The Darcys of Pemberley Page 8

  “He undoubtedly likes her very much. Georgiana’s feelings are more difficult to judge. She seems glad enough for his attentions, but rather guarded in her own response. What would you think of such a match for your sister, Darcy?”

  He considered the question a moment. “Henry is an impressive young man – well-mannered, intelligent, ambitious – and I have a very good opinion of his family, which is another circumstance in his favor. It would certainly be an eligible match as to fortune, and I would not quibble over any class distinctions if Georgiana set her heart on having him. Still, I question the suitability of the match as to temperament and habit. From what I have observed, Henry Heywood values the pace and prestige of fashionable society a great deal more than does my sister. And London must be his home because of the bank. I doubt that Georgiana could permanently surrender herself to that style of life unless she was totally besotted, and I see no symptoms of that sort of intoxication yet.”

  “True. When you put it like that, the match hardly seems to make sense, does it? However, rational thought often goes out the window where love is concerned, and then anything can happen.”

  In the morning, immediately after breakfast, the Heywoods prepared to depart for London. With regret, Darcy and Elizabeth made their farewells to these good friends, walking out to the carriage to see them off. Henry Heywood lingered behind the others with some parting words for Georgiana.

  “I hope I shall see you in town before long, Miss Darcy.”

  “As I said before, our plans are not yet fixed. I think it unlikely, though, that we shall come before April or May.”

  “That seems an age from now. Will you not write to my sister so that I may have some news of you before then?” he asked.

  “If she wishes me to.”

  “I am certain she does wish it. The two of you are just the same age, and I should be pleased for you to become better acquainted. There can be no objection to it on either side, surely.”

  “I shall wait to hear from her then. Good-bye, Mr. Heywood,” said Georgiana, offering her hand.

  He took it, pressed it tenderly, and gave her an earnest look. “Good-bye, Miss Darcy.”

  ~*~

  With only family remaining at Pemberley, Colonel Fitzwilliam called them all together, announcing that he had some news to share. The tremor in his voice hinted at some uneasiness. Anne’s eyes darted from face to face as she took a seat beside him. Darcy and Elizabeth sat opposite and exchanged looks of dire concern. Kitty and Georgiana took their places with the most composure, neither being aware of the charged atmosphere in the room nor suspecting what lay ahead.

  “Dear friends,” the colonel began when they were settled. “I am glad you are all here, for I have something very important to say. I know that some of you may have already guessed what it is,” he said with a nod to Darcy and Elizabeth. “For the rest, it will probably come as quite a surprise. Regardless, I hope you will share my joy at my good fortune.” Taking Anne’s hand, he revealed, “Anne and I are engaged to be married.”

  A stunned silence fell over the room. For a long moment, no one moved or breathed. Only Kitty Bennet looked prepared to celebrate the happy tidings, but even she held back sensing the hesitation of the others who knew the principals far better. Miss Darcy suffered the most profound shock. All the color drained from her face, and she hastily exited the room with her eyes steadfastly focused on the floor in front of her feet. She only just managed to mumble the obligatory words of congratulation to her cousins as she fled.

  Darcy and Elizabeth were more puzzled by Georgiana’s reaction than surprised by the announcement itself, having rather expected it ever since the pair arrived together for the ball. They recovered quickly and moved to offer their best wishes to Anne and Fitzwilliam, feigning more cheer than either of them felt at the event. Kitty began to apprehend that she was an outsider in the midst of an awkward situation. She wished the couple joy and followed Georgiana from the room. The remaining four studied each other in silence until the drawing room door closed behind her.

  Then the colonel began. “I apprised Anne of your sentiments in the matter, and we discussed your counsel at length. Darcy, Elizabeth, I know this course is not what you recommended, but I hope you will try to be pleased for us nonetheless.”

  “I want it clearly understood that my disapprobation is in no way meant as a slight to you, Anne,” Darcy explained. “Quite the reverse. It is precisely because of my high regard for you both that I opposed the idea. To me, such an alliance seemed to hold so little chance of success.”

  “It must be your decision,” added Elizabeth. “We only wish you to act according to what will constitute your own happiness, without reference to the ambitions of others.”

  “Then let me set your minds at ease,” Ann responded with quiet assurance. “Fitzwilliam and I have made our decision without undue pressure or persuasion from anyone else. We are satisfied that this will be for the best.”

  “What Anne says is correct,” agreed Colonel Fitzwilliam. “We have made our own choice for our own reasons. If it pleases our families as well, is that not a good rather than an evil?”

  “Naturally; that goes without saying. Peace in the family is to be maintained whenever possible,” replied Darcy. “If this marriage is truly what you both want, we will respect your decision and wish you joy.”

  “Yes, of course. I will pray for your every happiness,” promised Elizabeth.

  ~*~

  Georgiana kept to her room all the next day, sending word by her maid that she was indisposed. Elizabeth went up twice to look in on her, but, finding her asleep both times, she let her be. The next morning, when the girl still did not appear, Elizabeth resolved to investigate as soon as their guests were off.

  “I am sorry not to see Georgiana again before we go,” said Fitzwilliam as he and Miss de Bourgh were about to depart. “She did look frightfully pale yesterday, poor thing, but I trust she will soon recover. If you would be so kind as to give her my warmest regards, Elizabeth, I would be much obliged. You know how fond I am of her.”

  Anne bid them farewell as Fitzwilliam handed her into the carriage, where her maid was waiting for her. They were on their way to Fitzwilliam’s family home to share their good news. There, no doubt, it would be received with more enthusiasm than it had been at Pemberley.

  Elizabeth could well imagine how the groom’s father and the bride’s mother would savor their triumph, and with what exultation they would issue the formal announcement of the union. She only wished the young couple could more whole-heartedly share in that jubilation. Their reassuring words notwithstanding, Elizabeth remained unconvinced that Anne and Fitzwilliam were as confident of their decision as they professed to be. “Well,” she thought, “I said I would pray for their happiness, and pray for it I shall, for I fear nothing short of divine intervention will make a success of this marriage.”

  As soon as they were gone, Elizabeth followed through on her intention to discover what ailed her sister-in-law. Hearing no response to her knock, she entered the room and found Georgiana curled up in bed, staring listlessly out the window with an untouched breakfast tray on the table beside her. Elizabeth at once perceived that she had been crying. “Oh, my darling girl, what on earth is the matter?” she asked as she sat down on the bed.

  Georgiana turned her face into the pillow and began to sob.

  Elizabeth stroked her hair and waited patiently for the tears to run their course. When the upheaval finally came to a close, she tried again. “I am worried about you, dearest. Something is obviously troubling you. Please tell me what it is. Let me help you.”

  “You cannot help me; no one can!” cried Georgiana, barely able to choke out the words before emotion overtook her once more.

  After a bit, Elizabeth ventured gently, “I think perhaps I can guess what has distressed you. Does it have something to do with Fitzwilliam’s engagement to Anne?”

  At this, Georgiana sat up and threw herself into E
lizabeth’s arms. “Oh Lizzy!” she wailed in despair. For a long while, Georgiana cried inconsolably, cleaving tightly to her sister-in-law, who rocked her back and forth like a mother would her injured child. At last, when her sobbing subsided and a dejected calmness took its place, Georgiana confessed. “The truth is, Elizabeth … the truth is, I have been in love with Fitzwilliam for years.”

  “My poor dear! No wonder, then.”

  “I do not only admire him, as I do my brother. It is much more. I love him as a woman loves a man, so deeply, so sincerely. Since he never married, I dared to hope that he might learn to return my affection in time. Now that I am finally old enough, though, he has engaged himself to someone else! I can never tell him that I love him; I will never know if he could have loved me. How shall I bear it, Lizzy? How can I watch all my dreams turn to dust and see dear Fitzwilliam married to my cousin instead?”

  Chapter 11

  Lady in Distress

  Elizabeth could proffer the girl no effectual aide and little comfort. She knew platitudes could not ease so fresh a sting, and offering false hope would be cruel. Even if Fitzwilliam were made aware of Georgiana’s feelings for him and be disposed to reciprocate, his sense of honor would on no account allow him to break his commitment to Anne. Furthermore, there was no reason to suppose that he would wish to do so.

  The colonel had never betrayed any hint of romantic interest in Georgiana, and probably still thought of her as the child he had known since she was an infant. Now that they were both adults, the significant disparity in their ages did not seem insurmountable – to Georgiana, at least – but only a few years earlier, a match between the two would have been unthinkable. Elizabeth was inclined to believe that the notion would never have occurred to Fitzwilliam, or to her own husband for that matter.

  How Darcy would react to such an idea, she might never know since she had been charged to keep the confession of love strictly confidential. Elizabeth was not in the habit of keeping secrets from her husband, nor did she wish to start. But Georgiana became so distressed, almost to the point of hysteria, at the prospect of her brother hearing of her feelings for Fitzwilliam, that Elizabeth finally relented and promised her silence on the subject. In exchange, Georgiana vowed to compose herself and return to some semblance of her regular routine as rapidly as possible, for the sake of her health and her brother’s peace of mind.

  Her feeble pretense of normalcy fell far short of the mark, however. Although Georgiana dutifully came to meals, she never managed to eat more than a few bites. She sat with them in the evening, but her conversation remained woefully subdued. Perhaps most telling of all, her performance at the pianoforte lacked all its usual energy and joy. The dramatic alteration in her manner did not escape her brother’s notice. Rather than querying his sister directly, Darcy went to his wife.

  “Something is obviously troubling Georgiana. Do you know what it is?” he asked her.

  Elizabeth had been dreading just this sort of direct question. Now, in order to keep her promise to Georgiana, she would be forced to respond to her husband with evasiveness if not out and out lies. She chose her words carefully. “You are right; I have noticed it as well. She does not seem quite herself.”

  “But do you have any idea what the problem may be?”

  “Who can say?” Elizabeth hedged. “Girls of her age can be so emotionally volatile, so easily upset.”

  “I am worried about her. Will you see what you can discover, Lizzy? Georgiana is more likely to be candid with you than with me, for I know she thinks of you quite as a sister.”

  “Certainly. I will be glad to have a word with her, but I shan’t be at all surprised if she chooses to guard her privacy very dearly. As shy as she is, I expect it would embarrass her exceedingly to have her personal feelings and disappointments known, even by you and me.”

  As she promised, Elizabeth did speak to Georgiana, not to determine the problem, but to try once more to gain permission to include Darcy in his sister’s confidence. That authorization Georgiana steadfastly refused to give. Thus, Elizabeth was left to answer him with whatever resources of creativity she could muster, since the benefit of simple honesty was denied her. She returned to her husband without delay, prepared to offer a report that contained as much truth but as few of the actual facts as possible.

  “Georgiana begs our indulgence and asks that we respect her privacy. She claims it would be pointless to importune her with personal questions which she has no intention of answering,” Elizabeth informed him.

  “This will not do! I cannot simply dismiss the matter out of hand, without any sort of reasonable explanation. As her brother and her guardian, I have the duty to aid and protect her. If someone has harmed or insulted her…”

  “No, my dear,” Elizabeth interrupted. “I am certain it is nothing of that sort. I voiced the same concerns and offers of assistance, but she has assured me she is not injured and there is nothing to be done for her at present. Truly, I think the kindest thing we can do is what she asks – to respect her privacy, and trust her to come to us if she needs our help or wishes to confide. Georgiana is a sensible young woman. Given time, I am sure she will recover from whatever ails her and be quite herself again.”

  “But why will she not tell me what is troubling her?” he asked pacing the room. “I have seen her through all manner of difficulties in the past. This … problem … whatever it is, can hardly be more serious or more personal than what we have already come across.”

  “She is an adult now and, as such, must be allowed to sort these things out for herself if she chooses. Would not you agree? We will only distress her further by attempting to force a confidence from her, Darcy.”

  “I must say, I do not like it one bit – watching her suffer without being allowed to do anything. However …” He paused and sighed heavily. “If you are fully convinced this is the wisest course, I shall defer to your good judgment, Elizabeth.”

  “Thank you, my love,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “It will be for the best. You will see.”

  ~*~

  A few weeks passed, and Georgiana gradually improved. When she and Elizabeth talked, the painful topic was scrupulously shunned. Darcy, who was equally eager to avoid causing his sister pain, labored under the distinct disadvantage of being kept in complete ignorance. Not knowing what would or would not be safe to utter in her presence severely limited his conversation. His comments to his sister were thereby mostly confined to the subtleties of the weather, which he felt certain could not cause Georgiana any undue distress.

  Since Kitty was still with them, she was pressed into service providing Georgiana with some diversion. The two young ladies had little in common except the closeness of their ages. Still, Elizabeth hoped Kitty’s frivolous nature and trivial pursuits might serve to distract Georgiana from all subjects sad and serious, since it is difficult to be melancholy when discussing the latest fashion for hats and gowns.

  Georgiana’s improved state of mind was further secured by the fact that the Darcys received no letter or visit from Colonel Fitzwilliam during this time. His name did not even come up in conversation until plans were made for a small dinner party at Pemberley. With the cold and damp of February recently keeping them confined too much indoors, Mr. Darcy proposed that a little company would be the very thing to relieve the tedium and gloom. He hoped that Georgiana especially might benefit from some variety.

  Elizabeth fully supported the idea until her husband announced that he intended to make Fitzwilliam one of the party. A most unwelcome development, yet she could think of no way to circumvent the invitation without giving the very explanation she was forbidden to disclose. Hence, once the date had been fixed upon, the honor of the colonel’s presence was requested, along with that of Charlotte, Ruth, Mr. Sanditon, Mr. Thornton and the Bingleys. All that remained was for Elizabeth to prepare Georgiana for the trial of seeing Fitzwilliam again. As expected, Miss Darcy did not hear the news with composure.

  �
��Fitzwilliam coming here? No, I cannot see him. It is impossible!”

  “I know it will be difficult. Still, you must try to bear his coming, dearest. This was bound to happen sooner or later. I wish for your sake it could have been postponed a few months more, but it cannot be prevented now.”

  “Then I shall simply say that I am unwell and keep to my room,” Georgiana declared.

  “That is precisely what you must not do if you wish to keep your brother in the dark about your feelings. He is unlikely to consider it a coincidence if every time the colonel turns up you take to your bed.”

  “But I shall not know how to behave. If I am forced to face Fitzwilliam, everyone will surely notice something is amiss. That is just as likely to raise speculation as if I avoid him altogether,” she protested.

  “Then we shall aim for something between the two – minimize your exposure to Fitzwilliam without being pointedly evasive. You must be prepared to say a few words to him when he arrives, I suppose, but otherwise you should be able to give him a wide berth. Take heart, my dear. Although I am unable to modify the guest list, I can assist you with the seating arrangement. It is a large enough group that, with you at one end of the table and the colonel at the other, you will not be obliged to talk to him or even look at him throughout the whole of dinner.”

  ~*~

  By the day of the event, Georgiana’s distress had somewhat dissipated. With Elizabeth’s coaching and encouragement, she now considered it feasible to get through the evening without disaster. She bolstered her confidence by rehearsing a polite but impassive greeting for the colonel, and practicing a neutral expression at her mirror. Whenever possible, she meant to forget Fitzwilliam was even present by throwing herself into conversation with whomsoever else was at hand. With this strategy and a little luck, Georgiana thought she might narrowly maintain command of her emotions.