7 December 1811
Elizabeth and Darcy entered into matrimony with no disturbance to their schemes. A busy month of dinner parties, farewell visits, and marriage articles culminated into a respectable ceremony marked by nothing extraordinary. Darcy did not stumble over his vows nor did Elizabeth trip over her train nor did anyone remark on the shabbiness of Mrs Bennet’s lavish wedding breakfast.
With surprising rapidity, Elizabeth found herself seated beside her mother for the journey to Town. “This is it,” murmured Darcy to Elizabeth when the carriage turned the corner at last upon a very fashionable street. “The third house.”
Elizabeth cast her eyes upon the massive white stone townhouse and drew a sharp breath. As the carriage slowed to a halt, Mrs Bennet began to rouse herself, stretched, then lowered her arms with astonished eyes. “Bless me,” the lady said with increasing enthusiasm and volume, “’tis as fine as a lord!”
Elizabeth’s cheeks burned. Darcy made some sort of noise, exiting the carriage, and Elizabeth thought of speaking to her mother until recognizing the futility of such an endeavour. Thankfully, their entrance into the very handsome vestibule of Mr Darcy’s home seemed to awe her mother into silence. Elizabeth was rather overwhelmed herself. There was a bustle of liveried servants, their footsteps echoing on the marble floor, and a maid brushed Elizabeth’s hand upon removing her things, but Elizabeth hardly took any notice of of it. She bit her lip, arrested by the winding staircase until she caught sight of an exquisite fresco, three floors above her head.
“Mrs Darcy?” Elizabeth heard the foreign appellation repeated and forced herself to pay attention to their host, who seemed to be regarding her with steady bemusement. “We should escort our guests to their rooms, Mrs Darcy.”
“Oh!” she cried, then blushed in mortification at her uneven tone of voice within the quiet space. The cold metal of the railing seeped into her unsteady fingers as the incomprehensible figures from the settlement discussions struck her with sudden, painful clarity. Her state of bemusement lingered until her mother had settled into her own chambers and came in search of her.
“Lizzy, will you pay attention? You are not in your father’s house any longer.”
“I have noticed,” whispered Elizabeth with a timid glance toward the gilded mirror adorning her mother’s mantle. Catching sight of her own reflection, adorned in a becoming, yet relatively simple, muslin gown, she shook her head in amazement.
“Books will not help you to-night, mark my words. You must not turn nervous on him, and that’s no easy task, young lady. When I first saw your father come for me in all that state, I thought I should faint.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks flushed with startled comprehension. “Mama! I beg you will say nothing more.”
“Why ever not?” her mother demanded. “Young brides think they know every thing!”
“I-I have a headache,” she replied with an inward wince at her falsehood.
“You may have all the headaches you like, after you have given your husband a son or two. Until then…”
Elizabeth dug her fingers firmly into her right temple as it began to pound.
*****
Darcy made his way to his bride’s parlour several days later, a black look gracing his countenance. He had perceived Mrs Bennet’s vulgar foolishness from the onset of their acquaintance, but her disruptions to the order and peace of his household sorely tried his temper. For his peace of mind, he chose to execute a retreat to his book-room following breakfast, each day calculating the distance from Longbourn to Pemberley with considerable pleasure. He would have happily passed another day in such a fashion had not the housekeeper alerted him to Mrs Bennet’s latest foolishness.
Darcy swiftly opened the parlour, only to stop short at the shocking sight of Elizabeth standing upon one of the parlour chairs, driving a nail into the wall with a – a shoe? His eyes widened as she raised upon her toes, hitching up her skirts with one hand. At the sight of a handsome ankle and even shapelier calf, Darcy’s newspaper slid unheeded onto the floor and a tiny smile formed upon one side of his mouth. When Elizabeth began to sway a little, his fascinated amusement turned into alarm, and he demanded, “What in the world are you doing?”
Elizabeth’s startled motions caused her to totter even more precariously, and Darcy rushed forward to assist her to the floor. “I-I wished to hang a silhouette upon the wall.”
“Did you not think to call a servant? What if one of them happened on you as I have?”
Darcy felt a tug of admiration when she lifted her eyes to him with ease, if not perfect composure. She smoothed her skirts, seemingly oblivious to her stocking feet, and replied, “I would have scolded them for entering my room without knocking. I thought I might manage such a simple task on my own.”
Darcy’s lips involuntarily twitched. “You might have done better without the slipper.”
Elizabeth stared at him then laughed brightly. “I suppose you would have handled yourself much better, sir. How does Mr Darcy go about hanging silhouettes?”
Within ten minutes, Darcy was handed a mallet from an astonished footman. He turned to Elizabeth, who could hardly suppress her laughter, and raised his eyebrow. With a distinct trace of hauteur, he inquired, “Shall this spot suffice?”
“Carry on, Mr Darcy, by all means,” she managed to reply.
He carried out her instructions with enough skill to stifle any further laughter, then he stepped back, catching sight of the silhouette for the first time. In a gentler tone, he asked, “Did you draw this?”
He glanced at Elizabeth, whose lively countenance had softened into a fond smile. “Charlotte Lucas drew us all last spring; is it not a good likeness of Jane?”
Darcy tried not to frown at the wistful note in her tone. It was only natural for her to feel the absence of the only sensible person she had ever known at Longbourn, and her affection for her sister was just what he hoped to see between her and Georgiana. He scooped up his newspaper, answering briskly, “Indeed it is.”
“Good enough to excuse my haste?” At his look of doubt, Elizabeth laughed. “I thought not. Did you come to my parlour merely to serve as my assistant?”
Remembering his errand, he straightened and pressed his lips together. “There is a dispute above stairs. It seems your mother wishes for unfettered access to your rooms, and your maid will not have it.”
“Oh dear,” whispered Elizabeth as she took her leave of Darcy.
*****
“We purchased two parasols and three new hats on Tuesday. Mrs Darcy shall be as fine as any duchess,” Mrs Bennet declared to Mr Bingley a few days after her return to Hertfordshire. Mr Bingley, Elizabeth noted, acted as a true gentleman by feigning interest whilst his sisters sneered.
“Mrs Bennet,” interrupted Miss Bingley in a superior tone, “perhaps we might defer these pleasures until after supper.”
Bingley cast a half-reproachful look at his sister, adding, “We are pleased, of course, to have you returned to the neighbourhood.”
After thanking him for his pretty speech, Mrs Bennet said, “I hear you called at Longbourn in my absence. I trust Jane poured out a fine cup when you called and gave you enough cake?”
Mr Bingley gave Jane a warm smile before replying, “You have nothing to worry about with Miss Bennet.”
“Oh! I suspect she will make a superb hostess once she has her own establishment.”
The dinner announcement prevented any further comments from her mother. The seating arrangements placed Jane and Mr Bingley at considerable distance from her mother, Elizabeth observed with satisfaction and delight, and Jane had never appeared lovelier to her admittedly biased eye. Jane’s pink gown and ribbons displayed her beautiful figure and glowing countenance to perfection, and Mr Bingley’s attentiveness was obvious to all. Elizabeth smiled. They might marry before spring, and nothing would afford her greater pleasure. Her sister would make the ideal match of disinterested affection, suitability and sufficient wealth, a happiness which could not be bestowed upon a more worthy woman.
“…two daughters well settled. Just think, Lady Lucas! With the other girls thrown into the path of other rich men, Lydia might very well settle down with a lord! If one of the officers does not snatch her up ahead of time, that is; she might very well find a nice Colonel with four or five thousand pounds, you know, and I should be content with that. This room could use new papers, I think. I will pick them next week as a wedding gift.”
“Perhaps you should not be so hasty,” retorted Lady Lucas to Mrs Bennet with an impatient expression.
“How can you doubt it? Look at him.”
“I meant that he might not appreciate your efforts. He might prefer to leave it to Mrs Bingley.”
When Elizabeth found the courage to direct her gaze toward her mother, she found Darcy’s anxious eyes upon Mr Bingley and her sister. After their month in London, she could guess his thoughts. Though he bore her mother’s speeches with grave silences rather than sardonic ridicule, she caught his satirical expression on more than one occasion. It was fortunate that she was not settled too near her family, Elizabeth reflected with some dissatisfaction, crushing her fingers into elegant yellow silk of her gown.
****
“I told them I cared nothing for Miss Bennet’s fortune or connections,” declared Bingley to his friend the next morning, stabbing his eggs with unusual temper. “Upon my word, even Caroline should be satisfied with Jane’s connection to Mrs Darcy. They even like Ja-Miss Bennet. Who could not?”
At Darcy’s frown, Bingley contritely added, “I must ask your forgiveness, Darcy. What a tangle you walked into this morning! I am relieved that Mrs Darcy went early to Longbourn; I must beg you will disregard the sentiments of my sisters.”
“I will think nothing more of them,” Darcy replied with an ironic twist of his mouth.
Bingley buttered another muffin with a toothy smile. “I cannot wait to see her. We will be brothers, Darcy! I think -”
“- please do think seriously, Bingley,” Darcy interrupted, placing his coffee cup on the saucer with a decided clink.
Bingley fixed a look of astonishment upon his friend. “What do you mean, Darcy?”
“You have observed the behaviour of the family, surely. As much as I deplore the expression, Mr Bennet is correct when he speaks of the youngest girls as the silliest in England, and having spent a month with Mrs Bennet in residence, my dearest hope is that her nerves might never withstand the trip to Pemberley. Consider the consequences of such connections.”
“Darcy!” cried Bingley. “How can you speak of Mrs Darcy’s relations, of your own connections, in such a manner? Why, with your marriage, their connections are even less of an evil to me. I am not the grandson of an earl.”
Darcy’s mouth turned grim. “Their want of propriety is more of an evil than any connections to trade. Can you imagine an introduction of Mrs Bennet to my uncle? Furthermore, there is another evil of which you are unaware – your attentions place Miss Bennet in a most awkward position.”
Bingley set his own cup upon his saucer with a decided clink, drawing himself to sit up at his full height. “Are you asking if my intentions are honourable? Is that not a question for Mr Bennet?”
“As if he would ask,” scoffed Darcy with an amused eye at Bingley’s posturing.
Bingley shifted in his chair. “Mr Bennet is not vicious, Darcy. We cannot all act with your decisiveness.”
“You do not, and that is my point,” Darcy replied. “I have no doubts of your honour, but you have been careless, I think. You fall in love one day and out the next -”
“-it is different this time. Miss Bennet is perfection itself.”
Darcy barely checked his smile. “You said that about Miss Rhys last spring.”
“This time I am in earnest,” insisted Bingley. “I love Miss Bennet with a force beyond anything I have ever felt, and she loves me. Perhaps not as much as I love her, but she does.” After a moment of measured silence, Bingley asked, “Does she not?”
“She does not,” answered Darcy with complete confidence. “She accepts your attentions with pleasure, but little sentiment.”
“Now you sound like my sisters!” Bingley retorted with uncharacteristic irritation. “How does Mrs Darcy endure such talk?”
Darcy rolled his eyes. “I would never needlessly cause her pain, though she is intelligent enough to understand what they are. I offer my advice as your friend, Bingley.”
Bingley began stabbing at his eggs again. “I have never doubted your intentions, but you do cause offence wherever you go. Who could help but see your disdain?”
“Having been forced to put aside the considerations of fortune and connections in making this marriage, it does not follow that I must rejoice at the prospect of such connections,” answered Darcy in a decided tone.
Bingley’s fork suspended in mid-air. “How can you be forced into marriage? Surely you do not imply that Mrs Darcy…?”
Darcy sighed at the dangerous turn of the conversation, replying more patiently, “Certainly not. I have the highest admiration for the character and manners of my wife, and Miss Bennet’s, but her family will not allow her to refuse you, no matter her feelings. I know that Mr and Mrs Bennet both were set upon another match for Elizabeth, a most unsuitable one, and made her life a misery when she refused them. Do you wish for such a situation for your Miss Bennet?”
“I-I had not imagined Miss Bennet might wish to refuse; I thought she cared for me. If she does not -” Bingley stared at his plate, then asked in a plaintive tone, “What should I do?”
“Go to London.”
Bingley answered unhappily, “I think I must.” He brightened the next moment, adding, “With our friendship and your connection to the family, I might meet Miss Bennet again very soon and away from the eyes of her family. Surely you cannot object to that.”
Darcy shrugged. “Mrs Darcy must settle at Pemberley; then I plan to take her and Georgiana to Ireland for a wedding trip. If your resolve can survive so many months of suspense, I shall not keep you from Miss Bennet, but let me advise you to consider your actions with the utmost care. Her heart is not easily touched, I think, and I should not wish to settle three miles from Longbourn.”
A deeply unhappy silence followed until Bingley stalked away. Darcy stared at the door, then spoke again in a grave tone, “I would not wish for such a match, not for you.”
Oh my! So, this is one of those chapters where I long for that frying pan over the head icon, for Darcy surely needs it. Grrrrr…. they are his family now too. He better get his priorities straight and quick. If he has issues with them, he should confront them immediately. He cannot change the fact that they are now intimately connected to him and all their follies are his. Instead of berating them, he should be actively seeking to promote them and make them better. Plus, he knows Jane is a good and lovely woman. He should be actively seeking to promote her too (as he would his own sister), not degrade her. Does he not want to see his ’sister’ well settled? If it were Georgiana, would he have done such a thing without consulting her first? No! He needs to start treating Jane as a sister, not someone less deserving than himself. Plus, even he will admit that Jane herself would never disgrace Bingley and always seek his happiness (whether she is equally in love with him or not) . Anyway, turning Bingley away from her, does neither himself nor Bingley any good. In fact, having a familial relationship to Darcy would only have improved Bingley’s consequence in the world. Bad job Darcy.
I do love the chapter though. Darcy is just being Darcy. I never like him at this stage and generally, the closer he is to canon, the more I dislike him. I feel so sorry for Lizzy having to leave an unfriendly home to be with such an arrogant haughty man. Poor girl. I know things will improve, but if I didn’t know that, I would be so afraid for her. At this point, it seems she is leaving one awful situation for another.
Oh, and poor Jane. Not only will she be losing Lizzy, but she will be losing Bingley too. There will be no happiness for her in this home.
I do hope for more soon. I look forward to happier times and a softer, more understanding Darcy. I think it will take a bit of time for him to get there and I know that Lizzy will not take his insult to Jane or her family lightly. I see a very bumpy road ahead.
Hey, Lisa! I actually posted this chapter a little before it was ready, so I changed it around a little bit after you made this comment, although it’s substantially the same.
If you read the revised chapter and have anything to add, please feel free to do so.
Hey Ali,
That small interlude does improve my general outlook for Lizzy. It shows that Lizzy is not unhappy. It was not certain before. Because it’s Darcy, I know in my mind that he is trying in his way to be a good husband to her, but without that interlude, we are left to hope, without evidence. I still wonder about that final sentence…
“A deeply unhappy silence followed. Darcy stared at the door after his friend stalked away, then spoke again in a wistful tone, “I would not wish for such a marriage, not for you.”
Is he unhappy with his marriage? Does he feel that Lizzy has no affection for him? Does he feel he was forced into it? If so, he can only blame himself. He could have chosen to take G away for an extended vacation and then placed the child with a good family. He could have married Anne or another lady of his circle. He chose her. He should be happy that she accepted given the circumstances. Arrogant man. I guess it’s the words ‘unhappy’ and ‘wistful’. They make me feel like he is feeling sorry for himself. After what he said about her family, I don’t feel any sympathy for him at all.
I long to see more private Darcy and Lizzy time. Maybe she is a completely evil shrew, giving him reason to regret his choice. I don’t imagine that is the case (and the short interlude between the two of them that you gave us also hints not), but who knows yet. I instead imagine her trying to be a good friend to both him and his sister, trying to be kind and put a smile on their faces during this difficult and sad time. If so, Darcy can just go jump in a lake. His words to Bingley give me the impression of a very two faced person. He insinuates that he would never say these horribly insulting things to his wife’s face but then he’s more than happy to say them behind her back. I don’t think any person would wish to be associated with a person who would do that.
Ali!
Oh My…No Bingley and Jane engagement ! Wow! Didn’t see that coming at all! So…what will happen when Lizzy finds out that Darcy warned Bingley from Jane? And how he really feels about her family…and what will happen with Jane… Will her mother expect h erto marry Mr. Collins or worse?
And did I miss something or did Mrs. Bennet go with Lizzy to her new home and on her honeymoon? My next question is why and where was Georgiana while she was there?
You gave us a lot to absorb in this chapter and a lot to think about!
Thanks for the post and please post again soon. I can’t wait to see where this is going!
Wow! That Darcy was horrible after that sweet moment! It is more so, because he is now married to her and to say all that behind her back…and the las part! I don’t know, but she need to be harsh to him when all this will came through! She is trying and he is so cruel and he is her husband and so must be loyal to her, and, at least he could have said all this to her face, like in the original proposal…hm! He wanted the marriage, for God sake! God, make him fall hard and soon for her, while she will twist him bad with only friendship and another suitor!
Thanks for the story and perhaps you could tell us when the next post will be, please!
“And did I miss something or did Mrs. Bennet go with Lizzy to her new home and on her honeymoon? My next question is why and where was Georgiana while she was there?”
Yes, I was a bit confused about times and locations too. It does seem as though Mrs B came with Darcy and Lizzy to London and stayed with them for the month following their marriage. The 3 of them then came back to Hertfordshire together, where they had dinner at the Bingleys while Mrs B bragged. The next morning, while still at Netherfield, Darcy told Bingley to go to London.
That time line doesn’t make a lot of sense though, does it? Why would Mrs B (or anyone for that matter) be staying with them during their ‘honeymoon’ and why for such an excruciatingly long time? I can understand a week’s stay before the wedding to buy clothes but not a whole month after (and without the fortification of other family members??). Maybe I need to go back and reread older chaps to figure this out.
Maybe that’s why Darcy is so disgruntled. Now that I’ve thought about it, if Mrs B has been with them the whole time since their marriage, I can understand Darcy may truly be regretting his marriage and Lizzy might actually be behaving beastly. I think it would probably be truly unbearable for Darcy and Lizzy to have to entertain Mrs B constantly for an entire month complete (without the help of Mr B or Jane or the Gardiners or ???) while attempting to get to know one another. I might need to take everything back about Darcy’s poor words and behavior. If he had to hear Mrs B’s drivel and greedy insinuations for the whole month with no one there to temper her tongue, I could believe that he might think he has made the absolute worst mistake of his life. Lizzy probably will not have been given the opportunity to show what a wonderful helpmeet she can be to him and G because she has been too wrapped up trying to entertain her mother and provide a buffer from Darcy.
Are we going to hear more about the month since their wedding? I think we are missing quite a bit here.
And, I wonder too where G was this whole time. And what about the rest of his family? If Mrs B was at their London home, wouldn’t that imply that their house was open to visitors? Wouldn’t people come to see the new Mrs D? I could imagine Darcy wanting to keep his sister and family away but would he be successful? Why wouldn’t they have hauled Mrs B off to the Gardiners insisting on a period of private time to celebrate their marriage and get to know one another.
Will you fill us in??
Now I’m starting to think poor Darcy and poor Lizzy. Nothing good could ever come of the 2 of them attempting to entertain Mrs B alone at such a critical growth time for their marriage.
OK, enough commenting from me.
Just checking to see if anything has changed now that April 1 is now April 2.
I had the same thought!
I think Darcy has a rude awakening. Obviously Elizabeth would have been really hurt to hear him say such a thing to Bingley. Also, he really doesn’t know Elizabeth yet, being that her mother has been with them and they haven’t had a proper honeymoon. But I think once he takes his bride away from Longbourn without interference from relations and friends they will become closer. Hopefully the hammer will fall soon and he will realize what a prize he truly has in his new bride. I really like this story as I do your others. I hope you can post again soon. I am wondering how things will turn out with the baby and Georgiana.
Well. That was very good, and nicely unexpected.
Lizzy Bennet did not have her thinking cap on when she let Mrs. Bennet invite herself to London for the honeymoon, that’s for sure. What a nightmare for the newlyweds. I’m with Darcy — I’d have holed up in my reading room too.
Darcy’s warning Bingley from Jane is not as nasty as it appears, since he seems to really believe that Jane does not love Bingley, and he has good reason to believe that Mr and Mrs Bennet would try to force her into marriage. His only mistake here, IMO, is not asking for his wife’s opinion first. I predict that he will not enjoy learning that lesson.
I’m ready for some more.
Based on what Darcy knows of his in-laws, his advice to Bingley would appear to be sound IMO. After all, they were perfectly willing to sell Lizzy to Collins and did sell her to him. It seems to me that he is trying to protect both Jane and Bingley from an unhappy alliance. It will, of course, backfire, as do so many good intentions.
Thanks!
Nancy
I really enjoyed the “hanging the silhouettes” scene . Darcy really needs to escape from his Mother-in-law in a hurry .
Darcy is just trying to protect his friend and telling him to be careful . Sound advice to the ever so impulsive Bingley . A pity it is unwanted here
I am really looking forward to the next chapter
Thank you .
Darcy just has to be Darcy! Yes, he botched it but that’s part of his character. I am glad Elizabeth didn’t hear him (I hope). Thanks for the new chapter. Some time away from Mrs. Bennet will be nice for them I think.
If I had to endure Mrs. Bennet on my honeymoon, of all things, I would be warning everyone away from the Bennet women!
A worse nightmare I can’t imagine.
Makes me wonder, If Lizzy is going to give in to her mother on this, is she going to allow her to have her way in everything and let her follow them everywhere! This Lizzy is definitely not showing any common sense at all!
It makes me shiver at the thought! Mrs. B! The only worse fate would be to allow Caroline to go on your honeymoon!!! (lol)
It seems to me that Lizzy’s strength of character is very inconsistent in this.
She defied her mother *and* her father about Mr. C. She definitely does not
enjoy being around her mother. Then she allows her mother to go to London with
them right after her marriage? Darcy would send Georgiana away at this crucial time,
since she is not mentioned as becoming friendly with Lizzy during that month? But
he would also allow Mrs. B.’s presence to come before his concern for Georgie?
This does not seem to ring true with his love and concern for his sister.
April Fools?/Make Ali Laugh
*Snorts* Sorry, guys, no such luck. Um, should I be worried that you thought it was a farce??
LOL!
Heh. I think most men would….women, too….I’ve been known to make myself scarce when my MIL comes to town hahaha
What was Elizabeth thinking?
For all of Darcy’s arrogance, I think he intends to treat Elizabeth well, and Elizabeth doesn’t have a real high opinion of her family either IMO. Besides Jane, of course. I think she loves her family, but she isn’t blind to their faults…at the end of P&P, she seems pretty eager to get away from Longbourn IMO. In this version, it’s a little different…her situation with her parents and Mr Collins makes her eager to get away from Longbourn. As far as what happens when she finds out about Darcy’s interference, well, you’ll have to wait and see
Well, you’ll get to see plenty of E/D interaction in this story, so you can hopefully judge for yourself. However, the interaction in this scene is a good illustration for how things are going with them, I think. They aren’t comfortable with each other yet, but they’re both making a good faith effort IMO.
What is Darcy’s problem?
Assuming that Darcy *could* help people who seem pretty content the way they are. I have my doubts if they would appreciate such advice….
Well, I think Darcy would, has, and does make plans for Georgiana without consulting her, especially in this story. In this story, he takes it upon himself to settle everything about Georgiana/her child and present it to her after the fact. He’s very much accustomed to doing as he pleases – the fortunate part is that his pleasure is tempered by his efforts to do what he thinks is right.
I think Darcy’s concerns here go deeper than just improving Bingley’s connections since, yes, a connection to Darcy would help Bingley. I don’t think he has a problem with Jane, but I agree more with Kent and Nancy. Based upon what he knows, he thinks he’s saving his friend from a marriage without affection. Perhaps he should be more loyal to his new sister, but Bingley is also one of his closest friends. If Jane *were* indifferent, he would really be doing her a favor, too.
Well, on the other side of that, he’s not a likely match for Elizabeth and the marriage is a very splendid one for her, in worldly terms at least.
Regrets? I dunno how to answer that really, but I’ll try: If Georgiana hadn’t eloped, he would never have thought to make such a ‘low’ marriage (at least, not yet
), especially without affection, but he thinks it’s the best decision for all parties involved. However, I don’t think he’s wallowing in second thoughts here. He just doesn’t like her family and his concern for Bingley is genuine.
*Raises Hand* I would rather be spared the details if my husband was to warn his friend from marrying into my family. Knowing the faults of my own family, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had warned his friends off *snorts*
Well, in P&P, he didn’t actually tell her how he felt about her family until after she refused him…other than to tell her of his struggles in making his proposal to her. Georgiana’s situation overshadows any of those sorts of struggles, but it hasn’t changed his attitude about her family.
What will happen to poor Jane??
Um, well, Mr Collins has married Charlotte, so Jane is safe.
Why is Mrs Bennet in London with the Darcys?? Where is Georgiana?
You got it right, Lisa.
Well, it wasn’t unheard of for women to take one of their family members along as they settled into their new home. It was more unusual for a couple to be entirely alone, from what I read. I hinted at it, though I didn’t say it explicitly, but one of the younger girls did also go to London (Jane had to stay home, so she could catch Bingley
), which didn’t really help or hurt the situation.
At the end of Chapter 4, Mrs Bennet insisted upon going to London to “help” Elizabeth with her wardrobe. Darcy didn’t like it, but he didn’t stop her.
Georgiana is at Pemberley.
Well, I’m not sure any of us are always consistent. Elizabeth knew they had to marry quickly, for the sake of their plan, and the easiest way to carry it out was to give in to her mother. Darcy gave in, too.
He did what he thought was the loving thing for Georgiana and sent her to Pemberley before he married Elizabeth. She’s really wasn’t up to attending the wedding anyway, especially not in Hertfordshire.
Um, I don’t really intend to expand on the month in London, except maybe in a few drabbles. But I think it would be hard for a couple to get to know each other with a MIL like Mrs Bennet underfoot….and yes, Lisa, I imagine that Elizabeth spent a considerable amount of time trying to contain her mother, at least when Darcy ventured out of his library
Mr Bennet stayed at Longbourn, but the Gardiners were in London, although at their own house.
What is Ali thinking??
I don’t think it’ll be as bad as some of you are predicting. You’ll have to let me know at the end what you think.
*Muahahaha* Always glad to know I can manage to pull off a few twists and turns…
Thanks for the comments! Anyone else who wants to chime in, feel free!
Bad, bad Darcy to tear Bingley from Jane. So, although Darcy and Elizabeth are safely married and she is on her way to liking him, she will probably find his behavior in this instance officious, insensitive and just so, so wrong. I expect that he has shot himself in his large foot but may not see the blood for awhile.
I, too, think Darcy is being too high handed regarding Bingley and Jane. Bad, bad Darcy!
I have a question regarding the time-line.
In Chapter 4, Darcy mentions he wants to be at Pemberley in a month’s time. However, it’s a month until they marry, and then a month in London, and they’re back at Netherfield at the end of Chapter 5. Am I reading this correctly, that they’re over a month past when Darcy wanted to be at P?
Thanks for sharing your story, Ali; I’m looking forward to more soon!
Bonnie
Hi, Bonnie!
I have sort of mixed emotions about interfering with the lives of other people. It’s always a tricky business IMO – if your judgment is good, you potentially save your friend from a lot of grief, but if you’re wrong, you create a lot of trouble. And I can’t blame Darcy more than Bingley – being humble enough to consider advice is great, but ultimately, the decision resides with Bingley IMO. But then, I’ve never been like Bingley a day in my life LOL.
They leave Longbourn at the end of December, so yeah, three weeks later. I’ll probably go back and try to make it all a little clearer at some point.
Thanks for the feedback, and I hope you continue to enjoy the story!