Georgiana Darcy Read online

  GEORGIANA

  DARCY

  A SEQUEL TO

  JANE AUSTEN'S PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

  BY

  ALICE ISAKOVA

  Copyright © 2018 Alice Isakova

  All rights reserved.

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Notes

  Georgiana Darcy, by Alice Isakova

  CHAPTER 1

  A young woman is never so beautiful, charming, or accomplished as when she also possesses a large fortune to add to her other attractions. If a suitor does not consider riches to be an indispensable virtue, his family certainly does, and woe to him who does not choose his wife accordingly. The lady's relations, being no more ignorant of these facts than the suitor's family, guard their beloved daughter, sister, or niece all the more closely lest such a treasure should fall into the wrong hands.

  "My dear, there is something I must discuss with you," said Mr. Darcy to his wife one fine day in October.

  "Yes, what is it?" replied Elizabeth.

  "Lately, I have been thinking of my sister. As you are aware, in less than a year she will be eighteen, and perhaps it is therefore time to give consideration to her future. Ordinarily, that is a task that falls on the parents, but since my mother and father are no longer living, I believe it becomes our duty to guide Georgiana in society and help her make a good match."

  "Do you have any candidates in mind?"

  "No, not as yet," answered Mr. Darcy, "but whoever is chosen in the end, my chief concern is for Georgiana to be happy. I wish for my sister to discover the same felicity in marriage that you and I have found together." After a slight pause, he added, "Yet, at the same time, I would not want for her to marry into poverty, for I hardly see how a sharp decline in her style of living could contribute to her happiness."

  Elizabeth remarked, "With her fortune of thirty thousand pounds, I doubt that she will ever know true poverty no matter whom she marries."

  "Perhaps," said Darcy, "but I believe that as regards unequal marriages, it is far more perilous for a wealthy woman to descend into the valley of poverty for a husband, than it is for a wealthy man to come down for a wife. She is much less able to raise her partner in life to her level than he is. Moreover, the size of my sister's fortune is precisely what concerns me. Many a fortune-hunter will find the sum of thirty thousand pounds a very attractive inducement, indeed; above all else, I fear that some greedy, heartless rogue will insinuate himself so far into Georgiana's good graces as to persuade her to marry him, and that afterwards she will live a life of misery while he spends her fortune to the last farthing. I hardly need remind you of how close she came to that fate not so very long ago with Mr. Wickham."

  Here Elizabeth stopped her husband to point out that his sister was a sensible, virtuous young woman, and although Georgiana had once made the error of contemplating an elopement, she had been only fifteen years old at the time. Did her brother now think that she would repeat her former folly?

  "I suppose not," conceded Darcy, "but still, we must be cautious."

  "And so we shall be! But for the present, had we not better turn our minds to how best to help your sister find a husband who will be suitable? Spending a season in London is the established way, I believe. At one of the balls and parties in town, she may perhaps make the acquaintance of a worthy, young man with whom she can be happy."

  Mr. Darcy had no objection to going to town for the season except one: he would soon be much occupied with business matters relating to his recent purchase of an estate in Scotland, and therefore, he could not be certain whether it would be possible for him to take his family to London at all that year. The newly-bought estate was a very promising one, with some of the most fertile land in Scotland, but its former owner had allowed the property to fall into a state of neglect in the last years. It would be necessary to find a new land agent since the current one had shown himself to be abominably remiss in the execution of his duties. For this task and others needed to bring about substantial improvements on the estate, Darcy intended to leave for Scotland in the latter part of October, and after a week or two, he would rejoin Elizabeth and Georgiana in England to visit their family and friends. Afterwards, he planned to take both ladies with him to Scotland in December, where they would remain for at least a month, but possibly all winter.

  Elizabeth agreed that this was a good plan, though it would be a pity if Georgiana missed the London season, especially when the maiden had just come into full bloom.

  "Yes, my sister has improved markedly in the last year," said Darcy, "and it is all on account of your influence, my dear. She no longer has that painful shyness which characterised her manners in the past; you have softened her diffidence into modesty, and your good example has brought out a playfulness of spirit in Georgiana that I have not seen in a long time—not since the death of my father, in fact."

  "I will not deny having had some influence," returned his wife, "but neither do I think I can justly claim all credit; it is natural for a girl who is nearing eighteen to shake off much of the awkward diffidence of youth even without assistance."

  Still determined to find a way for her sister-in-law to go out into society during the fashionable season, Elizabeth paused to contemplate the problem, and then said suddenly:

  "What do you think if, instead of coming to Scotland with us, Georgiana goes to Bath in December with my sister Jane and her husband? It is not the equal of London, I know, but Mr. Bingley has a wide acquaintance there, and it would be in his power to introduce your sister into the circles of elegant society in Bath."

  "Do you think they will want to take her with them?"

  "I am sure of it! Jane is very fond of Georgiana and has more than once expressed a wish to see her more often, and your sister and Mr. Bingley have always been good friends. I will write to the Bingleys and ask them, of course, but I feel certain they will be very glad for her to accompany them when they go to Bath this winter."

  Mr. Darcy was pleased with the idea. He would still endeavour to conclude his affairs in time to go to London in January, said he, but it would only be of benefit for Georgiana to make as many new acquaintances as possible, in Bath as well as London.

  "But what about your sister Catherine?" asked he. "We have never discussed her future. She, too, is of marriageable age, and since she is living with us, should we perhaps be helping her to make a good match as well?"

 
"In time, yes," answered Elizabeth, "but I think it is yet too early to trust Kitty to behave properly in society. Though she has improved to some extent of late, she still forgets herself sometimes. I would hate for her to embarrass Georgiana in some way and thereby harm her chances. For the present, I believe Kitty will do better simply to continue her education. Marriage can wait."

  Following this conversation, Elizabeth wrote to Jane, who lived in the neighbouring county with her husband. The reply she received was exactly the one she had hoped for; the Bingleys were delighted at the idea of taking Mr. Darcy's sister with them to Bath, and so it was settled. Georgiana and Elizabeth would first travel into Kent later that month, while Catherine Bennet would go to Mr. and Mrs. Bingley. In late November, Miss Bennet and the Bingleys would then journey into Hertfordshire to visit their family at Longbourn, where the Darcys would join them soon afterwards. From there, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were to continue on to Scotland, while Georgiana would set out for Bath with Jane and Mr. Bingley. Kitty was to remain with the Bennets at Longbourn for the winter.

  It was a very pleasant surprise for Georgiana to hear that she would be accompanying the Bingleys to Bath. She had never been to that city before and was all excitement and anticipation to go. The prospect of visiting friends and family in Kent beforehand also occasioned much enthusiasm. When travelling into that county in the past, Georgiana had always stayed with her aunt and cousin at Rosings Park, but this time, the Darcys would instead be staying at Kleistringham House, the home of the Townsend family in the same neighbourhood. Mr. Townsend and Mr. Darcy were very good friends and had been so since making each other's acquaintance at Cambridge.

  The Darcy family had a good reason for avoiding Rosings. Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Darcy's aunt and the mistress of Rosings Park, had severely disapproved of the marriage between Elizabeth and her nephew. The bride's lack of wealth and a grand family name was strongly objectionable to her ladyship, and although a reconciliation had eventually been achieved, relations between Lady Catherine and Mr. and Mrs. Darcy were still quite strained. Staying at Rosings during their sojourn in Kent was therefore out of the question.

  Family difficulties aside, the next several months promised to be as interesting and agreeable as any young lady could wish for, at least in Georgiana's estimation. Elizabeth's younger sister, however, had a very different opinion. She was anything but pleased by her family's travel plans for the following months and was particularly resentful to learn that rather than going to town, she was to sit at home in the country, first with the Bingleys and then with the Bennets, where she would have no adventure at all! Kitty had long been looking forward to spending a season in London and had dreamed of going to countless balls and dancing with dozens of handsome young men. Was she now instead to languish in the country, while Georgiana partook of all the pleasures that would be denied to her? It was all her sister's doing, Kitty was sure of it! Mr. Darcy could never have suggested such an arrangement; he would not have wished to seem unkind by excluding her and giving preference to his own sister. Where was Elizabeth's loyalty? Where was her sisterly affection?

  It was with the greatest bitterness that Kitty complained, and all the worst of her peevishness, which Mrs. Darcy had spent the last months trying to eradicate, was now on full display. All day long, Catherine could talk of nothing but the unfair treatment to which she was being subjected, and even in the evening, while the family were on their way to a ball, she continued her protests. Elizabeth endeavoured to reason with her:

  "We may perhaps all go to town next year," said she, "and do you not want to visit Papa and Mama and your sister Mary? It must be nearly a year since you last saw them."

  "I am not so anxious to visit my family as to wish to forego Bath and London! Why is it that Georgiana gets to spend her winter attending balls and parties while I must be exiled to Longbourn?!"

  "There will be dances at Meryton, I am sure."

  "And what of it? Since the regiment went away from Meryton, there is no one left within thirty miles of the place who is worth dancing with. It will be the same plain, dull fellows every time, some of them nearly old enough to be my father! And I am sure that the men at tonight's ball will be little better!"

  Mr. Darcy maintained a grim silence and kept his gaze fixed on the view from the carriage window. It was only for his wife's sake that he had allowed Catherine to live with them at Pemberley, and at times like these he almost regretted the decision. How grating to the ear was her petulant whining!

  When they arrived at the ball, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy's attention was soon distracted by one of their neighbours, who approached to share some new bit of gossip. Georgiana and Kitty meanwhile continued on in the direction of where the dancing was to take place. As they walked, Kitty was saying something about how her sister likely wished for her to become an old maid, when suddenly, the tone of her voice altered, and in the sweetest, most agreeable accent imaginable, she began praising the room and remarking on how much she was looking forward to dancing that evening.

  Astonished by this sudden change, Georgiana turned to look at her companion. Kitty's face was the picture of good humour, the cause of which soon became obvious: coming in their general direction was a tall, handsome gentleman whom neither Miss Darcy nor Miss Bennet had ever seen before. He was finely-proportioned and tastefully attired, and in his air there was a certain dashing quality that never failed to draw the attention of the fair sex.

  When he was nearly upon them, Kitty's reticule unexpectedly fell from her hand and landed with a faint thump on the floor. Georgiana perceived it at once and could scarcely believe that its owner did not, but Catherine Bennet walked on as if nothing had happened.

  "Kitty, wait!" exclaimed Georgiana. However, before she could point out the fallen article to her friend, the man lifted it from the ground and addressed Miss Bennet with:

  "I beg your pardon, Madam. I believe you dropped this."

  Kitty rewarded him with a radiant smile, and taking back her reticule she replied, "How very careless of me! I thank you, Sir, for your trouble."

  Georgiana blushed with shame on Catherine's account. When the man had moved some distance away, she said, "Kitty, you should not have done that. It was most indelicate of you!"

  "What is so indelicate about accidentally dropping a reticule?"

  "If only it were an accident! But you and I both know that it was not, and worse, I think that gentleman knows it too. You are not even acquainted with him!"

  "I am sure it will not be long before we are introduced, and now that he has noticed me, perhaps he will even seek out an introduction."

  The unknown gentleman did indeed return a few minutes later alongside Mr. Newnham, the master of the house. Mr. Newnham presented the handsome stranger to the ladies as his step-son, Mr. Morgan, who had completed his education at Cambridge that year and had now come to live in Derbyshire. To Kitty's delight, the young man requested the honour of her hand for the first two dances.

  A minute or two later, Georgiana was herself asked to stand up for a set, and soon she and her partner were weaving with sprightly step through the mazes of a country dance. As they did so, she could not help noticing the way in which Kitty and Mr. Morgan were dancing together, and in particular, her friend's coquettish manner, the enticing glances she threw at the gentleman, and the flirtatious snippets of conversation that passed between them.

  In the interim following the opening dance, Georgiana whispered to Kitty that she should not be so forward, but her friend would not hear reason.

  "La! You are starting to sound just like Elizabeth!" exclaimed Catherine with some annoyance and then returned to frolic with Mr. Morgan in the next jig.

  Georgiana was much admired at the ball and could scarcely finish treading one measure before some gallant spark invited her to join him in another. She had many agreeable partners that evening and was enjoying herself so much that she soon forgot all about Kitty and did not even notice whe
n for two consecutive dances, her friend did not take part, and neither was she among the ladies sitting on the side waiting to be asked.

  At the end of a quadrille, Mrs. Darcy came to Georgiana and inquired whether she knew where her sister had gone. Georgiana answered that she had no notion of Kitty's having quitted the room at all. After a moment's pause she added that perhaps Kitty had gone to the refreshments room. Elizabeth replied that it was the first place she had looked, and there was no sign of Catherine there, nor anywhere else one might reasonably expect to find her.

  Knowing it would be in vain, the Darcy ladies nevertheless again went to the refreshments room in search of her and even looked behind a screen that was stationed there, but to no avail; she was nowhere to be found. As the ladies were returning, both with concerned countenances, they suddenly heard the sound of soft, girlish laughter coming from Mr. Newnham's library. Georgiana and Elizabeth exchanged a look—that must be her!

  As they approached the library doors, which were nearly closed, the ladies heard a man's deep voice speaking in lowered tones, and then the sound of Kitty purring something in reply. Opening the doors, Elizabeth beheld her sister seated quite close to Mr. Morgan on a sofa in the dimly-lit room. With a look of alarm, Catherine leaped to her feet and declared in a quivering voice that she and Mr. Morgan had merely been getting better acquainted.

  "I can see that," answered Elizabeth curtly, and then turning to the gentleman, she asked in a calm, yet stony voice whether she might have a word alone with her sister.

  "Certainly, Mrs. Darcy."

  Looking simultaneously sheepish and amused, he left the library. Once Elizabeth was sure that no one else could hear, she demanded, "Would you like to explain what the two of you were doing here all by yourselves?"

  "There is nothing to explain!" returned Kitty defensively. "We were just talking—it is not as if we were kissing or anything!"

  This answer did little to pacify Elizabeth, who proceeded to scold her younger sister in the most earnest terms: