Hi everyone! Hope you enjoy this next chapter. Thank you so so much to everyone who reviewed; your reviews are what entices me to keep writing :) I probably won't have a regular posting schedule for this, but I have a vague plan and I think this story will be about 26 chapters long, but I'm not entirely sure. I'll try and post as often as possible though. Please review ;)
Also, I forgot to put a disclaimer, but I'm obviously not Jane Austen... sadly
The Gardiners looked up in shock to see their niece walk into the drawing room on the arm of the Master of Pemberley, a small smile on her face. His expression, however, was entirely unreadable. Introductions and greetings were made, before Mr Darcy said somberley, "I came upon your niece in the grounds only 20 minutes ago, and she looked a little lost. I hope you can overlook any impropriety you may see in my actions, and I am most sorry for my actions. Mrs Gardiner looked up at the man, who sounded rather disappointed in himself. Lizzy, however, looked almost pleased. "That's our Lizzie," she said fondly, taking her niece's hand. "Always off walking for hours, no cares about the consequences," Darcy looked at her, and watched as her cheeks tinged a little pink.
Fitzwilliam Darcy looked at his soon-to-be new relations. They were both polite, with the appearance of being gently bred, despite being in trade. But, since when had Fitzwilliam ever cared about if people's jobs? After all, his best friend's father had made all of his money from trade, his closest cousin was a colonel in the army and society would never shun Fitzwilliam Darcy, with his noble lineage and huge estates throughout England and Scotland. He would make an effort to like them, he thought. It would certainly help him to ask for Elizabeth's hand, when the right time came up.
"Do you enjoy fishing?" Darcy asked Mr Gardiner, who's reply was enthusiastic. Elizabeth simply listened as he described the best places to fish on the estate, watching as one errant curl kept falling forward, and his hand would push it back, just to have it fall forward again. His futile efforts made Elizabeth smile, but no one except Darcy realised. Because he was watching her, as her foot tapped impatiently on the floor, as if she wanted to get up and start walking again.
Mrs Reynolds scurried in, looking rather flustered. "Master Darcy! You did not arrive with your sister, nor has any servant seen you for two hours, and I come in to find you taking tea with guests, something you never do? You had us all worried, Master Darcy, Mr Reynolds has been searching the grounds the past hour, as have the footmen!" She scolded him, in front of his guests. The Gardiners were smiling, wondering whether Darcy really was as haughty as he had initially looked. After all, he had the decency to blush, and say sorry, albeit rather meekly. They watched as the housekeeper ruffled his messy curls, giving him an affectionate look, before leaving him to entertain his guests, still looking down rather awkwardly.
As soon as Mrs Reynolds left, however, Elizabeth could not hold in her laughter. Fitzwilliam Darcy, master of one of the most influential households in England, had just been reprimanded by a servant. It was his treasured housekeeper, but it was a servant nonetheless. He looked up at her, making a mental decision not to say anything to her; after all, he had never heard of her parents, but if they did have connections with the ton, he would be the laughing stock of them for years after being told off by his very own housekeeper.
"Might I introduce my sister to you?" Darcy asked, mainly addressing Elizabeth. "Yes, of course! I would love to meet her," Lizzy replied, giving Darcy leave to have his sister sent for. "My sister may be a little quiet..." Darcy suddenly realised his mistake in sending for his little sister; she wouldn't want to talk to these unknown visitors, what was he thinking? Perhaps she wouldn't come, she'd be asleep. "She plays the pianoforte beautifully." He said, as the footman came in, and said, "Miss Darcy wishes to speak you outside, Master." He jumped to his feet, and walked outside to his sister, and enveloped her in a hug. "William, who are these people you wish me to meet?" He led his little sister to a small chaise in the hallway, and told her "You must not feel forced, I will not force you to meet them, however, I will vouch for their character, Georgie. I assure you, they know nothing of us other than the base facts, they have no previous acquaintance with us nor the ton. Miss Bennet seems very witty, like Richard; you would like meeting her. However, if you don't wish to, I will make your excuses." Her brother was looking at her earnestly, and almost eagerly. His normally icy blue eyes had a warmth to them, and she had never heard her brother utter any praise for any woman before. She knew that look. It was how her cousin, the viscount looked when talking about his wife. Whilst she clearly did not know love, maybe her brother did. She put a smile on her face, and took his arm, the grateful smile on his face telling her more thanks than his words. She hadn't seen him smile for a week; it was a welcome change.
"My sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy." He announced proudly. Once more, introductions were made, and she took a place next to her brother's Miss Bennet, feeling his gaze on them even though he was speaking with Mrs Gardiner about Lambton. "Your brother told us that you play the pianoforte beautifully." Georgiana's cheeks pinked, as she looked at her brother and said "Sometimes he is far too kind to me."
"But it is no praise that you do not deserve." Darcy countered, with a tight smile towards his sister, reminding them both of her similar words back at Ramsgate. A silence reigned the room for a minute, as the two siblings looked at one another, trying to figure the other out whilst Elizabeth and the Gardiners exchanged glances, trying to work out what exactly was happening.
"Will you play for us?" Elizabeth asked, to which Georgiana immediately shook her head, almost as if it was a well-practiced response. Elizabeth, despite feeling slightly disappointed, realised that the girl was perhaps shy, so quickly engaged her in conversation on the merits of the work of Mozart. As Madeline Gardiner watched on, she realised the girls were becoming fast friends, as the conversation because more and more animated from Elizabeth, drawing Miss Darcy out of her shell.
Meanwhile, Fitzwilliam Darcy was enquiring about the trade projects of Edward Gardiner. Edward Gardiner, despite not being of the landed gentry, clearly had more money than many of them did, including his brother-in-law, Mr Bennet, who was Elizabeth's father. Little did he know, Lord James Fitzwilliam, or Uncle, was in fact one of Edward Gardiner's investors. He listened with great interest about Mr Gardiner's business in the silk trade. Whilst Fitzwilliam Darcy had always found the idea of trade fascinating, it was a hobby that had to be kept private for fear of it potentially ruining his own family name. He learnt that Edward Gardiner was also the son of a steward, who also worked for a particularly wealthy family. Edward Gardiner's education had been funded by that same family, an education which he made good of in his trade investments.
Meanwhile, Georgie was thoroughly enjoying her conversation with her new, and probably only friend, Lizzy, or more formally, Miss Elizabeth. They were becoming fast friends, Lizzy quickly describing the pros and cons of have four sisters, whilst Georgie gushed about the brilliant and kind nature of her wonderful younger brother, even though she was sad to never have had female company other than that of her closest relations. The caring, unpretentious nature of Lizzy reminded her of her own cousin's wife. Viscount Fitzwilliam's wife, Sophia, was a favourite of Georgiana's, and always had been. With her easy, pleasing manners, and caring nature, she was everything that Georgiana had wanted for her own brother. But after meeting Lizzy, with her fiery quick wit, and her slightly impertinent grin as well as all of Lady Sophia's favourable characteristics, she realised that perhaps someone more like Lizzy would be better suited for her own brother. But then, what did she know of love?
"May we have Lizzy and her relations as our guests tomorrow as well?" Georgie's whisper tickled in his ear, as he turned around to see his little sister's big blue eyes looking into his own. She seemed... scared... as if he would refuse. So this is what Wickham had reduced his cheerful little sister to; a scared, timid little girl who was scared of the same elder brother who had loved her through her whole life. Trying to ignore the thoughts of Wickham, he mustered up a small smile and nodded in assent. She gave him a small smile in return, before turning to address the Gardiner's with her request.
Georgie looked around at the room's occupants, at the four pairs of eyes which rested on her. She looked to her new friend, who gave her an encouraging smile, before looking at her brother, who was clearly very relaxed in his new company. He too, was giving her an (albeit much smaller) encouraging smile. "Would it be too much to ask... for you to visit my brother and myself here at Pemberley tomorrow?" At the shocked expression on all of their faces, particularly the Gardiner's, Darcy felt the need to elaborate.
"My sister feels the lack of female company very much, Mrs Gardiner. I believe she has very much enjoyed yours and Miss Bennet's company, and I too would like to hear more about your business ventures, perhaps on a fishing trip?" He added, addressing Mr Gardiner. Though they were shocked, they could hardly disagree. Particularly, as Mrs Gardiner realised, the quick looks that Mr Darcy had exchanged with her niece. She didn't quite believe his words. She would have to ask her niece about it when they returned to the inn at Lambton.