Revelations an adaption of Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 148

And so March made way for April, when their snug little family circle would be expanded with a mishmash of relatives, uncle Spencer, Fitzwilliam, Mr and Mrs Bennet bringing Maria, Mr and Mrs Gardiner with their four children, and Jane and Bingley. Everything in the house had been readied, plenty of bedrooms had been prepared, a sitting room had been converted to a children's paradise with toys and suitable books so the maid wouldn't have to keep the youngsters quiet all the time since there would be no-one to be bothered by their noise.

Elizabeth had insisted on sending for a selection of crayons and beautiful papers, to be stored safely on a top shelf to offer the maid some pleasure for herself when her charges were asleep or with their parents. Having realised that art was taken as seriously or even more seriously among the lower classes, Darcy was proud of his wife to have thought of helping a budding talent along, even if it might only offer the maid a few hours of solitary leisure. Renowned artists generally did not come from the ranks of household staff, and were certainly never female, but of course that wouldn't stop Elizabeth.

With everything readied for their visitors, Darcy was a bit disappointed to find the English weather threatening to ruin their month of outdoors entertainment. Though the gentlemen were used to storm and rain in their fall hunts, Darcy had been looking forward so much to showing his relatives and friends how good a rider Elizabeth was, and he had hoped Fielding and Georgie would agree to join them for some of the calmer outings, they had come along so beautifully on their more placid horses. But now, a typical April storm was razing across the countryside, tearing at the young leaves of the trees, whipping a deluge of sleet-like rain against the window panes of his study as if winter was trying to take back the country.

Such miserable weather could not last for long, could it? Their guests would arrive in another week, and though April was often capricious up in the north, with even a cover of snow far from unlikely, better they had the atrocious weather now than next week.

A knock on his door broke his negative thoughts, and at his request to come in his butler appeared.

'There is someone to see you, master.'

Darcy was stunned. Travelling in this weather? It must be important!

'Did he leave his name? Was it an express? He must have been soaked!'

'He did indeed look somewhat bedraggled, sir. I asked him to come out of the rain and let someone see to his horse but he said he'd see you first to be certain of his welcome. He said his name was George, master, nothing more.'

George? Not sure of his welcome? If it was Wickham he was right to expect not being welcome at Pemberley. But maybe something was amiss with Lydia.

'Is he an army man, Stokes? Medium height, curly hair, weathered face but still tolerably handsome?'

If so, Elizabeth should come, too, for several reasons.

'No, sir, this is unmistakeably a gentleman, though very bedraggled, and rather on the pudgy side, excusing my bluntness.'

A fat gentleman of his acquaintance called George, probably someone he knew by his family name only, an eldest son or he'd be able to match the Christian name with a face.

'Well, I'll find out soon enough who it is, better see to him quickly for he will be getting wetter and colder by the minute. You arrange for his horse to be taken to the stables, I cannot think of anyone I'd leave outside in this weather, not even George Wickham. Thank you, Stokes.'

The butler bowed as Darcy hurried downstairs to the front door. As he opened it and recognised the gentleman standing there, indeed soaked through but in an excellent humour nonetheless, Darcy realised there was one other man besides Wickham, coincidentally going by the same Christian name, that he would prefer not to allow into his home. But he also realised he could not possibly refuse this George entrance, and the man himself knew it. The doubt he'd expressed had been solely for the sake of propriety.