Into Hertfordshire (22 page)

How Miss Bennet will fare in future concerns me as well, or it would if I had any right to interest myself in her future. But my only contribution to it must be wholly negative in nature: I can only protect her from the ill-effects of my own regard for her—there is nothing I can do to correct her situation, nor have I any right to make the attempt.

Well, Dearest, I have been writing this in the breakfast salon while I waited for the others to come down, and I begin to hear stirrings from above. I shall therefore leave off to post this before any one arrives. I am, truly,

Your loving brother,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

*****

*Netherfield

Thursday, November 21, —

Dearest Georgiana,

This will only be a note, as I have a complex and delicate issue under consideration; I just want you to know that I have received your express, and I shall stay to the ball as you ask. I shall write more fully when I am able—but do not be alarmed if you do not hear from me for some little while, as I foresee that during this next week my attentions might be fully engaged. Meanwhile, know that you are in my thoughts and heart. God bless you and keep you safe,

Your loving brother,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

*For reply, see Georgiana, November 23.

*****

Netherfield

Wednesday, November 27, —

Dear Georgiana,

Well, we have had our ball. It began well enough, though it was not until the third set that I could secure Miss Bennet’s hand. As you predicted, I was very well pleased to stand up with her. But I regret to say that the evening was not to end as well as it began.

To begin with, I had a worry I did not share with you in my last—something I wish I did not have to report: I have again seen the man who betrayed you. He has but recently joined the regiment stationed here in Meryton, and, owing to Mr. Bingley’s ignorance of the fact, he was included in the invitation issued to the officers of that corps. I confess that this had an influence on my decision to stay, as I hoped to give Miss Elizabeth Bennet some measure of warning about the man. While he thankfully did not attend the ball, I fear he has in some way already garnered Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s good opinion; this had a rather dampening effect on the time I spent with her.

This was not the only circumstance which interfered with my hopes for the evening, however, nor even the most pressing: my attentions were drawn away from Miss Elizabeth Bennet perforce, as it appears Mr. Bingley has formed a strong attachment to Miss Jane Bennet, the elder sister. The lady, while a fine young woman, unfortunately does not return his affection equally; given her family’s connections and general deportment, this unequal attachment is of grave concern. I believe him to be sufficiently enamoured of Miss Bennet that he will offer for her, and it is my intention to remove to London to-morrow that I may give him to understand what he is about. You may therefore address future correspondence to Grosvenor Square.

I still mean to be at Pemberley on the eleventh December to escort you back to Town; hopefully by then this will all have blown over. Please forgive my brevity, Dearest, but there are many details to attend to, if, as I hope, I am to depart early to-morrow morning. May God bless,

Your loving brother,

Fitzwilliam Darcy

*****

FINIS

Books by Stanley Michael Hurd:

Darcy’s Tale, Volume I: Into Hertfordshire

Darcy’s Tale, Volume II: Into Kent

Darcy’s Tale, Volume III: The Way Home

Darcy’s Tale Deluxe Edition (All three volumes in one edition)