“No, Lyddie, I am afraid not. He has to spend it with his family in London,” Fanny shared.
“You mean with the King, Queen, and the other princes and princesses?” Elizabeth asked.
“That would be his family, Lizzy,” Fanny agreed.
“I will miss Uncle Freddy too, Lyddie,” Elizabeth informed her younger sister. “He is always fun to be around, is he not?” None of her sisters or brother disagreed with her.
“The Darcys and Fitzwilliam arrive this afternoon, so we will not be alone for Easter,” Fanny related. “Uncle Edward and Aunt Maddie will not be able to join us, but Uncle Frank and Aunt Hattie will, as well as the Lucas, Goulding, and Long families on Easter Day.” Fanny looked at her son, “You may go to Nick or have him here as much as you want, so you have another boy to play with.”
As the children departed the breakfast parlour, Fanny put a restraining hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “Please remain, Lizzy. Papa and I want to talk to you.”
“How many years has it been since William was rude to you—all of us—at Pemberley?” Fanny asked once the other children had departed.
“About five years,” Elizabeth owned.
“Then for what reason are you still standoffish with him?” Bennet asked. “He has not been rude to you since, has he?”
“No, he has not,” Elizabeth confirmed.
“Then what is it, Lizzy?” Fanny pushed.
“He…he always thinks he is right about everything,” Elizabeth got out. She was not happy with her parents, who laughed at her response. “What is so funny about that?”
“Do you know who you have just described, Lizzy?” Bennett asked through his laughter.
“Yes, William Darcy!” Elizabeth insisted indignantly.
“Mayhap, but also another. Do you know who that would be?” Bennet asked as he wiped tears of mirth from his eyes.
“I am sure I know not who you mean, Papa.” Elizabeth gave a sniff and would not look directly at either of her parents. Neither of her parents were fooled; they were fully aware she knew exactly to whom her father was referring.
“Lizzy, if you gaze in the looking glass, you will see one who dislikes being told she is wrong as much as—if not more than—William,” Fanny said gently as she took her daughter’s hand. “You are both stubborn to a fault.”
“Neither of you are right all the time, and neither wrong all the time. The truth is, if you would both listen to what the other is saying more closely, you would both benefit from learning together,” Bennet told his daughter. “You know that William sometimes has a valid point when you are debating, do you not?” Elizabeth nodded. “Just as I am sure he recognises the same in you.”
“Even when he disagrees with you, does William ever dismiss your opinions because you are asillylittle girl?” Fanny asked.
Elizabeth searched her memories and could not find one instance William had been dismissive of her. “No Mama, I do not believe he has ever done so,” Elizabeth owned.
“Is it not a sign of respect of your intellect that he who is six years your senior is willing to debate seriously with you? Would he do so if he felt your points were nonsensical?” Fanny pushed her daughter to look at the situation with a new perspective.
“There is nothing I can say to refute your points, Mama,” Elizabeth deduced.
“If you two would move past your stubbornness, then I believe you would enjoy each other’s company,” Fanny opined.
“You have my word, Mama and Papa. I will try to be more open to William’s points of view,” Elizabeth allowed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Georgiana was bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement when she saw the Darcy coach coming to a halt in front of the entrance to the manor house at Netherfield Park. She loved being with the Bennets, but in these three weeks at Netherfield without them, she had missed her family.
As her father exited the carriage, and before he had a chance to hand out his wife, his daughter launched herself into his arms, her blond ringlets flying as she hugged him tightly. William helped his mother out of the conveyance, and as soon as Lady Anne was on solid ground, Gigi was in her arms, and William was not overlooked for one of her hugs.
“Only a few more months and it is off to Cambridge, Wills,” Georgiana stated. “I have missed you.”
“And I you, Sprite,” William said as he hugged his sister to himself again.
“How many years has it been since you saw Wills, Gigi?” Andrew Fitzwilliam asked after he, his brother, and parents greeted their hosts.
