The Houseguest A Pride and Prejudice Vagary (23 page)

Chapter
20

“Are we almost there?”
“Georgie, relax! We’ll get there when we get there. Why don’t you try to get
some sleep?” Colonel Fitzwilliam looked at Georgiana across the carriage and
tried to hide his smile.
“We’re about two hours out,” Darcy spoke in a low voice. He had been staring
out the window and had hardly spoken since they left London.
Georgiana released a deep sigh. “Alright. I shall try to rest.” She curled into
the corner and wrapped her cloak about her. Within a few minutes, she was
breathing regularly in a steady sleep.
“That was quick!” Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed.
“She hardly slept last night, she was so excited about the trip,” Darcy
answered.
“Imagine actually being excited to see Lady Catherine! What is the world coming
to?” he joked and looked to his cousin, who was clearly not in a laughing mood.
“Although I doubt it is our aunt who has inspired such feelings.”
Darcy looked at him out of the corner of his eye. The colonel continued, “Who
do you suppose she is so anxious to see? Could it be a dear friend perhaps? A
slip of a thing with dark hair and sparkling eyes?”
“She’s not a complete slip,” Darcy muttered, remembering how she had been
softer than he would have thought when he had held her in the snow.
“Ah! You are aware then! Well, dear cousin, as a military professional trained
in the art of strategy, I must ask you what your plan is.”
“I do not have a plan, Richard. Mind your own business,” Darcy answered
grumpily, his arms across his chest.
“I hardly believe that Fitzwilliam Darcy does not have a plan. Come! Out with
it! You know I shall weasel it out of you eventually, so you may as well go
ahead and tell me – save us both some time.” 
Darcy took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Alright. I do not have an
exact plan, but I will tell you what I intend to do.” 
The colonel smiled in satisfaction. “I’m listening.”
“She obviously was not happy with me, as I’m sure you saw at dinner last week.”
Fitzwilliam let out a low whistle. Darcy gave him a withering look.
“Sorry, Cousin. Continue.”
“She did seem to mellow somewhat as the evening progressed, but I did not have
a chance to speak with her and ascertain her state of mind. So my first
intention is to call on the parsonage in the morning and make a point of
speaking to Miss Bennet. Without knowing her current feelings on the matter, I
cannot proceed properly.”
“Very wise, Cousin. How do you plan to know her feelings?”
“I haven’t the foggiest idea.” He looked dejectedly out the window.
The Colonel laughed softly, trying not to wake Georgiana. “May I make a suggestion,
William?” He only called him William in very playful or very serious
situations. Darcy wasn’t sure which this was.
“You may.”
“I suggest a spy. Someone to do a little reconnaissance behind enemy lines.” He
waggled his eyebrows.
“And just who do you have in mind?”
Richard gestured towards Georgiana sleeping in the corner. “Richard! Surely you
cannot be serious! She knows nothing about this. I cannot tell her and raise
her hopes, only to have them dashed.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam looked at Darcy closely, quickly becoming serious. “Do you
really think her hopes would be dashed?”
Darcy ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t know, Richard. She looked at me
so coldly. And that was when she was willing to look at me at all! Mostly she
simply pretended I wasn’t there. It was my worst nightmare come true –
Elizabeth’s complete indifference. I would almost rather have her angry with
me. At least then there would be something to grasp onto.”
“I was under the impression she was angry at you, some of the time anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“Cousin, I was sitting next to Miss Bennet at dinner, watching her talk and
laugh with Sir Malcolm,” Darcy cringed “but it was dinner chatter. She did not
laugh with him the way I have seen her laugh with you. Nor did she look at him
as I have seen her look at you.”
Darcy felt a moment of hope, then sank down again. “That was before. Before she
knew what I had done.” 
“Perhaps. But I also noticed her watching you after dinner last week. I was
under the impression she was avoiding you because she was angry – and sad. And
I would wager she is a good bit confused about who you really are.”
“So what are you suggesting, Cousin?”
“Show her who you 
really
 are.
Of course, apologizing for attempting to ruin her sister’s life couldn’t hurt
either,” he said lightly. Darcy glared at him, then sank his face into his
hands as his cousin continued. “I suspect Georgiana will be able to tell us
much if we simply ask her about her time with Miss Bennet. Perhaps a planted
question here or there wouldn’t hurt.”
Darcy groaned and leaned back, looking out the window with a forlorn
expression. “I made this mess, Richard. I will clean it up.”
Fitzwilliam squeezed his shoulder affectionately. “Do not worry, Darcy, all
will be well. I have a good feeling about this one.”
“That’s what you said about the battle in _________.”
“And I made it out alive, didn’t I?” The Colonel nodded his head as Darcy
chuckled slightly and closed his eyes. Sleep was long in coming.
Their first evening at Rosings was uneventful enough. Lady Catherine instructed
Georgiana on how many hours and in what way she should be practicing her music,
informing them that no one in England had better natural taste than she. She
chided Colonel Fitzwilliam for not being married yet, and told him he had
better get on with it as he was looking rougher every year. He had merely
thanked her graciously and rolled his eyes to Darcy. 
When she spoke of marriage, Lady Catherine looked pointedly at Darcy and back
to Anne. She insisted Anne was looking very well that day and would not stop
speaking of her improved health until they each agreed that Anne was looking
well and seemed much stronger than on their last visit, though she said not a
word and had barely moved since their arrival.
Georgiana made Darcy and Fitzwilliam promise to take her to the parsonage in
the morning to see Elizabeth. It was the only reason she had come, and she was
already beginning to question the wisdom of exchanging entire evenings with
Lady Catherine for a little time each morning with Elizabeth Bennet. 
No one slept well that night, and not just because no one ever sleeps well at
Rosings. Georgiana stayed awake for several hours, trying to think of responses
to her aunt’s many questions and criticisms, and clever ways to avoid
conversation with her in general. Unfortunately, all she could think of was
foisting her on her brother – he did seem to be Lady Catherine’s
favorite. 
Darcy spent the first few hours tossing and turning, and could only sleep after
his third glass of brandy had taken effect. Besides the fact that he couldn’t
stand this uncomfortable relic of a bed, he hated being at his aunt’s, he hated
her constant insinuations that he would marry Anne, and he was beyond nervous
about his meeting with Elizabeth tomorrow. 
He knew he should tell his aunt once and for all that he was never going to
marry Anne and that if she wanted to see the future Mrs. Darcy, she should take
a walk down the lane to the parsonage, for that was where the lady in question
could currently be found. But he had tried to dissuade his aunt before, to no
avail. She would believe what she would believe, and Darcy had given up trying
to convince her otherwise years ago. It was simply easier to be quiet and let
her ramble on.
Colonel Fitzwilliam beat the pillow under his head, trying to fluff it
properly, but with little success. He shifted on the mattress, trying to find a
place without lumps, knowing Darcy was in the newly renovated room and he had
been sent to the same old guest room he’d always had. Darcy had always been
Lady Catherine’s favorite, and the Colonel had his own opinions about why that
was, but nevertheless, the great lady was about to be in for a rude awakening.
Fitzwilliam just hoped he had enough time to pack before she threw them all
out. With a grunt, he gathered his flat pillow and coverlet and laid down on
the floor. 
“Ah, much better!”

~

Before anyone could leave Rosings the following morning, Mr. Collins came to call.
He fawned and flattered, and poor Georgiana had not the slightest idea what to
do with him. Luckily, the visit was not overlong and when he rose to leave, the
gentlemen informed him that they had planned to call on the parsonage
themselves and that they would accompany him thither and bring Miss Darcy,
too. 
They followed him down the path, noticing how he walked as if he were on a
leash, never getting too far ahead, and calling over his shoulder to warn them
anytime there was a stone or twig in the path, lest they lose their footing.
This, of course, caused him to stumble more than once. 
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s face was red with holding in laughter, and he was forced
to study the foliage diligently just to keep a straight face. Georgiana refused
to look at her cousin. She knew she would completely lose her composure if she
did.
“My dear, look who has condescended to call!” Mr. Collins produced the guests
as if they were prizes won at a fair. Charlotte rose and greeted them politely,
curtseying with each introduction. 
“Elizabeth has stepped out for some air, but she will return shortly.”
Charlotte rang for tea and did not miss the looks of depression and
disappointment on all three guests’ faces. A few minutes later, Elizabeth
walked briskly in, her cheeks flushed with exercise and her eyes sparkling, a
ready smile on her lips.
“Georgiana!” Miss Darcy was out of her seat in moments, enveloping Elizabeth in
a tight hug. Elizabeth felt tears pricking the back of her eyes but held
herself together admirably. Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy rose, waiting for the
girls to stop smiling and holding each other. Eventually they broke the
embrace, and Elizabeth moved to greet the others. 
Colonel Fitzwilliam, in a fit of gallantry, knelt over her extended hand and
kissed it, winking at her as he rose. Elizabeth smiled crookedly at him and
thought how much she had missed his easygoing manners. 
If I had a brother, I would want him to be just like
Colonel Fitzwilliam.
 
She moved to Darcy, who repeated the motion. Elizabeth’s hand tingled slightly
when his warm lips met her bare skin, and she felt heat rising in her cheeks.
His eyes met hers as he rose and they looked at each other silently for a
moment. 
Elizabeth looked away first, seating herself next to Georgiana. Darcy sat
opposite her, though he was not far away in the parsonage’s small parlor.
Conversation was genial and stuck to common topics, and was frequently seized
by Mr. Collins, who agreed with everything Mr. Darcy or Colonel Fitzwilliam
said, even when they disagreed with each other. Georgiana, uncomfortable with
strangers, said a few quiet words to Elizabeth, but otherwise remained silent.
When it came time to depart, Elizabeth walked them to the door. She and
Georgiana agreed to meet for a walk in the morning, and with a quick glance
into Darcy’s deep blue eyes, she turned back inside.

Chapter
21

“Father, how did you know you loved Mother?
Truly loved her, and that it wasn't just an infatuation?”
Mr. Darcy looked at the worried face of his
son and asked, “Is there someone you are interested in, Son?”
“No, no one as yet. I just wondered in case,
that is... when there is... someone, in the event that you, if you...”
“In case I am long gone when you find
someone?”
Darcy hung his head. “Forgive me, Father.”
“There is nothing to forgive, my boy. I am
happy you are thinking of these things, instead of rushing headlong into it
like so many do. And I am proud that you would come to me for advice. It means
a great deal to me. Now tell me, what do you want to know?” Mr. Darcy sat a
little higher in his bed and leaned closer to the chair his son was sitting in.
“How did you know you loved Mother?”
“I knew it here.” Mr. Darcy clenched his
fist and held it to his stomach. “She was beautiful and wonderful and sweet,
but you know, I think that even if she were not, I would have loved her still.
She was my destiny.”
“So you basically had a feeling? That is how
you chose your wife?” young Darcy asked in disbelief.
“More than a feeling. We had long been friends
and I was well acquainted with her character, which led me to know that she
would make a good wife and mother.” Mr. Darcy looked at his son seriously. “But
if you want to know how I knew I loved her with all my heart, 
yes
, it was a feeling. She was air to me. I could not
breathe without her.”
Darcy looked at his father strangely, seeing
the older man's eyes looking at some far-off place.
“Air,” the son repeated quietly.
A loud knock disturbed Darcy’s reverie, and he looked toward the door to see
Colonel Fitzwilliam walking in.
“My God, Darcy! You look like the devil! Did you not sleep at all last night?”
Fitzwilliam walked over to his cousin. 
“I was just thinking about my father, and something he told me,” he answered
quietly. Fitzwilliam was silent for a moment, then walked over to the window
and looked out.
“It is a fine day.”
“Hmm.”
“I imagine Miss Bennet is already out walking. She expects to meet Georgiana in
a quarter hour. I’ve talked Aunt into inviting the parsonage for dinner. I was
going to accompany Georgiana now and issue the invitation personally. Care to
join us?” He was still speaking to the window.
Darcy inhaled sharply. “I’ll be with you in a moment, Richard.”
The colonel smiled and headed to the door. “I’ll wait for you in the entry.”

~