of fashion. Work your estates – Lyndon do you even know how many acres are planted each spring?”
“It matters little how many fields are planted,” Lyndon replied.
Richard shook his head as the door opened once again for William and Georgiana’s entrance. This ended the unpleasant conversations and the family adjourned to the dining room. After the first course completed, footman opened the door of the room again to allow Lady Catherine, Anne and Mrs. Jennings to enter.
“You sat table without us?” the lady asked in genuine surprise.
Darcy rose to his feet and motioned to the table, “As you were told, the meal began promptly at eight. It is now half past and you have missed the first course Aunt. It was the white soup you so enjoy.”
“This is most irregular William,” Lady Catherine said. “My room is barely acceptable, Anne is cold, and the food is not at all what I can digest.”
“Adams, make certain my cousin’s room has a good fire and bring her a shawl to wear.” Darcy directed his cousin to an empty chair nearest the fireplace. Then he returned to his seat, leaving Lady Catherine to be assisted into her chair by a footman.
“William, we have been talking during our journey to Pemberley,” Lord Matlock said as the second course arrived. “We wish to strengthen the bonds of family between us.”
William remained silent, cutting his meat and chewing.
“Yes, the bonds of family must be renewed after the loss of one member,” Lady Edith agreed with her husband.
“Our good friends from Hertfordshire sent this ham as gift for Christmas,” William mentioned to his cousin Abigail who sat beside him though she said little. “Is it to your liking?”
“It is good,” the young woman replied carefully watching her father and mother. “I think your home is beautiful William.”
He stopped eating to look at his cousin and then quickly at his sister seated between Lyndon and Richard. Georgiana leaned toward Richard and Lyndon tried without success to capture the girl’s attention.
“Lyndon, if you cannot behave at table, you are excused to your room,” William said coldly as if his older cousin was an errant boy caught throwing his peas under the table. Richard rose and switched places with Georgiana at the end of the course, placing her beside her companion Mrs. Annesley.
“William, we should speak plainly,” Lady Catherine intoned. “Your elders will advise you on the proper path forward with your life and with Georgiana’s future.”
Richard leaned over to Georgiana. “Do not worry Georgie. William and I will stand firm.”
Georgiana smiled back at her cousin and whispered, “I am not worried Richard. You do not know all but shortly William will set them to rights.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam frowned but returned his attention to his meal. He had not had food this well prepared in many weeks of army camp and then his father’s bankrupt home.
While the servants prepared the final course – spotted dick for dessert – William signalled for the wine glasses to be filled once again.
“My father kept his wine cellar filled with fine vintages,” he commented.
“How is that possible?” asked the earl. “With the war with the Frogs, how did he get wines?”
“There were occasional years of peace and good men of business slipped in and out of French ports in mere days with holds full of wine.”
“Business!” Lord Matlock said in a disparaging tone and Lady Catherine sniffed significantly while William ignored both his aunt and uncle.
“We must speak of family, nephew,” Lady Catherine began to say before her brother interrupted once again when the footman placed the dish of pudding before him.
“William, do you not offer something other than this peasant’s dish?”
“Raisins are quite expensive sir. They come all the way from Italy with the war in Spain.”
Georgiana tackled her dish with glee as the adults continued to attempt compliments while William ignored them all. The gentlemen did not separate from the ladies after dinner and everyone retired to the parlour for brandy or sherry.
“I say William, these are good spirits!” Richard exclaimed complimenting the brandy offered up by the butler.
“Thank you,” William replied. “It was a Christmas gift from good friends.”
“Nephew,” Lady Edith said. “We must talk plainly.”
William took a seat beside his sister with Richard on her other side to protect her.
“Shall we dismiss the companions and send Georgiana to bed?” asked Lord Matlock.
“Dismiss Anne’s companion if you wish but Mrs. Annesley remains,” William said. “She advises my sister well on manners and serious matt
ers; and I depend upon her knowing all events in our family.”
When she realized that no one would be leaving the room, the Countess of Matlock made her pronouncement plainly, “Your uncle and I propose betrothals between Abigail and yourself, and between Lyndon and Georgiana.”
Georgiana said nothing while William slowly blinked once and simply said, “No.”
“No? Is that all you can say?” the earl asked.
“No, but it is all that is necessary to be said.”
“William will marry Anne!” insisted Lady Catherine though no one paid her any attention and Anne signalled for a footman to bring her another thimble of brandy.
“William, it will strengthen the family for these marriages...”
“No,” the master of Pemberley said with a tired finality, cutting off his uncle.
“Why not?” demanded Lady Edith.
William stood and glanced to his sister for a moment. Georgiana smiled shyly before her brother addressed his extended family. “My father’s will is explicit – I am his heir only as long as I do not marry either of my cousins. And my sister cannot marry and receive her dowry without the approval of Richard and myself. I assure you that I shall never give my approval for a marriage for Georgiana to Lyndon. She would be thirty years before she receives her dowry if she marries without those approvals.”
Glancing at Lyndon he added, “You would be five and fifty before her dowry came to you Viscount Lyndon. Your creditors will not wait that long.”
“Damn George Darcy!” Matlock cursed.
**++**
The next day, William and Georgiana were joined by Richard for their ride across the frosted fields. They found a few pheasant and tracks of fox and deer aplenty.
“Shall we have a hunt cousin?” Richard asked. “Some venison would taste good with the goose.”
William grinned at his cousin nodded his head, “As you wish. The politicians do not come until Tuesday so Monday we shall hunt.”
“You must take Lyndon and our uncle on the hunt,” Georgiana insisted. “Mrs. Annesley and Mrs. Reynolds can assist me with handling Lady Catherine and Lady Edith but Lyndon ignores the wishes of women and the earl is worse.”
“How is he worse?” asked William noticing that Richard blushed.
“Mrs. Reynolds has barred all maids from the earl’s room. He attempted to seduce one maid and the girl screamed until Lady Catherine came to her rescue. Then Aunt Catherine threw the episode in Aunt Edith’s face when they gathered in the music room. Abigail and Anne were horrified and Mrs. Annesley spoke sharply to Aunt Catherine about discussing such things in my presence.”
“I can only imagine Lady Catherine’s reply to such a statement.”
Georgiana nodded, “Aunt Catherine threw out the name ‘Mrs. Murray’ and mentioned ‘natural child’ in the same breath. Whereupon, I closed the pianoforte and forbad the footman to serve the tea.”
“Aunt Catherine did not get tea?” Richard asked. “She was very hungry at supper last evening.”
Nodding Georgiana finished her tale, “For the remainder of the visit, Mrs. Reynolds escorts the maids with all their work in the guest wing and none of the maids work alone anywhere in the house.”
“My uncle fumbling a chamber maid,” Darcy said with scorn. “And my aunts discuss it in front of my sister!”
“Christmas is Wednesday and everyone leaves on Friday,” Richard said. “You shall have your peaceful home again at Pemberley.”
William turned his horse back toward the house and paused. He and his sister exchanged glances before he said, “I do not know if Pemberley will feel like ‘home’ for many years. Our house in Hertfordshire feels much more like home now.”
“And the company is more pleasant,” Georgiana commented.
“Oh, ho!” Richard cried. “I am wounded!”
“Perhaps you should come to visit this summer,” William said. “Georgiana and I shall return to Hertfordshire after this winter. Father’s memory has been honoured but I find Pemberley lacking.”
“I am astounded,” Richard confessed to his cousins. “Pemberley is a grand house.”
“But it is not home,” William explained. “And I would appreciate your silence on the subject. Georgiana and I have told no one – not even Mrs. Annesley – that we shall close the house when we leave.”
**++**
The ride back to the stables was silent and set the tone for the remainder of the visit. The earl and viscount participated in the hunt but both were drunk before the first deer was brought down. With four does and three bucks taken, Darcy sent his game keeper with five of the animals to be divided among his tenant farmers while a carriage carried Matlock and Lyndon back to Pemberley. Two deer were taken to the kitchens and butchered for the family and staff.
**++**
Each day, Lady Edith and Lady Catherine continuously clawed at each other, offending Mrs. Annesley, Mrs. Reynolds, Anne, Abigail and Georgiana. Only when three of William’s pocket MPs came to dinner did the family attempt to behave. The Earl was a supporter of the Prime Minister though he had only a single seat in Parliament at his disposal. With three of William’s four MPs supping at his table, the family was reminded of the power the young man held in his hands.
**++**
When Christmas day arrived, the family ventured to the chapel for services conducted by the parson from Lambton and then returned to the house for luncheon. After the meal, Georgiana presented each relative with a small gift – stationary, brandy, ribbons and candy, and she received a box from her brother with a large set of paints and canvas.
“Who is your modiste, Georgiana?” asked Lady Edith. “Your mourning will end and I should like to take you to my dressmaker for new gowns this spring.”
“Thank you, aunt. I shall discuss the matter with my brother.”
“Your brother?” asked Lady Catherine. “What does your brother know of fashion and a good seamstress? Your gowns are six months out of fashion.”
Preparing to offer support for her charge, Mrs. Annesley relaxed when she saw that Miss Darcy was in no distress over her aunt’s comments.
Lady Edith commented, “And your gowns are ten years out of fashion, Catherine. You dress as if you were attending the royal box with Queen Charlotte at the turn of the century.”
**++**
At the appointed hour for dinner, William came out of his chambers and went to Georgiana’s door. When he knocked, Mrs. Annesley opened the door and William grinned to see his little sister in her new gown of grey silk with the black trim. With her hair half up and a cameo on a grey ribbon around her slender neck, Georgiana was on the threshold of being a lovely woman.
“Do I...”
“You are lovely Georgie!”
“Elizabeth and her sisters did well!”
“Yes, the Miss Bennets are most marvellous with their needles,” William said.
“But more so brother, their thoughtfulness makes this Christmas so far from home bearable.”
“Shall we do down, ‘Miss Darcy’? Our guests wait,” William said offering his sister his arm. At the top of the stairs, they saw their guests waiting for them in the foyer and as they came down the steps, every eye turned to Georgiana in her lovely gown.
“And you wondered if William understood fashion?” Lady Edith prodded Lady Catherine who only scowled while Anne and Abigail were most complimentary of Georgiana’s gown. Richard was proud of his cousins and without paying attention to precedence, William escorted his sister into the dining room and seated her at his side for Christmas dinner.
**++**
On Boxing Day, William and Georgiana gave small gifts and money to the servants of the household who then travelled in the Darcy carriages or wagons across the frosted fields to visit with their families for the day. The guests complained that there were no full meals prepared in the kitchens that day but William ignored his relatives. Early in the afternoon, Matlock and Lady Edith announced their intention of leaving at first li
ght the following morning.
“We shall be home in time for supper,” Lady Edith explained to William. He did not protest the plan in the least and encouraged Lady Catherine to make the same effort. Since she would be a guest with Matlock for a few days, Lady Catherine decided she should follow her brother closely.
At dawn the following morning, the guests were bundled off with heated bricks, extra blankets, corked bottles of hot tea and hotter coffee, biscuits, cheese and bread. Richard promised to visit them in spring and as Adams closed the door on the Fitzwilliam family, William promised himself that his sister would have a Happy Christmas next year at their home in Netherfield.
**++**
Part 3: 1812
Chapter 23
Letters in March
The remainder of winter was long and hard with heavy snow across the whole of England. Letters between Derbyshire and Hertfordshire were infrequent but everyone spent their hours reading, working with needle and thread, practicing music, or making plans for planting in the spring.
**++**
Dear Georgiana,
We have good news to share from Hertfordshire this first week of March. Over the winter, Mr. Finch, our Uncle Phillip’s partner in the law office, has renewed his attentions to Charlotte Lucas. You may not remember that four years ago, when Sir William Lucas was elevated to the knighthood by His Majesty, Charlotte’s parents forced the young couple to end their courtship. Charlotte was much affected by the refusal of her parents to allow the match. Sir William and Lady Lucas thought a better match for Charlotte would appear but she lingered at their home without suitors. She is now five and twenty years, thus able to marry without her father’s permission and she has made Mr. Finch aware of her wishes.
In December, there was a dance at Meryton where Mr. Finch asked Miss Lucas to dance three separate times and the matrons all approved of his declaration. After an engagement of only two months, they are to marry from Lucas Lodge and set up housekeeping in a very pleasant cottage in Meryton.
We all turn our needles to sewing new quilts to gift the newlyweds – this winter seems to never end and the cold is every day closer.
Master of Netherfield Page 17