The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery (2 page)

Could the major general have been delayed? Worse yet, could the couple have found little in common upon which to base their relationship? Elizabeth had recognized Georgiana's idyllic admiration for her cousin, and she now wondered if Darcy's sister had rushed into a “safe” marriage. “If that is so, Georgiana needs to discover a ground upon which to build a successful joining. I shall wait a few days more for word from Mrs. Fitzwilliam before I encourage my husband to seek an answer in Scotland.”

Leaving his wife's taunts behind, Darcy closed her chamber door, but even through the thick wood he could hear her soft laughter. Elizabeth did not understand. In fact, in Darcy's opinion, no one understood. His relationship with Georgiana transcended the expected connection between brother and sister. Despite his father's last request, or possibly because of it, Darcy had devoted himself to Georgiana's happiness. He had given her the best education and the best life imaginable. Elizabeth could not comprehend the depth of his feelings for Georgiana—for the small child she was when they lost both of their parents; for the little girl who had clung to him in her grief.

His devotion to his sister had even played in his choosing of Elizabeth Bennet as his wife. Elizabeth's affectionate behavior to Jane Bennet while her sister lay ill at Netherfield had formed the basis of his early interest in the second Bennet sister. He had instantly recognized Elizabeth as the type of woman Georgiana needed in her life. His sister possessed an elegant softness, but she lacked a touch of impertinence, the very quality he had discovered in Elizabeth. And his opinions had proved correct. Under Elizabeth's tutelage, Georgiana had blossomed into the perfect balance of femininity. “I will wait one week more, and then I will to Scotland,” he swore.

“I do not think this is wise,” Darcy had told Georgiana when she had informed him of her desire to change the date for her joining with their cousin Edward. Darcy had hoped that the longer the couple waited, the more likely he would be proven correct: it was too early for Georgiana to wed. Many in the family thought he had delayed Georgiana's Presentation because of Elizabeth's confinements, but, in reality, he simply could not bear the idea of losing her to another man's attentions. When she finally traveled to London for her Come Out, he would pray that it would take several Seasons before Georgiana found a man she would accept. Then his cousin had returned from the American front, and everything had changed overnight. Now, she wished to speed up her eventual leaving off. The major general had arrived with other family members for the christening of Darcy's heir and had brought the news of his immediate deployment to the Belgian front. “Why can you not wait for Edward's return?” he had asked.

“What if our cousin does not return?” she had replied softly. “What if this is the last time we see him?”

Darcy's heart had lurched with dread at the possibility. Although he understood his sister's worst fear, his own need to protect her had prevailed. It was an unsubstantiated but compelling notion. “All the more reason to wait. I would not see you as a new bride in mourning.”

“I would mourn our cousin even if the major general and I never marry. I would grieve for Edward for the rest of my natural days.” She touched her handkerchief to her eyes. “Please, Fitzwilliam, you of all people must comprehend my agony. Do you not recall your anguish when you thought to never know Elizabeth as your wife? That is my situation with Edward. I have loved our cousin for well over two years, but unlike in your quest to earn Elizabeth's love, mine remained unspoken. I could not give voice to my desires. I have waited in the shadows, agonizing over Edward's safe return to the family. Now, I must snatch my moments with him while I may, before it is too late. Do you not see? If we do not marry before Edward leaves for the Continent, I might never know the happiness that you have found with Elizabeth. Would you deny me this, Fitzwilliam?”

Darcy slid his arm about her shoulders. He nudged her into his embrace, needing to once again hold the small girl whose world had rotated around him. Suddenly, he had realized his real objection to his sister's marriage: Georgiana's joining with Edward would mean that she would no longer require his advice. His protection. Especially with Edward as her husband. If Georgiana had chosen another, Darcy might continue to influence her, but their cousin was as a good a man as Darcy could ever hope for his sister. And, Edward had served as a joint guardian for Georgiana. Together, they had protected and guided her. And now Georgiana would prefer the major general to Darcy. He would no longer play a dominant role in his sister's life. Despite the real sense of loss choking him, Darcy's
love required that he do the right thing.
This is not about my needs
, he had chastised himself. “When do you wish to marry?”

His sister clung to him, and Darcy tightened his grasp. “Thank you, Fitzwilliam,” she murmured.

With his fingertips, Darcy lifted her chin and kissed the tip of her nose. “No more tears,” he said softly. He had whisked her tears away with his thumbs. “What do you require of me? How may I provide what you desire?”

“The Matlocks and Rowland's family shall be at Pemberley tomorrow for Bennet's naming on Sunday. The Major General and I would marry on Monday. Mr. Winkler shall call the banns for the third time during Sunday's services. Edward rides for Hull on Thursday.” A pink tint spread across her neck and face, before she added, “Might we have the dower house for privacy?”

Despite his best efforts, Darcy frowned. The idea of his sister enjoying the marriage bed bothered him more than he cared to admit. With a deep sigh, he said, “I will see to the details for the breakfast and the dower house. Send Edward to speak to Mr. Winkler.” She had spontaneously hugged him, and Darcy fought the urge to keep her in his embrace forever. “Be off with you now,” he said as he purposely released her. “There are many details and little time.”

“You are the best brother a girl could ever have.” She kissed his cheek before scurrying from the room.

Darcy had stood looking after her. “And you are the sun to my Earth,” he whispered to her retreating form.

“Good morning, Father Bennet.” Elizabeth's father had returned with them to Pemberley after Mary Bennet's marriage to Robert Grange in April. The couple had planned to marry in February, but Elizabeth's Uncle Philips had taken ill, and, as Mr. Grange
apprenticed in Philips's law firm, the family had thought it best if they postponed the nuptials until Grange's benefactor had recovered. “You were up late.”

“Good morning.” The man greeted him with the smirk of amusement that Darcy had found so beguiling when Elizabeth had sported the emotion on her luscious lips. His wife certainly had inherited her father's mannerisms. “Too many books. So little time. If I could take up residence in Pemberley's library and never leave the room, I would die a well-satisfied man.”

Darcy chuckled. “The Pemberley library has been the work of many generations. I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these.” He accepted the tea the footman poured for him.

“I seriously doubt that you have ever neglected any detail of your life,” Mr. Bennet observed wryly.

Darcy thought of his current neglect of Georgiana's happiness and flinched as if struck. No matter how often he told himself that there was no reason for concern, he could not shake the feeling there was something amiss. “And you, Sir, are you pleased with this propensity of mine?” Darcy roused himself to make polite conversation. “Keeping in mind, of course, that if it was not so, I would neglect your favorite daughter and the grandson bearing your name.”

“Point taken, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Bennet said. They dined in silence for several minutes, each man immersed in the newspapers Darcy had delivered to Pemberley as part of the regular post. “Last evening, I was reading the biography of Earl David of Huntingdon and his rise to King David II of Scotland,” Mr. Bennet mumbled as he turned the page. “Possible ancestors?”

Darcy folded over the page he read. “Probable connections rather than possible,” he answered without looking up. They remained in companionable silence for several minutes before Darcy observed,
“Says here that a volcano erupted on an Indian Ocean island in April. Some scientists are concerned about the amount of ash in the air.”

Mr. Bennet put down his paper. “Really? That could cause problems. I read a report which speculated on the devastation from an earlier New Zealand eruption. I cannot remember the exact source, but it spoke of widespread famine. At the time, it seemed a world away. Is it possible that the ash will reach England?”

“No one seems to know.” Darcy's eyes scanned the article for the facts. “The Dutch have a colony near the eruption, but it has only been three months since the explosion. Still too early for accurate reports. Takes months to sail around the Horn. But we should be aware. Can Longbourn sustain potential losses?” he asked in honest response. Over the past few months, he and Mr. Bennet had spent countless hours discussing their estate management plans.

“I remain indeterminate. We have known some setbacks,” Mr. Bennet said cautiously.

“Before Miss Bennet's wedding next week, we should develop contingencies.”

Mr. Bennet nodded. “You are a God send. Should we include Mr. Bingley? He and Jane will arrive later today.”

Darcy's eyes returned to the page. “That appears prudent. I will ask Bingley to join us.”

“Unfortunately, we will be beset with houseguests tomorrow. My peace will come to an end. Mrs. Bennet will marry off the last of our daughters to Mr. Winkler next week, and I will become her focus. My world will collapse to a daily dose of frills and lace.”

Darcy chuckled. “Maybe your future will not be so dire. You could always send the dear lady to visit with Mrs. Wickham, or to a European city…”

“Or a long stay at Pemberley,” Mr. Bennet taunted.

Darcy barked out a laugh. “Although Mrs. Darcy would welcome her mother's company, how would that affect your sojourn in my estate's library?”

“Again, point taken, Mr. Darcy.”