I apologize for the late update! School starting has taken up much of my time. In fact, all of it. Now, please, enjoy! Some familial interaction for the Darcy's in this one! Enjoy!
When the company departed, Darcy sat in solitude reflecting back on the night's events. Elizabeth had been friendly—not improperly so, but flatteringly so. However, they had agreed to a mutual friendship. He supposed one should, in fact, be friendly in a friendship. He just didn't know how to take her attentions. She was more outgoing and affectionate than her sister, that's for sure. Or perhaps her sister simply didn't feel an attachment. But would that then mean that Elizabeth did? And if Elizabeth did, why didn't she pick up on his hints?
Darcy ran his hands through his hair and grunted in frustration. He stood abruptly and strode to the small writing desk at the edge of the room.
This writing desk was his favorite in the house. It was sturdy, made of heavy mahogany. The intricate carvings always made him think of his mother. It was this very table, in fact, that he had seen her write many a letter.
Darcy sighed once more and slapped a piece of paper in front of him. He tapped the butt of his pen against the table. After a few seconds he began his small note.
Dearest Georgie.
…
"Aunt, may I go out for the morning?"
The young girl's aunt looked up from her novel and furrowed her eyebrows. Georgiana didn't like walking alone and didn't have many acquaintances in town.
"Where to, Georgiana?" she inquired carefully. She knew the trouble unassuming girls could get into in London.
"William wrote me and asked me to stroll with him in the park," she answered, a hopeful expression in her eyes. Her aunt immediately relaxed. In fact, she grinned.
A perfect opportunity.
"Georgiana dear, that is of course perfectly fine. Please pass along my love." The young girl nodded eagerly and turned to leave. Lady Matlock continued, however.
"But, dear?"
With the encouragement of a curious look, she added, "Be sure to ask after a Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
The gleam in the noble woman's eye could have lit half of London on a moonless night.
…
Darcy approached his aunt's home and waited patiently on the doorstep for his sister to exit the house. When she did, he swept her up in an enormously brotherly hug. She was taken aback by this unexpected fervor. She hadn't seen him this frazzled since…well since he had to learn how to take over the estate.
While secretly relishing in the attention, she couldn't help but be worried. After he had released her and they began their walk down the street, she looked at him curiously.
"Brother, are you alright?" she asked tentatively. He looked at her sharply and carefully examined her before replying, "Yes, of course, Georgie, I'm fine!"
She nodded and fell silent. She then remembered her aunt's request and decided to fulfill it now before she forgot completely.
"Fitzwilliam, I am to enquire after a Miss Elizabeth Bennet?"
Her brother stiffened significantly, causing her to start. Perhaps she's the missing puzzle piece then.
Satisfied by this physical response, she innocently waited for one of a more verbal nature. With her brother, it was usually best not to assume. Several silent moments passed, however, and her patience was wearing thin. Cautiously she looked up at her brother and softly entreated him.
"Fitzwilliam?"
This time he stopped. "Georgiana, that is…that is what I wished to speak to you about," he confessed gravely. Georgiana's eyes widened at his tone. It sounded as if he had something dreadful to say indeed! She gripped his arm tightly. "What has happened? Has she been hurt? Did something dreadful happen to her family? Is she well? Oh, Brother, please!"
Darcy placed a calming hand over his sister's and cracked a small smile. "Georgiana, you haven't even met her! How can you find it in your magnanimous heart to be so concerned?"
"Fitwilliam, you sounded so grim, and now you smile! Please, just tell me what has happened!" the slight woman exclaimed, eyes narrowing dangerously. She would have none of his teasing. Darcy's smile faltered and he unsteadily began his slow steps. His sister's nerves were not to be trifled with, he knew, and he had had enough stalling. It was just so hard! How would he put into words what he had avoided feeling and speaking of for so many years! I have escaped traps and schemes from vulgar ladies and matchmaking mothers, have been able to remove caps that ladies have so unforgivingly placed on me, yet this one woman drops an accidental glance his way and-
"I'm in love!"
Georgiana stopped. Her brother froze. They both fervently whispered, "What?"
Georgiana's attention snapped to her brother. "What do you mean, 'What?' You know perfectly well 'what! I need to know what! So you tell me what! I haven't seen you for three days and you come back around and exclaim that you're in love! Fitzwilliam, your countenance was so grim, and your posture so stiff. Your posture spoke of all things bleak and then you come out and inform me that you're in love?! If you hadn't proven to be a sensible gentleman in the past, I would have believed you incurably silly!"
Darcy's sheepish look caused Georgian to run out of steam. Her fuming slowly decreased to a slightly irritated brow and pursed lips. Finally she let her face relax, heaving a sigh.
"Alright, Brother. Go on. Tell me. What is she like? How did you meet her? How do you know you're in love?"
Darcy allowed himself a slight chuckle. His sister truly was fierce, that was for sure. She always had been.
"Georgiana, allow me to rectify something. I am not in love. I merely may be…falling so," he attempted to explain. The fair haired girl rolled her eyes.
"Fitzwilliam. You say so after further reflection and rational thought. We all know that it is the spur of the moment—the instinct!—which will tell you how you really feel. You, my dear brother, are in love." Her adamant and decisive opinion entered Darcy's ears, travelling to every dark recess in his brain, and seemed to overturn almost everything he knew about himself. His self doubt, his calculating gaze, his hesitance—it all meant nothing! He was ready to declare himself this very instant and love Elizabeth until the day he died!
Or, he should have been.
Instead he just laughed it off, turning to his sister and putting a condescending hand on her shoulder.
"Dearest sister, I see now that my attempt at keeping you a level headed, rational woman was all for not. I should have given up dissuading you from those silly novels long ago had I known your imagination was as unstoppable as this!" His light chuckles continued. He hardly noticed her countenance darken.
"But, your questions, dearest. What were they?" he asked carelessly.
Georgiana Darcy loved her brother. She truly did, with all her heart. He was the best of men, the ideal brother, an idol which she very nearly worshipped.
However, he was also an inconsolably stubborn creature intent on pulling every word he spoke out of his arse, on occasion.
She sighed once more, leaving this battle to another day. Turning a slight smile to her brother, she asked "Well, where did you meet her?" She noticed the sparkle in his eye and he recounted the night of the ball.
"We officially met when Charles introduced us, as I asked him to. He had solicited her sister's first dance, so I thought it a perfect opportunity to be introduced to Miss Elizabeth."
"Brother, you talk as if you had met her before?" Her quizzical expression brought him back to reality.
"Well, our first meeting was slightly less official, and really very brief. She had just arrived, by the look of it, and was leading her sister, Miss Jane Bennet, to the refreshments table. I was evidently blocking their path so she politely asked me to move. I obliged," he clarified.
"It doesn't sound very intriguing. Why did this lead you to ask for an introduction?"
Nothing was quite coming together for Georgiana. However, her questions dissipated not only with a glance at her brother's countenance but with his following declaration:
"I asked for an introduction because she is the most beautiful woman of my acquaintance. She makes Rosalind wish she had become a nun and Juliet look like a hag! I swear that every star in the sky was right there, in her eyes."
Georgiana couldn't help but applaud. "Bravo, Brother. That was a very pretty speech indeed!" she smirked. Darcy's face heated up, and he cleared his throat.
"Do not tease me so. She is everything that is perfection, yet there I was, offending her. Offending her like the foolish little twat I am," he bit out harshly. His sister gasped and begged him not the speak so. "It is true, Georgie. I spent a perfectly lovely evening, dancing a set with her and leading her to dinner. She spoke of nothing unintelligently as we discussed books, languages, accomplishments, politics…then she overhears me accidentally comparing her to every other brainless, simpering lady in the ton."
Georgiana buried her face in the palm of her hand. "Brother. Please tell me you did not. What on Earth would cause such a declaration?!"
"Charles was trying to get me to dance a second set with her. I had known her but two hours! I did not wish to cause a gossiping storm, Georgie! It was all I could think of to get Charles away to his second set with Miss Bennet."
"Would the gossip really have been so intolerable…or so false, Fitzwilliam?" Georgiana tried cautiously. Darcy pondered the question for a moment.
"No, it would not have been. However, I was scared. Having avoided such a setting for years merely to escape marriage schemers and I get trapped in one the first ball back in town?"
"Well, I would hardly call it a trap." Darcy watched his sister roll her eyes. He sighed, acknowledging the truth in that statement.
"So. When did you realize you were in love her?" At a look from her brother, she quickly amended her statement. "Sorry, when did you realize you were falling in love with her?"
"Well, I went to her home the next day to apologize for what I said and ended up on a walk with her through Hyde Park. We agreed to be friends. I then invited her and my sister to dine with me last night. The Bingley's were joining me so I also thought I would do Charles a small favor in inviting Jane. He is quite smitten, you know." A small smile teased his lips as he recalled his tragically emotional friend.
"Anyway, the night before the dinner I couldn't bring myself to sleep. I was thinking of her. It was then I decided I might try and court her."
Georgiana squealed. "Brother, this is magnificent news!"
"Georgiana, I have known her but three days! I shall get to know her first. I should not even attempt such an endeavor until I have known her at least a month!"
"A fortnight," his sister corrected.
"A month."
"A fortnight."
"A month."
"A fortnight!"
"A month!"
"A month."
"A fortnight."
"Ah ha!" Georgiana exclaimed in triumph. Now it was his turn to bury his face in his hands. Why did he always seem to lose in these arguments? Was it merely female trickery or was he incorrigibly simple?
"Georgie, it is simply improper!" he attempted to explain.
"No, William, what is improper is that you have known her for three days, and I have yet to meet her!" she decided. Darcy smiled.
"That was the other thing I wished to speak to you about. Would you mind going with me to call on her tomorrow?"
He laughed as his sister stared at him in disbelief. "Are you positively slow? Of course I would be overjoyed to join you!"
"That's good, my dearest. The truth is, though I feel this positive about it all now, I cannot trust myself to open up. What if I don't?" he asked, wringing his hands.
"Whatever do you mean?" Georgiana asked. She could see the hint of panic in her brother's eyes and had to keep from biting her lip in panic herself.
"I mean, I admit to falling in love with her now, but what of when we're in her home? In her drawing room? Sitting with her and her family, and expectant stares on us? I have no confidence in my ability to stay amiable and remember just what falling in love is."
The young lady stared pityingly at the older man before her. Not many—in fact, no one—knew of her brother in such a context. He was Master of Pemberley, owner of half of Derbyshire and a great man. A great man. There was the rub. Great he was, but he was still a man.
Just as insecure and scared as any human that God created.
A sigh escaped Georgiana's lips. She was proud to be someone her brother confided in without reserve. However, sometimes she just could not trust her patience, fearing she may end up smacking him for his stubborn blondness. And that would be terribly improper, considering the many pairs and groups that were strollign along around them.
"Is that why you wish me to go?" she asked understandingly. He glanced at her with a smile.
"Yes, Dearest. That is why I want you to go. To smack me into my senses if I come close to offending those around us. I am simply not used to trying to win a woman's attentions. Only dissolving them," he admitted sheepishly, a trace of humor brightening his countenance.
With a comforting hand, his sister managed to convey everything he needed to know and he nodded in recognition. His sister would be there, and all would be well. The Darcy Duo would spring into action and be the most amiable fearsome twosome that ever existed!
Just like then they were children.
The two siblings ambled along, basking in the brilliance that was the past. They used to spend many a mornings in such a fashion, carelessly walking together, just being Fitzwilliam and Georgiana. Just being a family.
As the Church bells struck noon, Darcy reluctantly turned towards his second musketeer.
"Shall we return to Aunt Eleanor? I'm sure she is simply giddy to hear from her spy."
…
"Aunt, may I go out tomorrow morning?"
The girl's aunt once again looked up, this time from her spot at the writing desk. She remembered a certain conversation beginning this same way just that morning.
"Georgiana, what a social life you are beginning to have! Where to this time? Did you meet a viscount in the park?" Lady Matlock teased. Georgiana blushed before replying in the negative.
"Actually I was hoping to call on someone."
Her aunt looked skeptical. "Dear…you are not yet out…you must be careful with social engagements. And you have a letter, by the way. From your friend in Manchester, Miss Rebecca." Her niece's eyes grew imperceptibly wider at being contacted. Her correspondence made her slightly nervous—what if she messed up?—but she was ever so glad to hear from that friend.
"I shall read it when I retire for the evening," she stated calmly. "Oh, and Aunt, do not worry! I am merely going with Fitzwilliam to call on a friend!" she giggled. Her aunt quirked her brow.
"And what friend is this?"
"Elizabeth Bennet!" was the excited reply.
Lady Matlock instantly stood and hustled over to her niece. Taking her hand gently she lowered them onto the chaise lounge.
"Oh, Georgiana, of course you may join him!" she cooed. "Silly child, what a request! Of course you may visit Miss Elizabeth! A positively perfect role model, I must say. And what a pleasant and well bred family! Yes, very good friends! And I hear that Miss Bennet has four sisters, two about your exact age!"
Lady Matlock continued to extol the Bennet virtues as Georgiana's excitement grew.
"Oh Aunt! He spoke so highly of Miss Elizabeth!"
She could no longer contain her news and the woman of course encouraged her to speak of it all.
"He is in love, Aunt!"
Lady Matlock could hardly believe it. Already in love? Her nephew? She grew slightly skeptical at this point.
"Dear, are you sure he said that?"
"Aunt, he exclaimed it! 'I'm in love!' Those were his words!" Her aunt clutched her heart in an attempt to overcome this especially shocking news. "Of course, then he went on to deny it and say he meant he was falling in love, not there quite yet."
Lady Matlock threw her arms up in delight. "It matters not! Everybody knows it is the instinctual exclamations that meant the most!"
Georgiana clapped excitedly. "That is what I told him! He of course did not believe me, but it matters not! Either way, he is falling in love. He has invited me to join him on a call to the Bennet Household so I shall." She sighed. "It is so romantic. I pray that Miss Elizabeth is just as affected as he is."
Lady Matlock pursed her lips. "Yes, Miss Elizabeth is an exceedingly stubborn creature. She is quite unable to take risks of the heart. Hopefully she can then see what is right in front of her nose."
Georgiana let this sink in before turning curiously back to her aunt. "It sounds like you know Miss Elizabeth rather well?" Lady Matlock's gaze suddenly became rather mischievous.
"Well of course I do, my dear girl. She has been a rather close acquaintance for a year or two. In fact, while there, why don't you extend an invitation to tea on Friday to her? Yes, I would love to catch up with the delightful Miss Elizabeth."
So. Chapter 6. And an introduction to a possible future conflict! Hidden, naturally ;) a preview of chapter 7 to anyone who believes they spotted it! Simply put your guess in the review! I have also done a bit of editing of past chapters!
Review!
