Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
D arcy considered himself a steady man. He kept his emotions under good regulation no matter what happened. Meeting Elizabeth had threatened this practice, but in marrying her, he was acting in his best interests and thus those of his sister, family, and dependents. Knowing she was going to meet his relations was an unexpected challenge to his reserve. In short, he was nearly exhilarated at the prospect. It occurred to him that he gave little consideration to meeting her aunt and uncle, but Elizabeth surely understood. The Gardiners appeared to be sensible, and they were more prosperous and fashionable than he had envisioned, but they were still far beneath him. In the future, he would be polite, but he could not imagine ever seeing them as friends.
With his closest relations all staying at the same house, telling them about his engagement and that Elizabeth was in town would be an easy matter. As it happened, everyone other than Georgiana was out when he arrived, but it meant the two of them could speak privately, which pleased him. He anticipated scepticism from his aunts and uncles regarding Elizabeth, but he was surprised that the joy he had expected Georgiana to display was lacking. They were in a small sitting room, her companion momentarily absent. Mrs Younge had been highly recommended, and his sister liked her, which was enough for Darcy, but he found he had little to say to her, and the woman always seemed to wish to avoid his company. He supposed it was natural amongst companions; they must always be at some lady’s beck and call, thus when they could, they would prefer to seek solitude.
“Oh,” Georgiana had said, regarding him, her blue eyes wide. “Married? Ought I to know her?”
“No. As I said, we only met when I went to stay at Bingley’s new estate. She and her family do not often come to town.” He spent the next minutes telling her about Elizabeth and the Bennets, ending by saying, “With four sisters, she is practiced at being an excellent one. She has told me several times that she greatly anticipates meeting you.”
When Georgiana’s only response was a tremulous smile, he asked, “Is anything the matter?”
“No, no,” she said, shaking her head. “I…I suppose I am a bit confused. I knew you did not especially want to marry Cousin Anne, but I did not expect you to choose someone like her . Not from our circle.”
“I admit, she is not the sort of lady I anticipated marrying. But her father is a gentleman and, knowing her, I see that no other woman would do. I do not say connexions and fortune should be overlooked entirely, but I realised that other factors are equally important. More important, perhaps. Character, affection, a similarity of mind. I like her as much as I love her, and I am happy and at ease being in her company. You will feel the same. You will see.”
“Everyone I have been friends with has been…well, more like me.”
Darcy lightly rested a hand on her forearm. “I know you will welcome Elizabeth even if you are anxious about meeting her. I promise you, you will love her once you get to know her. With that in mind, what do you think about returning with us to Hertfordshire? The Bingleys are agreeable.”
“Of course, Brother, if it will make you happy. I would like to see Miss Bingley again, and her sister.”
“Good. Mark my word, this is the beginning of a wonderful time for our family.”
Later, he spoke to Lord and Lady Romsley and their sons, Viscount Bramwell and Colonel Fitzwilliam, and, his uncle Frederick and aunt Julia Darcy and their daughter, Rebecca; the Darcys’ younger children remained in Shropshire, and Georgiana was in her apartment. Darcy was honest about Elizabeth’s circumstances, adding, “But what she brings to our union, to me, is far greater than what she lacks. You will understand once you know her.”
The earl regarded him sceptically, and the countess with concern and a little wariness.
“Well,” Lord Romsley said, pausing to clear his throat before continuing. “It is a surprise, but we trust you to make good decisions. You always have, even before you came into your inheritance.”
His male cousins laughed, and the colonel said to Darcy, “I only wish I had been with you when you met her. It would have been vastly entertaining to watch you lose your composure over a girl.”
Bramwell added, “Tell us, how long did it take you to trip over your feet and nearly drive her away by saying or doing something stupid? You are hardly practiced at the art of flirting or flattering a young lady.”
Darcy opened his mouth to retort, but before he could, the countess spoke.
“Please refrain from teasing Darcy in my presence. Tell us, have you informed Catherine?” she asked Darcy.
“I have not,” he admitted. “I shall write to her tomorrow or the day after.”
“My sister will be disappointed. Perhaps—likely—even angry that you have disregarded her wish that you marry Anne,” Lord Romsley said.
Darcy nodded; his aunt’s disapproval would not prevent him from acting as he wished.
His uncle and aunt Darcy were likewise shocked that he was engaged to a lady they had never heard of, but their concern regarding Elizabeth’s situation in life was less pronounced, his uncle only saying, “I look forward to knowing her.”
Rebecca was happy for him and said, “I know I shall love her. What has Georgiana said? She must be pleased. She will have a sister, and now that she has left school, it will be even more agreeable for her to have another lady in the family, especially with my sisters being so much younger than her.”
“I am sure Georgiana and Elizabeth will love each other before long,” Darcy said, knowing it was a vague response to her questions.
Lady Romsley suggested Elizabeth join them in two days for a luncheon so that they could meet. Darcy thanked her, and he sent Elizabeth a note the next morning with the information, adding ,
I regret I cannot see you today. My uncles both have matters they wish to discuss with me, and between that and spending time with my sister and other family, it would be late before I made my way there.