Alice Isakova - Georgiana Darcy: A Sequel to Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice

A SEQUEL TO

J ANE A USTEN'S P RIDE AND P REJUDICE

BY

ALICE ISAKOVA

Copyright 2018 Alice Isakova

All rights reserved.

Georgiana Darcy, by Alice Isakova

A young woman is never so beautiful, charming, or accomplished as when she also possesses a large fortune to add to her other attractions. If a suitor does not consider riches to be an indispensable virtue, his family certainly does, and woe to him who does not choose his wife accordingly. The lady's relations, being no more ignorant of these facts than the suitor's family, guard their beloved daughter, sister, or niece all the more closely lest such a treasure should fall into the wrong hands.

"My dear, there is something I must discuss with you," said Mr. Darcy to his wife one fine day in October.

"Yes, what is it?" replied Elizabeth.

"Lately, I have been thinking of my sister. As you are aware, in less than a year she will be eighteen, and perhaps it is therefore time to give consideration to her future. Ordinarily, that is a task that falls on the parents, but since my mother and father are no longer living, I believe it becomes our duty to guide Georgiana in society and help her make a good match."

"Do you have any candidates in mind?"

"No, not as yet," answered Mr. Darcy, "but whoever is chosen in the end, my chief concern is for Georgiana to be happy. I wish for my sister to discover the same felicity in marriage that you and I have found together." After a slight pause, he added, "Yet, at the same time, I would not want for her to marry into poverty, for I hardly see how a sharp decline in her style of living could contribute to her happiness."

Elizabeth remarked, "With her fortune of thirty thousand pounds, I doubt that she will ever know true poverty no matter whom she marries."

"Perhaps," said Darcy, "but I believe that as regards unequal marriages, it is far more perilous for a wealthy woman to descend into the valley of poverty for a husband, than it is for a wealthy man to come down for a wife. She is much less able to raise her partner in life to her level than he is. Moreover, the size of my sister's fortune is precisely what concerns me. Many a fortune-hunter will find the sum of thirty thousand pounds a very attractive inducement, indeed; above all else, I fear that some greedy, heartless rogue will insinuate himself so far into Georgiana's good graces as to persuade her to marry him, and that afterwards she will live a life of misery while he spends her fortune to the last farthing. I hardly need remind you of how close she came to that fate not so very long ago with Mr. Wickham."

Here Elizabeth stopped her husband to point out that his sister was a sensible, virtuous young woman, and although Georgiana had once made the error of contemplating an elopement, she had been only fifteen years old at the time. Did her brother now think that she would repeat her former folly?

"I suppose not," conceded Darcy, "but still, we must be cautious."

"And so we shall be! But for the present, had we not better turn our minds to how best to help your sister find a husband who will be suitable? Spending a season in London is the established way, I believe. At one of the balls and parties in town, she may perhaps make the acquaintance of a worthy, young man with whom she can be happy."

Mr. Darcy had no objection to going to town for the season except one: he would soon be much occupied with business matters relating to his recent purchase of an estate in Scotland, and therefore, he could not be certain whether it would be possible for him to take his family to London at all that year. The newly-bought estate was a very promising one, with some of the most fertile land in Scotland, but its former owner had allowed the property to fall into a state of neglect in the last years. It would be necessary to find a new land agent since the current one had shown himself to be abominably remiss in the execution of his duties. For this task and others needed to bring about substantial improvements on the estate, Darcy intended to leave for Scotland in the latter part of October, and after a week or two, he would rejoin Elizabeth and Georgiana in England to visit their family and friends. Afterwards, he planned to take both ladies with him to Scotland in December, where they would remain for at least a month, but possibly all winter.

Elizabeth agreed that this was a good plan, though it would be a pity if Georgiana missed the London season, especially when the maiden had just come into full bloom.

"Yes, my sister has improved markedly in the last year," said Darcy, "and it is all on account of your influence, my dear. She no longer has that painful shyness which characterised her manners in the past; you have softened her diffidence into modesty, and your good example has brought out a playfulness of spirit in Georgiana that I have not seen in a long timenot since the death of my father, in fact."

"I will not deny having had some influence," returned his wife, "but neither do I think I can justly claim all credit; it is natural for a girl who is nearing eighteen to shake off much of the awkward diffidence of youth even without assistance."

Still determined to find a way for her sister-in-law to go out into society during the fashionable season, Elizabeth paused to contemplate the problem, and then said suddenly:

"What do you think if, instead of coming to Scotland with us, Georgiana goes to Bath in December with my sister Jane and her husband? It is not the equal of London, I know, but Mr. Bingley has a wide acquaintance there, and it would be in his power to introduce your sister into the circles of elegant society in Bath."

"Do you think they will want to take her with them?"

"I am sure of it! Jane is very fond of Georgiana and has more than once expressed a wish to see her more often, and your sister and Mr. Bingley have always been good friends. I will write to the Bingleys and ask them, of course, but I feel certain they will be very glad for her to accompany them when they go to Bath this winter."

Mr. Darcy was pleased with the idea. He would still endeavour to conclude his affairs in time to go to London in January, said he, but it would only be of benefit for Georgiana to make as many new acquaintances as possible, in Bath as well as London.

"But what about your sister Catherine?" asked he. "We have never discussed her future. She, too, is of marriageable age, and since she is living with us, should we perhaps be helping her to make a good match as well?"

"In time, yes," answered Elizabeth, "but I think it is yet too early to trust Kitty to behave properly in society. Though she has improved to some extent of late, she still forgets herself sometimes. I would hate for her to embarrass Georgiana in some way and thereby harm her chances. For the present, I believe Kitty will do better simply to continue her education. Marriage can wait."

Following this conversation, Elizabeth wrote to Jane, who lived in the neighbouring county with her husband. The reply she received was exactly the one she had hoped for; the Bingleys were delighted at the idea of taking Mr. Darcy's sister with them to Bath, and so it was settled. Georgiana and Elizabeth would first travel into Kent later that month, while Catherine Bennet would go to Mr. and Mrs. Bingley. In late November, Miss Bennet and the Bingleys would then journey into Hertfordshire to visit their family at Longbourn, where the Darcys would join them soon afterwards. From there, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were to continue on to Scotland, while Georgiana would set out for Bath with Jane and Mr. Bingley. Kitty was to remain with the Bennets at Longbourn for the winter.