“Dear brother, you look much more at ease than the last time I saw you.”
Darcy looked up from his reading to his sister who had just entered the room. Smiling, he put down his reports and greeted Georgiana.
“I am much happier thank you. My work of the last few months is still not concluded, but I have every hope the matters shall be resolved within a few months and all for the best. I am pleased to see you; pray tell me, how was your schooling?”
“It was very pleasant and challenging as I am sure you hoped for. But tell me, if you will, do you know Lord Ackerby personally?”
“Why would you inquire into that particular gentleman?” asked Darcy with a sense of shock.
“His name is amongst the daily news reports. There have been pictures and tales of his heroism making him quite fashionable conversation. I thought you might be able to introduce me to him at a ball or dinner engagement should such an event occur.”
“And why would you think I know the gentleman?”
“Oh, am I incorrect in my assumption? I seem to recall hearing his name the last time I visited.”
Darcy’s mind calmed and made an intuitive leap to a ready answer.
“You may have, but I must admit I do not know the gentleman personally. He might have come across my path in a matter of business; but much to my amazement his newfound popularity is met by him with great enthusiasm.”
“Do I sense a criticism of the lord’s personality?” Georgiana asked of her brother while smiling and offering a teasing look.
“Not at all, dear sister, I am merely commenting, more to myself, on the interesting paths life and events choose to take. The lord’s warm reception to his sudden fame has taken hold of his attention in a way that is proving very beneficial to his character and simultaneously making my life easier. Many a man under the view of the public become dishonourable. I am pleased these events appear to have the opposite effect.”
“It is always pleasing to hear when someone can stand up and be honourable.” Georgiana made this statement with a voice that trailed off and a gaze that wandered out the window. Sensing the intrusion of George Wickham into his sister’s mind, Darcy felt her pain and turned the topic.
“I do not believe we have any upcoming events offering the opportunity to meet the lord, but if I do encounter him I will give you a report.”
Turning back to her brother, Georgiana smiled widely again and seemed to become enthused.
“I should much rather hear a report on Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
If the inquiry into Ackerby was shocking, the present inquiry would have to be classified as pure amazement to Darcy. He could not control his facial features at hearing his sister’s remarks.
“How are you aware of that young lady and to what do I owe this sudden interest?”
“Oh, you do have a lady of interest!” cried Georgiana after seeing the surprise on her brother’s face; to which she attributed great care for Miss Bennet.
“I would not conjecture as far as you have on the matter. It is safe to say I am familiar with Miss. Bennet and find her to be an accomplished young lady; but you have not answered my question regarding your inquiry.”
“Dear brother, I may not be as wise to the world as you, but I can assemble a puzzle when laid before me. My inquiry is simple enough to explain. I had occasion in the last month to be visited by Miss Dache; she was in the vicinity of my school and was ever so kind to visit and inquire into my studies. We spoke at length and she mentioned a familiarity with your social circles, such as the Bingleys and our cousins, the Fitzwilliams. She mentioned another young lady who appeared to catch your eye, but Miss Dache could not recall her name. I was not able to help her remember the name as I was unaware of any lady you might have an affinity towards. After Miss Dache departed, my curiosity led me to your letters of these last few months, and I came across an interesting comment in a piece of correspondence from Rosings. You mention Miss Bennet by name and praise her abilities at the piano. The mention of any lady in a letter from you must have significance when accompanied by your praise. I then recalled, although you may not, Caroline mentioning Miss Bennet many months ago. I also recall your offhand comments regarding Miss Bennet’s intelligence. These small facts led to my suspecting her as the recipient of your affections; your countenance a moment ago, upon hearing her name, confirms my suspicions.”
Darcy could easily understand Miss Dache’s inquiries to his sister and the situation disturbed him. He did not believe Marianne would be hurtful or even truly deceitful, but he did respect the wiles of women and the subtleties they could employ to ensure the success of their goals. In Darcy’s mind, Miss Dache was instilled with the artful skills of many ladies, made more dangerous by an underlying coldness as to their deployment. His main calming thought was his belief that Miss Dache meant no harm to his sister; Georgiana was just a means of information.
“Miss Bennet is indeed a handsome lady. Your cousin and I were able to enjoy her company on many occasions at Rosings; however, I first met her in Hertfordshire at an assembly in Meryton as you may recall; since then she has impressed me with her accomplishments.”
“I should like to meet the lady that so impresses my brother. I can only imagine she must be a very worthy lady to be held so highly in your esteem.”
“I believe a meeting with Lord Ackerby may be more statistically likely. Miss Bennet resides in the county of Hertfordshire and we have no immediate plans to visit the area. I will additionally admit to you that Miss Bennet and I did not leave each other’s company on the best of terms. I fear her estimation of me is less than mine of her.”
Georgiana looked downcast as it was now her turn to feel sorrow for a sibling. “That is truly upsetting. I should have liked to meet the lady of your admiration; but I must be honest, dear brother, as I care for you so deeply. You do not present a façade that allows for ease of relationships. Perhaps she mistakes your shyness for pride of character.”
“You wish to speak to me of shyness; I do not profess that particular attribute to myself. I simply find the boorishness of the trivial to be arduous and I am ill equipped to hide the fact.”
“Well, perhaps my shyness and your implacable attitude shall see us grow old together and end up at Pemberley alone and unmarried.”
With a smile and a nod Darcy concurred, “I could think of no finer company.”
Georgiana smiled and thought on the matter for a moment before turning serious. “Brother, would you do me a favor?” she asked in a sincere and solemn tone.
“You know you must only ask,” was his reply.
“Will you promise me to try to be more concerned with the trivialities? I know from our close relationship your capabilities for depth of emotion, but you conceal it behind a wall of stone. This may be what disinclined Miss Bennet from you and perhaps many other accomplished ladies.” Georgiana paused for a moment before continuing. “When I see you standing in a room filled with people, alone in your thoughts and alone in your soul, I am saddened. It reminds me too much of myself, and I believe one of us should be free of this torture. You are the strongest, and it would give me pleasure to see you happy.”
For a moment Darcy’s heart broke. His sister was a strong lady hampered by a crushing shyness, and it pained him that she believed that shyness to be a curse. He thought about their shared weakness of social ineptness, and he began to think back to his conversations with Miss Bennet; particularly the ones along the paths at Rosings. She had made an attempt to dismiss the trivialities and put him at ease. He now suspected the cleverness of conversation and skill which she employed to put him at that ease. Her motives may have been suspect but the willingness and skill had not been. He could not fault her on the motives; he realized with the information at her disposal she was following her heart much as he had done with his beliefs regarding her sister, Jane. Elizabeth had on more than one occasion made an effort to accommodate his character, even defending him to her own mother on a point of argument. Her penchant for generosity in conversation to himself, and others, led to further admiration of her character. Darcy nodded to his sister and decided he would follow the lead of Miss Bennet and attempt to soften his hard exterior.
The following weeks Darcy, his sister, and the Bingleys, made arrangements to summer at Pemberley in Derbyshire. Darcy was happy with the fortunate turn of events in London. At his most recent meeting at White’s he was praised for his work and commended on the apparent redemption he affected on one of their own. Darcy was not convinced Ackerby would use his newfound fame for continued good use, but he could not argue that the colonel appeared to prefer the benefits of positive social interaction over the negative. The baron’s criminal endeavors were all but subsided and Darcy, along with the men in the room at White’s room, need only perform a cleanup.
The cleanup needed constant supervision, but this did not require the specific use of Darcy’s talents and was passed on to Lord Dache. Darcy was also pleased to learn Mr. Knightly of the emissary branch would work with the wayward baron and reacclimatize him into the gentry. Mr. Knightly’s skills were formidable and his manners pleasing; he would make the options clear to Ackerby and dissuade him from future transgressions. The final result of the meeting at White’s was a mutual respect for the abilities and responsibilities of many families; and an overall high esteem for Mr. Darcy. It was with well wishes and many congratulations that the gentlemen sent Darcy away; and all begged him to enjoy his summer with his family, as the warm weather and quiet of the countryside were well deserved by his recent efforts.