A/N: Many thanks to all you who have followed, favorited and reviewed! This is my first effort at fan fiction - at any fiction - and I am encouraged to find so many willing to keep an eye out for my story.
In Meryton, preparations for the upcoming assembly were carried out in a happy whirl. Drapers, milliners and modistes were delighting in the extra custom as the village denizens prepared to meet their fashionable new neighbors. The ladies, not surprisingly, made an especial effort. No less at Longbourn did pre-assembly activity flourish. Dresses received new ribbons and dancing slippers new shoe roses. The ladies naturally required fragrant baths and shampoos. To their mother's exasperation, Jane and Elizabeth, needless to say, were somewhat less enthusiastic than their youngest sisters in their preparations.
"Jane, Lizzy! We have not had young men with five thousand a year drop into the neighborhood on a regular basis – indeed, ever before! You must put your best foot forward. You especially, Jane. You cannot be so beautiful for nothing! Well, Lydia, too. She is such a lively girl, he may fancy her. And, Lizzy - yes, you look quite well tonight. That's good. If only you were not so impertinent! Still you never know. . . ." Mrs Bennet trailed off as Jane and Elizabeth grinned mischievously at each other and shook their heads.
Elizabeth cocked her eyebrow, "It will be nice if he turns out to be a good man and not a Loathsome Villain with five thousand a year," she grinned, "the ill-gotten gains of years as a desperate and dangerous highwayman!"
They both laughed until Jane recalled them with a sobering thought, "He is a stranger to us all, and we know nothing of him except that he is supposed to be wealthy and his name frightens Anna." The truth of that statement ended their laughter.
Although both sisters would have looked forward to the evening without reservations under usual circumstances, they were naturally apprehensive that the Bingleys would learn of Anna. She was definitely not attending the assembly in spite of Mrs Bennet's rather half-hearted suggestion that perhaps she might. What if Lydia or Kitty should mention her? Would it be better to tell them not to or to rely on their self-absorption to forget about their guest altogether? There was no reason to suppose anyone would suspect she was tucked away at Longbourn or that the Bingleys would inquire after her.
Georgiana helped the Bennet sisters into their assembly finery thinking wistfully how much fun it would have been if they had been her real sisters. Although she had no memory of it, she had, in fact, led a rather lonely life, tutored at home with only rare visits with cousins who were all much older than she. Finally the Bennet ladies were off to Meryton for their evening of gaiety. Left behind, Georgiana drifted to the pianoforte. She suddenly realized she missed playing. After playing several simple pieces, she began Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" pouring all her grief and anxiety into her music. When she finished, she sat at the piano weeping quietly. A handkerchief was pressed softly into her hand. Startled, she looked up to see a sympathetic Mr Bennet. "You are a very fine musician." When she smiled sadly, he added, "Come, my dear child. Have faith. It will all come out right."
As soon as he had gleaned all the information he could from the two cousins, especially with regard to the habits and character of George Wickham, Josiah Taylor headed for _shire and the Black Horse Inn. It was, in fact, a prosperous looking establishment – honest and forthright, and no doubt purveying "uncustomed" French brandy. As that was an almost universal practice since the war with Boney began, Taylor did not consider it a mark against the house.
He began his questions with the innkeeper and his wife. Wickham and Mrs Younge had left alone heading north, they thought. The young lady's room was paid for and no luggage left behind. They were adamant that the young lady had not departed through the main rooms during the public hours and that the following morning no doors or windows were unbolted. Since logically she must have left from the nether regions, Taylor asked permission to interview the staff. He would have done anyway, but asking permission nearly always brought better results. This led him to the housemaid; a description of Georgiana's clothing; that she was traveling with the young man from room twelve; then to her uncle, the carter; to the carter's destination and eventually to the coachman of the ill-fated coach. He learned the name Georgiana traveled under from the waybill - "Mary Benedict." With considerable perseverance he finally ascertained that the young lady and young gentleman had gone off in a private coach. Inquiring after the identity of the young man, he learned he was one Robert Benedict of King's College, Cambridge University.
Country assemblies have the advantage as well as the disadvantage of familiarity with one's friends and neighbors: a comfort for the shy and retiring, tedium for the livelier attendees. At this evening's assembly, the guests were dancing with their attention subconsciously on the entrance as if waiting for the people of fashion to arrive. When they did enter, fashionably late, Sir William Lucas stepped forward and greeted them cordially.
Mr Bingley was all the ladies of Meryton and Longbourn could wish for. He was above average in height with an open, pleasant countenance. He surveyed the room and its occupants with a congenial smile, then he promptly and correctly asked Sir William's daughter Charlotte for the next dance. After returning her to Lady Lucas, he immediately asked for an introduction to the Bennet ladies and charmingly requested Jane's hand for the following dance.
Jane, who normally was a popular and graceful dancer, was inexplicably nervous – inexplicable at least to Mrs Bennet. Jane was accustomed to being singled out for her beauty; she was not used to dealing with possible villains. During their council of war, Papa had suggested they simply keep their wits about them. After all, there was no actual evidence that the Bingleys had harmed or intended to harm Anna or that they were the same Bingleys she feared. They were expressly forbidden to ask leading questions. He directed a telling glance particularly at Elizabeth. In the end, there had been no need to worry, for Mr Bingley never mentioned the Bennets' guest. Still Jane stammered and blushed at every word Mr Bingley uttered. Later, sitting next to Lizzy she confessed she had never felt so awkward! She could not imagine what Mama would say. Elizabeth reassured her that nothing appeared out of the ordinary, and that she should simply relax. Mr Bingley next asked Elizabeth to dance and then again Jane. So all was not lost in Mrs Bennet's eyes.
The Bingley sisters, dressed in the finest style for a London ball rather than a country assembly, danced every dance, spoke rarely to their partners and seemed not to be enjoying themselves at all. Miss Caroline Bingley chose Jane for some particular conversation and a stroll about the room. Later she told her sister, Mrs Hurst, that a more buffle-headed country miss they could not hope to find. Of course she would be the one singled out by Charles! For his part, he seemed to think her inarticulate blushes "all that was charming." Returning to Netherfield later, the two sisters grumbled audibly of the boredom inherent in a country assembly and the interminable evening. Bingley did not bother to contradict them as a waste of effort and meditated instead on the beauty of his "angel." Mr Hurst snoozed in the corner of the carriage.
After several hours, which also seemed uncommonly long to Elizabeth and Jane, the Bennet ladies at last returned to Longbourn where all was quiet – or had been. Mrs Bennet immediately launched into a detailed account of the evening and everyone's ball dresses, driving Mr Bennet from the room in the process. "No more lace! No more ribbons! Have mercy!" It occurred neither to Mr Bennet nor to his rib that she might have been retaliating for his earlier teasing about not visiting Netherfield Park.
When the girls filed upstairs to their bedrooms, Anna was there to hear all about the ball. She asked about their new neighbors with a questioning glance to Elizabeth. A reassuring nod gave her some relief. She then settled in for a welcome description of the gowns, the dances, and their partners. Once Kitty and Lydia had gone off to their room and Mary, yawning, said good-night, the three girls headed to the nursery for a long, quiet chat. Lady Jane graciously chaired the meeting.
Neither Jane nor Elizabeth could identify in Mr Bingley the slightest sign of poor behavior. His manners were pleasant and charming. Jane, who never thought ill of anyone, even thought that Miss Bingley was quite nice. Elizabeth differed in her assessment. Jane found herself wondering aloud why Mr Bingley should have so quickly asked her to dance. Was that not suspicious?
Elizabeth answered with a patient smile, "Because you are beautiful, Jane dear."
"And he asked Mama's permission to call at Longbourn!"
Elizabeth closed her eyes in thought. "It might be a good opportunity for Anna to get a surreptitious look at him!"
Anna asked if Miss Bingley was tall with dark hair. Being answered in the affirmative, she said, "I am sure I do not trust her. I do not know why, but maybe if I see Mr Bingley it will come to me." She shivered and her head began to ache so abominably that Jane and Elizabeth insisted she go to bed and think about it tomorrow. They tucked her in and left her in the competent charge of Lady Jane, who stood guard duty by curling up at the foot of the bed and promptly falling asleep.
Georgiana remembers.
At breakfast the morning after the ball, Anna was the only one who seemed to have spent the evening before in dissipation. She still had a slight headache and dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep. A walk in the fresh air was called for, but the day hovered between a drizzle and a downpour. When Mrs Bennet began to fret that Mr Bingley might not call after all, Anna's alarm sent her scuttling up to the nursery. Jane and Elizabeth followed her as soon as practicable and found her lying on the bed with Lady Jane purring next to her.
In order to alleviate Anna's anxiety, Jane began teasing Elizabeth about Jack Goulding. He had stationed himself near Elizabeth at the ball, but spoke only to his friends. Jane hinted that Jack and Elizabeth had a running quarrel because in fact they liked each other. Elizabeth responded with an indignant huff.
"Perhaps," suggested Jane slyly, "we should follow the Bard's plan and have friends casually explain within the hearing of each that the other is suffering from unrequited love!"
Elizabeth laughed merrily. "Am I to be Beatrice to his Benedick then? We have been squabbling happily since we were both in leading strings. Jack Goulding is practically a brother!"
Anna looked up suddenly. "What did you say?"
"Jack Goulding is practically a brother."
"No, no … Beatrice to his Benedick. . .Benedict!"
Like a dam that finally ruptures, all her nightmarish memories, concealed from her consciousness, came flooding in. "I remember!"
Georgiana ran. Heart pounding and with tears in her eyes she hid in the nearby copse. Benedict had looked so – fierce! He was so insistent! She could hear the men coming down the road singing drunkenly. Sudden quiet marked their arrival and obvious approach to Benedict. She could not make out all the words. Benedict spoke quietly, the men roughly. There was a noisy scuffle – then silence.
One of the men told the others to "check 'is pockets, look for 'is purse." The men seemed unhappy with their "pickin's" and searched the nearby ground for some sign of the girl. They were not inclined to put much effort into it, however, as one of them pointed out that the fellow looked bad and had not stirred at all. "Mebbe we should 'op it." They turned back up the road toward Stalcup and the inn. They were no longer singing.
After what felt like forever, Georgiana timorously came out of her hiding place and went back to the road. To her absolute horror, Benedict lay on the ground, white-faced, unmoving and bleeding from a head wound. She was engulfed by a cold chill. Her wonderful, kind benefactor – dead! She was as good as a murderess! They should have stayed at the inn as Benedict suggested. Inhaling great gulps of air, she began to cry. Dear kindhearted Benedict! She would never forgive herself! Aware suddenly of fresh noises from the road, she turned without hesitation and ran. She had no idea where she ran, she had no destination in mind. She fell more than once, tumbled into a gully and tore her dress again. She could barely see for her tears. Night sounds on all sides frightened her. Eventually she stumbled onto a small cave hidden behind a bed of ferns. It even held a blanket. Exhausted, head pounding, she wrapped herself in the blanket and eventually cried herself to sleep in this opportune hiding place.
Jane and Elizabeth looked at her expectantly. Georgiana was aghast.
"I – I – remember." She looked down at her feet.
"Are you going to tell us?" Elizabeth asked softly.
"I am not sure I should. I do not deserve your kindness. I should simply leave. You will not want to know me. It is all so horrible. And all my fault!"
"You do know you will have to cope with it eventually – in one fashion or another." Elizabeth kept her gaze steadily on the girl.
"Yes, I know." Georgiana looked so profoundly sad, tears brimming in her eyes. She sat, wringing her hands in indecision. "Well – um," she took a deep breath, "I ran away from my home, I eloped. . .sort of. I mean. . .I changed my mind, and then ran away from George when I found out he was just after my money!"
Elizabeth sighed, and putting her arms around her, said she should think about how happy Anna's family would be to have her home again, that they must be beside themselves with worry. Georgiana nodded, but did not seem happy contemplating her home. She told them her real name was Georgiana Darcy.
Jane picked up the questions. She asked hesitantly, "Are you increasing?"
Georgiana's head shot up. "No! Oh, my God, no!"
Jane patted her hand. "But, something rather terrible has driven you from seeking your home. Is someone there cruel to you?"
Dear Jane. Hardened criminals would have difficulty resisting Jane's gentle interrogation. Georgiana broke down and sobbed. When she was finally reduced to an occasional hiccough, she told the sisters her tale again but with all its tawdry details, first about the elopement with Wickham and then her escape with Benedict, how he had saved her life and lost his own.
Horror at Benedict's death and indignation at Wickham's behavior briefly threatened to silence Elizabeth altogether. Why Georgiana was no older than Lydia! Her brother undoubtedly had not hired a respectable companion. He certainly carried some of the blame himself! Jane quietly told Georgiana that she must write her brother, emphasizing how very anxious and worried he must be. Georgiana was ashamed both of her elopement and her lack of trust in Fitzwilliam. All the same, she was sure Fitzwilliam would always look at her as a murderess. She could not bear to see sorrow and blame in her brother's eyes. Jane looked pleadingly at Georgiana, who simply cried harder, shaking her head and insisting she could never go home again. She could never face her brother.
She was making herself quite ill. She wished she could go back to forgetting. Poor Benedict! Her valiant protector. And it was all because she was a foolish, romantic girl. She could never do sufficient penance!
The sisters looked at each other, uncertain about what to do with this impasse. As Georgiana explained that the Bingleys were friends of her brother, her safe residence at Longbourn was also in jeopardy. Elizabeth wanted to consult with her father, but Georgiana begged her to say nothing. She threatened to run away again. She wanted to find a way to avoid the Bingleys and to find a way to support herself. Despite knowing that the only practicable solution was for Georgiana to go home to her brother, Elizabeth and Jane promised to wait for two days before telling their father. Georgiana, on her part, promised not to run away in that time.
Josiah Taylor's efforts led him from a fact to an inference and subsequently to another hard fact. Learning that Benedict had not turned up at the beginning of term, but was reportedly at home recovering from a coaching accident, Taylor sent an express to Darcy and Fitzwilliam at Darcy House in London. He explained that the young man was the last one to be seen in Miss Darcy's company and that considering that he turned out to be Viscount Wreyford, he thought Darcy and the Colonel might be more effective interrogators.
The cousins headed immediately to Wreyford Manor in the north. The manor house was Elizabethan with modern additions and set in an extensive park. The surrounding lands looked well-tended and prosperous. Benedict himself was more than delighted to meet with any strangers since convalescence under his mother's benign regime was beginning to wear on him. When he learned of the purpose of the visit, however, he promptly sobered.
"I am afraid I cannot be much help to you, but I will tell you all I know. Dear Buttercup! I have tried my best to find her, but no luck. I have not the least idea where she can be!"
At Darcy and Fitzwilliam's stunned expressions, Benedict related in detail his adventures with Miss Darcy from her seeking sanctuary in his room at the inn and their journey by wagon and coach. He had tried to convince her to wait at the staging inn until her brother could come, but she was so insistent on leaving that he bought them tickets on the next stage. He explained about his riding up top and how during the accident he hurt his leg rather badly, being unable to walk very fast or to any great distance. He admitted that he did not know her name as she was reluctant to give it and how he had called her "Buttercup." It had been obvious that she was very nervous staying at the site of the accident but had been unwilling to leave him, her benefactor, as she called him. He went on to describe their accepting a ride from Horace Stalcup and the subsequent loss of their luggage. While they sat waiting for any help that might come along, they had heard the sounds of the approaching roughs.
"I instantly knew that they meant no good. I am pretty handy with my fists, but it sounded like a number of fellows and I was sure Buttercup would be in danger from them. I told her to run and hide. At first she was reluctant, but I insisted and she ran to hide in a nearby copse."
When the trio of roughs arrived, they asked where the young lady was. He professed himself innocent of any such knowledge. The following fracas did not last long as one of the roughs carried a club and he was laid out cold in no time. When he woke two days later in a surgery in a nearby country town, his pockets were empty, his watch and fobs were gone and Buttercup was nowhere to be found. He had apparently been dropped off by a Good Samaritan. As soon as his family came to fetch him, he insisted that they search the area by the stile, but they never found any sign of the girl.
"I pray to God she has not fallen into the hands of those roughs!" To Darcy he said, "Believe me, sir, I have not harmed your sister and I am more than willing to offer my hand to her in marriage. We were alone for rather a while. And in the meantime you may, of course, be assured of my discretion."
"Thank you, Lord Wreyford, for your consideration," Darcy answered bleakly. "I can only hope that it will not be long before we need address the issue."
"Not at all. I am praying she is safe."
The most useful information that they learned, and it was little enough, was that the attack had happened in Hertfordshire. Josiah Taylor was dispatched to the neighborhood of the dust-up to see if he could find a trace of Horace Stalcup or the three roughs. Darcy and Fitzwilliam turned with heavy hearts back toward London.
While he was admittedly not the most engaged or observant of fathers, Mr Bennet could see that something was definitely upsetting Anna, Elizabeth and Jane. Anna looked frightened, and Elizabeth and Jane were worried. He tried the direct approach with Elizabeth.
"What is it, my dear? Even I can see plainly that something has happened!"
Elizabeth shook her head. "I have given Ge-Anna my promise to say nothing, Papa."
"Ah, has Ge-Anna remembered who she is?" Elizabeth avoided looking at him. "Lizzy?"
"I promised, Papa! We said we would say nothing for forty-eight hours."
Mr Bennet gave Elizabeth a stern look. "Very well. Send Ge-Anna to me."
Although naturally reticent from shyness, Georgiana was not made for secrets, so in the end once again she related her miserable tale. Like Jane and Elizabeth, Mr Bennet asked if her brother would be so cruel as not to take her back.
"Oh, you must not think badly of him! He is very, very good – honest and kind. And he does not make such horrible mistakes!"
Mr Bennet neatly poked a hole in her logic. "A good, kind and honest brother would also be a compassionate brother and would take his sister back without a qualm. And, I promise you he has made many mistakes in his life. He is no doubt blaming himself right now for your disappearance. He is probably getting no sleep, not eating properly. The longer you wait, the more heartbreak you are causing him."
Georgiana nodded miserably. "That's what Jane and Elizabeth said," she whispered.
Mr Bennet's lowered brow suggested his displeasure at not having been told. Georgiana explained that she had begged them not to tell Mr Bennet and that his daughters had given her only forty-eight hours to find a solution before they would take the problem to him.
"That was very wrong of you, sweet girl." He closed his eyes briefly. "You've asked them to do something improper in the name of friendship. Why must you postpone your decision?"
She explained that she knew the Bingleys and that it complicated things enormously. What she had done was disgraceful. She knew she could in fact find shelter with the Bingleys, but she did not think she could trust her disgrace not to come out.
"Mr Bingley would be fine, but I do not trust his sisters. Miss Bingley especially is. . ." And, certainly her disgrace would reflect on her family. "My family take great pride in our name."
She exhaled. She thought it would be better to get a job in a shop or as a companion, but the truth was she was now afraid of leaving and being alone again in a new place.
Mr Bennet gave her a solemn look. "I would take you to London myself if you were sure that your brother would be there. Unfortunately, I so seldom go to London it would surely excite the interest of the neighbors and that we cannot have." He then imposed a discipline on her that he never exercised with his unruly younger daughters. "You know what you must do. Postponement will only make it worse. It will only add disgrace to your name if you refuse to face the consequences of your actions."
Georgiana bowed her head. "I will write my brother."
He nodded his approval and smiled at her. "Tell him where you are and that you are safe. Explain to him that the Bingleys live nearby. All other explanations can wait until he is here."
Georgiana nodded.
Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam arrive at Longbourn.
It was two days before they saw Georgiana's fearsome brother. An express had come the day after Georgiana's own express letter was sent saying to expect to see him the following day. Georgiana was distraught and nervous with the waiting and sought reassurance repeatedly from Jane and Elizabeth. Mr Bennet had wisely suggested that Mrs Bennet take Mary, Kitty and Lydia to visit their Aunt Phillips in order to limit the uproar and potential gossip that would surely be triggered should they witness the Darcys' reunion. Shortly before noon a plain, closed carriage unmarked by any family crest arrived at Longbourn and debouched a tall, handsome gentleman accompanied by a second gentleman with a military bearing. They asked to see Mr Bennet.
Introducing himself and his cousin, Darcy said, "Sir, I understand my sister is residing here with you. She is well?" He was rigid with anticipation.
"Indeed she is. She had taken a blow to the head, but it seems finally to be mending. I will take you to her. She is with my daughters Elizabeth and Jane."
Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam entered the drawing room where Georgiana stood nervously with Elizabeth's arm about her. Jane was seated discreetly in the corner. Darcy cried out hoarsely, "Georgiana!"
Their reunion displayed all the throes of emotion anyone would care to witness. Georgiana was crying from shame and remorse. Darcy's tears were from sheer relief and joy. He held her close, stroking her hair.
"My girl, my darling girl! You're safe! Thank God you are safe!"
There were no dry eyes in the room. Even the very military Colonel Fitzwilliam's were suspiciously moist. Inevitably, once Darcy's nerves were somewhat calmed again and he could think back over the situation, he began questioning Georgiana's actions – not regarding the elopement, which he seemed somehow to understand intuitively and to forgive absolutely, but why she had taken so long to let him know where she was. Why had she not stayed at the inn where the carter took her and waited for him there?
"Have you any idea how worried I was, how anxious? Richard, too, has been on tenterhooks. We have had almost no sleep from worrying about you. How could you be so selfish? I can scarcely believe it of you!" Georgiana had no trouble believing his words. Not only did he look worn and tired with circles under his eyes, his dark hair showed greying at the temples.
Anyone who has seen a devoted and loving mother gather her child to her bosom after a life threatening fright, then scold the child for frightening her, will understand why Darcy switched suddenly from grateful prayers for her restoration to him to angry accusations of selfishness. "Ten days, Georgiana. Ten days! Had you no pity on me?"
The colonel stepped forward with, "I say, Darcy. . . ."
Elizabeth, on the other hand, whose self-professed discernment of character failed her in this instance, rose like an avenging angel to Georgiana's defense. "How dare you, sir, treat your sister in such an abominable manner? She has been frightened and unhappy, frantic in her own right that she might bring disgrace on her family. I can see now why she was so reluctant to notify you! I would certainly have had second thoughts were I in her place!"
Darcy was shocked by the attack from this petite, blazing brunette. He ever after would say she reminded him of a small snapping dog. At the time, though, with his emotions running high, he snapped back. "If you were so concerned for her, why did you not notify me yourself?"
"Until four days ago, none of us, including your sister, knew her real name! What medieval methods of torture would you suggest we should have used on her to extract it?"
"You could have written four days ago!"
"No, sir, I could not. I had given my word to Georgiana to wait."
"Do you not think," Darcy continued through gritted teeth, "you ought to have notified her family anyway?"
Elizabeth blinked. Taking a deep breath she very quietly asked, "Do you suggest that I should have broken my word? Do you imagine that women have no honor, sir? Or, perhaps, you think that we lowly country folk have none."
Georgiana cried out, "Stop, please, stop!" Tears were streaming down her face.
Mr Bennet standing near the doorway gave Elizabeth a frown and a small shake of his head. She closed her eyes and took another slow, deep breath, but before calm was restored, a flash of grey leaped at Darcy. With a righteous yowl, Lady Jane embedded her claws in his thigh and clung. In shock, Georgiana's tears stopped. Jane and the colonel gasped. Elizabeth dashed forward to retrieve her cat apologizing for Lady Jane's behavior. Before Darcy could respond, she also apologized for her own.
"P-please forgive me as well. I am certain your words were the – the natural result of stress and worry. We, too, have been concerned for Georgiana, and I, for one, forgot myself completely. I humbly beg your pardon."
Darcy rubbed his temple bringing himself back under good regulation. He responded stiffly, "Not at all. I quite understand. I am exceedingly grateful that my sister was found by those who are so - protective of her." He shot a wary glance at Lady Jane.
He turned to Georgiana, "My sweet girl, I promise you, you can never do anything that would lead me to abandon you or stop loving you. Never! You are my precious little sister. Always."
Georgiana, once again in tears, asked, "What about the disgrace I have brought on the family? What about Mr Benedict?"
"Do not bother yourself about that. We will consider that issue in due time. It is nothing to worry about now."
Utterly confused, she asked, "We will? It isn't?"
"No, Richard and I had a very civil conversation with him. He is a gentleman and is himself concerned for your wel. . . ."
"He's alive!?"
"Of course, dear."
Georgiana heard nothing after that. She fainted. Darcy scooped up Georgiana and laid her on the settee, while Jane ran for her mother's smelling salts. Colonel Fitzwilliam stood by with a somewhat bemused expression on his face.
Elizabeth repeated Georgiana's question. "He is alive?"
Not interested in anything at the moment other than restoring his sister to health, Darcy answered somewhat impatiently. "Yes! He took a great crack on his skull, but he is most certainly alive and chafing under his mother's care. He is bruised and still somewhat subject to headaches, but claims that he is improving daily. Why? Was there some question?"
"Georgiana thought he was dead! After the ruffians left, she went back to the road and found him laid out and unmoving. She has been in an agony of remorse that he was killed while protecting her!"
Darcy hung his head and groaned. At this point, Richard stepped forward and insisted, "Darcy, this is not your fault either! Georgie's mistake is Georgie's mistake, and you are not personally responsible for it. She is."
Darcy shook his head. "I need not have raised my voice to her."
Richard clapped Darcy on his shoulder. He turned and smiled at Jane as she brought in her mother's salts.
Naturally all these misunderstandings were eventually cleared up. Elizabeth's ire subsided. Comity was restored. Georgiana sat tucked into Darcy's arm. Even Lady Jane retreated to the window seat and began to groom herself. Jane ordered tea. Bit by bit, the entire tale of Georgiana's sojourn at Longbourn was told. Darcy scrutinized Elizabeth as she modestly disclaimed any particular virtue in the matter. In her eyes she had merely responded to events in the most logical way possible. What else could she have done? He liked her defense of his sister now that he could think more rationally. Besides, now he came to look at her he noticed that she was remarkably attractive. She had not the classic beauty of Miss Bennet, but there was a liveliness and intelligence about her, so different from the young ladies he met at balls and social functions in London. And spirit! What debutante would dare argue with him? To reprimand him?!
Colonel Fitzwilliam, on the other hand, once Georgiana was better, spent his time enjoying the company of Miss Bennet. He thanked her for her share in taking care of his young cousin, but Jane, like Elizabeth, dismissed his compliments saying that she, too, was only doing what was practical. And, besides, Georgiana was such a lovely girl. Fitzwilliam agreed, but insisted that Providence must have led his cousin to such an amiable family. Smiling, he accepted another cup of tea from Jane. She blushed.
Mr Bennet watched this scene with considerable interest. He congratulated himself for sending his wife and other daughters to Meryton. Mentally he shuddered to think of the noise and chaos had they also been present. Quite obviously both Jane and Elizabeth were capable of attracting the attentions of gentlemen without their mother's assistance or interference.
When at last Elizabeth and Georgiana had retired upstairs to collect the latter's few belongings, Darcy asked to speak with Mr Bennet in his library. "I cannot begin to tell you, sir, how exceedingly grateful I am for your kindness toward my sister. I am fully cognizant of the disaster it might have been had she fallen in with less discreet people."
Mr Bennet smiled. "I do have five daughters. I know well how important a young woman's reputation is – and how fragile. I extended only such aid as I would have wanted for my own children."
Acknowledging that, Darcy asked Mr Bennet to allow him to reimburse him for any costs which were incurred on her behalf. At this Mr Bennet stiffened, lowering his brow.
"Tell me, Mr Darcy, if the situation were reversed and you had taken similar care of Jane or Elizabeth, would you not be highly offended if I offered to pay you for your hospitality?"
Darcy closed his eyes and raked his fingers through his hair. "I apologize again, sir. This seems to be my day for ungentlemanly behavior. It is only that I. . . ."
With a quick shake of his head and a smile, Mr Bennet said, "Do not fret, sir. I understand." He poured Darcy a small brandy. "Here, take a bit of this. It will no doubt restore you more effectively than the tea my daughters served you."
Darcy grimaced self-consciously. "I believe that when I get home I shall sleep for a week. I do not think I have slept more than an hour at a time since she went missing. She is my only family – immediate family, I mean. I have some cousins, but Georgiana and I have been alone since our parents died." He looked earnestly at Mr Bennet. "You can see why I feel under such a great obligation to you!"
Mr Bennet was silent for some time looking at Mr Darcy. Finally, he cleared his throat, "I would never wish to take advantage of another gentleman in this situation. . . ."
Darcy raised an eyebrow, "But?"
Reluctantly he admitted, "Truth to tell, there is a situation developing where I think I might be able to use your. . .assistance."
"Anything! Please tell me!"
Mr Bennet took off his spectacles and cleaned them with his handkerchief. "It is a little awkward and my family are unaware; however, my physician tells me that my heart is in a bad way and that I could die any time. My estate is entailed away from my daughters to a distant cousin who can, as my wife so frequently reminds me, 'turn them out to live in the hedgerows.'"
Darcy gave him a long, penetrating look. "You would like me to marry one of your daughters."
At that Mr Bennet blinked. "My good sir, not at all! I am as sincere in wishing my daughters good fortune as any parent, but my ambition does not include a connection with the Darcys of Derbyshire!" He chuckled. "No, indeed. The fact is that I have been in correspondence with my heir. He is coming to visit in a month or two. He is a clergyman, the son of a cousin who broke with the family years ago. I am afraid he is a fool. The clergyman, I mean.
"I am anticipating, from what he writes, that he plans, in his words, 'to make amends for the entail' by marrying one of my daughters. So you see, I have no immediate worry for my family. I daresay that Elizabeth will be his choice. She would be my choice for him. Jane is too soft and compliant to manage both him and the estate. Besides, as her mother often says, her beauty will no doubt garner a husband for her one of these days and she - her mother -would never allow it. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is made of tougher fiber. More to the point, she knows how to manage the estate. I have trained her to it for some time. She can keep things going if he will be willing to listen to her and she will be able to ensure that our people are taken care of."
Darcy looked at Mr Bennet in shocked disbelief. "You would marry Boadicea to a fool?"
His host chortled. "I guess she did seem a little fierce today. She becomes very attached to and protective of her finds."
"Her 'finds'?"
Mr Bennet huffed a sigh. "Elizabeth finds - strays, lost creatures, orphans, injured animals - or they find her. It is difficult to decide which. Neither Plato nor Socrates discusses the phenomenon. Your sister, you see, was another one of her finds." He lapsed into a brown study.
Darcy sat contemplating Elizabeth's defense of Georgiana. An avenging fury, more like. He quirked a smile and shook his head. "I still do not understand what you are asking of me. If you are determined to marry off your daughter to this fool of a cousin, what can you want of me?"
Mr Bennet started. "Oh, yes. The problem I have is that once I am gone, there will be no one to make sure that my cousin is merely a fool and not some sort of domestic bully. If he shows signs of it when we meet, naturally I will not let any of my daughters marry him. I just thought, since your friend Bingley lives nearby, you might occasionally visit and see that all is well here at Longbourn. If you thought otherwise, a man with your powerful connections – I understand you are the nephew of his patroness - such a man might be able to convince him that it was in his best interest to behave kindly toward my daughter."
Darcy pinched the bridge of his nose, "Do you not think, sir, that it would be best to be sure of your man before any marriage contracts were signed?"
"No doubt you are right, but it can be an uncertain business all the same."
Darcy sat and thought for a minute. "Mr Bennet. Let me offer this. I was planning to visit Bingley this fall. When you know the date your cousin is coming, inform me and I will make it a point to be here at that time. Then I will do my best to evaluate and, if necessary. . . educate the fellow. Would that help you?"
Mr Bennet smiled broadly. "That is a very handsome offer, sir. It would relieve my mind considerably. Thank you. I will advise you of his visit when it is confirmed."
The men shook hands. They left the library to find Georgiana ready to leave. Good-byes and thank-yous were exchanged. Letters between the ladies were promised. Darcy, Richard and Georgiana were tucked in the coach and ready to depart when Elizabeth came running with a covered basket in her arms. She thrust it into the coach at Georgiana. A muffled meow issued forth. Darcy shot a look at her with narrowed eyes.
Bright, innocent eyes looked back at him. "Georgiana and Lady Jane have become inseparable! I could not keep them apart! Besides," she twinkled, "Lady Jane is an excellent mouser!"
The coach, holding a grateful Georgiana, an amused colonel, and a somewhat disgruntled Mr Darcy, rumbled off towards London. Mr Bennet stood watching it with a smile on his face. Fanny Bennet had nothing on him!
A/N: Having now returned Georgiana to her brother's loving care, we will now turn all our attention to Darcy and Elizabeth.
