“It appears we must leave you now, William,” said his mother as she approached them with Kitty on her heels.
Darcy noted the carriage was ready to depart, and he nodded, though with no little reluctance. “It appears to be so. Thank you for escorting Elizabeth here, Mother.”
“I would not have you pine away with no hope of seeing her,” quipped his mother, with Kitty giggling behind her.
“No, indeed,” was Elizabeth’s wry addition to the conversation.
“I cannot wait until we are again in each other’s company, Elizabeth.”
With a last few words of affection and farewell, Darcy handed the ladies into the coach and watched as it rolled down the street and onto the road leading south beyond. To Darcy’s gratification, Elizabeth turned to look at him, her eyes remaining fixed on his until she was too far away to see. Then, when the carriage disappeared, Darcy sighed and mounted his horse, setting it into a canter toward Pemberley.
The ensuing days proceeded much as those previous. Darcy busied himself about the estate, riding out to meet tenants, dealing with disputes, inspecting fences and fields, and learning all he could about his new enterprise. As the last days of February waned and March arrived, their attention turned to planting, and Darcy closeted himself with Moore, the steward of the estate. In all this, Fitzwilliam was his faithful companion; even if he had not managed an estate himself, Fitzwilliam had learned at his father’s knee.
At length, when the first week of March had almost passed away, Darcy made the final decision on his return to the south;as Fitzwilliam’s need to return to his duties influenced the timing, they planned to travel together.
“It is a letter from my general,” said Fitzwilliam as he opened a folded missive that accompanied Pemberley’s post that morning. “As I suspected, he is requesting my return to my post in London.”
“That is unfortunate,” said Georgiana, though with a twinkle in her eye. “You have enjoyed this holiday from soldiering, but now you must go back.”
Fitzwilliam turned a grin at his young cousin. “Time and the army wait for no man, Georgiana. As I am a second son, I must make my way in the world, and thus, I serve at the pleasure of my commanding officer.”
“When do you suppose you will overcome your wanderlust?” Georgiana offered the question with studied innocence. “As I recall, you must have a woman possessing fifty thousand pounds to maintain your lifestyle. Do you not suppose you should be about finding her?”
“Perhaps I would, if I thought there was any chance of it. If I could convince Charity to introduce me to her hordes of friends, I might have some success.”
Georgiana shook her head, and Fitzwilliam turned to Darcy. “It appears that I am for the south, Darcy, for I must be in London by the twenty-third.”
Darcy considered the date. “Shall we depart on the seventeenth? We shall be at Netherfield by the nineteenth, then you will have only a brief journey to London.”
“I have no objection,” agreed Fitzwilliam.
“If I might make a suggestion,” said Mrs. Younge.
When Fitzwilliam nodded, she addressed Georgiana. “As you recall, your brother and I discussed a holiday on the coast. Perhaps when we go to the south, you and I can proceed to the house in Ramsgate and stay there for a few weeks.”
“I am not certain that is at all advisable at the moment,” said Fitzwilliam while Darcy watched. “What do you think, Georgiana?”
As they had received no confirmation about Georgiana’s guardianship question, Darcy allowed Fitzwilliam to speak in situations such as this. It would, he supposed, be acceptable for Georgiana to holiday in Ramsgate in April, as her deep mourning for her brother would have elapsed. However, Darcy agreed with Fitzwilliam, for he thought Georgiana would be better at Netherfield in the society of Elizabeth’s sisters. Georgiana, it appeared, agreed with Darcy’s opinion on the subject.
“Going to Ramsgateisappealing, but I believe I would prefer Hertfordshire instead.” Georgiana turned a smile at Darcy. “I am impatient to see Kitty again and to meet her other sisters, for both Elizabeth and Kitty have told me so much about them.”
“The season will soon start,” added Darcy. “Though I know you are too young to participate, I suspect your aunt and uncle would prefer you remain in London for the duration. Perhaps this summer we can consider the Ramsgate proposal.”
“I agree,” said Georgiana.
“Thank you, Mrs. Younge,” said Fitzwilliam, turning back to the companion. “Please continue as you have. Georgiana can concentrate on her studies while she remains at Pemberley, as I cannot suppose she will be so eager when she is among the Bennet sisters in Hertfordshire.”
“Very well, Colonel Fitzwilliam,” said Mrs. Younge, not showing a hint of her feelings.
It was later that day, when Darcy was alone in the study seeing to a few matters, that Georgiana joined him. The knock on the door was so diffident that Darcy suspected who it was at once, not at all surprised when the girl entered upon hearing his invitation. Though he had come to know her these weeks inDerbyshire, Darcy had rarely spoken in private with her. As he wasnother brother, some might call a private conversation in a room with a closed door a breach of propriety, but as Darcy was to become her guardian, he did not concern himself with such things.
“Yes, Georgiana?” asked Darcy when she sat in a chair in front of the desk, perching herself on the edge as if ready to flee at the first sign of danger.
The girl did not speak for several moments after she entered, but then she appeared to gather her courage. “I wished to... thank you, William.”
Darcy arched an eyebrow. “For what, my dear?”
Georgiana fidgeted with the gown. “For making the transition so easy for me.”
