"So is my love still telling what is told."
May 22nd
Juliette was enjoying a great sense of relief. Today, it felt like the sun was truly shining on her and her family again. The last few weeks had been trying, certainly the worst of her married life. Lady Anne's pregnancy had turned the house on its head. Fitzwilliam and Georgiana were both still reeling, despite what they insisted when asked. An ill-timed visit from Lady Catherine had nearly cost them the entire secret. Lady Anne was now set up in a house on the western coast with her mother, but her shadow was guiding her children's behavior.
Juliette herself wasn't suffering from it - she had no complaints against her husband wanting to be within arm's reach at all hours. Her sister-in-law would never complain about her own treatment, but Juliette would have if Georgiana's lot was her own. Today was the first day that Juliette had seen Fitzwilliam relaxed with Georgiana out of his sight away from home. Very much enjoying it, she decided to try to keep the mood light and pleasant. "Will you explain the tournament to me, dearest? I think I've picked up the rules of the regular matches by now, but I've never been here."
"All of the teams in the league participate. They draw for the first round of matches, and the losing team is eliminated from further competition. The winning teams draw and compete in a second match - again, the losing team is eliminated. The remaining quarter of the league competes in the coming weeks to determine the champion." The set of his jaw betrayed his opinion of his sister's chances.
"They have had a fine season for being without their usual captain. Don't despair yet, dearest." She watched him out of the corner of her eye for a response. Whatever it would have been, it was silenced by boots straining the wood behind them. Juliette was both pleased and anxious to see a mop of red hair poking through the cloth behind them. "Tybalt!"
"Hello, Jule." He hugged her as hard as she did him, betraying how much he missed her now that they lived apart. "Are you well?"
She nodded into his shoulder. "Very well."
The men greeted each other in only the most perfunctory fashion, giving credence to Juliette's unease. Fitzwilliam's increased vigilance had made it impossible for him to ignore what he didn't want to see. If Georgiana had spent a single unchaperoned second when Tybalt was within a mile, Juliette didn't know of it. Her sister-in-law had borne this with so much patience that Juliette wondered if she could possibly match Tybalt's regard. By contrast, Tybalt's only restraint was his reluctance to, as he put it, grovel for permission to pursue Georgiana. Juliette was putting off the miserable business of telling him there would be no getting around it as long as possible.
Light and pleasant, Juliette, light and pleasant. "I didn't think you would have come to see Desi compete."
"I didn't." After a deadly glare from his sister, Tybalt caught up. "I didn't... plan to, but... the twins. The twins are crying a lot. In the house."
After an unladylike kick to her brother's shin, Juliette sat down again. "You'll be impressed. Desi has done very well this season."
"I assume the rest of your family also came?" Tybalt nodded at Fitzwilliam. "Then, to what do we owe the honor of your presence with us?"
Rather than kick, Juliette pinched her husband. "We are not exactly pressed for room, as you sat us so far from the crowd, dearest. I don't suppose you would want to sit with my aunts and their husbands."
"Not when there are more pleasant alternatives, no."
Tybalt groaned.
Georgiana's match, the second of the morning, began a few minutes later. Juliette would swear to the grave that she heard her husband sigh in relief when he saw who her opponents were. Earlier in the season, Georgiana's team had beaten Lady Scott's handily, and this morning was no different. Halfway down the row of spectator boxes, Puck was heard by all when he let out a cheer for Bottom's perfect end. Before each of Georgiana's turns, Juliette had kicked her brother's ankle to remind him not to make any such self-betraying outbursts.
As soon as the match was finished, Fitzwilliam decided he needed to walk. Juliette, now regretting taking only tea for breakfast, declined the offer to join him. If nothing else, he could sort his thoughts and straighten his waistcoat as often as he liked on a solitary walk. His footfalls had barely faded into the din before another, more energetic pair thrust themselves on Juliette and Tybalt.
"Hello to two of my favorite cousins!" Neither cousin greeted him so happily, but Juliette gamely asked why he was so chipper. "I thought you'd recognize it, coz! Impending wedded bliss?"
Juliette herself wasn't suffering from it - she had no complaints against her husband wanting to be within arm's reach at all hours. Her sister-in-law would never complain about her own treatment, but Juliette would have if Georgiana's lot was her own. Today was the first day that Juliette had seen Fitzwilliam relaxed with Georgiana out of his sight away from home. Very much enjoying it, she decided to try to keep the mood light and pleasant. "Will you explain the tournament to me, dearest? I think I've picked up the rules of the regular matches by now, but I've never been here."
"All of the teams in the league participate. They draw for the first round of matches, and the losing team is eliminated from further competition. The winning teams draw and compete in a second match - again, the losing team is eliminated. The remaining quarter of the league competes in the coming weeks to determine the champion." The set of his jaw betrayed his opinion of his sister's chances.
"They have had a fine season for being without their usual captain. Don't despair yet, dearest." She watched him out of the corner of her eye for a response. Whatever it would have been, it was silenced by boots straining the wood behind them. Juliette was both pleased and anxious to see a mop of red hair poking through the cloth behind them. "Tybalt!"
"Hello, Jule." He hugged her as hard as she did him, betraying how much he missed her now that they lived apart. "Are you well?"
She nodded into his shoulder. "Very well."
The men greeted each other in only the most perfunctory fashion, giving credence to Juliette's unease. Fitzwilliam's increased vigilance had made it impossible for him to ignore what he didn't want to see. If Georgiana had spent a single unchaperoned second when Tybalt was within a mile, Juliette didn't know of it. Her sister-in-law had borne this with so much patience that Juliette wondered if she could possibly match Tybalt's regard. By contrast, Tybalt's only restraint was his reluctance to, as he put it, grovel for permission to pursue Georgiana. Juliette was putting off the miserable business of telling him there would be no getting around it as long as possible.
Light and pleasant, Juliette, light and pleasant. "I didn't think you would have come to see Desi compete."
"I didn't." After a deadly glare from his sister, Tybalt caught up. "I didn't... plan to, but... the twins. The twins are crying a lot. In the house."
After an unladylike kick to her brother's shin, Juliette sat down again. "You'll be impressed. Desi has done very well this season."
"I assume the rest of your family also came?" Tybalt nodded at Fitzwilliam. "Then, to what do we owe the honor of your presence with us?"
Rather than kick, Juliette pinched her husband. "We are not exactly pressed for room, as you sat us so far from the crowd, dearest. I don't suppose you would want to sit with my aunts and their husbands."
"Not when there are more pleasant alternatives, no."
Tybalt groaned.
Georgiana's match, the second of the morning, began a few minutes later. Juliette would swear to the grave that she heard her husband sigh in relief when he saw who her opponents were. Earlier in the season, Georgiana's team had beaten Lady Scott's handily, and this morning was no different. Halfway down the row of spectator boxes, Puck was heard by all when he let out a cheer for Bottom's perfect end. Before each of Georgiana's turns, Juliette had kicked her brother's ankle to remind him not to make any such self-betraying outbursts.
As soon as the match was finished, Fitzwilliam decided he needed to walk. Juliette, now regretting taking only tea for breakfast, declined the offer to join him. If nothing else, he could sort his thoughts and straighten his waistcoat as often as he liked on a solitary walk. His footfalls had barely faded into the din before another, more energetic pair thrust themselves on Juliette and Tybalt.
"Hello to two of my favorite cousins!" Neither cousin greeted him so happily, but Juliette gamely asked why he was so chipper. "I thought you'd recognize it, coz! Impending wedded bliss?"
"Ha!"
Juliette laughed at her brother's reaction. She could hardly believe it herself, but marriage was not a favorite topic of her cousin's. There had to be good reason for it to enter his conversation. "Bertram, who would be mad enough to marry you?"
"Cecily Nowell, she of the relaxed standards and gigantic dowry," he bragged. "Lord Nowell, who is a right pain in the arse, set it up with my father. It's the best thing the old badger's ever told me." Bertram was extremely proud of this pseudo-accomplishment. His father's light purse and mother's spending habits had made marrying a dowry an absolute requirement for him. "I would have sworn there would be something wrong with her - lazy eye, empty head, something of that sort - if she was being shopped out like this, but I've never been so damn wrong in my life. So, her grandfather and the old badger sit us down to talk, and the first thing out of her mouth is a request 'not to importune her with gestures or feelings inappropriate to a friendly business venture.' A woman who doesn't want to be importuned with feelings? That's a bloody fortune right there. I'd marry her just for that."
Juliette thanked God for the elaboration. She no longer had to worry that her cousin had been replaced by a changeling.
Unimpressed by the lack of reaction, Bertram reached behind Juliette to punch Tybalt's arm. "Come now, coz. Good looks and good fortune aren't as painless as they must look to you. Don't be jealous."
"Your good fortune," Tybalt shot back, "is of the kind that protects children and fools."
Bertram thumped his feet against the platform and grinned. "It's done well enough by me this far, hasn't it? I don't see anyone lining up to give you their lot."
"Oh, no? Your lady made that same offer to me at Christmas."
After a heavy pause, Bertram muttered, "Christmas?" His spirits momentarily dipped as he tried to calculate how many potential husbands could have been approached in the meantime.
"Come now!" Juliette batted her glistening eyes at Bertram. "Don't be upset. It's only been five months. I'm sure you were at least one of the top ten candidates."
"Not a bad number, I'll say." As ever, Bertram's spirits recovered quickly. He shrugged the entire thing off and resumed being very pleased with himself. "I suppose all that matters is that I'm the last one the offer will be made to."
"And that you are a whore," Tybalt muttered.
"Tut-tut," Bertram said, glancing between Tybalt and Juliette. "Such language in front of a lady! And anyway, there is no shame in being a whore for the right price."
Before the conversation could degrade any further, Betram's mother appeared. She hastily greeted her niece and nephew and then dragged her son out of the box by his ear, muttering something about 'your poor sister.' Juliette had a good laugh at her cousin's expense, which ended as soon as she noticed how far her brother was from laughing. "Tybalt?"
"This is ridiculous," he muttered, clearly not responding to anything outside of his own thoughts.
"For sure and certain. I'm nearly convinced Bertram is more cat than man." Juliette thought it was a clever comment and waited for some response. Instead, her brother stared into oblivion a few more moments and then got to his feet with a look she absolutely hated. She scrambled to get in front of him before he could leave. "Tybalt, don't."
"I'm sick of sitting on my hands, Jule. Why can't I have five minutes with her without being treated like a criminal for it?"
"I can't answer that for you." Juliette had more than one reason to like the idea of attaching her brother to Georgiana. It would be a great relief for all of her secrets to be open to Tybalt again. As things stood currently, Lady Anne's condition was not his business. "Don't let Bertram tempt you into doing something stupid again. You will make up Fitzwilliam's mind about you if you do something foolish, and once it is made up, it may never change."
"Then I'll just have to take care not to be caught."
The archery teams each had a tent at the opposite end of the field to retreat to when not competing. Georgiana had chased her team out of theirs after their meal. While the ladies were eating, a letter had arrived from the team they had drawn to face in the second round. Their captain, Katharine Gale, had broken a bone in her hand during the morning and couldn't compete. The ancient rules were not kind to this sort of injury; the modern custom was to kindly request that the other team even their numbers. Because the Gale team was the unquestioned cream of the league this year, Georgiana's team was split on whether to be accommodating or not. The decision was ultimately the captain's, and the captain wanted time alone with her judgment.
Thus, the rustling of the tent opening was not a welcome sound to her. "Ladies, please go occupy yourselves elsewhere as I asked. I will send someone around to collect you all when I have made my decision."
"If Katharine wanted to win, she ought to have kept her bones intact. Bury them."
What is he doing here! Georgiana studied the blank sheet in front of her for some hint of what to do with this new quandary. It was not so helpful as that pond had been a year ago. "You say you value honor, my lord. There is very little honor in that sort of victory."
"You value rules, and the rules allow it."
Torn between a certain, secret delight and a straightforward dread of discovery, Georgiana put off all decisions for just a moment. She could contemplate ejecting Tybalt and fair play in a later moment. "The rules are wrong."
"I refuse to believe it."
Georgiana looked up at him, her face contracted by a frown. "Indeed, they are."
"That isn't what I mean." He stepped toward her, a strange smile visiting his face. "I refuse to believe that the reticent Miss Darcy would disagree with a rule. Or that she would wield a bow like the Red Duchess herself."
By sensation alone, Georgiana knew her cheeks were living up to half the name. "I beg you, no flattery."
"'She stood atop the castle wall, fair of face and gold of hair, at the head of legion of ladies and servants, the final defense of the crown and peace in the realm. With more honor than all the men that fell before them, they fought so ably and were so bravely led that any man would surrender his sword if he could instead affix the Duchess to his hip.'"
"I know the story." Her words protested, but she felt so pleasantly warm all over that she could not bear to move an inch. "But you tell it very-"
Thus, the rustling of the tent opening was not a welcome sound to her. "Ladies, please go occupy yourselves elsewhere as I asked. I will send someone around to collect you all when I have made my decision."
"If Katharine wanted to win, she ought to have kept her bones intact. Bury them."
What is he doing here! Georgiana studied the blank sheet in front of her for some hint of what to do with this new quandary. It was not so helpful as that pond had been a year ago. "You say you value honor, my lord. There is very little honor in that sort of victory."
"You value rules, and the rules allow it."
Torn between a certain, secret delight and a straightforward dread of discovery, Georgiana put off all decisions for just a moment. She could contemplate ejecting Tybalt and fair play in a later moment. "The rules are wrong."
"I refuse to believe it."
Georgiana looked up at him, her face contracted by a frown. "Indeed, they are."
"That isn't what I mean." He stepped toward her, a strange smile visiting his face. "I refuse to believe that the reticent Miss Darcy would disagree with a rule. Or that she would wield a bow like the Red Duchess herself."
By sensation alone, Georgiana knew her cheeks were living up to half the name. "I beg you, no flattery."
"'She stood atop the castle wall, fair of face and gold of hair, at the head of legion of ladies and servants, the final defense of the crown and peace in the realm. With more honor than all the men that fell before them, they fought so ably and were so bravely led that any man would surrender his sword if he could instead affix the Duchess to his hip.'"
"I know the story." Her words protested, but she felt so pleasantly warm all over that she could not bear to move an inch. "But you tell it very-"
"Fitzwilliam! Thank goodness you're here! I need to ask you something!"
Though only Tybalt knew to expect it after paying Bottom and Desi to keep watch, the enormously loud and obvious warning from Bottom startled them both. They fell apart. Georgiana's face turned color yet again, now ashen and fearful. Tybalt, who himself might have preferred an ambush-style conversation to a genteel application, took offense on her behalf. "Will you tell me what is going on? You and Jule both are tiptoeing around him, but you especially. Why are you always afraid of him?"
"I'm not," she insisted. "He's my brother. He loves me, and I love him. I don't want to hurt him."
"And having anything to do with me," he grumbled, "is hurting your brother. Is it that he was there first, or am I just not worth-"
"Enough. For Heaven's sake, enough." Whispering though she was, she felt she was screaming louder than she ever had. "He has never been anything but good to me, and I don't want to disappoint him. There is a right way for all of this, but you... I think you like the idea of making him angry. I don't know why you feel that is necessary. I don't have to choose who to... that is what is so wonderful about it, don't you see? Loving him doesn't mean I don't love yo-"
Oh, God. Oh, God, what did I just say?
"Georgiana?"
She hadn't known the words inside her until they escaped. True, she looked forward to seeing him again when they were apart. Their basic commonalities were not numerous, but there was a common delight in the differences. Nothing was so different from frost than fire, after all, but they could both burn just as easily. His face was not a thing of beauty. Yet, she had to confess that there was something very pleasant about looking at him. And while the other person's feelings were not reason enough for one's own, there was something very likable about feeling so terribly... special.
All of this told her there was something. Apparently, there was more than she herself had realized. Now, it was all spilled out of her. What she didn't know she had was out of her control. She could no more take it back in than a mother could a baby born too soon. And even if she could - how? How, when she could hear joy - joy! - in his voice? "I..." He touched her arm and her words dissolved again. What do I say now? Heaven help me, what do I do?
All of this told her there was something. Apparently, there was more than she herself had realized. Now, it was all spilled out of her. What she didn't know she had was out of her control. She could no more take it back in than a mother could a baby born too soon. And even if she could - how? How, when she could hear joy - joy! - in his voice? "I..." He touched her arm and her words dissolved again. What do I say now? Heaven help me, what do I do?
I didn't plan on this being two parts, but I also didn't want to go another week without a new chapter. The chatper after part two is mostly written and shouldn't be a difficult shoot, so good news?
ReplyDeleteAlso, my not-free account with Tribal Pages is expiring, so I deleted a bunch of pictures and will be losing the not-free features. A replacement is in the works. (Hat tip to Van.) The trees will remain up and probably remain updated with bare-bones names & dates, but anything more than than will be on the new site.
Ack, Fitzwilliam! At the worst possible moment. :S At least Juliette is there to hopefully bring everyone to their senses.
ReplyDeleteBut if they're throwing the l-word around, then I think it's about time they sat down and had a chat (preferably first one without Fitzwilliam, then I suppose one with him if they must). I just wish Fitzwilliam trusted his sister more. She's not nearly as fragile as he may think she is.
But yikes, lousy timing--a major tournament as interim captain, in the midst of a difficult decision that wouldn't normally be hers. If I were her, I'd probably have to designate myself as the one to sit out just to think things over for a while.
So Bertram is the lucky fellow? Well, he's annoying, but I'm assuming he's not outright evil. Plus he's still young and I'm sure Cecily (and Mary!) would have ways of whipping him into shape. She could do better, but we know her situations and her worries about it, so here's hoping that things work out for her (whether that's Bertram turning out to be a better husband than most would expect of him, or someone else coming along who doesn't care about her father's condition).
Yes, it was impeccable timing on his part! Juliette will keep everyone sane and in one piece for the time being. Georgiana has to at least consider sitting herself down now. Her nerves are all but shot, and there may not be time enough to recover them.
DeleteI think even Fitzwilliam would agree those two need to have a conversation by themselves. He suffers from a severe case of big brother syndrome, no question, but he could grudgingly admit that if Juliette had been under similar restrictions, he would have been similarly frustrated. (Maybe not at this instant, but in a more sane moment.) Tybalt didn't get to play this game because it was, frankly, too late by the time he got home from school and Capulet family dynamics aren't too similar to Darcy family dynamics. Fitzwilliam isn't going to cut him a break for that, but it's fresh enough that he might be convinced to remember to sympathize.
She's not as fragile as he thinks, definitely. But, he's also responding to her cues. She's liked being sheltered to a degree since she was born, and it's been his job since their father died, maybe before that even. It's on her to change the level because she's the only one he will listen to on this subject. If he was perfect, he'd be more perceptive of it himself. If she was perfect, she wouldn't let it slip because it gives her a nice out when she's feeling shy.
The sort of ironic thing here is that Tybalt would really, really love to be Georgiana's official dragon slayer, being unreasonable and angry at the smallest of offenses. If he had Fitzwilliam's family situation, he'd be just as bad.
Mary isn't thrilled with the choice, but she wasn't going to be thrilled with any of them. She feels a certain amount of guilt over this, that there must have been something she could have done differently to keep Cecily from a marriage of convenience. Cecily is perfectly content with the choice, though. Bertram definitely isn't evil - he's a little dumb and a little lucky, but not evil. He'll be a perfectly reasonable husband for the time being and certainly respectful of Cecily. They might even wind up being friends.
Thanks, Van!