Darcy, Knight Errant (Elizabeth and Darcy True Love Multiverse)

2. Chapter One

Chapter One

Elizabeth sighed and shook her head, utterly perplexed by the situation. For two weeks now, Elizabeth had watched a young lady come in to help at the charity with her companion, and every time Elizabeth saw the young Miss Darcy, she seemed all too morose. Though the girl’s clothes spoke of wealth and privilege and she appeared to be enjoying the typical good health of youth, it seemed as if she was incapable of joy. Elizabeth couldn’t shake the feeling that something was troubling Miss Darcy, prompting her to wonder about the unseen burden she carried.

From across the room, she observed Miss Darcy sitting next to her companion, patiently guiding the youngest attendees in the art of sewing a proper hem. Even before the enthusiastic and well-mannered girls she helped, the young lady seemed to wilt. The urge to act grew within Elizabeth. She could not leave the poor thing so miserable without at least trying to help. Maybe it was the older sister in her. Miss Darcy looked slightly older than Lydia and if Lydia had behaved in such a way, Elizabeth would never hesitate to step in.

Not one to enjoy plain sewing, Elizabeth assisted another set of girls and young women in learning to read. Once her lesson for the day was complete, Elizabeth normally took tea with some of the other volunteers, and she was determined that today she would get Miss Darcy to join her for a cup or two.

A young voice pulled her out of her introspection. “Miss Bennet? I do not understand this one.”

“What are you struggling with?” Elizabeth smiled down at the girl and, kneeling next to her, looked at the page she had been given. “Which word is giving you trouble, Beatrice?”

The young girl pointed to the page and Elizabeth studied the small nursery rhyme she had given Beatrice to study. As Beatrice had expressed interest in becoming a nursemaid, Elizabeth had given her “Rock-a-Bye Baby.” The word that Beatrice was struggling with was bough. Instead of simply giving the thirteen-year-old the answer, Elizabeth asked, “Have you tried sounding it out?”

“Yes, that is why I am so confused. It has an end like dough for making bread, but when I say it with a B, it sounds like a bow for my hair and that does not make any sense. Why would a bow break and how would that make a baby fall?” Beatrice gazed at Elizabeth, her mouth twisting for a moment before saying, “I do not think I like this story.”

“I can certainly understand why you are so frustrated. ‘Rock-a-Bye Baby’ may be a sweet lullaby, but it does not make much sense when you think about it. The word you are struggling with has more of an ow sound than a d ough sound.”

Scrunching her nose, Beatrice mouthed the word a few times before asking, “So when it says the bough breaks, they are talking about a tree limb?”

Elizabeth nodded and exclaimed, “Yes, exactly.” She was so happy to see how hard Beatrice was working to sort out not just the words, but the meaning behind them. Although she did not have the best circumstances, she was a very intelligent girl.

It only took a moment before Beatrice’s mouth fell open in horror. Jerking her head around to stare at Elizabeth, she sputtered, “Why would anyone sing to a baby about falling out of a tree?!”

Pressing her lips together to suppress a giggle at the girl’s exasperation, Elizabeth managed to shrug. “That I do not know. Though I will say my cousins never seemed to mind when I sang it to them.” Standing, Elizabeth brushed off her skirt and forced herself to concentrate on her charges for the rest of their allotted time together. She truly enjoyed helping others discover the power of the written word.

Soon enough, a melodic bell chimed, alerting everyone that the morning’s lessons had concluded. Her students expressed their gratitude and departed, their footsteps fading away. Elizabeth hurried to Miss Darcy’s side before she could slip away, as she often did once she fulfilled her duties. Reaching out, Elizabeth grasped the edge of her sleeve as she began to turn towards the exit. When she turned back, her eyes wide, Elizabeth smiled sheepishly. “Miss Darcy, I hope you will forgive my boldness, but I have wanted to speak with you for some time.”

With her large blue eyes round as saucers, Miss Darcy stared at her briefly before uttering, “Me? Why would you want to speak with me?”

Smiling at both Miss Darcy and her companion, Mrs. Annesley, Elizabeth continued, “Though I am rarely in London for very long, I enjoy volunteering while I am here. Most of the volunteers I meet here are older married women. I am delighted to know that there is another young lady volunteering as well. I would love to have a friend as like-minded as myself while I am in town visiting family. They have a lovely little sitting room available for the volunteers to take tea here. Would you be willing to have a cup of tea with me before you go home for the day?”

As Elizabeth patiently waited, she couldn’t help but be intrigued by the bewildered look on Miss Darcy’s face as her eyes flickered towards Mrs. Annesley, a perplexed crease forming on her forehead. The poor girl appeared painfully self-effacing and shy, causing Elizabeth to hope that she would be open to forming a friendship. After a moment, Mrs. Annesley nodded to Miss Darcy with a smile. At that, Miss Darcy turned back to Elizabeth and, though looking down at her pretty boots, she finally replied, “It would be lovely to enjoy a cup of tea with you, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth’s instinct was to take the younger girl’s arm in hers and walk together to the sitting room, but she did not want to overwhelm her. Instead, she only said, “Splendid! I will lead the way.”

Georgianna still did not know what was going on. Even at her school, she had never encountered someone so genuinely eager to be her friend. Of course, there had been several young ladies who had pretended to offer friendship, but they had all shown themselves to be less than sincere. They had not acted as friends long before Georgianna had discovered the truth—they had all merely wanted access to her very wealthy and handsome older brother. This young woman, however, showed none of the telltale signs she recognized so well.

As she followed Miss Bennet, it occurred to Georgianna that the only other person who had ever been so bold was Miss Caroline Bingley. Not that Miss Bingley would ever show her face at a charity. No, Miss Bennet was a conundrum, and she would simply have to wait and see what she wanted. After all, no one ever wanted her just for herself. Any attention shown to her would only be for her connections or her money. That was a hard-earned lesson gifted to her by George Wickham.

It had been difficult to discover that she was seen as a mouse of a girl with no defining qualities. In a heart-wrenching moment, the man she believed loved her shattered her self-worth with hurtful words, declaring her undeserving of love or friendship. The sting of his words lingered, haunting her every waking hour. While her brother and Mrs. Annesley assured her that his words were untrue, she could not help but feel their continued power over her. So Georgianna watched with confusion—and admittedly, a little awe—as Miss Bennet ushered her into a little room of pleasant colors and comfortable-looking chairs.

Miss Bennet walked to a little alcove near a window after nodding to one of the serving girls to request tea service. Turning back to smile at Georgianna and Mrs. Annesley, Miss Bennet said, “I have always enjoyed sitting here by the window, though if you prefer, we could sit elsewhere.”

Shaking her head, Georgianna found herself sitting down on a well-stuffed settee and responded by softly saying, “This is lovely, thank you.”

Georgianna watched carefully as Miss Bennet, who was still smiling at her, sat down. Though appropriately demure, her smile did not just stop at her lips. It seemed to envelop her entire face, almost as if her smile was shining forth from her very being. Settling her skirts, Miss Bennet said, “I am so pleased that you were both willing to overlook my forward behavior. I have been assisting at the London Ladies Society for the Betterment of the Female Poor for quite some time, and it is rare for me to encounter someone who is even remotely close to my age. So I am, of course, thrilled to be given the opportunity to chat with you both. If you do not mind my asking, do you reside in London? Or like me, are you only here part of every year?” There was just something about Miss Bennet’s enthusiasm that was uplifting and infectious, and Georgianna felt the corners of her lips turning upward, if only slightly.

After looking at Mrs. Annesley for approval, Georgianna murmured, “I reside in London much of the year, but I always cherish returning to my family’s estate in the country.” It was common enough to have a country estate, so Georgianna felt no compunction about mentioning an estate. She never revealed the name of that estate as Pemberley to anyone anymore. Despite calling one of the nation’s largest and most-esteemed estates home, she had no desire to flaunt it or be showered with excessive flattery.

“I always love returning home to the country after a time in London,” exclaimed Miss Bennet. Then, seeing that the tea service had been brought, she asked, “How do you both take your tea?”

Miss Bennet made quick work of dispensing their tea exactly as requested, and Georgianna was envious of how well she managed it all. Any time she attempted to pour, Georgianna always made a hash of it, clattering things about with shaking hands. For a time, there was silence, but somehow Miss Bennet carried her cheer over into the quiet moment with her convivial attitude. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Georgianna actively contributed to a conversation by asking, “Where do you call home, Miss Bennet?”

“My family’s estate is in Hertfordshire, near the small town of Meryton. Though my family estate is neither large nor as prosperous as some, Longbourn has been in the family for the last eight generations.” Elizabeth took a sip of her tea, and a smile spread across her face, causing her cheeks to plump and her eyes to sparkle with delight. “I love walking the trails there as I visit the tenant families. While I enjoy the parks here in London, there is just something about the land around my home that calls to me.”

Leaning forward, Georgianna remarked, “I know exactly what you mean. I never feel so myself but when I am walking the well-worn paths that twine about the rosebushes near my home. Even in winter, when it is bare of all its normal beauty, those paths call to me.” Once she finished speaking, Georgianna sat back, suddenly aghast at her forward behavior. She never allowed herself to get so carried away, especially not with a practical stranger. Looking over at Mrs. Annesley, she expected to see her frowning at her forward behavior, but was met with a smile.

With what Georgianna had come to think of as her motherly smile, Mrs. Annesley said, “I think the place we call home often brings a sense of tranquility to most people, whether it’s the picturesque garden path or the idyllic countryside. Yet, for just as many, the soothing ambiance can be found indoors, amidst the shelves of a library or the harmonious melodies of a piano.”

Nodding, Miss Bennet acknowledged the truth of Mrs. Annesley’s words. “You are right. My father would certainly never find peace about the estate. He is happiest amongst his books. My younger sister Mary, on the other hand, is happiest when she is practicing the piano.”

Finding herself inexplicably drawn in, Georgianna said, “I have always wished for a sister. Not that I have been ungrateful for my brother, mind you—he is the best of men. It is only that I have always supposed a sister would be more of a friend and confidant.”

Laughing lightly, Miss Bennet said, “I can attest to the veracity of your supposition. Among my four sisters, I have cultivated deep friendships, but we have also had our fair share of conflicts and squabbles. So, though I will always support the idea of having sisters, it is not without caution. On the other hand, I have always wished for a brother.”

By the time they finished tea and separated for the day, Georgianna had shared more of herself with Miss Bennet than she had ever shared with anyone else before. Not even with her brother had she expressed herself so freely. That was not to imply that she spoke rashly, rather that she embraced the freedom to express herself. Miss Bennet lent such an air of compassion and interest that Georgianna’s responses felt natural. Riding home in the carriage with Mrs. Annesley, Georgianna felt strangely hopeful.

Darcy watched his sister from across the table as she ate. As usual, the meal was quiet except for the slight sounds of their cutlery. He hated how incapable he felt around her. Their interactions were scarce during his time at Eton, and it wasn’t until he graduated from Cambridge that they reconnected. His normally reticent disposition had not helped matters, but he had worked hard to build a relationship with the little sister that he loved. But then their father had died, and he was no longer a brother, but her guardian.

He found it difficult to navigate the position he found himself in. Unlike caring for Pemberley, caring for his sister was not something he had been prepared for. The fact that she almost eloped served as further proof that he was not well prepared to direct the life of a teenage girl. He could only hope that his faith in Mrs. Annesley was better founded than it had been in Mrs. Younge.

He had made many blunders in the early days after Ramsgate, mistakes that ended in his sister crying. In those days, he couldn’t seem to go a day without uttering words that would bring tears to his sister’s eyes. It left him hesitant to say anything and yet he knew his sister would not speak unless prompted. For all of this, Darcy knew he was mostly to blame, and it gutted him.

Squaring his shoulders, Darcy mentally castigated himself as the silence dragged on. Darcy was a twenty-eight-year-old gentleman, and he could not be such a coward. It was merely a conversation with his sister; he was not facing Napoleon. Darcy searched for something benign to say and finally he settled on, “Did you have a productive day at the charity today, Georgianna?”

Looking up from her plate, eyes wide, Georgianna swallowed before saying, “Yes, Brother, Mrs. Annesley and I worked with some of the youngest girls on their needlework.”

Mrs. Annesley added, “Miss Darcy has a fine hand with a needle, and I believe the girls gained a lot from her kind attention.” She smiled warmly at Georgianna before taking a bite of her meal.

Darcy saw how his sister perked up at the older woman’s motherly expression and praise. He silently watched the interchange, wishing all the while that he had the ability to bring such a smile to Georgianna’s face. Unwilling to give up though, he pressed forward, still trying to draw Georgianna out. “Are you enjoying yourself there?”

This earned Darcy an enormous smile. Georgianna practically bounced in her chair when she said, “Yes, very much. I think I might have met a girl who might even want to be friends. We had tea together.”

Keeping his mouth closed with difficulty, Darcy glared at Mrs. Annesley. Was she or was she not supposed to be protecting his sister? Any number of people there could be trying to take advantage of Georgianna. This whole volunteering at a charity had been something he was uneasy with at the start. If he was being honest, he still felt uneasy with the idea. The world had already been so cruel to his sister. Why continue to expose her to how ruthless life could be? He wanted to shelter Georgianna from everything he could, but Mrs. Annesley had been firm in her belief that Georgianna needed wider exposure to the world, not less. Now he worried that he should have insisted that it was a bad idea. Just who was this girl his sister had met? Was Mrs. Annesley allowing his sister to be ensnared by a perfect stranger?

Turning to his sister, he tried to keep his tone light as he said, “My dear, places like women’s charities for the poor are no place to find friends.” His sister’s wide eyes and trembling lip hurt Darcy, but he felt the need to get his point across. He continued, “If you are truly longing for companionship, I am certain Lady Matlock would gladly invite you to one of her elegant teas, where you could meet young ladies more suited to your social status. Young ladies who are less likely to befriend you for personal gain.”

Tears gathered in the corners of Georgianna’s eyes as she took in his words, and they ate at his heart. He wanted so desperately to see Georgianna happy, but he could not relax his guard for a moment. The last time he let his guard down, he almost lost her. It was better for her to be safe than happy with some friend who would only use her.

Pushing her seat back, Georgianna stood, her shoulders hunched. She stood there for a moment, only looking down at her plate before dropping her serviette and turning her back to the table. At the doorway, she stopped and said, “I know you are the great Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, but do not suppose you know everything.” Then she was gone.

Turning his frustration on to Mrs. Annesley, Darcy said, “I wonder, Madam, what you thought you were doing when you let my sister become involved in such an unsuitable entanglement.”

Setting her fork down, Mrs. Annesley calmly stared back at him, unruffled. “Unsuitable, sir?” she asked.

“Yes, unsuitable!” Pushing back from the table, Darcy paced, hoping to get his anger under regulation. Turning back to Mrs. Annesley, he cried, “I went along with your belief that helping people in need would give Georgianna a sense of worth and accomplishment, not so that she could befriend some poor chit destined to be a shopgirl or nursemaid. No matter how kind they may appear, someone like that would inevitably befriend her for her wealth and connections, if only because they needed to.”

Mrs. Annesley did not shrink back at his anger. She stayed calm and only asked, “Who exactly do you think volunteers at the London Ladies Society for the Betterment of the Female Poor?”

Confused by her response, Darcy froze. He had never considered who might volunteer at a charity. He assumed good Christian ladies who wanted to help their fellow man volunteered at the charity, but Mrs. Annesley’s question implied that he was missing something. The question was, what was it?