Welcome to our Pride & Prejudice prequel! P&P: Prelude to Pemberley tells the story of the time leading up to the events of Pride & Prejudice, including what Darcy and Elizabeth were doing and thinking, Georgiana Darcy’s story, the events of Ramsgate, how Mr. Bingley came to lease Netherfield, and much more! Join us on our journey as the Austen Variations authors post the events of 1811 in real time on the date they happened – 214 years in the future.
Mr. Darcy in London
June 18th, 1811
Fitzwilliam Darcy fiddled with the silk of his cravat and pulled the fabric loosely from around his neck before discarding it on his desk. It had been a long day, with meetings with his man of business, corresponding with his steward at Pemberley and then the dinner at his aunt Lady Matlocks’. I had not wished to attend, but there was no option. Aunt Ellen would never forgive me if I sent my regrets.
Darcy walked to his private decanter and poured a drink before opening the French doors leading to the back garden. His glass dangling from his fingertips, he walked out the terrace and sipped contentedly. “Poor Aunt Ellen. She was certain the young Miss Swain would be the woman who would finally convince me to don the marriage noose.” He chuckled softly before tilting his head back for another swallow. “But, it was not to be.”
“What was not to be?”
Darcy did not start at the voice of his favorite cousin, instead pointing to the chair beside him without turning around. “What took you so long? I thought you were following me directly?”
“I was until mother wished to canvass every woman in the ton as eligible possibilities in the contest to be your wife. What flaw did Miss Swain possess?” Richard Fitzwilliam asked, as if it would surprise him.
“She lacked a certain flair that I desire in a wife.”
“Flair?” Richard asked, trying to hide his smug grin behind the glass.
“Yes, flair. Not to mention that she is not even two full years older than Georgiana. I will not marry a child, not matter what she would bring to Pemberley’s coffers.”
Richard Fitzwilliam held in a laugh, but finally it was too much for him and he threw his head back. “So, it was only her lack of flair, as you put it, and her age? Nothing else?”
Darcy shook his head, before turning back to gaze at the moon. “No, nothing.”
“Not even the fact that she was scared to death to talk to you? The poor girl shook so much when you finally turned to speak to her at dinner, water sloshed upon mother’s table. She was most displeased.”
Darcy smiled at the memory. “The poor young girl. She and I are very much alike, if you think about it. The elders in our family trying to fix our lives the way they see fit without much input from us, not worrying if we would fit or not. We fulfill our duty by going to dinners and balls, all while attempting to be charming and attractive to just the right person. Yet, what happiness is guaranteed? What can be done to assure the best choice for our future felicity and that of our children will be reached?”
Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam eyed his younger cousin by two years and sipped on the amber liquid sending a warm trail down his throat. When drained, he set the glass down on the table, leaned back and clasped his hands over his chest. “What has you in such a mood, Darcy? Why so introspective?”
He was quiet for a moment before answering. “I am getting old, Cousin.”
“Twenty-eight is not old.”
“No, but to search for a wife it is.”
“A wife? Fitzwilliam Darcy is talking about finding a wife?”
He shrugged his shoulders and rhythmically tapped his fingers on the banister, a habit he’d not outgrown from childhood.
“The possibility of a wife, yes. With this recent trouble with Georgiana at school and our misunderstanding, she needs a steadying presence. Not an older brother, but one of a loving and encouraging sister. Someone who can help mold her and help her understand her responsibilities as a Darcy.”
“So, should I wish you and Miss Bingley joy?”
“Miss Bingley? Bite your tongue, man!”
Richard shrugged his shoulders. “She is the only woman you speak to or dance with at events and receives any and all other attention from you. Why would we not believe that would happen?”
“Who is this ‘we’ you speak of so openly?”
“There is a bet at White’s you will propose to her by the end of the little season.”
Darcy choked on his drink. “A bet at White’s? What poppycock.”
“Poppycock or not, she knows about the bet and is quite smug throughout London. You would be wise to remember it and make your presence known at events without either her or her brother.”
“I have just accepted an invitation to holiday with them when Bingley finds an estate to lease.”
“Oh, well that is a spot of bad luck, isn’t it?” the Colonel leaned back further and began to hum. “I suggest you get yourself out of this mess and go to Pemberley.”
“I cannot leave yet. I still have pressing business for at least another week, then I considered going to Ramsgate and surprising Georgiana. Do you think she would wish to see me?”
“I do, Darce. Disagreements between siblings happens quite often, and our little Georgie is growing up into a young woman. She does not wish to disappoint us, but I fear she believes she has.”
“Never.”
Richard stretched his legs before standing. “Of course, never. I think you must plan to go surprise her, but if she does not write favorably to you in the next week, ask her thoughts. We must accept she is a young woman and not a child and should treat her as such.”
“When did you gain all this wisdom, Richard?”
“There are things one just knows. And, remember, I also have a younger sister, so I have had practice.”
Darcy sipped the last of his drink and turned to follow Richard into his study. “Yes, I will complete my business and plan to surprise her sometime next week. But, I must remove myself from Miss Bingley so our names are not linked amongst the gossips.”
“I could not imagine a worse fate for Pemberley than being eternally tide by marriage to someone not of your choosing, Darcy.”
“Well, cousin, it now needs not be a concern, and since we’ve solved that quandary, what say you to a game of billiards?”
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Darcy only danced with ladies he was well acquainted with and hated small talk with strangers. At the assembly he only danced with Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley. At the Netherfield ball he presumably danced with them as well as Lizzy, but not with Jane whom he knew almost as well as both sisters stayed at Netherfield. Maybe at other balls he danced with Colonel Fitzwilliam’s sisters, as he knew them all his life. If Lady Catherine ever took Anne to a ball he attended he’d have to dance with Anne. As Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam are his only known close male friends the only ladies he’d be well acquainted with would be their relatives, unless his late father, old Mr Darcy, had relatives with daughters that Darcy grew up knowing. The family at Pemberley didn’t visit in Lambton, so he’d no childhood friends among his neighbours’ daughters. If Darcy only danced with 2 or 3 ladies at each ball onlookers might think he was interested in the unmarried lady he danced with. They knew that as an only son he’d have to marry for the sake of the estate. Miss Bingley wasn’t quite as unreasonable in hoping to marry Darcy as she seemed, nor was Lady Catherine so unreasonable in hoping he’d marry Anne. Darcy knew few ladies well and was too shy to marry a stranger. Only the accidents of Jane’s illness bringing Lizzy to Netherfield and her being at the Parsonage when he was at Rosings led to Darcy knowing her well enough to propose the first time.
Author
Bennet Lover, you are correct! 🙂 Colonel Fitzwilliam sure does love to rib Darcy, though.
At least I can comment on this one. The one about Georgiana and Wickham said page not found.
Poor Darcy having Miss Bingley gloating about that bet. He needs to ignore her as much as possible. He definitely, definitely needs to surprise Georgiana and sooner rather than later!
Author
I agree, Glynis. The faster he gets to Ramsgate, the less anxiety I will feel! 🙂
So hard to go back to beginning of the posts….have to continually scroll….is there an easier way to read the post from P&P Darcy in Lobdon? I like the reading but not worth the constant scrolling to get to new date.