CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Jane Bennet had been far more concerned about the attention of the stranger in the park than had her sister. She blamed herself for not attending to what was happening across the park so that she might have come to Elizabeth's aid sooner. Despite Elizabeth's attempts to make light of the incident, Jane was not convinced they should venture out to the park again in the future. It was some time before Elizabeth could assuage her guilt and convince her that although the gentleman had been persistent in his attentions, he was perfectly harmless (entertaining even, though she kept this observation to herself so as not to scandalise her dear sister).
Aunt Gardiner, though surprised at the revelation — which, not surprisingly, came in the form of a questionably embellished narrative from her two eldest sons — was not nearly as distressed as Jane had been. Once the boys had finished telling their version of events and were subsequently sent off to the nursery to clean up for dinner, she pulled Elizabeth aside to speak with her privately.
"Well, Lizzy," Mrs. Gardiner replied after allowing Elizabeth to tell her version of events, "Pirate Queen you may be—" she could not help but chuckle at the vivid picture Edward and Percy had painted of their cousin's adventure, "However, I must say that I much prefer the expense of replacing a kite over the prospect of injury to your person or reputation. Promise me you will keep your feet firmly planted on the ground for the duration of your stay with us?"
"Yes, Aunt," Elizabeth replied.
"I believe I must have a word with Simon as well," Mrs. Gardiner sighed.
"Oh no, Aunt! Simon did all that was proper. Please do not lay any blame at his feet for my improprieties."
"I have little doubt that he could not have kept you from climbing the tree if he had tried, determined as you were," she gave Elizabeth a pointed look, "With regard to the gentleman who accosted you, however—"
"I would hardly say he accosted me, Aunt. He was persistent, not aggressive. You know me well enough to imagine that my replies were more likely to encourage than rebuff his attentions."
"Hmm. With regard to the gentleman who importuned you then — is that word choice better suited to your delicate sensibilities where semantics are concerned?" Mrs. Gardiner's cheeky response garnered a half smile from her favorite niece, softening the blow of what was to come, "I am no Fanny Bennet, Elizabeth, but you truly must pay more mind to propriety whilst here with us."
"Yes, Aunt." Elizabeth bowed her head in contrition.
"And Lizzy—"
Elizabeth merely lifted her head to meet her aunt's gaze.
"Thank you for your services to your cousins. I believe you have earned a pair of loyal admirers for life. I know not how any young woman shall live up to their expectations now." Elizabeth's aunt winked at her and cupped her chin gently before dropping a light kiss on her forehead, "Now go clean up for dinner, child. There is a letter from Longbourn on your bedside table. You should have time to read it before coming down."
Elizabeth nodded in acknowledgment and offered her aunt a warm smile before rising to leave the room.
Upstairs, Elizabeth made quick use of the pitcher of fresh water the maid had already brought in and washed away all remaining outward evidence of the day's adventure. A fresh gown and a few additional hair pins later, she sat heavily on the mattress and retrieved the letter her aunt had left at her bedside for her. Unsealing the missive, she found it was from her sister Mary, who she had written not long after their arrival in London.
Longbourn, Hertfordshire
XX January
Lizzy,
I was glad, if a little surprised, to hear from you so soon after your arrival at Gracechurch Street. I am glad the journey was comfortable and that you and Jane, along with our aunt, uncle, and cousins have arrived safely.
How does Jane fare? I do hope that being away from Mama's constant reminders about her disappointment have given her some respite — or perhaps seeing the gentleman himself may lift her spirits? I do hope you are successful on that score. I am no romantic, but Jane did seem to be very fond of Mr. Bingley.
Things as Longbourn continue much as they were when you left. Lydia remains as much a prodigious flirt as ever — perhaps worse now that Mr. Wickham appears to have been disappointed in his hopes with regard to Miss King. It seems her Uncle did not look favorably on the match and therefore took Miss King and her mother off to stay with him at his estate in Liverpool. All the better for Miss King, I say. It does seem to have given Lydia a renewed enthusiasm for attracting Mr. Wickham's attentions, however. Have you noticed how aggrieved Mr. Denny appears in such cases? Perhaps it is only my imagination — you know I am new to such observations of the behavior of others.
You will be interested to know that Papa did make an attempt, half-hearted though it was, to curb the frequency of the visits from the officers. He complained to Mama that he was growing tired of his parlour being always filled to the brim with gentleman callers and that he could get no peace with how the lot of them carry on. As you can well imagine, Mama dismissed him out of hand. She declared it all utter nonsense and that such an array of gentleman callers could not but be good for her girls. I notice she does not draw any of their attention toward me, but you will not hear me complain on that score.
Mr. John Lucas did come to call with Charlotte and Maria not long after you departed. Though Kitty has confided nothing in me, I believe he must have offered her some sort of apology for his behavior at the picnic. I noticed that he spoke quite earnestly with her for several moments during their call at Longbourn. They did seem on friendlier terms at one of Aunt Philip's card parties which they both attended later that same week. While things do seem easier between them, I have seen none of the former favor Kitty seemed to show him return. I believe that her youthful infatuation with the gentleman is truly at an end. Perhaps it is well for Kitty to have had such an awakening early on. If only we should be so lucky as to have Lydia learn the same lesson with such relative ease. Only time will tell, I suppose.
I must end this here as Kitty wishes to attend me on some calls to the tenants this morning. I will give them all your regards, as requested. Papa sends his in return and Mama, of course, simply wishes you to concentrate your efforts on securing a husband — though I beg of you to write of any updates in that quarter to her direct. I cannot bare to put the paper her effusions on the topic.
Mary Bennet
Elizabeth could not but agree with many of the observations Mary had made — and indeed, laugh at the wry humour betrayed by such a letter! To think that Mary's wit ran more in line with her own than even Jane's. She swallowed down her regrets for past neglect, and chose instead to feel the warmth of sisterly affection that was blooming between herself and the middle Bennet sister. Jane would likely always be her dearest sister — she was her perfect foil. Elizabeth felt, however, that perhaps Mary might come to understand her in a way that Jane never could. With a sigh, she folded up the letter, returning it to the little table beside her bed, and found her way downstairs to join the remainder of the family for dinner.
~P&P~
Fitzwilliam and Georgiana Darcy had nearly finished their soup by the time the butler announced their cousin's arrival.
"Richard, how kind of you to join us," Mr. Darcy said sardonically, raising an eyebrow in question at his cousin's late arrival for their dinner engagement.
"Well that is not the first raised brow I have had leveled at me today," Colonel Fitzwilliam chuckled, "And do not take such a tone with me, cousin. If you did not insist on keeping country hours whilst in town, I would yet be several hours early rather than half an hour late."
"I hardly expect that would make any difference. How do your commanding officers deal with you?"
"They adore me, I assure you. I am forever punctual in attending to His Majesty's business." He grinned at his cousin and took the seat at the opposite side of Georgiana from where Mr. Darcy was seated. Signaling for the footman to fill his glass, he turned to Georgiana, "And how are you this evening, fair one?"
"Happy as always to have you with us — however punctual you may or may not be," Georgiana replied with a smiling glance at her brother who refused to meet his cousin's resulting gloating expression.
As the soup was taken away and the next course served, Mr. Darcy cleared his throat, "How went your errand, Richard? I assume it took longer than expected, thus explaining your tardiness. I hope you found your friend much recovered from his injuries?"
Instead of answering his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam turned to Georgiana and furrowing his brow in a look of utmost seriousness, asked, "Georgiana, I beg you to be honest with me," her brow crinkled to match his own at such a beginning, "Would you still love me if I were to embark on a life of piracy?"
Such an unexpected inquiry elicited a sudden cough from Miss Darcy, causing her to quickly cover her mouth with her napkin as she regained her composure, "Piracy?" she eventually squeaked out, and then narrowing her eyes slightly, added, "Surely you are in jest".
Mr. Darcy was hardly able to keep from rolling his eyes as he sat silently awaiting whatever outlandish tale his cousin had in store for them.
"I fear not, dear one," the colonel sighed, "You see, I was taken upon by a band of pirates this very afternoon—"
"Pirates." Darcy scoffed.
"Yes, pirates," Colonel Fitzwilliam replied, nonplussed, and then turned back to Georgiana as though to continue.
Before he could do so, Darcy inquired, "In London?"
"Yes, Darce. Pirates in London. Now may I continue my tale?"
"Hmmph. Even you must admit this is a poor beginning if your tale is to be believed."
"Be that as it may, I should like to go on," the colonel paused, waiting to see if his cousin would have any further objections. As Mr. Darcy merely shook his head — the corners of his lips tilted suspiciously upwards — he continued, "Very well, where was I? Ah yes, pirates in London. I was, as you can imagine — having heard tales of the usual ruthlessness of such men — quite fortunate to be taken alive. After some time as their prisoner, I was taken before their queen."
"Oh my!" Georgiana grinned impishly at him, "I had no idea that pirates had queens. Were you very afraid?"
"I feared for my life up until the very moment I laid eyes on her," he paused dramatically in his telling.
"And then?" Georgiana urged him on, leaning forward slightly in anticipation.
"Then I found that it was not my life, but rather my heart I should be wary of losing."
Here Mr. Darcy snorted, barely able to conceal his laughter, "Are we to hear a romance now, Richard?"
Ignoring the interruption, Colonel Fitzwilliam continued, "When I first saw her, she was high aloft, fearlessly descending the ship's mast," the colonel leaned toward Georgiana and added in a stage whisper, "A tree, actually."
Georgiana nodded her understanding, her eyes alight in amusement. Mr. Darcy, however, grew wary of what was to come. "This hardly seems the sort of behavior to be romanticizing, Richard."
"Phssh," Richard returned, "Allow me to finish, will you?"
"Do you intend to be finished before tea is served?"
"If you stop interrupting," Colonel Fitzwilliam gave an exaggerated huff, feigning annoyance.
"Oh do let him finish, Fitzwilliam. I am dying to learn how our cousin escaped such peril to join us this evening," Georgiana interjected.
Mr. Darcy offering no further opposition, the colonel went on, "As it happens, this particular pirate queen, although not rich in the way of the world, had a heart of gold…"
Finally putting all pretenses aside, Colonel Fitzwilliam then elaborated on the mystery lady's daring rescue of the precious kite the young lads in her charge had lost to a rogue wind. He shared an abbreviated recounting of their verbal sparring, including her adamant refusal to accept any introduction.
His narrative at last drawing to a close, he observed, "She was so unexpected."
"I believe the word you are searching for is 'indecorous'," Mr. Darcy interjected.
His cousin looks off to the other side of the room for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as though considering the truth of Mr. Darcy's assessment, but then he shook his head and smiled broadly, "No. I am certain I meant unexpected. London society is so stuffy with its stringent adherence to arbitrary rules of propriety. It is suffocating, not to mention the height of hypocrisy," the colonel gave Georgiana a sidelong glance, not elaborating further on his last, but he was assured by Mr. Darcy's grim expression that his cousin caught his drift. "No, this afternoon's encounter was surprising in the most pleasant of ways. You cannot imagine the wit of this lady. I daresay she could even hold her own in a debate with you, Darce. If she had been an heiress, I might have made her an offer on the spot."
Mr. Darcy gaped at his cousin for a moment before recovering himself, "You did not inquire if she were an heiress."
"I did," the colonel chuckled as his cousin dropped his head into his hands.
"Perhaps Georgiana should retire for the evening if you are going to carry on in this manner, Richard." Mr. Darcy muttered.
Georgiana placed her hand gently atop her brother's where it rested on the table, "I can assure you I will not go traipsing off to climb trees — for reasons of valor or otherwise, Fitzwilliam. Nor will I model my own behavior after my impertinent cousin," she smiled reassuringly at her brother. He returned her smile, but his brow furrowed as her expression suddenly grew serious, "I cannot, however, make any promises with regards to piracy," she said grimly. At this the colonel let out a loud guffaw, startling more than one of the attending servants. Georgiana's grim countenance faded as she dissolved into giggles joining with her cousin's more vociferous display. Mr. Darcy could not but join in their mirth. Indeed, hearing his sister's laughter fill their home again after so many months of tormenting himself over failing to protect her was a balm to his aching heart.
A/N: Hello again! I told you reviews feed my muse. ;) Seriously though - WOW! 32 Reviews thus far on that last chapter. That is the most reviews I have had on any one chapter since the first. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. I love that you all love these characters as much as I do, and being able to interact with my readers is one of my favorite parts about writing in this format. As you may have figured out, we are now getting into the meat of this story. All the meticulous work of laying the groundwork will pay off as the next part of the story plays out. I refuse to make any promises on posting schedule as doing so has only served to backfire on me in the past. Family always comes first, so real life often calls me away from my creative endeavors. I will only say that it is one of my goals to finish this book this year so that I can move into the editing phase next year in hopes of publishing. That said, I do have pages of notes regarding the next chapter that have been waiting for MONTHS to be woven together so that ODC can meet again. How will Darcy and the colonel figure out that Elizabeth and the pirate queen are one and the same? What will their reactions be to this discovery? Stay tuned to find out. ;)
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