Angel of the Morning: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Regina Velarde

Author:Regina Velarde [Velarde, Regina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, POV First Person, Darcy's POV, POV Alternating, Alternate Universe, Pre-Canon, Interquel
Goodreads: 224091027
Published: 2025-01-28T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18 Darcy: Rosings 1812

I spent the winter in London attending balls, soirees and musical events with Georgiana. It made me happy that she was happy and I took solace in that. Georgiana was, after all, one of the reasons I initially chose not to run away with Elizabeth. Or rather, she was one reason that Elizabeth gave as to why we should not run away together. Nevertheless, I was glad to be of some service to someone.

“So when shall you and Anne marry, Fitzwilliam?” she asked me one day while we were walking through Hyde Park.

“I do not know,” I answered. “But I suppose I shall not be able to put it off for much longer.”

“Are you not looking forward to marrying our cousin?”

I frowned and did not know how to answer her. I did not wish to be disrespectful to Anne. And yet I was not looking forward to marrying her and did not wish to lie to my sister.

Eventually I said, “Anne is a very…amiable and intelligent woman but…you may as well know that I am only marrying her because our father asked it of me before he died.”

“I see…”

“Our father was not well at the time and…I wished to give him some peace of mind during his last months.”

“So are you sad to be marrying Anne?” asked Georgiana with childlike perspicacity.

“Yes. I suppose a part of me is.”

Georgiana was quiet for a few moments before asking, “And why do you suppose that Father chose Anne for you?”

“I believe he only wanted what he thought was best for me, and…he knew that Anne was not a fortune hunter. He also thought that I might come to love her one day…as he loved our mother.”

Georgiana’s brows furrowed. “And do you think that you could ever love her?”

I smiled at my sister but was afraid that the expression on my face looked pained instead. So I turned slightly away and answered, “I love Anne. But as a brother might.”

Georgiana nodded, a sorrowful expression on her face. Eventually she said, “You always told me, Brother, that I should marry for love. Did you not wish the same for yourself?”

“I did…yes.”

She patted me on the arm and the two of us fell silent. We walked another quarter mile without speaking.

Presently I said, “I suppose I shall have to go to Rosings in a few weeks. Would you care to join me?”

“No, thank you, Brother. Perhaps…next year.”

“But I may be married by next year and we may all be living at Pemberley then.”

“Oh, well. I shall simply have to bear the loss of our aunt as best I can.”

I laughed and rolled my eyes. But I knew that I would soon have to turn my thoughts towards going to Rosings…and preparing for my marriage to Anne.

Four weeks later, (after having arrived the day before with my cousin, Richard) I walked into the drawing room of Rosings and saw that Lady Catherine had a guest with her. He was a tall heavy-looking man about the same age as myself, and dressed in the garb of a clergyman.

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