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24. Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

Darcy climbed into his carriage, his mind awhirl with conflict. So much had happened the last five months. For the most part, the plans he had started had been working well, but still he felt unsettled, and he did not want to admit why. So instead he stared out the window, trying to distract himself from what concern him the most.

The carriage came to an abrupt halt, causing Darcy to startle and glance around, only then realizing that he had reached his club where he was supposed to meet Bingley. Nodding to his footman in thanks, Darcy descended the steps and walked rapidly inside, finding Bingley drinking a cup of coffee and reading one of the latest treatises on crop rotation. Seeing Darcy, Bingley stood and said, “Darcy, it is good to see you, after so long.” Clapping Darcy on the back, he added, “How are you? How are things?”

Smiling, Darcy answered, “I am well, my friend, and as for things, perhaps we can retreat to one of the less used rooms and talk over our meal.”

Eyes alert, Bingley nodded and finishing off his coffee, Bingley moved with Darcy to a room where they could eat unbothered by people eager to overhear them. They chatted about inconsequential things until their food had arrived and they were left alone. Watching the retreating back of the server, Darcy asked, “How is everything in Meryton?”

Smiling, Bingley answered, “Not a lot has changed since my last letter.”

Chuckling, Darcy said, “You realize I can rarely read more than half of your letters. Though I congratulate you on your engagement to Miss Bennet.”

Bingley grinned, chagrined, as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I keep meaning to work on that,” he admitted. Then brightening, Bingley exclaimed, “Thank you, Darcy. I am truly happy to have Jane as my future wife.”

Darcy was happy to see such a look of joy on his friend’s face, but then Bingley’s smile faded as he said, “Jane is still quite distressed over the rift in the Bennet family. Actually, she has asked to postpone our wedding until Elizabeth may attend, though I do not understand how we might manage that without extreme distress to Miss Elizabeth. What do you think? Would it be possible for Miss Elizabeth to attend our wedding?”

Leaning back into the cushions of his chair, Darcy pondered the question. Elizabeth remained firm on never stepping foot in Longbourn again. Knowing that she wished to be present at her sister’s wedding, he acknowledged that she would have to find accommodation away from Longbourn. It was possible, but would not be easy.

Taking a sip of the claret that had been served with the meal, Darcy sighed before saying, “I think she would love nothing more than to be at her sister’s wedding, but she will not set foot on Longbourn land while either of her parents remain. Your wedding would have to be after she reaches her majority and she will have to stay somewhere else, possibly Netherfield. Still, I would hate for her parents to make a fuss at your wedding.”

“I had assumed it would be difficult for Miss Elizabeth to return to Longbourn. Still, we will plan for the wedding to take place a week or two after Miss Elizabeth reaches her majority. That way she can attend if we can manage it.” Then, turning more serious, Bingley asked, “How has everything that you were handling gone?”

Cutting into his pheasant, Darcy said “Dealing with Mr. Collins was certainly easier than I thought it would be. Obviously, the church investigated him and found that he not only broke canon law regularly, but he had been taking advantage of the people of the perish with Lady Catherine’s blessing. There had been some hesitation as to whether or not they should excommunicate him and be done with it or handle it in a different matter.”

Putting down his glass after taking a sip of his claret, Bingley asked, “So what did they decide?”

Chewing contemplatively, Darcy swallowed before saying, “My godfather and his associates decided that Mr. Collins should not be excommunicated as they felt a sense of responsibility towards him and believed they could exert more influence over him if he remained associated with the church. Mr. Collins found himself at a crossroads, where he had to make a tough decision. He could either accept excommunication and the responsibility of repaying the tithes he had collected, as well as making reparations to the families he had wronged, or he could embark on a journey to India as a curate, assisting a rector in establishing a missionary school.”

“What did he decide?” questioned Bingley.

Darcy could not but help smile when he said, “Mr. Collins is currently in India under the thumb of a very strict taskmaster being forced to help others.”

Nodding, Bingley said, “It seems fitting. He had obviously been taught the wrong things. Perhaps he will learn to do better.” Bingley’s eyes widened, and he questioned, “What about your aunt, Lady Catherine? She was the one who caused so much of his bad behavior.”

Darcy nearly spewed his wine when Bingley asked about his aunt. Once he regained control of himself, he explained, “My aunt was severely displeased that her toady had been taken away from her. She was even more displeased to learn that she would no longer have the ability to decide who was to be given the position of vicar near Rosings. She went so far as to make her way to London to call on the assistance of her brother, the earl.” Chuckling, he finished, “Which turned out to be a bad idea.”

Siting forward in his seat, Bingley asked, “What did the earl do?”

Darcy explained, “My uncle, the earl, was more than displeased when he understood the extent of his sister’s depravities and forced her to remove to the dower house. The only thing Lady Catherine is in control of now is her wardrobe.”

After enjoying another bite of his meal, Darcy added, “It has been amazing for my cousin, Anne. Lady Catherine’s iron grip on Anne’s life has hindered her from gaining any knowledge or independence. To address this, plans were made to revitalize Rosings and give Anne the opportunity to flourish.”

Both men chuckled at the fate of Lady Catherine for a moment before focusing on their meals for a time. That did not mean his mind was idle; in fact, his thoughts were racing at an overwhelming pace. In the five months that Elizabeth had been living with his sister, the daunting task of figuring out how to bring justice to her parents for the harm they had caused had consumed Darcy. He was certain that Elizabeth was far more forgiving than he was proving to be. He knew he should take his cue from her, but he had simply not found a way to let the harm to her go. Darcy knew Elizabeth longed to stay as far away as possible from the couple who had raised her, while he was determined to make them rue their actions.

Darcy had never been vindictive toward anyone in the past except for possibly Wickham and that was because he had harmed a person he loved. That very morning, as Darcy contemplated his thirst for revenge on behalf of Elizabeth, he stumbled upon a shocking revelation. He had fallen in love with Elizabeth Bennet and that was why he wanted so desperately to protect her.

To say it had been a shock had been an understatement. It made him remember the conversation he had with Bingley so many months ago when Bingley had said, “When you do finally find love for yourself, it will blindside you.” Bingley had been right. He was blindsided, and it made things so much more complicated.

Elizabeth leaned into Georgianna as she giggled. Things could have been so much more difficult for her when she had to leave Longbourn if it was not for Georgianna and her brother, Mr. Darcy. She could have to use up all of her savings to get by or even been alone and looking for employment. Yet here she was giggling at the absurdity of a novel with her friend that had become like a sister to her.

Getting control of themselves, they both sat up and Georgianna asked, “Do you think the author intended that scene to be taken that way or was it written to be satirical?”

Elizabeth pondered the question for a moment. She was not an author and rarely thought about the process that went into creating the novels that she so enjoyed. She glanced across the room to see if Mrs. Annesley had any input, but she only smiled indulgently and continued to work on her latest project.

So Elizabeth said, “I would hope that the author was being satirical. It’s a sorrowful notion to think that someone who possesses the ability to express themselves so coherently would hold the belief that the world operates in such a narrow fashion.” Then, smiling again, she added, “Either way, I have enjoyed reading it out loud with you.”

Closing the book in her lap, Georgianna said, “I have enjoyed it as well. Before you came to stay with me, it was not a pastime I had ever thought to try. It is no wonder your sisters enjoyed it so much.”

“As much as this has been entertaining,” Mrs. Annesley sighed, “I fear it is time for us to get ready to go to the modiste. I know you do not want to be late.” Saying so, she put down her watch fob and put away her supplies of embroidery threads.

With a smile directed at Georgianna, Elizabeth inquired, “Have you given any thought to what you might want made?”

Standing, Georgianna smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress, saying, “I would like to use that lovely fabric your uncle gifted me for an evening gown. I know I am not out yet, so it will have to be simple, but I would like something new for the next time William takes us to the theater or the opera.”

Elizabeth could easily imagine such a gown and said, “I think that is a lovely idea. That light peach fabric would look wonderful as an evening gown.”

Bustling about, the three ladies were able to get ready to leave in practically no time at all and soon enough, they were in the carriage that Mr. Darcy had provided for their use. Elizabeth had never truly enjoyed visiting the modiste with her mother and sisters, but she had found that without the chaos that her mother produced in her wake, attending with Georgianna was actually enjoyable.

Upon entering the shop that Georgianna frequented, the proprietress quickly greeted them, saying, “Welcome, ladies. It is a pleasure to once again to have you in my shop. We have everything ready for the two of you.”

Suspicious, Elizabeth glanced at Georgianna, who looked the other way as she responded to the shop owner. “Madame Genevieve, you are too kind to fit my friend and I into your schedule at the same time. Of course, my dress will have to be sedate as I am not out yet, but I would like my friend Miss Elizabeth to look marvelous the next time we go to the theater.”

Not wanting to embarrass Georgianna in front of the proprietress, she waited until they were alone, looking over some fashion plates with a cup of tea and some delectables. Once they were alone, just the three of them, though Mrs. Annesley was studiously avoiding their confrontation, Elizabeth said, “Georgie, did you forget to tell me something?”

Biting her lip for a moment Georgianna said, “I knew you would insist on having the fabric your uncle gave you made up in something rather more practical at the modiste that you see. But really, Lizzie, that fabric is meant for something so much more that an adequate dress.” Setting her shoulders firmly, Georgianna continued, “Besides, I have always wanted to have a dress made up with you, and it is my treat! You would not want to see me disappointed, would you?”

Raising an eyebrow at Georgianna’s pathetic expression, Elizabeth shook her head at her friend’s manipulation but knew that she would not gainsay her. With a huff, Elizabeth picked up a fashion plate before saying, “Fine, but I am putting my foot down when it comes to lace. I cannot abide the stuff.” Staring intently at Georgianna, Elizabeth’s severe expression left no room for doubt as she stated firmly, “Lace will not be tolerated.”

This set them both off into a round of laughter, and even Mrs. Annesley was chuckling when Madame Genevieve returned. Looking between them all, she asked with concern, “Is there something amiss, ladies?”

Attempting to keep a straight face, Georgianna explained, “My friend Miss Elizabeth was just explaining the depth of her disdain for lace. It is not something she will tolerate on her dress.” Georgianna could barely get her words out before she broke into another snicker.

Nodding sagely, Madame Genevieve said, “Yes, I can understand the hesitation, Miss Elizabeth. The emphasis on using lace as a display of wealth often overshadows the importance of true style for many women.” Smiling at Elizabeth, she added, “I can see that it will be a pleasure to dress you. In fact, I think I have just the pattern that will go with the fabric that Miss Darcy sent over in advance of your arrival.” Going towards a table nestled in the corner, she carefully examined a stack of fashion plates and eventually returned with a chosen one.

Handing the plate to Elizabeth, she added, “Now that I have seen you and know the sort of look you want, I think this would suit you well.”

Taking the fashion plate, Elizabeth studied it and knew immediately that the woman was right. It was simple but extremely elegant, and there was not a speck of lace on the design. The dress would be perfect for the moss green silk her uncle had given her. And yet…

Elizabeth pressed her palm into her stomach. The thought of wearing such a dress and accompanying Mr. Darcy to the opera or the theater filled her with nervous excitement, causing her to swallow convulsively. Refusing to focus on the butterflies in her stomach or the reason for them, Elizabeth swallowed again before saying, “I think it is perfect.”

While Georgianna had never been happy that her friend had so much go wrong in her life, having Elizabeth stay with her had certainly improved her own life. For example, her dinners with her brother had always been stilted at the very least. Now they were nothing but delightful.

“Of course, Lydia’s mouth and hands were stained purple, so our cook had no problem figuring out who had eaten the blackberries she had saved to make tarts,” Elizabeth chuckled at the memory.

William was quick to say, “Growing up with so many siblings so close together in age was quite entertaining.”

Smiling across the table at William, Elizabeth said, “I did not realize it, at the time, but yes, I quite enjoyed my childhood with my sisters.”

Smiling at Elizabeth’s story, Georgianna took another bite of her food, just happy with how her life had improved in the last year. Not only had she met Elizabeth and obtained her first genuine friend, but then that friend had moved in with her and they had become even closer. Just that morning she had gone with Elizabeth to the modiste, and they were able to chat over the dresses that they were having made. Even though she was tired, the joy she experienced made every moment worth it.

Buttering a roll, Georgianna watched as her best friend and her brother talked of one of the books they had both read. She grinned as Elizabeth said, “That was not it at all. Taking the first passage into account completely alters the meaning of the passage you are referring to.”

Without having read the book, Georgianna observed as they engaged in a lively debate, passionately discussing the different elements of the story. Most times that her brother came for dinner, he and Elizabeth got into some form of discussion or debate about something intellectual.

Georgianna found it quite entertaining to watch the two of them. Though their words may have hinted at disagreement, the smiles on their faces revealed their underlying harmony to Georgianna. Taking a bite out of her roll, Georgianna froze in mid chew as she looked more closely at Elizabeth’s smile. There was just something about her smile, or was it the look in her eyes?

Georgianna’s eyes narrowed as she closely examined Elizabeth’s face. There was just something about the way her friend’s eyes sparkled as she watched William. Somehow, it added to the strength of her smile. Was Elizabeth in love with William? Somehow, Georgianna thought it was possible. What was more, Georgianna suspected that Elizabeth herself did not know of the depth of her feelings.

Smiling, Georgianna looked across the table at where Mrs. Annesley sat, curious to see if she had noticed, but it seemed that she hadn’t. Georgianna rather liked being the only one who knew of Elizabeth’s feelings. More than that, she thought that it was going to be highly entertaining to watch things unfold.

She did not know what her brother felt for Elizabeth; he was much more difficult to read. Georgianna hoped he would return Elizabeth’s feelings, at least eventually. The longer she thought about it, the more she realized how perfect they were for each other. While they were both intelligent and loved reading and expanding their horizons, it wasn’t just that. Elizabeth would infuse William’s life with brightness and joy, while William would push Elizabeth to discover more about herself and the world around her. Even Pemberley would be better for them working together.

Georgianna was still contemplating having Elizabeth for an actual sister when she realized her brother had asked her a question. Blushing at having been caught out, she responded, “I am sorry I was woolgathering. What did you say?”

Smiling, William said, “I am sorry we got so involved in our debate. I was just asking you if you had any plans for the week.”

In a flurry of quick thinking, Georgianna’s mind whirled as she attempted to concoct a scheme to orchestrate a romantic encounter between Elizabeth and her brother. “I do not think we have anything specific planned, though I was just thinking it would be nice to go do something fun one of these evenings, maybe see a play?”

Smiling, William glanced briefly at Elizabeth before saying, “That sounds like a good idea. There is a farce that is getting excellent reviews. Would you ladies enjoy going to see it on Friday evening?”

“I think that would be lovely, don’t you think so, Lizzie?” Georgianna questioned her friend, knowing that she was never one to pass up the chance to go to the theater.

With a nod, Elizabeth gracefully wiped her mouth with her serviette and replied, “I find the idea of going to the theater and watching the new play quite enchanting.”

Georgianna felt like clapping in excitement. Now all she had to do was make sure the dresses that they commissioned were ready to wear Friday. She would send a note around to Madame Genevieve in the morning and offer an incentive to have them both ready in time.

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