Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Fitzwilliam Darcy was sitting in his study with his cousin and dear friend, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, with whom he shared guardianship of his young sister, when they heard a firm rap on the door.
The gentlemen were awaiting this interview with dread and anticipating the outcome before it had even occurred.
“Come in, please,” Darcy called out, and the door opened, admitting Mrs Shopes.
Darcy had hired Mrs Shopes the previous month to serve as companion to his fifteen-year-old sister, Georgiana.
Mrs Shopes was a solid, practical sort of woman and the widow of a general in the army.
She had found the military lifestyle much to her liking and had often accompanied her husband in his travels, relishing the encampments and austerity most of all.
Darcy offered Mrs Shopes a friendly smile and assisted her to a seat while Fitzwilliam offered to pour her some tea.
She declined both the chair and the tea.
“I shall be brief, Mr Darcy. With all due respect, I feel it my duty to tell you that I shall not continue in your employ in two weeks’ time. ”
Mrs Shopes, having heard of the attitude and behaviour of Miss Georgiana Darcy from past governesses, would only agree to a six-week term of employment within Darcy’s household.
At the time, he had been so desperate to have someone for Georgiana that he agreed, but he now wished that he had required a longer tenure.
“I regret to hear that.” Darcy kept his voice amiable and pleasant with none of the authoritative manner he usually showed to his servants.
“If this is in regards to the other night, I want to assure you that neither Colonel Fitzwilliam nor I hold you in any manner accountable for Miss Darcy’s actions. ”
“I would not see that you reasonably could, being that I was at my sister’s in Middlesex that night.”
“Of course not, no,” Darcy agreed hastily.
“I believe what Mr Darcy means to say is that one month is a very short time. However, I have witnessed a marked improvement in Miss Darcy’s behaviour during that time, which, I can only suppose, will continue to increase,” Colonel Fitzwilliam added, eager to placate the lady.
Mrs Shopes sighed. “Good sirs, please believe me when I say, if I thought that to be true in any way, I would be glad to stay. As it is, I cannot see that Miss Darcy and I shall do anything more than argue violently. I shall become her gaoler, and that is not a position to which I aspire.”
Darcy realised he must acquiesce, and Mrs Shopes left with a spring in her step that he had not seen in the month she had resided in his house. As the door closed behind her, he looked at his cousin, who tossed back the remains of his brandy before speaking. “Was she the third one?”
“Yes,” Darcy replied succinctly. “I cannot think how we might find another, not when Georgiana’s antics have clearly begun to precede her. However, even if we do hire someone, the matter of retaining her is a different issue altogether.”
“Georgiana knows very well that these people are in her employ. She does not afford them the respect they deserve because she views them as servants.”
Darcy’s difficulties with Georgiana had begun to emerge the previous year when his sweet little sister suddenly and alarmingly began to take on the appearance of a woman. Until that time, she had been complaisant and obedient, if somewhat timid.
He had been her guardian since their father’s death, when she was a girl of ten and he a young gentleman of only two and twenty.
She was always appreciative of all he did for her and rewarded his efforts with honour and respect as well as an almost embarrassing adoration.
So it had been until the spring of 1810 when Georgiana turned fourteen.
It began with frighteningly rapid changes in her figure that outpaced many of her friends and left her with the appearance of a much older girl.
His aunt took him aside and told him that, when a young girl’s figure is formed at such an early age, many times she develops either excessive shyness or excessive coquettishness.
Darcy had anticipated the former but got the latter, much to his surprise and dismay.
Suddenly, sweet, shy Georgiana was behaving as if she were some near-spinster of five and twenty, desperate for a husband.
Every time they walked together in the park, she drew the notice of various gentleman who observed her appreciatively and then looked at him either enviously or challengingly, sometimes both.
Georgiana, against all expectation, cultivated the attention and had grown more silly and disobedient, despite all efforts to the contrary.
Darcy rose to pour a bit of brandy into his coffee and returned to his seat.
“There is always such a fine line with companions: to encourage Georgiana to give them the respect they deserve while, at the same time, admonishing her to recall her place. It is a delicate balance and one I fear she does not see.”
“My mother or Lady Catherine would be more than happy to assist you.”
Darcy grimaced. “No. I refused them when she was younger, and I do not wish to give her over now because it has become challenging.”
“That leaves only one option,” Fitzwilliam pronounced, looking at his cousin with a devilish grin. “You must marry. At least a wife cannot resign her post, and they would be equal; therefore, Georgiana would be more inclined to follow her guidance.”
“Do not plague me so; I have heard quite enough of it from your parents.” Darcy rubbed his temples. “I do need to marry. Perhaps I should permit their influence over it.”
The teasing look left Fitzwilliam’s eyes. “You would allow them to arrange your union? Darcy, I am surprised to hear you say it.”
Darcy removed his hands from his head and picked up his cup, staring into it. “I must have now reached the age where I see the benefits of marriage outweigh the drawbacks. I trust your parents; they would not choose poorly.”
He laid down his cup rather sharply. The liquid splashed onto the saucer, but he did not notice. “Georgiana needs more than a paid companion who might hie off at the slightest notice. Every day, I fear what might come next. An assignation? An attempt on her virtue? An elopement?”
Fitzwilliam seemed dubious. “Georgiana would benefit from your taking a wife, but would you? Georgiana is already fifteen. In a few years, she will be married and gone, but the wife will remain. Do you not think your own needs should take precedence in this matter?”
Darcy shrugged. “I know my duty, and I trust your parents will not match me with someone I would detest.”
He slowly tapped his fingers against the arm of his chair.
“If you were to ask me in this moment whether there was a lady to whom I would wish to be married, I would have to say no.
But I know I tend to be withdrawn at parties and balls where I might meet someone.
There could be any number of ladies I might find agreeable had I the opportunity to know them.
“Alas, I am rarely afforded such an opportunity because, the moment I give a lady above the slightest bit of notice, I have raised her expectations, and our names are put together in the tattle sheets. So I must go along, giving only a nodding acquaintance, and hope to find true love. How can it possibly be done in such a way? I have been out in society for a long time now. I have tried it my own way and have come up empty-handed. What harm could there be in changing tactics?”
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s tone was still marked by doubt. “Let us hope those do not become famous last words.”
In the late summer of 1811, there was an item of gossip in circulation amongst the inhabitants of Meryton that was the cause for great excitement.
“Have you heard, Mrs Bennet? I have just learnt from Mrs Long that Netherfield Park is let at last! Do you want to know by whom?” Lady Lucas was nearly breathless with excitement.
Mrs Bennet smiled indulgently at her neighbour. “You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”
“Well then, my dear! It was taken by a single young man of large fortune from the North, who came down in a chaise and four just last Monday to see the place. He was there but half an hour before he agreed to the terms. What a fine thing for all the girls of the county! Indeed, you must know I am thinking of his marrying one of them. It would surprise me greatly if your beautiful Jane did not catch his eye,” Lady Lucas proclaimed with a knowing smile.
“I do not like to boast of my own child, but Jane’s beauty is admired by all. So you must tell me the particulars of this young man’s situation. How much a year does he have? Where is his family’s home?”
At this prompting, Lady Lucas happily settled into a complete reporting of all the particulars, of which Mrs Bennet heard only two pertinent points: trade and five thousand a year.
She sniffed discreetly but disapprovingly. The elevation of her second daughter to the peerage had resulted in a like elevation of Mrs Bennet’s hopes and expectations for her other daughters.
This Mr Bingley might do very well for most of the young ladies of this county, but for the sisters of a countess, I think not. Surely, if Lizzy could manage to catch a wealthy earl, no less than a duke will do for Jane!
Of course, she said none of this but graciously replied, “We have so many lovely young ladies in this village, Lady Lucas; perhaps one of them will be so fortunate as to draw the attentions of this Mr Bingley. Your Charlotte was looking well in her blue muslin at the last assembly, and young Maria has grown into quite the beauty.”
Lady Lucas smiled hopefully, heartened by her friend’s flattery, and she soon departed, intent on discussing with Charlotte some more elegant hairstyles.
Later that night, Mr and Mrs Bennet enjoyed time together before the fireplace in the sitting room that adjoined their two chambers.