THIRTY-ONE #2
Georgiana arrived on the twentieth to spend Christmas at Netherfield, since Darcy was no longer expected to return to Pemberley for the festivities.
Darcy’s astonishment upon her arrival increased considerably when Richard and Caesar appeared in company with Mrs. Annesley.
Apparently, Richard had taken Caesar with him to London during his previous visit to Derbyshire.
Darcy heard the dog before he saw him. Then the drawing room door opened and Caesar came through it at speed, skidded upon the polished floorboards, corrected himself immediately with great dignity, and stopped directly before Darcy.
He looked at the walking stick. Then at Darcy.
Then at the stick again. After a moment he sat heavily at Darcy’s feet as though he had examined the situation thoroughly and determined that whatever alterations had occurred, his own position within the household remained entirely unchanged and he would tolerate no dispute upon the matter.
Darcy rested one hand upon Caesar’s head.
Georgiana appeared in the doorway a moment later, windswept from the journey and flushed from the cold.
She looked at Darcy standing beside the chair with one hand upon Caesar’s head, and the tears came at once.
She crossed the room without a word and threw her arms around him, which was more than she had ever managed to say to him without speaking.
He held her for a long moment. Caesar, deciding this display met with his approval, leaned his considerable weight against both of them simultaneously, which nearly undid the entire embrace.
Heavy snow prevented further visits between Netherfield and Longbourn until Christmas Day arrived bright, bitterly cold, and buried beneath fresh snow.
The roads between the houses remained passable only because hired men had spent the previous evening labouring to keep them so for the festivities.
Two conveyances made the journey from Netherfield that morning. One carried the Hursts. The second contained Bingley, Miss Bingley, Georgiana, Mrs. Annesley, and Darcy himself.
Elizabeth and Mrs. Bennet waited at the door when they arrived, wrapped heavily against the cold.
Mrs. Bennet immediately descended into exclamations over the weather, the snow and the dreadful state of winter roads.
Elizabeth scarcely heard any of it.
Her attention had gone directly to Darcy.
He descended slowly with Bingley’s help, one hand braced heavily upon the walking stick before steadying himself fully beside the carriage. The effort remained visible. His weight still favoured one side, and every movement retained a deliberateness where ease ought once to have existed.
Yet he was standing.
And Marsh had not accompanied him.
The realisation struck Elizabeth immediately.
When he looked up, he found her watching him with unmistakable warmth upon her face.
“You appear improved, sir,” Elizabeth said quietly once greetings permitted it.
A faint colour touched his face despite the cold.
“Dr. Pemberton would be gratified to hear you say so.” Darcy inclined his head slightly beneath the brim of his hat.
“I imagine he has earned the gratification.”
Something warmer flickered briefly in Darcy’s eyes before Georgiana appeared behind him.
Darcy turned slightly toward his sister, one hand still resting upon the walking stick.
“Georgiana,” he said quietly, “this is Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Elizabeth curtseyed with easy grace. “Miss Darcy.”
Georgiana returned the greeting, though her eyes scarcely left Elizabeth’s face. “Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth smiled at once, and something in Georgiana’s countenance eased almost visibly.
Darcy knew that smile well enough now to distinguish amusement from politeness and affection from irony.
This was neither.
It was simply warmth.
And Georgiana answered it instinctively.
“I am very glad to make your acquaintance at last,” Georgiana said with quiet sincerity.
“As I am yours,” Elizabeth replied immediately. “Your brother speaks of you often.”
Darcy glanced sharply toward Elizabeth.
A faint colour rose at once in Georgiana’s cheeks, though her pleasure remained unmistakable.
“I hope only good things.”
“The very best.”
Something settled between them then with astonishing ease, as though the acquaintance required no careful beginning whatsoever.
By the time they entered the house together Georgiana had already moved nearer Elizabeth’s side, and Elizabeth, without seeming conscious of it, had slowed her pace slightly to match hers.
Darcy followed more slowly behind them, his stick sounding lightly against the frozen stone path, and found himself watching the scene with a stillness he had not experienced in a very long time.
Richard, falling briefly into step beside him, murmured beneath his breath,
“Well. That was alarmingly quick.”
Darcy watched Georgiana laugh softly at something Elizabeth had said before replying quietly,
“No. I believe it was inevitable.”
Elizabeth looked back then over Georgiana’s shoulder and met his gaze.
The smile she gave him was small, soft, and entirely unguarded.
Darcy felt, rather suddenly, as though the bitter winter morning had become considerably warmer than the season ought reasonably to permit.
And when Georgiana instinctively turned back toward Elizabeth scarcely moments later, continuing their conversation as though they had known one another half their lives, Darcy realised with complete certainty that whatever future awaited him now, Elizabeth Bennet already belonged within it.