The Consequence of Haste: A Convenient Marriage, #5

By Meg Osborne

The worst has happened – Anne de Bourgh and George Wickham are married.

 

Fitzwilliam Darcy is willing to accommodate the couple at Pemberley for Anne's sake if not for her husband's, for he puts little faith in Wickham's promised intentions to change.

 

With Georgiana temporarily displaced by the new arrivals, Elizabeth embarks on the running of Pemberley whilst keeping her new family together. How will the new Mr and Mrs Darcy fare in trying to do what is best for their family and friends, as well as preserving their own happiness?

 

The Consequence of Haste is book five of A Convenient Marriage, a Pride and Prejudice variation novella series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meg Osborne
• Release date: Jan 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386509233

Meg Osborne

Meg Osborne is an avid reader, tea drinker and unrepentant history nerd.  She writes sweet historical romance stories and Jane Austen fanfiction, and can usually be found knitting, dreaming up new stories, or adding more books to her tbr list than she'll get through in a lifetime.

Book preview

Chapter One

Georgiana Darcy could not sit still. She had attempted reading, and playing her beloved piano, and later settled to sewing, yet still found her attention straying.

Your stitches are so neat, Miss Darcy!

Georgiana smiled at the compliment, although she was little surprised by it. Her companion, Charlotte, was a kind creature but seemed able to do little other than admire Georgiana for her every action. There were compliments upon compliments for every move Georgiana made. I wonder if that is part of being a companion, she wondered idly. Charlotte was a relatively new development in her life at Pemberley and had been engaged, Georgiana knew, on the whim of her brother in order to prevent his sister from succumbing to loneliness. I would far rather William had kept his money and come here himself, she thought, jabbing with irritation at the stitch before her. She caught her thumb with the needle, and winced, before throwing the poor sewing aside.

It is no good, Charlotte! she said, with a sigh. I cannot pretend to be interested in embroidery this morning. She stood, and walked leisurely to the wide windows that overlooked Pemberley’s entrance. I am much more interested in our friends’ arrival.

Did Mr Darcy make any suggestion of the time you might expect your visitors? Charlotte asked, retrieving the discarded sewing and laying it neatly in Georgiana’s work-basket with its neighbours.

He merely said today, Georgiana said, squinting into the distance as if she might sooner discern the arrival of a carriage.

And he does not accompany them? Charlotte stood, and slowly joined Georgiana by the window. At her companion’s wordless command, Georgiana straightened, taking a lady-like step back from the window and folding her hands uselessly at her waist.

No, he remains in Scotland with Elizabeth - that is his new wife, you know. She sighed, turning the name over in her mind. My new sister.

I am sure they will come soon, Charlotte said, encouragingly. And think of all the new skills you might demonstrate when they do. Your music comes along admirably, and your sewing -

At this, Georgiana laughed.

My brother will scarcely notice whether my stitches are correct, let alone how elegant and neat they are. She arched an eyebrow. Or are not. Dear me, Charlotte, do you think gentlemen care for domestic arts? Music, I can understand a certain appreciation of, for everybody enjoys to hear it played and played well. But sewing? She shook her head. No, I need not fear my hatred of stitching be discovered and remarked upon by my brother, for William shall hardly give it a second thought, if he thinks of it at all.

Charlotte said nothing, merely smiled tautly and turned her attention back to the window. Georgiana felt sorry, then, for speaking so freely. Her companion had little in the way of a sense of humour, and she rarely knew how to react to Georgiana’s self-deprecation. Perhaps she fears it is indicative of my slide towards melancholy, Georgiana thought. But she was not melancholy. Oh, she had been. She had cried quarts over George Wickham, but at least part of that devastation had been the memory of William’s face upon their discovery. He had looked so disappointed, but not in her, as she discovered later. He felt that what had happened was his fault, that he had failed her as a brother and as a guardian, for allowing things with Wickham to develop as they did. And then, once the situation was remedied, William had left again, as if he thought his presence there might make matters worse. He had sent Charlotte Parker in his stead, and Georgiana’s life had become an endless number of days peppered with the sorts of pursuits that might make a young woman accomplished, but did little to spark happiness.

She could not help but worry that her brother’s decision to again delay his return to Pemberley was evidence of his still-conflicted feelings towards her now. Why can we not be friends the way we used to be? she thought, staring blankly out at the deserted approach to Pemberley. For they had been friends, as well as being brother and sister. Or in spite of it. She permitted herself a small smile, recalling how, until quite recently, they had enjoyed spending time together, ignorant of the differences in their age or natural interests. She tolerated Darcy’s expostulating on business or shooting or all manner of other gentlemanly pursuits, learning, as she listened, how his pastimes encouraged strength of mind as well as limb, and skill at managing that would ensure Pemberley’s continuing to thrive long after their father’s death. He had not merely tolerated but encouraged her to talk often and in detail of her developing musical tastes, and had always been quick to encourage her to play for him. She had learned to tell, from the tilt of his head this way or that, the enthusiastic glint in his eyes or the polite grimace that passed for a smile, whether he approved of a piece of music or not. She would choose accordingly, then, depending on what trials the day had given him. The ease of their being together had vanished in one short visit to Ramsgate. With one look the spell was broken and now, it seemed, William could not bear to be with her by himself. He could not bear to be with her at all, for his last note, the note that announced the arrival, today, of Mr Charles Bingley and his sister, had suggested Georgiana might care to continue on with them to their destination, Mr Hurst’s estate, Lattimer Place, some three miles’ distance. It had felt, at first, like banishment, for every reason her brother had included in his note she dismissed out of hand. A change of scenery...Miss Bingley longs for your company...Elizabeth and my arrival may be a little delayed...

She knew William well enough to know when he was not being entirely truthful. Tears pricked at her eyes and she blinked them back. We do not want you here. My wife and I prefer our privacy. You are a constant reminder of my failings as a brother.

Here comes their carriage! Charlotte exclaimed, pointing into the distance, and Georgiana drew in a shaky breath, willing her emotions back into check. She would have time to consider all this at length later, she decided, pulling her features into a smile, ready to meet her guests.

HOW WONDERFUL IT IS to be at Pemberley again! Mr Bingley said, with a comfortable sigh. Georgiana smiled, pleased to see her brother’s old friend so at home in their parlour. She liked Charles, for he always took time to speak to her and was a jolly, friendly sort of character, very different to her reserved brother, and his perfect companion, she wagered, for that particular reason.

I hope your journey has not rendered you too exhausted, Miss Bingley? Georgiana asked, turning her attention to his sister, who sat primly on an elegant seat opposite and admired the bright room.

Oh, well, Georgiana, you know how tiring it is to travel! Caroline giggled. But it is always so rejuvenating to be reunited with old friends, do not you think so?

Indeed. Georgiana smiled. She did not know Caroline Bingley as well as Charles, for she was a later addition to the small circle in Derbyshire, but the young woman had always been friendly to her. Too friendly, perhaps, for Georgiana had nursed a private suspicion that Miss Caroline Bingley had designs on William and was endeavouring to win the man by winning his sister. Georgiana sighed. Poor Caroline, she thought. I do hope she is not too upset by news of his marrying.

I was surprised to see, from my brother’s note, that you had all been in Scotland! Georgiana said, recalling the mystery that had nestled in her mind as she read William’s hurried missive. Here, at last, she might find answers to some of her questions. I thought you all settled in London: indeed I had rather looked forward to finding my way there myself, once I heard of William’s news - she stopped speaking, suddenly, realising that if Caroline was nursing a disappointment then it was unkind to make a mention of it so cavalierly. That is, once I realised he was poised to stay in London for some time.

Caroline’s eyes widened as large as saucers, and she turned a speechless gaze towards her brother, who cleared his throat and sat forward, his elbows on his knees.

Ah, yes. Well, you see...the thing is - the reason for... he paused, dropping his gaze to the floor. It was a very sudden flight.

Mr Darcy had gone on alone, you see, Caroline said, her words coming out slowly, but gaining in pace and confidence as her answer fell from her lips. He had word of-of an incident involving a friend of his and hurried to be of some assistance. Poor Eliza felt quite bereft, abandoned so suddenly by her new husband, and so we decided to accompany her on her own journey, after him. Is that not so, Charles?

Quite! Charles laughed, but the sound was one of relief rather than any sort of humour.

That is quite a journey to embark on for the sake of a friend, Georgiana said, with a shrewd glance from sister to brother.

Oh, it is not as if we had any great desire to remain in London! Charles said, cheerfully. Watching the interplay of shadows over his sister’s face, however, Georgiana wondered how true this was for Caroline. Surely

Reviews for The Consequence of Haste

[Chelsea · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am really enjoying this series and how all the characters are evolving as well as seeing the different relationships present and developing. This book continues with Wickham's character improving himself and trying to become better for Anne. We also get to see more of Georgiana in this book and I look forward to reading more about her in the next book in this series.