Chapter 20
Hardly wishing to further incite the situation, but being still certain he should not allow Darcy to discover that morning's call in front of Georgianna, the colonel spoke first. "I daresay Darcy, you've managed to muck up matters more than most could if they were trying."
"Not now, I beg of you. I must see that Georgianna is contented. I would have her know that she need not be concerned for her future." Said Darcy, as he began moving toward the door.
"As to that matter, I have already made her aware." Colonel Fitzwilliam paused, gestured toward Darcy's study, and said, "She merely needs some reassurance from you that in this matter we are united. We best give her a moment to regain her composure."
Indignant but not insensible, Darcy entered his study and swiftly shut the door behind his cousin. The servants had enough fodder for gossip after that morning's calls. "What have you said to her then? Am I to understand her spirits being so low is not due entirely to Lady Catherine?"
"I had to explain matters after our call to the Bennet sisters." The colonel said blandly, ensuring there were no signs of hesitation or remorse to exploit. Darcy could not have the upper hand while his thinking was still in askance.
Darcy was incredulous. "You took her to call upon Miss Elizabeth's relations in trade, and without my consent?"
"Not merely her relations, but the lady herself. And I ought to point out, I hardly need your consent as her other guardian. It seems we no longer discuss matters before we go about them, as evidenced by this debacle."
"It is hardly to be considered the same," said Darcy, his unabated ill temper apparent in his tone.
"Indeed, it is not. I took her on brief visit to become acquainted with gentlewomen. You conspired to marry her to a tradesman. I find myself in complete agreement with your sentiments." Richard fired back, just as testily.
Angered, knowingly in the wrong, but unwilling to take the hit without delivering one, he said, "I take your point sir, but I hardly think subjecting Georgianna to someone who thinks her the enemy is fair recompense for my sins. I much prefer to leave the business between you an I."
"If it could have been avoided, you may trust that I would not have involved her. You know my thoughts on ensuring she is not taken unaware, and furthermore, that the bennet sisters know she is not complicit. It would hardly do to have her suffer a far bigger blow that could have been avoided with some little discomfort."
Darcy exhaled loudly and said, "Their manners toward her were cold then? I could hardly think them capable of cruelty, but considering the inducement, there are not many that could have managed without being unkind."
"Indeed not, they were every bit the ladies that I have come to expect them to be. They were quite warm in welcoming her and she enthusiastically invited them to return the call."
"They are to come here? Is it some trick on their part?" Said Darcy, thinking more than he was saying. Am I to have no reprieve from unwelcome intrusions. To have her here after everything that has passed between us is unendurable.
"Darcy, I see no evidence they mean to invade the enemy camp. I believe that we can trust them to act without malice. At worst they are curious as the competition, but they have treated Georgianna with every possible kindness. Miss Elizabeth even endeavored to find some polite excuse for declining, but our ward would not have it. I personally assured her she would be very welcome. As it were, they were left without much choice in the matter, without slighting Georgianna that is."
"I cannot say I like involving my sister, but when viewed entirely as a tactical approach I see the merits in you plan. I would not have them fault my sister for my behavior. As the matter stands now, there is no hope Bingley will make a match with Georgianna."
"You can't possibly repent that now. She does not wish for it and neither does he. Those sisters of his would be a constant source of misery, and that is without even considering it is entirely beneath her. I struggle to understand your motive. Even if there were eventually gossip, her dowry could right many estates. If the current holder were not complicit in the debt, I could have no objections, and neither should you."
"I had only thought that if the matter becomes known after their marriage, he would not be unkind to her."
"That is a risk I had not thought upon, my imagination has only gone as far as her marriage and no further."
"Yes, but the risk of telling a suitor upon request of her hand is too great. Even if he keeps his own counsel, if the gentleman withdrew, an abandonment would cause gossip that could lead to questions for which we can provide no real reassurance. If it becomes known after she marries, there is little I can do to intervene if she is ill-treated."
The colonel nodded his head, acknowledging the point. "I confess, Bingley looks a far better match from that point of view. You do realize though, that the eldest Miss Bennet had to endure the same gossip."
Darcy sighed, "Until Kent I had not thought much of the matter, but I now have every remorse. I can only defend myself with this: Miss Bennet can better withstand the scrutiny. Her comportment is everything a gentlewomen's ought to be. The objections her are evident: very little fortune, a vulgar family, and no worthwhile connections. Her family's connection to the gentry is tenuous at best and exists only while their father yet lives. No one has need to look any further."
"I need not add that is no excuse, but I am not blind to the wisdom of your logic. If one fails to consider the feelings of those outside one's circle's, it's without fault. As to vulgar relations, I am certain we have our own connections for which to blush."
"Indeed, and as to that, we may trust Lady Catherine to impose upon us again in time. For now, your mother wishes to see you." He said, handing the colonel the ball invite. "I will speak with Georgianna. You may call upon your mother."
As Darcy climbed the stairs, he willfully put himself under good regulation; his heightened color began to decrease, his footsteps became lighter, his turmoil was pushed to the back of his mind, for Georgian's sake. His experience with her had taught him that she easily attributed his infuriation with others to herself. When he had lost his temper over Wickham, she had mistakenly interpreted his anger as towards herself, his best efforts to convince her otherwise were somewhat ineffective. He had been able to assuage her, but to some extent it seemed she still believed he held the matter, in part, against her.
Arriving at the door of her sitting room, he took one last deep breath and let it out. As he knocked lightly, she quickly invited him in, as though she had been waiting for him. She looked up at him with expectation, seeming to wish to be the first to speak but unable to find the words.
To ease her suffering he said, "I beg your pardon for intruding upon your privacy, but I must know if you are well. I would not have you suffer any anguish under false pretenses."
"I will not be subject to Lady Catherine then?" she said, her continuing worry evident.
"Certainly not, she has no claim to you under any circumstances." He said adamantly, to which she did not respond. Darcy could see some relief, but it was apparent some matter still preyed on her mind. Knowing it to be no small task to coax concerns from her, he took it upon himself to venture a guess. "Nor shall I make you marry Mr. Bingley, or anyone else for that matter. When you come out, you will be introduced to plenty of suitable men, so long as they have no bad habits and I believe they will treat you well, I will have no objections."
He noticed she was yet to be entirely relieved, so he made another attempt. "Nor shall you have need of marrying at all if you determine you do not wish it." Taking notice that statement by no means quelled her concerns, and indeed seemed to add to them, he added, "That is only if you choose such a life. It will certainly not be for lack of suitors."
She breathed a sigh of relief but seemed to wish to inquire of something. He looked at her encouraging, she looked back apprehensively. Finally, she said, "I was unaware you were considering Miss Bingley. Are you deeply grieved to be required to quit her?"
No wonder she is pensive. He took a depth breath, and said, in a lighthearted manner, "I can hardly be expected to grieve a connection that I had never truly considered. It seems Miss Bingley shared her hopes with someone who then relayed them to Lady Catherine."
She now looked extremely relieved, then a thought clearly struck her, and he could see she was biting her tongue. He looked at her askingly and regretted it immediately upon her response. "Was it Miss Elizabeth then?"
"I can only imagine so, though I would not have you hold it against her, she is hardly to blame. I understand Colonel Fitzwilliam mentioned she had suffered some extreme provocation."
She nodded, again looking uncomfortable, and finally said, "I liked her a great deal, and hope the two of you may again become friends. I suffer to think this misunderstanding between the two of you is my fault."
"I would not have you think that, in essence it is entirely my own behavior for the whole of our acquaintance was not as it ought to have been. Neither the matter nor the manner in which I intervened was to my credit. I had not thought properly on the subject."
"I would not wish her sister any unhappiness on my account."
"Nor would I wish you to be unhappy over a matter in which you had no knowledge, or control."
She wished to blurt out that this could not had happened if she had not acted so stupidly, but she held her tongue. Speaking would only add to the embarrassment, it would only make her mistake all the more real. "Miss Elizabeth seemed so clever, and so confident. I wish my character better resembled hers."
"There is a great deal to admire about Miss Elizabeth, I will grant you that, but I would not have you believe you are in any way wanting."
"Oh, but she told me this story, and if it were me, I'm sure I would have retreated to the country and quit my season. Some gentleman said she was too ugly to stand up with, and she merely mocked him to all her friends. I would have died from shame, I am sure."
Darcy looked at her incredulously, and said, "He must be a proper fool, no man of sense could share his taste. Furthermore, no gentleman would conduct themselves in such a manner. You will never be treated as such; I can assure you. Colonel Fitzwilliam would run them through, and my scowl is scarier still."
She laughed, and he smiled. He could tell there was something more she wished to say, so he raised his eyebrow. "I was wondering if, that is, if it's quite alright to ask," she paused and looked at his hesitantly, clearly finding some reassurance, as she finally spoke, "You wrote of Miss Elizabeth a great deal, that is to say, I was wondering, if not for this misunderstanding, would you wish a closer connection."
Darcy's discomfort now became pain. Surely, she could see his anguish as she seemed to immediately regret her question, but before she could speak, he said, "She is in every way admirable. Our situation in life, however, is so decidedly different that we could not be much in company-even if she found me tolerable."
"It is my hope then, that when she calls, you will take what time you are afforded to ensure she better understands you." She said expectantly.
He nodded. As impossible as the task now seemed, agree to it he must. Darcy had seen how difficult it had been for her to inquire, and he by no means meant to discourage her future endeavors. She would be out soon, and it would hardly do to have her so unsure of herself. Wishing to avoid any further comment on the topic he took his leave.
Georgiana, now convinced she had been the means of separating her brother and Miss Elizabeth, felt the sting of guilt nearly twice as much as she had previously. She took out her pen and began, what she hoped, would be the means of reuniting them.