Chapter 49 Amusements #2
"It has not really been that long," Bennet reminded him. And you must remember there was a Sunday in those few days since we wrote to him. That slows the delivery of messages as well."
"Hmm, yes, I suppose you are correct. With as much as has happened, it seems longer ago than it truly is."
"I would hazard that we will have heard from him by the time a certain happy understanding is announced," Bennet said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"I hope so. I am also concerned about Georgiana and want to know if I will be taking a quick ride to Derbyshire to collect her. Just like Anne, she needs some time to get to know the Bennet sisters by more than letters."
"You could stand leaving Lizzy long enough to make the round trip?" Bennet asked mischievously.
Darcy looked disgruntled at the thought. "Well, I truly hope it is not necessary, but to make my sister happy, I would."
"Good man," said Bennet.
"Speaking of making the ladies happy," Darcy added, "I did not notice them in the parlor as we passed. Do you have any idea where I might find my betrothed?" He savored the last word as he spoke it, providing some amusement for the other two.
Bennet replied, "With Mrs. Bennet's sudden plan for a dinner party on Friday, the ladies have gone to Meryton for some shopping and gossip.
You have pleased your betrothed with the loan of your carriage to ease crowding on the expedition.
After all, the de Bourgh vehicle was really only meant for two and mine alone would have been a tight fit for them all once the purchases began to pile up. "
Darcy shrugged. "I am pleased to be of service. What is mine will soon be hers, after all. It is not as if I had a need for the carriage at the moment."
"I thought you would see it that way." Bennet smirked as he continued, "That is why I gave permission on your behalf when Lizzy came in to ask where she might find you. They left only an hour or so ago, so it may be some time before we see them again."
"Ah, well," said Darcy, playing up his disappointment, "I suppose there is always that game of chess Sir Phillip and I were going to play earlier."
"It is a dreadful fate," Bennet said, "but I think you two can manage."
Sir Phillip moved the table with the board between them and checked that it was set up correctly. "You won the last game," he said. "That makes the first move yours this time."
~o~
Bennet's prediction about the former Viscount Rand came true shortly before the ladies returned from Meryton. However, instead of sending a messenger, Darcy's uncle showed up at Longbourn's front door with Georgiana at his side.
After winning two games against Sir Phillip and proving the younger man was not Richard's proxy when it came to chess, Darcy had wandered out into the corridor intending to go upstairs and pack the rest of his belongings for the transfer to Netherfield Park.
He neared the entry just as Mrs. Hill opened the door to greet the unexpected visitors.
"Viscount Rand! Do come in, my lord," she said, knowing the gentleman was always welcome.
"Good day, Mrs. Hill. I hope you will be able to spare me a room or perhaps put me in with my nephew. I was not expected. However, I think my niece was. Georgiana, this is the Bennets’ housekeeper, Mrs. Hill."
Before Georgiana could do more than nod politely, Darcy had rushed to the entry and swept her up in a hug. She squeaked in surprise at the sudden attack, then realized who was holding her.
"Will!" she happily cried out his name.
Darcy hugged her tightly for a moment. Then, still keeping his left arm wrapped around his sister, he released her with the right and offered that hand to his uncle.
"You have no idea how glad I am to see you here and safe, Uncle Peter," he said as they clasped hands. His uncle's grip said more in return than words could have.
Smiling, Darcy turned to Mrs. Hill, who had been waiting quietly in the background. "Mrs. Hill, I will take them back to the study. Mr. Bennet will be as glad as I am at their arrival."
"Yes, sir. Will it cause any confusion if I have Viscount Rand's luggage brought up to the room you have been using?"
"It will be no problem at all. I was nearly packed anyway. I just have a few small items to put away before we can bring my luggage down. Of course, with my carriage currently in use, we cannot load it now anyway."
Mrs. Hill nodded and turned away even as Georgiana protested while clinging to him more tightly "But Will, we only just arrived. Are you going away somewhere?"
He gave her another quick and comforting squeeze before he stepped away, gently untangling himself from her grasp.
"I am not going far away, sister. Longbourn is a lovely estate, but it can only hold so many people, and more guests will soon be arriving in addition to you two.
Starting tonight, I will be staying at a nearby estate that Bingley has leased for the next few months.
I will only be three miles away." He grinned at her as he added, "Of course, once you take your place here as an honorary Bennet sister, you will soon forget all about me and it will not matter how near or far I stay. "
"Oh, Will, I never could forget you," she said seriously.
"Georgiana, dear, I am only teasing you," he said on seeing her distress. "Have I been so serious and stodgy these last few years that you do not know what teasing sounds like from me?"
"You were pretty stodgy, Will," his uncle said. "I sometimes thought that if it were not for Richard, you never would have learned to laugh at all."
"Richard has been a big help to me," Darcy agreed, nodding.
"For instance, he was able to immediately identify a certain young woman for whom I had been searching just from the description of her favorite necklace.
" While he continued to smile, the look he gave his uncle was a challenging one all the same.
Peter Fitzwilliam turned away slightly so he was not quite meeting his nephew's searching eyes. "Yes, well, about that…" he began, but stopped as Georgiana excitedly interrupted.
"Have you found Miss Rose, Will? Have you spoken to her yet?"
"Yes, Georgiana, I have spoken to her. Several times, in fact," Darcy said, and his smile lit up the room. "It turns out I only heard part of her name, which is why I had such a hard time finding her. My lady of mystery is, in reality, Miss Elizabeth Rose Bennet."
"Bennet?" Georgiana asked, bouncing in her excitement. "Truly, Will? Your mystery lady is one of the Bennet sisters?"
"Yes, Georgiana, truly. Thanks to Richard, I have met with her, we addressed our misunderstandings and are on very good terms with one another."
Georgiana turned to her uncle, "Is that not wonderful news, Uncle Peter?"
"It is," he answered her, then continued, "I am glad that Will and Lizzy have finally spoken and are now on friendly terms. Will, I am truly sorry I did not correct your misunderstanding regarding her name or point you to her.
You must understand that I was acting on Lizzy's express request. As the insulted party, I felt she had the higher claim. I hope you can forgive me."
Georgiana looked between the two in surprise as she realized her uncle had already known. Will offered his hand to his uncle again. Peter took it gratefully and they shook hands.
"She and I have discussed her reasons and her request to you and several other people who could have enlightened me.
I admit I felt betrayed when Richard first told me and I realized you had known all along, but matters have worked out and I am in an understanding and forgiving mood today.
Now, let us get to the study before we are caught in the entry when Mrs. Bennet returns with all the other ladies. "
"I see you are already learning the ways of the house," Peter observed.
With a smirk, Darcy said, "I told you Richard has been a help to me." He began to lead Georgiana down the corridor. Peter just laughed as he followed his niece and nephew.
They found Bennet on his own in the study.
The Master of Longbourn greeted his friend's unexpected arrival with great joy.
They shook hands vigorously and both expressed how glad they were to see one another despite the serious situations.
Then Peter turned to study the game in progress on the miniature chessboard while Darcy introduced his sister to her host.
"You are most welcome to Longbourn, Miss Darcy," Bennet said as she shyly offered him a curtsy.
"Your brother's kind offer to loan you to us for a month or two has delighted my daughters, especially the two youngest. You must treat this as your home and feel free to ask for anything you need.
" Seeing her wrapping one hand nervously in her skirt, Bennet asked more softly, "Is there something you need? "
She suddenly seemed to realize what she was doing, and she let loose of the twist of fabric before smoothing out the side of her skirt.
Still sounding a little fearful, she said, "Well, Mr. Bennet, sir, it has been a long trip, and I have spent most of it being very nervous about meeting all these new people.
I wonder if, perhaps, I mean, do you have a pianoforte, and might I play it?
Playing always helps calm me and then I can feel less nervous when I meet your daughters. "
Her gaze dropped down to her hands again and she seemed almost shocked that she had made the request. Bennet chuckled kindly.
"Why that is the simplest sort of request you can make. We do have a pianoforte, and of course you may use it. In fact, you should take your opportunity now, while all the other girls are out of the house, because if you wait any longer you will have to negotiate with them for it."
"I can take her to the music room while you and my uncle talk," Darcy offered.