Mr. Darcy bounded out of the carriage then waited for his sister while she descended carefully behind him. He fidgeted with his jacket then took Georgiana's arm in his and ascended the front staircase of Pemberley. He had missed Elizabeth during his several day's travel with Wickham and could not wait till later that day when she would be back under his roof, her eyes sparkling in the candlelight of the supper, her angelic voice singing while playing the piano he had gifted Georgiana just a few weeks ago.
"Brother, I cannot run up the stairs, I will trip and fall."
He paused, realization flooding that he had nearly been running up the staircase so intent was he on his musings. "I apologize, I was wool gathering."
At much more sedate pace, one suitable for ladies in long dresses, Georgiana turned to him, "I have not seen you this excited since you were preparing that picnic for Elizabeth. The one with the sheep that was loose!" She giggled.
Mr. Darcy felt a momentary discomfort at being so easily read by his younger sister. But then he realized he did not mind she knew how happy and excited he was to see Elizabeth again at Pemberley. "I have missed her company."
Georgiana paused on the terrace. He turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "Will our aunt — I am —," she sighed and looked down at their clenched hands. "I am worried what Lady Catherine will say to Miss Bennet."
Mr. Darcy flattened his lips and frowned at the front doors. "Do not worry, I shall have a talk with our aunt."
After entering their home, while being helped out of his overcoat, Mr. Darcy asked for the housekeeper to be summoned. Ever competent, Mrs Reynolds had anticipated him and was waiting near his study, a quick few seconds and she was standing in front of him.
"Inform Cook we shall be expecting eight more for supper tonight. Any purchases for the meal will be approved. Miss Bennet and her family, including the Gardiners, will be joining us."
Mrs. Reynolds opened her mouth most likely to ask a question but it was not her voice he heard.
"Is that my nephew? Did I hear you say there are guests for supper?"
Lady Catherine de Bourgh strode out of the sitting room, her cane tapping against the marble floor of the foyer with every step. "Are you going through with this? I have told you -"
Mr. Darcy turned to the elder woman, his patience having worn thin. "Miss Bennet is my betrothed and I will be marrying her. I have invited her family -"
"You are continuing with this farce?" Her expression was one of horror. "She has no connections, no fortune, her youngest sister recently-"
"I would ask you to not finish that sentence, madam."
"This shall not be borne!" She punctuated the statement with a pound of her cane reverberating throughout the foyer.
He felt his sister hide behind his back and wondered again what it had been like for his sister with their aunt in residence, while he was traveling.
"You have been promised to my daughter, a match agreed upon by both mothers —"
Mr. Darcy turned to Mrs. Reynolds, cutting his aunt off. "Please see that my aunt's bags are packed and her carriage readied. She will be departing Pemberley immediately."
His aunt's gasp reverberated through the hall. "You cannot remove me, I am your mother's only sister!"
He escorted his sister up the main staircase, passed the wide eyes of the Bingleys on the second floor, and down the wing to the family bedrooms. Their aunt continued her diatribe as to the perils of country girls influencing men with their arts and allurements until the slam of his bedroom door silenced her voice.
—
Mr. Darcy descended the front steps to wait for carriages to finish traveling down the drive to the house. He swept a hand down the front of his jacket as Mr. Bingley's footsteps sounded behind him. His friend had escorted Georgiana, as Mr. Darcy wanted to make sure he was present for the arrival of his intended.
"The entire Bennet family you say?"
He nodded, but did not take his eyes off the first carriage rolling past the final turn to the house. An unpleasant, but necessary task, he had just performed in his study, that of informing his good friend of the concealment he and Mr. Bingley's sisters had done when Jane Bennet had been in London for several months. Mr. Darcy apologized for his part in the scheme, and for misleading the man as to the elder Bennet daughter's feelings for him, according to Elizabeth.
Mr. Bingley had such a genial nature that his anger blew over quickly and now he was standing next to Mr. Darcy fidgeting, looking forward to seeing Jane again with the knowledge that she did care for him. And it was apparent that his friend had never stopped caring for Jane. He sighed, glad that finally he was able to fix his abhorrent mistake.
Mr. Darcy pulled at the sleeves on his jacket again and then clasped his hands behind his back to stop his fidgeting. There was no reason for him to be nervous except that he wanted this reunion between Jane and Bingley to go off without a hitch. His intention was primarily for Elizabeth to know that he had done this for her. If Elizabeth's sister felt anything like Bingley did, he was confident that they would be engaged within a se'ennight. Perhaps even four days.
The two carriages rolled to a stop, Mr. Bingley's eyes darting from one to the other unsure which held the woman he longed to see. Mr. Darcy and his friend were disappointed when the first carriage divulged the Bennet family minus the two eldest daughters. They were in the second carriage, descending the steps after the Gardiners.
Mr. Darcy quit studying Bingley and Jane's reunion when a gasp caught his attention. Elizabeth's eyes were lit up at the sight of her sister and his friend getting reacquainted. She looked to him, her beaming smile spreading warmth throughout him, strong enough to weather the worst Winter weather.
With Elizabeth and Georgiana accompanying him, one on each arm, he led them up the stairs. There was still part of the evening that had him worried, and that was Mrs. Bennet. She was a profligate gossip, and not a quiet one either. If she said anything about Lydia's wedding, the evening could well be ruined. And with Georgiana on his other arm, he could not ask Elizabeth if her mother understood she needed to stay quiet on the matter.
After entering Pemberley, his fears began to ease when he did not hear Mrs. Bennet's voice. The entire Bennet family seemed to have been struck speechless at the grandeur of his home. He had never been more glad of his wealth at that moment.
Miss Bingley, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, who had been waiting in the sitting room, stood at their entrance. All professed eagerness to renew acquaintances, even Miss Bingley though it was uttered in quite a subdued manner.
The Gardiners, Elizabeth, Georgiana and Mr. Darcy sat together in the large seating area, while Jane and Mr. Bingley sat across from each other in smaller chairs a few feet away. Their happiness was clear to see; he could not deny it.
The rest of their grouping happily discussed their favorite parts of Derbyshire. Mr. Bennet was occupied with a book he found on a side table, Mrs. Bennet and daughters were most likely too awed yet to join in the conversation.
During a lull in the conversation, Miss Bingley spoke up. "Pray, Miss Eliza, are the militia still quartered at Meryton?"
Mr. Darcy flashed her a level stare which she did not notice nor did her sister who covered her mouth with her hand.
"No, they are encamped at Brighton for the summer."
He shifted in his seat and glanced at Mrs. Bennet. This would be an opportune moment for Mrs. Bennet to speak up about her youngest daughter's recent wedding.
"That must be a great loss for your family."
"We are enduring it as best we can, Miss Bingley."
Georgiana showed no signs of understanding Miss Bingley and Elizabeth's conversation thankfully, though if it continued he would have to do something.
"I should have thought one gentleman's absence might have caused particular pangs."
He gathered himself on the couch ready to interject. He trusted Elizabeth enough to know she would not say anything untoward, but he did not trust Mrs. Bennet.
"I can not imagine who you mean."
"I understood that certain ladies found the society of-"
"Oh!" Elizabeth abruptly stood, "how clumsy of me! I have spilled my lemon water all over my dress."
Mr. Darcy stared at the amazing coincidence of Elizabeth spilling her drink at the perfect moment. But he should have known she would have had matters well in hand, though at a sacrifice to her comfort and reputation.
The gentlemen rushed to provide handkerchiefs for Elizabeth to blot her dress.
"Oh, Lizzy, how could you? You will have to return to the inn to change," said Mrs. Bennet. "You can not dine in a wet dress, though I will not be leaving to accompany you. One of your sisters will have to do it."
Elizabeth paused on her blotting to stare at her mother. Mr. Darcy turned towards the woman, when a footman entered announcing supper was ready. Mrs. Bennet was saved from hearing his thoughts of her willingness to force his betrothed from his home to change at the inn, which would take at least two hours.
He turned away and rolled his eyes, then escorted his sister and Elizabeth into the dining room. Miss Bingley and the Hursts were the last to enter and sat farthest from him, which did not bother him one wit. Mr. Bingley did not even notice, so entranced by Jane was he. The meal passed in good conversation except for Mrs. Bennet's interjections which showed her failing grasp on the topic at hand they were currently discussing.
When all eyes were on Mr. Bingley as he told a funny story, Mr. Darcy reached across the table and squeezed Elizabeth's hand. She squeezed back with a warm smile and he got lost in her eyes until she had to turn her head to answer a question.
He glanced at his sister who thankfully had no idea of what had almost transpired in the sitting room. If he could, he would keep knowledge of Wickham as her brother-in-law from her forever.
After supper Mr. Darcy broke with tradition and had the men immediately join the women. He was loathe to leave them alone for fear of what Miss Bingley or Mrs. Bennet would say. Perhaps he was too protective of his sister, but he also knew Miss Bingley's nature had turned more acerbic since Lady Catherine's visit. He did not want her trying to corner Elizabeth, or say anything that would upset his sister or reveal the youngest Bennet daughter had not been wed to Wickham until quite recently.
A game of charades was quickly settled upon but Miss Bingley pleaded an aching head and departed. The Hursts followed soon after once Mr. Hurst learned no one was interested in playing cards that evening. The rest of them had a delightful time with charades and Mrs. Bennet's conjectures regarding the game did not ruin the mood. The evening ended with a singing and piano performance by Georgiana, Mary and Elizabeth.
Mr. Darcy finally had time alone with Elizabeth when he escorted her down the front steps to their waiting carriage. "I must thank you for spilling your drink earlier at a most opportune moment."
"I do not know what you mean, Mr. Darcy? I am naturally clumsy." Elizabeth's mirthful eyes settled on his and no more was able to be said for they were quickly joined by the rest of the Bennet family.
He watched the carriages roll down the drive and out of sight accompanied by Mr. Bingley. His friend stared with such a look of abject longing, Mr. Darcy knew with a doubt that Jane would be engaged very soon.