(A/N I never had any interest in the Austen novels, as they were only recommended to read while in high school and I assumed her to be an author who spends five pages describing an interesting rock. I recently [as in like four days ago] watched the 2005 P&P because it kept coming up on my Netflix feed and fell absolutely in love with it. I watched it twice in one day and two days ago bought the entire collection of Austen's works on Kindle for $2. Obsessive may be an accurate description of me at this point as I have three chapters left of P&P and don't want it to end!
So I have stalled its ending by writing this short account of Miss Georgiana Darcy's acting as a confident of her brother. Truly, she had to deal with his pining for how many months? She is a saint!
I've pulled from both the movie and the book to make this. There were some line I just could not let go. Unfortunately "You must force her" (to play a duet) did not fit into the story no matter how hard I laugh when Georgie smiles and embarrasses Darcy.
As usual, I own nothing and hope you enjoy!)
Georgiana Darcy does not seem to be in a position to have many friends, much less her age, let alone female. But Darcy does his best to be attentive and tends to spoil her in whatever she requests. Including how conversation is dictated.
As such, he often found himself confiding in her things he would normally leave unsaid. She had a particular love of hearing his encounters with new people. She loved poking fun at his uneasiness around people outside his acquaintance and found it especially ironic that these anxieties were compounded by his status and stature.
Such as it was, when his heart was bursting forth, and even his dear friend Bingley was left in the dark about his admirations, Georgiana was there to hear his tales.
"Fitzwilliam! You're home early!"
"I am. Is that…?"
"I'm very much happy to see you! You must tell me all about your time in Hertfordshire. Your letters did not do it justice. Was it as expected?"
"It was very enjoyable. What would you like to know?"
"Start at the beginning please."
"The beginning? Yes. We attended an assembly early in our stay there. Of course Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst forced us to arrive late. The music stopped as we entered and the standard whispering of our wages fell through the crowd as we made our way to our host."
"People are so intolerable! To only think of a man's income!"
"Yes, well, one such lady I saw was hiding a smile as her friend's voice carried-she was explaining myself-and I didn't catch what she said but her louder friend replied 'miserable he may be but poor he is not.'"
"No!"
"Mmm. Told the girl I owned half of Derbyshire I was close enough to hear the mirthful girl's answer that it must be 'the miserable half.'" Georgie dissolves into giggles.
"Tell me more."
"I watched her for much of the night-Miss Elizabeth Bennett. Bingley was enamored with her elder sister."
"Oh?"
"Mmm. I'm certain he planned to enter a courtship with her before we left."
"But…?"
"I'm afraid Miss Bennett seemed fairly indifferent to him. I gave my objective opinion and, with his sisters' added urging, we returned."
"That's so sad. Mr. Bingley is so kind."
"Yes. I did not want to see him hurt. I'm sorry. Here I've led with the end of our journey."
"Oh no! Please! Tell me more. I want to know every detail."
"Well…"
"The assembly. You were saying about the assembly there."
"Right. I stayed to the outskirts of the room. Avoided Miss Bingley when possible."
"Did you dance?"
"Only twice with Bingley's sisters. Miss Elizabeth asked if I ever danced. I don't believe it was an encouragement to ask her-there was mirth in her eyes even when I said not if I could help it. She seemed to be teasing me."
"She sounds fun."
"Mmm. Though I did accidentally insult her after that."
"Oh?"
"I commented on his preferred partner's beauty and Bingley pointed out the Bennett sister, and I said as much as she was perfectly tolerable but not enough to tempt me."
"Fitzwilliam."
"Yes, yes. I know it was rude of me. I refused to see any such country maids as beautiful and was very critical of her even after that. Though one could argue it was a lie even then, as I told you I caught myself staring at her as her companion explained me at our entrance. But after my comment I heard another of Miss Elizabeth's friends say off to my side 'if he doesn't like you don't need to talk to him.' Here the two were close enough to hear my remark. I couldn't see Elizabeth's face, but she stated to her friend that she 'wouldn't dance with me for all of Derbyshire, let alone the miserable half.'"
"Ha!" She clamped a hand over her mouth, trying to not outright laugh at her brother.
"I know Georgie. I deserved it at the time. And she shared her scornful story readily."
"Why ever did you lie?"
He sighed. "Social standing of course and I allowed little consideration of such low born girls. Our family has high standards for my match. As I often reminded myself later during our stay. Besides, Mrs. Bennett seemed to be very rude. At a later date, while the eldest Miss Bennett was recovering in Netherfield, we were speaking with her. She spoke very highly of Miss Bennett, praising her beauty mostly. She had a poor opinion of her middle three daughters and a high one of her youngest."
"Five daughters?!"
"Mmm. She also insulted Miss Lucas, the assembly host's elder daughter. Miss Elizabeth reprimanded her, but her concern was brushed off and Mrs Bennett started talking about a suitor that came calling for Miss Bennett years before."
"How odd."
"Yes. Miss Elizabeth diverted her by saying his attempt of wooing ended it quickly. Poetry."
"Poetry ended it? "
"I believe she was trying to mitigate the situation, but I asked the same. 'I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love?' She stated only established love benefited from it and it killed new love." Georgiana resumed her giggles. "'So, what do you recommend to encourage affection?' I asked her. 'Dancing' she said. Oh but she did not stop there."
"What do you mean?"
"She wanted me to know she overheard my insult. 'Dancing. Even if the partner is barely tolerable.'"
"She didn't!"
"She did. And what is worse is she'd refused a dance with me at Sir William's at a prior event."
"How remarkable! She must be very confident."
"I believe she simply doesn't care. If I read her correctly she wishes to marry for love or not at all, much to the stress of her mother."
"Oh, I like this Miss Elizabeth quite a lot. You mentioned her in your letters, but hearing about her makes her so real."
"Yes," he chuckled. "Of course in such a small community I had the pleasure of observing her in many of our social calls."
"Tell me more!"
.
Georgiana was quite concerned for her brother. While she enjoyed his anecdotes, it was very plain to see he'd developed feelings for a certain Miss Bennett. He'd nearly admitted as much by claiming to need remind himself of his expected duties in his station.
When recalling his time at Netherfield he was constantly brought back to describing his interactions with Miss Elizabeth. True, he stated they attended many of the same calls because of the area's size, but she could not have been at every dinner. And even if she were, surely something else of interest could have happened during the course of a visit.
To make her more cemented in her opinion of his attentions, she caught him sighing and giving soft smiles to the wall as he recalled the fair Miss Elizabeth.
It was absurdly unlike him.
She encouraged his tales, as she rather enjoyed the picture she had formed in her mind of the girl. While he was always of a more amiable countenance with her, she'd never seen him so open to such emotions-even though he refused to name them.
And so, when news of Mrs Collins hosting a guest reached Pemberley, he decided he was well overdue to pay a visit to their aunt and his annual visit was fast upon them anyway. Cousin Richard would accompany him, of course.
Georgie elected to stay behind, not wishing to withstand Lady Catherine's many criticisms.
And she waited with bated breath for further news of Miss Elizabeth upon his return.
.
Georgiana was beside herself with worry.
Upon returning from their visit to Aunt Catherine's and a short stopover in London Fitzwilliam was very much agitated. He attempted joviality in greeting her upon his arrival, but it was obviously forced. He spent much of his time pacing. In his study, in the library, in the drawing room, or in the piano room.
Pacing. Muttering. Sitting to scratch to lines of a letter only to rip it to shreds and toss into the fire. Then more pacing.
Then, after a week of such behavior, he slumped on the settee across her pianoforte and stared at the ceiling.
'Subdued' was not a strong enough word for Fitzwilliam's behavior. From that point he stayed prone upon the settee by her pianoforte, eyes ever on the ceiling.
She attempted jubilous tunes to ease his mood, but so dark was his presence and so strong her concern that within two similar notes she would drop to a minor melody she knew.
As she called for a light dinner to be brought in on the second day she decided to force the issue.
"Shall I call for the workmen?"
"Hmm?" His eyes did not twitch nor his expression shift.
"You've been examining the ceiling for quite some time now. Did it pass inspection? Or do we need renovators?"
"Mmm." A twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"Fitzwilliam." She spoke stern but gentle, trying to coax him back to himself.
With time he sat up.
"I saw Miss Elizabeth at Kent."
"Oh? Is she...well?"
"Mmm...yes. She's concerned for her friend. She's concerned for her sister." His eyes were now fixed just by the window, his face solemn. Correcting his posture he threw his voice over his shoulder to her, "I insulted her again."
"How do you continue to insult someone you so obviously adore?" She was half jesting and couldn't help her teasing tone. He was unaffected.
"It was meant to be a compliment. That I could tear down the walls of my own being to feel for her. She did not take it as such. And even had she, my adoration is most unwelcome."
"You-you sought to… to secure her affections?"
"Mmm. I made a grave mistake. No, I made several poor errors which lead to a great mistake and was compounded by the idiocy I produce when in that woman's presence."
Georgiana waited.
She came to sit across from him, but did not interrupt his staring at the wall. If he did not want to meet her eye he could talk to the curtains, it did not bother her. But she would be supportive of whatever he managed to reveal.
They ate in silence and retired some time later.
She found him in his study the next morning.
He was reading his letters, which was better than the previous two days, but it took him much longer to read a single sheet than it should have. And he didn't even attempt penning a response.
She sat across from his desk.
"Miss Bennett loves Bingley," he sighed at last. She gasped. No wonder he was hurting so! To have his love love his best friend was painful to comprehend.
"And she...told you as much?"
"Yes. It seems she does not openly show her affection-even to her most beloved sister. I had been so careful as I watched. I only wanted to save Charles from pain. Instead I separated them." Georgiana could feel her heart mend itself. Miss Jane Bennett. And here she thought he simply didn't wish to say Elizabeth's name.
"Is that not...good? He has not been himself since leaving her."
"I stand my ground that his future dictates he marry higher than her family and connections. And while Miss Bennett is no mercenary I would hardly hold her mother in the same regard. But love renders such things inconsequential I suppose."
"...And Elizabeth?"
"Despises me."
"Fit-"
"No. She very well despises me. And I understand. I will respect her wishes and stay away."
"Please?"
"I insulted her. I insulted her family. She knew I was the one to cause her sister harm. And I refused to encroach upon a topic concerning an acquaintance of hers when he declared me a snake. I am 'the last man she could ever be prevailed upon to marry.'"
"You proposed?!"
"Idiocy."
She held her brother's hand, because there was little else to do in that moment.
.
Company did him well. They were with the Bingleys in Town and Fitzwilliam was much more himself than he'd shown in quite some time.
Of course she and Bingley could see his slowly healing pain, but he was much improved from the melancholy after his botched proposal.
Their imminent return to Pemberley heightened both their moods. Though, business dictated he leave sooner than their party.
His demeanor, upon their reunion, was so incredibly changed that for a moment she thought him possessed.
"Georgie! Oh! wonderful news Georgie! Tomorrow we will make a call into Lambton."
"Whoever for?"
"Miss Elizabeth is in Derbyshire," he said in a conspiratorial voice.
"Miss Elizabeth? Truly?!" She could not help her excitement. For all that Elizabeth had hurt her brother both Darcys knew her dismissal and accusations were well founded within the circumstances they arose. Outside of their poor parting at Kent Georgiana adored Fitzwilliam's recollections of her and she could not wait to meet her.
She rushed to her rooms, freshened up, and sped back down the stairs to find her brother.
"Let us make haste!" she called the moment he was in view. "No sense in waiting for tomorrow that which can be done today!"
"You mean to… Of course. Let me call for the carriage."
She grinned seeing his pleasure plainly on his face as he penned a note to let Bingley know they were paying their visit today instead of tomorrow.
"And how did she meet you?"
"Rather bashfully, actually. She'd scarcely said a word and refused to meet my eye. After she and her Aunt and Uncle, whom are traveling with her, made a turn about the grounds I met her again with a more favorable conversation. It was still...uncomfortable, but not uncivil. I very much hope for you to get along."
"I have no doubt we will."
Her confidence failed her as the Gardiners and Miss Elizabeth received her, but her conviction did not. There was nothing but warmth between the two women, except, maybe, a high regard for her brother.
The longer she spent in Miss Elizabeth's company the less she tolerated Miss Bingley's.
Georgiana was very grateful for her patience in acting as hostess. Elizabeth had very obviously seen her inexperience and the direction she was receiving from Mrs. Annesley, but chose to offer encouraging smiles. She did not condescend her, nor did she ignore her plight. No mention was made but the reassurance of a smile.
If Fitzwilliam did not offer his affections for her again Georgiana decided to hang what was proper and take it upon herself to ask after Elizabeth's opinion of her brother. While Fitzwilliam would be her husband, Georgiana would be her sister-if she could instigate her own design.
She did not have the chance to muster such courage and make the bold declaration of her brother's suffering because, rather abruptly, Fitzwilliam returned from a call and shared some most distressing news.
Wickham was a snake in its truest form.
.
Anxiety returned to Fitzwilliam's countenance. His pacing wasn't angry this time, but just as distressed.
The young Miss Bennett's, now Mrs. Wickham, matrimony was resolved and he related that she was none the wiser to her own danger.
Georgiana did not ask what such an arrangement had cost him, because she knew there was little amount he would not have given for his dear Elizabeth's peace. The greatest wish would be for her to accept his proposal, assuming he gathered the hope to give it, but preventing her sister's ruin would absolve her from having no prospects should her refusal of him in Kent stand.
Georgiana knew, of course, that her refusal would not stand. It was too plain to see that she held Fitzwilliam in the highest regard. Furthermore, her embarrassment and self-deprecation at every civility showed her regret in her previous outburst. Besides, should Fitzwilliam speak to her plainly for a single minute on how he truly admired her she would surely swoon from such declarations of love. That is, assuming he could place his anxieties to the side and speak how he might to her in confidence.
And so they spent a month as such, where Fitzwilliam would gush of her eyes, her wit, her liveliness; while Georgiana would speak up stating what she observed to give him further hope.
It took only a suggestion to Bingley that they hunt in Hertfordshire for him to jump at attention and exclaim what a wonderful idea it was.
Georgiana fully expected a sister by the end of the season.