Alright, the next chapter skips a few weeks ahead. It is now the springtime in Englad. Thank you all for the reviews! I hope you like this chapter! I think this story is going to run about 30 chapters perhaps one or two over that. I promise that Charlotte and Mr. Collins will be making an appearance, just towards the end.
Chapter 20- Easter with the Bennet's
13 weeks passed before they had to leave the comforts of Pemberely to travel to Meryton for Easter.
13 blissful weeks spent in the warmth of their bed left Lizzy wondering why on Earth most women seemed to hate the marriage bed. She could scarcely bring herself to untangle her naked limbs from her husbands own in the morning. If it was not for Georgiana, Lizzy was quite sure they would have spent all their time wrapped around each other.
It took two long days to reach Hertfordshire. Lizzy found that nearly everything was the same as she had remembered, and yet it was different. It was no longer her home. She found herself comparing Longbourne to Pemberely, with Longbourne coming in last.
They had decided to stop quickly at the Bennet household before going to Netherfield. They exited the carriage to see the Bennet family waiting eagerly on the porch. Mr. Bennet and Jane left the porch to greet the Darcy's.
"Papa! Lizzy called, embracing the elderly man in a tight hug.
"Oh, Lizzy, how I've missed you my dear" He sighed. He broke the hug to shake hands with Mr. Darcy. Lizzy meanwhile threw her arms around Jane.
"Mr. Darcy, welcome back" He stated.
"Mr. Bennet, it's a pleasure to be back" Mr. Darcy said truly. "May I present my younger sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy, Georgiana dear, this is Mr. Bennet" He bowed while Georgiana hastily curtsied.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Darcy," He stated.
"Georgie, this is my elder sister, Miss Jane Bennet. Jane, Miss Georgiana Darcy" Both smiled gently at each other, curtsying.
"Please, call me Jane"
"And you may call me Georgiana" All traces of her stutter were gone now, thanks to Lizzy's presence.
"Come, let us introduce you to the rest of the family." Mr. Bennet interrupted. Mr. Darcy directed the carriage to bring their stuff back to Netherfield, and then to return for them.
Mrs. Bennett eagerly embraced her daughter, not waiting for an introduction to the unknown young girl. She was much to excited in seeing her daughter dressed in such finery.
"Mama, may I present my new sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy. Georgiana, my mother, Mrs. Bennet"
The excited woman threw her arms about the younger girl, saying how happy she was to meet her, and how she considered her to be a sixth daughter. Georgiana blushed but accepted the hug.
"And this is my first younger sister, Miss Mary Bennet" Mary nodded in acknowledgement.
"And Miss Katherine Bennet"
"You can call me Kitty," The younger girl said with a smile. She was the closet in age to Georgiana.
"Papa, where is Lydia?" Lizzy asked suddenly. Mr. Darcy noticed the absence of the youngest Bennet as well.
"Oh, it is most fortunate my dear Lizzy" Mrs. Bennet interjected. "Lydia has been taken to Brighton with Mrs. Forrester, Captain Forrester's wife!"
"With the militia that was here last spring?" Lizzy asked. Her face had gone pale. Mr. Darcy looked concerned as well. Mrs. Bennet simply nodded and prattled on about how many eligible men Lydia could meet.
"Mr. Bennet, might we speak privately in your study?" Mr. Darcy asked. The older man looked confused, but accepted. "Do not fret my dear," He whispered as the gentlemen disappeared inside.
"I am going to show Miss Darcy the gardens," Lizzy stated, stopping her mother mid rant. "Jane, Kitty, Mary, shall you join us?" Kitty and Jane agreed to go, while Mary deferred. Mrs. Bennet bade them haste, as tea would be served soon.
"How long ago did Lydia leave?" Lizzy whispered quickly to Jane.
"A week ago" Jane replied, confused. "What ever is the matter Lizzy?" Lizzy stole a glance towards Georgiana who was listening to Kitty go on about her recent needlework. The conversation seemed innocent enough.
"Kitty, will you show Georgiana the swinging bench? Despite everything Pemberely has, it lacks a swinging bench such as ours" Kitty happily agreed. Georgiana cast Lizzy a worried look, but Lizzy smiled in what she hoped would be an encouraging manner.
Lizzy and Jane took the time to sit under a large oak tree. Lizzy hastily informed Jane of Mr. Wickham's transgressions, leaving out the names and such. Jane gasped in horror.
"Oh, Lizzy, this is horrible. We all know that Lydia's favorite of the militia was Mr. Wickham!"
"Mr. Darcy will inform Papa of the problem, Lydia will be sent for immediately" Lizzy hoped and prayed that what she was saying would be true.
"Oh, I hope so" Jane looked so despondent that Lizzy changed the subject, faithfully hoping that her husband would fix the situation with her father's aide. "So, how is Mr. Bingley?" Jane blushed, but smiled, telling Lizzy all about the newest gossip and such.
Fifteen minutes later, Georgiana and Kitty returned, wildflowers threaded through their hair, bonnets hanging from their necks, and skirts caked in mud. Georgiana had never looked happier though.
"Aren't they pretty Lizzy?" She asked. Her and Kitty each held another crown in their hands.
"You look like wood nymphs" Lizzy replied with a smile.
"We made you each one" Kitty told them. "And one for Mary, not that she will wear it"
"May I?" Georgiana asked, approaching Lizzy with the crown of daisies and little pink buds. Lizzy untied her bonnet and allowed her to place the crown atop her curls. Jane allowed Kitty to do the same, although Kitty was already halfway to untying Jane's bonnet when Jane told her she could.
"There, now we all match" Kitty announced. Her crown was all pink, Georgiana's was a wild mix of all the flowers Lizzy knew to grow around the bench, and Jane's was pure purple.
"You look like fairies," Mr. Darcy said with a small smile as he walked out the back door. Georgiana smiled and approached him with Mary's crown, made out of the same flowers as Lizzy's. She placed it atop his curls with a giggle. Kitty looked shocked when he actually smiled and swung her about.
"You look ridiculous William" Lizzy pronounced with a smile. "I look much better in mine"
"You always look beautiful dear" He replied in a teasing tone. Lizzy felt herself relax as his eyes met hers. But she wanted to know what her father and he had talked about.
"Jane, will you take Kitty and Georgiana inside? I'm sure mama will love to hear your piano skills Georgie, and Jane is really a much better singer then I" Georgiana looked apprehensive but allowed the elder blonde to take her hand and lead her inside. Kitty cast a suspicious look at her sister and her brother in law before following the other two inside.
"Shall we walk?" Mr. Darcy suggested. She allowed him to tuck her arm under his own, and set off at a leisurely pace.
"Your sister left for Brighton with the militia 8 days ago, as a personal guest to Mrs. Forrester. Captain Forrester vouched for the characters of his regiment, including Wickham. I informed your father about my history with him, and as I left his study, he was drafting a note to Mr. Forrester to be sent express"
"Is he going to get her?" Lizzy asked urgently. Lydia couldn't possibly come back alone. "He isn't fit for such a long journey"
"Watkins will go with one of Longbourne's stable hands, Carlson I believe. His sister will travel with them as well" Watkins was Darcy's valet in training. Adams, his usual valet, was given leave to visit his family in London for the holiday.
"Henrietta" Lizzy told him. "She is the younger girl's hand maid"
"They will leave after the holiday" He said quietly.
"So long?" Lizzy asked. He nodded slowly.
"Tis unfair to tear them from their families love, but the express to Mrs. Forrester and the additional one to Col. Forrester bears the truth in Wickham's nature."
"I know, I am just worried. Thank you William" Lizzy stopped their walk and turned to embrace him tightly.
"You are very welcome. It is only two days my love, and Captain Forrester will have the truth by tonight" Lizzy nodded. "Now, come, it is unfair to leave poor Georgiana in the presence of your mother for this long without us" He teased.
They did not stay long with the Bennet's. As they pulled up the drive to Netherfield Hall, the Bingley family stood waiting to greet them, just as the Bennet's had done. Georgiana took several deep breaths to her sibling's amusement.
"All will be well Georgie" Her brother assured her. Mr. Bingley stepped forward to help Georgiana and Lizzy down, before jokingly offering Mr. Darcy his hand. Darcy scowled, stepping down by himself. He cheerfully clapped his old friend on the back.
"Nice crown Darce, it really brings out the blue in your eyes" Charles joked. Darcy, to the surprise of no one, turned red about his ears. Georgiana laughed, while Lizzy at least tried to hide her giggles.
"I think he looks lovely, Mr. Bingley. Perhaps I shall ask Miss Bennet to make a matching one for you" Georgiana teased. Mr. Bingley laughed and bowed to her with a smile.
"Welcome to Netherfield Miss Darcy" Mr. Bingley said happily. "I quite think the crown suits you better" He re-introduced Georgiana to his sisters, and Mr. Hurst. Georgiana flushed pink but managed to hold her stutter with the imposing Bingley sisters. She seemed much more at ease around Mr. Bingley.
"Mrs. Darcy, you look radiant" Bingley stated smiling at a healthier version of the Elizabeth Bennet he had last seen. "I see you too have a crown. I must say that I feel rather put out"
"Thank you Mr. Bingley." She laughed warmly at the man who was to be her brother in law. She turned to the rest of the party. "Miss Bingley, you look lovely today" She complemented the orange clad woman who had barely even greeted her earlier. "And Mrs. Hurst, what a lovely shade of green" Lizzy did rather like the jade colored sash about the older woman's waist. Mrs. Hurst smiled, murmuring a quiet, thank you Mrs. Darcy. Caroline pulled herself up straighter and plastered a large smile to her face.
"Thank you Eliza" She retorted. "May I call you Eliza? We are to be sisters after all," Caroline said haughtily.
"I would prefer Mrs. Darcy" Lizzy replied, dragging out the syllables. "There is something in the manner of which the words flow from the mouth, is there not?"
"Indeed Mrs. Darcy" Her husband japed from beside her. He had removed his crown of flowers and placed it on his friend's head, who looked quite proud. Miss Bingley smiled tightly at the Darcy's, frowned at her brother, and refocused her energies on Georgiana. They begged leave to freshen up before dinner, all three hastily making way to their rooms.
Miss Bingley had assigned the rooms it seemed, and without Charles's knowledge. Georgiana and Mr. Darcy had rooms next to each other, while Lizzy's was placed several rooms down, and on the opposite wall. Mr. Darcy mused that Miss Bingley had gotten cleverer, as she could blame the staff for this simple mix up in assigning Georgiana and Lizzy rooms. Therefore Mr. Darcy had the pleasure of dragging his wife's belongings down the corridor and into his own chambers while she bathed for dinner. Georgiana watched amused for a few moments before she too left to get ready.
By the time Mr. Darcy was finished, for his wife had brought quite a lot of things, Lizzy was already finished bathing. Since they now were sharing the same room, she was making do without her handmaid, as Mira could not travel with them, and she did not trust Miss Bingley's maids.
"You are positively dripping in perspiration my dear" Lizzy laughed as he walked into their room. She was sitting on the bed, dressed only in a sheer dressing gown.
Needless to say they were a little late to dinner.