Pride Prejudice and Prodigy

Coming to the Point

Chapter 16 ~ Coming to the Point

Georgiana had hoped for an opportunity to speak with James Darlington prior to the dinner party for the Beauchamps – and the inevitable marriage proposal of Lord William. However, events seemed to conspire against it. Lady Beauchamp's party was the first to arrive. They came in two carriages, for apart from Lady Beauchamp, her son, and her daughter, there was old Squire Fortnum and his lady, along with their two sons: the young squire, John Fortnum, and his younger brother, Harold, lately installed as the rector of Kympton. When the Darlingtons and the Countess de Namur arrived in the carriage which had been sent for them, the party was complete.

As they were chatting over drinks in the drawing room, prior to dining, Georgiana said to Mr Darlington, “I have just discovered an old copy of Shakespeare's sonnets in the library. I should like you to see it, for it contains three sonnets that I cannot recall ever seeing before.”

“It would be my pleasure, Miss Darcy; this sounds like a truly remarkable find,” said he, waiting until Georgiana had exited the room before placing his glass on a table, and taking a different route to the library.

After he had entered, Georgiana carefully adjusted the library door, so that it was slightly ajar. Although the two of them had spent many hours in private conversation, Georgiana did not wish to arouse the suspicions of those amongst their visitors who were unfamiliar with the unusual nature of their friendship.

“And what did you really wish to speak of, Miss Darcy? Or has the Bard's ghost indeed paid a visit to your library, to augment his already copious writings?”

“You know me too well, sir,” she said, smiling at him warmly.

He returned her smile tenderly.

“Do you recall anything of our conversation, sir, on the morning you painted my portrait in the conservatory?”

“I shall never forget it,” he said earnestly.

“I told you, then, that I intended never to marry”

“And you have since changed your mind?” he asked with an enquiring smile.

“Yes, I have. I also stated that I could never marry a gentleman who was poorer than myself.”

“Yes, I recall your profound misgivings at the prospect of being deceived by another fortune hunter. Am I to understand that you have likewise changed your mind upon that subject?”

“Not unequivocally,” she replied with a coy smile. “However, in the case of a gentleman with whom I was intimately acquainted, and one whom I completely trusted: yes.”

“I see,” he responded warmly.

“I believe, I further said, regarding the possibility of your proposing marriage to me – which we both understood to be the scheme of my sister, Elizabeth – that the answer would, most certainly, be no —”

“– and that you would be sure to tell me, should ever you have a change of heart,” whispered James Darlington, staring intently into Georgiana's eyes which locked with his.

Georgiana felt mesmerised, as if she were being drawn, inescapably, towards James Darlington. It felt as if they were gliding, inevitably, towards each other, in a movement which seemed destined to end in an embrace. But suddenly, the spell was abruptly broken by the sound of someone entering the library. Georgiana turned quickly, and saw that it was Lord William Beauchamp. Mr Darlington was concealed from his lordship's view by the end of a bookcase, and Lord William, who had apparently not heard their voices, assumed that Georgiana was alone.

“Miss Darcy, I am sorry to have kept you waiting. I only learned this very minute that you were gone to the library,” said Lord William, earnestly.

“Oh,” said Georgiana, all flustered, as she realised that he must have assumed she had come to the library for their private interview. “I have not been waiting long. Mr Darlington happened upon me, and I have been assisting him in finding a book.”

“Thank you, Miss Darcy, this looks to be the very one I was in search of,” said James Darlington, stepping out from behind the shelf, clutching a book. “Err… please excuse me,” he said, bowing to Miss Darcy and Lord William, before exiting the library.

It was apparent from Lord William's expression that he was not the least bit suspicious; being entirely preoccupied with the business at hand. It looked to Georgiana like he was silently rehearsing his speach.

Finally, he summoned his courage and spoke. “My dear Miss Darcy, it cannot have escaped your notice during our all too brief acquaintance in London, that I have developed the greatest admiration for you. You embody everything that a gentleman could possibly wish for: beauty, charm, respectably, accomplishments – you play and sing divinely. And I might add that mother, Lady Beauchamp, and my sister, Gwendolyn, have the very highest opinion of you.”

Lord William paused a moment to gather his thoughts and recall his lines. Georgiana, feeling quite audacious, after having all but proposed to Mr Darlington, seized the moment, and took Lord William by surprise, before he could get to the point. “Sir, pray do not speak further on the subject.”

Lord William looked completely stunned; this was not how his mother had told him it should be.

“Sir, please allow me the presumption of guessing where your speech is leading; and to tell you that I am not yet ready to answer the question that you wish to ask of me.”

Lord William gave a nervous laugh. “I do not understand.”

“Lord William, I greatly respect you, and have the very highest opinion of you. Furthermore, I am greatly honoured that you should wish to pay me your addresses. I thank you, sincerely, for the generous compliments you have just paid me; but, I must tell you that I am not yet ready to make a decision regarding marriage. I earnestly hope that there was nothing in my behaviour in town that gave you a contrary expectation. If I smiled at you, it was because you are a charming young man, and it is always a pleasure to be in your company. If you mistook my smiles and complaisance for something else, then I apologise, unreservedly.”

Lord William remained silent for some time, looking vaguely about the library while avoiding Miss Darcy's face. Clearly, his mother had not provided him with suitable words for such an eventuality, and he was struggling to find his own. Finally, he looked at Georgiana entreatingly and said, “Then it is not an outright refusal, Miss Darcy? May I, at least, believe that there is yet hope for me? May I dare cherish the thought that when you are ready to consider marriage; that should I pay you my addresses at that time, there might be some prospect of success?”

Georgiana smiled at him gently. He really was a very nice young man; and when obliged to depart from his mother's script, he spoke well: with warmth and sincerity. Were it not for another, she might well have considered his addresses seriously. “Certainly it was not a refusal sir – for I did not allow you to ask the question. I am not yet one and twenty, Lord William, and I live very happily here at Pemberley, with by brother and sister. Marriage demands far greater changes of a woman, than it does a man. It means uprooting herself from her country, from the home where she has lived all her life, and from her dearest friends. These are all of them, very precious to me, sir, and it would be a great wrench to give up so much.”

“Goodness, I never considered it in such a light. I am afraid that young men tend to see things very much from their own viewpoint, and believe that every young lady who is out, must be wishing to marry; but I see now that it may not always be so.”

Their private conversation ended soon afterwards, and they rejoined the rest of the party in the drawing room. Georgiana felt greatly relieved, and better satisfied with the outcome than she had anticipated. Lord William was somewhat downcast during the meal, but bore his disappointment with composure. Georgiana occasionally detected his mother, who had doubtless interrogated him, looking at her thoughtfully; but, she spoke not a word on the subject, and behaved as amicably towards Georgiana as always.

James Darlington seemed satisfied with the expressions he detected upon the faces of Miss Darcy and Lord William when they returned from the library, and was in very good spirits. After the meal, he accompanied the Countess de Namur on the pianoforte with great enthusiasm. A little too much, perhaps, for Lady Beauchamp who did not fail to notice that the French lady exercised a far greater fascination upon Mr Darlington than her own daughter, Gwendolyn, was able to provoke in that gentleman.

***

Two days later, the same party gathered to dine at The Grange. It was a very pretty property, if not as grand as Pemberley. Elizabeth noticed that the young squire, John Fortnum, seemed rather taken by Gwendolyn Beauchamp, at least whenever his attention was not distracted by the countess – a distraction which seemed to afflict every gentleman present – even old Squire Fortnum; and worse still, she noticed, on occasion, her own husband – though he tried very hard not to look in the countess' direction; particularly when his wife might observe him. Elizabeth briefly contemplated a little flirtation with James Darlington in front of her errant husband, as a suitable quid pro quo. However, recalling his former jealousy of that gentleman, she decided it would be too unkind; especially as he was to be absent from home for the next several days, fulfilling his duties as a magistrate at the Derby assizes. Elizabeth did not wish for them to part on a vexatious note.

Despite everything, Elizabeth liked the countess very much; and did not blame her for the effect she had upon men. She seemed to flirt without intention, as if it were simply part of her nature. She behaved in exactly the same manner when she was amongst the ladies, after they had withdrawn from the dining room. Probably, it is not at all unusual for a French lady to behave thus, reflected Elizabeth, particularly one who is used to performing upon the stage.

While the gentlemen were at their port and cigars, the ladies formed a plan for a picnic at Pemberley the following day. Lady Beauchamp was already engaged to spend the day at the parsonage in Kympton with Lady Darlington, but the five younger ladies were quite determined to take advantage of the wonderful spring weather.

When the gentlemen rejoined them, Lord William approached Georgiana and begged for a private word with her in the library. Though she acceded to his request, Georgiana was quite taken by surprise; for she had believed his attentions to be at an end, for the present time at least.

“My dear Miss Darcy, I beg your indulgence,” he beseeched her, when they had gained the privacy of the library. “I promise I shall not ask you that question which you begged me not to ask, in the library at Pemberley.”

“To what purpose, then, do you request a further private conversation, sir?”

Lord William looked a little sheepish as he shuffled his feet, attempting to find the right words – or more probably, the words his mother had chosen for him. “I wish you to know, Miss Darcy, that I perfectly understand your disinclination to marry at the present time. On thinking it over, I entirely comprehend your reluctance at giving up everyone and everything that is familiar to you here, in Derbyshire, for an unknown country and society. I would therefore like to propose that you pay a visit to Hampshire. I think you would be most impressed with the estate, and find much to admire in it – most especially the extensive gardens and the beautiful park. The invitation, of course, will come from my mother, as is proper; and should you wish for the company of your friends, they will be most welcome. We would be delighted if Mr and Mrs Darcy, and also Lady Darlington and her son and daughter, were to be of the party.”

“Oh,” said Georgiana, not knowing how to respond. She was already decided that she did not wish to visit the Beauchamp estate in Hampshire; however she did not know how to refuse such hospitality. Were it not for the prospect of Lord William's continued addresses and his mother's schemes, it might indeed have been a pleasant prospect; for Georgiana was genuinely fond of Gwendolyn. However, she well understood the unspoken motive behind the invitation.

Sensing her hesitation, the gentleman said, “There is no need to give an immediate answer, Miss Darcy. Perhaps you may wish to consult with you brother and sister. Indeed, you must first request your brother's permission. And of course, you will wish to enquire amongst your friends as to which of them would care be of the party.”

“Yes,” said Georgiana, relieved.

“I shall ride to Pemberley two days hence, in the morning to hear your answer, if it pleases you?”

Georgiana thought that it was not very much time to decide; although she had no intention of accepting his invitation. It would, however, be sufficient time to devise an acceptable excuse.

***

The picnic at Pemberley on the following day was a great success. It was warm and gloriously sunny. Elizabeth had picked a beautiful spot in the meadow beside the river. James Darlington arrived with Julia and the countess – not to join the ladies' picnic, but to capture it on canvas. “I could not resist the opportunity of painting five of the loveliest ladies of my acquaintance in such a beautiful setting,” said he, as he set about his work at an unobtrusive distance from where they picnicked.

Georgiana was greatly surprised by his presence, despite the artistic temptation to which he avowed. Miss Beauchamp had been increasingly attentive to him at their recent meetings, and Georgiana would have thought he might rather have avoided her – unless the distress he professed at that lady's attentions was not entirely genuine. True to form, Mr Darlington worked quickly, and the painting was completed before their picnic was over. Despite their entreaties, he refused to show it to them; saying there were some final touches required, which could only be made with the aid of materials that were presently at the parsonage. To avoid the curiosity and prying eyes of the ladies, he packed up his things and set off for the house, leaving them to finish their picnic.

Georgiana whispered to Elizabeth that she wished to speak with her privately. With all the preparations for the picnic that morning, she had not yet had a chance to apprise Elizabeth of Lord William's invitation for her to visit the Beauchamps in Hampshire. Georgiana wished for her sister's assistance in contriving a credible excuse for declining the invitation. As the servants cleared away the picnic things and carried them back to the house, Georgiana had her opportunity, for the other three ladies had wandered off to enjoy the beauty of the garden. Elizabeth suggested that they set out along the river.

Georgiana had, of course, previously recounted to Elizabeth her conversation with Lord William in the library at Pemberley, on the night of the dinner party. While she had not described in detail her conversation there with James Darlington, she had broadly hinted to her sister of her belief that an understanding was developing between them. It was news that gave Elizabeth the greatest delight.

Georgiana recounted Lord William's words of the night before; and Elizabeth immediately observed, “Lady Beauchamp is a very shrewd woman; for though the son is unmistakably keen on the match, this ploy must be entirely her doing.”

“Yes, that is how it appeared to me,” replied Georgiana. “Lord William will come tomorrow morning, for my answer. Elizabeth, what must I say to him?”

Elizabeth though it over for some time. “Let us walk in the rose garden; it is so beautiful at this time of year,” she said, taking Georgiana by the arm. “Allow me to ask you a question, my dear. Can you imagine any circumstance in which you might accept Lord William's addresses – which, as you are no doubt aware, would most certainly be renewed in Hampshire.”

“He is a very fine gentleman; I have nothing but admiration for him – but unfortunately, nothing other than admiration. I feel not the slightest love for him, Elizabeth.”

“Because your heart is engaged elsewhere,” said Elizabeth turning to look at her sister. Georgiana simply smiled and nodded coyly. “Then you must tell Lord William firmly, that there is no hope of him ever receiving the answer that he wishes to hear.”

“But would it not be cruel to be so direct? Would it not be kinder to make some kind of excuse?” asked Georgiana in distress.

“Were it not for his mother, Lady Beauchamp, I would agree with such a course. However, I fear that unless you are explicit, and tell Lord William the unadorned truth, his mother will carry on with her scheming forever. There are women who play the game of courtship, in the spirit with which others play the game of chess: for the challenge and the sport of it, and to assert their mastery of the game. I strongly suspect that Lady Beauchamp may be such a one.”

“And her children are her pawns?”

“Yes, perhaps, something like that. Although, I am quite certain her ladyship believes that she plays exclusively for their benefit. If you speak honestly with Lord William, the game will be over, and he will then be free to look elsewhere. From Kitty's observations on the matter in town, there will be no want of eligible young ladies eager to furnish him with the answer he desires, and that you are bound to deny him. I know it will be hard for you, my dear Georgiana, but it will be far kinder to him in the long run.”

“Yes,” agreed Georgiana, with a heartfelt sigh, “you are absolutely correct. I shall do exactly as you suggest. He is the very nicest of young men; and deserves to be treated with kindness and honesty, even though my words are bound to make him unhappy at first.”

They walked on in silence for some time, following a path that brought them to one of the four entrances of the rose garden. They were no more than ten feet from the entrance when Elizabeth spied, through the gap in the hedge, two people standing at the very centre of the garden beside the sun dial. Elizabeth stopped, her face turning crimson. Georgiana, who had been looking at the delicate new leaves on a nearby tree, turned towards Elizabeth. Seeing the distressed expression on her sister's face, she followed Elizabeth's anguished gaze through the break in the hedge to the two figures at the centre of the garden. It was a man and a woman standing very closely together with their arms extended forward holding each other's hands. They were staring intently, lovingly, into each other's eyes. They appeared to be speaking softly – although Georgiana could not be certain; but as to their identities, there could be not the slightest doubt. The lovers were far too absorbed in each other to notice that they were being observed.

Author's note: The reader is invited to leave their opinion, and to conjecture as to the identity of the couple by the fountain. Possible choices:

Darcy and the Countess

James Darlington and the Countess

James Darlington and Gwendolyn

Lord William and the Countess

Lord William and Julia Darlington

Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr Collins

(In the latter case the lady would be standing with her back towards the gentleman who would be upon his knees with the intention of imparting a heartfelt kiss to her ladyship's nether regions.)