Darcy's Affair in Brighton

Chapter 1-1

Chapter 1

Elizabeth Bennet descended the stairs at Longbourn. The urgent strains of her mother’s voice filled the foyer. “Come, Lizzy, your uncle and aunt will arrive at any moment. You must not keep them waiting!”

“Yes, Mama.” Lizzy smoothed the skirt of her cotton travel dress, bought especially for this trip. Her trunk waited by the door. Her reticule hung from her shoulder. It was packed with spending money and a book to read on the long trip to the Peak District.

She took a spencer from the closet. Carefully, she folded it and set it temporarily atop the trunk. The July temperatures would limit its usefulness. But it would come in handy during the cool evening weather.

Her father, looking unusually dour, emerged from his study. “So you are off, then, Lizzy. Let us hope you don’t have occasion to see a certain proud Derbyshire man of our acquaintance.”

Lizzy fought to maintain her equanimity. She knew who he meant, of course. Mr. Darcy. Her aunt had told her they would spend time in Lambton, within five miles of Pemberley, Darcy’s estate. But that was no reason to think they would see him. He might not even be in that part of the country at present.

Her heart fluttered at the thought. Did she want to see him?

Of course not. Their last parting had been a humiliating experience for them both.

But her feelings for him had changed since then. She had not forgiven him for separating her sister Jane from her beau, Mr. Bingley. Yet Mr. Darcy’s letter—the one he had placed in her hand the morning after his failed marriage proposal—had shown he was an honourable man.

She had wasted so much time by forming a hasty opinion of him. How differently things might have proceeded if she had given him a chance to show his true nature!

But she had not, and now that chance was lost. She would likely never see him again.

A stab of pain pierced her heart. Surely it was not affection that made her feel so. Only regret that she could not apologize for the wrongs she had done him.

The thought had haunted her since they had parted three months ago. Even through her dislike, she had noticed his handsome face—his broad shoulders—his keen intelligence. Had he not been so cold in his dealings with her, she might have chanced a flirtation.

Yet all the time he had seemed so distant, he had been falling in love.

If she had known, would she have behaved differently? It was a pointless question. She could not go back and change things. She could only move forward. And that meant accepting the past as it was, not as she wished it could have been.

At the faint sound of hoofbeats, her stomach tumbled. She walked to the front door and looked out the sidelights, expecting to see her uncle’s carriage. Instead, a horseman came into view, approaching the house.

As he came close, Lizzy did not recognize him. Her father stepped outside and exchanged words with the man. The stranger handed her father a missive, and her father gave him a few coins, before he went on his way.

Mr. Bennet came back inside, saying, “An express from London. It is for you, Lizzy.”

Her heart turned to a leaden weight in her chest. She broke the seal and checked the signature. As expected, it was from her aunt.

Dear Lizzy,

Your uncle awoke feeling poorly this morning. He has a fever, and the doctor cannot say when he will be well enough to travel. We have decided to postpone the trip for at least a week.

I will write again once we know more. You must not fret, my dear. I am sure this is but a brief delay.

Your loving aunt,

M. Gardiner

Lizzy communicated the contents of the letter to her parents. It took a solid five minutes to convince Mrs. Bennet that her brother did not lie on his deathbed. Lizzy’s younger sisters, Mary and Kitty, alarmed by the commotion, helped their mother to her room. Jane, the eldest, comforted Lizzy over the change in plans.

“A walk into Meryton will cheer you,” Jane said. “Or perhaps we could take the carriage, in case we want to shop.”

“I’m afraid I cannot spare the horses,” her father said. “Besides, I have spent enough money outfitting Lizzy for this trip. There is nothing left for fripperies.”

“Yes, Papa,” Lizzy said affectionately, kissing his cheek. Then, she and Jane went out for their walk.

“I hope you are not too disappointed,” Jane said. “You have been looking forward to this trip.”

“Unfortunately, the delay will cost us time. My uncle must return to London by the middle of August. We will have to shorten our trip.”

In fact, if her uncle did not make a speedy recovery, they might have to divert to the Cotswolds. Or cancel the trip altogether.

Her heart sank at the prospect.

But it was not in Lizzy’s nature to be morose. The sun was warm, the breeze cool, and the sky cloudless. The scent of roses hung in the air. No point wasting a beautiful day on regrets.

They reached the coaching inn on the outskirts of town. A young woman in fashionable dress ran out of the yard towards the street. Valise in hand, she chased after a carriage. The mail coach, Lizzy surmised by the size and speed of it.

“Wait!” the girl cried, waving her free arm above her head.

The coachman must surely have heard, yet he kept moving. Dust rose as the horses sped up and disappeared around the bend on their way to the main road.

The young woman stood watching as if stunned. Then, reality seemed to hit, and her shoulders slumped.

With Jane at her side, Lizzy approached the girl. Up close, she appeared younger than she had at a distance. Though tall for a woman, she might be no older than sixteen or seventeen.

Something about her face seemed familiar, though Lizzy could not place her. “Miss, are you well? May I fetch your maid?”

Tears sprang to her eyes. “My maid is on the coach that just left. Along with my reticule and all the money for my trip to Brighton.”

“Oh, dear!” Jane cried. “How dreadful!”

Puzzled, Lizzy asked, “Do you mean the maid stole from you?”

The girl gave a little nod. “I asked her to hold my reticule while I used the necessary. I came out to see her sitting next to the driver as the coach pulled away.”

Pondering the maid’s audacity, Lizzy’s mind worked rapidly. The girl was in trouble indeed. Even if she had funds—which apparently she did not—a young woman of her station could not travel alone.

“Might we assist you?” Lizzy asked. “My name is Elizabeth—”

Lizzy coughed, suddenly realizing why the girl looked familiar. Until she understood the young lady’s situation, she did not wish to reveal her identity. “I am Elizabeth Gardiner, and this is my sister, Jane Gardiner.”

Lizzy gave her sister a pointed look. Jane raised her brows but did not contradict her.

“Pleased to meet you,” the girl said. “I am Georgiana Darcy.”

Jane’s jaw fell slack, but Lizzy felt no shock at the mention of the name. The girl bore a strong resemblance to her brother. A brother who might have mentioned Lizzy’s name to Georgiana at some point.

A brother who would surely have provided his sister with a companion—and two sturdy footmen—while she travelled.

Lizzy looked about, seeing no one else coming to the girl’s aid. How strange! “Have you no manservant with you?”

Georgiana shook her head. “This all came up quite suddenly.”

Lizzy scowled, her mind sorting through the facts. Georgiana was the sixteen-year-old niece of an earl. She had taken off unchaperoned but for a disreputable maid. And to Brighton no less, where the militia had gathered for the summer.

Among them was Mr. George Wickham of the _____ shire regiment. Georgiana had nearly eloped with him the year before.

Her brother, who was also her guardian, could have no idea what she was up to. “And you have no governess, no companion?”

Georgiana’s face crumbled. “My companion, Mrs. Annesley—her mother took ill. So I hired Miss Jones. She was to travel with me to Brighton, to meet up with my brother. But now I have no money and no maid... I am stranded here.” Her voice broke.

“Allow us to treat you to tea,” Lizzy said, “and perhaps a meal.”

“Oh, yes, you must,” Jane urged. “I realize it is not the done thing, as we are strangers. But we must not stand on ceremony, under the circumstances.”

Georgiana eyed them warily.

Lizzy added, “The private room at this inn is pleasant, and the food quite good. You will feel better after a repast. We can help you decide on a course of action.”

Georgiana gave them a wan smile. Her stomach seemed to win out over her caution. “Thank you. I haven’t eaten since six this morning.”

They headed inside. Lizzy did not like hiding her identity. Yet if she revealed that she and Jane knew Darcy, the girl might bolt. If Georgiana was indeed planning to elope with Wickham—she would not risk word of it reaching her brother.

Lizzy wondered whether she flattered herself—would Darcy truly have mentioned her to his sister? The man had proposed marriage, after all. The name of Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Hertfordshire might be known to Georgiana.

Yes, Lizzy had better continue the charade. She would be best able to protect Miss Darcy if the girl did not suspect Lizzy of trying to thwart her plans.

They settled in the private dining room. Lizzy ordered tea for herself and Jane, and a hearty beef stew for Miss Darcy. As they waited for the food, Lizzy hatched a plan.

“Have you been to Brighton before?” Lizzy asked, hoping some idle conversation would help win the girl’s trust.

“Normally my family goes to Ramsgate for seaside holidays. But my brother thought to try Brighton this year, as it is popular with the Prince Regent.”

Lizzy nearly snorted. As if Darcy cared a fig what the Prince Regent thought. The girl had to be lying. The fact only bolstered Lizzy’s fears that Georgiana meant to meet up with Wickham.

“Our younger sisters would be jealous,” Lizzy said, humouring her. “They were quite mad to go to Brighton for the summer, but my father refused.”

“Perhaps we could convince him to go to Ramsgate instead,” Jane suggested.

“Oh, yes!” Georgiana cried. “I can tell you where to stay, and all the best places to visit.”

As Georgiana spoke, Lizzy took a pencil and a scrap of paper from her pelisse. She pretended to write down the girl’s recommendations. In fact, she was communicating her suspicions and plans to her sister. Lizzy passed the note, which Jane discreetly read and slipped into her own reticule.

The server brought them some fresh-baked biscuits and refilled their tea. Once she had gone, Lizzy said, “Miss Darcy, I have a proposition for you.”

The girl looked at her with interest.

“I planned to leave on a journey today,” Lizzy explained. “It’s been postponed due to my uncle’s illness. My trunk is packed. I have enough coin for a trip to Brighton. If you do not object, I can serve as your companion. Your brother can reimburse me for the expenses once we reach our destination.”

Georgiana’s expression brightened, then dimmed again. Lizzy wondered what thoughts were going through her head.

She hoped the girl was at least feeling some misgivings. Georgiana was in no position to repay her. Because Darcy was not waiting in Brighton—Lizzy was sure of that.

Finally, Georgiana said, “Thank you, Miss Elizabeth, that is kind of you. I’ll be happy for your company.”

“What a lovely idea!” Jane replied. “I’ll let our parents know, and send your trunk. It should be here within the hour.”

“And in the meantime,” Lizzy said, “I’ll speak to the innkeeper. We must secure fresh horses for your carriage.”

“Oh!” Georgiana said. “I have been travelling by post.”

Lizzy had thought nothing could surprise her at this point. But this left her speechless. The girl had run away from her companion, hired a thief as a lady’s maid, and set off by post—wearing the finest garments Bond Street had to offer?

From the reports she had heard, Lizzy had assumed that Miss Georgiana Darcy was some sort of paragon. True, she had agreed to elope with Wickham, but Lizzy herself had been fooled by the man’s charm. A fifteen-year-old girl would have had no chance against him.

But now, a year later, Georgiana could not be held blameless. Darcy had warned his sister that Wickham was a scoundrel. That he had been scheming for her fortune of thirty thousand pounds. Her behaviour was pure folly.

Thank heaven Jane and Lizzy had come upon her. Now would come the hard part—keeping her safe until she was delivered to her family.

Jane said her goodbyes, hugging her sister and giving her best wishes to Miss Darcy. Lizzy contemplated her next move.

“It would be better if we could hire a carriage,” she said. “If we cannot get one here, we can travel by post to London. At a minimum, we must hire a manservant for protection.”

“Is that necessary?”

“Miss Darcy, I beg your pardon, but your maid robbed you and hopped onto the mail coach. Does that not prove how vulnerable a woman travelling alone can be? And your clothes show you to be of the best society. To travel by post, you should have worn the plainest, most worn dress you own.”

Georgiana cast down her eyes. Lizzy reached out and offered a comforting hand. “You’re inexperienced, that is all. It’s a pity your companion could not travel with you. Your brother should have sent a carriage for you.”

Georgiana hesitated a moment. “He would have, had he known Mrs. Annesley had gone to her mother’s. I did not want to trouble him for a two-day journey. I thought I could handle it on my own.”

Lizzy’s heart almost broke at the words. “You remind me of my sister Lydia. I remember being sixteen, feeling like an adult while everyone treats you like a child. You still have much to learn, Miss Darcy. The world is a more dangerous place than you imagine.”

Georgiana shook her head. “I should not have trusted Miss Jones. But she had glowing references.”

“References can be forged.”

Georgiana sighed. “Of course.”

Lizzy went to the innkeeper to ask about hiring a carriage. The tall, muscular Black man with greying hair addressed her as Miss Gardiner. Apparently Jane had explained the situation to him, as Lizzy had requested in her note.

He said his best carriage was available, and his son Seth could accompany them on the trip. This turn of events gratified Lizzy.

She had known Seth her whole life. He was a kind, soft-spoken man of about twenty with a knack for defusing tavern brawls before they began. And at the May Day competitions, he had shown himself to be an excellent shot.

As she paid the innkeeper, she mentally computed how much it would cost to get to Brighton and return. Darcy or his family would compensate her at some point. But she had to prepare in case something went wrong in the meantime.

Was she miscalculating, helping Georgiana get closer to her destination? If Lizzy didn’t act, the girl might go off on her own. Pawning her jewellery would not just get her to Brighton. It would likely cover the cost of a trip to Gretna Green as well.

Foolish, foolish girl!

Part of Lizzy rebelled at taking responsibility for Georgiana. But she did it for two reasons.

First, if Lydia—her youngest sister—ever put herself into such a situation, Lizzy hoped someone would come to her aid.

Second, if Lizzy knew one true thing about Mr. Darcy, it was this: He loved his sister more than life itself. Losing her would destroy him. Lizzy could not let that happen.

Unsurprisingly, Lizzy’s father accompanied the cart that brought her trunk. In a brief, private conversation, she reassured him of the wisdom and safety of her plan. Ingratiating herself with Darcy might help Jane win back her lost beau—Darcy’s friend, Mr. Bingley.

Her father had joked about Jane’s broken heart. Presumably in an ill-advised attempt at lessening the blow with humour. Yet Mr. Bennet loved Jane. He wanted the best for her. No one could deny that Bingley would make Jane happy.

So Lizzy’s trunk was strapped atop the hired carriage. Georgiana’s valise fit easily inside the cabin. Lizzy waved goodbye to her father, Seth climbed up next to the coachman, and they were on their way.

***