A Constant Love: A Pride & Prejudice Continuation, page 25
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Georgiana still woke in time to break her fast with the rest of the family, and was surprised to learn that Captain Ramsey was not with them that morning. He had left very early, telling Mr. Miller to inform them that he must call on the Admiralty immediately, and if they gave him any expectation of his having a command in the coming war, he would have some business he needed to attend to immediately, out of town. They were not to expect him back that evening, therefore, but could consult with Captain Stanton as to whether the men should return; Captain Stanton would arrange it, if they desired the protection for another night.
Catherine entered the room, her eyes red, so that it was clear she had already had this news. She sniffled and made no attempt to eat anything, and Georgiana felt for her. She could not understand why Captain Ramsey might not have waited a little longer to take his leave of Kitty, particularly since he had nearly become a fixture in the house over the last few days. It seemed strange that he should be absent, and in such a way, after giving no indication the evening before that he might leave them.
Over the last few days, Captain Stanton had always called early, while they were still at breakfast, to see that they had passed the night safely. Today, however, he called much later, when they had made their way to the drawing room to wait. He strode in, wearing his uniform, looking even taller than usual, and he stood before them, quickly pulling his hat from his head.
“Good morning,” he said. “I must apologise for my absence this morning, although all indications are that the rioting ceased last night, aside from a few bands of ruffians, determined to do a last little bit of damage. I wished to call at the Admiralty as soon as I heard the news of Napoleon’s escape had become public.”
“Do you have any sense of the certainty of war?” Darcy asked. “When my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, delivered the news last night, he seemed convinced there was no other path.”
“War is not yet declared, but preparations are underway,” Captain Stanton said, taking a seat beside Georgiana. “I am to return tomorrow to learn what ship I shall be assigned.”
“Will you not have the Caroline?” Georgiana asked, feeling a rising panic in her throat that it was certain he would go to sea again.
“I hope so, but there are no guarantees,” he said. “They are currently determining which ships can be most quickly readied for sea.”
“Is – is Captain Ramsey also to be assigned a ship?” Catherine asked.
“Yes, although like myself, he does not yet know which one,” Captain Stanton said. “And I must apologise for not telling you before – he makes his regrets for not taking better leave of your family. I believe he gave some indication that he might need to leave town to get some of his affairs in order before going to sea, and he was indeed required to do so.”
Captain Stanton had delivered his message in a tone of utmost kindness, but Kitty still appeared ready to cry. Georgiana felt deeply for her – certainly Captain Ramsey could have found at least a few minutes to take his leave of Kitty before leaving town. She remembered Lord Alfred’s rapid departure on the death of his brother, and looked at her friend with even more concern.
“What is involved in preparing a ship for war?” Georgiana asked, both because she was genuinely interested, and she thought it might serve as a distraction for Catherine.
“Quite a lot, and everyone will be attempting to do it all at once,” he said. “We must ensure that the ship has ample food and water, as well as all of her supplies – extra sails, cordage, spars, gunpowder and shot. Everything that might be needed for a long voyage, or to begin blockade duty – how I hope we will not be on blockade duty, although I suppose I have been lucky enough in my assignments so far that it is probably my time. There is no tedium quite like blockade duty, sailing back and forth and waiting to see if the French will come out of port.”
“What of your crew?” Georgiana asked. “Do you think many of them will return?”
“Most of them I expect will re-enlist – we did quite well in prize money last time, and I feel she was a happy ship. I will have posters drawn up, to attempt to recruit as many men as I can, although you would be amazed at how your seaman manages to find out through word of mouth when a ship he wants to join is preparing for sea. I have hopes I will not have need of the press gang, although many ships will – there are too many of us preparing for sea all at once. Some men will certainly have to be pressed into service.”
“Will Lieutenant Campbell still be serving with you?”
“I requested that he be assigned to me, and sent an express to him – his family lives in the west, beyond Plymouth. My other officers, as well, I expect will re-join. I do not have any expectations that I will have a ship smaller than the Caroline, so they will all be needed.”
Elizabeth had quietly sent for refreshments after Captain Stanton’s arrival, and they came out now. Captain Stanton’s morning had been quite busy; he noted that he had barely broken his fast, and was very much obliged to Mrs. Darcy for thinking of him. They all made some selections from the table to assure him that he was not the only one eating, and then returned to their seats.
Georgiana’s wrist had by now improved so much that she had no difficulty using it to eat and drink, but she gave it no thought, and was surprised to find herself addressed by Captain Stanton:
“Your wrist appears to be much better, Miss Darcy. I hope we might see you back at the pianoforte soon enough.”
“Thank you, it is feeling much better – I might attempt it later today.”
“I should very much like to hear you play, but I will not press you,” he said. “I know what it is to be uncomfortable with an instrument.”
“Yes, I fear how I will sound after going so long without practise.”
“I expect you will still play better than any other lady of my acquaintance,” he murmured, so that Mary should not overhear him.
The directness of his compliment startled her, and she blushed deeply, unable to meet his eyes. She chastised herself: here had been an opportunity, but she had not been prepared; she had not had the courage to act on it. He stayed only a little longer, all of their conversation tinged with bittersweetness that he would be gone soon, and Georgiana wishing for another chance to attempt to make her heart known.
Such an opportunity did not arise, however, and as he rose to take his leave, she had the mortification of Mr. Miller entering the room to announce Mr. Albury, who had determined the unrest was sufficiently over to resume social calls. There was no possibility of avoiding it; Georgiana must greet him, as he had most certainly called for her. She looked at Captain Stanton with desperation as he gave Mr. Albury a bow, and clarified that he had just been leaving.
“I am afraid we are not the greatest of company right now,” Georgiana said to Mr. Albury. “I am not sure if you are aware, but Napoleon has escaped, and we are likely to go to war again. It is news that affects not only our cousin, who is a colonel in the regulars, but also some very close friends of the family who are in the navy.”
She summoned all the courage she possessed to look Captain Stanton in the eyes after she said this; he returned her gaze, and gave her the slightest of nods, but she could not tell what he meant by it, and then he was gone, and she was forced to listen to Mr. Albury’s exclamations over the news, as he had not yet heard it.
Mr. Albury, after having settled into the news of war beginning again, proceeded on to other topics, which Georgiana attempted to attend to as best she could. He then asked if it would be too much to desire her to play something on the pianoforte, as he had heard such great things from Lady Julia about her skills. Georgiana demurred – if she was not ready to test her wrist in front of Captain Stanton, she certainly was not ready to play in front of someone unfamiliar – and, when he persisted, asking her for just one song, she claimed a headache, and said she should probably retire to the conservatory, where the air was better. Mr. Albury was perceptive enough to take the point that a lady who was always ill when he called likely did not wish to further their acquaintance, and he took his leave as she went up the stairs.
Georgiana had been hoping Catherine would join her; she sensed her friend would want to talk after the events of the morning, and she had barely sat down before Catherine entered, saying: “Are you truly feeling ill? If so I will leave.”
“No, it was simply an excuse for my wrist, and because I found myself running out of patience to stay in Mr. Albury’s company, which is a shame, because he is a perfectly well-mannered gentleman. His only failing is that he is not Captain Stanton,” Georgiana said, blushing, but still glad that she was able to admit so to someone else.
“So he is your choice,” Catherine said. “I wondered that you were not so upset over Viscount Burnley’s being engaged, but then I thought perhaps it was because Captain Stanton held your affections.”
“He does,” Georgiana said. “I only hope I have not realised it too late.”
“Oh, but he must be committed to you,” Catherine said. “He might not show it in the same way as other men, but he made it a point to be here today. Unlike Captain Ramsey.”
At this, poor Kitty finally broke down in tears, and Georgiana moved to embrace her.
“He must have had a very good reason for not being able to take proper leave,” Georgiana said. “I am sure nothing but what was very important would have kept him from coming to see you. No one doubts that he is devoted to you.”
“I never would have doubted it myself, until today,” Kitty sobbed. “Did he not know what such a snub would do to me?”
Georgiana felt herself growing closer to tears. To see Kitty so disappointed, and to know that her own prospects would likely have to wait was more than she felt she could bear, and finally she did break down. Both ladies sat there for some time, silently embracing as they wept, in lower spirits than either of them had ever before felt.
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Mr. Darcy had taken advantage of the breaking up of the party in the drawing room to go to his study, and as he had done so, had given Elizabeth a look that indicated she should join him there at some point during the course of the day. Elizabeth had for some time been desiring an opportunity to criticise Captain Ramsey, and she could only do so to her husband, so when Mrs. Annesley took up her needlework and Mary began her pianoforte practise, she went to the study.
“I cannot believe Captain Ramsey!” she said, as soon as she had closed the door behind her. “To have paid Kitty such attention, and then to run off without taking his leave of her! It reminds me too much of Lord Alfred – it disappoints me so. Arranging his affairs out of town – I do not know what should have been so important or where he could have gone that precluded him from seeing her, even for a few minutes. He was already in the house – he only need have waited a little longer!”
“He could have gone to Longbourn,” Darcy said.
“Poor Kitty will be so – what did you just say?”
“The affairs he had to settle could have been at Longbourn,” Darcy said, checking his watch. “Indeed, I expect he is probably there by now.”
“At Longbourn?”
“Yes, at Longbourn. After you all retired last night, and Colonel Fitzwilliam departed, Captain Ramsey asked if I would be willing to write him a letter of introduction to your father. He wishes to propose to Catherine, but would not do so without your father’s consent. I would have told you last night, but you were already asleep when I came up.”
Elizabeth stared at him in astonishment, and indicated he should go on.
“He laid out his plan for marriage,” Darcy said. “He does expect they would have more than a thousand pounds a year, but even so, he wished to settle in Bath. He thought there they might partake in the sort of diversions they both enjoy at comparably little expense – they may not even have need of a carriage there, although they would easily have the means to afford one. They would also be close to his family in Salisbury. There was not one element of his plan that I could find fault in – it speaks of great sense and frugality, but also an understanding of what will make his wife happy.
“Of course, he does not expect that they will be able to be married before he must go to sea, but he wished to at least have the engagement settled so that Catherine might look forward to his return knowing they are to be married. I told him I wholeheartedly approved of the match and would both introduce him and recommend it in my letter, which I did. I understand he was to call on the Admiralty and then take a hired carriage to your parents’s house.”
“Oh! I regret everything I have said about him – I should not have let poor behaviour by one gentleman colour my opinion of another,” Elizabeth said, with the deepest thrill of happiness for Catherine. “But why did you not say anything? Why did Captain Stanton not say anything?”
“I was sworn to secrecy,” Darcy said. “I expect Captain Stanton was as well. Captain Ramsey wished for nothing to be said until he had secured the consent of your father.”
“I hope he did not have any doubt of my father’s giving his consent,” Elizabeth said. A thousand pounds a year was not perhaps what she or Jane had, but it was quite respectable. Indeed, two years ago, if Elizabeth had thought that any of them should be married with a thousand pounds a year, she would have been thrilled. “My mother – oh, how I wish you had not sent him off to face my mother alone!”
“He has captured enemy ships, Elizabeth. Certainly he can face your mother.”
“They are two very different things, Darcy, and you know it. He is completely unprepared – he has never met her.”
“Not completely unprepared. I did give him some idea of what to expect,” Darcy said. “I considered attempting to find a way to have you accompany him, but I did not know how I could explain your absence without ruining the confidentiality he requested.”
Elizabeth decided not to give the topic of Mrs. Bennet any further worry. If Captain Ramsey had determined to go to Longbourn immediately after receiving news of war, he certainly could not be too frightened off by such a mother-in-law, particularly if he would be settled in Bath, which was not too easy a distance from Longbourn.
“Oh, I am so happy for Kitty!” she said. “She will have a difficult night, I am sure, but am I right in hoping that he should be here tomorrow to pay his addresses?”
“Yes, barring any difficulties in his journey. He had planned to call at Longbourn for some time, if his suit was successful, to become better acquainted with your parents, but then begin his return journey home, so that he should arrive sometime in the night. I expect we will see him here tomorrow at his first opportunity.”
They were both correct. Catherine passed the most difficult night of her life, crying into her pillow for most of it, unable to sleep until she finally drifted off in exhaustion. She slept late, and had no desire to break her fast or join the rest of the family, until Georgiana knocked urgently on her door and indicated that Captain Ramsey was returned to town, and had just arrived to call on them.
Sarah, Hughes and several of the other maids saw to it that Catherine was dressed and her hair attended to in an impossibly short amount of time, so that Kitty made her way down the stairs somewhat stunned and disoriented. She entered the drawing room, and there he was, all of his usual smiles and goodwill.
“Ah, Miss Catherine, there you are!” he said, with a particular smile for her.
“I apologise,” she said, with a look of mild accusation towards him. “I slept ill last night.”
“Are you unwell?” he asked, all of the lightness gone from his countenance. “I hope you are not unwell – I had hoped to request a private audience with you this morning, but I will wait, of course, if you are ill.”
Catherine’s limited life experience had taught her that there was only one reason for a gentleman to request a private audience with a single lady. She felt faint, she felt tears threaten, and finally she landed on such a feeling of ecstasy that she could barely say: “No, I am able to have such a conversation.”
At this, the rest of the family melted away from the drawing room, some with little murmured reasons of something they must check on, others simply getting up and leaving, so that quickly enough, it was just Catherine and Captain Ramsey sitting there. He rose, he walked over to her and kneeled in front of her, taking up her hand in his.
“Miss Catherine, first let me apologise for not taking proper leave yesterday,” he said. “Were it possible for me to be in two places at the same time, I would have, but I wished to speak to your father immediately. I went to Longbourn yesterday to call on your parents, and I am most happy to tell you that your father has given his consent for your hand in marriage.”
Kitty could not help herself; she emitted a little sob of happiness at his words, but then smiled at him so that he might continue.
“I know that we will not be able to marry for some time, but I hoped to secure your hand before war begins again,” he said. “I do not know how long I shall be at sea, but when I return I wish us to be married, and that we may have our honeymoon in Bath. If you find it to your liking, I think it would be a good place for us to settle. With our combined fortunes and my half-pay, from the navy, we would have a little over a thousand pounds a year, and it will go far in Bath – there are any number of assemblies and opportunities for theatre there, and at less expense than we would find here in London.
“I find I have gone about this all out of order, however. I should first have said that ever since we were acquainted I have admired you greatly, that I have been so impressed by your progress in drawing and painting, and that – ”
“Oh, you do not need to say any more!” Kitty cried. “There is nothing I would like more than to be your wife – you do not need to convince me.”
