Darcy and Elizabeth What If? Collection 1 (12 page)

Miss Darcy gave an attractive, light laugh.

‘Why, that is who I am. Miss Darcy of Pemberley! What a small world it is.’

‘Yes, indeed,’ said Elizabeth.

They fell into easy conversation. It was not long before Miss Darcy invited Elizabeth to call her Georgiana.

‘Miss Darcy and Miss Bennet sound so formal!’ she said. Adding with a blush, ‘And I am sure we are going to be friends.’

‘So am I,’ said Elizabeth warmly.

She invited Georgiana to call her Elizabeth and the two of them entered into a delightful conversation about their hobbies and interests.

At last, Elizabeth was able to say, casually, ‘Your brother must be pleased to learn that Mr Wickham is here, if the two of them are such good friends.’

‘I do not believe my brother knows about it. At least, he did not mention it in his last letter,’ said Georgiana.

‘Then you must tell him,’ said Elizabeth. ‘I am sure he will want to know.’

‘I thought so, too, but Mrs Younge said there was no need to tell him.’

‘You know your brother better than Mrs Younge does,’ said Elizabeth. ‘If you think he will like to know, then I am sure he will.’

‘I am so glad to have you here! You give me confidence. Mrs Younge says things sometimes . . . I am not sure she really knows as much as she thinks she does. She has not been in society for some time – she is a widow, you know – and I think her advice is not always good. I have sometimes wondered about it before, but because I never had anyone to ask, I followed her advice. But now I will do as you say. I have already written to my brother this week but I will mention it in my next week’s letter. It might even encourage Fitzwilliam to visit me.’

She spoke a little wistfully.

Elizabeth said, ‘Does he not come here very often?’

‘Oh, yes! He has visited me several times already. But he has a great deal of business to attend to, you know. Pemberley is a large estate and there are a lot of decisions to be made. He has not been for some weeks, however, and I would like to see him again. You will like him, I am sure,’ she said artlessly. She went over to her writing table and picked up a letter. ‘Does he not write well?’ she said, showing the letter to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth smiled at Georgiana’s attractive love for her brother. It matched her own love for her sister, Jane. But a brother was not a sister, and Elizabeth could see why Georgiana should be in need of female company of her own age.

Elizabeth looked at the letter. It was written in a strong, flowing hand. Its style was very formal and full of long words, but even so, Mr Darcy’s love for his sister shone through.

Elizabeth handed the letter back to Georgiana.

‘He writes very well indeed,’ she said.

Georgiana looked pleased and put the letter back on her desk.

Mrs Younge returned with the book of engravings and the young ladies examined it until tea was brought in.

Tea was a very grand affair. The tea itself was in a silver tea pot, with a silver milk jug and silver sugar bowl. These three items were set on a silver tray, which also contained china cups and saucers, as well as china plates. A selection of small sandwiches, scones and cakes were served on a china cake stand.

Georgiana poured the tea into the delicate cups, moving a little self consciously as she was clearly not used to doing it, but she acquitted herself as a hostess very well.

After tea, the two young ladies looked through a book of fashion plates and discussed the latest styles, before it was time for Elizabeth to depart. But she did not do so before they had decided to meet on the promenade the following morning, when they would walk together and continue their friendship.

The writer of the proudly displayed letter, Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, was sitting in the dining-room of Darcy House almost two weeks later, partaking of a breakfast of steak and eggs. He had spent most of the summer at his London house but he was ready for a change. He would go and see his sister in Ramsgate again at the end of the week.

He was half way through his breakfast when the post was brought in. The footman, as usual, put the letters on a silver salver on the sideboard.

Once Mr Darcy had finished his breakfast, the footman carried the salver over to the table.

Mr Darcy leafed through the letters and then stopped when he came to one addressed in his sister’s handwriting. It had gone first of all to Pemberley, where he would have been if business had not detained him in town, but the staff at Pemberley were very efficient and they had sent it on to London. He smiled and opened it, reading it with pleasure. But then his brow furrowed. It seemed his sister had made a friend in Ramsgate, a Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

Bennet. Bennet,
he thought. He did not know the name and he doubted if Miss Bennet would be a suitable friend for Miss Darcy of Pemberley. However, it could do no very great harm, he supposed, especially as it seemed that Miss Bennet was shortly to return to London.

But then he read something that concerned him more. George Wickham was in Ramsgate. He read his sister’s letter with growing alarm.

I am so pleased to learn that you and George are no longer enemies. He told me all about it, how it was nothing but a silly quarrel between you, and how you are now friends. He has been calling on me nearly every day and I have been glad to see him. He is a reminder of Pemberley . . .

Mr Darcy stood up in a hurry, pushing his chair back so quickly the legs scraped against the floor.

‘Have the carriage brought round to the front of the house at once,’ he said.

The footman bowed and went to carry out his order.

Mr Darcy went upstairs and told his valet to pack a bag.

Less than an hour later, he was on his way to Ramsgate.

Elizabeth, too, received a letter that morning, but its contents were not nearly so alarming. The letter was from her sister, Jane, and contained all the news from home.

I must confess I am looking forward to my holiday. Mama’s nerves have been troublesome, and Lydia has been more than usually vexing. She is bored, and says so at every opportunity. Kitty is fractious and Mary is even more moralising than usual. It is the heat, I think. This hot, close weather is putting everyone out of sorts. How lucky I am to be going to the seaside! I am very much looking forward to seeing you again.

Your loving sister, Jane.

To make the travelling easier for both ladies, it had been decided that Elizabeth would travel from Ramsgate to London with one of her aunt’s servants. At the same time, Jane would travel from Longbourn to London with one of the Bennets’ servants. Both young ladies would then spend the night at their aunt and uncle’s house in London, to give them a break in their long journey. On the following day, Jane would travel on to Ramsgate with her aunt’s servant, and Elizabeth would return to Longbourn with the Bennets’ servant.

Thus, both ladies would be properly escorted and both servants would end up in their own establishments.

Elizabeth was looking forward to seeing Jane. It would be fun to spend the night with her in London. It would give them both a chance to catch up with all the latest news. Letters were agreeable, but not nearly as good as talking face to face. But even so, she was sorry to leave Ramsgate. She had spent a very pleasant two weeks there. She had enjoyed all the seaside activities, and she had particularly enjoyed her friendship with Georgiana.

The two of them were dissimilar personalities, but this had strengthened their friendship rather than hindered it. Elizabeth was far more confident and outspoken than Georgiana, but Georgiana was more demure than Elizabeth. Each had gained something from the other. Elizabeth had become more elegant and learnt more poise. Georgiana had become more confident and outgoing. She had also become less afraid of Mrs Younge and more ready to assert herself if she felt something was amiss.

Mr Wickham had continued to call on Georgiana, but if Elizabeth was present then he cut his visit short. He was always affable to Elizabeth, but there was something wary about him whenever she was near.

She was glad that Georgiana had written to her brother, informing him of Mr Wickham’s presence in Ramsgate, because she felt that Mr Darcy would know how to handle the situation and how to discourage Mr Wickham. She was only surprised that he had not done anything about it already. But she knew that gentlemen often had urgent business to attend to, and could not always use their time as they wished. However, there was nothing more she could do. The matter was now out of her hands.

Elizabeth folded Jane’s letter and put it away. Then she donned her pelisse, gloves and bonnet, for she was engaged to take tea with Georgiana for one last time before she returned to London on the morrow. Taking her aunt’s maid with her, she walked along the promenade, with the wind ruffling the hem of her muslin gown delightfully, and made the most of the view. The sea was looking particularly beautiful this morning, being as blue as the sky, with jaunty fishing boats dotting the waves. Seagulls soared high overhead, streaks of white against the blue, and filled the air with their cry.

She was soon at Georgiana’s lodgings. But when she was admitted to the house, she heard raised voices coming from the drawing-room. The first voice was that of a man, but it was not a voice she recognised. It was not Mr Wickham’s voice, it was another gentleman. The voice was refined and cultured. It had a deep resonance and was very attractive. But the words were far from being attractive.

‘ . . . I have been sadly deceived by you, Mrs Younge. You have not only allowed Mr Wickham to call —’

‘But, Sir, he claimed to be your friend, and Miss Darcy herself said she had grown up with him. I only —’

‘Not only have you allowed Mr Wickham to call, you have also allowed Miss Darcy to befriend a most unsuitable young woman,’ continued the gentleman. ‘Upon enquiry, I found she was nothing but the daughter of one of the gentry – a most unsuitable friend for Miss Darcy of Pemberley.’

‘But Fitzwilliam —’ began Georgiana.

‘You must allow me to decide who is and who isn’t a suitable companion for you,’ he said firmly. ‘In fact, I think you have been in Ramsgate long enough, Georgiana. Oh, pray don’t look so downcast, I do not wish to upset you, but it is time for you to come home. I will instruct your servants to pack your things and I will take you to London myself tomorrow morning. We must be ready to leave by ten o’clock.’

He turned and saw Elizabeth, who stood in the doorway.

‘And you are Miss Bennet, I suppose,’ he said, looking her up and down with a haughty air.

‘I am,’ she said, dropping him a curtsey before drawing herself up to her full height in order to meet his look.

He was, she noticed, extremely handsome. Dark hair framed a strong face with a determined jaw. His eyes were a velvety brown but they were, at the moment, filled with contempt. His clothes showed evidence of expensive tailoring, for they fit him like a second skin. His black coat moulded itself to his shoulders, his white shirt was ruffled at the front and at the wrist, and his cream breeches disappeared into highly polished boots.

‘Miss Darcy will not be requiring your presence,’ he said.

Georgiana gasped in dismay, but Elizabeth merely raised her eyebrows.

‘I think that is for Miss Darcy to say,’ she replied.

‘I am her brother —’

‘That fact had not escaped my notice,’ said Elizabeth, interrupting him as he had interrupted everyone else.

‘And you are a most unsuitable friend,’ he finished scathingly.

‘I am a gentleman’s daughter,’ returned Elizabeth with a lift of her chin. ‘And as Miss Darcy is a gentleman’s daughter, we are alike.’

‘Nevertheless, Miss Darcy has no more need of your services. I will bid you good day.’

Elizabeth felt her anger growing at his terrible rudeness and by his description of her friendship as “services”, as though she were a servant who could be dismissed. But seeing that the argument was distressing Georgiana, she disdained to bandy words with him. Instead, she dropped a haughty curtsey with her chin held high. Then she turned on her heel and swept out of the room.

‘Well!’ said her aunt’s maid, as she followed Elizabeth out of the house. ‘Of all the cheek.’

She had stood there with her mouth open in astonishment as Mr Darcy had delivered his autocratic speech.

‘Mr Darcy needs a lesson in manners,’ said Elizabeth angrily. ‘Let us hope his sister can teach him some.’

‘And you not even having a chance to say goodbye to Miss Darcy,’ said her aunt’s maid.

But, as to that, Elizabeth had her own ideas. She did not mean to leave Ramsgate without bidding her friend goodbye. Mr Darcy had told his sister to be ready to leave by ten o’clock the following morning and Elizabeth intended to call before then to bid Georgiana adieu. She would have time to do it before she herself was compelled to leave for London.

And she would suggest that she and Georgiana should write to each other, whatever Mr Darcy might say.

Mr George Wickham was in his lodgings, playing cards with a group of seedy men. They had all removed their coats and were playing in their shirt sleeves. A buxom wench was serving them drinks and every now and then one of the men would slap her on the behind and make some rude remark.

Wickham was just about to lay down his hand when there came a rapid knock at the door and, without further ado, Mrs Younge entered the room.

Wickham was at once alert.

‘I have to speak to you urgently,’ she said.

Wickham took her by the elbow and guided her into the next room.

‘I thought I told you never to visit me here,’ he said. ‘What is it? Has Miss Bennet made difficulties?’

‘You don’t need to worry about her. He’s sent her about her business,’ said Mrs Younge.

‘He?’ asked Wickham.

‘Yes, he. Mr Darcy.’

‘Darcy!’ Wickham was horrified.

‘The very same. He’s just arrived. He sent Miss Bennet packing and I thought he was going to send me packing, too, but he’s told me I can stay ’til we get back to London. He’s taking Georgiana back with him tomorrow.’

Wickham went white.

‘This will ruin everything,’ he said. ‘I must have her fortune. My debts are numerous and ever mounting. If I can’t pay them, I am in serious trouble.’

‘Then you’d better come for her early, before her brother takes her away. It’s your only chance.’

‘But I haven’t a carriage —’

‘Then you’d better hire one. He’s determined to leave at ten o’clock, and if you’re not away by then it will be too late.’

‘I don’t know if she’s ready,’ said Wickham, pacing the room and running his hand through his hair. ‘She likes me, I know, but whether she is ready to run off with me —’ He pursed his lips, thinking. ‘You said that Mr Darcy sent Miss Bennet away?’

‘That’s right. Said she wasn’t good enough for Miss Darcy. Quite upset Miss Darcy, it did, to see her friend treated so badly.’

‘It might just work in my favour,’ said Mr Wickham. ‘If Darcy is behaving like an arrogant monster – which, of course, he is – then Georgiana will be more likely to go against him. She has a tender heart and she is always full of sympathy for anyone who is being badly treated. If she thinks I am being badly treated, so much the better.’

‘Yes, that is the way to play it,’ said Mrs Younge, nodding.

‘You must play upon her tender feelings tonight. Do not speak against Darcy – that will turn her against us. But tell her that her brother is old fashioned and that his pride will cause a great deal of unnecessary unhappiness. Tell her how upset I will be if I cannot see her again. Persuade her to come and meet me, to say goodbye. Tell her it would be rude for her to go without seeing me again, in fact, tell her it would be an insult.’

He stopped to think, his brow furrowed in concentration.

‘We must meet somewhere away from the house, for by now I am sure Darcy will have given instructions that I am not to be admitted.’

‘Yes, he has.’

‘Very well. Tell her that I will be walking along the promenade in the morning. I will be waiting with a carriage, in some secluded street along the route, and if I cannot persuade her to come with me willingly, then I must bundle her into it and take her off to the border.’

‘It’s a desperate plot,’ said Mrs Younge dubiously.

‘I am a desperate man,’ he said. ‘I must have her fortune or I am ruined. Can I rely on you? You will be well rewarded.’

Mrs Younge nodded.

‘Very well. Go now. Prey on her weaknesses. Remind her of her fondness for me. Fill her head with romantic nonsense. Do whatever you must in order to get her to agree to meet with me, and the rest you can leave to me.’