Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
“ A t last,” Miss Bingley cried when Darcy and his sister entered the Netherfield drawing room. “We were worried you had suffered an accident!”
Bingley met his eye and pointedly shook his head; he appeared both apologetic and vexed by his sister’s exaggerated relief.
“I am sorry you were alarmed. Were you expecting us earlier? The drive from town went well, with no delays,” Darcy said.
During his speech, Miss Bingley had pulled Georgiana to a sofa and sat her between her and Mrs Hurst.
“I have been so anxious to see Miss Darcy again,” Miss Bingley said, as though that explained her manner. “Did your brother make you go to Longbourn before coming here?” When Georgiana nodded, she continued. “Dare I ask how you found it? I know you are used to more refined?—”
“That is enough, Caroline,” Bingley said sternly.
Darcy watched as Miss Bingley leant closer to his sister and whispered something; he was not sure he wanted to know what, expecting it was unflattering to the Bennets.
“Come, Darcy, let me get you a glass of wine,” Bingley said, gesturing that he should join him across the room. “Leave the ladies to themselves. My sisters will not keep yours captive long. It will be time to prepare for dinner soon.”
Before doing as Bingley suggested, Darcy exchanged a look with Georgiana; she nodded, which he took to mean she was happy where she was.
The rest of the day passed quietly. Bingley’s sisters acted as though Georgiana was their little sister and they had been apart for months, lavishing her with attention. But, since Georgiana seemed content, he felt free to pass his time in discussion with his friend; Hurst occupied himself by either nodding off or reading a newspaper, as was his habit. Darcy could not imagine the day he would choose such diversions with his wife in the room; then again, he did not suppose the Hursts’ marriage was much like the one he and Elizabeth would share. But it is what I likely would have faced, had I never met her and instead married to enrich myself.
“You might have noticed that Caroline is hardly speaking to you,” Bingley said. “She is displeased, as is Louisa, because you proposed to Miss Elizabeth. I heard a great deal of their speculation that Lord and Lady Romsley would never accept her.” He shook his head and chuckled. “No one could have missed the connexion between the two of you, yet I believe both of them thought you would aim much higher. That belief had helped them accept why you would not develop an interest in Caroline. She might have a substantial dowry, but she does not have noble parents. Now you have chosen a lady without either. ”
Darcy shrugged. “I am sorry my actions do not meet with their approval, but?—”
“Most of what I do does not. Act as though you do not notice their behaviour, and they will soon recall all the reasons they wish to be on good terms with you,” Bingley advised. “Enough about them. Did Mrs Bennet tell you about dinner tomorrow?”
They spent the next while discussing the Bennets. During dinner, Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley asked what Darcy had done in town and rather pointedly expressed their wish to be somewhere livelier and more fashionable than Meryton. Hurst was too busy eating to comment, and Bingley chose to overlook them, instead speaking of how they would occupy themselves in the coming days. When Georgiana indicated she wished to go to her chamber, Darcy did likewise despite it being rather earlier than was his habit. It provided him time alone to day-dream of Elizabeth.
It was undeniably better to be in the country during the summer, and Elizabeth and Darcy were able to again amuse themselves as they had before the sojourn to London. Her sisters embraced Georgiana and, although she was shy, Elizabeth thought she, Kitty, and Lydia were becoming friends. Georgiana also had the company of Mr Bingley’s sisters, Jane, Mary, and Elizabeth herself, who was keen to establish an amiable connexion with the young lady.
At Mr Bennet’s request, they did not discuss her and Darcy’s wedding. “Let us wait until October,” he said one morning when Mrs Bennet mentioned the subject at breakfast. “ For now, Lizzy and her young man can continue acting as though they are alone, no matter how many people are about them, as young couples infatuated with each other are wont to do. I wish to ensure they are both truly prepared for marriage.”
“Papa,” Elizabeth said, speaking over her mother’s objections. “You cannot possibly believe I ever doubt my decision to accept him? I am content to wait a few more weeks before we set a wedding date, but only because the weather has been so lovely lately and I am happy collecting memories of this summer. I warn you, however, as soon as there is a rainy day, I shall turn my mind to the wedding.”
Later that same day, the Bennet ladies went to spend the afternoon at Netherfield. The Darcys and Elizabeth took a slow stroll through the gardens, and when they approached the house afterwards, Elizabeth suggested they sit on the terrace and partake of a refreshing beverage.
“It is just what we need,” she said. “I hope the heat has not been too much for you, Georgiana.” When the younger woman shook her head, Elizabeth continued, saying to Darcy, “Would you mind terribly telling my mother where we shall be?” She fixed him with a look meant to beg that he agree and would not suggest they ask a servant to do so; she wanted a few minutes alone with his sister.
“Of course, my love,” he said. “Perhaps Bingley and some of the ladies will join us.”
Once he was gone, Elizabeth smiled at her companion and indicated a round metal table about which there were four matching chairs; there were several similar arrangements nearby. “Shall we take that one? It is fully in the shade, and the others are not.”
Georgiana nodded. Elizabeth had noticed that she often gestured rather than spoke her responses. It is nothing but a symptom of her reticence. Her brother is also a quiet person. I shall teach them both to be livelier.
“I hope you are finding Hertfordshire agreeable,” Elizabeth said when they were seated.
“I am, thank you.”
When she said nothing further, Elizabeth went on, determined to draw out her future sister-in-law. “I am very glad we have this time together—us and your brother. Once he and I are married, the three of us will hardly ever be apart, I imagine. I long to see Pemberley. You must show me your favourite hidden spots and tell me everything you know of the neighbours and servants.”
Georgiana’s bright blue eyes met hers briefly. “I-I shall do what I can. I do want to spend more time at Pemberley. I shall have Mrs Younge with me too, shall I not? I-I have studies to continue, and she helps me.”
Elizabeth gave Georgiana’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “Darcy has not mentioned dismissing your companion, and I never thought of such a thing. But that does not mean you and I will not often be together. After all, we shall be sisters, and, in my experience, sisters ought to spend the greater part of their time with each other.”
Georgiana offered her a small smile and nodded. She glanced over her shoulder, towards the house before saying, “I am pleased to have met your family. They have been very welcoming.”
“They are pleased to have met you,” Elizabeth said. “I love my sisters dearly, as will you, once you know them better. Tell me, what are you most anticipating in Derbyshire? You have seen how I like to be outdoors. Shall I find enough trees and walking paths to satisfy me, do you think?” She laughed merrily, certain Georgiana understood she was joking .
Darcy joined them several minutes later. Servants bearing lemonade, fruit, and cake followed him.
“Everyone is content where they are,” he said. “I promised your mother we would return to the drawing room once we had finished the refreshments.”
“Perhaps we should go to them immediately.” Georgiana half rose as she spoke, but her brother waved her back into her chair.
“They will not miss us a while longer. I am glad to have the chance for it to be just the three of us. What were you speaking of?” He looked at his sister first, but his eyes lingered on Elizabeth’s, and they exchanged a warm smile that made everything around her fade.
Unable to resist, Elizabeth sought his hand under the table, trusting it would go unnoticed. She said, “Pemberley, how much I know I shall adore it, and how greatly I shall be relying on your sister to help me get used to living there.”
To Georgiana, he said, “You must assist me in devising ways to help Elizabeth become familiar with the estate and neighbourhood. It will be new to her and, as much as I value her intelligence and know she will dedicate herself to being a wonderful wife, mistress, and sister, there will be a significant amount to learn.”
“As you like, Brother.”
Georgiana glanced at Elizabeth but mostly kept her gaze on Darcy or the table. Elizabeth had hoped she would be less timid with her, but as she was not, Elizabeth was determined to redouble her efforts to establish a connexion to her future sister.
“Speaking of Pemberley…” Darcy paused and looked between them. “I must go. I do not intend to be away long, but it is unavoidable. ”
“Oh, no,” Elizabeth said, struggling not to let disappointment overtake her.
He clasped her hand, giving it a kiss. “I am sorry, my love, but there are two or three matters the steward, Mr Potter, and I must discuss, and it is proving difficult to do with letters alone.”
She sighed. “I know I am fortunate we have not been separated before now, but I shall miss you. When do you go?” She laughed. “And when will you be back?”
He chuckled. “I shall leave within the week, and I promise to return as quickly as possible. It will likely be a few weeks, however.”
Elizabeth gave him as broad a smile as she could manage and turned to Georgiana. “I suppose it is the lot of us ladies to accept that our gentlemen cannot remain with us every minute of every day. We shall have to be strong and find ways to divert ourselves.”
Georgiana nodded but said nothing.
Darcy regretted having to leave Meryton, but he had responsibilities. Speaking to Elizabeth and Georgiana—the two people he loved most in the world—he had vowed to make the trip as short as possible, adding, “My comfort will be knowing you are together, keeping each other company.”
His sister had seemed as accepting of his news as Elizabeth. Thus, it was a surprise when Georgiana requested a private conversation after dinner the same evening. They went to a quiet parlour where they would be undisturbed.
“Must you go?” she asked once they were alone .
“Yes. You know Elizabeth and I shall not marry before the end of October, November is more probable, and Potter and I should not wait that long to make certain decisions, ones that require that I am there.”
They were sitting across from each other, her on a small settee and him on a chair. She stood, knelt beside him, and clasped his arm with both hands. “Please, take me with you.”
“Georgiana,” he cried, “what is this? You know it is impractical. The journey is long, even in summer, and I shall be very busy. You had much better stay here. Bingley’s sisters are company when you are at Netherfield, and Elizabeth is nearby. You will see her every day.”
Her voice was thick, he presumed at the effort not to cry; he saw tears in her eyes. “I do not want to stay here without you. I like Miss Bingley well enough, but I would be so uncomfortable in your absence.”
“I shall talk to Elizabeth and Mrs Bennet about you removing to Longbourn?—”
She shook her head vigorously. “No, I could not. It-it is too loud and confusing there. I know you want me to look upon the Miss Bennets as sisters, but it is too soon. I hardly know them.”
Darcy suppressed a sigh. He stood slowly, pulling his sister to her feet, and led her to the settee so that they could sit beside each other. He supposed he had hoped for too much. She was unused to new people, and since he often found some of the Bennets tiresome, he should not be surprised that she did too. “I am sorry, but accompanying me to Pemberley is not reasonable.”
“I could go to Rosings,” she said with such haste that he assumed she had previously considered this possibility. “Kent is not so far away, and it would be nothing for you to escort me there on your way north.”
When she said such things, Darcy realised how young and inexperienced she was. “It is hardly nothing, not being on the direct route, and you know Lady Catherine does not approve of my engagement to Elizabeth.”
She shrugged. “It has been so long since I have seen Anne. She has written to say that she hopes we will see each other soon, and Rosings is only fifty miles from here. We have been lamenting that I am so near, yet we have no plans to see each other.”
“I had no notion your correspondence was so frequent,” he said, wondering if he ought to be more closely examining it. Likewise, he had not realised his sister felt a special kinship with Anne.
Georgiana nodded. “I do not believe she is especially injured that you chose another lady, and if I spend a few weeks with them, she and I can convince our aunt not to be vexed. I do not want the small breach between you to grow. I…I can tell her about Elizabeth and how happy you are.”
He expressed his concern that Lady Catherine would distress her by speaking against him and his engagement, but Georgiana was convinced she would not.
“And if she did, what would it matter? I know she planned for you to marry Anne, but as you told me in town, your choice of wife was yours alone. Love is more important than fortune or connexions. Besides, I shall have Mrs Younge with me, and she could easily make an excuse to separate me from Lady Catherine if she becomes too difficult.”
With a little more conversation, Darcy agreed to arrange for his sister to go to Rosings. Once his business in Derbyshire was completed, he would bring her back to Netherfield .
“Oh, thank you!” she exclaimed. “I am so grateful. You need not worry for my happiness or safety at Rosings. I would be pleased to remain even after you return to Netherfield, for a little longer, at least. A month or six weeks in Kent would be wonderful, particularly since I do not know when we shall go again.”