I don't own pride and prejudice

Georgiana Darcy sat at her Pianoforte her fingers poised at the keys. Her stomach rolling with anticipation and nerves. In just a few weeks time she'd be going to London to curtsy before the Queen and make her official debut into society. She was eighteen and it was time she looked for a suitable husband. Her Aunt Lady Matlock would be her sponsor and both her brother and cousin would be going to London with her as her guardians. Elizabeth would also be coming but as she was well into her confinement she wouldn't be going to any of the balls.

She was ready and she wasn't. she was going to do this she was going to make her debut and try to find a suitable husband but in the back of her mind she still couldn't help remembering Wickham the disaster that had been her fifteenth year.

She had been so lost in the music and her thought she hadn't heard the door to the morning room opening.

"Well if it isn't Miss Georgie herself." she heard a teasing voice. Her fingers dropped from the keys and she turned around.

"Richard." She jumped from the bench and rushed to hug him. "I didn't expect to see you until we reached London."

"Yes well my Commanding officer took pity on me and told me to come help you and Darcy with the Move to London. It will be a crazy season. Are you prepared Georgiana?"

"As prepared as I can be." She backed away sitting down on her bench again. "I'll be fine." She assured him.

"I have no doubt you'll make us all proud." He smiled taking a seat in one of the chairs facing the pond. Just then the door opened again and Mrs. Reynolds came through.

"Colonel this missive was delivered for you just moments ago." She handed a heavy looking letter into the colonel's hands.

"Thank you Mrs. Reynolds." He looked down at the letter before opening it. Noticing his father's familiar hand writing. He wondered what his father would have to say to him that couldn't wait until London whatever it was he was glad he'd informed his father he'd be coming to Pemberley before going to London.

He broke the seal on the letter and read it's contents. All the blood leaving his face. He felt the letter fall from his fingers but not much else. The blood was rushing in his ears he couldn't breathe.

"Richard what is it?" Georgiana looked at her cousin whose face had went white. The letter he had in his hand fluttered to the floor. She got up off the bench and picked up the heavy paper. She looked at her ashen faced cousin and then down at the paper. "Richard may I?" he nodded his head numbly and she looked down at the paper.

Richard

I don't know how to say this I can barely bring myself to write it myself but I must. Your brother and his family have all fallen victim to a carriage accident. All three have perished. You are needed at Emerson to help prepare for everything that is to come.

Your father

Lord Edward Fitzwilliam Earl of Matlock

Georgiana felt herself go cold as the letter dropped from her hands. She hurried over to the bell and pulled it. She held her breath her eyes trained on Richard as she waited for someone anyone come to their assistance.

"Miss Darcy may I be of help." She almost jumped at Mrs. Reynolds voice. So intent she'd been on Richard. Her eyes went to the discarded letter laying on the plush rug of the morning room. Her throat caught at the irony of it. In the morning room.

"Miss Darcy?" Mrs. Reynolds was once again trying to gain her attention. She turned to the elder woman.

Mrs. Reynolds I need you to go and get my brother post haste it's an emergency you understand no time to waste."

"Yes Miss Darcy." Georgiana could see she wanted to say more but didn't.

Mrs. Regina Reynolds shut the door to the room and ran faster than she could ever remember running in the halls of Pemberley. The looks on both the faces of the Colonel and Miss Darcy struck fear in her heart.

She reached Mr. Darcy's study and where she'd usually knock she threw decorum aside and threw the door open.

Fitzwilliam Darcy was startled at the sudden intrusion into his study. He looked up from the paper's he'd been studying to see his house keeper standing in the doorway a look he couldn't place on her face.

"Mrs. Reynolds what is he meaning of this?"

"It's Miss Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam sir something is grievously wrong Miss Darcy has asked for you she says it's an emergency."

Darcy jumped from his chair pushing from his desk as fast as he could. "Where are they?" he demanded.

"The morning room sir." Mrs. Reynolds hurried out of his way as he rushed past her and down the hall.

Darcy rushed down the hall so many scenarios running through his head. He threw the door to the morning room open to see his cousin and sister frozen as still as stature's looking down at a letter laying on the floor. He strode forward and picked it up reading it's contents he felt himself go as still as them as the letter fluttered to the floor once again.

"Darcy what is going on?" Elizabeth Bennet Darcy asked coming into the room. She had seen him rush past her in the hall and tried to catch up with him but his long strides were just not something she could keep up with.

Her voice snapped him out of the state he was in. he picked up the letter once again and handed it to her. He then went over to Richard. He placed his hand on his cousin's shoulder leading him to a chair. "Richard." He tried to snap him out of the state he was in as he heard Elizabeth gasp and rush to Georgiana's side.

"Dead they're all dead." Those words echoed in the silence of the room. Richard shook his head. So many thoughts running through him. He was heir to the Earldom now. His brother sister in law and niece were dead. What was he going to do?

He wasn't raised for this responsibility. He didn't want it, and his brother, oh how he'd miss his brother. The man he confided in the one he'd spent all those childhood years with. Life would never be the same again. He'd never see sweet Adelaide's flashing smile again, or hear her call him unca Rich.

And his sister in law though he wasn't close to Miriam he'd still miss her. He felt like he was drowning. Drowning in all the thoughts and feelings.

Just as he felt he might come up for air he gasped and looked over at Georgiana. How was she to have her coming out? His mother and he would both be in mourning. They'd all be in mourning Georgiana, Elizabeth and Darcy for three weeks themselves. His mother and father for a full six months and for himself it would be three. Three months in mourning and who know how long trying to figure out his new role.

Georgiana looked at him. As if she could read his mind. She broke free from Elizabeth's hold and went to him. "Richard." She grasped his hand. "Do not distress yourself. I can see it you're thinking of me and you shouldn't. One year more won't hurt anything." She tried to assure him.

Georgiana knew this wasn't helping wasn't really assuring him of anything but she had to try and maybe a tiny part of her was relieved for the reprieve. One thing that was certain. Richard would need her. Need all of them the whole Fitzwilliam family would. Everyone's life's had been turned and no one would be the same again.