Chapter 17 #2
Georgiana, whose manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle, curtsied. “Miss Bennet, it is such a pleasure finally to meet you. My brother speaks very highly of you.”
“Miss Darcy, the pleasure is all mine. Your brother has told me so much about you. He says you are a very accomplished pianist. I hope to enjoy the honour of hearing you play.”
“I should like that very much.”
Wanting to share the happy occasion with his sister, Darcy looked at Elizabeth and silently begged the question. Elizabeth nodded.
Darcy said, “I have news that I trust will please you, Georgiana. You and Miss Bennet shall have ample opportunity to enjoy performing on the pianoforte—at Pemberley.”
Georgiana arched her brow and looked at both Elizabeth and Darcy. “Are you planning to visit Pemberley, Miss Bennet? How wonderful!”
“Indeed, Miss Bennet will be travelling with us to Derbyshire as soon as certain arrangements can be made; however, she will not be travelling as Miss Bennet, but as Mrs. Darcy.”
Georgiana’s mouth gaped.
“You are the first to know. I asked Miss Bennet to be my wife, and she said yes.”
The young lady found her voice. “Fitzwilliam, Miss Bennet, this is wonderful news.” She embraced Elizabeth. “We shall be sisters!”
“Indeed, and I should like nothing more than if you call me by my given name—Elizabeth or Lizzy, whichever you prefer.”
“I would be honoured, and you must call me Georgiana.”
Soon, Lucy joined the happy gathering. “Elizabeth, where did you go? I have been looking all over for you. I see you have been introduced to Miss Darcy.”
Darcy bowed slightly and said, “Miss Lancaster, it is a pleasure to see you again.”
Lucy realised her lapse in decorum and curtsied. “Oh, where are my manners? It is a pleasure seeing you, too, Mr. Darcy.”
“I take it you know who my sister is.”
Lucy threw Elizabeth a perplexed grimace and looked back at Darcy. “I – I saw you two earlier, and I took it upon myself to make inquiries.”
Darcy reached out his hand. “There is no need to explain. Allow me to introduce you properly. Miss Lancaster, this is my sister, Miss Darcy. Georgiana, meet Miss Lancaster.”
After the young ladies had greeted each other genially, Lucy turned to Elizabeth. “You are looking rather pleased—in fact you are beaming.” She then directed her gaze to Mr. Darcy. “And I do not know when I have ever seen you smiling so brightly. Has something happened that I should know about?”
Elizabeth looked at Darcy for confirmation to share the happy news. He nodded. “Mr. Darcy and I are to be married.”
Lucy’s smile could hardly be contained as she embraced Elizabeth. “Married! I always knew this day would come. You must invite me to the wedding. In fact, I should like to be your maid of honour.” Lucy pulled back and spoke to Darcy. “You should ask Lord Holland to be your groomsman!”
Elizabeth said, “Please, Lucy, we have only been engaged for an hour. We have hardly had time to consider the wedding ceremony!”
Lord Holland soon wandered into the parlour. As if unable to stop herself, Lucy called out to him from across the room, and she beckoned he join her party with a wave of her hand.
Having spoken to Elizabeth and Lucy earlier, he held his hand out to Georgiana. Upon accepting hers, he bowed slightly. “Miss Darcy, it is a pleasure to see you again.” Georgiana demurred under his attention and acknowledged his gesture in a voice barely above a whisper.
Releasing her hand, he turned to Darcy. “I see you found Miss Bennet.”
Lucy said, “I should say so, and wait until you hear their happy news.”
By the turn of Darcy’s countenance, Lucy had spoken out of turn, but that was her way. Lord Holland had to find out somehow, and it might as well have been that instant as any other time.
He looked at his friend expectantly.
Darcy cleared his throat “Miss Bennet has agreed to marry me.”
Lord Holland glanced at Elizabeth’s face and detected a certain air that was not there when he saw her earlier that afternoon. “The two of you have my ardent wishes for happiness.” Speaking to Darcy, he said, “I would say this calls for a toast. Will you join me?”
Darcy really wanted to steal away with Elizabeth and spend the rest of the day as well as the evening basking in the glow of their shared felicity, but decorum would not allow for such a pleasurable endeavour.
She had come to the garden party as Miss Lancaster’s guest. Surely she would be obliged to leave with her, and who was to say how long the Lancasters would remain at the gathering.
Elizabeth said, “Miss Darcy, perhaps you will join Lucy and me for a glass of punch.” Georgiana agreed and with that the ladies went away, thus affording the gentlemen privacy.
Lord Holland said, “It seems your persistence paid off, my friend.”
Darcy nodded. “As I told you in Bosley, Miss Bennet means everything to me.”
“Indeed you did, and I am not unaware how much you have long meant to her. Again, I congratulate you.”
“It means a great deal to hear you say that. I know you care for her as well.”
“It is true; I care for her as I always will, for we are connected. We share unbreakable ties through Lady Vanessa. Then, too, there is our shared interest. I suppose the next time you are in Bosley, you will be married and no doubt will be staying at Barrington Hall, but you must know you are always welcome to stay at Avondale should you wish.”
“I hope your generous offer extends to my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam as well.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He will oversee my interests. I have spent far too much time away from Derbyshire over the past five years pursuing my passion for horse racing. Once I take my bride to Pemberley, I believe it will be a long time before I am persuaded to go away.”
Days later, a loud disturbance in the hallway impeded upon Lady Vanessa’s felicity.
She nearly dropped her fine porcelain cup on the floor when the butler stepped aside and in stormed Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Seeing no cause for civility given the manner of Lady Catherine’s entrance, Lady Vanessa did not invite her guest to be seated.
“What on earth have I done to deserve a second visit? Did we not say all there was to say when you were here before? What are you doing here?”
Lady Catherine rested both hands on her walking stick. “Unlike you, I am not so easily dissuaded. I went to Hertfordshire to confront this Miss Elizabeth Bennet, only to be told that she had travelled to visit her aunt. Are you not her aunt? I insist upon seeing the young woman this instant.”
Lady Vanessa shook her head. “It is a shame you have travelled all this way. Of course, I am Elizabeth’s aunt, as you well know. However, I am not her only aunt. If you had taken the time to ask, you might have realised that.”
The haughty aristocrat sucked in a quick breath. “Do you mean to say Miss Bennet is not here? Do you mean to say that I have travelled all this way to carry my point for naught?”
“That is precisely what I am saying.” Lady Vanessa pursed her lips and studied her guest for a moment.
“Do you not consider that it is time to give up the fight?
The last time I saw your nephew was in this very room, and I will have you know that he was a most determined young man.
He would not relent until I handed him a letter of introduction to my brother, and therein, I gave my brother assurances that I was fully in support of a possible alliance between Mr. Darcy and my niece if that was indeed her wish.
“If what you say of Elizabeth visiting her aunt is true, then she will be in London. I have it on good authority that Mr. Darcy is in London as well. It is highly probable that the two have come to an understanding.”
Lady Catherine huffed. “It is no wonder that you would be in favour of the match. My nephew’s fortune is splendid.
Your own fortune is nothing in comparison.
An alliance with my nephew can only raise the entire Bennet family’s standing, and that includes you.
Alas, what of my nephew? You must know that Miss Bennet’s youngest sister—your own niece—was recently married to the son of the late Mr. Darcy’s steward.
Is such a man to be brother to my nephew?
Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted? ”
Lady Vanessa continued eyeing Lady Catherine with circumspect.
The latter was nowhere near as robust and steady as when she first came to Bosley.
Lady Vanessa could do no less than to regard her with a measure of compassion.
“You look rather peaked, your ladyship. Please have a seat, and take tea with me. Then you must consider staying here at Barrington Hall—at least for the night. Perhaps I might summon the physician to have a look at you. One can never be too careful once one reaches a certain age.”
“I shall do no such thing. Do you suppose that I do not know exactly what is afoot by your sudden show of concern for my health? You mean to delay my departure for London.” She turned and headed for the door. “I shall not be detained. I mean to carry my point.”