Elizabeth could hardly wait to join Mr Darcy at breakfast, burning with curiosity about why he wanted to speak with her privately. Yesterday had been such a whirlwind, with her family arriving, and Miss Bingley had commandeered Mr Darcy at every free moment. Their early morning breakfasts would be the only time they could speak privately, without raising suspicions.
Elizabeth still was not sure why Miss Bingley was at Pemberley at all. Charles and Jane had been invited, since Henry was their brother. But Miss Bingley was unrelated to any of the Bennets, save Jane, and Mr Darcy had been most explicit about keeping it a small family affair. He was not even including his own family! Elizabeth felt sad for Georgiana about this, but could understand Mr Darcy's wish to avoid a scandal and keep the wedding a quiet affair. She made a mental note to see how Georgiana felt about this.
But right now, she needed to finish dressing and meet Mr Darcy in the breakfast room. She smiled sheepishly to herself at the fact she'd begun to think of their breakfasts as a prearranged activity. They were nothing of the sort, and she had no right to assume that they were, but she enjoyed the thought nonetheless. She glanced at her clock and realised she was later getting dressed than usual. She hurried to finish.
Dressed in a lavender gown and matching ribbon weaving through her hair, Elizabeth walked briskly to the staircase to descend to the breakfast room. As she neared the foot of the stairs, she stopped abruptly, hearing the sound of a woman's muffled crying, followed by the unmistakable baritone of Mr Darcy. A woman's higher pitched voice then drifted up to where Elizabeth stood, which she did not recognise as Georgiana's. Although Elizabeth could not hear what was being said, the tone of conversation was laden with emotion and not simply small-talk. The voices became louder, and Elizabeth panicked as she realised they would shortly exit the room into the foyer where she stood. Elizabeth quietly crept a few stairs higher, and tucked herself into the shadows just as the pair came into her line of sight, arm in arm. She could not see their faces, but she knew from her outfit that the woman Mr Darcy had been talking most intimately with and now tenderly escorted out was most certainly Miss Bingley.
Elizabeth waited in the shadows until she was certain they had gone, then padded down the stairs into the breakfast parlour. Servants had already cleared Mr Darcy and Miss Bingley's crockery and cutlery and the table sat empty, awaiting use. For the first time ever, Elizabeth sat down to breakfast at Pemberley on her own. She buttered her bread with a trembling hand, and her teacup rattled when she set it down in its saucer. She had very nearly intruded on a private moment between Mr Darcy and Miss Bingley, and was ever thankful that she had been running late that morning. They must have some kind of understanding, thought Elizabeth, and suddenly the pieces fell into place for her. Elizabeth had gleaned from Mr Darcy's book that she was not of the right social standing to be his wife, but Miss Bingley may be. She was well-educated and accomplished and from a very wealthy family-albeit not landed, but what did Mr Darcy need with more land! Miss Bingley's behaviour around Mr Darcy and her very presence at Pemberley for a family occasion all supported her assumption that Miss Bingley was betrothed to Mr Darcy.
Elizabeth closed her eyes as a thought hit her. 'He had wanted to meet me in private, just prior to Miss Bingley's arrival!' She thought. 'He must have wanted to tell me of his arrangement with Miss Bingley, and perhaps even dissuade me from attending our private breakfasts.' Elizabeth felt like her heart had been ripped out and squashed under Mr Darcy's heavy boot. She could barely live with the thought that she would never be his wife, and now she would have to watch him engage and love another. Still, she could not upset her dear friend and brother. With a strength she did not feel, Elizabeth forced herself to appear happy. Her heart was breaking at him loving another, but she resolved not to make this apparent. This was Henry and Georgiana's time, she must not detract from them.
Elizabeth steadied her breathing with each further sip of tea, and felt her heart cease its pounding and settle into a slow sad beat. She finally rose from the table and ventured to the sitting room to take up a book and wait for Georgiana. She hoped that some sisterly company might distract her from the gaping hole she felt was inside her.
Georgiana finally entered the sitting room where Elizabeth had been emersed in her book. "My appetite seems to have returned."she said quietly with a shy grin.
Elizabeth smiled. "Does this mean you are starting to feel better?" She inquired.
"Oh yes, thank goodness! Now I only have the odd moments of feeling ill, instead of all day. In addition, I am not nearly so tired."
"I am happy to hear it!"
"Now I find I am able to be enthusiastic about the wedding. I was always so happy to be marrying Henry, but now I have the energy to be excited." She explained quickly.
"I quite understand, and nobody thinks for a moment that you aren't happy to be marrying him." Elizabeth smiled wryly "why, it's quite obvious how much you two admire each other."
Georgiana looked down with a blush.
"Georgiana," said Elizabeth with a hesitant voice. "How do you feel truly, about not having any family present at your wedding? I understand the reasoning, but surely it must sadden you?"
Georgiana looked contemplative for a moment. "My family is unlike yours, Elizabeth. There are no other Darcy family living, and I hear you have met my mother's sister, Lady Catherine, so you must have some understanding of their disposition. You see, my mother's family were never happy that she married my father. Although a wealthy landowner, he did not have a title, and as the daughter of a Duke, my mother should have married into the nobility. But she loved my father, and forsook her dowry to be with him. My father loved her just as much, and did not care a wit for the lack of dowry. -You see my despair at being deceived by Mr Wickham-"
Elizabeth nodded.
"My parents married for love, wholly unconnected from finances, which her family just could not comprehend. As a result, my interaction with them has been much limited. I rarely see my aunt, or my uncle, or their children. They have attempted mending the gap, now that Fitzwilliam is heir to Pemberley and is a much sought after marriage prospect, but Fitzwilliam is not one to easily forgive. He knows they are always looking for fault, and he does not want to give them opportunity to. To be truthfully honest, Elizabeth, the only other family member I would wish to be present is my cousin. He is my uncle's son, and a colonel in the army. He has always been kind to Fitzwilliam and myself, though I rarely see him now, for he is hardly ever in England. He has been a joint guardian of sorts for me, although given his availability, the responsibility lies squarely with my brother. I dearly wish Col Fitzwilliam could attend my wedding, but it is not to be. He is in France, and the express he sent Fitzwilliam regretted that he could not be granted leave."
Georgiana looked at her friend sadly for a moment and then brightened.
"However, I am exceedingly fortunate to be marrying into such a welcoming family! Jane and Mr Bingley are lovely, and Kitty and Lydia are such fun! I do not know your father well, but he seems a kind man, and your mother already treats me as her own. I look forward to meeting Mrs Collins when she arrives, and you- dearest Elizabeth! You are the dearest sister I could ever hope for! In gaining a husband, I am also gaining a family, and who could not celebrate that?!"
Elizabeth smiled affectionately at Georgiana. "And one day, hopefully soon enough, you will gain yet another sister once your brother weds!" Said Elizabeth with as much cheerfulness as she could muster.
Georgiana looked puzzled.
"My brother? Another sister?"
Elizabeth laughed "I cannot guarantee you would like her enough to think her a sister, but there is no escaping that the lady your brother marries WILL be your sister, Georgiana!"
"My brother-has he spoken with you?"
"No" admitted Elizabeth. "Thankfully I saw them together this morning, so there is no need for your brother to have an awkward conversation with me."
Georgiana looked even more confused.
"You saw who? And where?"
"I saw your brother and Miss Bingley this morning. They appeared to be having quite an intimate discussion. I wish them both every happiness together."
Georgiana looked astonished, and a horror gripped Elizabeth.
"Oh! You did not know! Oh Georgiana, I apologise! I assumed you knew and had included her in the wedding party. Mr Darcy and Miss Bingley likely want to wait until after your wedding to make their announcement, and I have foiled their plans. I am so sorry Georgiana, I should not have spoken."
"No Elizabeth, I am glad you did. More glad than you know." Said Georgiana, her forcefulness surprising Elizabeth.
"Might we go for a walk?" Asked Georgiana. "What you have told me I am finding hard to absorb. I believe some fresh air might assist me."
Elizabeth broke into a wide grin. "Yes, that sounds like a capital idea. I too am suffering from an overwhelming few days. A walk would certainly help clear my mind."
The pair set off in the late morning sun, towards the ridge directly behind Pemberley. They had not ascended far, however, when Georgiana began to tire.
"I believe I must return to the house, Elizabeth." She said, panting slightly.
Elizabeth looked alarmed. "Of course! I should have been more aware- you can hardly climb this hill in your condition. Come, let us journey back together."
"Oh no!" Cried Georgiana "you must continue. You clearly still have much on your mind, and it is an easy walk back for me. I am fine- I just could not go higher."
"Georgiana, I cannot let you turn back alone! Whatever would my brother say?! Abandoning his bride on a hillside?!"
"Truly, Elizabeth. I am fine. Besides, I am looking forward to some time alone, solitude is hard to come by lately." She smiled at her almost-sister.
"As I can well imagine, so close to your wedding day. Well, I am not one to interfere with your wishes, so as long as you are fine, I will continue on then."
Georgiana nodded forcefully, so Elizabeth bid her farewell and continued up the hillside.
Georgiana hurried down as quickly as she could safely, and found her brother talking to the grooms, having to make some slight adjustments now that one of his carriages was now in use.
"Georgie!" He exclaimed in alarm as she rushed to him, still slightly out of breath. "Are you hurt? Is it someone else? Whatever is the matter?"
"I am fine, Fitzwilliam, and nobody is hurt. But there is a matter you need to clarify right away. Can we talk discreetly?"
Darcy looked alarmed and led her to one side.
"Are you engaged to Miss Bingley?"
Darcy reeled back in confusion.
"Of course I'm not! How could I be when you know that I'm.." Darcy stopped suddenly, realising he might still be overheard.
"I didn't think so. Tell me, you haven't spoken to Elizabeth either."
"No?" Said Darcy, confused and defensive. "There hasn't been a moment to! Every free moment she has been with her family or I've not been able to free myself from Miss Bingley. Now that Miss Bingley has left perhaps I finally can!"
"Miss Bingley has left?"
"Yes, straight after breakfast. She spoke to me at breakfast this morning. It appears she has long desired my affection, and upon arriving here has discovered that I give it elsewhere. She realised she had no reason to be here, and left barely an hour ago. I have been down here all morning, securing a carriage for her to journey in. It was the least I could do- I have hurt her so much. I did not know." He shook his head sadly.
"Oh Fitzwilliam," said Georgiana with sympathy in her eyes. "Poor Miss Bingley."
She looked at him and after a pause said "I do believe there is another lady climbing the ridge right now who feels the same way."
Darcy looked confused. "Who else do I need to mollify? Lydia Bennet?" He looked dejected.
"Elizabeth."
Darcy's head shot up.
"Elizabeth?"
"Yes. I told you yesterday she doesn't believe she's good enough for you. And now she's out walking, believing you to be engaged to Miss Bingley."
"She WHAT?"
"She saw you two this morning, Fitzwilliam. And Miss Bingley has certainly been behaving like your betrothed." She added.
Darcy groaned.
"I have told you all I know." Said Georgiana. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to rest indoors." She began to walk away, then turned back to her brother. "It's nearing lunchtime, Fitzwilliam. And it's a lovely day for a walk." She gave him a meaningful look and walked towards the house.