Assumed Engagement (16 page)

"I had begun to wonder what happened to you. We had not heard from you or your family since I wrote the letters."

"Our family was in the north on holiday. We just returned to find three letters awaiting us; two from you informing us of Darcy's accident and recovery, and one from Darcy asking if I could possibly journey here when he went out on business this week. Rather than write a reply, I came immediately. Unfortunately my family was unable to join me. Has he already left?"

"Yes, he left early this morning. He should return in three days."

"How unfortunate that I missed him today. Well, my cousin, you must tell me all about this accident of Darcy's. Quite a story, from what little I hear, and to think it happened immediately after we had been together."

"Let us go into the dining room and we shall have some tea and something to eat while I tell you." Over tea and cake, Georgiana gave a brief summary of the details that she had not written in his letter. She told of their concern for him, how day to day he showed little sign of improving, and then how finally one morning he awoke.

"I would never have doubted that he would awaken. He is too stubborn." With that her cousin laughed.

Fitzwilliam stood and walked over to the sideboard to refill his cup with some tea, when he noticed a letter lying there addressed to Miss Elizabeth
Bennet
. He picked it up and looked at it curiously.

"Georgiana, this is a letter to Miss Elizabeth
Bennet
." He looked at Georgiana, lifting one eyebrow toward her. "I did not know that you were acquainted with her."

"Yes." And then suddenly with realization, Georgiana added, "Oh, you must have met her while at
Rosings
when you were there with my brother. I had forgotten that you had been there with him. But I actually did not meet her until she came here when my brother was ill."

Fitzwilliam drew his head back in surprise. "She came
here?
"

Georgiana blushed as she recalled the circumstances surrounding her coming, but felt she needed to explain it to him. "I confess that I incorrectly assumed that Miss Elizabeth and my brother were engaged and wrote her, asking her to come when he was in such grave condition."

Fitzwilliam shook his head, drawing his hand to his chin pondering her words. Leaning toward Georgiana, he asked, "Engaged?"

"He wrote me a few days before he proposed, letting me know he was going to ask for her hand. Because of the accident he was never able to write back to me that she refused."

Fitzwilliam made a concerted effort to process this very surprising and unexpected information, but found himself unable to respond with words. After a few moments of silence, he let out a boisterous "Ha
ha
! So that explains his notably agitated behaviour when we left
Rosings
!"

Georgiana’s face reddened in alarm. "Richard, you were not aware of this?"

"Oh, no, but I knew something was wrong with him and I suspected it had to do with Miss
Bennet
. I am just surprised that he actually proposed to her. I had no idea he had such strong regard for her. But then you say she refused him?"

Georgiana nodded, now wondering if her brother would be upset at her for letting their cousin know.

"Is this not ironic?" Fitzwilliam met Georgiana's concerned eyes, and quickly reassured her, "Do not worry your little heart
Georgie
, I will not let on to anyone else about this misfortunate incident of his. I am sure he would not want that bit of information spread about the country."

"But why do you say is ironic?"

Fitzwilliam laughed. "He has always had it so easy, always getting anything he wanted. I used to wish he had an older brother just to make life a little more difficult for him. Being a second son, he would have had to work a little harder to get what he wanted. In a way I resented him for it, as much as I loved him." He raised his eyebrows at Georgiana and said in a sympathetic voice, "But now, when there was something he really wanted, he actually could not get it. I am quite amazed!"

He sipped on his tea, and then looked back at Georgiana. "But you said she came. Why would she have come?"

"She actually came with her sister, Jane, with the hope of reuniting her with Mr. Bingley. I sent for him, as well. I now understand my brother had earlier done some underhanded persuasion to disincline Mr. Bingley toward her sister when they actually were both very much in love."

Fitzwilliam put his cup of tea down, and looked down, breathing in deeply. "Heavens, no!"

"What is the matter?"

"Well, I suppose part of Miss
Bennet
refusing him is
my
fault."

"Your fault? Why?"

"I met Miss
Bennet
on a walk on the grounds of
Rosings
Park
the day before we left. We began talking of Bingley, and I conveyed to her the fact that your brother was very self-congratulatory about his separating him from a young lady who would have made him a very imprudent wife because of her connections. I had no idea I was talking about her sister."

"What did she do? What did she say?"

"As I recall, she claimed she had a headache and we returned directly. She did not come with the rest of her party to
Rosings
later that afternoon, and Darcy promptly disappeared. When he returned later, his behaviour was erratic and I could tell he was disturbed. He must have gone to propose to her that afternoon, fresh after I talked to her. Little did I know by that innocent conversation with her, I was sealing his fate!"

"I would not take too much blame, Cousin. There were other reasons -- other than that one -- that strongly affected her decision to refuse him. But it is all very complicated. I am not sure I understand it myself."

Fitzwilliam and Georgiana spent the rest of the afternoon visiting with each other. He thoroughly enjoyed hearing about Darcy's misfortunes, and only wished he had been at
Pemberley
when his cousin awoke and found Miss
Bennet
there. Georgiana always enjoyed her cousin's company. He had a ceaseless supply of laughter, laughing enough for her and her brother together. But the degree to which he enjoyed her brother’s misfortune began concern her.

That evening as they were settled in the sitting room, Fitzwilliam made a boisterous confession to Georgiana. "
Georgie
, you have certainly made my day! I have not had a more enjoyable time talking to you about your brother!"

"Please be kind to him, Richard. I fear that if you are hard on him, he shall be angry with me for revealing it."

"Do not worry my Georgiana. I shall only tease him a fraction of the amount I usually do, being considerate of his broken heart and recent illness, of course." With that he laughed.

"That does not ease my mind at all, Cousin. Besides, he is making an effort to change his ways. He and I visited a few of our hired hands this past Sunday. We have plans to do it again this Sunday and hopefully the week after."

"Visits, you say? Did he actually step inside their homes?"

Georgiana proudly nodded.

Fitzwilliam let out a hearty laugh. "Oh, I can scarce imagine Darcy visiting the homes of those of lesser consequence. I dare say that does stretch one's imagination trying to fathom it."

Still chuckling from this last bit of information, he rose and said he would be retiring, and looked forward to more conversation on the morrow.

Georgiana informed him, "I will be spending the morning with Miss Annesley, but the afternoon should be free. I would like to hear about your family tomorrow, Cousin."

"Oh, but that would be so boring! But I shall oblige you. Good night, Georgiana."

*~*~*

The next afternoon, Georgiana heard all about their holiday and how his family was doing. She was quite aware, however, that he was still keen on hearing more about Darcy, as he kept bringing it up. She finally resolved that she would say no more to him, afraid that what she already said was too much.

By the third day, he had given up trying to get her to talk more about the incident between Darcy and the lovely Miss Elizabeth
Bennet
. Georgiana spent the afternoon listening for the sound of the carriage, and finally, just before the evening meal, they heard it pull up. They both stood, in anticipation of welcoming back Darcy.

Darcy stepped out of the carriage to see Georgiana and Fitzwilliam coming out to him. He extended his hand in a firm handshake to his cousin, expressed his gratefulness that he had been able to come. He walked over to Georgiana and greeted her with a fervent hug.

Darcy had always been able to anticipate his cousin's thoughts and actions by simply looking upon his face. The look on Fitzwilliam’s face now gave Darcy much concern. There was a mischievous and knowing look in his eyes and a smirk on his face that had no end.

The three entered the house and Darcy asked, "When did you arrive, Fitzwilliam?"

"The afternoon you left. I am sorry I missed you. I did not take the time to write. I felt coming immediately would be quicker than a letter, as we had been gone for some time and just returned home."

"And have you and Georgiana had a nice visit?"

"Oh, yes, a very informative one too." Darcy met his glance, noticing his raised eyebrow and the smirk, which had now turned into a sarcastic grin.

"All right, Fitzwilliam. You look like you are just itching to torment me about something. Let us get it over with."

"Ah hah! It has been quite the highlight of my life just to hear the incredible story of the Don Juan Darcy and the elusive Miss
Bennet
. It has been my night time story for the past two evenings, putting me to sleep very nicely. I believe Georgiana has another instalment this evening.

Georgiana looked down and blushed, wishing he would not go on like this.

"Go ahead; get it out of your system, Fitz."

"Darcy you are too serious! You take yourself too seriously. I do not doubt that learning to laugh a little more -- learning to laugh at yourself even a little -- would greatly improve your disposition."

"Fitzwilliam, I do not need you to point out all my faults."

"All your faults? I have not even begun!"

"When you have finished, let me know. I have some business I want to discuss with you. I shall be in my study when you are ready."

His cousin had always been this way, prodding him and teasing him, when Darcy absolutely hated to be teased. Yet the two had an inseparable bond. It may have been because of the difference in temperaments that they were so close, each filling the void in the one that the other had. Darcy shook his head in amused exasperation.

Georgiana regretted more and more the fact that she had let their cousin know all the details about her brother and Miss
Bennet
. She knew that once Richard began his relentless teasing, it would not cease. A look of remorse swept across her face that Darcy did not miss. As he turned to go into his study, he reached over to Georgiana and pulled her close. He looked down and smiled, and tousled her hair, to reassure her that he was not displeased with her.

As Darcy left for his study, Georgiana pulled her cousin back. "Richard, may I talk with you? I cannot help but agree with you about my brother's solemn disposition. In fact, I believe we are both of like dispositions in this area. I wish he would laugh more, but I know not how to begin to bring about such a change in him.

"Georgiana, why are you suddenly trying to alter your brother?"

She looked down and blushed. "It is just something I feel inclined to do. But tell me, why do you suppose he is so serious? I do recall when I was a child that he was a cheerful, spirited boy."