“Oh, I am sorry, Elizabeth,” Georgiana looked concerned, “I should not have spoken out of place.”
“Think nothing of it, Georgiana. I am a bit worried about assuming such a role, but your brother will tell you I enjoy a challenge. Was not creating a new Fitzwilliam Darcy a challenge?” Elizabeth laughed nervously at herself.
“Elizabeth, the staff will love you. Fitzwilliam, by marrying you, tells them Pemberley will continue—it will survive. They have waited for him to choose a wife.”
“Miss Darcy,” Jane cut in,“my sister is exceptional although she gives herself little credit for her own accomplishments.”
Mr. Bingley added, “Jane is right. I have known Darcy for over three years. I never knew him to be so content. Look at him—Miss Elizabeth did that.”
The two blushed briefly, but as they looked at each other, the fervor of their love promptly replaced their embarrassment. Darcy’s intense stare caused her to shift her weight, and she reached out to him. Immediately, he stood beside her. He rested his hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder, having to touch her at that instant. She brought her hand up casually to feel his.
“I thank all of you for your confidence and love,” Elizabeth stroked Darcy’s hand lightly, and he squeezed her shoulder. Realizing she needed to voice her misgivings before she could conquer them, Elizabeth hesitatingly added, “When I visited Pemberley, Mrs. Reynolds spoke of Fitzwilliam some day marrying; Mrs. Reynolds said she did not know who was good enough for him.” There! She said the words.Those words of doubt about her worth wrapped up her disquiet.
Darcy came to kneel beside her and looked deeply in Elizabeth’s eyes. All others in the room meant nothing. Only those two existed. “Elizabeth, are you not the girl who once told me—I might have the pleasure of despising your taste, but you always delight in overthrowing those kinds of schemes and cheating a person of his premeditated contempt?” Elizabeth mused over the image of standing next to Darcy at the pianoforte and hearing him say he did not dare to despise her. “You are also the person who accused me of trying to frighten you, but you would not be alarmed.You said there was a stubbornness about you, which never could bear to be frightened at the will of others. Your courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate you.”
She stroked his cheek. “It is a shame I gave my love to a man with such an excellent memory.” Darcy kissed her hand and then returned to his chair. Elizabeth turned to Georgiana and took the girl’s hand. “Your brother is right. I am being foolish; you do not see my sister worrying about being the mistress of this estate.” Everyone knew the situation was not the same, but no one voiced his opinion. “Georgiana, we will dine here this evening.Tomorrow we will dine with my parents at Longbourn,” Elizabeth continued.
“I am looking forward to meeting your and Miss Bennet’s parents.”
The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent in renewing and forming acquaintances. Elizabeth wanted to speak to Georgiana alone before Darcy’s sister came to Longbourn with her brother so when the opportunity opened, she asked, “Georgiana, would you join me for a walk?”
“I would love to see the grounds up close, Elizabeth.”
They walked for some time before Elizabeth came to the point of her conversation. “Georgiana, may we have a seat?” Once they were settled, Elizabeth hesitated briefly and then plowed head-on into what she had to say. “Georgiana, before you come to Longbourn, I want to tell you a bit about my family.” Georgiana nodded her encouragement. “My father is agentleman, but he finds the foibles of others amusing. My mother is often making plans to marry off one of us. With five daughters, I understand her desire, but she can be too vocal. My sister Mary takes a dim view of frivolity. Catherine, whom we call Kitty, is your age, but has not had the benefit of your education, but she has great potential, and Jane and I hope to expose her to a finer society once we are married.”
“Elizabeth, I am aware of some of this.What is your concern? If my brother accepts you, that is all the proof I need of your worth.”
“It is not my worth which concerns me, Georgiana. My concern is my sister Lydia.” Georgiana understood the implication and fidgeted nervously.“Other than my father and Jane, my family does not know of your brother’s assistance to Lydia. They may speak kindly of Mr.Wickham, and I did not want this to upset you. Lydia will attend the ceremony, and shewillflaunt her marriage. I dread exposing you to such a position.”
“Elizabeth, you are kind to think of my welfare with all the other wedding arrangements, but Fitzwilliam and I spoke of this both before he went to help Mrs.Wickhamandbefore he returned to Netherfield. I am ashamed of my foolishness, and I would prefer never to encounter Mr. Wickham again; but at Pemberley withMiss Bingley you held my hand and showed me I have nothing to fear. If you and Fitzwilliam are close, I will be able to handle it.”
“Georgiana, you must not feel as if you failed your brother. Mr. Wickham’s lies took me in also, and they nearly tore your brother and me apart. You have taken great steps; your youth led you to make a mistake in judgment.Your brother and I misjudged each other repeatedly, and Mr.Wickham at one time or another took us both in.We are none of us above reproach. Do not be so hard on yourself. Mr.Wickham will have his hands full with our Lydia for she isour mother’s daughter. Lydia will advertise Mr.Wickham’s flaws for all to see. In fact, he will pay doubly with Lydia as his wife.”
“Thank you, Elizabeth, for being my advocate. I know it was difficult to say, especially about your own sister.”
“You are to be my sister, too, in only a few days. I care about you.Your brother loves you; youneverdisappointed him.”
When the ladies returned to the house, Darcy isolated Elizabeth from the others in the library. “Did you and my sister have a pleasant walk together?” he asked as they sat in adjoining chairs while enjoying a cup of tea.
“It was delightful to see Georgiana again,” she added, pretending not to notice his keen interest in her conversation with his sister.
“Elizabeth, you know me better than anyone.You know I must hear of what you discussed with my sister so please do not tease me.”
Elizabeth chuckled at his frustration, but she did not deny him the information he sought. “I wanted to speak to Georgiana privately before we dined at Longbourn tomorrow. I wanted to forewarn her of the possibility of hearing George Wickham’s name spoken of in a positive light. I wanted to warn her of Lydia’s presence and her lack of discretion.”
“How did Georgiana take this news?”
“Her apprehensions with Mr.Wickham lie in what she sees as disappointment, you, my Love, have in her behavior.”
“But I love Georgiana with all my being!”
“Your sister knows your love, Fitzwilliam; what she does notallow herself is knowledge of your forgiveness.”
“What should I do, Elizabeth? How do I convey as such to her? I know how to manage her wealth and arrange Georgiana’s studies, but how do I show her she has no reason to question how I value her worth?”
“Fitzwilliam, just give Georgiana your love—show her, as you showed me—the value of your love. Tell her your thoughts; share your aspirations; show Georgiana you respect and value her opinions. That is what you did with me. It should be easier, my Dear, because Georgiana’s heart was never set against you.”
Darcy leaned forward in his chair to look closely at Elizabeth. Each day he found something more precious in her. “You and Georgiana already created a bond; this was my hope for her for many years. I will show Georgiana my true feelings. When I was most vulnerable, it was she to whom I turned. She and I are very much alike, Elizabeth. Securing her happiness has been one of my obsessions, I fear.Thank you for caring for my sister as you do.”
