Mr. Darcy's Return: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Jann Rowland

Author:Jann Rowland [Rowland, Jann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pride and Prejudice & Related Fandoms, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, KU, Not in Amazon Library, To Transfer
ISBN: 9781990856501
Goodreads: 211756264
Publisher: One Good Sonnet Publishing
Published: 2024-04-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter IX

G eorgiana Darcy considered herself a well-behaved girl. Notwithstanding the near miss with Mr. Wickham—Georgiana tried assiduously to forget that incident while keeping the lessons learned before her always—she had endeavored to give her guardians as little trouble as possible, learn what she needed to move in society, and conduct herself in a manner befitting a young woman of her station. While still reticent and not eager to be introduced, she thought that two more years of maturing would do much to prepare her to walk the paths of life as an adult. She was content to wait for that day, for she knew it would not do to rush such matters.

Thus, unrestrained girls such as Lydia and Kitty Bennet were no less than a shock to Georgiana, for she had never met their like. Kitty and Lydia were great fun most of the time, for their sunny dispositions and sociable demeanors helped Georgiana overcome her reserve and helped her see that she could enjoy life more fully. Yet even as she laughed and talked with the two girls, Georgiana could readily see that they pushed the boundaries of propriety, often without even understanding how close they were to the edge.

On their return from Longbourn the morning of Mr. Bingley’s appearance, Georgiana sat with her brother, considering what she had learned from the youngest Bennets that day. Fortunately for Georgiana’s peace of mind, Mr. Bingley and his sister traveled in Mr. Bingley’s carriage, though they could all have come in one, a circumstance William had brought about by the simple expedient of leaving moments before Miss Bingley descended. That Miss Bingley had not been pleased was clear in her scowls, though that might have been from William’s attentions to Elizabeth, or even the necessity of visiting Longbourn at all. Georgiana had no care for Miss Bingley’s offense, for she liked Elizabeth very much and hoped William would successfully present his suit. At that moment, the benefit was the absence of the aforementioned woman and the ability to think without enduring her waspish temper.

“Brother?” said Georgiana when they reached Meryton and turned onto the road toward Netherfield.

William, who had been looking out the window, seeing nothing more than the image of Elizabeth in the passing scenery or so Georgiana supposed, turned to her with a start. “Yes, Georgiana?”

Georgiana paused, not entirely certain what to say. After a few moments, she decided it was best to state her concerns and have done.

“You spoke of Mr. Wickham’s previous residence in the neighborhood. Do you suppose he had enough time to get up to his usual tricks?”

The mention of Mr. Wickham when he had been considering Elizabeth did not appear palatable, but William endeavored to respond evenly. “There was a matter of a few debts or so Fitzwilliam informed me. Of any other consequences, I know nothing. Wickham was in the regiment for only a month, which limited his opportunity to cause havoc.

“Now, why do you ask?”

With a sigh, Georgiana thought back to her conversation with the two youngest Bennets that day.

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