Chapter 17

Georgiana after seeing her brother in that state of anguish, did not know what to say. She just led him to the couch and sat next to him while she stroked his hands.

"Brother, last year when I needed your help, you were there for me. Please tell me what happened, what that man told you, and why you are like this", Georgiana said shyly.

"Dear Georgiana, I don't think anyone can help me. I've been so wrong and I don't know how to correct all the bad things I've done", concluded Mr. Darcy.

"Maybe if you tell me, that would help ease your heart. Also, I can help you see things from another perspective. It always helps to be able to release the weight we carry, dear brother".

Darcy, seeing his sister concerned, but at the same time willing to help, said, "it's fine dear, but you're not going to like what I have to tell you. I just hope you don't despise me, as I despise myself, when you know everything I've done", said Darcy with a slight smile full of sadness.

After taking a deep breath, Darcy began to tell his sister everything that had happened in his life in the last few months, from the moment he met Elizabeth to his failed marriage proposal. He even told her how he had advised Mr. Bingley's sisters to talk to Jane. Georgiana couldn't help staring at her brother in horror after listening to everything he had told her.

"Brother, why did you do that?" She couldn't help asking.

"In the beginning because I was afraid and ashamed of being in love with a woman socially inferior to me, because I didn't want to see her and that's why I wanted to get away from her. Later out of jealousy, because when I saw her with her cousin in the bookstore, I felt angry because I have suffered and thought about her all that time, while she walked happily on the arm of another man. What more proof of my selfishness, I did not want to be with her but at the same time, I did not want her to be with anyone", said Darcy without being able to look at his sister.

"Brother, I think you're wrong when you say you can't do anything. I believe that you should correct what you have done wrong, and the first thing you should do, is to apologize to those you have offended", Georgiana said in a firm tone, so much that her brother was surprised that his shy sister spoke to him in that way.

"You're right Georgiana, thanks for listening to me. I am very proud of you and to see how you have matured. Now enough sadness, I'm going to rest for a while, take a bath, shave and change clothes. Later you and I will go for a walk in the park. Fresh air will do us good.

And that afternoon as he walked through the park with his sister, he decided everything he would do in the next few days, and how he would try to be a better man. He knew he had lost Elizabeth, but he would try to change for his sister, the honor of his family and the future of his estate.

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At the Bennets' house there was a great commotion, Lydia ran through the house happily celebrating that Mrs. Foster had invited her to go to Brighton as her particular friend, while Kitty complained that it was not fair that she had not been invited. Mrs. Bennet celebrated the news with her favorite daughter and told Kitty to be quiet and not ruin her sister's happiness. Mr. Bennet, as always, was locked in his library without knowing what was happening.

In that moment Kitty, disappointed, fell silent, sat by the window and decided to ignore her sister and her mother. When she saw a luxurious carriage approaching she said, "Mama, someone is approaching in a huge carriage".

Mrs. Bennet went to look at the window and was a little puzzled, Elizabeth and Mary were returning tomorrow, but today they were not expecting anyone. As it was normal for her, she began to scream and ask for Mr. Bennet to be notified.

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Aaron took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Mr. Hill opened it, and he handed over his card and asked to speak to Mr. Bennet. For their part, Mrs. Bennet and her two daughters had observed that the newcomer was a handsome young man, elegantly dressed and from the quality of his carriage, it could be assumed that he was a wealthy man.

"Oh Lydia, who will this rich and handsome man be? Maybe he is a new neighbor or a friend of Mr. Bingley. Go fix you up my girl, I'm sure at the moment he sees you, he will fall in love with you because you are so pretty and so lively". Mrs. Bennet said excitedly.

"If Lydia marries this man, I can go to Brighton for her", Kitty said.

"No, I will go to Brighton, I will tell this man to wait for me and when I return he will beg me to marry him", answered Lydia.

While that conversation was happening, Mr. Bennet was receiving Aaron's card and had no idea why this man wanted to talk to him. A little annoyed because he should interrupt his reading to receive this stranger, he told Mr. Hill that he would see him immediately.

"Good afternoon Mr. Bennet, my name is Aaron Mortimer, I am a business partner of your nephew Jonathan Gardiner, and I am here to ask your permission to marry your daughter Miss Mary", Aaron said quickly and without even breathing.

Mr. Bennet looked at him with an intrigued and mocking face at the same time, seeing this apparently rich and good-looking man interested in his daughter Mary, who in his opinion was nothing more than a silly girl, was something really interesting to witness.

For his part, Aaron was explaining how he and Mary had met, and how he had come to admire her deeply, mentioning each of her qualities. Mr. Bennet could no longer bear to remain silent and interrupted Aaron to say.

"Are you sure that you want to marry Mary? Here in my house I have two other daughters, just as silly as Mary, but prettier in my wife's opinion" when he finished speaking he gave a mocking laugh as if he had made the funniest joke in the world.

Aaron had to wait a few seconds to speak. At first because he couldn't believe what he had just heard, and later because he was so angry that he didn't know if he would be able to restrain himself. "

Mr. Bennet, I do not wish to enter into a controversy with you because my purpose in coming to your home today is to obtain your consent to be able to marry your daughter, who is currently under your protection. However, let me tell you that if you consent, the moment Miss Mary becomes Mrs. Mortimer, and is under my protection, I will not allow you or anyone else to disrespect her. Do you understand me sir?

Mr. Bennet, like the wayward man he was, said to Aaron, "Look young man, next time think better how you answer me because Mary is only 19 years old, and she needs my authorization to marry. So be careful... and I advise you to have a better sense of humor".

Aaron smiled and replied, "Miss Mary told me a lot about her family, so I think I know you all a bit. If you deny your consent, I will be very sorry because I will have to wait almost two years to have the woman I love by my side. But before I return to London, I will have an interesting conversation with Mrs. Bennet. I will tell her how you have denied your consent, and therefore, she cannot have a rich son-in-law. In fact, I will invite her to visit my mother in our mansion, in the most exclusive neighborhood in London. I am sure that after all that, I will not be the only one who suffers during these almost two years. And lastly, I have an excellent sense of humor, but I don't use it to make fun of the people I love. Any other advice? I can't wait to meet your wife" Aaron finalized with a defiant look.

"I think I'm going to like you, son", said Mr. Bennet sincerely.

"I think I might like you". After looking at some books in the library Aaron added… "At least half the science books you have on that shelf are out of date".

"Can you recommend new books?"

"Ask your daughter Mary, she knows a lot about that subject, like the smart and talented woman that she is".

"I will", concluded Mr. Bennet

Mr. Bennet went with Aaron to the parlor, where his wife and daughters were, and introduced him, but before he could explain why he had come to Longbourn Mrs. Bennet interrupted him. "Mr. Mortimer, let me introduce you to my daughter Catherine, and this beauty in front of you is my daughter Lydia" when Mrs. Bennet said that, Lydia looked at him flirtatiously and Mr. Bennet was amused by the ridiculous scene.

Aaron couldn't believe that Mr. Bennet was using him for entertainment, so he responded immediately. "Nice to meet you Mrs. Bennet, Miss Catherine and Miss Lydia. My betrothed, Miss Mary has told me about all of you, so I think I know you a little. But I must admit, Miss Lydia, you look more like a child than I thought". Aaron concluded with a glance at his future father-in-law.

At that moment Mrs. Bennet did not know what to say, she was completely mute for several seconds. Finally one of her daughters was engaged to a rich man and it was Mary, the least beautiful of them all. For her part, Lydia couldn't help but feel offended at being treated like a child, and that Mary was getting married before her.

After some minutes of courtesy talking, Aaron said goodbye explaining that he should return to London, and that he would soon visit them with his family.

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Jane was waiting for Robert and Sophia to arrive, the three of them, plus her aunt and uncle were going to the museum to see a new art exhibition. She was remembering everything that they had discussed yesterday and how happy she was to have met such a wonderful man like Robert. Sophia, while walking in the park, had told Jane that her father was not only her father, but also her uncle.

Seeing her confused, Robert told her the story of his first marriage, and all the sad events of his youth. He told Jane that he had preferred to tell his daughter the truth since she was little, but she knew that she should not share that information with anyone who was not close to the family. He also said that he was happy that his daughter trusted and admired her as much as he did. Just remembering how he had looked at her when he said that, made her blush again.

Just then, the butler announced a visitor, and Mr. Darcy entered the room. Jane was very surprised and did not know what to say.

"Excuse me Miss Bennet, but I would like to know if you can give me a few minutes of your time, I need to talk to you", Darcy said nervously.

"Of course I can, in half an hour I'm going to go out with my family and some friends, if it's enough time, I don't have any problem", explained Jane.

"It is more than enough, and I thank you for your kindness in wanting to receive and listen to me, even though I have arrived unexpectedly".

After planning for a few seconds how that difficult conversation would begin, he started. He explained to Jane about how he had been attracted to Elizabeth, and what he had advised his friend when he thought she was indifferent to Bingley. He paused, and went on to tell her how he had reacted to seeing Elizabeth with Jonathan, and the advice he had given the Bingley sisters when they told him they had seen her in town. Jane looked at him incredulously, but didn't have the courage to say anything.

"And that is why I am here, Miss Bennet, to beg you to forgive me for exposing you to the wickedness of people like the Bingley sisters, for having been an accomplice in what they did to you. I want you to know that I have reflected, I have analyzed each one of my actions of the past months, and I have felt nothing but shame. You are a gentlewoman, and I only pray that one day you can forget the harm I have done to you. For my part, I will strive to be a better man, so my sister can feel proud of me again", Mr. Darcy concluded.

Jane was silent for a few minutes, and Mr. Darcy did not know what to do until Jane replied, "Mr. Darcy, a good person is not one who is never wrong, but one who assumes when they are wrong, asks for forgiveness and tries to change. I would never have known that you were part of that episode if you hadn't told me. So, I appreciate your honesty and sincerely forgive you". Jane told him with a smile that revealed the sincerity of her words.

"I just want to ask you that this episode remains between us, no one else needs to know, for me, it is something in the past, and I want it to remain there", Jane concluded.

"You have my word, Miss Bennet, and thank you very much for your words of forgiveness, I really appreciate them", Darcy said after standing and bowing.

At that moment a girl ran in screaming Jane's name, she was so excited that she didn't realize there was someone in the room. Mister Darcy said goodbye and as he went to the door, he saw Lord Maxwell enter. He greeted him coldly, and approached Jane and Sophia, while looking at him suspiciously. When he had already left the Gardiners' house and was heading towards his carriage, he heard a voice calling him, it was Robert.

"Darcy, I have no idea what you were doing talking to Miss Bennet, but let me warn you that Jonathan Gardiner is my best friend and his cousins are not only under his protection, but also mine. So be very careful", he said with a threatening voice.

Darcy smiled sensing what was behind such a passionate speech and said. "Miss Bennet is a kind woman, I'm glad she has so many people to protect her. Good day". After saying that, he got into his carriage heading to Bingley's house.