Chapter Text
Summary: Growing uneased by the growing determination displayed by her Mother to see the five of her daughters married by the time the year is out, a restless Miss Elizabeth Bennet feels more trapped than she can care to admit. She knows it is only the most ardent, passionate of love that could convince her to marry, and feels stifled in the wake of her Mother’s and society’s expectations. She is compelled to accept her Aunt and Uncle Garner’s invitation to their tour of the Lakes District and leaves Loughborne behind if only for a moment.
By chance, upon a tour of the great estate named Pemberley, she stumbles across Miss Georgianna Darcy and receives a most spirited friend.
Or at just fifteen, young Georgianna Darcy feels alone in the wake of her cousin’s and brother’s departure from Pemberly. Not yet out, nor very inclined for the company of those locally acquainted with her family and with only a late summer trip to Ramsgate to look forward to and to make more friends... For she has no true friends. Imagine her surprise when she meets an older woman named Miss Elizabeth Bennet who is sweet and spirited and has no knowledge of who her brother is. Meeting Miss Elizabeth gains her a most spirited friend, and confidence she knew not possible.
I: A Much Needed Departure
The Summer of 1912
“I must inquire that you write to me. Most often, Lizzy,” said Jane Bennet, softly, clasping Elizabeth Bennet’s hands in a delicate grip. Her hands, her hands curled gently onto Elizabeth’s, but there was a firmness there nonetheless- the plead emphasized by the ardent way her elder sister was looking at her.
Her face was honest and slightly distressed, her pale, blue eyes wide and beautifully earnest. There was little of Jane that was not delicate, nor beautiful, that was plain to anyone with eyes, even with the obvious distress she was displaying. Elizabeth, thought perhaps if she and her sister were any less affectionate and if she cared for such things, she would have been violently jealous of her sister’s beauty. But there was nothing to feel envy for, for Jane was all that was good in the world and the most wonderful of sister beyond that. The fact that she would was as beautiful as she was inside as she was out was only fitting in Elizabeth’s eyes.
Poor Jane was looking at her, smiling yes, but with worry in her wonderful eyes. She was the most reserved of displaying her emotions, and it showed how much Jane would miss Lizzy. It made part of her own heartache in response. If she could fit Jane within her small purse, she would.
“I shall hardly past a mile without lifting my pen.”
Jane gave a smile, small, careful as she was always of the extent of her emotions, and Elizabeth could see how much the comment gladded her. Even if it was ridiculous. But that is why Elizabeth said it.
“Do not tease me so, Lizzy, you will be gone for months.”
Elizabeth gave her sister’s hand a careful squeeze.
“Yes. But you could dash up the stairs, pack your trunk and come with us. It would take you but a few minutes.”
Jane laughed, softly, shaking her head.
“I would love nothing more. But I cannot deny that Mother will need help with the little ones.”
The Garner cousins were indeed all very small, all very numerous and with Lydia and Kitty to handle, Lizzy had no doubt that their Mother would be run ragged. Her Father would seldom been seen outside of the library if at all in the coming months, with only Jane left for some measure of sense in the household. And Jane did indeed have the sweetest and easiest temper when it came to the children and would be ideal to stay behind. Their mother and father could hardly spare both Elizabeth and Jane… Jane, the angel that she had readily volunteered to stay home. With no inclination to try and persuade their parents to allow the both leave. Elizabeth wished her sister would be a little selfish in this endeavor, and come with her Aunt and Uncle Gardner to the Lakes regardless, but had accepted the opportunity for a quiet turn about Lakes.
“Your sense of responsibility is heartening to see, but how I wish you were less dutiful Jane.”
A slight upturn of her lips, a tad wrier then her sweet smile was what Jane gave Elizabeth in response.
“I cannot seldom be less dutiful then you clever, dear Lizzy.”
“Indeed, sweet Jane. Miss me, keep Papa sane as I go about the moors and hills.”
A kiss to the cheek was Jane’s response, and Elizabeth returned it with an embrace for good measure. She gave her farewell to her sister and went down the line for her other sisters. Giving her mother a careful hug, before she moved to her father. Mr. Bennet gave her a careful, stern look, that was altogether ruined by the gleam in his clever green eyes.
“Do not disappear into the Lakes forever Lizzy, I will be quite upset with you if decided to live wild,” he said, pointedly, slipping what looked like a small purse into hands. She carefully received the money he was giving, surprised at the extra pocket money. She knew he had given a larger sum to her Uncle Gardiner for the trip.
“I shall promise to try and return,” she said so simply, “But if I do disappear into the wilds, know that I shall be happy. For what are men to woods and hills?”
Her father chuckled.
“Of that, I have no doubt. But keep in mind your mother’s poor nerves- if you truly leave us without a husband as an excuse, I will never hear the end of it.”
Lizzy suppressed her laughter at her father’s expression.
"I promise, Papa."
"Be well my Lizzy, and enjoy yourself."
"Bring me back a good gift Lizzy," said Lydia, loudly, hands on her hips.
Kitty tittered in arrangement, "Yes, a good gift."
Her mother gave her a pursed set of lips.
"Could you not go with your Uncle when he is in Town? Instead of such a dreary tour of the lakes, you could spend the season with them. And Jane with you?"
Lizzy, despite herself, suppressed a smile at the suggestion. She would not mind it, and neither would Jane, but she knew her father would hardly tolerate it. Not just for the expense, but for the thought of being apart from them for so long. She shook her head.
“Perhaps another time, Mama.”