Chapter Twenty-One
Darcy entered the music room at Pemberley with the invitation in his hand, including a personal note from Denny, indicating that his wife was being bullied by her sister to entertain in her honour, and asking for any support Darcy felt inclined to give, though his wife had obviously told him of the situation surrounding Mrs Bingley’s rudeness.
“I thought perhaps I would attend myself, Georgie, for Mrs Denny’s sake. Perhaps our cousins would attend with me?”
“There is no reason for me to attend if Georgie does not, it is her I am here to see.” Richard had made such a production of ignoring Darcy and Priscilla even while answering their questions since he arrived, that Darcy was ready to strangle him.
“I am uncertain that I wish to subject myself to Mrs Bingley. Just because I have agreed to a truce does not mean that I will watch her badger her sisters without being disturbed by it.” Priscilla observed.
“Oh! But poor Kitty ought to have our support!” Georgiana objected. “I would feel much better knowing that my cousins would be there for my friend the first time she entertained, even if I could not be there. I do wish you would both go!”
“I do not even know why Darcy is still on speaking terms with a man whose wife insulted his own sister, but I keep learning things about my cousin that shock me,” Richard grumbled cryptically, as he often did.
“Because Darcy has had perhaps three or four good friends in the whole of his life!” Priscilla cried.
“Now that number is probably half of that, since you have deprived him of your friendship! There is no reason for Darcy not to see Bingley at their club socially, but his choice to shield Georgiana from his friend’s wife was a good one. ”
“This may be the boldest thing I have ever said, but I am not certain that it was the best choice, and may I add, Prissy, that you and my aunt forced that decision upon Fitz before he even had the chance to consider how he wished to respond, or to consult my feelings on the matter.” Georgiana folded her hands in her lap primly, a faint blush on her cheeks.
Everyone in the room stared at her in awe. Georgiana had never suggested that a decision her brother had made was unwise, and she had also never challenged her cousin, not even in private.
“Georgie, you cannot mean to speak in such a manner to your guardian and your cousin,” Richard stared at her in disbelief.
“I am speaking to my brother, and my family.” Georgiana’s eyebrows furrowed. “I am not the twelve year old you left behind when you went away soldiering, Richard.”
Richard began to argue with her about respect for her elders when Darcy cut him off. “Richard, my sister is growing up and will not be a child for much longer. She is not incorrect, her feelings on the matter were not consulted. I would like to hear her.”
Georgiana blushed again and continued. “I am not afraid of Mrs Bingley. She embarrassed me, and now I know what it is like to be embarrassed in public and that the silly words of others are not the worst thing one can be confronted by. I cannot even be too angry with her, for it could have been a much worse experience. I have learned from the encounter that I can laugh at people like her and Miss Bingley, and that it does not matter what they think of me. Besides, I have seen Mrs Bingley treat her own sisters far worse. There is nothing Mrs Bingley can do to harm me socially, and I do not think well enough of her for her to be able to touch my feelings.”
She fidgeted as she continued, rushing as if she thought she might not get to say everything that she wished.
“It is true that I would not wish to entertain her in my home, but as I come out in society and act as mistress of my brother’s homes until I marry, I will choose what invitations are extended to Pemberley and Darcy House, and I need not accept her calls.
But I am not afraid to encounter her in society, and I wish that my activities would not be curbed when they have barely begun because of her presence.
Especially when I have made some lovely friends and they now live so near!
I felt terrible not attending Mary’s dinner.
May I please attend Kitty’s dinner? Please, Brother? ”
“Sister, I knew that you got on well with most of the Bennet sisters when you were in Meryton, but I did not realise that you had gained such self-assurance. It was certainly not mine nor Prissy’s intention to make you feel punished, only protected.
” Darcy was surprised by his sister’s courage.
“I am certain Prissy can be convinced to sheath her claws just a bit if you are certain that Mrs Bingley does not concern you. Perhaps if you accompany us, even Richard might be persuaded to go.”
“Perhaps I defended you with more zeal than you required, Georgiana. In the future I will wait and be sure it is what you wish before I interfere,” Priscilla promised.
“And I am properly impressed by your fortitude. Though Mrs Bingley’s rank is not the equal of yours, she is an incredibly beautiful woman, and that can be terribly intimidating when you are only a young girl. ”
“And now that I am sixteen, may I please be considered properly out in the country?” Georgiana pressed.
“Prissy was right, my time in Meryton helped me feel more comfortable socialising amongst others, and I am certain that my time out in the country and socialising with my new friends will only help me when I debut in London in two years.”
“I do not object, if Richard does not.” Darcy gave his sister’s other guardian the respect that was his due.
“Well, Georgie, it is difficult to think of you as grown up, but I have been gone too long and if your brother believes you are ready, I will not dispute the matter. I will even attend Mrs Denny’s dinner.
That is, since you will be going.” Richard rose and patted her on the head.
“I am going to the billiards room. I will see you at dinner, cousin.”
“I wish someone would tell me why he is so angry with the two of you. It is not the same, and I miss how we all used to be,” Georgiana faltered softly as Richard's footsteps faded down the hall. “Will someone not tell me? I am quite grown up now. In a few years I shall be one of you.”
“You are already one of us, but Darcy cannot tell you, Cousin, for it is not his secret to tell.” Priscilla rose and laid a hand on Georgiana’s shoulder. “I will tell you someday soon. It is not because I do not trust you. You should know. It is only that I am not ready yet.”
Two hours later, Darcy was at his desk working.
He had already sent his reply to Denny, accepting for his family, including Georgiana.
He hoped the news would bring some cheer to Mrs Denny and Elizabeth.
He had ridden to Hawthorne Vale early that day and walked out with Elizabeth.
There was an impressive peak nearby, and Darcy had been speechless watching her take in the view of the sunrise, the wind whipping her hair and skirts about.
They spoke of books and travel, places he had been and places she wished to visit, which included nearly anywhere she had never been before. He found her fascinating, and dreamt about seeing her as Mrs Darcy, the jewel of Pemberley.
His musings were interrupted as Richard entered the study without knocking. “It is no good Darcy. What sort of host are you, to take the brandy out of the billiards room?”
“If you wish to drink a man’s brandy, you must do it in his company,” Darcy retorted, pointing at a cabinet nearby. The days of his and Richard’s friendship were so far behind them–three long years–Darcy had nearly ceased to miss his cousin…nearly.
Before Anne approached Darcy with her proposal of marriage, she had first asked Richard.
Darcy knew why Richard refused. Anne was in love with their cousin, and had been since her girlhood.
Richard, who held Anne in true familial affection, could not bear to watch her love him as a wife as she died, when he could not love her in return in the same manner.
Then to inherit all she possessed, only to start again with someone else…
the idea was intolerable to Darcy’s cousin.
Richard was not pleased that Darcy went ahead where he had refused, but Anne was not in love with Darcy and did not dream of romantic affection from him, so Darcy did not feel like he was doing wrong.
Then just after Darcy’s wedding, it became apparent that something was terribly wrong with Priscilla.
Darcy still remembered the sweet and hopeful girl that Lady Priscilla Fitzwilliam had been before her heart was broken and she had fallen with child by a rogue.
She had come to Darcy for help first, and Darcy had done everything he could.
But every member of Priscilla’s family was keen and observant, and their plan of travelling with Priscilla for company for Anne’s health was quickly seen through.
Anne had been quite keen to claim her cousin’s babe as her own, and Darcy had no objection to the child inheriting most if not all of Anne’s fortune, even considering who the father of the child was.
“Prissy, you can trust Richard with your life! How can you doubt him?” Darcy begged his cousin to confide in her brother.
“I do trust him with my life, it is the life of the other party I am concerned about.” Priscilla had insisted.
“Prissy you cannot wish to protect the swine even now.” Darcy could not believe his ears.
His old friend, his old nemesis had somehow found a way to worm himself into his cousin’s heart.
After weeks of secret meetings, Priscilla had begun to feel ill in the mornings.
Somehow, her companion–who knew Wickham–had learned that Priscilla was meeting the young man in secret, and was holding the information against her.