Saturday, January 30, 1813 – Royal Navy Dockyard, Portsmouth

The peculiar smell and sounds of the sea became sharper as the Darcy carriage swept through the gates of the Navy Dockyard and onto the dock. Screaming seagulls mingled with the sound of waves slapping against the dock and the unique smell of seaweed. A stiff breeze was blowing, as evidenced by the straining hawsers of anchored ships and whitecaps dancing on the surface of the Solent. A steady stream of lighters were still ferrying men out to their ships in a frantic race to take advantage of a rising tide and a favourable wind.

As Darcy alighted from his carriage, he could see the Matlock family some distance down the wharf. After helping Georgiana to step down, they walked rapidly towards them. The Colonel was standing in their midst and looked up as Darcy and Georgiana neared.

"I was beginning to worry you would not make it."

"We would definitely not miss saying our farewells, Richard!" replied Darcy.

"Oh Richard" cried Georgiana hugging her cousin and trying to control her watery eyes, "you must come back."

"I certainly plan to do so, Georgie. I have to dance at your coming out ball, you know!"

A naval Lieutenant walked up to the Colonel, saluted and informed him that the skiff transporting him out to his ship was waiting for him to board. The Colonel said his final good-byes to his family and began to follow the Lieutenant. Darcy seized the opportunity to walk alongside and quickly murmured. "I thought I should tell you that I met Miss Elizabeth a couple of days ago. She has agreed to see me again but there are complications. This letter should explain it all." Darcy passed his cousin a letter. "Read it later when you have time. She also asked me to extend her wishes for your safe return."

The Colonel stopped, clapped Darcy on the shoulder saying, "Excellent! That is good news. You have my best wishes."

They reached the waiting skiff and Fitzwilliam descended and settled himself. He and several other officers were rowed swiftly to the waiting ship. Darcy rejoined the Matlock family, receiving a questioning glance from Lady Eleanor which he carefully pretended not to notice. They all waited and watched as one ship after another weighed anchor and headed out of the Solent, only turning to depart for London when Richard's ship disappeared from view amongst a melee of sails.

The trip back to London was quiet, both Darcy and Georgiana thinking of Fitzwilliam's departure which neither really wanted to discuss. Finally, Darcy looked over at his sister and considered whether this was a good time to discuss his courtship with Elizabeth. It was not truly a private setting but the noise of the wheels on the road surface should mask their conversation quite effectively, provided they did not speak too loudly. He leaned forward and looked at his sister, "Georgiana, I have some news for you. Do you remember my talking about Miss Elizabeth Bennet last summer?"

Georgiana looked up in some surprise, "I remember quite well, Brother. You never talked about another woman so. It would be difficult to forget."

"I met her again the other night. She was also a guest at the dinner. We spoke and she was much changed towards me. I was encouraged enough to ask to call on her the next day. There were some issues between us that I thought we had to resolve. She agreed to meet me. We talked for hours and I will be seeing her once again on Monday."

Georgiana literally bounced on her seat, "Did you propose again, Brother?"

"No, she needs to know me better first." He paused, and gathering his courage, began again, "There is a major problem we face, Georgiana."

At her look of surprise, he said, "Yes, well…..it seems her youngest sister ran off with Wickham last summer, was taken by him to London and then deserted. Her family has not been able to recover her."

Georgiana's face paled, "Wickham?"

"Yes, and to make matters worse, I paid him to leave the country last fall. He is now somewhere in the Americas. I did not know at the time that Miss Elizabeth's sister was involved."

"But will you be able to help them?"

"I do not know. I will try." He looked at Georgiana. Obviously the implications of Miss Lydia's behaviour had not occurred to her. He would have to explain. "Georgiana, this is quite serious. Miss Lydia and Wickham lived together as man and wife but were never married. Now he has deserted her and her virtue, her reputation is lost. Her family in Hertfordshire are being shunned by their neighbours and Miss Elizabeth and her elder sister have come to London to escape the censure."

"I am not sure I fully understand what you are saying. How does this bear on us?"

"If I offer for Miss Bennet, or even publicly court her, many people might believe that the stigma is also attached to the Darcy name, to you and me. If I were to marry her, her family would become my family and we also would face censure."

"How can that be? Is not Miss Bennet a respectable young woman?"

"Indeed she is, but society will act as though her behaviour would be the same as her sister's."

"Do you think so, Brother?"

"No! Definitely not." Darcy was emphatic on this point. "I have absolutely no doubts about Miss Elizabeth's respectability. None! Nevertheless, the problem remains. I cannot court her as long as her sister is missing and unwed." Darcy proceeded to describe to his sister all the concerns that he faced. He wasn't sure if she fully comprehended how this could affect her. The issue of her marriage prospects had to be addressed.

"Georgiana, there is one aspect of this that bears most heavily on you."

"My prospects for a good marriage?"

"Yes. It would be foolish of me to ignore the fact that many families will not want to attach themselves to us, if I were to marry Miss Elizabeth. There could be very eligible suitors amongst them who would otherwise be eager to attach themselves to the granddaughter of an Earl. As well, we are more likely to draw the attention of the more mercenary suitors who think us desperate to marry you off and who are attracted only to your dowry."

"What is a good suitor, Brother?"

"As you probably have guessed, my opinion has changed quite a bit over the past months. Now I believe a good suitor to be one who is respectable, will treat you, and any children you have, with care and respect and will be able to provide you with a comfortable life such that your dowry is not an important consideration. I would hope for mutual esteem between you."

Georgiana sat quietly thinking for several minutes. Darcy could not tell which way her thoughts were tending. Finally, she answered, "I have only lately begun to consider such matters and I find my opinion does not differ greatly from yours. I cannot envision spending thirty or forty years married to a man I do not esteem. I would rather wait or not marry at all if such is my only choice."

"Georgiana, I cannot undertake anything that would damage your opportunities for a good and happy marriage and the loss of all, or even some, of our connections would greatly damage your opportunities."

"I understand, Brother," replied Georgiana with a distinct shake of her head. "When can I meet Miss Elizabeth? You know how much I want a sister."

"I hope to introduce you to her in a few days. We may call on her at home. I know you will love her as much as I."

The remainder of the carriage ride was spent in desultory conversation. Both were tired from the morning travel and napped as much as was possible.

Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam collapsed onto his bunk, weary from checking the condition of his troops. The fact that he had just spent a half hour with his head hanging over a railing and casting his last meal into the sea had more than a little to do with his fatigue. At least it was better than where his men were quartered. The smell down there would induce nausea, even if one was not seasick.

He remembered Darcy's letter and retrieved from his greatcoat where he had stored it. Pouring himself a whiskey, he broke the seal and began to read,

Richard,

I was fortunate to meet Miss Elizabeth Bennet at a dinner party the other night. She and her elder sister have come to London to live with their aunt and uncle. The meeting was a shock to us both but I was able to talk with her briefly at the party. She was most amiable and pleasant. I asked for and received permission to call on her the next day. We were afforded some privacy to try and resolve those issues that separated us. I think we did so. However, a new problem has arisen. Miss Elizabeth's youngest sister, Lydia, eloped with Wickham last August. They obviously did not marry and I suspect Wickham deserted her when I paid him to go to the United States. Unless I can recover her, any attachment with Miss Elizabeth will exact a penalty. For myself, I am not concerned but I cannot form any attachment while her youngest sister is missing or while Georgiana is not married.

As you are also Georgiana's guardian, I deemed it essential that you be made aware of the particulars of the situation. For Georgiana only, am I concerned.

I will continue to call on Miss Elizabeth, but discretely, hoping to avoid public attention. In the meantime I will be searching quite assiduously for Miss Lydia. I must ask a special favour which is that I would have you keep your parents unaware of my interest and dealings with Miss Elizabeth at this time.

I will apprise you of any new developments should such occur.

F. Darcy

Fitzwilliam groaned, "can nothing be simple between those two?" There was nothing he could do at the moment. He had more pressing problems, such as, did he have enough time to get to the railing again?

[A1]Surely, they were the only two in the Darcy carriage? It would be very private! It would be closed in the January cold.

[A2]Would a whiskey appeal to him when he had just emptied his stomach?

[A3]See? Whiskey doesn't agree with him on an empty stomach!