A Constant Love: A Pride & Prejudice Continuation, page 39
“Well that is very handsome of you,” Darcy said, admitting to himself that it was more handsome than he would ever have expected, or negotiated. Georgiana need not ever remarry, with such a fortune, should that most unfortunate event happen. “May I ask where you intend to settle?”
“I must admit, we did not discuss it thoroughly,” Captain Stanton said. “I have been so long confined within the close quarters of my ships that even a London town house feels quite cavernous, and so long as the war continues, I will be required to re-join the Jupiter when she is repaired. We did discuss the possibility of her living on board, but my next assignment would need to be safe enough for me to feel comfortable with her doing so. If it is not, I would prefer to leave the decision in Miss Darcy’s quarter as to the location and size of our establishment. I expect she will wish to settle in or near Derbyshire.”
“Mrs. Darcy and I would be very pleased to see her near,” Darcy said, not particularly inured to the idea of his sister living on board a ship of war. “You need not rush into a lease or purchase, either. You are both welcome to stay at Pemberley as long as is needed – indeed, if the war does continue and you are to be from home without her, it might be easier for Georgiana to remain with us, unless she is eager to set up her own household. The Bingleys are staying with us indefinitely, while a new house is built on their estate, so she would have friends about.”
“Let us leave the decision to her, then,” Captain Stanton said. “I must ask, would you have any objection to our marrying quickly? I see no need to procure a special licence – the repairs will not progress so rapidly that we cannot wait for the banns to be read – but I should very much prefer to leave England’s shores with Miss Darcy’s hand fully secured.”
“I have no objection at all, and in fact I believe it would be preferable to all of us,” Darcy said. Indeed, after months of worry, to see Georgiana settled would be a comfort to him, and holding the wedding sooner would ensure Elizabeth’s ability to attend, before her pregnancy was too far along. “We shall of course have to get into the papers later, but for now I believe all I need do is give you my most hearty consent, and best wishes.”
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Captain Stanton spent a little time with the entire family in the conservatory before finally taking his leave, receiving congratulations from Elizabeth and Mrs. Annesley, and then discussing how the news might be shared. They all agreed that an announcement at the earl’s dinner the next evening would be most appropriate, and Georgiana could not help but think of how she had feared a different announcement would be made at that event. Elizabeth requested only one exception to this plan, and that was to inform Lord and Lady Brandon early, as they were to have a family dinner with them that evening, before the Fitzwilliams left town for their estate.
Captain Stanton readily agreed to this, and was pleased that it meant that after the announcement at the earl’s dinner, it might be sent to the papers (if, indeed, it did not reach them through one of the dinner guests), so that all rumoured engagements might be put to rest, and he could be congratulated on his true situation. He took his leave then, promising to call the next morning so that they might further the wedding plans.
He left behind a young lady with the happiest of countenances, and after they returned to the drawing room, Darcy, Elizabeth, and Mrs. Annesley could not help but glance up occasionally at her, so heartening it was to all of them to see her finally so happy. She remained so in the carriage ride over to the Fitzwilliams’s house, and it was only the sober expression on her aunt’s face that gave her even the slightest cause for worry.
Lady Ellen had greeted Elizabeth with a sort of exhausted politeness, and upon hearing Elizabeth say that she had news to share, had said: “Indeed? We have some news of our own. Please do come in, and we will tell you.”
When they were seated in the drawing room, however, Lady Ellen seemed overcome, and she left her husband to speak:
“There has been a great battle, a decisive battle, at Waterloo, in the Netherlands,” Lord Brandon said. “Napoleon was so thoroughly defeated by Wellington’s forces, it is expected he will be forced to surrender and abdicate soon.”
This was exceptional news, so far as England and the Darcys were concerned, particularly Georgiana, as it meant a much sooner end to the war than had been expected. Yet they felt there was something more the earl would say, and so none of them spoke.
“It seems the casualties were tremendous on both sides,” Lord Brandon said. “We know our son was with Wellington’s troops, and currently we have no certainty of whether he lives or not. We are planning to travel there as soon as we may procure passage, to see if we may find him. With so many killed, there must be an even greater number wounded, and if he is so, we will bring him home to convalesce in some degree of comfort.”
The Darcys reacted with every bit of the shock, sadness, and concern they felt at the situation, and for some time discussed all that was known about the battle, and what the Fitzwilliams’s trip would entail. Lady Ellen, recalling that Elizabeth’s sister was in Brussels, promised to ask after her if they passed through that city, which seemed likely, and Elizabeth was nearly overcome with her aunt’s kindness to think of Lydia at a time like this. It was only when they were seated for dinner that Lady Ellen recalled Elizabeth’s having mentioned news, as well, and asked if she might share it.
Elizabeth froze; she looked down at her plate, clean and empty and waiting for the first course, and finally said: “It is news of a happier sort – it hardly feels appropriate to share on such an evening.”
“Please, Elizabeth, any good news would be a welcome distraction right now,” Lady Ellen said.
“Well – Georgiana and Captain Sir Matthew Stanton are engaged to be married,” Elizabeth said.
“Oh, that is very much a comfort to me,” Lady Ellen said. “We have been sorely lacking in good news in this house, and that is the best. Georgiana, please accept our deepest congratulations. We have closely followed the news of his action against the Polonais in the papers, and I could not imagine a more honourable man to marry.”
“I thank you very much, aunt Ellen,” Georgiana said, trying to order her response so that it might bring some comfort to her relations. “There was some time where we were very concerned for his survival of his wounds, but he is recovering very well. I hope it will be the same for Edward, or perhaps you will arrive to find him completely unscathed, and wondering at the trouble his parents went through.”
She received the faintest of smiles from her aunt and uncle at this, but it was, at least, something. It was only later in the evening that she could not help but turn her mind to how this Waterloo battle should affect her and her betrothed – a quick end to the war might mean that Captain Stanton would not return to sea. Certainly neither he nor his ship were well enough to do so now, and if Napoleon did abdicate, she could not see how the Jupiter would be needed. She felt guilt over such happy thoughts, however, while still ensconced in her relations’s drawing room, where they wished for the same sort of news she had longed for – news of the safety of a loved one – and she knew it was not so likely to be as forthcoming as it had been for her.
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The carriage ride home from the Fitzwilliams’s home was short, but made clear that London was awakening to the news of the Waterloo battle. There was distant cheering from other quarters of town, and even in Mayfair, a great many people milling in the street, some with the gay faces of unconnected victors, others with more worried countenances, who, like the Fitzwilliams, must have feared the survival of family or friends.
When they finally reached home and retired, Elizabeth climbed into her husband’s bed and sighed, “Just when it seemed we had only cause for happiness in our family, we have this Waterloo battle.”
“We must not assume the worst, yet,” Darcy said. “I continue to remind myself of that, and yet all I can do is worry.”
“I know you two have always been close,” Elizabeth said, touching his cheek tenderly.
“Yes – Edward and I spent very nearly every summer together as boys, at one estate or the other. We used to play at soldiers, he and I – and Wickham, when we were at Pemberley. We would treat the old house as a fort, and either defend or bombard it, every day,” he said. “I never thought about any of us going off to a real war.”
His mention of Mr. Wickham turned Elizabeth’s mind to the fact that his survival must also necessarily be doubted, and she was startled at the indifference of her reaction to this thought. She might not have actively wished the man dead, but could not help but think that it might be better in the long-term for Lydia if he was. She wondered what her sister was experiencing, over on the continent in the aftermath of that battle, and hoped deeply that she had kept her promise not to go any closer to the battle-front.
“I wish there was more that we could do, other than hope for the best,” she said.
“I know. I cannot bear that it will be weeks, perhaps, before we have any idea of whether he lives or dies.”
“At least war may finally be at an end,” Elizabeth said, laying her hand over his. “I wish more than anything that this shall be the last time we endure a wait like this.”
“That is my only comfort in all of this, that it means the end of the war – I hope for good, this time. I cannot tell you how I feared the idea of Georgiana becoming a young widow.”
“It is a great relief,” Elizabeth said. “I do not see her bearing such an event – she was devastated enough at the thought of his death when there was no understanding at all between them.”
“He indicated they would settle wherever Georgiana wished, which will likely be in or near Derbyshire,” Darcy said, leaning over to blow out the candle beside his bed. “I offered to let them stay at Pemberley as long as they needed to. I must admit a certain selfishness in the offer; I am not yet ready to see her leave.”
Elizabeth blew out her own candle, leaving the room in darkness. He pulled her very close, even closer than usual, and she understood his need for the comfort of her embrace. His cousin and friend possibly lost, his sister in some ways lost as well, soon to be handed over into the protection of another. At this time, it seemed that even the possibility of their own family growing was not enough of a comfort to alleviate what they would, and might, lose.
Chapter 13
As promised, Captain Stanton called the next morning, and although he had already heard news of the Battle of Waterloo, he was not aware of their family connection. Upon being acquainted of it by Georgiana, and of her relations’s plan to travel there, he expressed his concern, and asked if he might be of any assistance to the family.
“Have they secured passage?” he asked. “There will likely be a great number of families attempting to make the crossing into the Netherlands.”
“They have not,” Georgiana said. “They will leave as soon as they are able to find transportation.”
“Allow me to ask around, then. There must be some navy ships moving to and fro, given the substance of the battle. I should like to help in any way that I might.”
“Thank you, that is very kind of you,” Georgiana said. She wished to take up his hand, but could not without some degree of embarrassment. As a newly engaged couple, they were allowed some degree of freedom, but were still required to be chaperoned, and so they were sharing the conservatory with Mrs. Annesley. In such a small space, even Mrs. Annesley had difficulty making herself inconspicuous.
“Miss Darcy, would you mind if we turned our minds a bit to our own future?” he asked. “Your brother rightly pointed out yesterday that there were a few critical details that we had yet to attend to, although he did give his consent.”
“Of course not. I would very much like to settle our plans.”
“The first thing I wished to discuss was how quickly we should be married,” he said. “For at the time I assumed I should have to re-join the Jupiter once she was repaired. Now, I am not so certain. I think it would be wise to have the banns read, but we may be able to delay the actual event if you so choose.”
“If we might, I would only wish to set the timing so that we may have as many of our family and friends around us as we can – I hope deeply that group will include Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Georgiana said. “I do not wish for any delay beyond that to become your wife.”
“That is exactly as I would have wished it,” he said. “Would you prefer to have the wedding in Derbyshire?”
“Yes, I have very little desire for a town wedding.”
“Let us plan for it, then. Derbyshire is quite convenient for my uncle and the rest of my family, as well.”
He then asked her where she would wish to settle, recounting what he had told her brother.
“I would very much like to settle in Derbyshire, if we can,” Georgiana said.
“Then let us do so,” he said. “I expect I will be at home much more than I would have been if the war looked to continue on, but still, I may receive some assignments, and I would wish you to have family near when I am from home.”
“You mentioned yesterday that there might be some times when I could accompany you.”
“You would wish to do that, even considering the accommodations?”
“I believe I would at least like to try it,” she said. “I have seen so little of the world – I feel quite a bit of jealousy when you and Captain Ramsey talk of all the places you have been. And I think I would prefer being with you, even if the accommodations are not so comfortable, over waiting alone for you to return.”
“I need not tell you how much I would prefer your company,” he said, giving her so particular a gaze that Georgiana felt her heart glow.
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A letter came over by servant, late in the morning, addressed to Georgiana, She knew it to be from her aunt immediately; Lady Ellen wrote with the prettiest hand. Georgiana was not sure why her aunt should be writing to her, instead of Elizabeth or Fitzwilliam, but since they were both elsewhere in the house, no one else shared in her confusion as she opened it and read:
“My dear niece,
“Your uncle and I spent our morning attempting, through every avenue we knew, to secure a passage to the Netherlands, but were not so fortunate as to find anything. It seems every family with sons in the army is attempting to make the crossing, and every ship we inquired about already has a wait list which could not be shifted, even for an earl.
“You must imagine my surprise when your betrothed called on us late in the morning. We are only a little acquainted, although I truly hope when your uncle and I return we may deepen the acquaintance. I would wish to do so merely for his being your future husband, but the service he has done our family has already very much endeared him to me.
“I believe you told him of our situation, and this has prompted him to secure a place for us on the Daphne sloop, commanded by Captain Shaw, with whom I understand you are a little acquainted. Captain Shaw does not have any private quarters he could offer us, but he very handsomely said we might sit in his cabin, and he expects it will be a quick passage, perhaps half a day, or a day at the most. We will be very limited in our baggage, we can only bring a servant each, and we must be on board at dawn tomorrow, and yet it is more welcome to us than the most luxurious berth would be in other circumstances. It is a tremendous relief to me to know that as soon as tomorrow evening we may be able to begin our search for Edward.
“I cannot praise your fiancé warmly enough. You have chosen very well, Georgiana, and you must know that right now you and he are my only source of happy thoughts. Please acquaint the rest of your family with our travel plans – I know you are dining out this evening, and so we will not be able to take our leave of you. If we are not able to return in time for your wedding, please know that I will be thinking of you both with the utmost fondness.
“Yours very affectionately,
“AUNT ELLEN”
Georgiana finished the letter with a sad smile on her face; it had indeed been a very handsome thing Captain Shaw and her fiancé had done, and yet it was unsurprising to her. They were generous men, these men of the navy, and it mattered not to Captain Stanton that the family connection, to him, would be a tenuous one until his marriage. There was a thing to be done that was in his power, and he had done it, and if it were possible for Georgiana to think of him with any more affection, she would have.
Still, although her aunt’s letter had been filled with praise, Georgiana felt the full worry of its purpose. At least they need not struggle to find passage anymore, but still, to leave on such a mission! She felt her eyes fill with tears, and took a few minutes to compose herself before going to find her brother and sister, so that she could tell them of the letter’s contents.
Chapter 14
The clergy had for so long been an occupation upon which families unloaded their younger sons that it was not unusual to find those holding its offices as dissolute men, who barely merited being called gentlemen, much less rectors or vicars. It was clear as soon as the Darcys were introduced to The Honourable Richard Stanton that he was not one of these men – indeed he seemed the opposite, a rector who believed resolutely in the true purpose of his calling. He was severe in his dress, severe in his countenance, and severe on his son – and by extension, his fiancée.
The Darcys had arrived early for Lord Anglesey’s dinner, so that Georgiana might become better acquainted with the man who was to be her father-in-law. He was polite to her when they were introduced, although no one would call him kind, and she found him looking her up and down, as though he was inwardly scrutinising every aspect of her hair and dress. She imagined such a man would find them both too much in fashion, and could not help but take a step back from the father so that she would be closer to the son.
“Well, Matthew, I must admit I did not think I would ever see you settle,” Mr. Stanton said. “I give you both my congratulations.”
