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Chapter Forty-Six Posted on Sunday, January 14, 2001
"She isn't there." Richard cried as he returned the phone to its cradle. "The girl who answered said that Aunt Catherine went chasing after Anne!"
"She knows!" Kitty gasped, grabbing Richard's arm. "Call Anne!"
The house phone was still programmed for auto-answer, since none of the family was there to switch it over. Richard tried Anne's cell, but it was busy. Georgiana's clicked to voicemail immediately, which meant that the phone was probably turned off. Richard left messages for both of them, made one more phone call, then tossed a bag on the bed and began to throw clothes into it.
"Care for a little journey, sweetheart?" He grinned as Kitty returned from the bathroom. "I know how much you love Ireland."
"A bright smile crossed Kitty's face, and she hurried over to give her husband a kiss. "I love a good adventure even more!" She kissed him again, then began to dig through her drawers. "I wonder if before she left Anne thought to..." She paused. "We're taking the jet, right? What time do we leave? I have to make a quick side trip..."
Richard came up behind her and wrapped his arms around Kitty's waist. "What do you have cooking, sweetheart?"
Kitty spun around and leaned into Richard's arms. "Something that might help make up for Aunt Catherine-and us-interrupting their solitude up there."
Richard smiled. "I love you, Kitty." He kissed her, then returned to his packing as Kitty headed off on her mission.
"You've got to be kidding!" Anne gasped as she sank onto the sofa next to Alex with her cell phone pressed to her ear.
Concerned at the shock in Anne's voice, Alex slipped an arm around her shoulders and captured her free hand in his. Anne's eyes were troubled as she met his gaze.
"What time...Oh!" She moaned quietly, leaning back into Alex's arms.
Alex stroked Anne's hair as he listened to her half of the telephone conversation. "Is everything OK?" He whispered.
Anne shook her head, ended the call, and turned around so that she could bury her face in Alex's chest with a groan. Alex had never seen a smile melt so quickly from Anne's face. He held her quietly, rubbing her back, until Anne finally sat back in his arms with an odd expression on her face.
"That was Will. My mother is on her way. He and Lizzy are coming to...smooth things over."
Alex sighed, but tried to hide his reaction for Anne's sake. He gave her a mild smile and traced her jaw with his thumb.
"It's not necessarily a bad thing...weren't you a bit sad that your family wasn't going to be at your wedding?"
Anne shook her head. "In a way, yes, but..." She leaned back against the sofa with a great sigh. "I can't tell you how many times my mother tried to convince me that you were just using me. She said that if you weren't good enough for Catherine Bennett, you were no match for me."
Alex pretended to be offended. "I thought she was happy that you were marrying me."
"Your money and family connections leave ours in the dust. Once we were official, she could not object...until you ruined her dreams of an astonishingly elaborate, horribly expensive, society event of a wedd-"
"-Funny, I thought you were the one who decided to elope." Alex interrupted, grinning.
"Yes, but she will never believe it. Remember, until very recently, for all she knows, I have been her perfect, submissive little daughter."
Alex laughed. "While I am the scoundrel."
"Exactly."
"Since I am to play the rogue..." He leaned towards her with a devilish smile.
Anne swatted him with a small cushion and leaped from the couch. "Not now! There is too much to do. We have to find Georgiana and Brian, we have to call the vicar, we have to..."
Alex grabbed both of Anne's hands. "Yes, yes, but surely they can wait a few more moments." He bent to kiss her.
Anne laughingly turned her head so that Alex's lips only grazed her cheek. "Don't get me started...or we'll never get anything done."
"So?" Alex murmured, nuzzling her ear.
"So...we'll have plenty of time this evening...after the wedding."
"Yes," Alex agreed, moving his lips to Anne's neck. "I have big plans for tonight." He folded Anne's collar aside and traced kisses along her collarbone.
"I'm sure you do." Anne's knees went weak at the expression in Alex's eyes, but she decided that it couldn't hurt to let him suffer once in a while. She quickly retrieved the cell phone from underneath a cushion, and dialed the number for the rectory.
"Hello, this is Anne de Bourgh. May I speak to..." She gasped as Alex began to unbutton her blouse. "Yes, hello. I'm sorry, could you hold on for a moment?" She pressed the phone against her thigh as she pushed Alex away. Later, she mouthed before turning back to the phone.
Alex whispered a promise into Anne's ear with a naughty smile on his face. Anne turned to whisper one back with a glint in her eyes, then hurried from the room, rebuttoning her blouse with one hand and holding the phone to her ear with the other. She had to cover the receiver again as Alex's delighted laughter followed her into the hallway.
Anne returned a few minutes later. She grabbed Alex's hand, pulling him from the sofa. "How dare you behave that way when I am on the phone with a vicar?" She admonished as she dragged him from the room. Alex laughingly began to defend himself, but Anne brushed him off. "Not now...we have to find Brian and Georgiana."
"Well, isn't this cozy?" Alex whispered to Anne with a grin as they entered the library to find Brian and Georgiana fast asleep on a sofa in front of the fire.
Anne slipped the book from Brian's hands, marking the page with a ribbon. "Wake up, sleepyheads. Breakfast is ready."
Brian sat up carefully, carefully removing his arm from underneath Georgiana's sleeping form. "So much for finishing the first chapter...what time is it?" He whispered with a yawn.
"Nearly nine. How long have the two of you been down here?"
"A little over an hour." Brian rose to his feet and gently readjusted the afghan over Georgiana. "She has caught a cold. Let's leave her sleeping. She can eat when she wakes up."
The three friends filled their plates from a generous spread on the sideboard in the breakfast room. Brian yawned mightily as he sank into his chair. He smiled apologetically at Anne, who had been speaking to him. She shook her head.
"Do you find me so tedious, Brian?"
"If you would only speak of anything other than my brother..." He grinned. "To tell you the truth, I slept horribly last night."
"Would it, by any chance, have something to do with the fact that Georgiana is sleeping under the same roof?"
Brian shrugged, suddenly appearing to have an intense interest in his eggs.
Alex grinned. "You won't answer the question, will you Brian?"
"The storm kept me awake."
"So..." Alex grinned, "you didn't toss and turn all night, wanting to go in to Georgiana?"
Brian frowned as he speared an egg with his fork. "I can't see why you are suddenly so concerned with my sleeping habits...or with my love life."
"Ever since we were children, you have slept like the dead. I have always envied that. Only when something is bothering you terribly do you sleep poorly." He grinned, "I hardly slept a wink between the day I decided to marry Anne and the day I proposed to her."
"So you are saying that if I proposed to Georgiana, my insomnia would be cured?"
"Perhaps...have you been considering it?"
Brian was silent.
"I just want to see you happy, little brother." Alex said mildly as he buttered his toast.
"Now that you have your perfect happiness, you mean?" Brian muttered, dragging a spoon through his coffee.
Alex nodded to Anne, who discreetly left the room.
"What on earth is going on with you, Brian?" He asked, coming to sit next to his brother.
Brian shrugged, avoiding Alex's gaze as he lifted his coffee cup to his lips.
"Is it the elopement that is bothering you?"
Brian shook his head, setting the cup down. "I am happy for you."
"Your residency?"
"It is terribly stressful...but no more than I expected. No more than I can handle."
"It must be Georgiana, then. The two of you seemed to be doing so well on the train last night."
Brian gave his brother a wry smile. "We are...when we are together. But I have the hospital, she has school. With our schedules we hardly see each other anymore."
"Are you worried that this might be the end?"
Brian didn't have to tell his brother how much he loved Georgiana. It was obvious from his expression. He leaned back in his chair with a sigh, staring out of the window. Clouds had rolled in, and a light rain was just beginning to hit the window pane.
"It can't be. Alex, I...I don't know what I would..." He stopped in agitation, running a hand through his hair. "I need ...I don't know..."
Alex studied his brother with a compassionate eye. He knew very well what it felt like to agonize over a woman.
Brian rose from his chair and walked over to the window. "I brought the ring with."
Alex hid his surprise with a cough. "So you do want to marry her."
"Yes." Brian turned to glance at his brother. "But I don't think she wants to marry me."
"Why ever not?" Alex cried, rising to his feet.
"You know how I feel about her, but I'm afraid that she still doesn't completely trust me. I don't exactly have a perfect record with women..." his voice trailed off as he lifted his eyes to study Alex. "I am afraid that she still doubts my sincerity. That is why I have chosen not to...why we haven't...why I slept alone last night."
"Wouldn't a proposal cure her of that notion?" Alex laughed.
"You are forgetting about Elsa."
Alex groaned. "Forget Elsa. Forget Marta and every other girl in your past. Forget about George, and whomever else she has dated in the past. The only thing that matters is how the two of you feel about each other...and whether you want to build on that or let it go."
Brian nodded slightly, but he still looked doubtful.
Alex put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Isn't it possible that your past is haunting you much more than it bothers her? Maybe she doesn't worry about those things. Perhaps she is just as confused as you are. It is possible. After all," Alex smiled, "Anne was willing to overlook my obsession with Kate. I think that convincing Anne that I was over Catherine Bennet was a Mt. Everest of a problem compared with the tiny hillocks that you have to cross."
A tiny smile appeared at the corner of Brian's mouth. "I see what you mean. No one ever said that it would be easy to fall in love." He paused, listening to his own words. Then his mouth twitched and his eyes danced with laughter. "Good lord, I am in love! I don't just love her, Alex, I am utterly and completely...what should I do?" He asked with sudden fear in his eyes.
"As Mother Superior says in Anne's favorite movie: Climb ev'ry mountain..."* He sang jokingly in a warm baritone.
"I know that one...Georgiana made me watch it with her twice...and she constantly listens to the soundtrack." He threw his arms out at his sides with a mock-dramatic expression on his face as his light tenor joined Alex's voice. "Ford ev'ry stream. Follow ev'ry rainbow 'till you find your dream."
"Are you going to dance for us, too?"
Alex and Brian turned towards the door with astonished faces as Georgiana and Anne walked into the room. Brian blushed slightly, nervous that their conversation had been overheard. Alex was grinning sheepishly at being caught singing.
"Please don't stop on our account," Georgiana said with a smile as she grabbed a muffin from the sideboard.
Brian shared a glance with Alex as he took a seat by Georgiana. She smiled at him, then turned back to Anne.
"So...when is the ceremony?"
"I called this morning. The vicar can't make it until this evening. I don't know what else to do. Alex and I were thinking of making a trip into town. Richard said that fall is one of the best times to visit, and it would keep my mind off of my mother's arrival. Would the two of you like to come along?"
Georgiana shook her head. "I might make it into town tomorrow, but I think that I need another nap."
Brian smiled. "I'll stay back with you."
Georgiana protested, but Brian stood firm, claiming his desire to visit the stables as his excuse.
"Besides," he grinned, "Not to offend the two of you, but I would much rather spend my time with Georgiana then serve as your third wheel."
After breakfast, the couples split up. Anne and Alex borrowed a car to drive into town. Brian and Georgiana went back into the library, where Brian was going to teach Georgiana how to play cribbage.
For Lady Catherine's maid and companion, the train ride had been unbearable. The lady had not only admonished them for every slight movement they made, she had shared her ill humor with every person she came into contact with during the long trip. The two women had never seen her in such poor spirits. It was with much relief that they left her once the train arrived at the station, to see to the luggage and to find the driver that was to transport them to the house.
From the train station, it was another half-hour before the car finally turned onto a long wooded drive, at the end of which was a beautiful manor house. When the car stopped, Lady Catherine barely waited long enough for the driver to open the door before she stormed to the front door.
An immaculately attired servant opened the massive front door and showed Lady Catherine and her companions into a spacious, tastefully decorated parlor.
"Whom shall I announce?"
"I am the Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I demand to see my daughter at once."
The servant was momentarily stunned at the woman's brusque approach and odd request. "I beg your pardon, but I don't believe that there are any young women in the house at present..."
"I should have known that even the servants would be in on this. Where is Anne?" She stormed past the man into the hallway, where she nearly ran into an elegantly dressed woman.
The servant came up behind Lady Catherine with a nervous frown. "The Lady Catherine de Bourgh, ma'am. I told her that I would announce-"
"Ask the cook to send up a tea tray, Robert. That will be all."
"Yes, ma'am." The man nodded, slipping past Lady Catherine into the hall.
"Welcome, Lady Catherine. Please, have a seat." The woman smiled graciously, gesturing that they should return to the parlor. "I am-"
Lady Catherine stood her ground with a stubborn frown as she interrupted the woman's self-introduction. "I have come for my daughter. Tell me where she is."
Confusion clouded the woman's soft gray eyes. "I am sorry, Lady Catherine, but Anne is not here."
*"Climb Ev'ry Mountain", from The Sound of Music
Chapter Forty-Seven Posted Monday, 5 February 2001
"Skunked again." Brian groaned, leaning back in his chair. "Now that was embarrassing."
"At least you're not blaming it on beginner's luck anymore." Georgiana said with a satisfied smile as she moved her peg into the last hole on the board.
"Are you certain that you've never played cribbage before?" Brian asked with a laugh, rubbing his neck, which was stiff from leaning over the game board for two hours.
While Georgiana returned the carved wood cribbage board and cards to a desk drawer, Brian walked over to the window. The rain had stopped a couple of hours before, and the hills shone green and golden in the late morning sunshine. He gazed out at the beautiful Irish countryside with a thoughtful expression on his face. When Georgiana finally came to stand next to him, he turned to her with a slightly hesitant smile as he gently brushed her cheek with his thumb. "Do you feel up to taking a walk?"
"I hope you're not catching my cold!" Georgiana cried, noticing the slight roughness in Brian's voice. When he shook his head, she smiled. "I do feel much better. I would enjoy a little fresh air."
Georgiana hurried upstairs to grab a warm sweater, and returned to the front hall to find Brian waiting, holding her coat. As he helped her into it, his hands lingered on her shoulders for a moment before he turned away to open the door.
They walked in silence, following the wooded path to the lake's edge. Brian's eyes kept straying to Georgiana's face, to her bright hair, highlighted by the filtered sunlight. His warm gray-green eyes narrowed every once in a while, the only external sign that he was thinking very hard about something.
They stopped at the flat rock Brian had found during his morning run. The clouds were drifting away, and the sun shone brightly through the bright orange and red leaves, casting a golden glow over everything, and reflecting on the perfect stillness of the lake's surface.
Brian studied Georgiana for a moment before walking out onto the flat rock surface with his back to her. "Georgiana, we need to talk."
Georgiana took a quick breath. Brian had been much more quiet than usual during this trip. Georgiana had often caught him studying her with a pensive look on his face. Although he was still sweet and considerate, Georgiana had the impression that he was holding something back. Maybe this was it, she thought, coming to stand next to him at the water's edge with a flutter of fear in her stomach.
They hadn't been able to find much time to spend together in the past few months. While Brian's residency schedule was grueling, Georgiana was willing to put up with almost everything as long as they could be together. But maybe worries about their relationship were just too difficult for Brian to deal with right now, while he began such a demanding career. She knew that he loved her, that he would never hurt her if he could help it. But what if he had no choice? Georgiana knew that she would do anything for him, even let him go if it was what he needed, no matter how much it hurt.
She looked over at him and saw something resembling sorrow in his eyes. She had to ask.
"Is this the end, Brian?" Her voice was soft as she stared out over the still water, wondering how she would react if he agreed.
Brian looked up in surprise, swallowing against the sudden tightness in his throat. "Do you think that we've reached that point?" He asked quietly, gazing back over the water, watching as a brilliant red leaf spiraled slowly down to the water's surface, marring it with several small ripples. It floated there for a moment before sinking. A muscle tightened in Brian's jaw as he picked up a smooth stone and skipped it across the calm water.
Georgiana's eyes brushed over Brian's profile. She found herself wondering how any other man could ever look so attractive to her. Brian's firm jaw, the slight bump on his fine nose from a skiing accident, and his wonderful eyes that went from gray, to blue, to green depending on his mood and what he wore, had become so dear to her. His eyes were gray now as they met Georgiana's, gray and soft with an unreadable expression as he waited for her answer. "No..." she answered almost in a whisper. "Do you?"
"No, I don't." Brian said firmly, bending to pick up some more skipping stones.
Georgiana almost sighed with relief. But as the smile returned to her face, she wondered what had caused his distant behavior, the intensity of his gaze, the soft gruffness in his voice, and the stiff set to his shoulders. "What is wrong?"
Brian skipped another stone across the water. "I just needed to ask: Is there anything about me that bothers you? Something that I do, or have done?"
Georgiana smiled. "Other than your schedule, which can't be helped, you have done nothing but charm me since the day we met."
"Are you certain?" Brian asked, turning back to her and taking her hand as he gazed at her earnestly. "I was afraid that...that there might be something keeping you from completely trusting me...or loving me."
"Do I give you that impression?" Georgiana asked, surprised. "I thought that it was rather obvious that I..."
As Brian studied her face, a smile began to hover at the corners of his lips. "That you what?"
"I absolutely adore you, Brian." Georgiana blushed slightly, and her heart began hammering against her ribs.
"Really? I had hoped, but I wasn't certain..." Brian's relief was visible as he closed her hands in his. "Sometimes you would say something, or look at me in a certain way, and I was worried that you might be bothered by...by my former relationship with Elsa, and with other women." His face flushed slightly. "I know that people talk, and I've dated quite a few. But I have always tried to be kind, and I don't think that I've-"
"You don't need to explain yourself away, Brian." Georgiana said, smiling as she squeezed his hands. "I know that you are a gentleman. Alex told me that you were just searching for...for something you didn't find in those women. To be completely honest, I was more intimidated than bothered. I wondered how I could possibly measure up..." She shook her head. "Regarding your past loves, I have no worries. You have made it clear that you and Elsa are finished, and she is the only one you actually proposed to, so I'm not too worried that another woman is going to show up with a greater claim on your affections."
"That's true." He said, a warm smile breaking through his seriousness. "And no one has ever had a greater claim than you, Georgiana."
"Thank you." She whispered as Brian touched his forehead to hers. "Why this sudden inquiry. Have I done something that made you wonder? Is this because we haven't..."
"No!" Brian responded firmly, smiling at her although he was caught off guard. "We couldn't possibly have...not until we were both sure..." He sighed. "I just needed to ask because I adore you, too. I love you, Georgiana. I found what I was searching for in you. If you weren't sure about me, if you were ready to move on, I wanted to find out before my poor heart became too hopelessly entangled..." He stopped, chuckling softly at Georgiana's expression. "What is it?"
Georgiana was rather overwhelmed, and couldn't put her thoughts to words. "I just wish that we didn't have to spend so much time apart."
"So do I." Brian smiled ruefully, kissing her forehead. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and rested his cheek on the top of her head. "This will get easier someday. I won't always be such an elusive boyfriend. Someday, we won't have to synchronize our schedules weeks in advance."
"I hope so." Georgiana sighed, pressing her cheek against the soft wool of his sweater.
"I promise." Brian smiled, smoothing her hair. He took a breath and stepped back a little, studying her face. "I could take one step towards making good on that promise right now..."
Georgiana's heart skipped a beat. She closed her eyes, smiling as she shook her head. "You don't have to do or say anything right now."
"Are you sure? I'm ready..." Brian smiled at her response, kissing her softly. "All right, if you won't let me now...Someday, I am going to ask you a very important question, Georgiana."
"You already know what my answer will be."
Brian tightened his arms around her. "Just the same, be prepared." He warned, kissing her again. They stood for a moment, breathing in the crisp autumn air. Then Brian sighed. "Thank you, Georgiana. You understand, I had to ask."
"What I don't understand," Georgiana laughed softly, "Is how you could possibly believe that any woman, myself included, could ever be anything but completely in love with you once you've given her your attention. I know that I didn't stand a chance, despite the obstacles. How do you do it?"
Brian grinned. "Don't you know? It's the famous Waterpool charm. It's patented, and soon to be sold in blue glass bottles at Harrods."
"Be careful that you don't apply it too heavily. A girl is likely to find herself in danger."
"I promise from now on, I'll only dab on a bit here and there...unless I'm around you. Then I need something strong to protect me against the charms of Georgiana."
Georgiana smiled. This was the Brian she knew and loved, smiling, teasing, with that irresistible spark in his eyes. "I suppose I must have something...to have captured you."
"Yes, and I fell for you long before you began to return my affections." Brian laughed at her expression. He silenced her protest with a lingering kiss. "I'm so glad you came along on this trip."
They stood there for some time, wrapped in each other's arms, enjoying the beautiful autumn day. Finally, a pair of birds took to flight, disturbing the silence with their raucous cries as they skimmed the surface of the pond. Georgiana took a deep breath and blinked her eyes as if she had just been shaken from a dream.
"I suppose we should get back." Brian said reluctantly. "The cook was going to make chicken soup for you, and you shouldn't be out in the chill air too much longer anyway."
"Yes, I suppose," Georgiana murmured as Brian led her back towards the path. "This was lovely, Brian. I am so glad that we got all of that figured out."
"So am I." Brian slipped his arms around her as they shared one last look around.
"I love this spot." Brian said reflectively.
"So do I." Georgiana agreed, smiling.
Brian kissed Georgiana again, then laughed, taking her hand to lead her along the path. "We should get going or, at this rate, we'll miss dinner, too!"
Georgiana kept her eye on Brian all the way back to the house. He was so completely changed from when they had set out on their walk. His smile was contagious, his eyes positively danced with good humor, and his posture was relaxed and confident. His grip on her hand was warm and reassuring, and his face glowed every time he looked at her. Despite her cold, Georgiana felt as if she could dance her way back to the house. She kept those feelings hidden beneath a demure, secretive smile, and an occasional wink when she met Brian's eye. She was very much looking forward to the rest of their adventure.
Chapter Forty-Seven Posted on Wednesday, 21 February 2001
Isabelle Waterpool quietly closed the parlor doors behind her and attempted to lead her guest to a chair by the fire.
Lady Catherine stood her ground, glaring at her hostess. "What do you mean she is not here?"
Lady Waterpool was rather surprised by her guest's curt manner. "The last time I spoke with Alex, your daughter was in London, preparing for the wedding." She smiled, gesturing towards a soft, yellow and cream striped satin armchair. "Please, have a seat. The tea will arrive shortly."
"Anne and Alexander have run off together, with your younger son and my niece, Georgiana Darcy. Where else would he have taken her, but here?" Lady Catherine's voice rang with accusation as she sat grandly on the very edge of the chair. "I know that they have fled here several times in the past year; 'to escape the stresses of London,' as Anne put it."
Isabelle smiled serenely as she sat opposite her guest. "Perhaps Anne and Alex needed a respite from the wedding preparations. It is likely that they have found a cozy inn somewhere outside of London, where they can enjoy themselves for a while."
"I have strong reason to believe that they have more than a simple holiday planned. Anne took a few items she had set aside for her wedding day. I believe that they are planning to elope."
Isabelle raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, as two servants had just entered with the tea service. Small tables were placed near the arm of each chair, and the tea and refreshments were served with impressive efficiency. The servants left the room almost before Lady Catherine noticed their presence. She made a mental note to speak to her own clumsy and noisy servants about proper deportment.
"You believe that our children plan to marry this weekend?" Isabelle continued as if there had been no interruption.
"I do, and it must not be tolerated."
Isabelle lowered her suddenly moist gray eyes as she added sugar to her tea. "Surely there must be a reasonable explanation..."
"Whatever the reason, I am going to find them out. You cannot imagine the difficulties this is going to cause. I have three florists to notify, dressmakers, caterers, not to mention five hundred guests..." Lady Catherine sniffed, taking a sip of her tea.
As Isabelle listened to Lady Catherine's list of complaints she suddenly began to clearly understand Anne and Alex's reason for eloping. A small smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. She hid it by taking a sip of tea.
"...And if that was not enough, can you imagine what they will be saying in London if they elope three months before the planned wedding?"
By this time, Isabelle had formed a delightful mental image of her son and daughter-in-law getting married in a beautiful garden, surrounded only by their dearest friends. Anne and Alex were not enamored with fickle British society. An intimate wedding was much more suited to their temperaments, and was a much more appropriate celebration of their commitment than a huge society wedding would have been. Isabelle winced to remember her own monstrous wedding, how by the end of the evening, she and Robert were almost too exhausted from greeting several hundred guests to even look at each other. She gave a short laugh at Lady Catherine's last comment.
"So you are planning to chase them down. Where will you go from here?"
Lady Catherine thought for a moment. William, of course had been no help. But even before she had called William, she had called Richard.
I can't say I blame them, Aunt Catherine. I remember my own wedding preparations...I would have much rather run off to glorious green hills and pure, clean air than suffer through tuxedo fittings. It must be so much worse for women, who have to sit through countless meetings with florists and caterers. Leave them be. They will return eventually.
Lady Catherine sat back with a smug smile. Ireland, of course! Richard, the greatest dreamer in the family, must have offered the use of his terribly romantic country estate in the Irish hills. The silly boy, while trying to support his cousin, had unwittingly given her secret away. Richard probably thought that he had convinced his aunt to leave Anne and Alex alone.
"Isabelle," Lady Catherine said, standing. "Come along and talk some sense into your son before it is too late. Bring Robert too, if you wish. Call your maids and tell them to start packing."
Lady Waterpool nodded slowly. She trusted in Alex's judgment, and was inclined to leave him to make his own decisions, even if it meant marrying without her presence. But if Lady Catherine was chasing him down, Isabelle was going to go along, if only to lend support for her son and his darling Anne. She instructed a maid to show Lady Catherine to a room, where she could freshen up before the next leg of the journey. Then, after sending two servants off to begin packing, she went to inform her husband of the change in their plans.
Georgiana and Brian returned from their walk to find Alex and Richard standing awkwardly in the front hallway in the middle of a pile of luggage, and Anne in Kitty's arms, sobbing and laughing at the same time.
Richard quickly came over to embrace Georgiana and shake Brian's hand.
"Kitty managed to talk the dressmaker into letting her take the dress. The lace and beading hadn't been finished yet, but somehow I think that a simpler design is more appropriate for this occasion. Anne was very...surprised." He smiled, glancing back towards the young women.
Georgiana nodded. "But what are you doing here? Did Will send you in his place?"
"Will is coming, too?" Richard laughed. "I tried to call several times this morning...I am surprised that neither of you got my messages."
"I turn my cell off at night. I don't use it much, except for emergencies, so I often forget to check my messages." Georgiana smiled at Brian. "And later, we took a long walk..."
Richard grinned as he slipped his arm around Kitty, who had turned Anne over to her fiancée. "When Aunt Catherine called early this morning, I thought I had talked her out of chasing you down. I called her again an hour later to make sure, but a servant informed us that she was already off 'chasing after her daughter.' Kitty and I decided to follow her, to lend support. Aunt Catherine can get somewhat overbearing sometimes, and we didn't want her to spoil Anne's day. We ran into Anne and Alex at the flower market in town..."
"Shouldn't Lady Catherine be here by now?" Kitty interrupted as Richard helped her out of her coat.
"If she left when Will said she did, yes. Perhaps she changed her mind." Georgiana added, hopefully.
"I doubt it." Richard muttered, then smiled. "I hope that you have enjoyed yourselves so far. We should get moved in, so that we can work out a means to get Lady Catherine to accept that this is going to happen."
Richard and Kitty went off to their rooms, followed by several heavily laden servants. After Anne calmed down, the remaining four returned to the library. Georgiana and Anne set about arranging the flowers that Kitty and Anne had purchased in the flower market, while Brian stretched out on the floor in front of the fire, watching them. Alex went out into the hall to make a phone call.
After a few minutes, Alex returned with a frown on his face. "There was an accident in town at a horse race. A rider was thrown and trampled in front of most of the town. The vicar has a lot of grief counseling to do tonight, and asked if we could possibly wait until tomorrow."
"Of course!" Anne cried, rising to her feet. "I wish that there was something we could do."
"He said to keep the town in our prayers, but not to let it spoil our time here."
"I'm sure we can find something to keep us busy." Brian said, smiling at Georgiana.
"I certainly hope so! I hate to think that we came all the way to Ireland for nothing." A new voice added.
Georgiana whirled around, laughing. "Will!" She ran to hug her brother. "Now we have quite a house full."
Will gave his sister a hug before turning her over to Lizzy. He walked over to Anne with a serious expression on his face. "I heard that Richard and Kitty are already here. I hope that you don't mind so many of us intruding on your special occasion."
"Not at all!" Anne laughed, hugging her cousin. "To tell you the truth, I was a little sad that so many of our family and friends were going to miss this. I am so glad that you are here." She lowered her voice. "I'm also glad that you will be here when mother arrives."
At dinner that night, the room shimmered with warm feelings. At one point, Anne leaned back in her chair and withdrew from the conversation completely as she simply observed the laughing, happy faces of her dearest loved ones. Anne's heart swelled and a lump developed her throat as she committed the moment to memory.
"What's wrong?" Alex asked in a whisper, leaning towards her with a worried look on his face.
Anne gave him a misty-eyed smile and glanced back around the table. "I was just thinking about how much I love all of you."
Brian watched Georgiana closely as she whispered in Elizabeth's ear. Suddenly, a funny smile crossed her face as Elizabeth winked at her. Georgiana returned her attention to her food with flushed cheeks. Brian leaned in. "What were you talking about?"
"Well," Georgiana paused with a secretive smile and a deceptively casual voice. "I gave my room to Lizzy and Will."
"I thought there were many guest rooms."
"Oh, an entire wing of them! But it has been such a long time since the days of huge parties in this house that the mattresses all moldered." She gave him a mild smile. "I was hoping that I might be able to find a willing roommate..."
Brian took a deep breath. "Did you have someone in mind?"
She shrugged. "Anne might be willing, since tradition demands that she and Alex sleep separately tonight..."
"I see." Brian swallowed his hopeful smile.
"But then again, I'm not sure if I want to be closeted with a jittery bride. If a more attractive opportunity presented itself, I would probably jump at the offer..."
Brian raised an eyebrow. "I know a certain non-snoring, fairly decent, not altogether unattractive person who wouldn't mind a roommate." Brian said casually, taking a sip of his wine.
"Would this roommate be adverse to some snuggling?" Georgiana asked, smiling. "These big stone manor houses tend to get awfully chilly at night."
Brian laughed out loud, drawing the attention of the rest of the group. He nodded and smiled, waiting until they returned to their various conversations. Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he turned back to Georgiana. "Actually, I believe that he is fairly partial to snuggling."
"Good." Georgiana whispered, "Because I've already told the maid to move my things into his room."
Brian leaned in, taking her hand. "Georgiana, are you serious?"
"What?" She smiled, "Don't you-" She stopped, cut off by Richard, as he rose to his feet with a glass in his hand.
"Well, Alex, say goodnight to your bride. You won't be seeing her until tomorrow." Richard laughed at Alex's surprised expression. "Since this is no longer just an elopement, you can't hope to escape the oldest of traditions...the bachelor party!"
"You can't be serious!" Alex exclaimed.
"Very much so. Kiss her goodnight," Richard commanded.
Alex shrugged and pulled Anne to her feet. "Goodnight, darling." He gave Anne a lingering kiss before he let the gentlemen lead him from the room.
Brian shrugged and gave Georgiana an apologetic smile as he rose and kissed her cheek before following his brother from the room.
Anne watched Alex leave with a dazed smile on her face. Kitty laughed and came to stand beside her.
"Just one night, dear. From tomorrow on, nothing can keep the two of you apart." She took Anne's arm and gestured for the rest of the ladies to follow them up to the master suite. "We have tons of Haagen-Dazs ice cream, and everything you need for a facial, manicure, pedicure. Oh, and we have plenty of champagne, too!"
After everyone had changed into their pajamas, Anne was settled on the bed with a glass of champagne in one hand, and a bowl of macadamia brittle ice cream at her elbow. Georgiana was busy painting Anne's toenails while Elizabeth and Kitty sorted through videos.
Anne took a sip of champagne. "Do you suppose Alex is getting such royal treatment?"
Lizzy grinned. "They are probably getting roaring drunk over a game of poker."
"Well," Georgiana laughed, "As long they make it to the chapel on time!"
"So, when did your first fall in love with Alex, Anne?" Kitty asked.
"It wasn't too long after we first met. Georgiana had just been rescued from George, and I was in tough shape, so Alex invited me to his family home in France. When I saw him hug his father, my heart did little flip flops." Anne smiled. "When did you first fall for Richard?"
"When I woke up in his arms." Kitty laughed. "Seriously, It had been happening for a long time, but I didn't realize how deeply I cared until he mistook my room for his...I was desolate when he left the room, although rushing Lizzy to the hospital to deliver Jeffery took my mind off of it for a while..."
A reflective smile crossed Elizabeth's face. "I hated Will when we first met. I thought that I hated him still when he told me that he was completely and unreasonably in love with me. It wasn't until just after I told him in no uncertain terms that I could never love him, when I saw the downcast expression on his face, that I realized that I was hopelessly in love with him. Of course it took a while for us to get past our initial differences...but that is another story. Georgiana, I believe it is your turn."
"I...my turn for what?"
"Oh, don't be coy. You've been seeing him for a year, and it's obvious that you are utterly..."
"When Brian appeared in Switzerland, planning to rescue me, seething with fear and anger that George might have harmed me...How could I not fall for him?"
"Are you saying that his green eyes had nothing to do with it?"
Georgiana smiled. "Oh, there were those, too, of course, and his gorgeous smile, and his wicked sense of humor, and..."
Lizzy laughed and silenced her. "I think we understand, Georgiana. Two of you are in love with Waterpools, and the other two of us are in love with Darcy/Fitzwilliams. We know very well the magical charms of light eyes, stunning smiles..." She shrugged. "Anyhow, lest we be tempted to end this party and chase down these amazing men, we'd better find a distraction."
She picked up the remote and turned on the TV. Soon, she and Georgiana were very nicely distracted by the volleyball scene in Top Gun.
After a few minutes, Anne pulled Kitty into the adjoining sitting room.
"I just wanted to thank you for this. It...feels a little awkward, doesn't it?"
Kitty smiled and gave Anne a hug. "To tell you the truth, not as much as I expected it to. Alex and I only dated for a short time. We were friends for much longer than that. Richard and I belong together, as do you and Alex."
Anne smiled. "I am so glad. I hope that we can become friends."
Kitty laughed. "We already are. Now, let's get back in there before they polish off the ice cream!"
Will, Brian, Alex, and Richard were in the middle of a heated game of poker at a table in the corner.
"I miss the girls." Alex sighed.
"Me too. I had plans..." Brian commented, woefully glancing towards the door.
Richard laughed as he threw his hand on the table. "Two pairs, aces high. What do you have, Darce?"
Will, however, was fast asleep with his head on his cards.
"I guess that means he's out. You've got me, too. Two bloody fours!" Brian cried, seeking solace in his glass, which turned out to be empty.
Alex groaned and threw his hand on the table. "Hang it, Fitzwilliam, the game is yours."
"How are you holding up, Waterpool?" Richard asked as he collected his winnings.
Alex studied the man who had once been his opponent in a game far more meaningful than poker. He found that he actually really enjoyed Richard's company. And, which is more, he owed much to the man, for without him, Alex would have never ended up with his beloved Anne. "My head is beginning to spin. How about you?"
"Kitty has a habit of rising to watch the sunrise every day. I think that I am going to have to disappoint her tomorrow-" Richard stopped himself, half dreading Alex's reaction to a reminder that Catherine was, indeed, Richard's wife. But Alex immediately launched into a description of some of Anne's more enduring habits, reminding Richard that the man was now head-over-heels for his dear cousin Anne. He suddenly felt such relief that he couldn't stop himself from laughing.
"Women..." Alex sighed fondly as he poured three more glasses of whisky.
"Ah, yes, women." Richard echoed happily as he took his drink and handed his new friend a cigar.
Brian leaned back in his chair with a highly amused smile on his face. "I hope that I don't look like that when I think of Georgiana!"
The two men turned to laugh at the young man, who, having mentioned the name of his beloved, was now staring into space with a silly grin on his face.
"Worse." Richard concluded after studying Brian for a while.
Alex grinned. "Oh, yes, much worse. At least Richard and I don't lose touch with reality."
"What was that?" Brian asked, forcing the fond memory from his mind as he turned to his brother.
Alex and Richard burst out laughing and clinked their glasses together in salute.
Their laughter woke Will, who glanced at his three boisterous companions with a frown. He started to rise, hoping to return to Lizzy's side, but the other men stopped him, thrusting a glass into his hand. Will sank into a chair with a sigh. It was going to be a long night.
Conclusion Posted on Wednesday, 14 March 2001
After breakfast the next morning, the wedding was to take place. The men in the household were standing in the garden with the vicar, waiting for the women to appear. Brian and Will were speaking with the clergyman when Richard and Alex suddenly gave a shout and broke into a run towards the house.
Elizabeth was putting the finishing touches on Anne's hair when Kitty gave a yell from her seat in the window.
"Lady Catherine's here...with Isabelle and Robert Waterpool!"
Anne gasped and started to rise from her chair, but Elizabeth stopped her with a hand on her shoulder, not allowing Anne to move until a few more hairpins were in place. The four young women crowded around the window, watching as Lady Catherine stormed up the stairs. They exchanged worried glances as they heard a commotion in the hall. Then the bedroom door flew open with a bang, and Lady Catherine swept into the room.
"Anne Catherine de Bourgh, just what do you think you are doing?"
Anne's shoulders went numb for a moment. She swallowed, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath before forcing a brave smile.
"I am getting married, mother." She said in a light tone, steeling herself against the rage on her mother's face.
"Impudent child. Give up this nonsense at once." She turned to a nearby maid. "Pack Miss de Bourgh's things. We will leave at once."
"No mother, we won't. Hello Isabelle, Robert." Anne said, smiling at the couple that had entered behind her mother. They greeted her with sympathetic smiles on their faces.
There was another commotion in the hall, and Richard and Alex appeared in the doorway. Kitty shoved them back into the hall and closed the door behind her.
"You can't see Anne...it's unlucky."
"I don't give a..." Alex glared at her. "Come on Kitty. You don't expect me to stand out here while..." He paused, hearing Anne's voice through the door.
"Please don't worry Alex, everything will turn out fine."
Alex gripped the doorknob. "Can I come in?"
"Actually, I need to speak with my mother."
Alex nodded, frowning. "I love you, Anne."
"I love you too. Trust me, I'll be OK." Anne was smiling as she turned back to her audience. "I'm sorry, but would you mind..."
Everyone but Lady Catherine shuffled from the room.
When the door closed behind them, Isabelle put an arm around her oldest child. "It will turn out all right, Alex."
"If only I could believe that. Lady Catherine has never really liked me..."
"But Anne does, and that's what counts." Robert Waterpool added, smiling.
Alex sighed, looking at his parents. "I'm sorry that I didn't call you. I know that you wanted to be with us when..."
"Please, don't worry about us, Alex. We're just happy that you've found the right girl. If we were so set on attending the wedding of one of our children, there is always Brian..."
Georgiana happened to catch Robert's eye. He winked at her, and she smiled back, blushing.
There was a heated argument going on inside of the parlor. Alex was dancing on pins and needles, wanting to enter. Once, after hearing a loud shout from Anne, Alex nearly broke down the door, prevented only by the strong arms of his father and Richard. Elizabeth, hiding her smile, suggested that they all retire to the library. After all, they would certainly know the outcome eventually.
After only a couple of minutes, the library door opened. Alex leaped to his feet, expecting Anne. Instead, Brian and Will entered with the vicar. Brian demanded an explanation from his brother.
"What is going on? Where is Anne?" Seeing his parents, "What are you doing here?"
"Is that any way to greet your mother?" Robert asked with a grin.
"Sorry." Brian said sheepishly, giving his mother a kiss and hugging his father. "Hi mom, dad. What are you doing here?"
"Is there going to be a wedding, or not?" The vicar asked, "Because I have plenty of duties to do in town if there isn't..."
Georgiana, seeing the desperate expression that crossed Alex's face, went over to the Irishman with a warm smile. "Oh, please, can you stay a little longer? Come, I will get you a cup of tea. I am sure that everything will be sorted out soon."
Kitty followed Georgiana and the vicar to the kitchen. Will, Elizabeth, and Richard took the opportunity to introduce themselves to Isabelle and Robert Waterpool. Will and Robert got along very well, and Elizabeth couldn't help but notice the smile that crossed Brian's face upon seeing Georgiana's protective brother chatting amiably with his father.
When the two girls returned with the vicar and a maid, bearing tea service and snacks, it appeared that even Alex had relaxed considerably. He sat quietly on the sofa with his mother's hand reassuringly squeezing his own. Richard tentatively cracked a joke about the occasion, and everyone was laughing when the door opened again.
Lady Catherine entered alone. Alex rose to his feet with a fighting expression on his face. Isabelle stood beside him with a restraining hand on his arm.
"What are you all waiting for?" Lady Catherine snapped. "Get moving. There is much to do."
"What would you have us do, Lady Catherine?" Alex asked in sharp, measured words, stepping forward.
"Was Anne mistaken in assuming that you wished to proceed with the ceremony?" Lady Catherine asked, glaring at him.
"I...beg your pardon?"
"You hard me. Now, are you ready, or not?"
"I...of course!" Alex's astonished expression made the others laugh. "But do you mean that you are actually letting this happen?"
"Anne informed me that you will marry with or without my consent. I have decided that I must at least try to turn this into something resembling a proper wedding. The family honor is at stake."
Kitty and Elizabeth gasped simultaneously, shocked that Lady Catherine actually seemed to be allowing the "elopement," which she had vehemently protested against only minutes ago, to proceed. Lady Catherine was an immobile force. Once her mind was set, in their experience, nothing could be done to change it. Then again, Alex was a wealthy aristocrat, whereas in their cases...
Alex could hardly believe this was true. "You aren't going to fight this?"
"I did." She stated with a hint of a smile. "It seems that my daughter is not quite so easily swayed. We have made a compromise."
"A...compromise?" Alex asked warily.
"You are to be married, but in a church. We will all proceed into town, where you will be properly united. I assume that there are no objections." She stated, glancing towards the vicar, who shook his head wearily, ready to be done with the whole business.
Alex leaped towards the library doors. "None whatsoever. Let's go! Where's Anne?"
"She is in her room. You will see her at the church. However, if you continue to bother me with questions, I may change my mind. Now, get going!"
As everyone else hurried from the room, Will stopped in front of his aunt with an curious smile hovering on his lips.
"Unless I'm mistaken, I believe that you are enjoying this, aunt."
The merest twinkle of laughter appeared in her eyes, although her lips were pursed to prevent it from escaping. "I only have one daughter, William."
The little stone church had withstood four centuries of harsh winters, and seemed to have permanently soaked up some of the winter chill. Still, with the sunlight pouring through several small stained glass windows, and the altar decorated with flowers that the girls had brought from the country, it was a charming setting for a wedding.
Anne looked lovely in her simple white satin gown. Alex wore a relaxed, supremely happy smile, now that all possible obstacles had been overcome.
The ceremony was short, but the vicar did an amiable job of personalizing the service, even though he had known the family only for a couple of hours, and most of the time spent with them had been rather odd.
After the ceremony, the party returned to find that the cook had prepared a delicious dinner, and had even made a white frosted cake.
After dinner, Anne and Alex were escorted upstairs to a suite that had been strewn with wildflowers and brightly colored leaves, and was lit by over dozen candles.
When their noisy, well-wishing relatives had finally left them alone, Alex turned to his new bride with a big smile. "God bless your mother."
Anne laughed. "Well, that was the last thing I expected you to say in our first moment alone as a married couple."
"The last thing I expected was for her to bend to your wishes, my dear. Perhaps you have inherited a bit of her formidable manner!"
"Alex!" Anne cried, scandalized. "She is my mother, after all."
"I'm sorry, Anne." He said with a mock-sad expression.
"Oh, let's not talk of my mother, or anyone else tonight."
"What would you rather do?" Alex asked innocently, sitting with dignity in an armchair by the fire.
"Oh, Georgiana mentioned a game of spades later on. Perhaps we could join..."
Alex laughed playfully and rose to his feet, starting towards the door. "Well, if you really want to..."
"Or we could open that fine bottle of champagne." Anne took Alex's hand and pulled him back towards the fire. "I'd hate to have to share it with Georgiana and Brian."
Alex pulled Anne into his arms. "Or we could..."
Richard and Kitty retired soon after Alex and Anne. There was, of course, quite a bit of teasing about their early bedtime until Kitty and Richard exchanged a secretive smile. Richard raised his eyebrows in question and Kitty nodded, blushing, before turning back towards the rest of the party.
"I need to get my rest. I made a little visit to the doctor this week, you see, and, well..."
"I'm going to be a daddy." Richard said softly, slipping an arm around Kitty's slim waist with a huge smile on his face. "So please excuse us. I'm very protective of my wife..."
Will and Elizabeth followed soon after. This was the first time they had gone somewhere without their son, and they were missing Jeffery badly. They were going to call him from their room, so that Elizabeth could sing to him before he went to sleep.
Robert and Isabelle sat up late with Georgiana and Brian, playing cards and talking. Georgiana had come to love Brian's parents, and in her heart, accepted them almost as replacements for the parents she had lost when she was very young.
As they were discussing the wedding, Robert gave his son a roguish smile and asked when the next wedding in the family might be.
Brian stared at his father for a moment. Then he smiled suddenly and turned to Georgiana as he slipped something from his pocket.
"I've been carrying this around with me for months. I've accepted that we aren't quite ready yet, but I want you to know that I am serious about this. Think of this as a promise ring. I did, after all, promise to ask you a very important question some day." He slipped the box into her hand, begging her with his eyes to accept the gift.
Georgiana's heart pounded as she opened the box. She stared at the ring for a while before she even dared to touch it. Finally, giving Brian a tremulous smile, she slipped the ring onto her finger. "And I promised to answer correctly..."
Brian kissed her.
Isabelle and Robert took that as their cue, and said their goodnights. Isabelle gave Georgiana a warm hug and whispered into her ear, "Welcome to the family, my dear."
After his parents left, Brian sat down at the card table, across from Georgiana. "I hope you don't mind that I did that in front of my parents. I was moved by the moment..."
"I'm sure that it meant a lot to them. It did to me. When you actually do propose, please let us be alone, so that I can cry without embarrassment."
Brian laughed. "We're full of promises tonight. But I'll keep every one I make to you, sweetheart." He sighed. "I was so relieved that you didn't yell at me. It was rather spontaneous of me..."
"When have I ever yelled at you?"
Brian grinned wickedly. "I can think of several times, actually. That misunderstanding in Switzerland..."
Georgiana winced. "That's only because I had had a little too much to drink, and I thought you were being a bloody moron for not wanting me..."
"Not wanting you!" In one violent movement, Brian's chair was on the floor and Georgiana was in his arms.
When he let her go at last, Georgiana's hands found the back of her chair as her mind reeled. Brian chuckled softly and led her to the sofa.
"The madness of this is that we were in love with each other almost from the start. And we went through all of that because we were both 'bloody morons.'" He smiled ruefully, leaning back against the cushions.
Georgiana slipped into his arms. "Yes, but that is all over with."
"Yes, nearly. But I can't bear the thought of going back to our old routine...rarely seeing each other." Brian sighed, resting his chin on top of her golden head. He was quiet for a moment, thinking. "We have each lost a roommate because of this wedding...You will be all alone in that tiny apartment, and I in my house." He paused before continuing tentatively. "We could see each other every day..."
"Are you asking me to move in with you?"
"Actually, I was wondering if I could move in to your apartment." Brian grinned.
Georgiana laughed. "I'm not sure you would fit in my tiny apartment, but if you want it, you can have it. I'll take your beautiful townhouse any day!" She kissed him. "Brian, are you serious? Do you really want me to live with you?"
Brian nodded. "I want you to...so much! Please, Georgiana, relieve my suffering and consent to be my roommate." He dramatically pressed his hand to his heart. Then he smiled softly, lowering his voice. "Georgiana, I am tired of missing you all the time. I love you. Would you...please?"
"How could I possibly say no?" Georgiana said mistily, settling into his arms.
"How soon can you be packed and out of your apartment?"
"Mmmm. Two weeks?" She murmured, yawning.
"Two weeks?" Brian cried in dismay, starting to sit up.
Georgiana laughed. "That doesn't mean I can't stay at your house while I pack..."
Brian smiled in satisfaction, settling back against the cushions. "This is going to take some getting used to. I've never had a female roommate before."
"Brian, really? I thought there were several."
"You didn't know? My poor darling. No wonder you've worried so much. Please," he asked softly, holding her face in his hands, "promise me that you will no longer listen to gossip-mongers and rumor-mills."
"I promise." She whispered, coloring deeply. "Brian, I am sorry..."
"Don't be." He said, kissing her gently. "I'm just sorry that I give you so much trouble."
"Oh, but all that trouble is worth it sometimes." She said leaning her head on Brian's shoulder.
"Just sometimes?" Brian chuckled and helped her up from the sofa. "If I remember correctly, you are out of a room tonight. Shall we give this roommate thing a try?"
The End.