Chapter 50
Mrs. Bennet arrived at Gracechurch Street the next day with all the nervous anxiety one might expect of her.
“Dear sister, what is all the gossip about Lizzy and Mr. Darcy? Colonel Forster was most inconsiderate in not giving me any details. Oh, how ill-used I have been,” she said as soon as she entered the house.
“Lizzy is engaged to Mr. Darcy. She was returning to Longbourn from Willowmere and was caught in the storm. Mr. Darcy was concerned for her well-being and followed her to the inn. In his relief, he reacted rather more familiarly than was acceptable and since her engagement was not widely known, gossip circulated.”
Mrs. Bennet gaped at her sister, trying to comprehend the situation. She remained still for a full minute before repeating in wonder, “Lizzy is truly engaged to Mr. Darcy!”
“Yes, Mama. Mr. Darcy was just here and Lizzy has gone with him to call on his sister,” Jane answered.
“Oh! I… I think I need to lie down. Engaged to Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought. Ten thousand a year. Jane, are you quite sure?”
“Very sure, Mama. Come, I will escort you upstairs. Lydia, would you like to come up or would you like some refreshments?”
“Oh! I do not know, perhaps something to eat first?”
Jane accompanied her mother upstairs, while Mrs. Gardiner led Lydia to the drawing room where she called for tea.
“Whatever is the matter, dearest? You look miserable. Are you not happy at your sister’s news?”
“I do not understand why Mama would be so happy about Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. He is rich, to be sure, but he is so high and mighty. Then they have gone and caused a scandal. I could have been engaged to Mr. Wickham but she would not allow that.”
“Lydia, Mr. Darcy is an estimable gentleman with a good reputation. The scandal is unfortunate and his intentions honourable. Can you say the same about Mr. Wickham? Did he ever state his intentions?”
“Well, no, but he was always singling me out. He only needed a little encouragement.”
“Where is he now, dearest?”
“He was arrested and is to be transported. They say he stole Harriet’s jewellery but I am sure he would never do that. Harriet must have given it to him.”
“Even if you are right, if he were such an honourable man, why would he ask Mrs. Forster for her jewellery. Do you think Mr. Bingley or Mr. Darcy ever would?”
“No, but they are rich. Wickham is poor and all due to Mr. Darcy. He told me how Mr. Darcy denied him the living.”
“Mr. Darcy could not have denied him anything that was irrevocably settled on him and if that was not the case, it was his prerogative to deny the living. As for Mr. Darcy and Bingley being rich, any amount of money will not be enough if a person is not sensible in his spending. Mr. Wickham needed to learn to live within his means.”
The servant entered with a tea tray and Lydia picked up a biscuit and nibbled on it with a forlorn expression.
“Lydia, do not be in a rush to get married. Your sisters have found estimable gentlemen and if you learn from them, you may yourself one day make a respectable match. You will soon be introduced to Miss Darcy, she is of an age with you. Observe her manners, dearest, for she is a young lady of grace and understanding.”
“I do not want to become like the stuck up sister of Mr. Darcy,” Lydia pouted.
“To pass judgement without meeting her is unfair, Lydia. I only met Mr. Darcy today, and that too briefly, but I could see that he is a reserved man. But tell me, Lydia, are you and Jane the same? Miss Darcy, though reserved like her brother, does not possess his self-assurance. She is a timid creature who may actually do well to learn a bit of your liveliness but only if you appreciate her grace and modesty.”
Lydia just made a face and said, “You like her because she is rich. Mama used to encourage my liveliness but now all she wants is for me to become like Jane or Lizzy,” Lydia responded in a petulant tone.
“Lydia, your mother is not being unreasonable. She wishes for her daughters to have a good marriage and that is why she is scared of any scandal that might affect your chances of marriage. Now I recommend that you go up and rest, we will speak again later.”
Mrs. Gardiner was well aware that Mrs. Bennet’s motives were much more selfish than just her daughters making a good marriage but she did not wish to criticise the lady in front of her own daughter.
She knew about everything that had occurred in Brighton and hoped that Lydia and her parents would both learn from their mistakes.
******
Elizabeth was surprised to meet Georgiana. The girl hardly spoke two words and would not even meet Elizabeth’s eyes for a full twenty minutes. Deciding that her desire to please her brother was doing her no good, she shooed Mr. Darcy away.
“Sir, you have introduced us and now you may depart. I am sure the coachman will convey me safely back to my uncle’s home,” she said in an arch tone.
“You wish for me to depart?” Darcy asked, surprised.
“I would like to bond with my new sister without an audience,” Elizabeth replied, amused at his discomfort.
“Georgiana, dearest, will you be well?” Darcy asked his sister.
Georgiana looked up, surprised to be asked such a question and floundered to find the correct answer. She was shocked at Elizabeth’s forthright manner in dismissing her brother.
“Mr. Darcy, I assure you, I am not in the habit of terrorising young girls; otherwise my own younger sisters would have been much less wild. You may leave without any fear for your sister’s well-being,” Elizabeth replied before Georgiana could formulate a response.
Darcy finally took his leave of the ladies, promising to pick up Georgiana for the dinner at Gracechurch street.
“Miss Darcy, now that we are by ourselves, let me assure you that you are at liberty to dislike me as much as you wish without any fear of disappointing anyone.”
Georgiana looked alarmed at the statement. “I assure you, Miss Elizabeth, that I do not dislike you,” she hastily responded.
“That is because you do not know me yet. I have no idea what your brother has told you about me, but I would request that you forget everything and form your own opinion. He is quite delusional where I am concerned.”
“Fitzwilliam is the most rational person I know. He considers every matter in depth and speaks as he thinks.”
“I would agree with you on that, but I have also observed that your brother is deeply loyal and once someone has earned his loyalty he is completely devoted.”
Georgiana seemed to consider this and finally replied in a small voice. “You may be right. He has never scolded me no matter how wrong I may be.”
“See, that should tell you that I am not the perfect being your brother considers me.”
“Miss Elizabeth, why would you wish to convince me that you are imperfect?”
“Because I would like to be your true sister, and sisters are hardly perfect. They annoy and exasperate each other and never bother about the small inconveniences to one another. What they are truly good at is maintaining confidence when it matters and never allowing any harm to come to the other.”
Georgiana finally smiled without hesitation. “I would love to call you sister. I now understand why Miss Bennet so adores you.”
“Does she now? Looks like I have not tormented her enough.”
Georgiana let out an unexpected laugh at this assertion and finally, she gained the confidence to carry on a conversation. They were soon discussing all that had occurred in the past few months without any reservations.
“Miss Darcy, I hope you will soon adjust to the inconvenience of having a sister. They are the most stubborn of creatures and not at all as generous as your brother.”
“Oh! I had always wanted a sister. You cannot share all your confidences with an older brother.”
“True, but you share them with your sister at the risk that they will be exploited as per their convenience,” Elizabeth retorted with a laugh which brought a smile to Georgiana’s face.
“Do sisters share bonnets and ribbons and gowns?” Georgiana tentatively asked.
“Of course not,” Elizabeth said, primly bringing a frown to the young girl’s face until she continued with a teasing smile, “they just steal what they like and then claim it as theirs.”
“Oh! Miss Elizabeth, you are making me so jealous.”
“There is no need to be jealous, I have a surfeit of sisters and you may choose any you like, but if you want a true sisterly experience I recommend my youngest two for they cannot go even five minutes without bickering.”
“Brother wrote to me about how outspoken you were with Lady Catherine. I must confess that I am terrified of her.”
“I am sure she considered me completely uncouth in my outspoken manner and unconventional opinions.”
“I would love to have even a quarter of your bravery,” Georgiana responded wistfully.
“You are still young and then it is not always brave to speak one’s mind. Sometimes it takes all the bravery one has to remain silent.” Elizabeth assured the girl.
By the time Elizabeth departed, Georgiana Darcy was convinced that her brother could not have found her a better sister.