Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Pride and Prejudice. That honor still rests with Jane Austen
A/N: The reviews are working! I actually wrote a bit on this! Here's hoping the next chapter gets finished!
Oh, and Marloes, about the spelling. I did do research, just not beyond the first page. When I looked to check my spelling, there was a typo on the page I checked. I'm sorry and I will fix it.
Chapter 2
The next morning, Elizabeth was woken to a soft knock on the door. "Come in," she called, noting by the light filtering in through the windows that it was about mid morning. The door opened to reveal Mr. Darcy escorting a very pretty young woman.
"Miss Bennet," Darcy said, "may I present my sister, Georgiana Darcy."
Miss Darcy smiled shyly at Elizabeth, who sat herself up in bed to greet her guests.
"Good morning, Miss Darcy, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said. She fought back the urge to look away from Darcy and met his eye. He was smiling gently at her, and she had to rip her gaze away from his so as not to get lost in his eyes.
"My brother has told me so much about you," Miss Darcy said, also smiling.
Elizabeth smiled back, and the two young women engaged in conversation, with Mr. Darcy standing in the background, almost beaming. He was so happy that Elizabeth and Georgiana got on so well; he had hoped that they would. Leaving the two young women to their chatting, Darcy went to take care of his other guests.
Darcy took to wandering the grounds in the next few days so that he wouldn't want to be with Elizabeth all the time. Three days after Georgiana's arrival, Elizabeth was well on the road to recovery, and her aunt had agreed to let her get out of bed the next day.
After hearing this news, Georgiana went off to find her elder brother. She located him by the lake, staring out across the water. "Hello, brother," she said soft, moving to his side.
Darcy smiled at his sister and kissed the top of her head. "Hello," he replied.
"Mrs. Gardiner is allowing Miss Elizabeth up tomorrow," Georgiana said conversationally.
Darcy's smile grew. "Is she?" he asked in the same tone.
"Yes, and I must say that Miss Bingley is not at all happy with your choice of houseguests."
Darcy smirked. "Miss Bingley can keep her opinions to herself," he said, though his tone suggested that he was amused. Georgiana smiled.
"I have never seen you smile as much in two weeks as you have in the past three days," she said. "You must really love her."
Darcy glanced at his sister in surprise. "Is it that obvious?" he asked worriedly.
"Only to those who really know you. Mr. Bingley might be able to tell, but I doubt any of his relations will," Georgiana said with a shrug.
Darcy sighed. "I do love her, and I still want her to marry me, but I don't think I can stand another disappointment like that."
Georgiana wrapped both her arms around her brother's nearest one. "Show her that you love her. Show her how good you are. Show her how kind you can be. She won't turn you down if she sees that," she told him.
"But how do I do that?" Darcy wondered aloud.
"Start by fixing what you messed up. Have Miss Elizabeth invite her older sister here, and get her back together with Mr. Bingley. Surely if you remedy the situation, all three of them will forgive you." Georgiana looked up at her brother, smiling softly. "You can do it, Brother, I believe in you."
Darcy smiled at his little sister. "And that's all I need, dear one."
The next day, Elizabeth happily got out her bed. She had come to realize that even the most comfortable furniture could be rendered uncomfortable if stayed in for too long. She took her morning dose of opium for the pain in her wrist. After letting one of the maids help her get dressed, Elizabeth wandered downstairs.
At the bottom of the staircase, Elizabeth encountered Mr. Darcy. "Miss Elizabeth!" he exclaimed. "How good it is to see you up and about!"
"Thank you, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said, blushing slightly. The man had come to check on her every night before retiring, and, though she'd never admit it, Elizabeth had come to look forward to it, and was disappointed now that it would stop.
"If it pleases you," Darcy said, "I have a guest who is longing to renew their acquaintance with you."
Elizabeth nodded and allowed Darcy to escort her to the parlor.
"Miss Bennet! How good it is to see you!" Elizabeth blinked in surprise as she was warmly and enthusiastically greeted by Mr. Bingley.
"Hello, Mr. Bingley," Elizabeth replied with a smile. "How are you?"
"Very well, very well indeed!" Bingley said. "And how are you? I heard that you were recently ill."
Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, but I am well now. It was nothing more than a small cold."
"And your family? How are they?"
"They were all well when I left them, thank you sir."
"Very good. And you sisters? Are they all still at Longbourn?"
"No, sir." Elizabeth watched his face fall as he feared the worst, then said, "My youngest sister is in Brighton for the summer."
Bingley's face lit up with delight, and Elizabeth couldn't help smiling back at him. Elizabeth noticed then that Miss Bingley and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst were sitting in the room behind Mr. Bingley.
"Miss Eliza Bennet!" exclaimed Miss Bingley. "What a pleasant surprise! I did not know you would be up today!"
Elizabeth smiled slightly at Caroline, saying "It's good to see you again, Miss Bingley."
A moment later, Georgiana entered the room. She moved next to Elizabeth, taking her by the arm and sitting down with her on a divan. The two young women had been engaged in a quiet conversation for a while when a servant came in with a letter for Elizabeth.
Elizabeth smiled at Georgiana and excused herself to read the letter. She stepped out in the hallway, and, after a moment's struggle to get the letter open with one hand, she settled herself on a convenient bench to read.
Longbourn
16 July
My Dearest Lizzy
I hope you are enjoying your stay in Derbyshire. Everything is clam and peaceful here, as much as can be expected with my nieces' and nephews' playfulness. We haven't done all that much out of the ordinary recently, just the normal visits into Meryton and to see our Aunt Philips.
Lizzy, since writing the above, something has occurred of a most serious nature. Rest assured, all of us are well. What I have to tell you pertains to poor Lydia.
Just yesterday, Kitty received a letter from our youngest sister, which, being uncertain as to what to do with the information therein, Kitty shared with me. Among the tidings of her engagements and activities, Lydia disclosed an amount of shocking information. It appears that, since coming to Brighton, she has been singled out by Mr. Wickham.
Lydia wrote to say that she felt herself in love with the man, and has been assured of his attachment to her. Mr. Wickham has asked her to keep their preference to each other a secret, and that promise Lydia attempted to extend to Kitty, who, as you know, is not the best at keeping in what is troubling her.
Lizzy, the next part of Lydia's letter is what concerns me the most. It was written at a later date than the preceding information, and declares that Mr. Wickham intends to leave the regiment and elope with Lydia. Our sister said that they wouldn't be leaving for a week or so, for Mr. Wickham has a few things that need taking care of. This final note was dated three days before I am writing this, and I do not think I am mistaken in believing that it would have been at least four days before you read this.
If there is anything you can think of to do, please send word at once. If it is at all possible, please have our uncle come here. Father is preparing to go to Brighton to see what can be done, and it would probably be better if someone accompanied him.
Yours affectionately,
Jane
Elizabeth could barely breathe. Lydia, with Mr. Wickham. It was the only thing she could think about, and she didn't notice her host until he was standing right next to her and asking her what was wrong.
"Miss Elizabeth?" Darcy said softly. "Are you well? You look extremely pale. Do you need to lie down?"
Elizabeth shook herself out of her stupor, and looked up at her concerned host. "Thank you, Mr. Darcy, but I shall be well. I have just received a very distressing letter. I am sorry to cut our visit short, but my uncle is needed at my home in Hertfordshire. I must find him at once."
"Miss Bennet, you are in no condition to travel. The inevitable jolting of the road would be nothing if not disastrous to the healing of your wrist. If your uncle must go, then he must, but please, stay here. I doubt any of your relations would want to aggravate your injury further," Darcy responded.
Elizabeth smiled slightly. "I doubt any or my relations disapproval would keep me from them at this time."
"Miss Bennet, please, won't you tell me what happened?" Darcy asked.
"Nothing has happened yet, per say, but my youngest sister has recently written to the next youngest to say that she is planning to elope with—with Mr. Wickham."
Darcy paled.
"My father," Elizabeth continued, "has gone to Brighton, where my sister is staying, to retrieve her before anything has happened, but I fear it will be too late."
Darcy fought the urge to hug the distressed woman before him. He had to do something. It was his fault that Wickham was still free to do as he chose in the world, and so he should be the one to fix this. "This is distressing indeed," was all he could think of to say.
"And I might have prevented it," Elizabeth said, "if I had just been open with my sisters. This is my fault."
"No, it isn't," Mr. Darcy disagreed. "If it's anyone's, it's mine. I was the one who didn't expose Wickham when I had the chance. If I hadn't thought it beneath me to lay my private business open to the world, this wouldn't have happened."
Elizabeth was about to protest when Mr. Darcy cut her off. "Miss Bennet, please, let me help."
Elizabeth opened her mouth, shut it, opened it again, shut it once more, and then nodded. "All right," she said finally.
Darcy smiled. "All will be well, I promise."
Though she couldn't help smiling back, Elizabeth couldn't quite believe it. She left to find her uncle while Darcy moved back into the room they had previously been occupying to inform the Hursts, the Bingleys, and Georgiana that Mr. Gardiner would be leaving on urgent business that might require Mr. Darcy's help, but Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth would be staying at Pemberley.
The gentlemen left within the hour, and though Georgiana pressed both Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner, neither would tell her why they left.
