Title: The Matter of Courtship
Rating: K+
Summary: As the old cliché goes, Georgiana Darcy finds that the course of true love never runs smooth.
Chapter Nine: Introducing Lord Denley
"Miss Darcy," Mr Morris, or rather Lord Denley as he actually was, stood still in shock. This was unexpected to say the least. How did she know to call him by that name?
"Yes, 'Miss Darcy'," Georgiana repeated. "I can safely say you are correct to call me so. I, however, cannot be so secure in my addresses to you." she thought him to be so good and not at all another Wickham but now it turned out that he lied to her. What is more he did it from the moment they met. She had never imagined him to be anything but Mr Peregrine Morris. Why should he deceive her? He could not put it down to forgetfulness. It would be laughable to forget you were actually called Lord Denley not Mr Morris. "Why tell me you are Mr Morris not Lord Denley? You are from a noble family. What reason do you have to lie about your background?"
"You are not acquainted with my father," he said. "However, you will have undoubtedly heard of him."
"Yes," she said. She was familiar with his father, or rather the exploits surrounding him.
"Then surely you can see why I withheld my true identity," he said. "I was afraid that as soon as I introduced myself as the heir of the Earl of Cresthope any hope of a friendship with you would be lost. His reputation taints me."
"I would not judge you on the actions of your father," she protested.
"Your family would," he said. I cannot offer you a reason that will mean I will be fully blameless. I did lie to you but with no malicious intent, of that can assure you."
"Why did you then?" she demanded. Regardless of whether he had any 'malicious intent' he still lied to her and she wanted to know why. "Was it for enjoyment?"
"Of course not!" he exclaimed. "Miss Darcy I am tortured inside whenever I think of what I did. Every time I met you I wanted to confess all but dare not for fear of losing you. I am a coward, probably, and certainly selfish."
"That still does not tell me 'why'" she said. "Did you not trust me? I am not judgemental. I can separate you from your father."
""I know but I cannot," he told her. "Every time I hear 'Lord Denley' I am reminded that I am my father's son and heir. It does not allow me to forget who I am or let others do the same. Then I met you and within a few minutes I knew I could not risk losing you due to my father's reputation so I called myself simply 'Peregrine Morris', doing away with the dreaded title. It was a stupid mistake but you smiled at me and the spectre of my father disappeared. I could be myself. Is there any chance of forgiveness?"
"No," Kitty put in. she, along with Jane and Elizabeth, were silently watching the exchange but she was vexed on behalf of Georgiana that she could help herself no longer.
"Kitty, please," Georgiana said. She then addressed Lord Denley again. "I do not know. I like you but I am hurt you lied to me. I do not know what I can trust now. Please go. I cannot think straight in your presence."
He swallowed then nodded. He could see in her eyes the tears threatening to fall and it tore him apart. He gave a bow and left them. He would not cause her any more pain by staying.
"Oh Lizzy!" Georgiana turned and fell into her sister's arms. "We must leave."
"Of course," Lizzy said. It was hardly surprising that Georgiana wanted to go. She wanted to go herself because she was afraid of what she might do to 'Mr Morris' for upsetting her sister.
"We will wait outside for the carriage," Kitty decided. The others briefly put the troubles aside to stare at her in incredulity. A small something appeared to have escaped her mind.
"Are you forgetting somebody?" Jane asked. Kitty looked confused.
"Your husband, sister," Elizabeth reminded her. Even Georgiana, as preoccupied as she was, rolled her eyes in disbelief.
Kitty's eyes widened and she gasped. "Oh!" In the excitement of first waiting to meet 'Mr Morris' and then finding he was really Lord Denley she had forgotten Bertram was with his friends. "Oh Bertie! Well then, I will find my husband and meet you in the carriage outside." She rushed away feeling very guilty.
Elizabeth shook her head in wonder. "At least Georgiana's spirits have been slightly raised by Kitty's silliness. How can you forget your husband?"
Georgiana gave a small smile as they went outside. "Now my brother will disapprove," she said. "I am so angry at Mr Morris…Lord Denley, I mean. I am starting to fall for him and he ruins it."
"Perhaps it would be better to forget him," Elizabeth suggested. She freely admitted she had formed a bad opinion of him. True, she could understand why he lied but that did not excuse him from the fact he chose to lie rather than tell Georgiana and see what happened.
"No," Georgiana said, resolutely. "I believe he is too special to forget."
Bertram and Kitty joined them. He had been informed about what had occurred with Lord Denley.
"I am sorry, Miss Darcy," he said. "I will try to offer some solace and tell you that by all accounts Lord Denley is a good man. I believe his present behaviour is very uncharacteristic."
"Thank you, Mr Calder," Georgiana said. I am glad to here that."
They boarded the carriage and started the journey home. Nothing was said. Georgiana did not want to talk and the others were afraid to disturb her. As they arrived at the Darcy townhouse Elizabeth prepared to alight first.
"I will go on ahead and tell Fitzwilliam what is occurred," she said. "I know how to break it to him gently." She went and the others prepared to follow her. As they removed their outer clothing in the hall Mr Darcy appeared. Mrs Darcy was skilled in brief, sufficient explanations to her husband.
"Georgiana," he said.
"I am sorry, Fitzwilliam," she said. "His character is good, usually."
"You are not to see him," he said. It was a hard decision for him to make. He hated to upset his sister but he would not run the risk of Lord Denley causing her any more heartache. That particular person would only be admitted into Georgiana's present when, or rather if, he was fully satisfied with his suitability. It was his duty towards his sister.
Georgiana curtsied. "Please may I retire to my room?" She needed to be alone. Darcy nodded so Georgiana left.
"Excuse me I must also leave," he said. "I need time to think. Elizabeth, I will be in my study, Join me later but now I must be alone." He could not make any swift decisions regarding this matter. He knew very well that Georgiana's happiness was reliant on the outcome. This thing was that he did not know whether Lord Denley was a part of this or whether he needed to be removed from Georgiana's acquaintance as soon as possible. Darcy knew that the right decision would be hard to make. He needed to give the subject much thought.
"So, when are we going to meet her?" Lucy asked as her brother came over. She seemed not to notice that he was ashen and looked devastated but that did not escape Camilla's notice.
"Peregrine?" she placed her hand on his arm. "What is it?"
"She knows," he said, flatly. "She called me Lord Denley."
"But that is your name," Lucy said in confusion. "Oh," she suddenly remembered what he told them before. "How does she know?"
"Her sisters recognised me," he replied as in a daze. It still did not register that his chances with Miss Darcy were most likely ruined. "I did not realise that people would. It is not as if I am a frequent member of society but they knew who I was and more important who my father is."
"How did she react?" Camilla asked. Maybe it was not as bad as his face suggested.
"She was distraught, naturally, and angry," he replied. "Everything she should be. Her reaction is justified. I am a despicable liar."
"You are not," Camilla said.
"I am," he insisted. "I was warned about the consequences but still carried on. I thought if I ignored the problem it would go away. Why did I do this? Why did I tell a man to introduce me as Mr Morris not Lord Denley when I first met her? That was deliberate lying."
"Why did you?" Camilla asked. It was most unlike her brother to deceive a person.
"I though I would not see her again. I did not expect to fall for her. I just wanted for one moment not to be my father's son," he said. He truly did not expect their acquaintance to last. One brief meeting was all he envisioned at first as he was intending to be less in society. "I was simply Mr Morris and it was wonderful. I am a fool. Mamma warned me. Now everything is ruined."
"It might not be," Camilla said.
"Miss Darcy is left the assembly and was almost in tears," he said. "I caused that. I am like our father."
"You are not like our father," Camilla told him. "You will never be like our father. See how distraught you are at causing her upset. Father would not care. We must go home, Perry."
"Home?" he asked, too preoccupied to be paying any real attention to what she said.
"Yes, home. You are not in the correct state of mind to be here," she said. She took his arm. "Come, Lucia."
Lucy looked longingly at the dancers but then at her brother. His wan face was enough to persuade her to go without complaint. She held onto his other arm and they led him away out of the assembly hall and into the street.
"We will walk," Camilla in a tone that invited no opposition. The walk would do Peregrine good, hopefully.
"Miss Darcy," Peregrine muttered. Camilla looked around thinking he saw her ahead. "No, I must find her and explain. Again."
"Write her. I think if you appeared at her house her brother would strike you and he thoroughly supported by her other brothers," she said. "Bide your time. You are both upset at present. Come, Mamma will be home."
He let them guide him through the streets back to their home. Camilla regretted her decision to walk. She was not overly sure of the way back and she wished she had though to procure a servant from somewhere to accompany them. She did not know where from, however. She was rather unsure about where their carriage was. At home? Still at the assembly? These were not common considerations for her. Usually it brought them then reappeared when summoned to take them home. She knew not where it went in the interim. Anyway, she would find someone to sort it out when they arrived home. Surely, you could not lose a carriage.
"Camilla, where are we?" Lucy asked. She really would have preferred the carriage.
"Somewhere," Camilla replied. Perhaps she did recognise the houses but it was so dark that she could not tell.
"Next left," Peregrine muttered. Although very much wrapped up in his own thoughts he still was aware enough to know his sisters had little idea where they were leading him. "The carriage was waiting for us as usual, you know."
"Was it? Oh dear. I am clueless about these things," she said. "When I ask for things they happen. I do not consider why and how."
"Never mind. Home," he said as he made them stop outside a grand building in the best part of Town.
"Oh yes," Camilla allowed herself a small smile. Their townhouse, undoubtedly befitting an earl, was not hard to miss. "I knew that."
"No hesitating, Camilla, just go in, please," he said. He did not have the patience or the strength to bother being attended to by servants. He broke free of his sisters' support and opened the door feeling relieved that it was not locked.
"Peregrine," his uncle appeared, probably sent by Lady Cresthope to see who entered the house unannounced.
"Uncle Morris," Camilla and Lucy curtsied as they greeted their uncle.
Peregrine gave a slight bow but barely acknowledged him as he went in search of his mother. Fortunately, Philip Morris knew his nephew well enough not to be offended. Instead, he shot a concerned look at his departing back.
"Peregrine," his mother stood as he entered the room. "You are come back early. Are you with your sisters?" The unhappy look on his face then registered. "Oh Peregrine. What is occurred?"
"She knows, Mamma," he said, hoarsely. "Her sisters recognised me. I did intend to tell her tonight but is it all ruined. I should have listened to you."
"Oh Peregrine," she said but did not lecture her son. "Come here."
"No, Mamma. I must retire. Excuse me," he bowed and abruptly left.
"Camilla," Lady Cresthope turned to her daughter. "Was it a public humiliation?"
Camilla shook her head. "We did not know until he told us. Nobody appeared to be taking any notice."
"Good," Lady Cresthope said. "Was your father anywhere in sight?"
"No, Mamma," Camilla said.
"I heard Stephen giving a servant directs to take him somewhere in Whitechapel," Philip said. "My Lord Cresthope finds an assembly much to genteel for his pleasure."
"Then he will not know. Good, he will only gloat when he does," she said. "What about Peregrine. He looked unwell. Should a doctor be summoned?"
"Annabella, do not fuss," Philip said. "A rest is all he needs. He shocked and exhausted."
"He was becoming more than fond of Miss Darcy, you know," she said. "He will be crushed if he is to be parted from her. Oh, stupid, stupid boy. What will he do now?"
Peregrine knew it was immature of him but his chamber door possessed a lock and he intended to use it. He also knew his present behaviour was equally childish. When his mother came into his room that morning he had actually placed his head under the covers and refused to speak to her. He offered no excuses for his actions as he felt no need. For once he was going to act as a child would. He was always the responsible one due to his useless father but now, as he was feeling utterly distraught, he would be irrational about things.
He had tried to visit Miss Darcy the day after the events of the assemble but had only managed to see an angry Fitzwilliam Darcy, who had told him in no uncertain terms what would happen if he did not leave. He could see why this would be so – he would likewise prevent a man behaving as he did from seeing Camilla and Lucy – but this was a matter he could not view sensibly. He expected to be upset but not to this extent. He may have lost Georgiana Darcy forever and he was shocked at the strength of feeling this generated. The thought of not seeing her again completely destroyed him.
So he remained dispirited in his room and would not listen to the entreaties made by his family to leave it. His father came to gloat and tell him of the pride he now had for his son. That was why the lock was now used. His sisters' declarations that he was badly done to by the Darcys were also trying on his nerves. He was angry at his treatment but there was never any doubt in his mind that he fully deserved it. the misery he was feeling was necessary as he caused Miss Darcy so much pain. He must suffer for his actions. He longed to see her. He wanted to give her a better explanation. Not to persuade her of his innocence, that did not exist, but because his previous reasoning was poor. He could not remember what he said that night but he was sure his explanations were insults made by the bumbling fool he was. Why did he not tell the truth from the start? What possessed him to make this foolish mistake?
He hated himself. He hated that he hurt Miss Darcy most of all but he also hated that he was presently hiding in his room. Why had he suddenly turned into a cowardly liar? Especially as he had found somebody with whom he could easily fall in love. That might have already happened. Being separated from her was certainly more painful than he could have ever imagined. Would she feel the same though? At the assembly she could not bear to look at him once his lies had been revealed. Perhaps it was not Mr Darcy keeping them apart. Maybe Georgiana just did not want to see him.
What path to take? How to solve this problem? He wanted to see her again and he hated that she was out there thinking ill of him. Surely he was not such a bad person. He never used to be. Damn his father and all the problems he brought. He cared not if he was censured for blaming all the troubles on the elder man. He was the reason why he lied. Stephen Morris, Lord Cresthope was his bugbear and he must prove to the world that he was nothing like him. That was how he would win back Miss Darcy.
"Peregrine?" the voice of his uncle came through the door. "You must leave your room some time."
"No," Peregrine said. "I would much rather stay here." Maybe he would face his problems later.
"I must see him, Lizzy," Georgiana stood up. She was in her room at the Darcy townhouse. Ever since the night at the assembly she mostly kept to her room. It was partly depressed spirits but also she was angry at her brother. She could not excuse Lord Denley from lying to her but she could understand why and was annoyed that her opinion was not consulted when Darcy decided that Peregrine would not see her. She wanted to hear his reasons again now she was calmer.
"It is best if you do not," Elizabeth told her.
"Why? I am not a child. Why cannot I decide what I want?" Georgiana demanded.
"He lied to you, Georgiana," Elizabeth needlessly reminded her. She was unlikely to forget.
"I know by I can see why he did," she said. "I can also know that he is genuinely upset at doing so. He did not lie for the sake of it."
"But he did," Elizabeth maintained. She was split in opinion. She did see that Lord Denley was a good man but she could not forget that he lied to her sister. He caused sorrow to Georgiana and she could not forgive him that. He would need to prove himself to her before she championed him to her husband. He must show that he could be a worthy spouse for Georgiana. "I need to be sure that he will not hurt you again."
"He did not intend to. I know it is no excuse but he is not wicked," Georgiana said. "I learn his character in the time we met. There is a difference between him and men like Wickham."
"Are you sure, Georgiana? He did lie to you," Elizabeth said yet again. She knew it was tiresome to repeat that fact so often but Georgiana must realise the potential dangers. Elizabeth was not yet satisfied by the accounts of his character.
"Yes," Georgiana said. She was tired of the same points being made repeatedly. "I like him, Lizzy. I know I will face much censure for admitting that but I cannot help it."
"Fitzwilliam forbids you to see him," Elizabeth reminded her.
"As if I am a child," Georgiana said, harshly.
The sound of the front door closing caught her attention and she went to the window to look out. It was Lord Denley leaving, probably after an unsuccessful meeting with her brother to try to see her. He had altered since she last say him but she was sure she had too. He was a pale, dejected shade of his previous self. He was suffering as she was, Georgiana was sure of that. If his disposition really was wicked he would never be as depressed as he appeared now. No, he missed her as well. It was apparent in his entire posture as she watched him walk away.
"Fitzwilliam obviously succeeds in keeping him away," Georgiana said.
"He is doing what he think best," Elizabeth said.
"I know and I am grateful that he cares but I know Lord Denley means no harm. He wanted to tell me of his family," she said. "I condemn him for not doing that sooner but I know he took no satisfaction from the lies. He did not do it for fun. Will you help me, Lizzy?"
"With what?" Elizabeth asked though believed she knew.
"Not with helping me see Lord Denley, that would be a mistake, but with convincing my brother of Denley's good character," Georgiana said. as much as she wanted to see Lord Denley she knew that sneaking around would only achieve an increase in her brother's anger. "I know he has 'done me wrong' but I cannot ignore the feeling that he is the man I am supposed to marry."
"Oh Georgiana you put me in a difficult position," Elizabeth groaned. "I do want to help you but I have reservations. I can see Fitzwilliam's viewpoint very well."
"Think about helping me," Georgiana asked. "Even if all you can do is something minor. I cannot lose him. I know I would regret it if I did."