Summary: Rebecca Darcy has always learnt from her mother, Elizabeth never to be proud. But what will her reaction be when Mr James Richardson moves into Derbyshire appearing to be more proud than Mr Darcy was? Sequel to What Happens Next.
Disclaimer: I will only ever say this once, I own none of the characters apart from the ones from my own imagination. Even though I did wish I owned Mr Darcy himself.
What Happens next: Part II
Rebecca Darcy stood calmly in front of the mirror in her chamber looking at her reflection. The white ball gown for the occasion of Pemberley's Christmas ball sat neatly on her figure. The dark curls that represented her mother fell neatly in ringlets from its position in the usual style and then there were the eyes, the wonderful dark eyes she inherited from her father. Her father at the age of three and fifty was still as elated and considerate as she could remember as a child. He still walked with her around the garden and sat with her while she played the pianoforte. But her father was never known by her to be proud, she had heard comments that the master of the house used to be very proud but she could not imagine it. Her mother and father had always taught her that a proud nature was not accepted in their home and through that Rebecca and her brother grew into two of the most respectable people in the county.
Rebecca was disturbed from her thoughts as there was a knock at the door, she looked at it for a moment before she shouted the persons entry. The door slowly opened to allow her mother to walk in enthusiastically. Rebecca smiled at her mother quickly and the mistress of Pemberley returned the gesture.
"My dear Rebecca." Elizabeth said as she rushed over to her daughter. "You look magnificent." Rebecca smiled at her mother, blushing slightly. Her mother at the ripe age of eight and forty looked up at her daughter with the same glow as what she possessed when she first married her father.
"I thank you mother. Is Aunt Jane to be at the ball this evening?" Elizabeth smiled slightly thinking of her dear sister.
"Yes, your Aunt and Uncle Bingley will be here. Along with Robert of course." Rebecca smiled happily, how she loved her Aunt and Uncle Bingley.
"Has Fitzwilliam returned from London?"
"Your brother arrived a while ago, he is preparing for the ball I believe."
"And he has not been to see me!" Elizabeth laughed at her daughter.
"I am sure that he will be delighted at seeing you, he has spent so many months in London. He will have missed your company." They were interrupted by another knock at the door. It opened quickly and a servant walked in.
"The guests are starting to arrive ma'am." The servant said as she curtsied.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said, "Inform Mr Darcy that we will be down momentarily." The servant nodded and walked out. Elizabeth turned to her daughter. "Come along Rebecca we cannot allow your father to greet the guests alone." Rebecca laughed before she followed her mother out of the room and down to her fathers side.
As the ballroom became gradually more full the mistress and master of Pemberley stood with their daughter, still greeting the many guests who were passing through their doors. To Rebecca it seemed that she had stood for hours greeting everyone but as the queue started to diminish she immediately felt more contented. She looked quickly to the ballroom where many people were stood conversating with their companions and acquaintances and desired to be apart of their conversation. She detested greeting guests and would much prefer to be holding a conversation with one of her own acquaintances. She was torn away from her thoughts by her father's voice.
"Ah, Mr Richardson." Mr Darcy said. "It is so very good of you to join us this evening. I was unsure if you would attend." Mr Richardson stood silently in front of Mr Darcy and made no reply apart from a slight nod of his head. "This is my wife Elizabeth." Elizabeth curtsied to the gentleman slightly but he did nothing but gaze at her.
"It is very decent of you to attend Mr Richardson," Elizabeth said. "You are very welcome." Mr Richardson nodded slightly.
"And this is our daughter Rebecca." Rebecca stared at the unsociable man for a moment before she curtsied. "Rebecca, Mr Richardson has just accommodated Eastfield Park." Rebecca gasped slightly.
"Forgive me." She said to the man in front of her. "I was unaware that it was let." The gentleman nodded to her. "And what a beautiful home it is." Mr Richardson nodded slightly.
"Thank you." He said in a stiff voice. Rebecca curtsied again to wish him good evening but her mother spoke again.
"I believe that you are a in acquaintance with our son Mr Richardson." Elizabeth said. "He has always spoke very highly of you."
"I knew your son in London ma'am at University." Mr Richardson added. Elizabeth nodded at his lack of conversation but smiled, how could such a proud man be invited into her home? The Gentleman stood immobile for a moment before he bowed to the family quickly and excused himself giving no thanks to the owner of the home for his hospitality. Rebecca was disgusted, she had never met such a disagreeable man in her life. He had no amiable qualities from what she had seen of him and the man seemed to take no interest in holding a decent conversation.
Rebecca stood near the wall of the ballroom later in the evening watching the dancing when a young man walked over to her, she did not see him but as he stood next to her the young ladies eyes immediately lit up.
"Fitzwilliam!" She hissed. "You have been home for a number of hours and yet you have not made any effort to come and see me. You were too bust dancing with young women I presume?" Her brother laughed slightly.
"You know me too well, my dear sister." He planted a slight kiss on her cheek. "I hope you are well?"
"Very well."
"Good. And you have not grieved for my absence too much?" Rebecca laughed.
"How could I mourn your absence, I have admired your being at university, it has given me some solitude." Fitzwilliam smiled slightly.
"Mother told me how satisfied you were that I was home from London," He said quietly. "And how angry you were that I did not come and visit you immediately on my arrival." Rebecca laughed.
"Very well, you have discovered my secret. I did long for you to return to Pemberley."
"I knew you did." Rebecca laughed.
"We came into acquaintance with Mr Richardson a while ago." Rebecca said to her brother, he listened carefully.
"And what did you think of him?"
"What a very proud man he is!" Fitzwilliam laughed.
"He is not so proud when you are in closer acquaintance with him. He is a very good friend to me Rebecca."
"But he makes no conversation!"
"Give him time, he is new to the county." At this Fitzwilliam walked away. Rebecca sighed, how could she give a man like him time, would he improve on closer acquaintance. In her own mind she very much doubted it. To Rebecca Darcy he had already formed a unpleasant impression, one that would not be easily overcome.
Later in the evening Rebecca became very warm and walked out into the corridors, the coolness of them was refreshing to her but when voices were heard she immediately stopped and listened.
"Is there something wrong James?" She hear her brother say.
"I am well Fitzwilliam, perhaps a little tired." Mr Richardson answered.
"Perhaps you should ask a young lady to dance, it will relieve your mind for a while." Mr Richardson laughed slightly.
"No, I do not feel like dancing. These women are not what I am used to Darcy, I am accustomed to London society, not the miserable country life." Rebecca was shocked by his comments.
"Then why did you take a home here?"
"For the solitude. My mother is so complying with my father at the moment, I wished to be away from them. The silence of an empty home will do me well."
"The countryside is has many wonders though."
"So it does, it allows me to think freely."
"Shall we go back to the ball." Fitzwilliam said.
"No, you may go, I do not feel accepted by your acquaintances, the young ladies look intently at me and the rest of the party disregard me. No, I will not come."
"No one wishes to disregard you James."
"Your sister does!" Mr Richardson said quickly. Rebecca's mouth fell open.
"My sister, she is very intelligent, she despises proud gentlemen. She will become accustomed to you, I assure you." Rebecca thought that she has stayed too long but instead of walking back to the ballroom she continued toward her brother and Mr Richardson. When she rounded the corner she saw the two gentlemen stare at her for a moment before Fitzwilliam spoke.
"Rebecca, are you well." Rebecca looked up at Mr Richardson before turning to her brother.
"I am very well. Forgive me for intruding on your privacy." She curtsied and started to walk away.
"Are you sure that you are well Rebecca?" Fitzwilliam asked as he walked over to her. Rebecca smiled.
"I am very well, perhaps a little warm." She held his arm slightly. "Go back to the guests, I will get some air. Excuse me." She walked away slowly thinking on the conversation that she had overheard. Why was Mr Richardson so proud, arrogant, disrespectful and so unattractive!