An Unpleasant Walk by Carlson C. Rafe

Author:Carlson, C. Rafe [Carlson, C. Rafe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fanfiction, austen whatif, pride and prejudice
Published: 2011-10-18T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

April 30, 1812

As usual, Darcy was already seated at the table with his plate prepared when Georgiana came down for breakfast. “Good morning, William,” said she.

“Good morning, my dear. May I be the first to offer you congratulations? You were a splendid hostess last evening.”

Georgiana blushed at her brother’s praise and murmured her thanks. Once she had prepared her own breakfast, she said, “I do hope Mrs. Gardiner’s dress is not ruined.”

Darcy was not well versed in women’s clothing or stains and their removal, so he could only repeat Mrs. Gardiner’s own assurances that no permanent damage had been done. “I had an interesting conversation with Miss Elizabeth,” he said to forestall further sartorial discussion.

“As did I. She is such a wonderful young lady. I am glad to have made her acquaintance. What did you and she discuss?”

“We spoke of the opera. I had gathered from your avoidance of the topic yesterday morning that you did not enjoy it. You can imagine my surprise, therefore, when Miss Elizabeth praised the insight of your opinions and suggested I speak further with you.

“Then she said something that thoroughly confused me. Perhaps you can explain what she meant. She said that you did not disapprove of the performance but of the opera. I am uncertain of the meaning she attached to such a distinction.”

Georgiana looked somewhat uneasy with the direction of Darcy’s conversation, but she answered anyway. “I found no fault in the musicians, the performers, or the music itself; that is what she meant by ‘performance.’ What I did not appreciate was the story portrayed through the music. I believe that is what she meant.”

Darcy considered this briefly. “Ah. . .I believe I understand. And what part of the story earned your disapprobation? I found the entire thing rather absurd, to be sure, but there was nothing too shocking.”

“Do you really not see it?” Georgiana was visibly surprised.

“See what?”

Georgiana looked fixedly at her plate as she whispered, “Do you not see how the opera would remind me of what happened at Ramsgate, and of Wickham’s convincing me that he loved me when he did not?”

Darcy had not actually paid much attention to the second act, preferring instead to allow his mind to dwell on his meeting with Elizabeth, so it took him several seconds to mentally review the plot and spot the similarities. Once he realized the resemblance, he was horrified with himself for failing to see it earlier.

“Oh, Georgie,” he said, kneeling by her chair and taking her hand in both of his, “I am so very sorry. It was thoughtless of me not to realize. I should never have suggested you go.”

“Do not berate yourself, William. A blind man could have seen that you and Uncle Matlock were both in need of diversion Tuesday evening. I am glad you included me in the outing, for I would have worried about you both had you gone without me. And, in the end, some good has come out of the experience.”

Darcy,

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