Saturday, February 13, 1813 – Darcy House, London

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner accompanied by Elizabeth arrived at Darcy House shortly after luncheon. They noticed the knocker was not up indicating Mr. Darcy was not receiving callers. Nevertheless, the door was opened immediately and they were ushered into Darcy's study after handing their outerwear to footmen. Darcy was waiting for them and settled them all comfortably in front of the fireplace.

Looking at the Gardiners, Darcy asked, "Have you thought further on my suggested plan, Mr. Gardiner?"

"Yes, indeed I have, sir. I think it is workable and could produce the results we wish for; however, I admit to being concerned that our niece would prefer to settle nearer her family. Ireland perhaps? Yet if she does so, I cannot see us hiding how long it took to effect the marriage."

"That was my concern also. As well, it would be much more difficult or hazardous to talk of a marriage to Wickham. Others may be aware he sailed for the Americas. Are there any inducements we can offer Miss Lydia to encourage her to accept?"

Elizabeth could restrain herself no further, "I suppose we could offer a new dress and some lace and ribbons." Elizabeth's anger at the thought of having to bribe her sister to act in a manner which resurrected her reputation as well as that of her sisters was fierce. That she would receive a dowry of £5,000 when her sisters had only £1,000, only fuelled her anger further.

Mrs. Gardiner looked at Elizabeth and shook her head, "Lizzy, please. We do not know if she has been changed by her ordeal."

"I am sorry Aunt. If it has changed her, I hope it is for the better. Her ordeal has not been so beneficial for her sisters."

Darcy looked at Elizabeth and asked, "Miss Elizabeth, may it introduce you to my sister?"

Elizabeth put her anger and thoughts of Lydia aside and answered with a smile, "I would be delighted, sir."

"Come then, she is in the music room." Saying this, Darcy rose and led Elizabeth in the direction of the music room. As they walked, Elizabeth took the opportunity to look at the furnishings and furniture she could see. There was nothing ornate in the decorations or furniture and yet the impression of true elegance prevailed. An elegance based on quality and simplicity that did not exclude functionality. Elizabeth instinctively knew she could feel comfortable here. Darcy led her up the stairs and passed a set of doors to the right. "That is the drawing room and next to it, and connected, is the music room." He opened the next set of doors to reveal a young woman seated at a small table looking through several sheets of music. An older woman was sitting on a settee in the centre of the room. The young woman turned and rose quickly at the sound of the doors opening. Darcy led Elizabeth towards her and made the introductions.

"Georgiana, may I introduce you to Miss Elizabeth Bennet? Miss Bennet, my sister Miss Georgiana Darcy." Turning to the older woman, he continued, "Miss Bennet, allow me to introduce Mrs. Annesley, Georgiana's companion. Mrs. Annesley, be known to Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

The ladies made the ritual curtsies and the young ladies moved to sit together on the large settee behind the pianoforte. Elizabeth had some reservations about this meeting. She could not credit Wickham's assessment of Georgiana as being "exceedingly proud " and yet she knew that Mr. Darcy was reserved and, at one time, gave the appearance of great pride. She had not talked with Miss Darcy for very long before she realized the young woman was reserved but it was the result of shyness. Elizabeth began to try and make her comfortable such that conversation would flow more naturally.

Darcy watched quietly and with great satisfaction, then made his excuses to withdraw and rejoin the Gardiners. Both Elizabeth and Georgiana smiled in dismissal and returned to their conversation.

Darcy sought out Mrs. Hodgkins and requested her to bring Lydia to his study and then he rejoined the Gardiners. Once Lydia was shown into the room, he directed Mrs. Hodgkins that he was not to be disturbed. Lydia was sitting in a chair between her aunt and uncle. Darcy pointed to a sideboard where tea and coffee was available.

Mr. Gardiner looked at Darcy and suggested that he begin. Darcy nodded his acceptance and, looking at Lydia, realized that while her behaviour appeared more reasonable and controlled than he had ever seen previously, he could not assume that the wild, unruly part of her with which he was most familiar, had been banished. A slow cautious approach was necessary.

"Miss Lydia, what do you expect to happen to you?"

She looked at him in surprise, and then at her aunt and uncle, before replying, "I am sure I don't know. The girls in St. Francis talk about being sent out to the country, to some place where no one knows you."

"How do you feel about that? Would you prefer to return home?"

"I cannot go home! I do not want to go home! I could not face anyone. I think almost anything might be better than that."

"We would like to retrieve your reputation and that of your sisters and have, I think, discovered a way to do so. It will involve a very great change for you and, quite possibly, a great opportunity as well."

Lydia looked at Darcy and smiled ruefully, "Mr. Darcy, after the past months I am inured to change. As long as it does not involve George Wickham, I will not gainsay you."

"How do you feel about marriage? A husband?"

"I don't know. My…experiences have not led me to think well of most men. Yet I also know that if left on my own, my future is not hopeful. It will be difficult to put my trust in a man again."

"I think I comprehend your fears Miss Lydia. Unfortunately perhaps our plan must encompass marriage to a man. Simply put, we propose to arrange a marriage between you and a young man from my estate in Scotland. He will be a decent, hard working young man from a good farming family. Your basic circumstances will be made known to him before you meet and his acceptance secured. You both will travel to our Canadian colonies and wed there. However, we will pretend that you and George Wickham were married in Gretna Green and traveled to the colonies where George died over the winter. The young man I will select will be given sufficient funds to acquire land to build a large farm in the colonies and you both will make your lives there. We will require you to write two letters. One will be dated from last October announcing your marriage and arrival in the colonies. It will be mailed from Portsmouth or London when you depart. A second letter will be sent when you arrive in the colonies telling of the demise of George and your marriage to the young man selected. People will attribute the delay to the distance between the colonies and here."

Darcy paused, "I know that we tend to consider the colonies to be savage places but the reality is somewhat different. From reports that I have received, much of the society is not dissimilar to our country life, although a little rougher perhaps. Some of the amenities are lacking but they have dances, parties and social events. Your life will be quite different but, as I said, the young man you marry will be decent, hard working and will treat you well. He will have to know somewhat of your past – we cannot hide the fact that you lived with Wickham without benefit of marriage. It should not signify to him. What else you impart to him is a matter for you to determine."

Lydia had listened to Darcy but he could not tell where her thoughts were tending. When she spoke, it was very quietly, "Why not Ireland or Scotland instead of the colonies? It is so very far."

"The main reason is that George Wickham left England for our colonies at the end of September last and we don't know who else may have knowledge of that happening. We can pretend a Gretna Green marriage and his subsequent death in the colonies. But it only signifies if you are there also."

Darcy paused, "I am prepared to provide sufficient funds for you and your husband to establish yourself well in the colonies. We do need to act quickly."

"May I meet and talk with this young man?" asked Lydia.

"Yes, but it will have to be on the basis of your acceptance of our plan."

Mrs. Gardiner's plea was heartfelt, "Lydia, I would urge you to accept Mr. Darcy's offer. You will not be as well looked after should you decline it, since we will have to send you away and will be able to provide much less in the way of support. You may well have to accept work as a servant or in one the mills that are being formed. Marriage might be possible, but I doubt you will be able to find a man as good as the one Mr. Darcy is offering. Your life in the colonies may require much from you, but it could provide you with a much better life; and it will ensure better lives for your sisters who have suffered from your actions through no fault of their own."

Lydia looked reluctant. "Why should I not have the funds that Mr. Darcy is offering?"

Darcy just shook his head, "That offer is being made to arrange your marriage and the restoration of the Bennet family reputation. To be very honest, giving you the money without a marriage that appears respectable will not help anyone but you. That is not an option."

Mrs. Gardiner could see his words had caused Lydia some distress but felt no remorse in his speaking so plainly. Lydia's bowed head suggested she recognized the truth being imparted. Lydia had a number of other questions which were answered as much as possible and Mr. Gardiner found himself agreeing to help her acquire a decent wardrobe since she had nothing but the clothes she wore. Darcy was able to provide some information about the colonies and did advise the purchase of warm clothing since winters there tended to be slightly harsher than in Hertfordshire. Eventually, Lydia consented to the plan, and all were relieved that the Bennet family reputation could be repaired.

In the music room, Georgiana and Elizabeth were finding that conversation was not as difficult as expected. Each was desirous of having the good opinion of the other and so a mutual appreciation seemed a foregone conclusion. Elizabeth, from comments by Caroline Bingley and Lady Catherine DeBourgh, knew that Georgiana was very talented on the pianoforte. Seeing the table with sheet music, Elizabeth queried Georgiana, "I noticed when your brother introduced us that you were looking at some sheet music. Are these new pieces?"

"Yes they are. I bought them about a fortnight past and I am struggling with a few pieces. I admit to having difficulties with the Beethoven piano sonatas and this piece by Haydn is only now starting to sound correct. I have real problems mastering the fingering."

"Could you show me? I admit that I have avoided such difficult works in the past."

The two young women sat at the pianoforte and Georgiana began the Haydn piece. As she played, Elizabeth was impressed at the concentration she displayed and, after she had completed the piece, remarked, "That was excellently done. I have rarely seen technical skill and feeling brought together so very well."

Georgiana blushed deeply. "My brother says you play very well."

Elizabeth smiled, "Miss Darcy, he exaggerates my abilities undoubtedly for some nefarious purpose of his own."

"Oh no! My brother never lies, except I sometimes think he is too kind to me."

"The perfect older brother then. You have no idea how much I envy you. I do not have a brother, only four sisters. I should very much like to have had a brother."

"And I would have liked a sister."

Elizabeth laughed, "I admit it is nice sometimes. I am very close to my eldest sister, Jane. We have few secrets between us."

Georgiana looked at Elizabeth, began to speak and then blushed and returned to playing once more. Elizabeth recognized the signs of someone wishing to bring up a topic that might prove upsetting. She rather thought she could guess the general topic, and decided to encourage an exchange of confidences. This young woman could well become her sister in time. If they were going to establish any kind of relationship, it should probably start now. "Miss Darcy, you were about to say or ask something but thought better of it. If you were concerned that you might offend, do not be so. I am not easily offended and I seriously doubt that you could do so."

Georgiana's embarrassment was obvious. "Miss Bennet, I …."

Elizabeth laughed and interrupted "I think if we are going to exchange confidences, we should be less formal. Please, call me Elizabeth or Lizzy. Miss Bennet is my older sister, Jane."

"Miss…Elizabeth, please call me Georgiana"

"Very well Georgiana, you were going to ask me something?"

"I know….my brother told me….you rejected his proposal of marriage a year ago. Yet you are here now and seem to be comfortable with my brother. I know I have not seen him this content for a long time. I don't understand."

"I am not sure how much your brother has told you and some, I cannot share. I can tell you that our relationship began with some ill behaviour by both your brother and myself which we both now heartily regret. I allowed myself to believe untruths about your brother that increased my dislike and your brother made a mistake that I deeply resented. When he made his offer, his behaviour was such that only a woman of a mercenary bent could have accepted it. My anger … well….suffice it to say I abused your brother most abominably. Since then, we both have tried to correct our mistakes and attitudes. For myself, I now consider your brother one of the best men I know."

"Will you marry him?"

Elizabeth was taken aback by the blunt question."What happened to the rather shy young girl I was just talking with?" Her laughter took the offence from her words, but Georgiana coloured regardless and immediately tried to apologize."I am sorry. That was impertinent of me. Please ignore it."

"Georgiana, I suspect your question tends from a concern for your brother. How could that offend me? I cannot answer because he has not asked me and I do not know when or even if he will be able to do so. I believe your brother has told you of the situation of my family. All I can say is that I esteem him highly, although I must insist that you not let him know my feelings."

Elizabeth could see that Georgiana wanted to explore the topic further but it was not one of which she, Elizabeth, could provide the particulars. A change of topic was necessary and, since Pemberley was a favourite subject for her brother, perhaps his sister was of a like mind.

"Georgiana, I have talked to your brother about Pemberley and was wondering what and where your favourite places are."

This proved to be a wise choice and they spent the remainder of their time together that day talking about walking trails, places to visit on horseback and sleigh rides in winter. Some gentle questioning led Georgiana to talk about her memories of her father and the few that she had of her mother. They parted with plans to have Georgiana come with her brother the next time he was to visit Elizabeth.