Prologue
It is a truth universally acknowledged that twins concocting mischief will often times switch.
However little know the feelings or views of the individuals to whom the particular scheme is being perpetrated against, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the mischievous duo, that the plot is often conducted without deeper consideration for some future consequences or another.
~ Pemberly 1785 ~
"Fitzwilliam" he declared "Fitzwilliam Alexander Darcy" , his tone enthused with clear pride as he softly swayed and looked upon the face of his first born son."For your family and my father" he said looking up with a smile "And what of his brother?" His Lady murmured her face turned down to gaze upon the infant resting soundly in her arms. "Percival" he replied "Percival George Darcy. For your father and myself" he grinned sheepishly. Meeting his eyes she smiled "It seems only fair that Percy should bear your name since William bears my own" the glittering twinkle in her eyes revealed her mischief.
Chuckling he shook his head "William and Percy. What would your sister say, my love?. To turn the noble name of Fitzwilliam and Percival into such scandalous monikers. Are the shades of Pemberley to the thus polluted" he mockingly trumpeted with a slight wobbling of his head. Laughing she covered her mouth to silence the giggles. "George do be serious" she beamed as she hid a half suppressed smirk behind her fingers "Catherine is not as bad as all that" she whispered "And she will be here soon you know" she said bobbing her head in confirmation "to support me".
"Support you" He guffawed "Anne, I believe you mean reign terror upon your dominion" he laughed "to be proficient or seriously displeased is my sisters volatility" she sighed her gaze once more upon her youngest babe. Shaking her head she smiled "But then she shall take no leave of you and send no compliments to your mother" Simultaneously they dissolved into laughter disturbing the sleeping children within their arms. "Shhhh Shhh" she whispered as she bounced the babe within her arms and watched her husband rock the bundle within his own.
Slowly he walked towards the bed and gently sat beside her. "How shall we ever tell them apart" he whispered once the children had been settled. "One will need a bell to distinguish him" she chuckled. Both boys had dark black hair and deep blue eyes. Similar to her own, she noted. "The Fitzwilliam eyes" she murmured. "Not quite" he replied softly " I think we have just found our bell" he laughed "Fitzwilliam appears to have a slight brown in the center of his eyes" Looking over she laughed "you appear to be right". "Am I not always" he chuckled. "Though I would say it looks more like a brown flower in each eye than a bell" she whispered conspiratorially "so not perhaps always right".
Sighing he rolled his eyes in mock exasperation and gently kissed her forehead. "Fitzwilliam and Percival Darcy" She whispered looking down at the sleeping infants that rested upon them. "No my love. On this you are right. William and Percy it shall be" Smiling, she turned her head at his statement and softly kissed his lips. "They are our boys my love" she whispered "Our boys" he grinned. Resting his chin upon her head they sat for a moment in perfect silence. Watching the rise and fall of their little chest and listening to the sound of their soft breathing. "George" she murmured after a moment "You know I have not been fooled by your loving declaration" she quipped "What declaration my dear?" he murmured quietly "You only wish to call them William and Percy to watch my sisters' infuriation at such denominations" she laughed. Laughing heartily he smiled "If only to be a fly on the wall during that conversation my love. If only".
~Rosings Park 1791 ~
When the ladies returned to the drawing room, there was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any interruption " Where is my Nephew?" she queried observing the room "Where has he been? Let him come in and explain himself". Lady Anne sighed calmly and placed her embroidery gently into her lap "Percy and William are attending" "Fitzwilliam and Percival" Lady Catherine interrupted "Such nobel names as the house of Fitzwilliam and the namesake of Nobility should not be sullied with such base designations". Lady Anne could hardly help smiling "Fitzwilliam and Percival are attending their father" she replied ignoring her sister's disturbance and shaking her head in bemusement. "That is very strange, for he must attend to Anne" Lady Catherine declared. Giving her opinion on the subject in such a decisive manner as to prove that she would not have her judgment controverted.
"Very strange indeed" replied Lady Anne, her eyes twinkling in mirth "He is so fortunate to have been distinguished by your instructions that I can not fathom why a boy of six years would not conform to your edict". Lady Catherine appeared quite astonished at not achieving direct deference; And Lady Anne once more suspected herself to be the only creature who ever dared trifle with so much dignified impertinence. "You can not disagree with my aspiration, I am sure, therefore you need not conceal his location" .
Lady Anne was saved from replying when the gentleman joined them and the children entered the parlor "Fitzwilliam I need you" Lady Catherine announced upon his arrival. Turning towards his mother and the grand lady, the young man looked upon their faces and bowed. Walking quietly across the room before sitting with the fair blonde girl before the fire "Good Evening Cousin" he whispered and gently began to pull the shy young girl into conversation. Throwing a quick look of condescension towards her sister Catherine smiled "I am excessively attentive to all these things".
Sitting quietly in the ornate drawing room Geroge Darcy cradled his steaming cup of tea and locked eyes with his beloved son, who had taken the remaining seat beside his mother, a small smile skimming his features. '' Oh believe me" replied Lady Anne a sweet smile upon her lips "No one would suspect your diligence to be feigned" At his wife's rejoinder an unexpected, hearty guffaw escaped his lips and he was forced to clear his throat "Delicious tea Catherine, quite fragrant". Lady Catherine scrutinized her sister quietly "Yes" she paused and contemplated in formidable silence.
" I believe you are a fan of Shakespeare are you not William?" Anne asked into the silence of the parlor "Yes Mother" came the quiet reply from across the room. "Was it not he who stated that eyes are the window to the soul?" she asked. "Yes my love. I do believe you are correct" George chortled. "What are you speaking of Anne? I must have my share in the conversation if you are speaking of plays" Demanded Lady Catherine " There are few people in England I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of the entertainments than myself or a better natural taste". Smirking George spoke up quickly "You would have been a great proficient" he stated with a bow "If only you had been able to learn" he sighed.
"What are you speaking of George?" her ladyship hissed " For as you well know the daughter of an Earl would never degrade herself by performing the common arts upon the stage". Anne's eyes locked in mirth with her husband "I have always concurred with the great playwright in this regard myself" Anne murmured. "For I have found that eyes are a grand window of identification." George stifled a chuckle behind his hand once more clearing his throat. "Indeed my dear I believe you are entirely correct. Especially in the innocence of children" Turning towards his son once more "Would you not agree Percival" He added a charming smile upon his lips. Quietly his son nodded, eyes averted towards the ground. "Capital" he chucked.
Slowly Lady Anne rose, "you must excuse us Catherine. I believe it is time the children retired to the nursery." Scrutinizing her sons she laughed and sweetly smiled " Although you are always able to govern our beloved boys best behavior sister. We would not want their mischief to go unmanaged". Turning slowly Anne smiled serenely at her sister. She dipped a shallow curtsy "We shall see you at Dinner Catherine" and headed towards the door. Her sons trailing quietly behind her. "Until next time Catherine" George chuckled "Until next time".
~ Pemberly 1796 ~
The steady rhythmic beat of hooves echoed across the vast, open field as the sun began to sink beyond the horizon. The raucous echoes of laughter filled the air and resonated in the open pasture entwining with the whipping wind and created a chorus of boisterous excitement. "Tis not my fault you are always in second place Percy" the lead gentleman called back over his shoulder in exuberant humor "tis also the position of your birth" he chortled and pushed his horse to greater speeds.
Shaking his head the man's mirror image smiled, a distinct dimple appearing on his roguish face "Come Georgie"he proclaimed to the young man that cantered up beside him "Can't let all that first born pride go to his pretty little head" he laughed. "No or I dare say we shall never hear the end of it" George quipped and laughed good naturedly. "Then get to it" hollered Percy with a devilish grin , his horse changing forward with a whoop, to gallop after William.
The three young men sped swiftly across the open expanse. A wild gleam in their teenaged eyes as the thrill of adrenaline coursed through their veins. "Age before Beauty" bellowed George as he swiftly passed William and rushed forward into the lead chuckling with delight ."Damn" William whispered, squeezing his thighs against the great beast beneath him and hurtling after his friend. The pounding hooves of their steeds resonated like a symphony of power and speed as they each raced the other in spirited competition. Breathless and flushed with excitement the three riders gave their horses their head and galloped towards the distant homestead of Pemberley.
Surging forward George rode well ahead of the others with an air of swaggering triumph. His horse's flank heaving with exertion. Looking over his shoulder he gave a small salute, with a smug grin and steadily reigning in his mount. Coaxing the powerful animal into a steady canter and gradually easing into a more sedate pace. William and Percy urged their horses forward and sidled up to their grinning companion, slapping him affably on the shoulder . "I don't know how you manage it" William stated as he smiled broadly "I must say I have yet to see your equal in charming ever great speeds from that great beast you insist upon riding" he laughed.
George smirked, a mischievous twinkle in his eye "With age comes wisdom" he laughed.
"We were born in the same parish. Within the same park; the greatest part of our youths has been passed together" William quipped "Thus you can not have gained much more wisdom than myself" he laughed "Ah Inmates of the same house, sharing the same amusements and objects of the same parental care are we not'' Wickham replied in amusement. "Perhaps' Percy chortled "Although you do possess an almost occult-like talent for charming everyone and everything you come into contact with. A talent our dear Governess seems to have skipped for old Fitzwilliam and me " Shaking his head George laughed "I confess to all my friends. You have caught me. Mrs Danvers admitted me as a member of her coven… For I conspire with the witches to tame my horses and thrash you in racing" Silence reigned as William raised an eyebrow and then all three erupted into laughter. " You do know sorcery is illegal" quipped Percy.
Their horses trotted alongside each other as they continued their banter "Ah but I would wager George could charm even the pigs to fly" replied William bobbing his head and gesturing emphatically. "Now that would be a sight to behold"Percy chuckled, wiping the tears from his eyes. Smirking slightly George pushed his horse forward and raised himself up to perform a half bow and then spread his arms as if to fly. Bellowing with laughter both brothers shook their heads and stared in amazement at their childhood companion. Beaming George settled himself back down upon his mount and turned his horse to stare back at his beloved companions "I am blessed with such happy manners that I am sure of making friends even with the birds" his nose raised high above his head.
Laughing William replied "Whether you are equally capable of retaining said friends might be less certain". Winking and nodding his head, Percy turned his face towards his brother "This is quite shocking Fitzwilliam" he smirked "He deserves to be publicly disgraced does he not Georgie". "Well" replied George with mock solemnity "Some time or other he will be - but it shall not be by me. Till I can forget his friendship. Alas I can never defy or expose him". Laughter erupted and echoed around the stillness of the fields and then in swift synchronization Percy and George urged their horses into a fast paced gallop across the fields, leaving William in the dust.
A short while later three exuberant young men galloped towards the stables of Pemberly at breakneck speed and pulled into the yard swiftly. "I had not thought you both as bad as this" William stated in mock horror as he approached his laughing companions. "Yes," Percy chortled. What would our fathers say if they heard our uncouth behavior" he laughed. "Yes, Indeed Percival, what would your father say about you, your brother and your godbrother running recklessly about the stables and endangering the workers of his estate?" A deep, firm voice questioned.
Turning each boy met the angry vestige of Mr Darcy of Pemberley standing not ten feet from where they perched upon their horses and an equally furious Mr Wickham appearing from beyond the stable door. "Choices seem to have consequences" George whispered to his companions quietly. "A great many" replied William in solemnity.