I hope all my American friends had a great Thanksgiving. Now it is time to gear up for Christmas so upcoming progress on my WIPs may be slow. Here is a lighter chapter, again from Georgiana's POV.
47. Callers and Candor
Lady Henrietta accepted callers on Mondays and Wednesdays, and paid calls on Fridays. I knew she planned to have Mrs. Darcy join her on Wednesday and Friday for the next two weeks, for the matter had been resolved during the separation for Sunday's dinner. However, my aunt surprised me by saying, "Georgiana, I shall have you begin joining us in accepting callers this week."
"But, I am not yet out."
"You shall be soon enough," she rejoined, and I shall excuse you if any call is not appropriate for you to take. Tis good practice to exchange pleasantries and know something of the field of battle before you duel."
"Surely entering London society is not like dueling," Mrs. Darcy rejoined, with a little laugh.
Lady Henrietta smirked. "Your naivete is refreshing, Mrs. Darcy, but while society may not use rapiers and jousting poles, many a woman would rather be cut by a blade or knocked off a horse and bruised, than to face society's scorn after some well placed words cut her reputation to the quick. Your greatest shield in these next few weeks shall be the support of the earl and me.
"I, of course, control who enters here and shall be quite selective. We shall gather support, form a phalanx of shields, an armada of allies for you, Mrs. Darcy. The presence of Miss Darcy as your boon companion can only help your cause."
My aunt then turned to me. In a softer tone she explained, "Georgiana, I know you wish to help your new sister and by extension your brother."
I nodded.
"Well, the best way to do it is to be by her side, and a day of accepting calls before shall make it easier."
I nodded again, understood her logic, even as I felt my throat become dry in imagining facing strangers. How would I converse with them?
"I shall be there also," Lady Lavinia offered meekly, reaching out her hand and grasping mine, "both times this week."
I knew how much my cousin disliked taking calls, felt the favor she was extending to me and Mrs. Darcy. "Thank you," I offered. I reminded myself that I was strong, that having survived the indignity of being tricked into handling George Wickham's member, that anything society might do to me would be nothing.
"I shall be pleased to help," I told them, and the warmth of their smiles (Mrs. Darcy's was kind, loving, sisterly, Lady Lavinia's was tremulous and I felt she was girding herself for a particularly loathsome task but doing what she must for our sake, and Lady Henrietta's was proud, as if she had been uncertain of gaining my cooperation), meant a great deal to me. If I were never to marry, it was this group of women who would be with me, with the addition of perhaps someday Richard's wife, and my sister's and cousins' children.
I did not sleep all that well that night and was ready to bathe and dress far earlier than my maid was prepared to dress me. I wore the dress my aunt had picked out, a light pink frock which emphasized my status as girl, not woman, as did the braids. It was evident Lady Henrietta wanted to make it clear that there was no change to my status yet, and for that I was glad. I had no wish to accept callers for myself.
Of course I had visited with friends and relatives before, joined my brother when the rector and his wife called. Why should I care what society thought of me? Of course I knew maintaining our family's reputation was of vital importance to promoting the status of Mrs. Darcy and was resolved to do my best.
Scarcely had the time for callers began when the earl's butler came in and with a serious mien handed two cards to Lady Henrietta. "Pardon the interruption, my lady. I would have simply sent them on her way, but the younger one claims a close friendship with Miss Darcy."
My aunt wrinkled her brow and then questioned me. "Have you really made friends with a trademan's daughter? and such a disagreeable one at that?"
I cast my mind back, considering whether there was one among the girls at my school. I had not exactly made friends there, but perhaps it might be one of these.
"Who is it?"
"A Miss Bingley and a Mrs. Hurst."
I could not help but say the first thing that came to mind. "Miss Bingley is no friend of mine, though Mrs. Hurst is not so bad. They are the sisters of Fitz's friend, Mr. Bingley."
"Tell them we are not at home, Simons." Lady Henrietta replied, handing the cards back to the butler.
"But, surely they know we are home," I found myself saying. I felt myself pink with embarrassment. While I had no desire to see either woman, I felt all too keenly the shame they would feel at being refused entry.
"Pshaw," my aunt replied and with a sweeping motion of her hand sent Simon on his way. "I hope they do. Who are they to call at an earl's house? The very presumptuousness of them believing I would take their call when I have never called on them, and on such a slight excuse. They have no way of knowing you are taking calls with me today. We don't need any of that sort here. We have a reputation to maintain. What your brother may choose to do does not govern what we shall do here. No indeed. But perhaps his wife can teach him to only associate with this Bingley at his club."
"It really is quite important to maintain standards," Lady Lavinia whispered.
Simons must have just delivered the bad news to the Bingley sisters as I heard a distinctly Caroline Bingley screech, and then heard her speak in a loud voice, "Did you not tell her that I am Georgiana's particular friend? She simply adores me and I long to see her. She must be terribly disappointed in who her brother chose to marry and simply must have the boon of my sisterly consolation."
Mrs. Hurst must have made some reply, but I could not hear it, for Miss Bingley then proclaimed, "I'm not giving up yet. Yoo-hoo, Georgiana, Caroline is here." Then she said "I am not making a fool of myself," and stomped her foot. Even as I remained quiet, I felt embarrassed for her and on Mrs. Hurst's behalf.
A muffled conversation took place and then I heard the outer door close with a bang.
Lasy Henrietta sighed. "Some women are slow to learn their proper place in the world. That one has aspirations that will only lead to her own distruction. She may marry a gentleman, but it will only be for her ready funds and he is likely to send her off to be exiled in the country after she bears an heir and a spare, for who could bear her company for long? Mrs. Hurst, from what little I know of her, knows her own insignificance far better."
Lady Lavinia shuddered and then said to my aunt, "While I shall join you for calls this week, I felt the quickening this morning and it shall not be long until I am unfit to be seen."
We of course expressed our joy and she smiled slightly. "Finally my feeling disordered has eased. It is no easy thing to be with child. If only this one may be a boy, perhaps I may be done with such things, alrhough John will likely want another son besides. I would gladly go live in the country without John if he would but let me."
"Oh, Lavinia, I hope you can forgive me for not raising him to be a kinder man," my aunt said to her daughter by marriage.
"It is well. He clearly favors his father."
"Yes, but I had hoped . . ."
Lavinia shrugged. "Such is my lot in life." I almost thought they had forgotten my presence when Lavinia looked at me and then back at my aunt. "But you shall find someone kinder for Georgiana?"
"I shall try my best," said my aunt with every show of sincerity.
"What if I do not wish to marry?" I asked.
"Do not be silly, Georgiana. Every woman should marry and good husband or not, you shall take joy in your children. It is for this purpose that women were made."
There was no use in gainsaying my aunt any more than there would have been in attempting to argue with Lady Catherine, so I said nothing more. A few moments later, Lady Jersey was announced. Even I knew of this august woman, who was likely the richest woman in England, but other than having the finest clothes, and a great big feather on her hat, she looked rather ordinary, with brunette hair and a slightly long nose.
I did my best to do nothing to embarrass myself as my aunt and Lady Jersey discussed before me the wisdom of me coming out the next season or the one after that, and who was in need of a wife. As I scarcely knew of any of the men discussed, I cannot say I attended well, but for noting my aunt summarily rejected many candidates and a detail or two here or there.
Lady Henrietta rejected a widower duke because "he already has an heir," a baron as "too long in the tooth," and a prominent wealthy man because he had "all too many natural children." But others were apparently valid candidates for she said things about them such as "perhaps he might do," "I think he is finally ready to marry," and "oh the blond babies they would have."
In that part of the conversation, no words were needed on my part, for they both acted as if I had no say in the matter until the end when Lady Jersey asked, "So, Miss Darcy, shall you come out this season or the next?"
I was struck dumb even though I knew I certainly would not come out until at least eighteen. Lady Jersey saw my difficulty and said kindly enough to my aunt, "Perhaps waiting another year is in order that her shyness might be overcome."
Lady Lavinia said tremulously, "I am of course proud that my husband chose me, but having another year of girlhood is no bad thing, especially now that Georgiana has a new sister with whom to become acquainted."
This segued the conversation into a discussion of Mrs. Darcy. Lady Jersey was all curiosity and my aunt was doing her best to put her in a positive light, even explaining "Mrs. Darcy may be below my nephew in consequence, but it is clearly a love match and she will be the making of him, I have no doubt."
Later, when questioned about the unsuitability of Mrs. Darcy's family, Lady Henrietta appeared to let herself be drawn into saying artlessly what she had clearly intended to disclose from the beginning. "It pains me to say it, given that she is my sister by marriage, but I fear that Lady Catherine in seeing how Anne would lose out to Miss Bennet, schemed to bring about the downfall of the Bennets. Everyone knows that Miss Bennet's younger sister married far too young and was shortly thereafter widowed, but Lady Catherine tried to twist the truth to suit herself. The lengths Lady Catherine will go to, to forward her own daughter . . . well you know how mothers can be. Of course my heart goes out to poor Miss de Bourgh. She cannot help being sickly, or that her cousin does not favor her."
This then devolved into a discussion of remedies my cousin should try "to improve her health and make her fit for marriage."
Lady Jersey's final pronouncement on the matter was "When you next write Lady Catherine, be sure to advise her that I recommend that they should go to Bath, take the waters and see if that might lead to some improvement. If she can but regain her health, well many a match has been made after dancing at Almacks."
"You are too kind," my aunt rejoined.
Lady Jersey rose then (and we did likewise), saying "I have perchance lingered far too long today."
"No, indeed," Lady Henrietta replied (even though it had been forty minutes by the clock, which was far too long by the social rules that had been drilled into me of staying no longer than a quarter of an hour), "with such scintillating conversation you are welcome to stay all morning if you wish."
"No, no, I have further calls to make."
"Well then, perhaps I can persuade you to return on Wednesday, when you can meet Mrs. Darcy."
Lady Jersey's eyes widened and another few minutes was spent devoted to this topic. Although I had said little this entire call, I felt rung out and longed for her to leave, for there to be some respite before the next callers arrived, but that was not to be for three women were announced before Lady Jersey had left, and she lingered several more minutes in their company, even sitting down again and proclaiming herself how Mr. Darcy had made a love match, despite the scheming of Lady Catherine.
When they finally all left, my aunt opined, "What good luck to have Lady Jersey call this morn. Can you imagine what would have happened if we had admitted the Bingle sisters and she had come to call then?"
"Bingley," I corrected softly.
"Bingle, Bungle, Bingley, it is all the same. Lady Jersey would not have stayed for more then a moment with them about and surely would have castigated us near and far for keeping such company. The very fact that we do not admit such people, automatically shows that we would not accept Mrs. Darcy if she were not worthy of your brother."
Lady Henrietta nodded to herself, and Lady Lavinia nodded also.
"So you see, Georgiana, that is how we spread good gossip to overcome the sordid truth. Although Lady Jersey's nickname is Silence, this is of course ironic and her words in our favor shall win the day. All that remains is for Mrs. Darcy to charm her on Wednesday as she surely can. The Darcys can then retreat to Pemberley to get on with making heirs and in a year or two you can make a splendid match. All will be well."
On Wednesday Lady Jersey did indeed call again, this time with the other patronesses of Almack's. As we had expected, Mrs. Darcy was everything charming and a dinner invitation was issued by Lady Jersey to the Darcys and the rest of the family. Lady Jersey tweeked my cheek and noted, "I wish you could attend as well Miss Darcy, but that must wait until you are out."
I surprised myself by replying, "It is indeed tempting, to gain such an invitation."
Lady Jersey smiled and cooed, to the other ladies "Ah, how precious she is." They all agreed and I felt myself blush.
Then to me, Lady Jersey pronouced, "When you come out you must surely join us then and I shall be certain to set eligible men to your right, left and across from you. Yes, you shall make a splendid match when you are ready."
After all the calls were finished for the day, Lady Henrietta declared it a success. I did not understand how Mrs. Darcy could be so calm, collected, charming and witty in meeting so many new people. In comparison I felt quite dull and awkward. I told her how much I admired how she could talk to all the callers (and there were many more than on Monday, for it seemed everyone of consequence had filled the parlor for a few minutes that day, likely having heard from Lady Jersey about my sister's anticipated presence). Mrs. Darcy shrugged and said, "I have joy in meeting new people, for our society in Meryton was quite confined. In this, I know I am nothing like your brother."
"Whatever his feelings on London society, Darcy shall attend the dinner at the Earl of Jersey's if I have to drag him there by the ear," responded Lady Henrietta.
"Fitz shall, he shall, for we both know what their acceptance shall mean," my sister responded.
I was most pleased that when Mrs. Darcy prepared to depart she asked, "Georgiana, would you like to spend the rest of day with your brother and me? We both miss your company."
With a quick glance to my aunt, who nodded her approval, I agreed.
On the carriage ride there, fearing I would not have another opportunity with my brother about, I asked "Mrs. Darcy, do you like being married to my brother now? While I know Fitz loves you dearly, it was quite clear to all of us at that first dinner that you did not feel the same, for you told us you had rejected him once and would have gladly rejected him again if your marriage were not necessary to the security of your family. Yet at the dinner on Sunday you seemed happier to be at his side."
Just then the carriage alighted outside my brother's home and the driver swooped down and opened the carriage door. I believed I would then receive no answer.
However, Mrs. Darcy said "We are not ready to go in just yet. Perhaps you can give us a few minutes?"
Our driver looked perplexed but agreed. Once the door was closed again, she turned to me and declared, "First of all no more of this Mrs. Darcy nonsense now, we are sisters, should we not use our given names?"
I nodded.
"Georgiana, yes, I am now glad to be married to your brother. I will admit that once I did not love your brother as well as I do now, but in matters of this sort a good memory is unpardonable. I will admit to having anger and resentment, to not having enough time to adjust to the idea of marrying him. Fitz did rush me into this marriage, that is very true, but I understand now that he was afraid of losing me. He may have gone about things wrong, but I take my marriage vows most seriously and can see now that all that has transpired was an answer to pray, for I had been praying for our rescue but did not recognize God's hand in all that took place right away. We are happy together now and I am convinced our happiness will continue to grow. I must thank you for being willing to sacrifice retaining your place at your brother's side when you both thought his marriage to me would drag the Darcy name through the mud. It was so very generous of you when you did not even know me and whether I might be worth the trouble."
I took Elizabeth's hands in mine and cried, "The fact that Fitz loved you, told me enough, for he had never been in love before. How could I imagine that anything short of the deepest of love would cause him to throw caution to the wind in pursuit of you? I wish the two of you nothing but happiness. As for myself, I never wish to marry. I shall happily play aunt to your children and stay at your side if you will have me."
Elizabeth embraced me then and murmurred against my ear. "To gain you as a sister, Georgiana, is the second greatest blessing in my life, just short of having Fitz's love. Of course we want you with us. You may remain in our home from this day forward if that be your desire. But as for never marrying, are you not yet quite young for making such a decision?"
We broke our embrace and Elizabeth looked me in the eye.
"Oh Georgiana, my sister Jane and I vowed to only marry for the deepest love. I had resolved to play aunt for her children for Jane is everything beautiful and kind and I could not imagine her a spinster but thought that if a man could have her to wife no one should wish to marry me. But somehow your brother saw something in me and if I had spurned his offer again, I would not be this happy. Do not give up on love just yet."
I replied, "The idea of romantic love is enticing, but I am not sure I could bear a man's touch, to give myself over to that. Lady Lavinia loathes her duties; I can tell for how she reacts when John comes close to her, and even moreso when he orders her to bed."
Elizabeth wrinkled her brow. "I cannot say I know what it would be like to be married to the earl's son, but I suspect that he cares much more about himself than her. As for the rest, there is little I can stay that would be appropriate to your young ears, but that marital duties can be quite pleasant when the husband seeks to please his wife and a man that loves his wife will certainly seek to please her.
"Oh Georgiana, do not reject the idea of love and marriage just yet. For perhaps you shall meet someone that cares as much for you as Fitz cares for me. But if you do not, of course you shall always have a home with us."
We embraced one more time, and then exited the carriage. From that day on, I lived with my brother again. It was different with them married for sometimes they disappeared for an hour or two, and often went early to bed, but it was a far happier home than when it was just me and my brother. Elizabeth brought laughter and joy and livened up everthing. We played and sang together and she taught me how to play various games more suited for adults and she even got my brother to laugh and tease her. In truth, I soon felt it would take an exceptional man to make me want to give up all of this. But I no longer fully foreclosed such a possibility. How could I with such an example of marital bliss before me?
A/N: Hope you are enjoying this happier part of the tale. I'm feeling once again that we might be close to wrapping up this story, but want to know, is there anyone you would like to hear from first? If so, about what?
