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“I hope you got my messages about why I was delayed in leaving France?”
Georgiana was practically quivering with joy. “I did, but I could not rest easy until you were back in England. There have been so many terrible stories about what is happening in France. Englishmen have been imprisoned for no reason!” Darcy thought that now was not the time to tell her he had almost been one of them.
Georgiana recollected herself and said, “You must be famished! Let us retire to the drawing room and I will ring for tea.” She was so happy at the thought he did not dare to tell her he had already had tea.
Even before tea was served, Georgiana started peppering him with questions about the trip. “Did you see the Louvre? What was it like? Was it dangerous being about once the war was on? Were you frightened? How is your friend who was sick?”
Georgiana finally ran out of breath and Darcy, smiling, answered just the last question. “My friend is much better, thank you. It was fortunate we were able to leave France when we did.” He congratulated himself on negotiating the answer without using pronouns or names.
In his letters to Georgiana, Darcy had not mentioned the gender or name of his friend, knowing that Georgiana would assume it to be a male friend. Although he would need to tell her eventually, she was still young and easily shocked, so he hoped to put it off – at least until after she had met Elizabeth.
As they sipped tea, he gave her an abbreviated account of his travels, including the ball at the Radnor residence. He did recount the tale of encountering Elizabeth quite unexpectedly. “I would love for you to meet her, Georgiana. She has a good understanding and a lively disposition. I think you would get on very well.”
“She is the one who visited Rosings at Easter, is she not? I would love to meet her.” Impressed that she remembered Elizabeth from his brief mentions in his letters, Darcy realized he had never before asked his sister to meet a woman of his acquaintance. She must suspect a partiality, but that was all to the good, he thought; it would lay the groundwork for his eventual announcement.
Lady Matlock sailed into the room upon Georgiana’s last words. As always she had a commanding presence and was dressed in the very latest fashions; however, Darcy thought he spotted shadows under her eyes and creases of worry in her face. He wondered what had occurred to disturb her usual equanimity. “Who would you love to meet, Georgiana?” She asked as she gave Darcy a kiss on the cheek and settled herself into a tapestried chair. “Fitzwilliam, lovely to see you. I am so pleased you are not imprisoned in France after all.” She murmured. Then she turned to Georgiana, awaiting her answer.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Aunt.” Georgiana said.
“Bennet! Is that not the name of the foolish girl who ran away with a militia officer?”
Darcy groaned inwardly. Since his family and Elizabeth’s traveled in such separate spheres he had been hoping the news of Lydia’s scandal would not have penetrated this far. “That girl is Elizabeth’s sister. How did you come to hear of it?” he asked.
“Catherine wrote to me of it. The Bennets are related to her rector I believe.”
Darcy shuddered to think how Lady Catherine and Mr. Collins had interpreted the event. “I hardly think Miss Bennet can be blamed for her sister’s indiscretions.”
“No, but the family….” Lady Matlock’s voice trailed off uncharacteristically. “Especially now, we should not be associating with anyone…who….We should not associate with them for at least several months until the whole thing is less fresh in everyone’s minds. You shall have to wait a while before forming such an acquaintance.” His aunt’s tone suggested Georgiana should relinquish the idea of ever meeting Elizabeth.
Although his aunt’s suggestion was not unexpected, Darcy was confused by the hesitations in his aunt’s speech; she was not usually so vague. “Miss Bennet will be in London only a couple more days,” Darcy explained.
“Fitzwilliam, Georgiana probably has not apprised you of recent events. Now more than ever it would not be good to have your sister – or anyone in the family – associating with less than desirable companions.” Her voice was emphatic, but quivered with unexpected emotion.
Darcy took a deep breath and prayed for patience. “What has happened?”
His aunt’s face colored and he thought he had never seen her demonstrate so much embarrassment. She was the sole of rectitude and a premiere arbiter of fashion in the ton. “Well, I suppose I must tell you before you hear it from someone else. We have tried to keep it quiet, but you know how they like to talk….”
Darcy was rapidly losing patience. “What is it Aunt?”
“It is Robert. He has married that – that – Williams girl.” Her voice was full of disgust.
Darcy looked from her to Georgiana in astonishment. “The actress?” His aunt nodded. “My cousin married his mistress?”
Chapter 9
Lady Alice was one of the most indomitable women Darcy knew, but she was blinking rapidly as if holding back tears. “They went to Gretna Green just last week. I am certain many in town have not heard tell of it yet. Fortunately it is thinly populated this time of year, but they will hear of it. They will.”
The import of the news was beginning to sink in. His cousin, his uncle’s heir, the future Earl of Matlock, had married his mistress. Darcy had never met the woman, but she was reported to be quite vulgar – although very pretty. “Where are they now?” Darcy could now see the signs that Georgiana was also quite distressed by the news and her aunt’s reaction to it.
“They are hiding up in Brookton. He sent us a letter when they returned from Scotland. At least he has the decency not to come to town!” She shook her head. “I knew he was always impetuous, but I never thought – an actress!” Dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief, his aunt was the picture of mortification.
Darcy knew that some prominent peers had married actresses who were eventually accepted by the ton, but it had taken years to gain recognition – and those women were rather genteel. Robert and his wife might never be accepted. “I am so sorry, Aunt. That must have been distressing news to receive.”
“Indeed,” she was now twisting her handkerchief in her hands. “Your uncle has not yet stopped cursing under his breath.”
“Aunt Alice believes it is incumbent on all of us to put forth our best manners and hold our heads high,” Georgiana’s first contribution to the conversation came out as hardly louder than a whisper, a reflection of her own distress.
“Precisely! If our family is to live this occurrence down, we must ensure that not the slightest hint of impropriety tinges the Fitzwilliam name.” Lady Alice’s face was stony as she made this pronouncement and gazed meaningfully at Darcy.
