So ffdotnet has been pretty dumb recently and I haven't been getting any emails from them and it took me a while to get this chapter up. I won in the end though.

Kelsey Estel the TolkieNarnian - Quite a name! Anyway, I completely understand you're dislike of the name Fitzwilliam, and I will admit I used to agree with you. I understand that some women at that time called their fiance or spouse by their last name so it would not be unusual if Elizabeth did, I know Jane does with Bingley towards the end of P&P. But I just couldn't do it, I really felt like Darcy would want her to call him Fitzwilliam, I imagine that he's proud of the name and wants her to call him that as a way of being more intimate. Plus, I really don't think he would like it shortened to Will or William or God forbid Fitz! Anyway, I've quite gotten used to it now and almost think of him as Fitzwilliam myself.

Thanks to you all who read and review! I write and post when I can so it's great to know that I can keep followers without regular posting.

Chapter 25

A fierce wind blew across the field, bringing with it an unnaturally chilly light rain. The horse loosely tied to a tree nearby neighed uncomfortably, urging his master to return to shelter. His master did not notice.

Darcy sat against the tree, a letter pressed tightly in his hand. For the first time in his life he felt no motivation ---no inclination for business, and most alarmingly, no interest in his now very concerned sister. He only wished to hide from the world. The absurdity of this wish was not lost on him. He had spent several weeks in isolation praying to be rescued and now that he was, he only wished to return to it.

The letter in his hand was severely creased and the handwriting almost illegible, but Darcy belligerently opened it again to reread its contents.

"Netherfield, July 29.

Darcy!

I was certainly astonished to hear of your survival from Miss Bennet. The pair of you have survived a most interesting tale and I cannot bear it much longer until I have heard it from your point of view. Miss Elizabeth Bennet is not very forthright with the details! When I told her that I heard you had returned to England last week, she ceased speaking to me. Really, you must tell me what happened on that island! In all seriousness, my good friend, it is good to know you are not lost to us. It was a heavy blow indeed when I first heard of your supposed demise.

In any case, Darcy, you must come to Hertfordshire soon and congratulate me in person. I have humbled myself completely and virtually begged the lady to have me, but in the end she most happily consented and in a few months time she will be introduced to the world as Mrs. Jane Bingley.

Please come, or I will have to go to Pemberley and drag you here myself!

Your's, very sincerely,

C. Bingley"

"'When I told her that I heard you had returned to England last week, she ceased speaking to me,' of course she did. She does not wish to even think of me." Darcy leaned his head back against the rough bark of the tree and shoved the letter into the inside pocket of his coat. As he began to search the interior of his clothing for his hidden flask, he heard the rhythmic sound of hooves coming towards him. He rose quickly and ran a hand through his damp hair.

"Georgiana! What on earth are you doing out here in this weather, return home immediately!"

The young woman looked at her brother with a glare that Darcy never thought possible from the usually innocent girl. "Absolutely not, brother!" she replied coldly. "I will not return until you decide to return with me and stop this indolent behavior." She lowered herself to the ground and strode purposefully toward him. Brusquely, she reached down to the ground beside him and picked up his hat. He watched her with keen interest as she then remounted her horse, moved towards his lofty figure, and then with a certain amount of satisfaction placed the hat very curtly on his head. He was blinded momentarily before he readjusted himself, and when he was able to see again he looked up at his sister.

"I should not be allowing you to abuse me so." He said with a slight smile, he could not hide that he was a little impressed with her audacity.

"I know that! That is my point!" Her expression softened, "Now, please return with me, Fitzwilliam. It is time you sorted yourself out and I will help you. I have some experience with this."

Intrigued by her last statement, he untied the reins of his horse and raced his sister through the steady rain.

Once tea had been ordered and a fire started, the Darcy siblings took their seats near each other. Darcy sat stiffly, his eyes fixed on the dancing flames. Such a scene painfully reminded him of another time, one he dearly wished to now forget.

"Well, it seems that I should begin." Georgiana sat opposite her brother, her back perfectly straight and her long fingers wrapped together neatly in her lap. Darcy was shaken from his thoughts and was quite unsure what was occurring. "We have not spoken much since you returned. I tried to be respectful and leave you be, but some things have transpired in your absence that I thought you should be aware of."

She spoke so unemotionally that Darcy had to interrupt, "Georgiana, why are you speaking so? I do not believe I have ever heard you speak in this manner."

She smiled, "I do believe you are correct, but things have changed a little while you were lost in the tropics and if you will let me continue, perhaps you will understand why." Darcy could only nod in astonishment. "Very well. News of your ship's ill fate reached London about six weeks ago. I was visiting with our aunt and uncle at the time when we were all told the news. Aunt fainted straight away. I admit I was without sensation for a time and spent several days in their company quite in denial about it all. Then, against the wishes of our family, I decided it would be best to return to Pemberley on my own. I wanted to be in our home, where I could feel close to you and grieve in my own way. I was a bit like you have been this past week, aloof and unkind.

"It took Wickham to release me from my misery."

"Georgiana!" Darcy rose and peered down enraged at his sister. "What has he done to you this time? I will kill him! Where is he?"

Georgiana laughed, "There now, see, I knew that would get a rise out of you!"

"You, of all people, are mocking me?"

"No! That was not my intention at all. Please sit, Fitzwilliam, and let me continue."

"I will gladly listen to the rest of your narrative, but I cannot sit." Darcy turned away from her and leaned his arm on the fireplace mantle while gritting his teeth.

"Very well, I do prefer you standing rather than the slump I have seen you practice all week." She gracefully sipped her tea. "I was here, alone, having dismissed Mrs. Annesley in my grief. She has since returned, as you may have noticed, I realized my mistake rather quickly and the generous woman has quite forgiven me. Well, alone as I was, I was quite frightened the day Mr. Wickham was introduced into the saloon where I was gloomily staring into the woody hills through the window. I must admit, I knew not how to react. He wore an expression of deep sympathy and attempted to act the perfect gentleman as Thompson had resolutely decided to stay just outside the door. He droned on and on about how he knew how I must be feeling, having lost all his family as well. He called you his 'brother' and spoke of how you had promised him before you had left a large sum to travel to Ireland and begin breeding horses. Though the story was most clearly absurd, I must admit I was taken in by him slightly at first, but then it was his own words that deceived him. He claimed that he had been deeply in love and was to marry but the woman had left him before the wedding and ran off to America after having taken all his money. Now, you must believe what I am about to say, Fitzwilliam, because I know you will doubt me." She paused for only a moment. "I laughed at him; I actually shed tears of joy at his expense. He at first thought me hysterical with grief and Thompson entered the room concerned I was being harmed. I quickly dispelled both of their fears and continued laughing. I knew then that this man, this… horrid man, had no hold on me any longer. I told him so, although you may think less of me if you knew the actual words I used. He left abruptly after abusing your memory and allowing his true character to dictate his language. I returned to London the next day determined not to let anyone hurt me or intimidate me again. You were gone, and there was nothing to be done for it. I was suddenly the heir to a very large estate and had much to do. I admit I left most of the business to your steward, but there were many decisions to make and people to meet with. Fitzwilliam, I certainly have never given you credit for all that you have done."

Darcy had been silently during the whole of his sister's tale. He knew not how to react. The story he had just heard was wholly unbelievable but he knew it to be true. His steward had mentioned upon his return a curious statement about Georgiana's abilities, but at that point he was barely listening to what anyone was saying to him. And Wickham! His audacity knew no bounds. He had actually tried to extract money and God knows what else from his grieving sister. The man was heartless!

"Fitzwilliam, do you have nothing to say?"

Darcy turned to his sister and slowly returned to the seat opposite her. With a warm smile, he shook his head. "You have astounded me. I cannot speak but only to say I have never been more proud. I suppose it had to occur at some point, it seems it is the Darcy way to grab the reins when tragedy calls for it. I am sorry that it had to fall to you."

"It turned out all for the best, did it not? I have learned to conquer my fears and you have returned home, all is well." The last she spoke with an ironic tone and she was silent in anticipation of an explanation from Darcy.

Before he could find the will to begin, he sipped his now cold tea, grimaced, and then strode over to the corner of the room where an inviting bottle of scotch sat waiting for him. When he returned to his seat, Georgiana eyed him disapprovingly, but he ignored her and turned his eyes once again to the fire, which cast a peculiar crimson cast about his face.

"The young lady that… Wickham spoke of, I know her. She was on the same ship as I, we were the only survivors, and it was with her that I lived with on a deserted island for several weeks before we were rescued and brought to Halifax."

Georgiana's face became white, "He was telling the truth!"

"Oh no, never believe him capable of that. It was he that left her, and there was certainly no money on either side that could be taken from the other."

"She told you all this?"

"She did."

"And you believe her?"

Darcy looked up in resentment, "Of course I do."

"Because you love her?" He did not answer. "Fitzwilliam, I know better than anyone else that love will cause you to believe the best in people, can you be certain?"

"I have no doubt on this! Is that clear?"

Georgiana paused to match her brother's gaze. "Very. So you do love her then."

Darcy looked away. He did not wish to discuss the matter with his younger sister; a person he never thought would question his judgment on anything. How could she possibly understand? He looked up at her again. She looked much older to him now. She seemed to carry herself differently, her expression knowing and unafraid. She looked like their mother.

"Yes," he responded finally.

"But she does not love you?"

He cleared his throat. "I thought she did once, but I was mistaken. I concede that are correct, love can deceive you."

"Please, Fitzwilliam, tell me all that has occurred. We can work it out together as we once did for me only a year ago." She reached across the gap between them and took his hand. She truly did look an awful lot like their mother.

And so he told her most, although not all, of his story. She was quiet for a time after. She rang for more tea and joined her brother in his inspection of the fire's flames.

"There is certainly a reasonable explanation, Fitzwilliam, we just have not thought of it yet." This brought only a minor smile to her brother's face. She was determined to try harder. "Perhaps something of an urgent nature forced her to leave rather quickly."

"Doubtful. I have received word from Bingley who is now rather intimate with her family having engaged himself to her elder sister. He has made no mention of anything alarming occurring."

"Perhaps she left word with the family she was staying with or a letter with your cousin."

"No, neither."

"But it must be something, if you love her, if you truly love her you must discover the truth!"

"I know the truth, Georgiana, I pushed her too hard. She refused me; I would not accept it and she finally consented out of… a sense of obligation or something of the sort. When she reunited with her family she sought her escape. She obviously wants nothing to do with me or she would have left word."

"But even if she wanted to sever ties with you, would she not have told you, even in a letter. There must be more to it, I am certain."

"And I am certain you are wrong! I do not wish to discuss it anymore. I wish to retire for the evening." He rose to leave.

"Fitzwilliam!"

Darcy paused at the doorway, his hand on the handle. "Forgive me. Please excuse me; I believe I have said enough on the subject." He sighed, "Georgiana, I appreciate your concern, but nothing is to be done except to move on and I thank you for inspiring me to do so. Good night."