Georgiana shook her head. “That is what Saye calls people who refuse to be part of the frolics. That and Sir Frederick Fun-Sucker.”
“If you find yourself following Saye’s advisements, you will always go astray.” Darcy sighed heavily, disliking the similarity between that want of propriety for which he had always disdained Elizabeth’s sisters, and his own cousin’s recklessness. “I confess we truly do not know what to do with you. Yes, we might lock you away at Pemberley, or some other rural place, but what good would it do? You are far too easily led, Georgiana, and I cannot like it.”
Never before had Darcy wished more for a wife. Never before had he wished more forElizabethto be his wife. And never before had he wished so dearly that he had never opened his mouth and uttered scorn towards her family. Spirited young ladies were a challenge to any man, father, or brother, strict or indolent.It is more like breaking a horse than I had realised. At times all you can do is simply hang on and hope for the best.
“One thing is certain: that this will materially delay your coming out,” he warned. “I cannot foist you out into society with no assurance that you will not get yourself in trouble.”
She nodded her head. “I understand.”
“My father will tell us to find someone suitable and see you wed once he hears of this,” Fitzwilliam warned.
Seeing the panic in Georgiana’s expression, Darcy hastened to say, “But neither of us wish to do that. Oneought not to be forced to relinquish the hope of true love because of a youthful indiscretion.”
“Thank you, Brother.” She sniffled a little, then gave him a sad smile. “I had never before known you to be a romantic.”
For what good it has done me.
He excused her and, shortly afterwards, bade Fitzwilliam goodnight, when he expressed his intention to retire to bed. They had agreed between them that his cousin would remain there with Georgiana tomorrow, attempting to talk some sense into her one-on-one, while Darcy was away in Hertfordshire. They had always had various degrees of success in dealing with her, both as a pair and individually. Usually, Darcy’s more fatherly approach garnered the best results; occasionally, Fitzwilliam’s slightly more distant relationship was what she needed. Least often of all—but, Darcy suspected, imperative in this situation—a little stern army talk proved just the ticket. Either way, his cousin would stay this night and visit his fellow officers the next.
Alone at last, Darcy returned to his desk and rifled through the correspondence that awaited him. He opened one or two letters, but his mind had no capacity for them and so he stopped and stared out of the window at the night while he slowly sipped the last of his drink. He would again be in the carriage at first light, ferrying a wayward miss back home, and all he could think was how little he wanted to be at Longbourn when Elizabeth was not there; about the fact that she would never live there again, for she would soon be married to someone who was not him; and about their kiss, which he doubted he would ever learn how to forget.
29
By employing the same schedule that he had used to arrive in London in good time, Darcy—along with Miss Lydia and one of the upstairs maids—arrived at Longbourn when the family had only just completed their breakfast. To his surprise, he found Bingley at the Bennets’ table.
“Darcy!” Bingley rose to his feet, almost bouncing with delight.
“Bingley, what do you do here?” Darcy enquired after greeting the others. Then, looking at Miss Bennet blushing and staring at her plate, he believed he understood it. “Dare I suppose that congratulations are in order?”
“Two daughters married!” Mrs Bennet exclaimed happily.
Darcy baulked; he had not anticipated that he would have to contend with Elizabeth’s family celebrating her engagement to Hartham. He clenched his teeth, attempting to quell his rising queasiness while Mrs Bennet rattled on.
“I can hardly comprehend it, but I told Lizzy when she inherited that house that she must go to Brighton, for surely she would find herself a husband if she did, and so she did, and now our dear Mr Bingley has returned and what happiness?—”
“Mama!” Miss Bennet interrupted her mother. “You must not?—”
“Shall Lizzy and Jane be married together?” Miss Catherine asked. “For I should think it very unfair if they stand up for one another! Lizzy ought to stand up for Jane and then I could stand up for Lizzy and?—”
“Jane must marry first,” Miss Lydia announced. “Why, she is twenty-three! She ought to get herself to the altar before Mr Bingley realises what an old maid she is!”
“Go to your room, Lydia,” Mr Bennet said with a frown. “Lest you have forgotten, Mr Darcy is not here to plan weddings; he is here because you have brought trouble to the family, and I should very much like to know what it is, that I might punish you accordingly.”
“But Papa!” Miss Lydia whinged. “I was only having fun, and surely it is punishment enough to have to cut short my visit?”
“I do not know the specifics of what you have done, but I should imagine not. Go to your bedchamber, child, and await my wrath as soon as I might bestir it.”
“Very well, but I must?—”
“Go now.” Mr Bennet peered over the top of his spectacles. “And do not remove yourself until I specifically say that you may.”
With a huff and a glare about the room, Miss Lydia flounced off.
“Come Mr Darcy, I can give you coffee and cake in my book-room where we might be quiet.”
As Darcy followed the older gentleman, he mused on how it might have been if this private conference had been for a different purpose. What might it have been were he here seeking permission for his beloved’s hand? Alas it was not to be. Elizabeth’s family were discussing her wedding, and his last hopes that her engagement was ‘nothing at all’ had evaporated. He felt utterly hollow and wanted nothing more than to get this over with and be on his way.
The time required to explain the girls’ folly was not extensive. Mr Bennet was silent throughout, wincing occasionally, particularly when the subject of gaming debts was introduced. When it was finished, he stared out of his window in much the same manner as Darcy had stared out of his own the night prior.
