A/n - omg, never again will I change the relationship of Lady C and D! Her voice always sounds in my head calling him nephew and his scathing tones always say aunt, which then goes down in to text and I keep missing when proof reading (which i do about 20 times before uploading!) anyway, I only changed It to make a marriage more plausible, but its so minor a point I just shouldn't have bothered!
glad you liked his letter. I know he didn't apologise for insulting her family, but he didnt really in canon either. theres lots of e/d today (THE day) so maybe he will... laura I know you love e/d time and were wanting a bit of g... its all coming! :)
points for third post?... :)
...
Sunday 14th April. 0700. 16 hours and 40 minutes until iceberg.
Darcy entered the pool area in his own bathing suit. He did not much like the idea of hiring one, even though the ones available on the Titanic had likely been never used. Very few of his fellow passengers seemed inclined to swim.
He preferred his exercise in the form of riding or cricket, but swimming was a great way to spend time with one's thoughts and there was not much space for anything more physical. He was not a fan of squash and the gymnasium seemed to always be full of people showboating.
He was the only person swimming at this time and it had not cost him the usual shilling, which was less of a consideration than the likelihood of the pool being empty at this time. He would have to be out in an hour as the women time slot started at nine o'clock. He sighed as he recalled how Georgiana had spoken of Elizabeth, whom she had met the previous day.
As always his thoughts were quick to circle back to Elizabeth. He had not slept well as he had dwelled on their argument. Her too true accusations hitting their intended targets well.
He dove in and began to swim with strong confident strokes. The water was pleasantly warm and a little salty but after only a few lengths his mind, inevitably, drifted.
"Conceit and disdain for the feelings of others."
"Terrible treatment of Wickham"
"Ruining her sister's happiness"
"Insulting my family!"
Had he really said he had condescended to ask for her hand? It was the sort of idiot statement that Lady Catherine would utter.
He stopped and trod water, breathing heavily despite only having been swimming for ten minutes. His letter had addressed her misconceptions, but not his own culpability. His disdain for her family, his rude treatment of them and his own snobbery about mixing with second class.
The question he needed to answer, and the reason he came this morning, was did he intend to do anything about it? They had maybe three days until they reached New York, by his calculation it was possibly only two. Once in New York he would likely never cross paths with her again. If he so chose. He could, with relative ease, avoid her for the next two days. He would have to eat in the cafe Parisian, or the A-la-carte restaurant, but that would be no hardship. Walks on deck would mean constant vigil and a quick escape, but eminently attainable.
No, it would not be too hard to avoid speaking to her again.
But was that truly what he wished for?
He kicked forward and began plowing through the water once more. Arm, arm, arm, breathe, arm, arm, arm, breathe.
Beautiful eyes, intelligent conversation, joyful laughter.
He did not wish to give that up.
He was no fool, he knew where his assets lay and she had rebuffed him. Violently. But much of her opinion was based on false information and his own bad manners. He had corrected one, he could correct the other. It was not usual behaviour for him to be rude and overbearing, at least not always. He had been extremely worried on behalf of Georgiana, that cad being aboard had not helped matters. But it did not excuse his rudeness. Her family were a little eccentric, but who did not have those types of relations? Her younger sisters just needed guidance and time, her parents just needed to believe he was worth their attention.
Bingley and Jane were another consideration. Elizabeth implied she had real feelings for him but was merely reserved. Well, that was a character trait he could hardly condemn. There was a good place to start. If he found Jane Bennet to be in low spirits he could act, so long as his friend was willing. If one or both seemed unaffected then he could speak to Elizabeth again, plead with her to see his point of view.
He hit the wall and stopped. Feeling the ache in the muscles he had not used much recently. He allowed a small smile to play across his face.
A plan was forming.
His hour was up and he had to vacate the pool area. The ladies had entry soon and he did not wish to intrude upon their session. He still had plenty of time and so showered leisurely and changed slowly. His hair was wet and likely dishevelled, but the area was devoid of passengers. He was ushered out by the steward monitoring the pool and he knew it must be almost nine.
He hung up his swimwear and towel in the drying room and then made his way towards the stairs. He was halfway up to E Deck when he heard female laughter. He froze, one foot up and watched as she came around the turn in the stair.
She had been laughing, but he fancied he could see signs of poor sleep on her, still beautiful, face.
"Elizabeth!"
"Mr Darcy!"
They both exclaimed simultaneously whilst Elizabeth's companion looked on with amusement.
Elizabeth bit her lip, eyes trailing down from his wet hair to his dampened collar and open shirt front before she blushed and dropped her eyes. Darcy suppressed the smile, he was aware of the informality of the picture he presented, but it was nice to know she was not immune to him.
"I .. uh.." he scrambled in his mind for something to say. "I have just been for a swim." He closed his eyes, what an inane thing to say. "Is that where you are heading?"
Elizabeth smiled slightly at the embarrassment in his voice, not laughing at him but sympathising. "Indeed." She made no move to introduce her companion. Darcy did not recognise her so assumed she must be from second class.
"Will you introduce me to your friend?"
Elizabeth looked nervously at her aunt then around the empty stairwell "this is my aunt, Mrs Gardiner. Aunt Madeleine this is Mr Darcy."
"A pleasure to meet you madam. I am certain you will enjoy the baths. The temperature was most pleasant."
"I am sure I shall" Mrs Gardiner answered "I understand you are from Derbyshire?"
Elizabeth shot her a look Darcy could not interpret
"I am indeed. Are you familiar with the county?"
"I grew up there." Madeleine smiled warmly at both the young people "to me it is the best of all counties."
Darcy laughed, finding himself relaxing somewhat "I will always agree with you there."
He suddenly looked around "I do not wish to keep you from your swim. Uh, my sister was considering going again this morning. She spoke enthusiastically of her swim yesterday."
Elizabeth's eyes widened slightly.
"When I tell her I have seen you this morning it will no doubt firm her resolve." He scratched his head, further messing up his hair. "If you do not mind, of course."
Elizabeth immediately assured him that his sister's company would be delightful.
"I had wondered, if you would consider having lunch with us?" He looked over at Mrs Gardiner "you and your family are quite welcome, also."
"Oh!" Mrs Gardiner exclaimed "That is quite generous. But I have already made plans to meet with my husband and children in the second class dining saloon after our swim."
Darcy looked to Elizabeth who added "Yes, I have already agreed to having lunch with my cousins."
Darcy looked crestfallen and so Madeleine, feeling a little impish in her design, chimed in with "your sister and yourself would be most welcome to join our party, if you wished to?"
Elizabeth looked incredulously at her aunt, but turned back to Mr Darcy, fully expecting a scathing negative. She was shocked by Darcy's response.
"I would be delighted. I will check with my sister if she will join us also, she has not joined the company much." He sent a pleading look to Elizabeth, who understood at once why not. All of a sudden she felt embarrassed at having drawn him out.
"Oh, sir, we would not wish to put Miss Darcy ill at ease. We could re-arrange."
"No indeed." He interrupted. "I was trying to persuade her out today or tomorrow. I shall ask if this suits her, if not I will join you alone."
"If you are certain" Elizabeth frowned.
Darcy smiled nodded and took his leave, moving past Elizabeth on the stairs and allowing his hand to brush her arm as he past. He smiled softly at her and her eyes widened and she almost stumbled slightly but caught the handrail in time and blushed, hurrying downwards.
...
Sunday April 14th, 0945.
...
"Well, Lizzie. He seems all charm, if a little unease. Not the proud disagreeable person you described" Her Aunt had waited until they were changed and ready before starting with her questions.
"I do not know what to say, Aunt. I have never seen him that agreeable. I cannot imagine what caused such a change."
"Can you not?" She raised an eyebrow before sitting on the side of the pool and dangling her toes in the water. "Oh, That is divine! I thank you for your invitation."
"I confess." Elizabeth spoke to her aunt a few minutes later, sitting next to her. "I was concerned about introducing you, not because of you." She hurried to say. "But because.." she gestured around.
Elizabeth had purchased both the tickets for herself and her sister, supposedly. The steward on the gate had only given them a cursory glance, not checking against the names, for Mrs Gardiner held a second class ticket and so was not allowed to buy her own tickets. It had never been said they could not be purchased on behalf of a second class acquaintance. But Elizabeth had not clarified, and this way she could say she assumed that it was acceptable. So few people took advantage of the pool, particularly this Sunday morning, that they were unlikely to encounter anyone to complain.
They both entered the water and swam a few lengths at a reasonable pace and then slowed to continue to chatter.
"Is there anything I should know about Miss Darcy? Before I meet her and potentially introduce her to half of second class that is."
"She is a sweet girl, very shy. I am afraid I misjudged her. I assumed she was diffident due to her oppressive and overbearing brother. It turns out the poor girl had quite a bad encounter," she looked around, they were the only ones in the pool and the steward was not inside "Wickham meant to do her harm." Mrs Gardiner gasped "I cannot divulge more, she was not harmed physically but she is even more shy than previously and rather afraid of gatherings and strangers."
"Oh the poor dear, well I shall not press her to join us. We shall just have to.." that moment the door opened and Georgiana walked in. Elizabeth was in just such a position in the pool that she could see the hallway and she saw, as Georgiana turned and waved, a tall dark someone. Her eyes caught his briefly then they turned quickly away.
Elizabeth blushed slightly but then laughed at herself and swam toward the arrival.
"Good morning Miss Darcy." She called cheerfully.
"Good morning Miss Bennet." She whispered before retreating in to the changing room.
Elizabeth was sat on the side, not far from the changing room, when Georgiana emerged. The girl ducked her head shyly but sat with Elizabeth when she patted the side.
"Miss Darcy, this is my Aunt. Madeleine Gardiner. Aunt, Miss Darcy, you met her brother earlier."
"Indeed Miss Darcy. I was just beginning to tell him how I favour Derbyshire to all other counties. What is your opinion?"
"Oh. It is captivating in its wild beauty." She smiled with more animation than Elizabeth had yet seen from her "do you live there?" She asked.
"I passed my girlhood there." Mrs Gardiner smiled kindly at the girl. "It was beautiful. I grew up in Lampton."
"Oh! Then you must have lived not five miles from my home!"
"Indeed, I know it well."
Georgiana beamed and Elizabeth smiled in satisfaction. Mrs Gardiner indicated her intention to swim more and set off with a confident stroke. The three ladies swam for a few minutes, their speeds vastly different but their enjoyment the same.
After a few lengths Elizabeth and Georgiana, by mutual agreement, stoped and sit on the side for a while. Legs trailing in the water, ripples spreading across the pool. Now empty apart from the form of Mrs Gardiner gliding slowly but surely through the water.
"Did your brother mention your invitation to luncheon?"
Georgiana looked down "he did."
"Do not feel pressurised to accept." Elizabeth laid her hand on the girls, which was twisting with the other in her lap. "I am aware, that is I know how daunting it might feel to sit with so many you do not know."
"Oh no." Georgiana looked up. "It is not strangers that concern me."
Elizabeth frowned "I had assumed you did not like crowded places, but it is not my place to ask, I do not mean to pry." She hurried to assure her.
"No. I do not. But I would feel more comfortable among strangers than among some of the people who have known me since girlhood. They would swarm around me and ask questions about why.." she shivered.
Elizabeth's face cleared, understanding what the girl was fearing.
"You can be assured that would not happen with people who do not know you. I understand your concern. First class on a ship is a small place indeed, is it not? You cannot take a turn without bumping in to someone or other whom you know."
Georgiana smiled in relief that Elizabeth understood her concerns.
"Mrs Gardiner seems just lovely."
Elizabeth smiled at where her aunt was swimming in a determined breaststroke. "She is the best of aunts."
"I do not know my Aunts well. Lady Catherine is a cousin but we see her frequently. I think she prefers Pemberley to Rosings Park." Georgiana clarified at Elizabeth's confused look. "That's her house. She has always wished for Anne to marry my brother."
Elizabeth tried to look unaffected by that piece of information but found herself unable to comment. Georgiana noticed her new friend's look and smiled secretly, hoping it meant what she thought it did. She hurried to reassure her of her brother's indifference to the idea and then commented.
"I think I would like to join you for lunch."
"That, Miss Darcy, is wonderful news. If you are certain."
She nodded and added "Please call me Georgiana."
"I will, and you must call me Elizabeth, or Lizzie if it pleases you. Now, let us swim, else this room will end up being called the sitting pool!"
Georgiana laughed slightly and entered the water again. She swam well and Elizabeth assumed she must have been swimming regularly as a child. The rest of their time was spent in pleasant exercise and convivial conversation and the trio parted on excellent terms, each looking forward to their lunch plans, albeit for vastly different reasons.
Mrs Gardiner had noted the blush on her niece's cheeks when faced with the handsome Mr Darcy and she was wondering what sort of connection they were forging. Georgiana felt more confident and comfortable in the company of her new friend than she had for a long time and she was eager to forward their friendship. She also suspected a partiality on her brother's part and was hoping to forward a potential match.
Elizabeth was happy to be given the opportunity to begin to make amends already and hoped to have a moment to tell Mr Darcy of her regret at her unreasonable words.