AN: Thank you all for so many encouraging reviews of the last chapter. I appreciate all the people who have stuck with this story for so long and so pleased to have new readers just discovering it. This chapter would have been up this afternoon, but for some reason working with footnotes has become even more problematic than it was and I had to figure out a work around.
And if you'll indulge me a moment in replying to an anonymous review: I know this story is not for everyone and that's fine, if you don't like it there are thousands of others to choose from, but plagiarism is a serious accusation and not the sort of word one should throw around without understanding the definition. By definition Fanfiction is not plagiarism because Fanfiction writers are not attempting to pass off Austen's work as our own. There are also no copyright issues about sometimes picking up her text because it's in the public domain.
And without further ado here is chapter 18:
Colonel Fitzwilliam sent Samuel to get more servants and there was a flurry of activity as Mr. Darcy was placed on a board and carried back to the house while Mrs. Jenkinson, who must have been waiting nearby, rushed to Miss de Bourgh's side and enlisted some of the men to carry her back in a chair. And then everything was quiet. Euphrosyne made a soft mewing noise and Elizabeth knew she was hungry. Georgiana settled down in the hay and Elizabeth brought the fledgling to her to nurse, but even as she suckled Elizabeth did not let go of her.
Not long after Euphrosyne was satisfied Samuel returned. "Begging your pardon miss. We did not mean to leave you here alone. May I arrange for a carriage to bring you back to the parsonage?"
"Do not concern yourself, I was well enough here, I know you were concerned for Mr. Darcy and Miss de Bourgh. I hope they are both well?"
"I have been told Mr. Darcy is resting comfortably and the Lady is well enough as far as I know."
Elizabeth repressed a smile, if she was not mistaken she had heard a tone of concern for his master in Samuel's voice and disapproval for Miss de Bourgh.
"Rest is the best thing for Mr. Darcy I am sure. It must have been a harrowing experience. I will not be needing a carriage. Euphrosyne needs to be with her mother and I cannot leave her."
"May I congratulate you on bonding Miss?"
"I thank you, but I am sorry it must be at your expense. I did not mean to interfere with the bonding."
"If I may speak freely Miss I can think of no one better. I did not truly expect it would be me, not really, it was nice to imagine it, but a servant bonding with a Griffin, only a man with Mr. Darcy's good heart could think it possible."
"He must think highly of you and you seem quite fond of him in return."
"Indeed, I am lucky to have such a master, if I were to go through all the world I could not find a better one, any of his servants and tenants will speak to his good name. I only hope I continue to earn his good opinion."
Elizabeth was too surprised by this statement to reply and he asked again if he could not arrange a carriage for her and, failing in that, if he could not do anything to make her comfortable, and even asked to sit outside and guard her door. Against his guarding the door, after all, he had been through tonight himself, Elizabeth was absolutely resolved and eventually convinced him to be satisfied with bringing her a blanket and the promise of returning with tea and breakfast in the morning. Elizabeth hoped she had convinced him to get some rest. What he had said of Mr. Darcy surprised her but she was more struck by his being so kind to her after her interference with the bonding. She knew she could not hope for the same understanding from the others, even Colonel Fitzwilliam must be unhappy with her and she could not blame him.
Elizabeth wrapped the blanket around herself and Euphrosyne and Georgiana extended a wing making a noise of invitation.
"Are you inviting me under your wing?"
After receiving an affirmative, Elizabeth thanked her and she and Euphrosyne cuddled up under the wing. "Oh Phrosey[i]," Elizabeth murmured, "What are we going to do about all this? How am I to care for you without an estate?"
Elizabeth knew this ought to be a matter of great anxiety, but there was such a warm feeling in her heart, that she seemed to believe, against all reason, that all would be well. The two of them fell asleep and slept for the rest of the night waking every hour or so for Euphrosyne to nurse, until Elizabeth was awakened by the sound of the barn door opening. It must be Samuel bringing her breakfast.
Elizabeth came out from under Georgiana's wing blinking against the bright light coming through the barn door. It must be later in the morning than she thought. She could barely make out Samuel's figure but he seemed taller than he had last night.
"Miss Bennet! Have you been here all night?"
It was not Samuael.
(o)
Darcy woke with a start, the brightness of the room letting him know it was much later than he normally slept. Why had no one woken him? The events of the night came rushing back to him. Georgiana! Miss Bennet!
He needed to speak to Miss Bennet before his aunt got to her, but he must check on Georgiana first. He quickly splashed cold water on his face and pulled on britches and a coat over his shirt. He wasn't fit to be seen but he hoped to get to Georgiana without being noticed, then he would dress properly before calling at the parsonage.
Someone had left a plate of food for him and he grabbed a couple of muffins to eat on his way, sparing a thought for poor Wilkes as he did so. He knew Mr. Wilkes, his valet, would be distressed at his leaving the house in such a state without calling him, but he would apologize later, he felt a great anxiety to get to Georgiana.
He saw no one on his way to the barn except for Samuel, who was sitting outside the barn sleeping but jumped up and ran off when Darcy approached. It was odd behavior for Samuel but Darcy didn't give it much thought. He entered the barn to find Miss Bennet, coming out from under Georgiana's wing, looking a bit like a fledgling herself, blinking against the bright light that was catching her whisps of loose hair. How could she be so beautiful when she was such a mess?
"Miss Bennet, have you been here all night?" He did not know what had happened after he lost consciousness but he had never imagined no one had attended to her.
Miss Bennet hugged Euphrosyne closely as if afraid someone would try to take her away. "I cannot leave her."
"Of course not." Then remembering how often fledglings needed to nurse he added, "But you need not stay in the nest. I can send milk to you for spoon feeding, and …" he paused a moment to be sure of what he was feeling from Georgiana, "Georgiana will be more than happy to come to you, once she has rested such a short distance will not be an issue for her." In his surprise at finding Miss Bennet present, Darcy had momentarily forgotten his concerns for Georgiana but now he was flooded with relief at finding her so well. She was tired, incredibly tired, and sore, but recovering quickly and confident of being fully recovered within a few days.
At this point, Samuel returned with food and a cup of tea for Miss Bennet. This explained why he had been sleeping outside. She must have refused further assistance, believing Euphrosyne needed to stay with Georgiana.
"Samuael! She exclaimed, you do not look as if you have been to bed and you promised me you would rest"
"I slept, Miss." Darcy almost laughed recognizing the look of a servant who was determined to give his orders whatever meaning he saw fit, and all for his master's (or mistress's) own good. He was not surprised Miss Bennet had earned Samuels' goodwill.
Addressing himself to his servant Darcy said, "Georgiana seems as well as can be expected after her ordeal. Do you agree?"
"May I examine her, Sir?"
Darcy nodded his approval and Samuel did a thorough examination of Georgiana, while Miss Bennet sat on a nearby bench and ate the food he had brought her.
When Samuel had finished he said, "My experience has all been with horses, but to the best of my ability to say so, she is recovering quickly, Sir. It was a difficult birth to be sure but I see no sign of lasting damage."
"Thank you, Samuel, for everything, and now, unless Miss Bennet, has any requests for you, I insist that you rest, in bed, for two or three hours at least."
Miss Bennet denied needing anything at all and thanked Samuel for his service. Samuel left them and Darcy joined her on the bench.
"I had intended to call on you later at the parsonage to discuss arrangements but, if you are not too tired, perhaps it is better we talk now. To say my aunt will be unhappy about developments is an understatement."
Euphrosyne made a shrill noise and Elizabeth hugged her close, looking at him defiantly as if she would snatch her bonded away, and said, "Mr. Darcy, I did not come here to intentionally interfere with the bonding. But now that we have bonded I will not, I cannot, give her up."
"Certainly not." Why would she feel it necessary to say? "Of course, I would not try to separate you. You cannot possibly believe I would be so heartless as to try anything of the sort." She could not be thinking clearly. He ought to let her rest, but he would not detain her for long.
What had he been about to say? Oh yes, "It is best for Euphrosyne to be with her mother for the first couple of months at least, ideally for the first two years."
Miss Bennet nodded and he continued, "It would be better not to stay in Kent longer than necessary. I think the best course of action is for me to send you on to Longbourn while I settle some business in town, it will be a short distance between us for Georgiana, and Eleos will let her hunt at Netherfield. But I will need to return to Pemberly within the month, so it will be simplest if we marry as quickly as possible."
"Marry!"
Why did she look so surprised? They had just been talking about… no they hadn't. He must be more tired than he thought, he had confused what he had planned to say with what he had actually said, her suggesting he would be so cruel as to separate a bonded pair had shaken him.
"Forgive me, Miss Bennet, I ought, I had intended, to speak of my admiration for you and ask you for your hand before asking you to name the date."
"That is the usual manner of proceeding but entirely unnecessary. Surely there is an easier way to keep our bondeds together for months or even years, without entering into a marriage so disagreeable to each of us."
"Disagreeable to each of us! Is that what you believe?"
"Of course. You have made it perfectly clear how repugnant you would find such an alliance and I assure you I would find it equally distasteful. Whatever misplaced sense of gallantry is leading you to make such an offer would soon be regretted and the objections you had to your friend's marriage would appear with at least equal force in your own case."
"Your sister! So that is what this is about. But you're having bonded changes things. No one would wonder at my marrying you now, in spite of the objections to your family."
Her face reddened. Her eyes flashed with anger as she replied "Perhaps not but anyone who cares for my happiness might very well wonder at my marrying you."
Before he could reply Euphrosyne poked her head out from Miss Bennet's arms, let out a loud noise, a cross between a hiss and a yowl, and swiped a claw in his direction. Elizabeth hushed her and Georgiana made a soothing noise. She quieted but continued to stare at him. Never had Darcy been so inclined to agree that griffins did make noises that could be understood. There was no mistaking Euphrosyne's meaning and there was no reason for a griffin, not even a full day old, to take such a strong dislike to him unless… Miss Bennet must, strongly dislike him, hate him even, for her bonded to react in such a way. The knowledge washed over him like an icy rain. She truly disliked him.
He stood and walked back and forth a few times, trying to get himself under control, feeling Georgiana trying to comfort him. He had to think of the Griffins, his responsibility to them. When he spoke again his voice was cold and controlled. "I hope in spite of your aversion to me you will wish to keep Georgiana with her offspring."
"Of course, I wish to keep them together. Just as would be true if Samuel had bonded or Colonel Fitzwilliam. You must have planned what you would do in that case. There would be no talk of marriage with them and there need not be with me."
"Very true Miss Bennet." Lady Catherine had arrived which was just the situation Darcy had been hoping to avoid.
(0)
Elizabeth had been expecting Mr. Darcy to be angry. She had run through at least a dozen conversations in her head where he accused her of acting by design, as he had before, and she defended herself with dignity and an even temper. She had prepared for anything except that he would propose. Well, not so much propose as assume she would marry him, which was even stranger. She could only assume he was still in shock from the birth.
She was almost glad when Lady Catherine startled them by entering the barn, saying, "Very true Miss Bennet. In this at least, I am glad to find you sensible of your own good. If you will be equally sensible and give me the fledgling we can put this whole disagreeable business behind us."
"I cannot do that."
Mr. Darcy answered at almost the same time saying, "That is impossible."
"'Will not' you mean, Darcy you know very well that nothing is impossible. Miss Bennet was not invited to the birth therefore she had no right to be there and has no right to this bond." Addressing herself to Elizabeth she continued, "I know very well that my nephew paid your father the Sire fee."
"Lady Catherine," Elizabeth answered, "It was not my intention to be present at the birth, let alone interfere with the bonding, but when I say I cannot give her to you, I mean I cannot. I am sure my father will return Mr. Darcy's one hundred pounds."
"One hundred pounds!" exclaimed Mr. Darcy, "Is that what he told you I paid him?"
It suddenly occurred to Elizabeth that her father had never actually told them what had been paid, only what her mother would have to spend. Keeping the real amount a secret was just the sort of joke he would enjoy. She wanted to reply that whatever the amount had been would be repaid but she did not know what her father had done with the money and could not make that claim without his consent.
Mr. Darcy shook his head, "That is not important right now. Lady Catherine, you are not in possession of all the information. My agreement with Mr. Bennet was that his heir not be present at the birth."
"Darcy that is ridiculous!"
"I admit," he said with a sharp look at Elizabeth, "I was foolish not to be more careful and assume he would be honorable[ii]. But the more relevant fact is that Georgiana wanted Miss Bennet there and she has as much right to invite someone as I do, if not more."
"Do not be absurd. How could Georgiana invite anyone without your knowing it?"
"Miss Bennet heard her screaming in pain and came to help. When she arrived I could feel how grateful Georgiana was for her to be here."
"We could all hear her screaming in pain. No one else ignored the restrictions to help. Anne was already there."
"Yes." Darcy gave Elizabeth a look that could almost have been admiration. "And the fact remains that a bonded care pair can not be separated. Attempting it would only damage each."
Lady Catherine narrowed her eyes, "I begin to think you are using this as an excuse to keep your cousin from improving her health so that you can avoid marrying her. Now that I come to think on it, there would be no reason for Miss Bennet to say you do not need to marry unless you had raised the subject, yourself."
"I am sorry for Miss de Bourgh's poor health but the matter is out of my hands. If it brings you any comfort to know that I will not be marrying Miss Bennet I can assure you it is out of the question. Is that not so Miss Bennet?"
"I can safely promise your Ladyship never to marry Mr. Darcy."
"This is no laughing matter Miss Bennet. My nephew and daughter are formed for each other. Only her poor health has kept them from marrying. They are descended, on the maternal side, from the same noble line; and on the father's, from respectable, honorable, and ancient, though untitled families. Their fortune on both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of every member of their respective houses. Her bonding would improve her health and allow the match to go forward. To be prevented by a woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, wholly unallied to the family, and who should not even have been present in the first place, is not to be borne. It will not…."
Lady Catherine stopped speaking and they all stared at Georgiana who had plucked one of her own feathers and was holding it in her beak. Even Lady Catherine seemed to be in awe of the act and whispered softly, "They have healing powers."
Georgiana bowed her head toward Mr. Darcy. He reverently took the feather and presented it to his aunt saying. "You will need a healer, a witch who knows what she is doing and will give her the correct dosage."
"I will send to London for my Physician."
"That would be ill-advised. Even the best Physicians who know a great deal in their area of study are unlikely to possess the required knowledge. You would do best to act quickly[iii]."
Lady Catherine hesitated and Elizabeth thought she must be deciding whether it would be more to her daughter's benefit to continue arguing she be allowed another chance to bond or act quickly and use the feather. She did take the feather, saying to Darcy, "This conversation is not over. We will talk more once I have attended to Anne." And to Elizabeth, "Miss Bennet, I did not expect to find you so lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy, so insensible to honor, decorum, and to what is due to the Collins for their hospitality, so blind to what is due to me for my kind attentions to you. Your bonding is a disgrace. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by everyone connected with me."
"These are misfortunes Indeed," said Elizabeth, "But the honor of being chosen and esteemed by Euphrosyne must be prized above even your gracious condescension, on the whole, I can have no cause to repine."
"You will find, Miss Bennet, that I am not so easily dismissed as you seem to naively believe. You have made a powerful enemy."
"That is enough." Mr. Darcy spoke sharply. "Please attend to Miss de Bourgh."
Lady Catherine lifted her chin, turned brusquely, and marched off with the air of one who wanted to show leaving had been her own idea.
Mr. Darcy turned to Elizabeth, "Now then, we need to act quickly while my aunt is occupied. Since the idea of marriage is so repugnant to you I will hire a companion to travel with us to Pemberly. Once Euphrosyne is weaned I will provide a cottage on the estate or nearby, where the three of you may live and Euphrosyne can hunt at Pemberley. In this way, I will fulfill my obligation to provide for her without your having to see me more than necessary. Is that agreeable to you or are we to argue about this as well?"
"I will come to Pemberley, and I will stay with a companion, wherever you see fit, for the two years that Euphrosyne needs to be with her mother. That will give me time to plan for the future and decide on my next step. You do not need to support us indefinitely."
"Of course, I need to support you indefinitely. What other option could you have? Unless you intend to impose on Bingley and if so I can better afford to provide hunting grounds than he."
"I do not intend to impose on anyone, aside from the two years I have already agreed to stay at Pemberley. In that, I have no choice and I have two years to come up with an alternative for the rest."
"Do not let your pride lead you to be foolish, Miss Bennet."
"Foolish pride do you call it? Considering how you dealt with Mr… With another of my acquaintance, I call it nothing short of prudence not to wish to depend on your goodwill."
Mr. Darcy turned white, "I understand you. You take an eager interest in that gentleman's affairs."
"Who that knows what his misfortunes have been can help feeling an interest in him."
"His misfortunes!" Repeated Darcy contemptuously "Yes, his…" Georgiana gave him a nudge.
He took a deep breath, rested his forehead against hers, and reached up to stroke her feathers. "Are you sure?... Yes, but the danger, if the story were to get out… I do trust her but even so…very well."
He turned back to Elizabeth, "Georgiana wishes me to tell you the whole of our history with Mr. Wickham."
[i] It is unusual to call a Griffin by a nickname but not unheard of.
[ii] He's saying Mr. Bennet didn't behave honorably because if Mr. Bennet had simply used his Sire Right to send Elizabeth he would have been legally obligated to make sure the griffin was provided for. Elizabeth just showing up as she did more or less sticks Darcy with the bill. If Darcy chose to take this to court he would have a strong case even though Mr. Bennet could claim he had not expected Elizabeth to show up at the Birth. However, if Darcy were to win the case it would still leave Euphrosyne unprotected, which is probably not something Darcy is willing to risk.
[iii] As previously mentioned the tip of a griffin feather has medicinal properties but is only potent for the first day or so once it is plucked. That no one thought to try this on Anne before, even though there are three people in her extended family who have bonded, speaks to the rarity of viable Griffin feathers. This case with Anne de Bourgh is the only documented case where a Griffin feather was tried for a chronic illness rather than an infection.