Mr. Darcy's Secret (12 page)

"He was not able to come because he has had to go back to London early this morning, to see about some new work," said Elizabeth, handing her the note. She was not looking forward to seeing Georgiana's reaction. Even though the letter was written for Lizzy, she knew Georgiana would be searching for any reference to herself and there was not one.

"He did not even come to say good-bye," said Georgiana in a small voice.

"Perhaps he did not have time to come. He is still making his way in the world, Georgiana, and he cannot afford to delay if he is needed, nor is he in a position to turn work away. I expect we'll see him again soon when he visits his mama."

"But he gave no hint yesterday that he was about to leave."

"I do not expect he knew himself; perhaps his patron summoned him urgently. I'm sure we will have the pleasure of his company soon enough. In any case, Georgiana, I know you are fond of him, but you are very young to be forming such a serious attachment. Time apart never did any harm where true hearts are concerned. Love and affection will be sustained if it is really lasting, and besides, one cannot live on love alone. If Tom is serious in his intentions he will want to secure his prospects and finances first before he considers taking a wife."

"But Elizabeth, I have money enough for both of us; there is no financial impediment to a match between us. I could marry any man I wish with my fortune."

"Tom is a proud young man, Georgiana. I am not sure he would wish to take such a step. I think he would want to provide for a wife and family himself."

Georgiana nodded. "Yes, you are right." She paused in contemplation of the matter. "There would be no other obstacles to a marriage between us, do you think, Elizabeth? Except that I know precisely why I am asking you that question. I do not think Fitzwilliam would really approve of such a match."

Elizabeth could not respond. Georgiana, she felt, already knew the answer to that question.

"No, it is quite hopeless," Georgiana said at last. "And I think Mr Butler realises the futility of our situation. That is why he has taken himself off to London. We cannot all expect to marry for love. Well, I daresay he will forget all about me in a day or two. Indeed, I wonder if I have not been mistaken about him in any case. How could he go away like that without saying good-bye if there were much affection in the case? I am fooling myself to think differently."

At a loss to know what to say for the best, Elizabeth could see that Georgiana was becoming most distressed. Instead of saying anything at all she joined her sister on the opposite sofa and put her arm round her in a comforting gesture. Georgiana's tears flowed as she sank against Lizzy, giving in to her emotions. "Georgiana, please do not be upset. Everything has a way of working out in the end. Life has a way of turning out in the most unexpected ways and sometimes even for the better."

"Oh, do not worry about me, Elizabeth, I am more trouble than I am worth. I shall get over Tom Butler; indeed, I have already put him out of my mind."

"Dear Georgiana, I do not believe a word of it, but I admire your spirit. That's the way. Now, let us think of something pleasurable we can look forward to doing together. Employment and diversion are what we need and something to get us through these gloomy winter days."

Georgiana dried her eyes. "I always find comfort in drawing, Lizzy. Perhaps we could do some sketches of one another."

Lizzy laughed. "Now, that is a novel idea! I'm prepared to try my hand, though I warn you, drawing was never considered to be a talent of mine. Sketching it shall be then. And talking of which, are you feeling strong enough to have a look at the designs yet?"

"I think I would prefer to delay that for the moment, Lizzy, if you do not mind. Not that I should be distressed to see them, but I do not care for them at present. I do not think I am very interested in Tom Butler's designs now. He could not be bothered to show me them himself and I do not care to see his efforts."

And rising swiftly to her feet, Georgiana immediately excused herself after planting an affectionate kiss upon Lizzy's cheek.

Before she had reached the door, however, she was checked by the appearance of one of the housemaids.

"Begging your pardon, ma'am," she said with a curtsey, "but the master asked if you and Miss Georgiana could come downstairs. Mr Calladine has called and he is most anxious to pay his respects to you."

Mr Darcy and his guest were waiting for them in the drawing room. Mr Calladine did indeed pay his respects to the ladies and was gentleman-like and courteous. Georgiana sat on the sofa next to Lizzy in her usual state of nervous fear at the prospect of being spoken to by a comparative stranger and kept her eyes diverted. Elizabeth was happily engaged in the small talk she knew was necessary for such occasions and hoped that the call would not be of too long a duration. For all her brave words, she knew that Georgiana was most upset and she wished to spare her any unnecessary misery.

After an interval of five minutes, Mr Darcy stood up and, addressing his wife, requested that she accompany him. There was a small matter he wished to discuss with her if Mr Calladine would excuse them for a few moments.

Elizabeth was horrified. To leave Georgiana on her own was highly imprudent, she thought, and gave Mr Darcy the benefit of an expression of disapproval from those fine eyes he loved so much. But her husband appeared either not to notice or had decided to ignore the frown wrinkling between Lizzy's brows. He took Mrs Darcy's arm without further delay and escorted her from the room.

As soon as they were out of earshot Elizabeth protested. "Fitzwilliam, what do you think you are doing? Georgiana will be terrified. How could you leave her on her own like that with a gentleman she hardly knows?"

"She'll know him soon enough, Mrs Darcy," he said, leading her down the corridor and into the library. He closed the door firmly before adding, "Everything has been arranged most satisfactorily."

Something in his tone of voice made Lizzy most apprehensive. She could not for a moment find her tongue to speak.

"I had expected Mr Calladine to call this morning after he requested to see me last night," he continued. "We have been discussing Georgiana's future and also that of his own. He made an offer that anyone would be a fool to turn down. Hugh Calladine will be bringing a fortune of considerable size to add to that of my sister's, an alliance which shall make her the richest woman in the county, if not all England."

Elizabeth was stunned into silence.

"He has come to make his intentions clear to Georgiana. I am sure they will both be happy in time. He is a gentleman, Elizabeth, a very respectable, straightforward sort, who on first addressing me was most keen to advise me that all past relations with a certain young woman he has been associated with are at an end and have been for some time. He is very taken with Georgiana and believes himself in love."

As this speech came to its shattering conclusion Lizzy felt unable to control her emotions any longer. "And did you once consider Georgiana's feelings in all this talk of finance and matrimony?" she asked, trying to remain calm. "He may fancy himself in love, though I doubt for one moment he is in love with Georgiana. He is exactly the sort of man who is only interested in increasing his own fortune and though he might profess his heartfelt affection now, I am certain it will diminish as rapidly as it has grown once they are married. She is young, Fitzwilliam. Nothing need be settled now. Let her find her own way with a gentleman who can really love her. Hugh Calladine is not the only young man with an inheritance. Why the hurry?"

"With respect, Elizabeth, I think I know my sister's needs better than you do. Remember, she is a vulnerable girl, easily persuaded into fancying herself in love, and I will not let her ruin her life. George Wickham was a lesson for us all. The quicker she is wed, the better it will be. For her own protection against the likes of fortune hunters like Thomas Butler, my sister and her legacy must be safeguarded. Georgiana will marry Hugh Calladine and that is the end of the matter."

Elizabeth stared at Mr Darcy in disbelief. Not for the first time in the last few days did she stare at the man she had married to consider how little she really knew him. She had been so sure of his character in Hertfordshire and now, for the moment, she could not reconcile any of her former beliefs. Looking at him, his countenance flushed from his passionate speech, his face solemn and sober, she realised it was useless to debate the matter. Without further ado, she excused herself, determining not to leave Georgiana longer than was necessary. The poor girl would be overwrought, she was sure.

As she hurried along the corridor Elizabeth could see that the drawing room door was shut tight which gave her such feelings of unease that she did not dare dwell on the thoughts that immediately sprang to her mind. Lizzy's heart was hammering as she approached and all she could think was how she had let Georgiana down. Taking a deep breath, she gave a warning knock before turning the handle. On opening the door she perceived her sister and Mr Calladine standing closely together over the hearth, as if engaged in earnest conversation. As soon as she saw them, she knew it was too late.

"Oh, Lizzy," cried Georgiana, who could not hide her expression of startled confusion. "Mr Calladine has proposed. He has asked me to marry him."

The shock of hearing such a statement took Elizabeth by surprise. She needed all her wits to think how she must react. Turning to Mr Calladine she ignored the outstretched hand proffered in her direction saying, "Mr Darcy would like to speak to you in the library this instant, Mr Calladine."

"Yes, of course, Mrs Darcy, I am certain he is most anxious to discover the outcome of my declaration to Miss Darcy in light of the interview we had this morning." He bowed toward Georgiana. "You have made me a very happy man, Miss Darcy. Do excuse me, ladies."

As soon as he had left the room Elizabeth questioned Georgiana in earnest. She observed her nervousness, the agitation in her manner. "What did you answer, Georgiana? Please tell me that you refused him."

Georgiana's eyes were very bright with tears. She bit her lip and did not immediately answer. Elizabeth watched her swallow hard before she spoke in agitation. "I accepted him, Lizzy. I could not refuse him; he had already spoken to Fitzwilliam and everything was decided between them. We are engaged."

"Engaged! No, that is impossible."

Georgiana nodded her head and repeated that it was indeed true.

"Oh, my dear," cried Elizabeth, falling into a chair, "you did not have to say yes, whatever he implied."

Georgiana took the seat next to hers, talking non-stop. "But he was so persuasive, and everything he said seemed to make perfect sense. I made him very happy when I said yes, and I know that my brother has wished for this engagement for some time."

"Georgiana, think before you say any more. You do not wish for this engagement yourself. Listen, it is not too late. Come, we will go to Fitzwilliam and tell him that you have changed your mind, that you cannot go through with it. We'll tell him that you were rushed into making a decision too soon and that you need more time before making a commitment. When he sees how upset you are he will realise his mistake. I know he desires you to be happy above all things; he could not bear to see you in tears like this."

"No, Lizzy, it is no use," whispered Georgiana, brushing away her tears with the back of her hand. "Not only did I disgrace him at the ball last night by my behaviour, but I have disappointed my brother too many times in the past. At last I have a chance to please him and to do the duty expected of me. I know it is what my parents would have wished also, and I must reconcile myself to the fact that I will be married to Hugh Calladine. It is time I grew up and recognised that real life is not a fairy tale. It is useless to dwell on what I know will never come to fruition. Mr Butler will marry elsewhere; I will learn to forget him and marry the man that has been chosen for me. I trust my brother's judgement implicitly; he has always had my best interests at heart. My parents learned to love one another; in my turn, I will learn to love Mr Calladine."

"I think you may regret your resolution, Georgiana. Your life will be changed forever because of a decision hastily and rashly made. You know this cannot be a sound basis for such an important commitment."

Georgiana rose to her feet, and Lizzy witnessed a look of determination in her countenance, a look that Elizabeth could only describe as displaying the Darcy spirit.

"Thank you, Elizabeth, I know you are trying to help me, but the truth is you cannot. My mind is made up, I shall marry, and as far as I am concerned, the sooner, the better. I will not be the first young woman to enter into such a contract and I am certain that my chance of happiness with Mr Calladine will be as good as most people can expect."

∗ ∗ ∗

Between Elizabeth and Georgiana there followed a restraint which kept them mutually silent on the subject of the engagement over the next few days; the former confidence they had shared seemed to have entirely evaporated. Elizabeth's disappointment in both her husband's attitude and that of Miss Darcy, neither of whom were prepared to listen to her point of view, made her turn to her father who did his best to listen to her concerns. Mr Bennet did not dare oppose his daughter, but he did suggest on more than one occasion that he felt ill-qualified to sit in judgement on the methods and modes of the Darcy alliances. What was good for the gander was not necessarily good for the goose, but he was convinced that Mr Darcy had his sister's best interests at heart. It was a long time before Elizabeth became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match. The strangeness of accepting an offer of marriage in such extreme haste with little reflection on the outcome was in total antipathy to Lizzy's own thinking. Coupled with the insistence of her husband to such a marriage, it called into question everything she thought she had formerly believed about his whole philosophy. She had always felt that Fitzwilliam's opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she could not have supposed it possible that, when called into acting for his sister, he would have sacrificed every better feeling to her worldly advantage. Elizabeth was distressed by the conviction that it was impossible for Georgiana to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen and confounded by the fact that her husband was so little known to her. That everyone else appeared to be overjoyed by Georgiana's news was clear and made Lizzy feel more frustrated than ever. She could not help but wonder what Mr Butler himself might think when he received word, which he undoubtedly would before much more time passed.

A fortnight elapsed during which Elizabeth fought by every process to quell her feelings and find a peaceful equilibrium, but to no avail. However, one letter giving information of expected joy arrived from Charlotte Collins to give Elizabeth some feelings of delight for her friend. Mrs Collins had given birth to a baby girl to be called Catherine named in honour of Mr Darcy's aunt, the Collins's esteemed patroness. Both mother and baby were doing well, which raised a smile to Elizabeth's lips and gladdened her spirits. But when more surprising news arrived later that morning from a most unexpected quarter, her initial feelings were of abject disconsolation.

"I have received a letter from my aunt, Lady Catherine," said Mr Darcy, as he donned his riding jacket and turned to glance at his reflection through the long cheval mirror in the bedchamber. "I think you should read it. I would like to know your opinion and thoughts, Elizabeth," he said, with a gesture towards the parchment missive which was lying unfolded upon the washstand shelf.

Mrs Darcy looked over at her husband. He looked very fine in his dark green coat, cut to show off his manly figure to perfection. With his dark curls falling over his collar above broad shoulders, he looked the very epitome of a handsome hero. As he caught her staring, he swung round and his brooding eyes met hers. She could not look at him without her heart leaping, but Elizabeth averted her eyes as quickly as his engaged hers. He had that expression again, that look of disappointment that she had witnessed ever since they had quarrelled over Georgiana. She had finally accepted the engagement and the inevitable wedding but still showed him her disapproval from time to time and made her feelings clear. They were still conversing on a superficial level, and while anyone else would not have known that anything was amiss, Elizabeth was quite aware that things were not quite right between them. There was reserve and detachment like the cold wind blowing across the hills out on the peaks, which she felt not only during the day, in their solitary moments together, but also at night. For the first time since they were married Fitzwilliam was choosing to stay up until the small hours and did not retire to the bedchamber when she did. Elizabeth lay down in a cold bed; she lay in the dark waiting for the sound of the door handle and the familiar, warm and spicy fragrance of Fitzwilliam's cologne. Roused from sleep when he did make an appearance, he made little attempt to be close to her and on waking, he arose immediately, washing and shaving in his dressing room attended by his valet. Lizzy was uncertain what she should do to change the situation. Although she longed for the world to feel right again, she knew that they were both as stubborn as the other and that each in their turn felt they were right about Georgiana. Dismissing these thoughts and glad that at least Fitzwilliam wanted to share his letter with her, she walked over to the washstand with a heavy heart and picked up the sheet of hot-pressed paper. Sitting down and making herself comfortable on the edge of the bed, she started to read, ever aware that Fitzwilliam was watching her. His eyes felt like glowing torches burning into her mind, and she knew that she blushed under his scrutiny.

Harrogate, January 17, 1803

Dear Fitzwilliam,

I am writing to congratulate you on the news received this last week of the engagement of dear Georgiana to Mr Calladine of Bridestones Hall. That such a propitious union has been contracted on your sister's behalf shows a measure of sense and wisdom I had begun to think you had lost forever. At least one Darcy is to make a prudent marriage, and I know if your mother and father were alive they would join me in considering the alliance to be a very worthy connection. The Calladines are blessed with Darcy blood in their ancestry and are in many respects descended from the same noble lines, those of respectable, honourable, and ancient families. Their combined fortune will be splendid--Georgiana will one day achieve her title and become the lady her mother wished she should be. What a pity my dear sister will not be here to witness it, but then if she were, she would have had to bear the disappointments of other, less desirable associations.