Create Your Own JAFF Adventure – Part 10

Thanks for joining me on our Create Your Own JAFF Adventure! Just starting? You can catch up on previous posts collected here: https://austenvariations.com/category/sarah-courtney/ .

Last post, Elizabeth saw Miss Darcy going out alone (with a maid)–something Mr. Darcy had specifically forbidden! She had to decide quickly whether to follow Miss Darcy in a hackney or instead alert Mr. Darcy that his sister had gone out. The readers chose for her to alert Mr. Darcy–by ONE vote! (At the time when I checked.) So this part will start with her having Mr. Darcy roused and telling him about his sister’s escapade.

If you’d prefer the third person version, you can read it here. There’s a link at the bottom of the intro part that will jump you to the newest part. Just don’t forget to come back and comment to tell me what Elizabeth should do next!

It is a foolish idea to consider trailing Miss Darcy around London in a hackney. She is not your sister, after all, who is to some extent your responsibility and who might be convinced, through sisterly affection, to obey your commands.

Instead, you hail the nearest footman. “Please have Mr. Darcy roused with the utmost urgency. It regards his sister.”

You are prepared for a summons to his sitting room, but you do not expect him to arrive in the parlour before you can leave it.

“Miss Bennet.” He stands in the doorframe, leaning slightly against the jam for support. “I was told that something is amiss with my sister.”

“She has gone out, which I am fairly certain is against your orders,” you say simply.

He sags a little before taking a few steps into the room and lowering himself onto a chair. “I see.”

“Mr. Darcy . . . I hesitate to interfere, but I do have four sisters of my own and some experience with sisters who are . . . less governable than others.” You choose your words carefully, not wanting him to dismiss your point outright out of resentment.

His jaw clenches, but he does not interrupt.

You go on, “When I went to speak with her last evening, she seemed rather secretive about some letters or writing in her desk, which she was anxious to keep from my sight.”

“If you will forgive me, Miss Bennet, I must write a note to Colonel Fitzwilliam. I will return shortly.”

You wait, wondering if Miss Darcy’s desk is being plundered. Or will Mr. Darcy summon his cousin to investigate together?

What if you are wrong? What if Miss Darcy’s letters are the innocent secret writing of a girl of tender years, and her brother’s violation of her privacy leads to resentment?

He did not say outright that he intends to unlock the girl’s desk, though. It would be better not to assume his intentions.

A quarter of an hour later, Mr. Darcy returns to the parlour and sits in the chair nearest yours. His eyes meet yours, and you can read the defeat in them. “If I speak with you . . . can I be assured of your secrecy?”

“Mine, yes.” You glance toward the doorway. “But there are two little boys in the house who seem adept at escaping their governess at every opportunity, as well as a number of servants.”

Mr. Darcy pushes himself to his feet. “Then may I request the honor of a walk in the gardens? I believe we can be assured of privacy there.”

You assent. The garden is not large, but you will be able to see if anyone should approach. “It would be good for you to be outdoors, I think.”

Once you are both dressed for the outdoors, you make your way to the gravel walk at the back of the little garden, and he tells you about Miss Darcy’s near elopement with Mr. Wickham. By the end of it, you wish desperately that your aunt had a little bench in the garden. Your knees, despite their strength from your regular walks, are hardly equal to keeping you upright.

Can this be true? But why would Mr. Darcy share information so scandalous about his sister and risk her reputation if it is not? Can you be so impossibly blind, so vain that you allowed one man’s flattery to make you think him honourable, and another man’s insult to make you think him pompous?

“The worst of it is,” he says, “that I do not think she believes me about Mr. Wickham’s design.”

You are forced to push aside your own shame and confusion over Mr. Wickham’s character to consider Mr. Darcy’s words. “You mean that she is convinced he truly loved her?”

“I cannot say for sure, but I believe so, yes.”

“Then the letters—”

“There were none.” Mr. Darcy looks down at his feet. “I will confess that I violated my sister’s privacy by opening her desk. It was, indeed, letters, but they were from friends and classmates. I know Mr. Wickham’s handwriting—and that of Mrs. Younge—very well, and none of the letters resembled their writing.”

Then you betrayed Miss Darcy’s trust for nothing. Except that Mr. Darcy still looks concerned.

“You are not convinced.”

“I believe she may have communicated with him in some way. If not by letter, then by some other means. A servant passing messages, a note or letter that was not kept, something of the sort.”

“Then you believe she is meeting with him?”

“Am I jumping to conclusions?” He gives you a wry smile. “I suppose I am. He is in Meryton, after all.”

“But he is not.” It did not seem significant at the time, seeing Mr. Wickham in the park, but now it takes on all new meaning. “Mr. Wickham has been in London since just before the ball at Netherfield Park. I—”

“Miss Bennet?” A maid stands at the doorway, and you both look beyond her with eagerness, hoping to see Miss Darcy beyond. “Mrs. Gardiner requests your presence. There are visitors.”

You and Mr. Darcy exchange a bemused glance before making your way back into the house. When you join Aunt Gardiner in the parlour, you find her entertaining Mr. Bingley, Miss Bingley, and the Hursts.

“Mr. Darcy!” Miss Bingley exclaims as he enters. “You cannot imagine our disbelief when we heard you were hiding yourself away here!”

Mr. Bingley shakes Mr. Darcy’s hand. “I understand you were injured.”

“You could have knocked me over with a feather when I heard,” Miss Bingley says.

“How did you hear of it?” Mr. Darcy asks, and there is a tone to his question that you wonder about. Is he angry with the Bingleys?

“My sisters and Mr. Hurst arrived a few hours after I did,” Mr. Bingley says, “and we were dismayed to discover you were not here. That is to say, when my sisters did not see you at Netherfield in the morning, they assumed you had gone to town with me after all. And I believed you still at Netherfield with the rest of the party. I thought perhaps you had ridden, until we received Miss Darcy’s note.”

“Miss Darcy’s note?” you ask, and they look to you for the first time.

“Well, of course,” Miss Bingley says. “Miss Darcy is a dear friend of mine, and she wrote to assure me that Mr. Darcy was well. She knew how worried I would be.” She smiles brightly at him. “And now that we are here, you will not have to impose on the Gardiners any longer. We brought two carriages with the express purpose of bringing you back to Hurst House with us, where we can be certain of your care.”

“I am afraid I am in no condition to travel by carriage at the moment,” Mr. Darcy says firmly.

Mrs. Hurst leans forward, bracelets jingling. “Oh, but our carriage is very comfortable and well-sprung. You will be as snug as you would be here in this parlour, and then you will be able to enjoy the hospitality of Hurst House to speed your recovery.”

“Be glad to have you,” Mr. Hurst says, nodding to Mr. Darcy. “Lovely house here and all that, but so many additional guests must be a strain on the household economy.”

Aunt Gardiner rushes to assure Mr. Darcy, “No, indeed. We have delighted in your company, and of course that of your cousin and sister as well. In fact, we would be happy if your friends would like to come to dinner so they can be reassured you are well. Shall we say tomorrow evening?”

“Thank you, Mrs. Gardiner,” Mr. Bingley says. “We are pleased to accept.”

You fight not to fidget. You were interrupted in the garden, but now that you have a moment to think while Miss Bingley prattles on, you have a thought.

Mr. Wickham was in the park when you saw him. What if he and Miss Darcy were meeting there as well? If only the Bingleys would end their call! It is already past the proper length for a call, but they seem to consider their close friendship with Mr. Darcy as an excuse to stay past the expected allotment of time.

You are not the only one impatient for the Bingleys to finish their visit and leave. Mr. Darcy seems almost agitated, and when he stands and wanders over to the window to look out in a way reminiscent of his stance in Hertfordshire, you know exactly who he is looking for.

“Where is Miss Darcy?” Miss Bingley asks at last. “I had hoped to see her today. She is the dearest girl.”

“I am afraid she went out this morning,” Aunt Gardiner says smoothly. “I will tell her you have asked after her.”

Miss Bingley’s smile is directed at Mr. Darcy’s back. “Oh, I do wish she had told me if she was going shopping or making calls. I would have happily accompanied her.”

He suddenly turns, but it is not in response to Miss Bingley, but to the entrance of the Gardiners’ butler—with guests.

You expect Colonel Fitzwilliam. It is not him, but instead an older woman who resembles him—or, rather, whom he resembles—followed by, to your great shock, Georgiana Darcy.

“Lady Matlock,” the butler intones as if he announces a countess to his mistress every day, “and Miss Darcy.”

“Miss Darcy!” Miss Bingley is across the room greeting her friend before Mr. Darcy or you can react to her appearance, but some of your tension abates. Now, at last, Miss Darcy is back under Mr. Darcy’s care. She returned safely. Until now, you did not realise the level of guilt you felt over Miss Darcy being able to escape the Gardiners’ house.

Mr. Darcy barely peels his eyes away from his sister to introduce the visitor, his aunt, to you, your aunt, and the Bingleys, whom it seems have never met her before. Unsurprisingly, once the introductions are complete, Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley give Lady Matlock their complete attention, while the countess spares them none, instead quizzing Mr. Darcy on his health. His answers are distracted, and you can feel his impatience to speak with his sister, whose bright smile shows not a hint of shame for having gone out against her brother’s edict.

“We have repeatedly urged Mr. Darcy to accept my brother’s hospitality,” Miss Bingley says, smiling brightly at Lady Matlock. “In such times as these, depending on good friends is such a comfort.”

“He had much better stay here,” Lady Matlock says shortly, eyeing Mr. Darcy up and down. “I cannot like his colour, and I would not like to see him subjected to the rattling of a carriage just yet.”

“No room here for a proper valet,” Mr. Hurst says with a grunt. “Or for the girl to have her companion. ”

“While that is true, I would not have him risk his health in traveling too soon, not even to Mayfair. In fact, nephew, you do look a little peaked from sitting upright for so long. Do not endanger your health for our sake.”

Mr. Bingley, at last, takes the hint. “I am pleased that we have found Darcy alive and well, but we should let him get rest and recover. I will look forward to seeing you tomorrow night, Darcy.”

Finally, they all take their leave. The moment they are safely gone, Mr. Darcy turns to his sister.

“Georgiana, did I not tell you I did not wish for you to leave this house without permission?”

The girl’s eyes widen. “But I did have permission, Brother! I asked you this morning if I might go to my aunt. Perhaps you forgot when you woke again?”

Mr. Darcy’s brow furrows. “I do not remember this.”

“Oh, dear.” Miss Darcy wrings her hands. “Are you . . . are you having trouble remembering things?”

You study the girl. She does not appear to be acting, but you are fairly certain she is. Mr. Darcy would not give her permission to leave the house without a companion, you know he would not.

“I am surprised that Mr. Darcy gave you permission,” you say, “given how concerned he was about you going out alone. I would have expected him to require Mrs. Gardiner or me to accompany you, or perhaps have suggested that you write to Lady Matlock and ask her to come here.”

Mr. Darcy’s eyes clear. “That is true. I have already said that I do not wish you to go out alone.”

“Oh! I must have misunderstood.” Miss Darcy smiles brightly. “It will not happen again.”

“Certainly not,” says Lady Matlock. “Because I suggest that Georgiana come stay with me while you are here at the Gardiners’.”

“Stay with you?” Miss Darcy says, jaw dropping. “But—”

“Your brother is in no condition to supervise a young woman while he is recovering from his injuries,” Lady Matlock says. “And while I appreciate that you wished to visit me today, you should not have come alone nor against your brother’s orders. I will, in fact, speak with my own coachman and be sure he knows that you, as a young lady who is not yet out, may only leave the house if your uncle or I have given express permission directly to him.”

You exchange a pleased look with Aunt Gardiner, whose relief is visible on her face. You rather think you like this countess.

“A wise decision,” Aunt Gardiner murmurs, and Lady Matlock gives a little nod of acknowledgement.

“Thank you, Aunt,” Mr. Darcy says. “I know Georgiana will be safe with you.” He smiles apologetically at Aunt Gardiner. “I am very grateful that you allowed her to stay here to be with me during my recovery, but I cannot ask you to chaperone her when you have already done so much, and I think she may need . . . a firmer hand than I am able to apply at the moment.”

Miss Darcy’s face reddens and she presses her lips together, but she says nothing. Even the defiant young miss is not ready to defy her aunt, it seems, and after the things she brought to the Gardiners’ have been packed, the two go on their way.

It will be good for Miss Darcy to stay with her aunt. From the impression you get of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s mother, she seems unlikely to tolerate misbehavior. And if Georgiana still thinks herself in love with Mr. Wickham, an older woman she respects will be the best one to talk her out of it—and prevent her from doing anything regrettable in the meantime.

Why did Miss Darcy sneak out of the house without permission only to visit her aunt? As you suggested to Mr. Darcy, he likely would give permission—provided she went there with Aunt Gardiner or yourself, or if Lady Matlock came to the Gardiners’ to retrieve her.

Unless she did more than visit her aunt. How long had it been between when she slipped out to when she returned? Two hours, perhaps? Enough time for Miss Darcy to go somewhere on the way and then arrive at Lady Matlock’s as if that was her destination all the while.

The maid would know. You need to determine which of Aunt Gardiners’ maids accompanied Miss Darcy and ask her if they went anywhere else, and where, and if she saw Miss Darcy meet anyone.

The meeting with Mr. Wickham! You were about to tell Mr. Darcy about seeing him at the park when you were interrupted with the Bingleys’ visit. Uncle Gardiner has returned home and the two have gone off somewhere to look at a book, but you could invite him for a walk in the garden to tell him what you know.

Would it be better to speak to the maid first, so that you know what to tell Mr. Darcy about Miss Darcy’s escapade today—if you are even right in your suspicions? Or better to speak to him about Mr. Wickham first, before anything else can prevent it?

Should you

first track down the maid and find out if Miss Darcy went anywhere else on her way to Lady Matlock’s

or

tell Mr. Darcy about seeing Wickham in the park and your suspicion that he might have met Miss Darcy there?

Give your vote in the comments! Hopefully this is another challenging-to-choose one, because those are fun!