AN: After such a dark chapter last time, I wanted to lighten things up a bit, while still moving the story along. I hope you all like the result...
Having seen Georgiana return to the house alone, Mr Bennet had gone outside to check on the remaining missing members of his family. It was hard listening to his wife recount her trauma, especially as it was the first time he had ever heard her speak of it, and most likely the first time she ever had. He had tried to get her to open up about it in the beginning of their marriage, but she would break down, so he quickly gave up, hoping to avoid causing her any more pain than he already had to by trying for an heir. To find out that his decision had done to stop trying had done more harm than good, made him feel like an even worse husband.
Quietly, he crept back to the house, his thoughts swirling in his head. Closing himself in his study so he could be alone to process them, he became more and more ashamed with his past actions the more he reflected on them. He had been closing himself in his study and focusing on his wife's faults to cool the ardor he even today still felt for her. He figured the more he did to distance himself from her, the less likely he would be to give into temptation. There had been many a night he had gone to bed, only to find himself standing outside her door.
Oh how badly he wanted a drink, but stopped himself from pouring one. It didn't take long before an idea came to him, and knowing he would need help, he rang for a servant to bring his two youngest daughters to him.
The following morning Mrs Bennet woke later than usual for she found her dreams had been plagued with nightmares the night before. Indeed, she had been woken from one in the early hours of the morning by Elizabeth, who explained it was likely an after effect of telling of her past trauma. Her daughter explained that she had gone through the same thing after speaking with her aunt about the attack she had suffered, and her uncle had found a book written by a man who had studied others who suffered nightmares after past traumas. The author who wrote the book hypothesized that the nightmares were likely our mind's way of trying to process what had happened in a way that it could no longer hurt us.
Listening to her daughter explain this idea, she did notice a lightness about herself that she hadn't felt since before she was attacked. When she mentioned it to her intelligent daughter, Elizabeth surmised that it was likely because she had shared the "burden" and no longer carried it all by herself. She knew if this were the case she would forever be grateful to her daughter and Mr Darcy for listening to her retelling, and taking a piece of the burden on themselves.
She was surprised to have her three youngest girls, Lydia, Kitty, and Georgiana enter her room as she was getting ready. The girls chatted happily of plans to walk to Meryton that day, and asked her to join them and their sisters. Having experienced an influx of energy since she started practicing with Smythers, she welcomed the activity to burn some of it off.
In the process of discussing their plans, her best day dress caught Georgiana's eye, and having never seen it on her, the girl begged her to wear it, claiming it to be one of the prettiest colors of gowns she had ever seen. Being so flattered by the girl's words, she was more than happy to oblige. The girls seemed to be having such fun making a fuss over her, she couldn't help but let them tell her maid how to style her hair for the day.
She was not at all surprised when all of her daughters opted to make the journey with them. Not was she surprised when Mr Darcy asked to accompany then, and Mr Collins proclaimed he would be a member of said party. While happy to have the former along for the outing, the latter vexed her greatly. It seemed no matter how many times she and her husband had told the man that the eldest two daughters were not for him to marry, and she herself trying to direct his attentions to Mary, he followed the two girls around like a slobbering puppy, snubbing her third daughter completely. Seeing the dejected look on her middle daughter's face, she decided the man wouldn't be good enough for any of her daughters, entail be damned.
"Mama, look at the bonnet, is it not pretty?" Kitty spoke as they browsed the shop.
"it is very pretty my love." She spoke, looking at the bonnet, disappointed when she saw the price. Knowing there would be no hope of any of her daughters being the future mistress of Longbourn, had her desire to protect them rising in her. As such he was determined to watch what she spent. Thank goodness for Mrs Annesley for opening her eyes to the practicality of being more frugal, for she did not wish to be a burden on any married daughters. Her only concern was seeing them in happy and safe marriages, and out of danger of the dreaded hedgerows.
"It matches your dress so well, will you not buy it Mama?" Lydia begged, and looked disappointed when she informed them that she would not, for there were better things to spend her money on. She didn't have to tell them how tempted she was to give into temptation and buy it.
Leaving the shop a short while later, and sans bonnet, she smiled when she noticed more people were out and about now. "Oh," Mary's gasp took her attention, and she turned to where here three oldest girls were huddled together. "I forgot my reticule in on the counter. Do feel free to go on, I shall catch up."
"Nonsense child, we shall wait here for you. I truly do not want any of you girls on your own, no matter how short a time." Mary seemed surprised at the concern, and it broke her heart wondering just how much she had neglected her middle child.
"Mama, will you allow Mr Darcy and I to wait here for Mary, and you and the girls can move on to the next shop. This will give us a chance to stop in at the bookshop, without the rest of you having to wait on us. We can all meet at aunt Phillips' if you like." Elizabeth spoke, and Mrs Bennet tried not to look concerned.
"Actually Lizzy...Well, you see...that is...I was actually hoping you and Mr Darcy could help me pick out a book your father and I could read together." She and Elizabeth had stayed outside for some time the previous day, after she had told her daughter of her past. Once Mr Darcy had excused himself she had told her daughter of how she felt like a failure as a wife because she simply could not connect with her husband on a personal level let alone an intimate one.
It was Elizabeth's suggestion that she strive to find the personal connection, then, maybe in time the intimate one could grow should both she and her husband want it. When she had asked her daughter for ideas on how to connect with the man she was married to, Elizabeth had taken the time to explain his different hobbies, likes, and dislikes.
It was Elizabeth's idea for her and Mr Bennet to read a book together, and at first Mrs Bennet had been leery, for her mind tended to wander when she was being read to. It was Lizzy who suggested that she read the book out loud to her husband as he did not suffer from that particular issue.
"I believe you said something about needing to speak to the Butcher." Mr Darcy spoke up, "Perhaps you could run that errand while Miss Elizabeth and I escort Miss Mary back to the Milliners. Then we can all meet up at the bookshop."
Agreeing to this, she took the other girls along with Mr Collins and the two footmen with her to the butcher as the other three of their party and Mr Smythers returned to the milliners.
Lydia asked to wait outside, hoping to see the officers should they pass, claiming the butcher to not be interesting enough for her, and since Jane offered to stay with her Mrs Bennet reluctantly agreed. And so it was, that upon leaving the butcher shop they found Lydia talking to a couple of officers and a handsome man dressed as a gentleman. She had been eager to meet this new man, hoping he would make a good match for one of her girls, not stopped in her tracks when she heard Georgiana gasp, and turned to see the stricken look on the girls face.
"Do you know that man my dear?" She kept her voice gentle as she asked the girl, seeing her eyes well with tears.
"He...He's the one...he made me believe he loved me." That was all Georgiana had to say for Mrs Bennet to know who this scoundrel was.
"Lydia, Jane, why don't you introduce me to your new acquaintance?" She tried to appear pleasant, and even attended Lizzy's single eyebrow lift. She was hoping the shocked look on Jane's face meant she accomplished it.
"I was just telling your lovely daughters, my name is George Wickham, and I have newly purchased a commission in the regiment here." He turned on a charm that would have had even her believing him to be a nice guy, but she trusted when her newest daughter had told her.
She also didn't have long to wait before the scoundrel confirmed it, "Georgiana, what are you doing here? Why, when your brother ran me off I thought I may never see you again." His act of appearing devastated was so very convincing, but Georgiana, would have non of it, though it was clear she didn't know how to react.
"I believe the proper way to address her is Miss Darcy." She harshly reprimanded the scoundrel.
"I apologize madam, it is just that Georgi...I mean Miss Darcy and I are old friends, and almost..."
"Yes, I can imagine what you almost were. However, you are not, nor are likely to be, so it is only proper if you refer to her as Miss Darcy, and only Miss Darcy." She desperately hoped he would cease arguing the point, for while she had been trying to emulate Lizzy, she wasn't sure how long she could continue the act.
"It would appear your errand took longer than anticipated." Lizzy's voice came from behind them as she and Mary approached, each on the arm of a thunderous looking Mr Darcy. Releasing said arms, the girls joined their group, Lizzy weaving her arm through Mrs Bennet's while Mary did the same for Georgiana. "We began to worry when you did not arrive at the bookshop, so came searching for you. Come, I believe I have found the perfect book for you and father to enjoy. We must hurry though, for my aunt is also expecting us." With that she and the rest of the girls were led away, leaving only Mr Darcy and the scoundrel, the latter growing paler with every word the former quietly spoke
She had been at her sisters house for but a quarter of an hour, before there had been a knock at the door, and said sister made a good show of going to answer it. From the entry way, she was surprised to hear Mr Bennet's voice, and more than a little confused by his words. However, the bright grins and knowing looks on her daughter's faces spoke of some unknown knowledge.
"Madam, I have come to call upon your sister, and with your permission, take her for a carriage ride." She heard her sister titter her approval and then she and Mr Bennet entered the room. In his hand was a lovely Nosegay of wildflowers, tied together by one of Lydia's favorite ribbons, a ribbon just so happening to match Mrs Bennet's dress. She was surprised when her husband presented her the flowers. "Good morning Mrs Bennet, it is my dearest wish for you to consent to a courtship."
Stunned, she could only nod as she reached out and accepted the flowers. His sheepish smile turned bright, and he offered her his hand to assist her to her feet. As they were walking toward the door, Lydia's voice stopped them. "Mama, don't forget your bonnet!"
Turning, she saw Jane holding the bonnet Kitty had pointed out earlier, "We all bought it for you, well, we will have when Kitty and I pay Jane and Lizzy back for our portion of it." Lydia exclaimed proudly.
"Everyone deserves to look and feel their best when they first start courting." Lizzy smiled as she took the bonnet from her sister, and helped situate it on her mother's head.
When she turned to her husband he was offering his arm, and she took it, allowing him to lead her out to Mr Darcy's open carriage.