Chapter 62

The next day is Boxing Day, and while Mr Fielding teaches Georgiana on his own piano, as Fitzwilliam promised his sister he could, and the rest of the visitors enjoy a lazy morning in the drawing-room, library or billiards'-room, or a hearty walk through the still-frozen city, Elizabeth and her beloved have decided to do the traditional gifting of their staff in person in the common-room in the servants' quarter of the house.

The temporary staff and their visitors' servants all receive their share of the chocolate and a bottle of wine, but the regular staff find something more in their yearly box.

Simon really has outdone himself, finding even Mrs Annesley an extraordinary gift, special threads of real gold, silver and copper, worked with some mysterious process to make it suitable for needlework.

She recognises it instantly and fails to keep back a little cry of surprised pleasure, Simon laughing out loud in triumph.

'I'll tell you where I got it, for your future commissions from very wealthy customers.'

But then it's his turn to be surprised, for at the bottom of his box is a jeweller's package, containing a lovely silver watch on a chain.

Mrs Annesley has chosen it for him, it's different from the usual style, much less intricately worked and more elegant in shape, and Simon is totally overcome.

'Such a beautiful little piece of work! Thank you so much for a princely gift, Mr Darcy, Mrs Darcy! I never had a clue, Mrs Annesley!'

Of course Fanny and Bob each receive a gold ring from the spoils of their search of the unused rooms, a wedding band for the other.

Though work goes on around them, they get a few moments to talk with each member of their London staff, and find the atmosphere in the common-room much improved, everyone is busy but considerate of the others, and they have high hopes that the bullying is a thing from the past due to Cook's and Mrs Annesley's vigilance.

When they return to the drawing-room, they run into Georgiana, who is on her way there as well. She looks a bit frustrated, so Elizabeth offers to have a little private talk, as Fitzwilliam returns to his guests.

Choosing a little sitting-room as likely spot for confidences, like her sister has at Netherfield, they sit down in a comfortable chair, and Elizabeth cannot help asking, 'I suppose your expression means you haven't talked intimately yet?'

'No, we haven't! I wish we had, but Eric was all business today, eager to teach, eager to play together for fun afterwards, very cheerful, but more like my brother than my admirer.

I didn't dare start, suppose he doesn't love me anymore? Suppose he thinks I'm childish having gotten to know me better? It'd be so embarrassing!

And besides,' she says with exasperation, a sign she really is very young still, 'it's the man who should propose, not the girl!'

Suppressing a laugh, this is very serious to Georgiana, Elizabeth observes, 'I understand, Georgiana, it does seem a bit indecent, though you know he will not presume to propose to you, you're so much above him it would be beyond impudent to aspire to your hand, you're his patron's sister!

You'll both have to take a little more time, once our visitors have left you can give him a bit more encouragement in public. It'll probably take a miracle to make him propose, though, I'm afraid it will be up to you in the end.

Take heart, Georgiana, he is not grown indifferent to you, he's merely trying to make things a bit easier on both of you. That just proves he is a true gentleman. You try to enjoy your time together, and everything will end as it should.

How can it not?'

That satisfies her sister, and they go back to the drawing-room to entertain their guests.

The next day, Darcy finds himself addressed by Mr Manners, who asks to see him in private for half an hour. Darcy is surprised, but takes his guest to his study, where they can talk without being disturbed.

Manners seems a bit nervous, which is totally uncharacteristic of him, and he starts to talk as soon as they have seated themselves in a cosy sitting area close to the hearth.

'Darcy, I dare say this will strike you as very forward, with your sister turning only seventeen next month, but she is mature beyond her years.

I want to beg for your permission to pay court to Miss Darcy, I just know I will not find a more suitable lady if I were to scour the whole country as well as the continent, she is beautiful, intelligent, and so very sweet in all her ways. I know she is still very young, but I'm willing to postpone a marriage until she is at least eighteen.'

Despite Manners' obvious attentions to Georgiana, this still surprises Darcy, especially since he has shown so few signs of being smitten with her. Now Darcy has learned to recognise it, Mr Fielding's passion for Georgie is so obvious, and so endearing to behold. Either Manners is not as sensitive, or he's not in love with her at all. Either option would make Georgie's happiness with him less than certain.

Darcy's doubt somehow seeps into his first observation.

'My friend, thank you for your kind offer, I certainly appreciate it, but Georgiana has entrusted me with the information that before I invited you over for Christmas, she told you herself that she was not ready to love any man yet.'

Of course that is no longer true, she's in love with another, and Darcy is tempted to just tell Manners. But he has promised to let Georgie decide her own life, and telling an eligible suitor she is in love with someone else is certainly a life's decision, and not his to make.

'I know, I know, Darcy, and I don't want to force her into anything. I merely ask your permission to try to persuade her it would be beneficial to both of us to connect our families with a marriage. I have reasons to suspect her opinion on love has changed somewhat, and I think in time she may look upon me with some favour.'

Is he fooling himself? Darcy doesn't think so, Manners still doesn't sound like an ardent suitor but more like a businessman handing over a profitable proposal, ready for a signature.

Still, Darcy's hands are bound by his promise to Elizabeth, he cannot decide Georgie's future, not even by telling this man he wants his sister to marry for love, not expedience. There is but one thing he can do.

'It is not my decision to make, Manners. I know Georgiana likes you a great deal, though I don't think in the way you hope. But only Georgiana herself can decide on whether she wants to marry you, the ultimate decision is hers. So I guess I will have to direct you to Miss Darcy herself for an answer to your question. Does that satisfy your request, Manners?'

Too bad, really, that Georgie is in love with another, this is such an admirable gentleman, Darcy feels sorry for his certain disappointment. Manners may simply be too much of a gentleman to show his feelings much, his showing little love for her may not mean he doesn't feel it.

Imagine, Georgie having two admirers, and two such men. This is the right moment to evaluate his own feelings on the situation, wouldn't he rather have his sister marry this man, a gentleman of the best family, with an estate and maybe even better connections than Darcy himself?

Another surprise, for his answer is no. Somehow, Manners' involvement in a college clique considering itself above the law has made Darcy a bit hesitant towards him. At least in a matter as important as marriage, which in his sister's case means handing the man of her choice the power over her life as well as her fortune.

And Mr Fielding's sensitive, gifted nature makes him especially suited to Georgie, though with him she will have to live differently from what she is used to.

Unless they stay with Darcy and Elizabeth, as Bingley's sisters do with their brother. Mr Fielding is Darcy's protégé after all. It would make Elizabeth happy to have a sister about all the time, Darcy guesses, and frankly, he really likes Mr Fielding's company a great deal himself.

'It does, Darcy, thank you for being altogether frank with me. It's clear you do not yet give me a large chance of success, therefore I will probably wait a bit before I ask Miss Darcy the same question.

I do have another question, of a more practical nature, to ask you.

Can I take Mr Fielding with me on Wednesday for some last moment arrangements with regards to the party? I'll return him on Thursday.'

That is a bit unnerving, why would he ask Darcy's permission for such a venture? Mr Fielding is an adult who can make his own decisions, isn't he?

Darcy cannot help but wonder whether Manners' attitude towards Mr Fielding would change radically if he knew the man was in love with Georgiana? And his love answered? But again, there is only one possible reply.

'I don't own Mr Fielding, Manners, he can go wherever it pleases him. I'm willing to help him further his career, but I don't want to claim him. He's had plenty of that with his former patron. So, again, you should ask him.'

This obviously pleases Manners, and he continues.

'That is interesting to know, Darcy! I have asked him, and he wants to come.

I didn't realise you don't claim him at all. Does that mean you won't mind if I take an interest in his career? Help him organise concerts, introduce him to people, talk to those who have influence in his little world?'

'By all means, Manners! I want to help him but I have no clue where to start. If you want to use your connections to give him a head start, I'll be more than pleased. But in his interest, I do feel obliged to ask whether you will do this without laying claims on his person. He will not benefit by landing in another situation where he feels fettered and bound to do another's will.'

'Darcy, you must be the most upright man I know. Not just setting the man free, but guarding him from other slave masters.

You can trust me, I am so impressed by his gift and his person that I want to help him, much like you, except that I already know people in places that matter to Mr Fielding. But I promise I will not claim his services against his will or even against his interest.

My efforts will bring him closer to his life's goals, without obligations towards me.'

'Then I cannot but encourage you in your efforts on his behalf. Thank you, Manners!'

'And thank you, Darcy. We will be off tomorrow, and back on Thursday. And I hope to see you at my ball on New Year's Eve.'

'We'll certainly be there, I wouldn't miss Mr Fielding's first public concert playing his own work for a million pounds.'

But the rest of the day, Darcy is a bit distracted by Manners' request, and the following conversation. Whatever did he mean by something having changed in Georgie? Did he notice she's in love? Does he think he can transfer her love to himself?

However, Darcy will not interfere, he will trust his sister to tell him if something bothers her. And tonight he will tell Elizabeth all, she'll probably have something sensible to say about it.

Of course she cannot explain either, and Darcy is starting to doubt whether he has heard it right. It doesn't really matter anyway, though Elizabeth is rather surprised at Mr Manners making a move this soon, they both trust him to act with honour and in Georgiana's interest. And of course she has good sense as well, she'll not accept an offer of marriage while she's in love with another man.

'I'm proud of you, beloved,' Elizabeth says, 'you were tempted to tell him the truth, but you didn't, leaving it up to your sister. It would have been awful if Mr Manners knew your sister wants to marry Mr Fielding before the man himself does.'

'They still haven't reached an understanding?'

'No, Georgiana said he was all correctness this morning during their lesson. They're both shy, and Georgiana is very traditional all of a sudden, says he has to speak first. I told her that isn't going to happen, and she accepted things would take a little longer that way.

She still thinks she's rather young for these life-changing events.'

'Poor Georgie, if Manners proposes, she may think the world has gone crazy.'

'Your sister is a strong girl, and I guess she'll manage even if that should happen. I'm so tickled you managed to leave it up to her, you just cannot imagine!'

He does feel pleased with his own restraint, and of course, with his beloved's approval of his actions.

'And what about Manners' offer to help Mr Fielding ahead, do you agree with me there?'

'Sure, you don't own him, it's his own decision. Though Mr Manners may be sorry once Mr Fielding's love for Georgiana comes out. He's throwing them together instead of trying to keep them apart, which would be to his advantage.

But Fitzwilliam, though I prefer Mr Fielding as your sister's suitor, because he seems milder and more likely to allow her to be herself than Mr Manners, I do trust Mr Manners to act fairly under any circumstance. I'm sure he is an honourable man who would never stoop to meanness.

Now while you were in your study, I was back in the little confidence-room, as I have dubbed that small sitting-room at the front of the house, you know, with the pink brocade furniture?'

'I know the room, so that's our new confidence-room, like the one at Netherfield, where we had our quarrel?'

Though Elizabeth shows some unhappiness there, it is true, they did quarrel in that room. But they made up handsomely, and today Darcy has felt the rightness of Elizabeth's reasoning stronger than ever.

'You were right, my love, I admitted it then, but it was proven to me today. I have no right to decide my sister's life. Now tell me who confided in you, before I die of curiosity. Is your father in love with Mrs Annesley?'

'Mr Darcy, how dare you suggest such an indecent thing?

Though I'm sure he would have beggared himself for her if they had met before they were both married.'

Though Darcy realises Elizabeth's tone is due to his outrageous statement, and her second sentence is said positively soft to prove that, it still has the usual effect on him, and he suppresses a shiver of excitement, unable to keep his reply from sounding a tiny bit humble.

'I'm very sorry my love, it won't happen again, if only you tell me whom you talked to.'

Fortunately she doesn't mind his meekness and gives him a kiss and a reply.

'It was your cousin, the Colonel. I had some doubt whether I should see him in private, since he seems a bit overly fond of me, but I trusted his decency, and of course not in vain.

He so much wanted to be in private for an hour, and since I hadn't ever really talked with him after Hunsford, I thought I owed him as much.

When we were in that room by ourselves, he told me he had avoided contact for some time to spare himself the pain.

'I thought I had guarded my heart against you from the start, Eliza,' he said, 'since I knew we could never marry.

Of course I did my best to support my cousin in his grief over your refusal, understanding his regrets. I knew from the moment he told me of his love for you that you would very likely be a good couple, but I thought it to be impossible. Frankly, Darcy's behaviour was impossible at that time, especially towards you.'

I was sorry for him and I had never gotten to talk after your proposal, love, I would have been so glad to know his thoughts. He told me he sat with Charlotte for an hour, waiting for me, to tell me about your real character, to plead me to give you a chance. But when I hadn't returned after an hour he felt embarrassed and went away.

Can you imagine he would have forwarded your suit when he liked me so much himself? How many men would have helped another man marry the woman they loved?

But apparently he didn't realise the extent of his affection until much later.

'Darcy changed so much because of you, Eliza,' he said, 'and meeting you again was such a stroke of good luck for him. Fortunately he had the sense to treat you better, and then, when you were really married, did my own loss hit me.

Only then did I realise I truly loved you, and would never be with you and still see you all the time, intimate with my favourite cousin. It was very painful, Eliza, having to call you Mrs Darcy, and it will stay that way for quite some time, I'm afraid.

I hope you will forgive me my rudeness for as long as we are together now, but I had to address you by your given name just once more, I've thought of you as Eliza all this time. I'll of course be politeness itself again in public.'

He begged me to give him some time to get over his sense of loss, told me he was truly happy to see the two of us so close and so happy together, since there never was any hope of being able to marry me himself.

'My older brother is in excellent health, fortunately,' was what he said, 'and even has an heir by now. And with war threatening, maybe it's better I stay single a little longer. When those French revolutionaries have been put in their place, it's early enough to get married and think of children.

Thank you so much for your understanding Eliza, I'm glad I got to tell you this. I won't bother you with my feelings again, unless I need your advice to court some noble lady with a few thousand pounds and an inclination to marry.'

I didn't say anything at all, I guess I was struck dumb with pity and regret for him, I never realised he was serious in his attachment. I mean, he liked me, that was obvious, but he made it perfectly clear he had no intentions. I had forgotten al about it, until he betrayed his feelings when I called you by your first name and he recognised his own name spoken with love. By me.

I also saw his hurt when he discovered I meant you, he hadn't counted on that at all, he's not used to hearing you called by your first name.

We talked some more, then went back to the drawing-room, where Mr Fielding was playing his concerto again, at the request of virtually everyone, and somehow your cousin's mood found a perfect outlet in that yearning music. He wasn't even surprised to find such a talent hidden in our house, and playing such shamelessly romantic music, he must be very sensitive himself.'

Darcy explains how his cousin and himself already discussed Mr Fielding and Georgiana's return of his tender feelings for her.

'Did he mind? He once told me you shared her custody, so I suppose he'll have to consent, too?'

'He does have a say, but only until she's twenty-one. But he once told me my being heir to Pemberley was a mere matter of coincidence, so I suggested to him that he wouldn't mind Georgiana marrying someone of low descent, as long as he was a gentleman.

He didn't object, but that may be because I said she might otherwise elope to Scotland with Mr Fielding.'

'Did you really set up papa with Mrs Annesley?'

'I sure did, they're probably chatting away right now. Though Mr Lascelles seemed to be looking for your father as well, I wonder if he's going to ask the big question.'

'You're not serious! Already?'

'I am as serious as I've ever been. I really did see him, and he asked where your father was. He seemed nervous and in a hurry, so I told him the truth. They're merely chatting, no harm in a young man catching them at it, is there?'

'No, there isn't. Though it will keep them from chatting.'

And as it turns out that evening, Mr Lascelles did pop the question, and a happy young couple graces the dining-table.

With his usual attitude, Mr Bennet whispers to Darcy, 'When I asked him who'd squealed on my whereabouts, he turned white as a sheet and mentioned you. No sense of honour, these youngsters.

Still, despite his disturbing a very pleasant conversation with a very gifted woman, I couldn't refuse him a few words in private of course, which is how I got to see your study, for Mrs Annesley directed us there.

Said she had a rather difficult bit of needlework to get through anyway before she could chat again.

I suppose it was done when I came back, congratulating myself on marrying off another spawn to a good-looking wealthy young chap. I suppose I'll be knee-deep in grandchildren soon. But anyway, when I came back we continued where we left off, and I feel much better now. We may run into each other again tomorrow, it's a free world after all, and Mrs Annesley tells me she often takes her work to the library, where the light is very good in winter.'

It's almost like having a father again, talking to Mr Bennet, though kind as he was, Darcy's father wasn't a bit like his father-in-law. To think he was once rather afraid of the latter's ready wit and sarcasm, now it's one of the highlights of his dinner.

And Elizabeth knows, for she doesn't hesitate to enjoy her father's outrageous statement, whereas she might have been embarrassed otherwise.

It appears Mr Lascelles is going to have to leave his brand-new fiancée for a few days, to visit some family, but he will be back in time to attend the ball on New Year's Eve with her, and Elizabeth remarks to her father, 'Better have her choose a beautiful new gown then, papa, tomorrow or the day after. She'll want to feel pretty among those sophisticated ladies there, not countrified and fresh from the farm, as I did when I first came here. Though I did have beautiful dresses.'

Too true, and though Mr Bennet makes a disparaging remark about the sense of clothes-happy adolescents, it is clear he does agree to take a little effort to make Kitty feel less rustic than he tends to feel in London.

Author's note:

My publisher (my husband) tells me my sales on Amazon are dropping because of two very bad reviews. To post a review, one does not need to buy the book, or even read a certain number of pages via Amazon, one can just type it in and leave it behind.

If any of you should be so kind as to give me a positive review to offset these negative ones a little bit, I would be most obliged. My publisher, again, he's always pushing me to do things like this, tells me he will post an extra chapter if we gain five positive reviews.

A difficult thing to ask, for me, but there, I did it.