Darcy in Want of a Wife

Chapter 26

Darcy House

The Next Day

Darcy was sitting in his office working on business letters, when he heard the distant sound of feminine voices. He froze in position, tilted his head, and closed his eyes. Could it be?

He was on his feet seconds later and rushed out the door and into the corridor. A familiar form stepped into the light from the front door and turned toward him.

“Brother!” Georgiana cried out.

“Georgiana!” Darcy returned, pulling her into his embrace. “My dear girl, I had no idea you would arrive so quickly!”

“We began packing for our journey within hours of receiving your express,” Georgiana explained, breaking away from his arms and smiling happily up into his face. “I was so eager to see you, and Mrs. Annesley agreed that we should leave as soon as possible. So we did!”

“I am overjoyed to see you, my dear. But come, I am certain you wish to refresh yourselves, and here is Mrs. Hargreaves to take you to your rooms.”

The housekeeper had indeed bustled up and happily guided Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley upstairs. Darcy retreated to his office to finish the letter he had begun, and then hurried into the drawing room, intent on being there when his sister appeared.

Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley arrived along with the tea service, and Georgiana, flushing a little, poured tea for her brother and companion. The ensuing conversation focused on the ladies’ journey from Pemberley, and Darcy was pleased to learn that there had been no problems on the way with roads or carriage or horses or inns.

When the tea had been properly drunk, and the scones eaten, Darcy invited his sister to walk with him out into the garden behind Darcy House. It was not, of course, as impressive as the lavish gardens of Pemberley, but it was a pleasant place, with sweet-scented roses and a comfortable wooden bench under a shady tree. Darcy escorted his sister along the paved path through the flowers, speaking of trivialities, before guiding her over to the bench. Georgiana took her place with a sigh, closing her parasol as she did so, and smiled as Darcy sat down beside her.

“I am so glad to be with you again,” the girl said, and Darcy wrapped a long arm around her. “I am glad to be with you, too.”

For a few minutes, the two siblings simply sat in silence, relishing one another’s company. While the Darcys appreciated their extended family, they did not see a great deal of any of the Fitzwilliams except for Richard, and even he was often sent away in his service to the army. It was a peculiar situation, to be exceedingly wealthy orphans, especially given the twelve year gap between them.

“Georgiana?”

“Yes, brother?”

“I am in love.”

This provoked Georgian to slew around and stare with him in amazement. “In love? With whom?”

There was, he thought, some trepidation in those blue eyes, and he said, “It is not a lady you have ever met, though I hope to introduce you to her soon. Her name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

Miss Darcy’s alarm receded instantly, and she smiled. “She is Mrs. Bingley’s sister, is she not?”

“She is! You have a marvelous memory, my dear.”

“Well, as to that, I will confess I have been curious about Miss Bennet for some time. You mentioned her often in your letters when you were at Netherfield Park last autumn.”

Darcy blinked in astonishment. “Did I?”

“Yes. You wrote that she is clever and charming and a wonderful dancer, along with being a great reader. Indeed, I wondered at the time whether you were in love with her.”

Darcy groaned and shook his head. “I am an idiot sometimes.”

“No, you are not! Why would you say such a thing?”

“Because I did not even realize I was in love with her until the New Year, and then I resisted making her an offer because of her position in society. It was only after I spent weeks investigating other young ladies of the ton that I accepted that Miss Bennet is the woman for me. Well, if she will accept me, that is.”

Georgiana had been listening with obvious interest, but now her eyes grew round in astonishment. “You do not … surely she would not refuse you!”

“She will if she believes we would not be happy together. I spoke to her only last night on the matter, at the Greystone ball, and she is willing to enter an informal courtship, but she has made no promises.”

“I had not imagined that any woman in all of England would refuse to marry you, Brother! It makes me think perhaps she is not as clever as you say.”

He laughed at this fervent show of loyalty and leaned over to kiss her blonde head. “My dear, one of the reasons I fell in love with Miss Bennet is that she is very unlike the ladies of the ton. Most of them think in terms of alliances and money and connections. Miss Bennet cares more about respect, love, and compatibility in marriage than the size of my purse.”

Georgiana, who had been obviously indignant, relaxed her brow and squinted.

“That is an unusual perspective,” she agreed. “Most of the young ladies in my school spoke endlessly of money and relations. But surely, if she knew you as I do, she would accept you without hesitation.”

“Thank you, my dear. I think you will like her. I hope so.”

“I hope so too.”

/

Bingleys’ House

Half Moon Street

The Next Morning

The Darcy carriage came to a gentle halt, and a moment later, a servant opened the door from the outside. Darcy stepped down and turned to hand down his sister. Georgiana was fetchingly attired in a blue morning dress whose soft hue matched the color of her eyes, and she wore a darker blue shawl over the ensemble as the morning was rather chilly.

“Return in half an hour, Scribs,” Darcy ordered, and the coachman nodded, waited for the servant to jump back onto the back of the carriage, and urged the horses into motion.

“You do not think we are too early?” Georgiana asked, her usually smooth forehead creased with anxiety. “I know most people stay up very late in Town during the Season? Might Miss Bennet not have risen yet?”

“It is eleven o’clock, my dear, and Miss Bennet has always been up with the roosters. Indeed, I insisted we call on her early because I want to catch her at home. I really want you to meet her, darling.”

Georgiana did not protest further, and the pair made their way up the steps and rapped on the door.

Darcy was proven right as the butler invited them in, took cane and gloves from Darcy, along with Georgiana’s hat, and then guided the Darcys into a small sitting room which was located in the front east corner of the house.

Miss Bennet was alone within, writing a letter, but she set it aside at the sight of her guests and rose to her feet.

“Mr. Darcy, good morning!” she said with a glowing smile. “I should have expected you to arrive early; you were always an early riser at Netherfield.”

“I said exactly the same about you, Miss Bennet,” he replied, returning her smile. “I knew you would rise early. Please, may I introduce my sister? Georgiana, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Miss Bennet, my sister, Georgiana Darcy.”

The ladies curtsied to one another, and Elizabeth cheerfully asked the siblings to sit down, and then said, “Miss Darcy, I understand you recently arrived from Derbyshire. Was your journey a pleasant one?”

“It was pleasant enough, though it felt long. I was so eager to see my brother.”

“I can well imagine! I am certain you missed Mr. Darcy very much.”

“I did,” Georgiana replied, and lapsed into blushing silence.

“I do not know if you are aware of this,” Elizabeth said, “but my aunt Gardiner, who lives in Cheapside, grew up in the little town of Lambton, which I believe is very close to Pemberley.”

“Oh!” Georgiana cried out. “Yes, I am very familiar with Lambton. There is a wonderful bakery there where my brother used to buy me cakes when I was a little girl. Do you not remember, Brother?”

“I do,” Darcy said, tearing his gaze away from Elizabeth’s face to fix his eyes on his sister. “You particularly enjoyed the macaroons and the cheesecakes.”

“Well, I still do!” Georgiana declared with a laugh and turned her attention back to her hostess. “Has your aunt returned to Derbyshire in the last years?”

“She has not. My uncle is in trade, and the Gardiners have four small children too. I know Mrs. Gardiner still corresponds with some old friends in Lambton and would like to visit when she is able.”

Darcy was tempted to hint that Elizabeth’s family might well visit her at Pemberley, but that seemed very forward and would probably embarrass Georgiana. Instead, he said, “Miss Bennet, now that Georgiana is in Town, I intend to visit some of the great sights, such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Mint, and perhaps Vauxhall Gardens, which will open in a week. We would be delighted if you would care to join us. Moreover, I would like to take you for a drive at Hyde Park one of these days.”

“I attended Vauxhall only once,” Georgiana gushed, glowing with delight, “some five years ago. It is like a fairyland at night! Do say you will come!”

“That would be delightful,” Elizabeth replied, just as the door opened and the Bingleys entered. The conversation grew general, and it was not until the Darcys had risen to leave that Darcy invited Elizabeth to ride with him at Hyde Park the next day. Elizabeth accepted with pleasure, though she requested that they ride before the evening promenade, as she did not particularly enjoy being jostled by dozens of other carriages and riders on horseback.

Darcy agreed, pleased to have plans to be together with his beloved, and the visitors departed.