“Buttoned up and polished?” A strange voice laughed. “Master Fitzwilliam? Oh, no. He’s a regular goer as soon as he was in short pants, miss.” Everyone turned to Mrs. Smith who was standing by the desk straightening the flowers Mrs. Reynolds had seen fit to place in a vase. “Such a precious child. He’s your joy, isn’t he, my lady?” she asked, staring intently at Georgiana. “But, you…you are not Lady Anne, yet you look so much like her.”
“No,” Georgiana said with a quaking voice. “Lady Anne was my mother. I am Georgiana Darcy. The youngest child of George and Lady Anne Darcy.”
Mrs. Smith gaped at Georgiana, then turned to look at Mr. Darcy. “Then you are…”
“I am Fitzwilliam Darcy, Mrs. Smith. The young scamp who used to hide behind your skirts from my nanny and would accept your sweets as a secret between two friends.”
She looked back and forth between the siblings, then at her own granddaughter. “Cassie, I’m so confused.”
Mrs. Worth held the older woman’s hands. “We have come to Pemberley on holiday, Grandmother, and have called on Mr. Darcy and Miss Georgiana. After tea, we will join Mrs. Reynolds in the servants’ hall so you can visit if you like. Does that please you?”
“Yes, yes, of course…I just…everything seems so strange.” She looked down at her hands. “Why are my hands so wrinkled? Am I that old?” Her face spoke fear and uncertainty as she and her granddaughter walked slowly around the room and examined her surroundings. “Everything is as I remember, except for the rattle. I placed it on the end table.” She paused, tracing her finger along the dust-free wood. “My dear mistress has been gone for quite some time?” She exhaled at her granddaughter’s nod of confirmation.
Taking a moment to digest her lucid thoughts, Mrs. Smith turned to Georgiana. “You are so like your mother. I thought for a moment you were her.” The old woman’s eyes glossed over with tears as she continued. “What a beautiful person. And the kindest, gentlest soul. She could have asked me to leave her employ as I grew old, but she didn’t—always loyal to those who loved her.”
She lowered her voice. “I am sure you wonder about her, miss. You must know she was so full of life. Her laugh was like fairy bells and she always smelled of lavender. She loved Shakespeare and long walks through the woods. And playing the piano. And spending time with the master—theirs was a love match, there was no doubt.” Mrs. Smith took Georgiana’s hands and sat on the bed next to her. “And child…how she loved you. She might only have been on this Earth with you for a short time, but I have never in my life seen a woman more devoted to her children.” Mrs. Smith patted Georgiana’s hand. “And she is here, child. Her presence is in Pemberley, and it is in you. You have been given the gift of both her and your father’s love to guide you. They were great people who only wanted you to be happy.”
This strange speech made Lizzy feel as if George and Lady Anne Darcy’s love swirled forth about the room, embracing their children in long forgotten memories. Mrs. Smith held Georgie’s hand and Darcy leaned over and gave his sister a handkerchief before drawing up a chair next to his mother’s old servant.
“And you, sir…the master of Pemberley. What a fine gentleman you have become. Your mother would be so proud of you. I don’t know if you remember her last days…”
“Yes, I do.”
“She was so proud of you for how you cared for your baby sister—told me later one of her regrets was that she wouldn’t be here to play withyourchildren.”
Mr. Darcy could only respond with pale smile.
“You are a credit to them both.” She reached over and gently patted his cheek. “And raising your sister on your own? It is evident you have taken admirable care.” She smiled and lowered her hand into her lap and began glancing around.
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat. “Mrs. Smith, I thank you for the kind words. It is rare for me, even more so for Georgiana, to hear such sentiments about our parents.”
“I am happy to be of service.”
“Could I trouble you to reflect back upon my mother’s last days?”
“Of course.”
“On that morning Lady Catherine arrived… I have been told my mother had you write a letter to me. Do you remember that?”
“I most certainly do. I stood right over there and wrote it at her desk. She was too weak by then to do it herself, you see. She told me what to say, and I wrote it word for word.”
“Very well. Do you remember what exactly was in the letter?”
“Hmmm… well, I can’t rightly say I remember everything. I do remember she spoke of her love for you and the babe,” she said smiling at Georgiana. “She wanted you to remember to be a good boy and that she always wanted you to be happy.”
“Did she say anything about my cousin Anne?”
Mrs. Smith sat there for a moment, seemingly trying to remember that day so many years before. Slowly, she said, “That she did, sir. I remember her saying she wanted you to be happy.” She looked up at Lizzy and continued. “That Anne de Bourgh was a lovely girl. And that she wanted you to be happy…yes, she wants you to be happy. You are her joy.” She smiled at Lizzy. “Yes, quite lovely. She will make you quite happy…happy.”
Realizing Mrs. Smith’s mistake, Lizzy’s embarrassment was great and she did not know where to look.
“This is Miss Bennet. She is not my betrothed…”
“Yes, she wanted you to be happy…yes, yes she wants you to be happy. You are her joy.”
Mr. Darcy glanced at Mrs. Worth, confusion written on his face.
“Happiness. She will be so happy for your happiness.”
