Mr. Darcy's Little Sister (30 page)

“What are their plans for their honeymoon? Will they stay in London, or travel?” Elizabeth enquired politely.

“They are planning to drive directly to the count’s estate, which is near Windsor, so it is not terribly far from town.”

“Has Caroline seen the house yet?”

“I don’t believe so, but the count has described it to us. It is a small manor house that is about seventy years old. He told me that he wants to use Caroline’s dowry to buy more land to add to his estate and provide steady income.”

“That sounds very sensible. Well, I hope they will be very happy. Make sure that you convey our best wishes.” Elizabeth’s eyes twinkled and Bingley smiled back at her for a moment. Then his brow furrowed.

“I will, but please send an express if anything should happen while we are gone. I can be here in three hours on a fast horse.”

“Do not worry, I will send for you immediately after I send for the doctor.”

When Elizabeth told Darcy of her plan, he approved it immediately.

“I think it is an excellent plan, my dear. Is she still nervous about her confinement?”

“Yes. My dear mamma has been filling her head with lurid tales of death and disaster.”

“Could I propose a change of plan? Would you, perhaps, like to stay until Jane is over at least part of her confinement? I am sure that she would feel better with you here, and Georgiana and I could stay in London so that she could be with the colonel for a couple of weeks. It would give them a chance to undertake any business relating to their house, as well.”

“That would probably be a good idea. If nothing else, I can keep Mamma from terrifying Jane. It would be nice to see Papa for a longer period, as well.”

“We will plan on staying in town for about a fortnight, then, until you write to us that your sister is well enough for us to bring you home.”

“Thank you, my love. I will miss you. At least I have the consolation at
this
separation that I will know where you are!” She grinned up at him.

He responded with a cocked eyebrow and a kiss on her forehead before he joined Bingley for a ride over his temporary demesne. Elizabeth rejoined Jane and Georgiana and told them of the completed plan. Georgiana’s eyes glowed when she realised that she would be able to spend an entire fortnight with her future husband. They spent the afternoon trying to relax and make Jane as much at ease as possible, but she was too uncomfortable to sit still for long.

The tedium was broken when Doctor Porter called to see Jane late in the day. After he had examined her in her room he came to Elizabeth, who was waiting in the drawing-room, and told her that all was well and that the baby could come at any time.

“It is well, then, that she is not going to her sister-in-law’s wedding in London the day after tomorrow.”

“Oh no, my lady, that would not do at all; she must certainly stay at home!”

“She will, and I am planning to stay until she has her lying-in and has recovered.”

“That will be of very great assistance to your sister, I am sure, my lady.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

The Bennets came to dinner that evening, and Jane felt well enough after a long afternoon rest to join them at the table. Mrs. Bennet’s eyes glittered brightly all evening as she carried on about her pleasure at becoming a grandmother.

“I am so excited! By the end of the year I will have three grandchildren! I hope that everything goes well, Jane, my love. Mrs. Long’s eldest niece just had her lying-in, but, poor thing, the baby died a few hours later.” She conveyed this news with ghoulish satisfaction, oblivious to Jane’s ghastly pallor. “The mother developed a fever and they almost despaired of her life, too.”

Knowing that Georgiana was now becoming acquainted with all of her mother’s weaknesses, Elizabeth felt herself blush several times, and for Jane’s sake was desperate to stop her mother’s flow of talk. Darcy finally saw her worried looks and engaged Georgiana and Kitty in talking about London, including Bingley and Jane in the conversation. Elizabeth was able to turn to her father, plunging into the first topic that came to her mind.

“Papa, have you heard from Mr. Collins lately?”

“No, my dear, I have heard nothing from him. What are your plans for the time you are here?”

She glanced down the table to make sure that they were not overheard. “I am hoping to keep Mamma from scaring Jane to death with her talk,” she said quietly, “and to keep Jane quiet and as rested as may be until her lying-in.”

“That is an admirable plan, if you can carry it out, my love,” was his wry response. “I will attempt to divert your mother when she becomes too indiscreet.”

“Thank you, Papa.”

***

The next afternoon Bingley, Darcy, and Georgiana left for London after Bingley had spent the morning hovering over his wife in poorly concealed concern.

When their mother came to call in the early afternoon, Elizabeth determinedly kept the conversation to the latest news from London and what fashions they had seen during the Season. Jane seconded her efforts gamely, and they were able to keep their mother on trivial topics for the entire visit.

Elizabeth received a letter the following day from Darcy telling of their safe arrival, but it was not until two days later that she received an account of the wedding from Georgiana.

Dearest Elizabeth,—

Well, my dear sister, the wedding is over and the newlyweds are now at the comte’s estate near Windsor. The day was sunny and rather warm for the season, but not unpleasantly so, and we arrived at the church early as Mr. Bingley was, of course, to give away the bride. Miss Bingley was dressed in a beautiful gown of cream silk, with yards and yards of Belgian lace. Her bonnet was of cream, with ribbons of silver, and her bouquet was of cream hothouse roses surrounded by small fern leaves. The church was about a quarter full of society people, and Miss Bingley was very gratified by the number who attended in spite of the unfashionable date.

Everything went off very smoothly, and Mr. Bingley was smiling and gracious, as always, when he handed his sister off to her husband-to-be. The Hursts had a wedding breakfast for the newlyweds, and they stayed for about an hour before retiring to change into their travel clothes. They went to his estate immediately after, and we visited for a short time with the other wedding guests and were back at Ashbourne House in time for dinner. Colonel Fitzwilliam joined us for the wedding and reception (looking very handsome in his regimentals I might add), but his duty required him to return to the palace afterwards, so we did not have much time to talk.

I would tell you who was at the wedding, but I am afraid that I did not notice once my dear fiancé arrived. He will join us for dinner here today. He told me that he received information from someone at the palace that Jonathan Walker was sentenced to hang, but the judge then commuted (if that is the correct word) his sentence to life imprisonment at the penal colony in New South Wales. Apparently the judge felt that Walker should not lose his life when his superior in the smuggling scheme was able to save his own life by giving up his comrades. I am glad his life was spared. As much as I resent and abhor his behaviour towards me, I would not wish for his parents to live with the knowledge that their only son had been hanged.

My dearest sister, I do not know how I will bear waiting until spring for our wedding. It seemed like a sensible plan two months ago, but now the spring seems an eternity away. I will not complain any further, however! My best love to Jane and I hope that she feels very well.—Love, etc.

Elizabeth was entertained by Georgiana’s letter, which she thought was probably quite accurate, and read it to Jane.

***

The heat was abominable for the rest of the week, with storm clouds piling up in the west but no rain to give them relief, but Georgiana did not notice. She was too happy spending whatever time she could with the colonel to be bothered by other things. They shopped in the London warehouses and spent their evenings at the few theatre offerings or dinner parties available at that time of year, but most of their evenings were spent at home at Ashbourne House. Mr. Bingley had returned to Hertfordshire immediately after Miss Bingley’s wedding so Mr. Darcy frequently resorted to his club to give him a place of refuge away from the lovers, while Mrs. Annesley had a great deal of correspondence each evening.

A few days after the wedding, Georgiana received a letter from Elizabeth:

My dear Georgiana,—

I am delighted to tell you that my sister Jane was delivered of a beautiful, healthy baby girl today. Both mother and baby seem to be thriving, and I feel a great weight of worry lifted from my shoulders. Mr. Bingley almost went mad with waiting and was as white as a ghost when he was finally allowed in to see his wife and their new daughter. Once he was assured of Jane’s well-being, however, he regained his spirits (although I suspect he fortified himself with a stiff brandy when he left us!). The Bingleys surprised me by telling me that they are naming her after me, so there will be another Lizzy in the family. I anticipate that I will be able to leave Hertfordshire in about a fortnight without concern for my sister. I am hoping the unseasonable weather will cool and we will all be more comfortable. Give the colonel my best, my dearest girl.—Your affectionate sister,

Elizabeth

Georgiana was relieved to know that Jane was well, but knowing the time limit of her current happiness depressed her spirits. She voiced her discontent in her diary that night:

5 September: Only two more weeks before we travel north, leaving my love in town. I thought it sensible to wait to marry until I turned eighteen and we would have time to prepare the house and the wedding at leisure, but the closer our parting comes, the less my plans please me. I talked to Edward tonight about planning the wedding sooner and he admitted that next March seemed very far away. He also commented that he “wasn’t getting any younger,” which amused me. Anyone less elderly than my Edward I cannot imagine! I will write to Elizabeth immediately and ask for her opinion: could the arrangements be moved forwards, or are we being precipitous?

Fortunately for Georgiana’s temper, Elizabeth wrote to her by return post:

My dear girl,—

Talk to your brother and order your wedding gown as soon as may be. The only arrangements that are of importance are yours and the colonel’s.—With all my love, etc.

***

When she had been at Netherfield for nearly a fortnight and Jane was recovered enough that Elizabeth no longer had any fears about her health, she received two letters. The first, from Darcy, said that they would return from London the next day:

My dearest Wife,—

I am happy to hear that Jane is feeling so well and that your namesake is healthy. It seems like months since we left Netherfield and I can hardly wait to see you. I know that Georgiana has been corresponding with you, so this will come as no surprise, but she and the colonel have decided to marry as soon as possible. They will both return to Netherfield with me tomorrow, and I am hoping that we can return to Pemberley within the next week. They will be married in the Pemberley chapel, probably a week after we return. I hope that you are feeling well and that your nursing duties with your sister have not tired you, my darling.—With all my love, etc.

The second letter was from Georgiana:

Dearest Elizabeth,—

We have talked with my brother and our wishes have prevailed (not that there was much opposition in the case!). My gown is not quite finished, but the seamstress will deliver it to Pemberley within a few days of our return for the final fitting. I will describe it to you when we get to Netherfield, which will be in the early afternoon tomorrow, and a week after our return to Pemberley we will have Mr. Woodson marry us in the Pemberley chapel. I did not expect a year ago that I would be married so soon, and I must confess that I feel rather giddy! I will see you very soon.—Love,

Georgiana

She is your treasure, she must have a husband.

—William Shakespeare,
The Taming of the Shrew

Within a week and a half they were back at Pemberley. Both Jane and little Lizzy were doing very well when they left and Georgiana could see that Elizabeth had regained her equanimity. She told Georgiana, “I naturally have fears about my own lying-in, but I refuse to allow myself to be out of spirits for the next two months.”

This resolution was the more easily kept since the plans for the upcoming wedding gave them all much to talk about during the long drive home. The air when they reached Derbyshire was noticeably cooler and more comfortable than that in Hertfordshire, and Georgiana could already see a few yellow leaves peeping out from amongst the green along the highway.

After they had climbed with relief from the carriage and greeted Mrs. Reynolds and Smithfield, the housekeeper handed Darcy a letter. It was from Lady Catherine and had arrived while they were still in Hertfordshire; it had been directed to Pemberley and held there, since Mrs. Reynolds knew that they would be home the next day. Darcy read it and handed it silently to Elizabeth, his face a cypher. Georgiana peered over her sister’s shoulder. Lady Catherine mentioned none of the previous unpleasantness, but her tone was as militant as always:

Lord Winslow,—

I thank you for your letter and will wait upon you at Pemberley on the second of October. Anne will accompany me, and we expect to stay a fortnight. I am sorry that we cannot make a longer stay, but you may not be aware that your cousin Anne just became engaged to Viscount St. George and we must hurry back to Kent to finish the arrangements for the wedding, which will be quite soon.—I am yours sincerely, etc.

Elizabeth, startled, looked up at Darcy as he stood over her while she read. “The second of October. That is today!”

“Indeed it is,” he said and then added acerbically, “We are fortunate that we arrived at Pemberley before she did. It would not have improved our relationship if she visited and we were not at home!”

Georgiana’s eyes looked rather wary, but the colonel’s only response was to say, with a sigh, “I had better warn my parents about my brother’s engagement.”

Lady Catherine and her daughter arrived just before they were about to have a cup of tea, so Elizabeth and Georgiana had the tea things to occupy them when their guests came down from their rooms after changing from their travel clothes. Miss de Bourgh and her companion, Mrs. Jenkinson, arrived first and, as usual, Miss de Bourgh sat on the couch like an inanimate object while Mrs. Jenkinson fluttered around her. Lady Catherine seemed surprised to be the last to arrive in the drawing-room and, as soon as the courtesies had been performed, resentfully carped, “How did you and Anne get down before me, Mrs. Jenkinson? I came down almost immediately.”

Mrs. Jenkinson seemed to quail before her and stammered that it did not seem as if they had hurried. Georgiana thought a deflecting tactic might help and turned to Anne and said, “I understand that you are engaged to be married, Cousin Anne. I congratulate you.”

Anne thanked her quietly and resumed her mute posture.

Georgiana turned to Lady Catherine and added, “It is very fortunate that you have come at this time, Lady Catherine. The colonel and I are to be married next week. I was afraid that our plans would not allow all of our family to be present at the ceremony, so I am very pleased that you are here.”

Lady Catherine launched into a harangue on the preparations that were necessary for a proper nuptial and pointed out firmly that they must not have their wedding until after Anne and Lord St. George were married as they were the elder cousins and had precedence. Georgiana and the colonel both nodded gravely at each point she made until she finally ran down and sipped the tea Elizabeth had poured her.

Elizabeth gave a slightly desperate look at Darcy and he took up the thread of the conversation.

“It is quite some years since you were at Pemberley, Lady Catherine, is it not?”

“I was last here in the year before your father died. This tea is too weak, Lady Winslow. You should tell your cook to steep it longer.”

Elizabeth nodded graciously, but Georgiana noted that her lips were compressed as she passed a cup to Mrs. Jenkinson. Those were the only words Lady Catherine addressed to Elizabeth the entire evening. Georgiana tried to engage her aunt in conversation again by telling her about the colonel’s estate in Lambton. This diverted her attention for about half an hour while she told Georgiana how many servants to hire, what kind of paper to put on the walls, and how the gardeners should arrange the shrubbery. They all listened attentively (or at least with the air of attentiveness), although Georgiana soon felt as if her eyes were glazing over.

Eventually Lady Catherine gathered up her daughter and Mrs. Jenkinson and they went upstairs so that Anne could rest for an hour before it was time to dress for dinner. Elizabeth sighed and went up to her own room, followed by Georgiana.

“What are we going to do, Elizabeth?” she whispered angrily. “She is going to make our lives a misery if we try to marry next week.”

“Calm down, my dear.” She put her arm around her sister’s shoulder. “We need to talk to your brother and the colonel. Let us go back downstairs and find them while Lady Catherine is still in her room.”

They found the gentlemen collapsed in comfortable chairs in the library. They had already begun discussing the wedding problem.

“Georgiana, my dear,” the colonel said ruefully, “I do not see that we have any alternative but to put the wedding off until after my brother’s wedding. I really care not what Lady Catherine’s opinion is, but it would be unfair to force my parents to choose between us.”

Tears welled up in Georgiana’s eyes but she forced them down and answered, “I do not see any alternative, either, but I just want you all to know that I am going to be
seething
inside the entire time that my aunt is here.”

The colonel took her hand, kissed it, and said, “When the disaster that is my brother’s marriage rites is finished, I will marry the bravest, strongest, most understanding woman on earth as soon as can possibly be managed.” His eyes twinkled at her until a reluctant smile appeared on her face.

When the crisis was over, Darcy insisted that Elizabeth go back upstairs to lie down. She finally consented, saying, “Even though my lying-in is due more than a month in the future, I feel enormous. It is clear that Lady Catherine’s visit will be a great challenge to my amiability so I should rest while I can.”

Georgiana also went upstairs to sit in her room and control her anger. When she had struggled with her emotions for quite some time, she gave up and pulled her diary out of her drawer.

2 October: Lady Catherine has arrived at Pemberley the same day we returned home, her letter announcing her intention to visit arriving after we had already left Netherfield Hall. I am so angry with my aunt that I feel as if I could explode into a million pieces! She insists, in her usual forthright manner, that the colonel and I wait until after Anne and St. George’s marriage before we wed. She feels that the elder cousins should have precedence and my dear fiancé does not wish to force his parents to decide between their sons’ weddings. I know that my aunt speaks as she finds, but it is unfortunate that she finds so much… Now that I have expressed my fury I feel better prepared to behave in a ladylike fashion to Lady Catherine. I hope that my manners will hold up until her departure.

***

When the gong rang for dinner, Georgiana knocked on Elizabeth’s door and accompanied her, but it took all of her fortitude to draw herself up and glide down the marble staircase with a pleasant smile upon her face.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Darcy stepped forwards from the doorway of the drawing-room to kiss his wife’s hand and offer her his arm solicitously, a sardonic tilt to his lips, which he smoothed into a bland smile as he offered Georgiana his other arm and they turned to enter the room. Georgiana smiled at her brother and found that she could face their aunt with calm, if not with joy. They survived the evening by sitting mutely while Lady Catherine held forth on various topics; nodding at the appropriate times in the conversation.

When they finally retired, Georgiana went upstairs with Elizabeth, and whispered, “I find it incredible that my brother tolerated that woman for all those years. I hope that this attempt to ease my family’s relationships bears fruit because we are all making a great sacrifice having Lady Catherine here. You, especially, my dear sister, are sacrificing the serenity of your home and I want you to know that we all appreciate your efforts.”

“I can only blame myself, since it was, after all, my idea to invite her. I have to say that I am happy she does not really want to talk to me; it at least relieves me from too much of her intrusive attention. You and the colonel will probably receive most of it because there are an
infinite
number of pieces of advice that Lady Catherine can give about your wedding and new house.”

Georgiana giggled in spite of her pique. “And I am sure we will hear them all.”

As expected, the fortnight of Lady Catherine’s visit was a perpetual challenge to Georgiana’s good nature, but they finally reached the end of it. Darcy dealt with it by staying continuously by Elizabeth’s side, offering her every courtesy and keeping her arm through his—mute testament to Lady Catherine of how excessively happy they were. Georgiana also bore up under her invasive scrutiny, courageously inviting Lady Catherine to see her house and garden so that her aunt could have ample scope for her forthright advice. She also attempted to converse with her cousin Anne about her wedding when Lady Catherine went upstairs for a few minutes, but it was uphill work. The only real comment that she received in response to her questions was, “It doesn’t matter; I will still be living at Rosings.”

This was given in such a flat tone that Georgiana was unable to determine if her cousin considered staying at Rosings as a benefit or otherwise. At any rate, Anne did not complain of ill-usage in the arrangement of her marriage. At Elizabeth’s suggestion, Georgiana played the pianoforte and the harp as much as possible so that there would be less time available to converse with Lady Catherine. Her aunt praised her playing and admired her drawings excessively and also spent a great deal of time talking about Anne’s wedding, which was to be the first week after their return, in Kent.

One morning, before Lady Catherine had appeared for breakfast, Georgiana commented to Elizabeth, “I would be much more elevated by her praise if I did not realise that she is trying to disparage your accomplishments by excessive praise of mine, my dear sister. She is really very much like Miss Bingley—pardon me, the Comtesse de Tournay—in that respect. My aunt at least confines herself to giving instruction rather than whispering sarcastic comments behind one’s back, so I suppose that I should be grateful for her attention,” she finished with unusual acidity.

Elizabeth had to smile at this assessment but added, “At least she is correct that your musical accomplishments are excellent, my dear.”

Georgiana just smiled and shook her head pityingly at her sister.

When the day came for the Rosings party to leave, Lady Catherine condescended to acknowledge Elizabeth with a brief curtsey as they made their farewells.

“You will be coming to Anne’s wedding next week, I am sure,” she said abruptly to Darcy.

“I doubt if my wife,” he said, stressing the word slightly, “will be well enough to travel that far in her delicate condition, and I would not want to leave her at this important time, but perhaps Georgiana could come with Lord and Lady Whitwell.” Georgiana nodded agreeably to this, as if she and her brother and sister had not discussed it the night before with the colonel.

The required farewells finally completed, the Darcys and the colonel waved them off from the front terrace with artificial smiles and then returned to the breakfast room to enjoy their morning tea in unbroken silence.

***

With the departure of Lady Catherine, life at Pemberley returned to its usual peaceful tenor. The fair, cool weather of early October was exchanged for days of cold, sleety rain in the middle of the month. Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley travelled to Whitwell Abbey with the colonel before they were to go into Kent for the wedding at Rosings Park. Georgiana wrote often to keep her brother and sister apprised of the situation. Her aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Whitwell, continued to look very grim when the subject of the wedding came up, so they all avoided speaking about it as much as possible. She also wrote to Elizabeth:

…We will be leaving tomorrow morning for Kent. I must admit that I am apprehensive about this wedding, not only because of my cousin St. George’s underhanded pursuit of my cousin Anne’s fortune, but because of the strain it is putting on my aunt and uncle. They have still not heard from St. George; all of their information about him has been received from Lady Catherine, and that of only the most general sort. Colonel Fitzwilliam has already left for Kent in the hope that he can find an opportunity to talk seriously to his brother—not, of course, to dissuade him from the wedding, for it is obvious that it is too late for that, but to attempt to make him acknowledge the seriousness of his responsibility for Cousin Anne’s health and happiness. Well, we will see how the situation lies when we get there. I will write when we arrive safely.—With much affection, etc.

Elizabeth sighed when she read this epistle and handed it to Darcy. He read it silently then refolded it and left the room. She shook her head sadly, a small crease between her brows, as she listened to his footsteps fade away and heard the tiny click of the door of his library. The next few days he was very tender and gentle to Elizabeth but quiet and abstracted. At the end of three days, they received two letters from Kent: one to the both of them from Georgiana, and one for Darcy from the colonel. They opened Georgiana’s first:

Dearest Sister and Brother,—