Chapter 10
Derbyshire, September 1811
Fitzwilliam Darcy urged his horse into a trot as he left the tenant farm. He had been meeting with the Smith family about the state of their roof, which had begun leaking a few days before. With winter approaching, the building would need to be repaired quickly before the heavy snows of the north made any such work impossible.
Approaching Pemberley, he directed his steward to being making the preparations necessary, all at the expense of the manor house, of course. It was an estate owner's duty to care for the usual wear and tear to a tenant's property and home.
Darcy entered his home and asked Stewart where he could find his sister. He was directed to the large sitting room, where Georgiana sat doing needlework. He crossed over to her quietly, and she jumped when she caught his shadow move over her stitching.
"Fitzwilliam, you gave me a fright!" she laughed.
"Someone has to keep you on your toes," he said in return. She stood and gave him a quick embrace. "How are the Smiths doing?" she asked.
"Their daughters will probably need a few more dresses soon," he responded. "They appear to have grown several inches over the past few months."
"I will see what I have in the workbasket," she said. "And where is Bingley? Did he not accompany you on your rounds today?"
Darcy shook his head. "Your husband said something about a surprise for you and disappeared towards Lambton at first light." At Georgiana's surprised look, he added, "He does dote on you, you know."
She smiled shyly. It had been a rather difficult year since the three of them had left Ramsgate. Bingley had purchased a special license, and he and Georgiana had been married from the chapel at Pemberley where she had been christened as a babe. Since then, she had continued in her rooms in the family wing and he in his as the grew accustomed to their new life. Apart from the servants addressing her as Mrs. Bingley, their routine was very much the same as it had been when Bingley lived with them before his journey to the north.
Eight months after the wedding, chaos descended on Pemberley in the form of Mrs. Hurst and her sister Miss Bingley. As sisters only one year apart in age, they had completed their time at finishing school and were to take up residence with their brother.
Mrs. Hurst, Miss Bingley-as-was, had in fact outgrown her finishing school the year before. Due to his and Georgiana's sudden wedding, however, Bingley had written to keep Miss Bingley at the school for an extra year while Miss Caroline finished her last year. Miss Bingley had no desire to remain in a place she had outgrown. Instead, she wrote to her brother to request permission to join a schoolmate at her home for the summer. It was there that she met Mr. Hurst, and they quickly fell in love – he with her dowry of twenty thousand pounds and she with his status as a landed gentleman.
The new Miss Bingley finished her year of school and went to reside with her sister and new brother. Unfortunately, Mrs. Hurst's dowry had not been sufficient to absolve all of her husband's debts. They were forced to retrench, choosing to let their estate, and came to join Bingley.
The sudden influx of people at Pemberley almost forced Georgiana back into the shell of a person she had been immediately after the debacle at Ramsgate. However, with the patient love of her brother and tender kindness of her husband, she gained an inner strength that allowed her to retain her position as mistress of her brother's home, even with two sisters in law who sought to impose their will on their young new sister.
Darcy was proud of the strong young woman his sister was becoming. After Ramsgate, he feared she would crawl into a shell and never return whole again. However, Bingley's cheerful presence and gentle solicitude helped her blossom into an intelligent, self-assured young woman.
She was still young, however; he and Bingley spoke on occasion about the nature of their marital relationship. Bingley was desirous to wait until his wife was seventeen, the age at which she was going to come out to the ton's society and be presented to the queen, to begin a romantic courtship. Bingley had spoke with Georgiana about the idea, and she had agreed that it would be best for her. Although she was confident, her heart was still rather bruised from Wickham's betrayal.
"What are you looking at?"
Georgiana's voice cut through Darcy's musings. He realized with a start that he had been staring at her for several minutes without hearing a word she had said. "My apologies, my dear," he said tenderly. "I was simply contemplating what an incredible young woman you have grown into. I wish our parents could see you."
She blushed with pride, looking down at her needlework. Her brother, while the best of men, was still very guarded and rarely spoke about his feelings. This bit of praise from him was quite astonishing. She smiled brightly at him. "Well, that is what comes from being in the married state. Now we only need to get you to the altar!"
Darcy's horrified expression caused her to break into peals of laughter.
"What, pray tell, is so amusing?" came a somewhat snide voice behind them.
Caroline Bingley had entered the sitting room, having just changed for dinner. Her sister, Mrs. Hurst, was with her, and the two were followed closely by Mr. Hurst, who was never late for a meal at Pemberley.
Georgiana and Darcy gave one another a knowing look, then Georgiana said with an air of reserve, "Fitzwilliam was merely telling me that my husband had gone to town in search of a surprise for me. I was expressing my delight at such kindness."
"Yes, my brother is the most thoughtful of husbands," Caroline agreed. "If only I could find such a man," she added, batting her eyes at Darcy, who was suddenly occupied with something out the window.
When her hint wasn't taken, Miss Bingley walked over to join him at the window. "Such a lovely view," she simpered. "I have always said since we came here that I would be content to stay at Pemberley and never leave."
Darcy sighed inwardly. He had made great efforts to overcome his desire to label every unmarried miss as a social climber, but Miss Bingley's cloying attentions made it extremely difficult to not revert back to such stereotypes.
Fortunately for Darcy, he was spared a response when the door opened and Bingley entered the room. His smile was exceedingly broad, more so than usual, and he greeted Georgiana with a kiss on her hand. "My dear wife," he said, "I have the most wonderful surprise for you!"
Georgiana laughed at his antics. "I am all anticipation, sir."
Bingley let out a wolf whistle that caused Darcy to raise his eyebrows. The door opened again, and in stepped Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"Richard!" cried Georgiana, truly delighted. She leapt to her feet and embraced her cousin. He lifted her up and twirled her around, causing Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley to gasp at the display.
"Put her down, you big oaf," said Darcy smilingly. He crossed the room and embraced his cousin. "She is married woman now, after all."
Richard's smile dimmed a bit at this reminder. He had been on the continent with the debacle with Ramsgate occurred. The letter of explanation that Darcy sent caused him a rage beyond anything he had ever felt, even surpassing his hatred of Napoleon. He was unable to return to England for the majority of Georgiana's first year of marriage, and they had only seen one another but once before his duties for training militia men began.
"She may be a grown married woman by now," he said, gently putting her on her feet, "but she's still my little cousin," he added with a wink and a tweak of her nose.
A loud sniff from the window marred the celebratory atmosphere. Miss Bingley stood with her nose in the air, looking condescendingly at the scene before her.
Bingley laughed, clapping Richard on the back. "Where are my manners? Richard, may I introduce my sisters to you?"f
Miss Bingley paled slightly at Bingley's wording; making the request to Richard meant he was in a higher position of society than she.
"Certainly, my dear cousin-in-law," said the colonel.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam, allow me to present my sister Mrs. Hurst and her husband, as well as my sister Miss Bingley. Sisters and brother, this is Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, son of the Earl of Matlock and cousin to Darcy and Georgiana."
Miss Bingley immediately attempted to rectify her mistake by dipping into a low curtsey. "It is an honor to meet you, sir. Any family of our dear Georgiana's is most welcome."
Richard looked bewilderedly at Miss Bingley's phrasing that made her appear as the mistress of the house. Georgiana simply rolled her eyes at him, then smiled and said, "Yes, Richard, you are welcome any time to the Darcy home."
Miss Bingley blushed slightly in confusion and remained silent. Georgiana turned to her brother and said, "Fitzwilliam, did you know that Richard was planning to visit?"
Darcy shook his head. "I am just as surprised as you are, my dear."
Bingley beamed and Richard laughed. "I wrote directly to Bingley as soon as I knew I would have a few weeks leave. I wanted to surprise both of my cousins!"
"We did not suspect a thing, did we, Brother?" exclaimed Georgiana.
"I hadn't the slightest inkling," he answered.
At that moment, Stewart entered the room. "Dinner is ready," he announced.
Georgiana looked around the room. "We will not have formal seating tonight," she declared. "I would like to stay with my cousin the entire evening!"
Richard laughed again and offered her his arm. Bingley offered his arm to Caroline, and the Hursts brought up the rear, with Darcy following on his own behind them.
The dinner table was full of laughter and cheer. Even Miss Bingley had let go of some of her airs to actually let out a giggle at a story Richard shared of when he had let a small rabbit into the tent of a fellow soldier in the middle of the night. "You should have seen the look on Forster's face," he said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "There he was in his nightshirt, searching frantically for his rifle, all the while screaming that we were under attack from the French."
The table burst into laughter again. "You are lucky he didn't shoot you!" said Darcy in between gasps.
Richard grinned. Then he said, "Speaking of Forster, I had the great fortune of standing up with him at his wedding about a fortnight ago. Poor man. He had been courting a young lady, only to be compromised by another young lady at an assembly! Fortunately, his feelings were easily transferred from one girl to the other. A more silly girl I've never seen in my life. She had just barely come out – only fifteen years old! She was completely mad for a uniform. Well, all's well that ends well, I say."
Darcy grimaced and Georgiana blushed slightly, remembering her own foolish action just a year prior at the same age. An awkward pause filled the room for a moment. Bingley finally ended the silence by asking Richard, "So what have you been doing since your return from the continent?"
Sighing inwardly with relief, Richard answered, "With this latest promotion and my father's influence, I have been asked to train several militia regiments that are stationed throughout the realm. Forster had been in Hertfordshire looking for places for his officers to quarter for the winter. I plan to bring my regiment to join his down there."
Richard let out a sigh. "After being here, however, it will be difficult to leave you all again."
"When do you have to leave?" asked Georgiana.
"I'm afraid, poppet, that I can only stay a sennight, and then I must away to Hertfordshire. Had I not already made this commitment, I would be tempted to turn in my resignation and take up the estate that my uncle left for me in his will two years ago."
"What is being done with the estate while you are serving?" asked Darcy.
"My brother, the viscount, is caring for it. He knew I felt my duty strongly for service, so he graciously agreed to have his steward oversee it along with his other properties," Richard explained. "I have one more year of service, and then I will be free to take over the management."
"Managing an estate can be difficult," said Bingley. "I have been amazed watching Darcy and what he deals with on a daily basis. I only hope to be half as good when I take my own estate."
"Take your own estate? What do you mean, Charles?" asked Caroline sharply.
"My plan has always been to learn from Darcy for a while, then let my own estate. Once I have had the practice, I will then make a purchase," he said patiently, although he had repeated this conversation with Caroline multiple times since she took up residency at Pemberley.
"Say, I have a brilliant idea!" cried Richard. "I will be quartering in Hertfordshire with Forster outside a town called Meryton. Forster's new wife is from a family that owns an estate there. Near their estate is another empty estate called Netherfield. What say you to letting Netherfield while I am stationed nearby? That way we will be able to be in one another's company over this next year."
"What a wonderful idea!" exclaimed Georgiana with enthusiasm. "Oh, Charles, may we?"
"Of course, my darling," said Bingley, lifting her hand and giving it a gentle kiss.
Darcy interrupted. "Before you decide on this Netherfield, Bingley, we should probably make a few inquiries about the condition of the house, the quality of the families in the neighborhood, and other considerations."
Bingley laughed. "What would I do without you, Darcy? If we let this house, you must join me! I would be lost without your guidance. Although I think I may have heard of this place before. The name Meryton sound familiar, but I cannot think of why."
Darcy smiled but said, "Nonsense, Bingley. You may be a bit impetuous, but you are quite capable of running an estate now after having seen me do it for these several years. However, I will take you up on your invitation, as I would like to remain near my sister and cousin."
"It's settled, then!" said Bingley with a grin.
"After we make those inquiries, Bingley!"
The discussion continued as the ladies retired to the music room while the men drank their port. A servant quickly fetched Darcy's steward, who confirmed that Netherfield was one of the many estates about which Bingley had already made inquiries about over the last six months. He knew that Darcy was uncomfortable with Miss Bingley in the house, and he was eager to give his friend some space.
Bingley had used the time Caroline was occupied with impressing Darcy to do some research into estates. Netherfield had been his favorite, but it had originally been discounted because he had not wanted to take Georgiana so far from her brother. Richard settling for a year in Meryton allowed Georgiana to continue to have the support of her family.
When the gentlemen rejoined the ladies, they shared the good news – to Netherfield they would all go.