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Placid afternoons, so entirely made for leisure and idleness, supplied particular pleasure at Pemberley, where its wide shades and sweet retreats promote gaiety, and where the sunrays penetrate so absolutely through the large windows of its rooms. It is therefore most unfortunate when they are disturbed. On one of these occasions, Mr. Darcy and his sister were peacefully installed, quiet by mutual consent, and each gratified by their employments, when a start and an exclamation coming from the adjacent room stopped the pen’s motion of one and dropped the book of the other. The eyes of both sought the door, as a growing rumour of footsteps and laughter approached it, announcing Mrs. Darcy a few seconds before her actual appearance.
‘Now, you shall rejoice, Fitzwilliam,’ said she as soon as she joined them; and waving the envelope that she carried in her hand, she shared the news with an arch smile, ‘My sister Lydia has written to me, and the subject of her letter will most certainly delight you.’
‘This might be the first time I hear such conjunction of persons and feelings.’
‘And yet, more chances to hear it would have been afforded, had I not concealed half of her correspondence from you during the first year of us being married. But do you not wish to know the motive of her interpellation?’
‘I neither wish, nor repel it.’
‘How sensible of you to remain neutral! — For now, I’m safe of any reproach on making the decision for you. Indeed, your smile tells me that you are most keen to hear all about it, and cannot wait until you have a full account of the affair.’
‘Naturally,’ was his laconic reply, adding afterwards with a twist of his lips, ‘I cannot be quieted until I get a better understanding of Mrs. Wickham’s debts and hardships. What man does not long for a report on the events that shall determine his ruin?’
‘Compassion itself!’ the lady roguishly replied. ‘Is that your take on the content? The application for your money? — Have you not deemed any other prospect possible…? A joyful communication, perhaps?’
‘That would be a most welcoming disruption of what is customary, indeed.’ (in a graver tone) ‘But you mistake me, Elizabeth, if you think me unwilling to assist her. Rest assured that I shall not restrain my efforts, though her husband be what he is.’
The very last part of his speech was accompanied with half a glance in Miss Darcy’s direction, who had so far watched such an exchange with no small degree of amusement. At this allusion, however, she understandably lowered her eyes and her cheeks glowed a little, more from remembrance and shame of past conduct, than for any particular effect that such a reference must be supposed to provoke. Elizabeth, understanding what passed, came to her relief, crying cheerfully—
‘If I had got earlier acquainted with your liberality, I would have gained my end much more often, to be sure!’
‘More often than you already do would be unsustainable, my dear. But pray, do tell us the marvellous motive of your sister’s address.’
With a diverted lift of one eyebrow, Mrs. Darcy read the missive aloud.
“My Dear Lizzy,
How diverted you’ll be on reading these lines! You will never guess who we came across during our recent stay in London — Colonel Foster! Colonel Foster himself! Strange man, he went livid when he saw us at the Hamiltons’ reception (I suppose you know that Frederick has married?). I am sure he was determined to avoid an introduction; but in the face of Harriet’s insistence and open manners, he had not much choice but to acknowledge us. He was not very gallant, however, and did not speak to us again for the rest of the evening. Can you imagine such horrid behaviour from one who used to be our intimate? But all I shall forgive him, for he is partially responsible for my becoming Mrs. Wickam.
Wickam is gone off to Bath, so do have the courtesy of receiving me at Pemberley within a fortnight, if it be no great inconvenience for Mr. Darcy. Indeed, I cannot imagine why he should object. I can think of no better time, as Jane has been very averse to receiving anyone since she welcomed little Charles, and Papa swears he won’t have me, unless he contrives to send Kitty away. Mamma is, of course, against such unreasonable resolution, but cannot do much to demote him; he’s quite determined. So it appears that it falls to your lot to be charmed!
Yours, &c.
L.W.”
Mr. Darcy’s reaction to such a missive was not very different than Elizabeth’s had been on first receiving it, though he could not equally supersede his abhorrence with laughter. After a moment of silence to better arrange his words, he commented, ‘We shall make all necessary preparations.’
This had Elizabeth guffawing.
‘What a stoic reaction! — Did not I tell you that you would be delighted?’
Darcy could only smile.
‘But it is not such a great motive of dejection, compared with the original design you had imputed to her. No pecuniary assistance is required…’
‘Yes, and no forbearance has been yet defied. The situation is growing on me.’
‘Your tolerance is outstanding — for, unless I am very much mistaken, I was almost entirely convinced that you would much rather pay for your peace.’
At this, Miss Georgiana looked at her brother anxiously, fearful of his reaction and the repercussions that must perforce fall on Elizabeth. To her surprise, he smiled again, this time more openly.
‘I can only hope that whenever you are cross with me, Mrs. Darcy, you do not make use of similar arguments to accuse me of cruelty. Remember, those are your words — not mine.’
‘Oh, yes! but we so often agree in every matter, that I took the liberty to express your emotions through words you would never use. After all, is not frankness the secret of a good marriage?’
‘It certainly lays the foundation for our union.’
Georgiana could not entirely rely on her own sense, which was accustomed to different reactions and experiences, and that saw in his answer a small rebuke. Such was surely not the case, given Elizabeth’s invariable good humour and, dare she say, satisfaction at having roused him to abhorrence. To simultaneously succour her sister and calm the palpitations of her own heart, she exclaimed—
‘But brother, do not believe that I am in the least upset by Lydia’s visit! Quite the contrary, I assure you! I am afraid that she has so few friends, as she is always moving from place to place; and besides, I should be glad to have a reading companion, and to even instruct her in Mr. Scott’s poetry. There is one particular piece that I would like to show her…’
‘If your endeavour is to turn Lydia into an accomplished woman of sense and taste, you are wasting your time. You will soon realise the difficulty of your task, Georgiana, for it may be a good twenty years before you see the first effects of your influence, and you will only have a few weeks at your disposal…’
Miss Darcy blushed feverishly at such honesty, that so resembled impertinence, and eagerly answered, ‘Oh! I do not have the pretension to impose anything, really… But I am sure that, under the right circumstances and guidance, Lydia might benefit from our association as much as me. I might even go so far as to say that eight weeks might suffice to make her appreciate Shakespeare.’
‘Pray, do not boast of it, however, for the notion of having her for eight whole weeks might afflict your brother,’ the lady commented with an expressive glance at her husband.
‘I am not in the least worried. Unlike Bingley, I do give hints when someone overstays their welcome. — Although I’d be very much surprised if she chose to spend so much time away from her dear Wickham.’
‘I suspect the case has more of dispensation on his part, than of desertion on hers.’
‘Probabilities concur with you, I dare say. But despite his absence being to her very material advantage, I cannot consider the business without regret.’
‘Not everyone can be as fortunate in matrimony as you are, Fitzwilliam.’
Miss Georgiana found such an affirmation odd, not because she questioned its content, but because she rather startled at the shape of its delivery. In due time, however, she learnt to see the justness of it. Their match proved that they were, in fact, one of the happiest couples of her acquaintance. And when she, too, took a new name and the rank of Viscountess, she did not repudiate the inclination to tease her husband as frequently as it suited her preference, to the shock and reprobation of many of her relatives.