"It was nice of you to take us in your carriage, and leave ours for our mother and poor sister." Elizabeth spoke to the young girl sitting on the same seat as her, with the girl's companion sitting between them, and her three youngest sisters sitting across from them.

"And what a great joke your carriage is, no one would expect to see such finery looking at the outside of it." Lydia spoke with a giggle, making Elizabeth blush, though she felt less embarrassed when she saw the shy smile cross the young girl's face.

"My aunt keeps it for appearances. This is the carriage she uses to transport guests away from her house when society says there is something wrong with them, but she believes they did nothing truly wrong." She saw the smile slip off the girl's face, but Lydia spoke before she could.

"Oh, what does society know anyways! They have all these ridiculous rules, but the are different for men and women, and no one will tell us why that is, or why they are important." Elizabeth was thankful when Miss Darcy's companion began to explain the why the rules of propriety were so important, and she herself became so lost in thought, remember a time when she had balked at the same principles her youngest sister was now.

When had she decided to conform to society's views, for she could remember questioning them much like Lydia was now. Granted, she never flaunted them like her sister so often did, but she could remember a time when she thought it fun to see just how close she could get to the fine line without overstepping it.

Though she was loath to admit it, she knew exactly when she started to conform more to societal strictures. It was one night at a dinner party hosted by some friends of her aunt and uncle. The couple's son was home from university, and with him were a couple of friends. During the party, she had somehow ended up alone with one of the friends, who had then tried to take advantage of her. Unfortunately for him, the Lucas brothers had all decided that Charlotte, Jane, and herself knew how to fight...to defend themselves...so the man ended up on the floor unconscious, with a vase broken over his head.

After finding out about the situation, the man's rich family had approached her aunt and uncle to try to pay her off to keep her from forcing a betrothal to their son by claiming compromise. Her uncle had accepted, having already talked to her about what had happened, and knowing her desire to have nothing to do with him. He felt the money she would be given as fair payment for how the scoundrel had mistreated her. She knew not how much it was, only that her uncle had agreed to take care of it for her, and that he would invest it well. Since then he had asked a few times if she was interested in knowing how much was there. But she always said no, it felt like ill gotten gains to her.

"That is a lovely bonnet Miss Darcy, where did you find your trimmings for it? Were they from London, or one of the towns around your estate?" Kitty asked, changing the subject, for which Elizabeth was grateful, as the young girl seemed to be getting uncomfortable.

Gently touching the brim of her bonnet in surprise, Miss Darcy said, "I bought it made up like this, I buy all of my bonnets already made..." She trailed off, and Elizabeth was sure the girl was picking up on the difference between the quality of their gowns, and likely their stations.

"Buy them already made..." Lydia looked aghast, "What is the fun in that. The first thing we must do when we get back to Longbourn is teach you to trim bonnets. It will be ever so much fun, for we have much to teach you. You will be like my younger sister, even though you are around my age, but I have never had anyone to teach, so being able to teach you will be so thrilling!"

The young girl seemed to be in shock, and Elizabeth was about to remind her youngest sisters that Miss Darcy likely needed to rest from her ordeal that day as well as all the travel, but then the girl spoke. "I have always wanted a sister..." She said, almost reverently.

"Well then, now you have five, and as our sister, you must call us by our names, for family is never held by the strictures of society with each other. Therefore, we are Lydia, Catherine though we all call her Kitty, Mary, Elizabeth whom we all call Lizzy, and finally Jane who is ill and at Netherfield, but Mama with bring her home I'm sure of it."

"Would it be alright if they called me Georgiana?" She asked her companion.

"If that is your wish, I see no problem with it." The woman said with a kind smile.

Her face when Lydia spoke up moments later, though the smile grew brighter moments later. "No, no, that will never do. Your name is much too long like Kitty's and Lizzy's. We simply must shorten it if you are to be family."

"My brother and cousin call me Georgie," the girl said with an almost blinding smile.

"Georgie, the long lost sixth Bennet sister." Lydia then began to giggle, "This evens us out, we now have three blond, and three dark haired sisters."


Darcy rode from Netherfield to Longbourn like the Devil himself was chasing him. He had been shocked when he returned with Bingley to find the Bennet sisters had been removed by their mother back to Longbourn much to the delight of the Bingley sisters. When they told him that it was because she didn't want her girls to be associated with him after his sister's scandal he knew they were reflecting their opinions back on Mrs Bennet. This was confirmed when the housekeeper supported him note from the matron explaining his sister's unexpected arrival, and immediate departure. He had excused himself right then, and upon entering his rooms ordered his valet to pack his things and order his horse.

He was stopped in his tracks when he entered the entrance of Longbourn by a sound he hadn't heard in many months if not years. The house keeper was about to announce him, but he motioned for her to wait, wanting to soak up the sound of his sister's unrestrained laughter just a bit longer. Moving to the doorway just out of sight of where his sister was sitting, he was able to watch unseen as she sat around a table with the youngest Bennet sisters and Elizabeth, holding up a familiar looking bonnet that seemed to have seen better days. Glancing around the room, he was surprised to see Mrs Bennet watching him with an understanding grin, though she did not call an end to the merriment, allowing him to soak it all in for just a few more minutes.

The way his sister's face fell when he entered the room crushed his heart in a most painful way, which was only made worse by the shame that filled it just moments later. Georgiana...I came as soon as I heard you were here...I thought to take you back to Pemberley..." He tried to find the word, and sound gentle in delivering them, but it was hard when tears filled his sister's eyes.

"Oh, but you can't split up sisters, it just isn't done!" Miss Lydia Bennet, exclaimed as though challenging him to try and argue with her.

"It would appear my girls have decided your sister to be a long lost Bennet sister." Mrs Bennet explained, doing her absolute best to remain calm. It had some effect at lowering how shrill she usually sounded.

"I shall pack Fitzwilliam, I do not wish to keep you waiting." The loom Elizabeth gave him told him he had one chance to get this right by his sister.

"Georgie, do you wish to stay?" He asked gently, coming to stand before her.

"They all share rooms here, and I am to share with Mary..." She practically bursted out in desperation to stay where she was welcomed as one of the family. "I mean, if you wish to leave, I shall not be long..."

"Mrs Bennet, I thank your for the invitation you have extended to my sister, and gladly accept on her behalf. I plan to stay at the inn in Meryton for the rest..." He was interrupted by the woman herself.

"The inn, what nonsense, you will stay with us as well. Our guest rooms may not be of as fine as you are used to, but they are very comfortable indeed." The woman was excitable, but her desire to care for his sister seemed genuine. "I am sure your sister would be more comfortable knowing you were here as well."

Seeing the pleading look on his sister's face he wondered, not for the first time, what his father had been thinking naming him guardian, he never could tell her no when she looked at him like that. "Very well Mrs Bennet, I humbly accept."


Elizabeth was surprised when the haughty Mr Darcy allowed himself to be pulled directly over to the table where she and the younger girls had been teaching Miss Darcy to trim bonnets. The girl eagerly started to tell her brother what they were doing, and when she paused for a breath, he gently asked her to give him a minute to pen a note to his valet of the change in plans and acquire after her companion who was above stairs resting, before giving her his full attention, and voicing his approval every time she showed him what she had done.

Between finding him distressed this morning, and seeing his care for his sister now, she couldn't help but wonder how badly she had misjudged this man. This made her reevaluate all their encounters, remembering barely there smiles while they argued, and how he seemed to hover just outside of her company when speaking on topics he seemed interested in. Could it be that Mr Darcy, much like his sister, was just shy and his following her a way of trying to join conversations when he was uncomfortable?

"I apologize for letting your sister tear her bonnet to pieces, both Kitty and Lydia offered her one of theirs." She spoke when the younger girls were once again focused on the project at hand.

"That was very kind of them, but it is truly no trouble. It is her bonnet, and she may do with it as she pleases." She could see there was more he wanted to say, but seemed to be struggling to find the words, so she waited patiently, hoping to not make him feel more uncomfortable. "This is a side of my sister I had quite begun to despair was gone. She has always been a shy girl, but it grew worse after I sent her away to school. When she returned after that first year, this side was only shown to family, and I regretted my mistake. Then after this summer..."

"Your sister is such a dear, sweet girl, I doubt she will have much trouble making friends here. It is my hope that we shall see none but this side of her for the duration of her stay." She said with a smile, meaning every word.

"If it would keep her this happy, I would gladly sell Pemberley, and take up residence here." He said as he watched his sister giggle at something Miss Lydia had said.

"Oh no, that would never do, for she has already told us of her love for Pemberley. I will apologize, she and the girls have been talking about them coming to visit her there. I have tried to remind them that it requires your permission, but..." she trailed off, and she hoped he understood that she would not hold it against him if he did not wish for her family to invade his home.

"Any and all of you would be welcome at Pemberley. The kindness you have shown my sister and I in just a few short hours, is more than many have shown in our entire lives. Indeed, your family would be treasured guests of ours. I wish I could say the same for London, but..."

"Oh, no need to worry about that, as my mother said earlier, she does not care for London, and my father despises it even more. Kitty and Lydia also wouldn't enjoy it as much, as they are not yet old enough to be considered out there." Seeing his confusion she explained, "They are only allowed out here as we are surrounded by our friends and neighbors who have watched them grow and will help to look out for them. London is a different story entirely, and Mama and Papa would not be swayed on the issue."

"Perhaps those conditions would be good for Georgiana as well. It would allow her to practice being in company, but in a safer setting." He was clearly mulling the idea over.

"Perhaps she could make calls with us tomorrow to introduce her to the ladies of the neighborhood. I am sure they would be happy to look out for her as well." He smiled and gave his approval to the plan, his smile making her heart flutter for some strange reason.