Prologue

27 November, 1811

Darcy House, Mayfair, London

Fitzwilliam Darcy was having a terrible day. He arrived at his house in Belgrave Square weary from his travels, and more weary from the events of the previous evening. He muttered under his breath, cursing Bingley, balls, and every Bennet in the land as he strode into the house - he was not expecting to encounter his sister and their cousin in the drawing room, laughing and chatting by the fire.

“Brother!”

Georgiana sprang up and ran toward him, her arms outstretched. He embraced her warmly, though his distemper could not be shaken so easily. She withdrew, looking up at him with a wary gaze. “I hope you do not mind that we have come from Matlock House to greet you.”

“I am astonished that you knew I was coming at all - I meant to visit you tomorrow, Gigi, once I had….”

His voice trailed off. Once he had drank away his disappointment, in both his hopes for his friend and his private wishes for his own heart.

“Miss Bingley sent an express yesterday,”

Georgiana explained.

“Was Hertfordshire really so ghastly?”

Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam sipped at a glass of the fine brandy which he routinely claimed was his primary reason for visiting his favorite cousin in London. Then he lifted a letter from the end table and made a great show of perusing it. “Your devoted admirer suggests the entire neighborhood is completely barbaric, and even the society of the local gentry is insupportable. Tell me, has Bingley escaped the clutches of his latest angel?”

Darcy sank onto the sofa, with Georgiana still lingering at his side. He sighed as Richard smirked and handed him the letter. It contained just the sort of vitriol he might expect from Caroline Bingley, though he bristled at her self-assurance, for she assumed he would do her bidding in influencing Bingley against the match.

“I will confess, I was surprised that Bingley did not seek my counsel before proposing to Miss Bennet at the ball last night.”

Richard raised his eyebrows. “Astonishing indeed. So the Bingleys have not accompanied you back to London?”

“They are receiving the well-wishes of Miss Bennet’s relations at Netherfield - or at least they were, when I departed,”

Darcy said, attempting to regulate his disappointment in this outcome.

Georgiana frowned. “Is she truly a fortune hunter? You described her sister as very charming and agreeable.”

Before Darcy could answer, Richard threw his head back and guffawed. “The idea of Miss Bingley, of all people, calling somebody a fortune hunter! If this Miss Jane Bennet were really such a creature, it would be Darcy now plagued by the felicitations of ‘Hertfordshire’s most tiresome social climbers’ as Miss Bingley so endearingly refers to her future relations. Of course, Miss Bennet may have decided that though Darcy here is richer than his friend, Bingley’s superior affability was worth glimpsing Pemberley only as a frequent visitor rather than mistress of the house.”

Richard took another sip of his brandy and then asked Georgiana, “But what is this about Miss Bennet’s sister? Surely Darcy has not actually praised a young lady, for I know it is an activity he assiduously avoids.”

Georgiana furrowed her brow in confusion. “He has said that Miss Elizabeth Bennet is generally well-liked in Meryton, that she plays and sings prettily, is a great reader, and is lively and witty in conversation. You enjoyed her company while the elder Miss Bennet was ill at Netherfield - is that not so, Will?”

Once again Darcy was cut off by the effusive japery of his cousin. “Ha! Darcy is in love! Excellent! Oh, I do hope it vexes you terribly, Darcy - how perfect it would be if she despised you, as I am sure the lady must do if you truly disapprove of her sister’s match with your friend.”

Georgiana gasped. “Oh! I had not thought of that! Will? Do you really admire one sister and disapprove of the other? Such inconsistency is not in your nature, I am sure of it - you are too good!”

His companions finally seemed content to allow him to speak, but Darcy knew not what to say as they stared expectantly at him, and he resented coming home to such an inquisition when he had wanted only to ruminate over the very conundrum they were quizzing him about. “Jane and Elizabeth Bennet are as different from one another as Charles and Caroline Bingley,”

he protested.

“So Miss Bennet is a fortune hunter?”

Georgiana looked crestfallen. “Poor Mr. Bingley!”

“That is not exactly what I meant,”

Darcy said. “It would be more truthful to say that it is their mother whose motives are mercenary. Miss Bennet does not behave as Miss Bingley does - she is far more reserved, and shows Bingley only the same quiet civility she bestows on everybody. I shall admit her serenity and reserve seem to be as sincere as her kindness, though I have no doubt she would wed the very devil if instructed to do so by her mother.”

“And Miss Elizabeth? She is not kind and obliging? You said….”

Darcy waved off his sister’s question. “She is very kind. I was impressed by the affection she showed her elder sister, walking three miles to Netherfield to tend to her when Miss Bennet conveniently fell ill after her mother sent her on horseback just before it rained.”

Darcy paused to frown at the mortification he had felt on Miss Bennet’s behalf, for it was evident that she had not wanted to put herself forward in such a way. But she had done it.

Inevitably, his thoughts drifted back to Elizabeth, and he felt his lips twitching into a smile. “Obliging she is not,”

he said, a note of pride seeping into his voice. “Miss Elizabeth knows her own mind well enough, which makes for lively debates; even when she is thoroughly wrong, she is confident and sportive. Her mother could never command her into any great folly, though she is willful enough to get there on her own, and too stubborn to be dissuaded from her own nonsense when she does not wish it.”

Darcy scowled, thinking of his conversation with Elizabeth at the ball. She had defended Wickham because he flattered her vanity, and no doubt the villain had spun his tale of woe for her, too. If she did not despise him already, she surely would if she were to learn that he had intended to dissuade Bingley from offering for Jane Bennet. Which was, his friend had confided that morning, exactly why he had told nobody of his intentions.

As Darcy brooded, Richard crossed the room to refill his glass of brandy, and made a gesture indicating he would pour one for Darcy, too, but Darcy shook his head; he made a habit to never drink in his sister’s presence. Richard grinned as he returned to his seat. “This Miss Elizabeth sounds utterly delightful. If she had any fortune, I would demand you introduce me, and woo her myself, since you have no such skills, and could never hope to win her heart, anyhow.”

Darcy grimaced at the affront, envy stirring in his chest as he considered how well Elizabeth would like his cousin.

Georgiana gasped and swatted at Richard. “How can you say such a thing?”

“Very easily,”

Richard replied. “Your brother says Miss Elizabeth will not be led by her pernicious mother, which is certainly a point in her favor, and yet it may be better for your brother if she was influenced by his fortune, for surely his disapproval of a most beloved sister must sink him in her esteem.”

“As it happens, I have no intention of attempting to win her heart,”

Darcy snapped. “Her family is entirely unsuitable.”

“Whilst our own is entirely without fault,”

Richard drawled. “I suppose you would not deny yourself the sublime pleasure of pining over her for the rest of your acquaintance - her sister is to wed your dearest friend, therefore you will often be together in company, I should imagine. It would be much better to soak up the scraps of her vivacity from the corner of the room, where you might glare at everyone as you imagine taking the lady in your arms - yes, this would be infinitely preferable to actually having her. Aha! See how he averts his gaze, Gigi? That is as guilty a look as I have ever seen!”

“I am sure, in time, we might meet as indifferent acquaintances,”

Darcy said, attempting to affect nonchalance. “I cannot think why you should belabor a subject of so little importance.”

“Masterful deflection indeed, Darcy,”

Richard said with a merry hoot. “I am always curious about how you behave amongst strangers, as I generally only observe you in a family setting. And your friendship with Bingley has ever fascinated me.”

“Vexing me has ever fascinated you,”

Darcy drawled, but Richard predictably ignored him.

“I am sure I could write a treatise on such incomprehensible duality! Bingley has not your grand estate nor your noble connections, and yet he is ten times as cheerful as you, and clearly does as he pleases. You, on the other hand, have been given everything - men would kill for a fraction of your good fortune in every circumstance, for you are not only rich enough to make me ill in my stomach, you are connected to nobility, your estate is one of the finest in England, you are intelligent and able-bodied, and by all accounts rather handsome. You have more reason to be cheerful and more right to do as you please than Bingley. While I should normally deserve Bedlam for agreeing with Bingley’s sister, in this instance I think he has far more reason to be discerning in his choice of bride - if the Bennets are really so beastly, it will be more of a detriment to Bingley than it ever could be to you. But perhaps you do not have the same affection for Miss Elizabeth as Bingley has for Jane Bennet.”

Georgiana's eyes sparkled with amusement and she gave a little clap of her hands at Richard’s speech. “That was very clever of you,”

she said softly. Then she shifted her gaze toward Darcy, her eyes narrowing as she attempted the same stratagem. “You wrote that Miss Bennet is renowned as the beauty of the county - perhaps her sister is not as pleasing to the eye as she is to the mind?”

Darcy gritted his teeth, refusing to betray his burning desire to defend Elizabeth as the finest creature walking the earth. Elizabeth’s style of beauty was incomparable, for it was enhanced by her effervescent spirit and her playful wit. And certainly his affection for her was deeper than Bingley’s superficial infatuation with Jane Bennet. He glared at his companions, desperate to retreat.

“I ought not to tease you so,”

Georgiana conceded. “Indeed, it is Miss Bennet and not her sister of whom I ought to think well; whatever your feelings for Miss Elizabeth may be, it is the future Mrs. Bingley who deserves my good wishes,”

Georgiana said, giving Richard an arch look.

He took the bait, responding with a knowing smile. “And why is that, dearest?”

“I have the good sense to hope that a young lady of a diffident disposition, who possesses a few relations of whom she might be reasonably embarrassed, and who is expected to marry to advantage might actually enjoy a true love match, despite having such a mark against her that even a tradesman’s daughter sniping her way through her fifth year out in society might object.”

For a moment, Darcy and his cousin could only share a look of astonishment at Georgiana’s uncharacteristic effrontery. Then Richard gave a roar of laughter and applause, waggling his eyebrows at Darcy. “A hit acknowledged,”

he deadpanned, making a sweeping gesture with an imaginary fencing foil.

Georgiana’s eyes widened, but before she could apologize, Darcy laid a hand on her shoulder. “What happened last summer with Wickham is not a mark against you,”

he said gently.

“If Miss Bingley knew of it, she might think Miss Bennet a better match for her brother than me, despite all of her little hints.”

Darcy had not realized his sister was aware of Miss Bingley’s avaricious scheme to unite their families once, in the hope of doing so a second time for her own sake. He sighed, reminded again of Elizabeth's partiality for Wickham. He could fault neither of the ladies he was so fond of for their willingness to see the good in a man of charming manners - the fault was all Wickham’s for such duplicity.

Before he could give his sister any further assurances, she smiled weakly and nudged his shoulder with her own. “I am past the worst of my heartache, and I would spare you such disappointment, if I can. You admire Miss Elizabeth as you have never before admired any lady, and the obstacles seem to be of your own invention, Will. Our family is just as… varied in character….”

Richard grinned and gave a jaunty wave of his hand as both Darcy siblings glanced his way. “I am a deeply deranged blight upon the family dignity to be sure, and our Aunt Catherine is the most mercenary mother in England.”

“And her parson is heir to the Bennets’ estate,”

Darcy quipped, eliciting a howl of amusement from his cousin.

Georgiana squeezed her brother’s hand to reclaim his attention. “If you remain so determined to invent objections to Miss Elizabeth, I fear that either your friendship with Bingley will suffer, or your sanity shall. And I am inclined to take up the defense of any young lady whose circumstances resemble my own. I am a timid creature facing daunting expectations on the marriage mart, and I have endured the friendship of Miss Bingley, which is not any better than her disapproval, I daresay. If not for Mr. Bingley or Miss Elizabeth, can you not think kindly of Miss Bennet for my sake?”

Darcy smiled at his beloved sister, and then gave his cousin a look of triumph. He could not do otherwise than indulge Georgiana, whose present entreaty was endearing and admirable. And perhaps it would teach Richard that his raillery was not half so effective as Georgiana’s gentler approach. “I will do my best,”

he said earnestly. “I am tired from travelling, and in want of some refreshment, but I promise that I shall give the matter considerable thought indeed, when my mind is at leisure to do so.”

He was as good as his word, and three weeks later, when Charles Bingley called in Belgrave Square, Darcy was of a completely different opinion on the wedding, though he had not attended. He offered his old friend his apologies, citing his business in London rather than admitting he had not wanted to risk Georgiana encountering Mr. Wickham, though she had been as keen to attend as Darcy had become after all her persuasion.

“It must seem like a scandalously rushed business, or at least that is what Caroline told me,”

Bingley said, laughing despite the truth in his statement. One might get entirely the wrong impression about such a hasty marriage, though Darcy had come to believe Jane Bennet was not the kind of woman who would have entrapped his friend in such a way. After all, Elizabeth Bennet was too worthy herself to be devoted to a lady of dubious morals.

“It was her mother,”

Bingley admitted with a shake of his head that spoke volumes. “Jane had no wish for all the fuss her mother wished to make of wedding planning, and now that we are wed, I do not know how I could have waited any longer without running mad. You really ought to take a wife, Darcy - it is jolly good fun!”

At Darcy’s side, Georgiana discreetly nudged him, and he found he had no wish to argue with his friend. “Pray, where is Mrs. Bingley now? I should like to offer her my heartiest congratulations.”

“So would I,”

Georgiana echoed. “I have been eager to make her acquaintance since first I heard news of your engagement.”

“I suppose she is with your sisters,”

Darcy said cautiously. He was rewarded with a knowing smile from his old friend.

“The Hursts were obliged to attend to urgent matters at their estate in Shropshire which shall require their presence for many weeks more, and Caroline accompanied them,”

Bingley replied, a twinkle in his eye suggesting his sister had not gone of her own free will.

“Jane is shopping with her aunt, Mrs. Gardiner, who resides here in London; we have both found ourselves in want of a new winter wardrobe, for - you will never believe it - I have purchased an estate in Derbyshire, Darcy! You may recall that when I took the lease of Netherfield at Michaelmas, I was disappointed that another buyer moved more quickly than I in securing Macallister Manor - well, there was some complication that arose and the transaction never proceeded - I shall not bore you with the details - but I came to London as soon as my solicitor sent word of it, and everything ought to be settled on the morrow! We shall set out for Meryton very early Friday morning and attend Miss Lucas’s wedding to Mr. Collins, and then all of my bride’s relations shall accompany us to our new home just in time for Christmas! You are both invited to travel with us, of course,”

Mr. Bingley said, fairly panting at the end of his effusions.

“We would be delighted to join in your merriment,”

Georgiana cried, clapping her hands and giving an eager little bounce.

“Capital! I have often thought how well you would get on with my dear Jane,”

Bingley said.

Georgiana gave her brother a supremely smug smile. “That is delightful to hear! And I understand she has several sisters - what of them?”

“They are all perfectly charming creatures,”

Mr. Bingley said, but then shifted uncomfortably. “The younger ones are about your age, though they are more, ah, energetic in their pursuits. Miss Elizabeth - Miss Bennet, now - she is a most amusing young woman, and she shares your talent at the pianoforte. She is also as fond of jests as the colonel - will your cousin be at Pemberley or Matlock? I confess I have always wanted to attend their famous Twelfth Night celebration, and Caroline will be mad with envy if I do so without her.”

Recollecting what Richard had said about desiring an introduction to Elizabeth, Darcy clenched his jaw. Georgiana appeared to recall the comment with greater amusement than Darcy could muster, for she gave him a saucy look before telling Bingley, “I shall make certain that he is included in all our happy schemes in Derbyshire. He did say that he would be given some leave in the new year, after first travelling north on some very secretive business for his new post at the Intelligence Department at the War Office.”

“Not too secretive, I hope - I should like to hear all about his heroics when we are all in Derbyshire together,”

Bingley cried. “Well, capital! Shall you join our happy caravan northward on Friday?”

Darcy was obliged to demur once more, fearful of his sister encountering George Wickham in Meryton. “I shall need a few more days to conclude some business here in London before we can travel - we may be a day or two behind you in reaching Derbyshire, but we shall send word when we reach Pemberley.”

Bingley shook hands warmly with him, preparing to take his leave. “I really am the happiest of men!”

Considering the prospect of Elizabeth Bennet at Pemberley for Christmas, Darcy silently echoed that sentiment.