In truth, she had a good deal to consider. She did not love Harold, but she knew him to be an even-tempered man, not prone to ill humours or violence, She could have done a good deal worse when it came to finding a husband.
She knew that Caroline’s behaviour was poor; indeed, her temper was fierce and her pride almost absurd. But Louisa’s mother had charged Louisa with looking after her little sister, and Louisa had promised to do so; unfortunately, it seemed that this often meant Louisa was forced to agree with Caroline, even when Louisa knew Caroline to be wrong.
On the other hand, should her husband and her marriage not be her top priority now?
Chapter Eleven
An Army Camp on the Continent
Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam recognised the Matlock seal and smiled. News from home was always welcome! But his smile soon faded.
Dear Son,
Let me first reassure you that your father and I are quite, quite well – in body, at least. But our hearts and spirits are sore indeed.
I will not dissemble; a rather dreadful thing has happened. Evidently, Georgiana almost eloped with George Wickham, with the encouragement of her companion, a Mrs. Younge! But that is not the worst of it, for the incident made its way into The Morning Post, no doubt given to the paper by Wickham or Mrs. Younge.
You may imagine society’s reaction. Gossip becomes gospel, in short order. No one has dared say anything to us directly, of course, but there has been a sharp decrease in the number of invitations sent to the house since the articlewas published. I would like to say that it will all blow over, but I know not when or how.
I need not tell you what this means for our dear Georgiana. I journeyed to Pemberley as soon as the article was published, but Georgiana had locked herself in her room and would not come out. She refused to speak to me, and I finally left, disheartened and dispirited.
Darcy blames himself, and I cannot say that he is wrong to do so, for one hard look at Mrs. Younge’s so-called references would have revealed her to be a fraud. He simply did not bother to do so, having been busy with estate matters at the time of her hiring.
There is nothing you can do, dearest son, except to pray for some sort of happy resolution to this matter.
All my love,
Mother
Colonel Fitzwilliam read it over three times and then took several deep breaths. He felt very much like killing somebody. Perhaps he would. The person he had in mind was an ocean away, likely hiding out in London. And perhaps he would take a few hard swings at Darcy as well.
He folded the letter up carefully and tucked it away in his breast pocket before heading to his commanding officer’s tent. It was time for Colonel Fitzwilliam to request some much-overdue leave.
Chapter Twelve
Early October 1811
Longbourn
The news that Netherfield Park had been let to a young man of fortune was not long in making its way about the neighbourhood.
The excitement at Longbourn reached new heights, and Mr. Bennet was made to feel his obligation with respect to this new neighbour. His wife had explained to him, in no uncertain terms, that, as the father of five girls, it was his duty to wait upon the new tenant of Netherfield Park as soon as he was known to have arrived.
When word came that the tenants were ensconced in their new home, Mr. Bennet sighed deeply. Recognising the inevitability of the errand, Mr. Bennet had his horse saddled and rode the three miles to Netherfield Park.
***
He was welcomed warmly by his new neighbour. After the initial courtesies were exchanged, Mr. Bingley informed Mr. Bennet that he was expecting a friend to soon join the household. “He isa very fine fellow, is Darcy, and he brings his young sister with him. I think she is not yet out, so I suspect she will not be much known in the neighbourhood.”
“I have five daughters, sir, of varying ages, so I do not doubt that she will find ready friends, despite not being out.”
“Oh! And how old are your daughters, if I may enquire, Mr. Bennet?”
“With five of them, you can hardly expect me to answer that easily,” Mr. Bennet replied, with a twinkle in his eye. Seeing Mr. Bingley’s confusion, Mr. Bennet abandoned that attempt at levity and instead narrowed his eyes in concentration. “Hmmm. The eldest is two and twenty, and the youngest is just fifteen, so the other three must be somewhere in between.”
“Miss Darcy is, as I recall, the same age as your youngest; what a happy circumstance,” Mr. Bingley said, smiling.
“If you knew my youngest, you would not think it so happy a circumstance,” Mr. Bennet sighed. “But the older girls are sensible enough, and will keep Miss Darcy out of trouble.”
