Chapter Text
Early August of 1798, outside the St. Andrews Church in Lambton, and just two weeks shy of turning two and ten, Elizabeth Bennet found herself in the nicest white dress she had ever worn. With a broad blue ribbon around her waist, ample petticoats, and blue flowers sewn around the face of her tight bonnet, Elizabeth gave the presentation of a pristine doll amongst her sisters, who were all dressed in kind.
Lydia, whose face was the roundest at only five years old, pulled off the flower girl presentation the best. Or at least she did before being seized upon by the foul mood that had built up at having to sit quietly through the wedding presiding. She now sits on the steps of the church, wailing and smacking her little fists on the ground.
"Oh, Lydia, how you test my nerves." Mrs. Bennet tried in vain to blot at the little girl's tears and rouse her into a standing position. "There is no need for tears."
"I believe she is hungry, Mama," Jane offered, swaying lightly while allowing Mary and Kitty to entertain themselves by pulling a light game of tug of war on her arms.
"Yes. While we are all hungry and we can hardly show up at the Wrights' house with a wailing girl who ought to know better." Their mother chided.
The Wrights, parents to freshly married Madeline Gardiner, were hosting the party after the wedding at their house, and no one had planned any other food outside of the meals they would provide. Mr. Bennet reached into his pocket with a sigh and offered a few coins to Elizabeth, his favourite daughter, and notably the only one standing still amongst the scene their family was causing.
"Lizzy, you saw the bakery on Main Street on our way in? Go and get a pastry for you and each of your sisters. I am trusting you with this, so be right quick about it."
Taking the coins, Elizabeth nodded and took off at a good speed. To the best of her ability, she assessed the offering at the bakery and the money she had been given and decided on the offer for a half dozen Cornish pasties. Once she received the small box of hand pies held closed with twine, she turned quickly back towards the churchyard. She started wondering if she could get away with eating the extra one before she got back.
A whimper pulled Elizabeth from her wonderings. Slowing to a halt, Elizabeth looked around the street where no one else seemed to hear the noise or at least pay it any mind. Hearing another little sniffle, she searched behind a tie post for horses that was obscured from the view of the road.
"Hello! Are you lost?" Elizabeth smiled at the small girl in front of her as openly and gently as she could.
The small girl, who could not be quite as old as Kitty, lifted her head from her knees, and her large blue eyes, full of tears, fell on Elizabeth, full of uncertainty. Taking a moment to assess the girl, she could see that her coat and bonnet were made of very high-quality fabric, but were constructed with dark purple and black fabric that did not suit her. As Elizabeth walked around to the post to squat beside the girl it occurred to her that the small child may be in partial mourning.
"If you tell me where you are supposed to be, I will try my hardest to help you find your way."
Wiping her wet nose on the back of her gloves, the girl started softly. "I need to go to Cambridge."
"Oh," Elizabeth hesitated, a crease of confusion in her brow. "Unfortunately, we are a very far way from Cambridge."
Although she wasn't sure what to expect of the child who appeared to have volatile emotions, she was disappointed to find her bursting out in sobs again at Elizabeth's words.
"Now now. No need for tears." Elizabeth pulled the twine from her box and pulled out a Cornish pasty. "I am sure we can find a solution. Are your parents in Cambridge?"
The little girl shook her head, the sobs still wracking through her, but she calmed enough to take the hand pie with her tiny gloved hands. "M m m… my brother."
"Well. I'm sure he will be delighted to see you." She offered as the girl took a tentative bite into the warm confectionery. Using the edge of the blue ribbon on her dress, Elizabeth cleared the tear streaks off the girls tiny, round cheeks. "Is there, by chance, anyone closer we could find for you? A Parent, Uncle, maybe a family friend."
"It's best that I go now. Miss Woodworth already swore to send me away after the wedding. And I am sure he would be the only one who would take me." While still shaking, she appeared to be too focused on her warm treat to sob as she had been doing, and Elizabeth considered this a vast improvement
"Oh, and who is this mean Miss Woodworth?" Elizabeth said with a performative haughty air
"My Governess," the girl pouted.
"Are you sure she didn't mean she would be leaving after her wedding. It would be very peculiar for her to stay with you after she was married." Elizabeth tried to ease the girl.
"She told me she was to marry my father. And when they were married, she would send me away."
Elizabeth found this highly suspect, as she did not expect a man who could dress his daughter in such finery to settle for a governess, even for a second wife. "Has your father told you about his plans to marry Miss Woodworth?"
She was quite satisfied as the girl shook her head and stood up. "Well then, I reckon there is not a lick of truth to it then."
Tucking the pastry box under her arm, she offered her free hand to the girl. "Come with me and we'll ask your father, and if he is, in fact, going to marry the mean, awful, cruel Miss Woodworth, I will bring you to Cambridge myself."
At a much slower pace than she had left to account for the girl's tiny gate Elizabeth walked hand in hand back to the churchyard. Just before they arrived, when Elizabeth could almost be seen approaching by her family. Elizabeth remembered a significant step she had forgotten. "My name is Elizabeth Bennet. What is your name?"
"Georgiana." The girl gave a half curtsy to keep from dropping Elizabeth's hand, "Georgiana Darcy."
_-_-_-_-_
Mr. Bennet sighed to himself as he saw his Lizzy approach with a tiny girl in tow. He could find bleak humour in that her errand to help stop her silly sister from crying, she had returned with another crying girl.
"I could have sworn I only had five daughters, Lizzy." After Elizabeth offered the introduction, Mr Bennet worked hard to school his face to not give away his surprise in realizing he was being introduced to the child of the most notable man in all of Derbyshire.
All of his daughters had an immediate interest in the little girl, and his wife's active mothering tendencies kicked in to help the child properly blow her nose. Miss Darcy, in her mourning clothes, stood out like a raven amidst doves compared to his own girl's wedding attire as they flocked around her. But to the Young lady's credit, her willingness to follow instructions and his daughter's fascination made the process of getting all 8 of them into the carriage go smoother than it might have if she were not there.
Dropping Mrs. Bennet and four of his daughters off at the Wrights. He redirected the driver to Pemberley estate. The small girl never released her hold of Lizzy and was now all but dozing off under her arm, exhausted from the effort of crying for so long.
They arrive at the estate that was clearly in chaos. Looking out the small window of the carriage, Mr. Bennet could see a mass of people that he only guessed was a search party. At the front of the group, a gentleman was emphasizing his point with harsh movements of his arms and his intense unhappiness was known to all around.
"I believe, Lizzy, that we may have the good fortune of being introduced to the Master of the house." Mr. Bennet mused as the eye of Mr. Darcy turned on them. He was now walking briskly across the courtyard to where they were coming to a stop.
Stepping from the carriage, Mr. Bennet addressed the man who was still walking towards him with purpose. "I must sincerely apologize, sir, for not following the necessary forms and appearing at your estate unknown to you and uninvited, but I believe I have something of yours."
Looking back into the carriage, he saw the young Miss Darcy now reaching out with both arms to him so that he could lift her from the top step, just as he had placed her there along with two of his youngest daughters. He chose to hold back until her father whipped around the door of the carriage that had blocked his way and scooped up the girl himself.
"Georgiana! You could not imagine how worried I have been." The man was overcome with emotion as he pressed the top of his daughter's head, holding her to his own cheek.
Turning away in a vain attempt to give the pair the semblance of privacy, Mr. Bennet took Elizabeth's hand to help her down from the carriage.
"Papa," the six-year-old leaned back in her father's grasp and gestured to the Bennets with her whole arm. Mimicking Elizabeth's earlier approach to an introduction, she offered, "This is Miss Elizabeth and her Father, Mr. Bennet. This is my Papa."
Everyone mentioned, nodded, or curtsied as appropriate, and Mr. Darcy took the opportunity to clarify his name and ownership of Pemberley. In return, Mr. Bennet elaborated on their dwelling in Longbourn and their reasons for being in Lambton that day. "That's how my Lizzy happened across the young Miss Darcy."
"I am severely indebted to you both," Mr. Darcy bowed to each of them as far as holding his daughter allowed. "I do not understand how this has happened, but I appreciate your kind actions towards the safety of my daughter more than I can express to you."
Elizabeth nodded her head in turn. "It was no trouble, Mr. Darcy, and while I am here, could I congratulate you on your impending felicity."
Mr. Bennet started at this, turning to regard his daughter. He did not understand how his daughter, who had been born with better sense than any of his other children, could mistake the man before her for anything other than a man in deep morning. The pointer finger of his left hand held what was unmistakably a white enamel mourning ring.
"I do not want to overstep, but your daughter has already shared Miss Woodworth's plans for your marriage and the ... travelling Miss Darcy will get to experience in the happy aftermath." Elizabeth's tone clearly implied more than what she said, but was restrained enough to claim ignorance.
Turning back toward the gentleman, Mr. Bennet saw the man stiffen and his eyes grow dark in anger. As Mr. Bennet grew anxious over the aftermath of his daughter's misstep, Miss Darcy, who also sensed her father's anger, began to shake and return to tears. Closing his eyes and laying his free hand calmly on his daughter's back, Mr. Darcy clearly took a moment to collect himself.
"No congratulations are necessary, Miss Bennet, I am afraid you have been unfortunately misled. Miss Woodworth was relieved of her position as Miss Darcy's governess this afternoon and has no remaining ties to our family.
Elizabeth curtsied deeply, bowing her head in penance. "Please accept my humblest apologies, Sir. I must have gravely misunderstood. I meant no offence."
Before Mr. Darcy could respond, a whisper of "really?" was heard escaping Miss Darcy.
Pressing her small head against his cheek again, Mr. Darcy sighed, "Please rise, Miss Bennet and do not alarm. I again cannot state how much your actions today are appreciated."
Mr. Darcy showed all of his sincerity on his face as well as a bit of exhaustion. Mr. Bennet asks Mr Darcy to excuse them back to their prior engagement and help his daughter back into the carriage.
"You know Lizzy," he exclaimed once they began to pull away. "It is a shame you were born a gentleman's daughter."
She smiled at him with her head quirked in question at his statement.
"You would have made a wonderful thespian."
_-_-_-_-_
The morning after the wedding, as the Bennets were breaking their fast, a knock sounded at the door of their rented lodging.
"A Mr. Darcy has called and asks to see Miss Elizabeth Bennet." The maid announced to everyone around the breakfast table, who halted in their actions. "I've shown him to the parlour."
There was a great hustle and hubbub as Mrs Bennet attempted to straighten Elizabeth's attire and waxed longingly that she had not packed any nicer dresses. Mr. Bennet eventually took her by the shoulder to help her escape her mother and escorted her to the parlour.
Inside the parlour, Mr. Darcy greeted them warmly and directed Elizabeth's attention to a large bolt of rich green fabric. "As a thanks for your actions yesterday, I wanted to give you a gift."
Elizabeth's eyes were sparkling as she let her fingers travel over the fabric, so soft and delicate. She had never held anything nearly as pretty. "I am sorry, Sir, but you shouldn't have. I truly need nothing this grand in thanks."
A smile quirked at the edge of his lips. He could commend Elizabeth for the words that showed proper deference in denying his gift, had the delight in her face not betrayed her true thoughts. "Think nothing of it. The fabric was initially purchased for Georgiana, but the colour does not suit her. It will be much more appropriately used for a dress for yourself."
At that, she smiled unabashedly and thanked him for the gift. He nodded, sitting back in his seat in triumph. "If there is any other token I can bestow as thanks, please let me know.
At that, a queer look appeared on Elizabeth's face. "There is one thing sir."
Mr. Darcy found himself intrigued. He had made the offer merely as part of the dance expected in high society, and she, in part, was expected to decline. Something he felt confident she knew, as she had already been responding better than another girl her age might have been able to understand. "Oh"
"Would you tell me of your plans to visit Cambridge?"
"Cambridge.. Ahhh," She had not truly intended to ask for anything for herself; she was fishing on behalf of Georgiana's interest. "Georgiana must have told you that her brother left for Cambridge two weeks ago to set himself up before his first semester. I had hoped to give him space to establish himself, but perhaps it would be better to move our trip up to get the distraction out of the way before classes start."
"That would be quite considerate of you, Sir." She gave a studious nod before getting to her real point, "I believe Miss Georgiana misses him terribly. I am sure she would not have bestowed any of her worries on me if she had had access to him."
He sighed and, despite himself, shared a vulnerable thought with the child before him. "I cannot help but agree with you, Miss Bennet. Georgiana holds FitzWilliam closer than anyone in her heart since their mother's passing, and I believe he dotes on her in kind. That was why we introduced a governess upon his departure in hopes of giving her a new confidant."
"Perhaps a playmate?" Elizabeth offered lightly with a shrug of one shoulder."
Retaken by her boldness, a smile quirked back up on his lips. "Perhaps"
_-_-_-_-_
Upon returning to Longbourn, Mr Bennet was surprised to find that a letter that had been sent after them from Derbyshire had outpaced them and arrived before them.
Dear Mr Bennet,
I have thought long and hard about your daughter's suggestion of my providing Georgiana with a playmate. The idea has been contemplated before, but my children are both so timid in nature that it has found little practicality in our house. However, Georgiana has expressed sincere trust in Miss Bennet, and if your family were based out of Derbyshire and not Hertfordshire, she would be the obvious first choice.
As added context, you are familiar with my having a son, FitzWilliam Darcy. Despite being my heir, he has requested to attend university. As a learned man yourself, you would know that this traditionally happens over six consecutive semesters, spanning 2 years. Given his need for practical experience in assisting with running Pemberley, we have made alternative arrangements so that he will participate only in the fall semester every year for several years.
I have finally come to my point of inquiry. With your blessing, I want to hire Miss Elizabeth Bennet to be a live-in Playmate for Georgiana during September to mid-December while FitzWilliam is in Cambridge. I believe Miss Bennet's good nature comes from her caring for her own younger sisters, and I would not want to selfishly deprive her of their time, so as recompense, I would provide 50 pounds towards her dowery for every month she resides in Pemberley. This sum would amount to 200 pounds this year, and it would remain the same for any subsequent years in which we find the arrangement to be still beneficial.
Miss Bennet would also be offered the opportunity to access all of Georgiana's instructors in music, horse riding and etiquette, as well as the right to have an instructor of her own in any topic that she may find of interest.
I hope I have made a pleasing enough offer for you to consider.
I eagerly await your reply.
Sincerly
George Darcy,