Darcy's Heritage: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by M. A. Sandiford

Author:M. A. Sandiford [Sandiford, M. A.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2022-11-14T00:00:00+00:00

17

August 1786, two years later

George Darcy sat under trees that shaded a pool at the riverside. On the grass a few yards away, Anne lay on a tartan blanket beside Fitzwilliam and Beatrice. They had brought a picnic basket with a midday snack, and Beatrice was pouring glasses of wine and cutting slices of game pie.

‘One for the little master?’ Beatrice poured wine into Fitzwilliam’s mug and topped up with orange juice.

George reeled in what he hoped was a small fish, sighed, and set down his rod. Summers at Pemberley always felt like a delightful relief after the heat of Calcutta. He watched Fitzwilliam lift his mug very carefully, not spilling a drop. The boy was a picture of health: well-built, alert, with fine features and abundant dark hair. They had prayed for a brother—a spare as well as an heir, as the saying went. No luck yet, but on the bright side, Anne had had time to recover from her difficult first confinement.

‘Good afternoon, madam.’ A woman with a baby carriage stopped nearby, and with a prickle of unease George recognised Rebecca Wickham. She noticed him, and with a smirk added, ‘Sir.’

‘Mrs Wickham. How are you?’ Anne held out a plate. ‘Would little George like a queen cake?’

‘Why, thank you.’ Mrs Wickham carried her boy to the edge of the blanket. ‘See the lovely cakes, Georgie?’

George Darcy watched as his namesake fell to his knees and crawled towards Fitzwilliam.

‘Isn’t it sweet how well they get on?’ Mrs Wickham said, as her son reached for the mug of wine and orange.

‘Mine.’ Fitzwilliam pulled the mug back and pointed to a cake. ‘Yours.’

‘Are you going for a walk?’ Anne asked Mrs Wickham.

‘To the paddock, ma’am, to show Georgie the horses. Perhaps Fitzwilliam would come too?’

‘Why not?’ Anne looked at Beatrice. ‘You can return to the house afterwards for his nap.’

The group set off, and Anne smiled at George Darcy. ‘I hope you don’t mind.’

‘Beatrice is reliable.’

‘A treasure.’ She paused. ‘How is Wickham?’

‘Much as usual. Competent. Unflappable.’

‘Happy with Rebecca?’

‘She has given him a handsome son.’

‘A little monkey, you mean. Has Wickham ever spoken about their hopes for Georgie?’

‘Not since he requested me to serve as godfather.’

‘I remember.’ She cut him another slice of pie. ‘They would like him to study and take holy orders.’

‘Both sides of the family would welcome such an outcome, Mr and Mrs Crane in particular. But a good education is costly.’

‘And Rebecca, for all her charms, is not thrifty.’

‘Although equally ambitious for her son.’

‘Yes.’ Anne looked away a moment. ‘Do you think they named the boy after you?’

He shrugged. ‘Wickham did not say so.’

‘Perhaps the choice was Rebecca’s …’

He remained silent, wishing that Anne would change the topic. They finished eating, shared the rest of the wine, then she said, ‘There is a rumour about the Wickhams. I overheard Cook discussing it with Flossie.’

George tried to sound relaxed. ‘Oh yes?’

‘People are saying Rebecca was already with child at the nuptials. Because she gave birth in February, eight months later.

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