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This two-shot is inspired by the movie The Accidental Husband.

Summary: How far would a sister go for her brother? That is the question Georgiana Darcy faces when confronted by a problem—also known as Caroline Bingley. Inspired by The Accidental Husband movie. Modern AU. (Two-shot).

*Edited September 2019*

Love's Measure

Part I

Elizabeth Bennet stared at the man standing by her classroom's windows. She'd been waiting for nearly ten minutes for William Darcy to end his call, and he was just about on the last speck of her last nerve. He had already begun using them one morning when he had dropped off his sister. He didn't know she had overheard him talking to Georgiana, but he had asked the teen if she—Elizabeth—was really a teacher there, because she seemed too young to be able to manage a whole class. It was his condescending tone that had really done it. Her blood boiled at the memory and her fists clenched.

Who does he think he is to question my competence? she thought, seething.

Just as she stood with her hands pressed on the desk, the call concluded and he returned to sitting across from her. "My apologies, Miss Bennet. There was an emergency that I needed to handle. Or so I was told."

The deep timbre of his voice affected her heart, only serving to stoke her anger. "So it wasn't an emergency," she stated with a deceptively calm voice, wondering why the call took so long then.

"What classifies as an emergency occasionally differs from person to person," he responded.

Ahh, the drama queen girlfriend, Elizabeth thought. She had heard enough from Georgina Darcy to deduce that much. Folding her hands on the desk, she tried again. "Mr. Darcy, I—"

"William, please," he interrupted.

She gritted her teeth. "Mr. Darcy," she began again. "I asked you to come so that we can talk about Georgiana. I realize that the last two years have been very difficult since the death of your father, but I am concerned about her. She has withdrawn socially, and though it had improved, I've noticed a regression in her wellbeing."

She hesitated as she looked down at the closed folder in front of her. Opening it, she took the front page and smoothed it before placing the drawing in front of William Darcy. As he observed it with a frown, she thought about the responsibility that was on his shoulders. She knew he was the CEO of a global company since the death of his father, but most importantly, he was sixteen-year-old Georgiana's guardian. The tragedy was difficult at any age. How much more for a teenage girl and her brother who had to step in?

"She's very talented," he finally said.

Elizabeth sighed. "Yes, she is. However, I am concerned about what the image represents." The drawing was hauntingly beautiful of a girl standing in a strong wind, arms wrapped around herself as she stared at the ground. "I think she feels isolated. Has anything happened that could be the cause?"

"May I ask, Miss Bennet, why you, her English teacher, is handling this and not the councilor?"

Her temper flared like a lava surge, but she managed to prevent an outburst. "I am not handling anything, Mr. Darcy. I am speaking to you as someone who has spent time with her. More often than not, she prefers to do her homework in here while I'm still working."

He frowned. "After school? What about practice?"

It took a lot not to outwardly react at the confirmation. "Mr. Darcy, your sister hasn't been a cheerleader since the beginning of the school year. Haven't you been to rallies or games to see her?"

He appeared tired all of a sudden, wiping his hand over his face. "I've been frequently away on business trips. Usually, I work at home as often as I can manage, and we keep it low-key when we do spent time together. Her driver hasn't brought anything to my attention about her time at school."

"Like I said, she's been keeping herself busy in here, and I assume he would believe any changes have been discussed with you. I doubt he is part of family meetings." She almost cringed, because her last comment came out for more sarcastic than she intended. It did not help that he had rescheduled this appointment twice, and his absence was glaringly obvious to her. Breathing deeply to remain calm, she had to remind herself that he was dealing with a lot. However, she was concerned about his priorities.

"Mr. Darcy, to get back to the question I asked, do you know of any recent changes?" For some reason, Elizabeth struggled not to blush as she flipped over a sketch of William Darcy to another one. Taking the page from the folder, she turned the drawing and pushed it toward him. This one was of the man in front of her holding a young girl, though her back was to the artist's view. Georgiana had clearly seen her brother as her shelter.

He stared at the sketch until Elizabeth prompted him, "Mr. Darcy?"

There was sadness in his eyes when he looked up at her. "Where did you get them?"

She cleared her throat and her hand ached to touch the back of her neck, but she managed to resist. "The trash can. As you can see, they are quite rumpled."

He nodded and returned to staring at the drawing. "Recently, I told Georgiana that my girlfriend and I have been talking about marriage. I haven't proposed yet, but it will happen at some point in the future. I wanted to know how she felt about it." His voice was soft as he added, "I guess I have my answer. I only wish she knew there was no reason to feel … abandoned."

Comprehension dawned and Elizabeth shifted in her chair. "Do they get along?" she hesitantly asked, feeling as if she was overstepping. Though, perhaps that boundary line was long past in the rearview mirror.

He sighed. "They are amiable towards each other, but Georgiana doesn't agree with some of Caroline's ideas."

"Like?"

"Caroline was in a boarding school that she believes will be good for Georgiana. She has nothing but good things to say about her time there." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself that perhaps that was the best course of action.

"Mr. Darcy, I don't want to interfere—" Blushing slightly, she broke off as he raised an eyebrow. "As I was saying, I can't tell you what to do, but I strongly suggest that you spend time with your sister. Talk to her. Hear what she has to say."

There was a meaningful moment as neither of them looked away. "Thank you, Miss Bennet," he finally said.

~P&P~

In the weeks that followed, some hills were climbed while others only continued downwards. The collision point of the two stood in front of Georgiana Darcy as she descended the stairs in her home. William was helping Caroline Bingley put on her coat, but unfortunately that wasn't a metaphor for she was permanently on her way out. If only. No, instead the opposite was true, for he was accompanying her to a restaurant located on a vineyard. Georgiana suspected that the redhead, whose ambitions were as fiery as her hair, was looking for wedding venues, though he hadn't proposed yet.

Yet—that was the problem. It was looming on the horizon like a storm, and Georgiana wished she could find a way to prevent it. However, what could she do? The woman's acting skills were competing for an Academy Award, and she never let her guard down unless she was alone. Only instinct warned not to trust her, especially since Caroline suggested the boarding school she had attended. Georgiana saw right through the woman's lipstick commercial smile when she gave the young girl a sweater with the emblem. No doubt the tear she'd shed was a tear of happiness at the thought of not having a little sister around.

Georgiana felt a little nauseous at the memory of insisting on a girl's night when the woman had invited herself to stay after dinner. It had been about as pleasant as a root canal, but she would do anything to keep her brother out of the woman's clutches.

The memory gave her an idea, though. Smiling, the youngest Darcy walked over to her brother and the woman she would gladly remove in a wheelbarrow, legs flailing for all she cared.

"Would it be okay for me to come with you? I think some fresh air would be nice after studying until late last night." Turning towards the woman who should remain known as Miss Bingley, Georgiana continued. "The three of us don't spend nearly enough time together."

"You want to come with us?" William seemed pleasantly surprised. "I agree. I think it will be good for you … for all of us, really."

"But, William," the other woman began with an annoying whine. For some strange reason, she thought it was cute. It wasn't. "You promised that we would spend time together."

"And we will. Only it will be even better, since Georgiana are joining us." He smiled happily at his sister, affection for her clearly visible.

Georgiana, on the other hand, struggled not to laugh; her brother had just insulted Caroline in his adorably oblivious manner. Sometimes he neglected to consider how a sentence could be understood.

Caroline's smile in response seemed like something on a wax figure. "Of course. A lovely family outing. Sounds perfect."

"Well, family and third wheels," Georgiana muttered as she walked past them, but judging from the other woman's grin and glare, she had heard her.

"Glad to hear your sense of humor has returned, Georgiana," Will said, giving her a warning look.

"But third wheels are the best. With two, you're on a bicycle with the wind in your face. With three, you can carry things around." She kept her expression as innocent as possible, even as she implied a certain redhead was a burden—a chain and not freedom.

"The third would be family, supporting each other," Caroline responded with a self-satisfied smirk, turning around on her five inch heels and walking out the large front door.

Stopping next to William, Georgiana watched the other woman walk to the car. "She's going to walk in those on uneven ground. Oh, there's no way I'm missing this."

"Georgie," he said, sounding both reprimanding and amused.

Smiling up at him, Georgiana said, "Now, are you going to remind her that I get carsick if I sit in the back or are you?"

He sighed and closed the door behind them. "I'll tell her."

As if heading into battle, Georgiana walked over to the car and felt protectiveness over their little family surge. If that woman thought a proposal was coming, then she had to think again. The young Darcy had lost so much already and she was not about to give up what she had left.

Her mind wandered to Miss Bennet at the thought. If only her brother could be in a relationship with someone like her, or even the woman herself; she had a heart of gold. Will had told his sister about the meeting, and he had truly made an effort to reassure her since that day. He had even canceled dinners with Caroline to spend movie nights with his little sister. Not only did the change affect Georgiana, she could also see the good it did in her brother. At a pivotal moment, Elizabeth Bennet had intervened and started the return of joy to the halls of Pemberley—the ancestral home of the Darcys.

~P&P~

It was a conversation that Georgiana was never supposed to hear. On Christmas day, she entered the pantry in search of her favorite chocolate bar—the same kind that her mother had loved. The house was bustling with activity, which only made an already difficult day without her parents worse. It was so different from their traditions.

As she sunk to the floor and ate the chocolate covered, strawberry flavored bar, she wondered how Will was feeling, especially with the party planned for that evening. He had wanted a quiet night, but Caroline had persuaded him that they should host the party everyone would talk about as they entered the new year. Most of the people were either strangers or only acquaintances, but he had to concede that it was a good time to network.

Finishing with her bit of comfort, Georgiana stood and was about to leave when she heard voices. Specifically, it was Caroline's slightly nasal tone that reached her.

"So the caterers will set up in here. Everything simply must be perfect, Jean-Paul. I want to make a statement. I plan to be Mrs. Darcy this time next year, and this is to be my arrival as hostess of Pemberley." She was speaking to her party planner. After he reassured her and departed from the kitchen, another voice entered the conversation.

"Have you given my suggestion any more thought?" Louisa Hurst, Caroline's sister, asked.

"I have, sister dear. And I've realized that it would be perfect." She sounded as pleased as a cat discovering a canary bathing in cream. "Why search for the most sought after location when I can create the most desired venue?"

"I'm glad you agree, Caroline. This would be no small thing. The older families still snub new money, and you need to show that you are now one of them. Or at least, you will be. Have you made any progress regarding the proposal?"

Disdain dripped off her words as she spoke. "No, dear Georgiana has been keeping him busy. But all is not lost; she has inadvertently given me an idea. Neither of them was interested in my school, but I have found the perfect place for the gifted child." She laughed scornfully. "It is a school for the musically and artistically gifted and it just so happens to be on the opposite coast. Will is concerned about her never inviting friends over or going somewhere, so I will convince him of the sisterhood that forms in dormitories. It would be so much better for her among likeminded people."

"My, my, but you are clever," Louisa replied, sounding impressed.

"And that's not all, sister. It's been a productive time for me." There was a sharp edge to the sound of high heels on the floor. "I have found the perfect spot for the pavilion where the reception will be. It will overlook the lake. His mother's rose garden will have to be removed, but we are moving into the future, not holding on to the past. Of course, it will take time to convince him … or I can just claim that the people misunderstood where I indicated."

Georgiana felt pain in her chest, and she wished Will could have overheard the conversation. She didn't even want to speak to him about it, afraid that Caroline would turn it around and strengthen her own case.

As the voices faded again, Georgiana wiped away the tears rolling down her cheeks and left through the back door. Walking over to the guesthouse, she hoped George Wickham—Wick for short—would be there. A few years younger than William, he had grown up with the Darcy siblings. With his brilliant mind, the Darcys had taken it upon themselves to pay for his schooling, including for the university he was attending.

She knew he would help. Not only because he cared, but also because he stood to lose his free ride. Caroline had suggested on more than one occasion that it would be good for Wick to pay the fees himself. Furthermore, she also thought that it would be character building if he repaid what they had already given him. Thus far William had not been interested, but if they got married, that might change. At least, that was what Wick feared.

Georgiana knocked on the door before opening it slightly. "Wick? Are you here?"

"Back here, Georgie," he called. She followed his voice to the second bedroom that he used for his study when he was home. He was looking at the doorway as he anticipated her arrival, and his carefree expression changed when he saw her. "What happened?"

Without the need to hide her presence, she broke down and only told him what happened afterwards.

"That slithering snake," he responded, seething.

"He can't marry her, Wick. He can't."

As he held her, George Wickham made a promised he would keep. "He won't. I'll find a way. I'm not sure what yet, but he won't marry her."

~P&P~

It was New Year's Eve when Wick knocked on Georgiana's bedroom door before casually leaning against it. "So how desperate are you to get rid of her?"

Turning toward him from where she was sitting in her cozy reading area, she set down the sketchpad and replied, "Very."

Nodding, he entered and closed the door behind him. "I have an idea, but technically, it would mean breaking the law."

Her eyes widened. "I didn't mean it that way."

Surprised, he stared at her before laughing. "Me, neither. I'm talking about letting my fingers run over the keyboard and changing a few things. We just need the perfect candidate."

Furrowing her brow, she thought about what he was saying. "You mean … wall scaling of a digital nature."

"Exactly." Sitting down across from her, his index finger rubbed his lower lip as he hesitated. "It would be difficult for him to marry … if he is already married."

Silence followed as he waited for her to process the crazy idea.

Stunned, she stared at him with her mouth agape. "Can't you just … I don't know … find a picture of her being like Cruella? We can show it to Will."

"I don't think he cares that she has cellulite. One bad beach picture was about all I could find."

"This is crazy, Wick. Why would he even stay married?"

He leaned forward and pressed his hands together. "That's the tricky part. And there's another problem. I think the woman will have claim on half of everything, if he can't prove fraud, so we need to be able to trust her."

Georgiana looked thoughtfully to the side. "We need time. We need someone who would contest the divorce for the right reason. Annulment, whatever. If she thought it was better for them to remain married, she would fight."

Intrigued, he pondered the possibility. "Who would do that? Why would she do that?"

Georgiana turned back and met his gaze. "My English teacher. She would fight if she knew how this affects me as well. And you could almost say that I would be doing her a favor—my brother is a catch."

"Is she even single?"

She shook her head. "No, but from what I heard, the guy, Collins, is more around because her mother is pushing for her to marry. She calls him Maple—as in maple syrup. Apparently, he cannot say enough good things about his employer. Before Christmas break, I overheard her telling her sister that Maple Collins had to go. She was dreading a proposal."

"Would she be okay with it?" Wick sounded very unsure.

Pausing, she bit her lip. "I'm not sure. Let's wait first."

"The marriage proposal is coming, Georgie."

The truth of that statement caused anxiety to wrap around her lungs and squeeze. "How would this even work? How would he find out?"

"I … haven't gotten that far yet." A thoughtful look appeared on his face. "Maybe an anonymous email suggesting he checks his marital status before he continues to pursue Caroline? It can sound like someone who wants her. Make it about her."

She shifted uncomfortably as she looked at him. "It's a little creepy how quickly that came to you."

He shrugged in response. "So what do you say?"

As if to force the decision, Caroline's laughter reached them through the door. "There you are, William. You can talk to Georgiana at a later time. Our guests are waiting downstairs. Mingle a bit more and then come see her." Yes, Caroline Bingley was hosting a second party in a week. She wanted everyone in their social circle to get the impression that the matter had been confirmed—she was marrying William Darcy.

As Will turned away from the closed door and their voices grew softer, Georgiana turned to Wick. "Do it. I can't think of anything else to delay him. This might just frustrate her enough that her perfect image cracks. We do this for Will."

Downstairs, guests were celebrating and enjoying the party. Little did they know that there was another reason for celebration, for on that night Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet were declared husband and wife. Georgiana could only hope that she and Wick would not come to regret it.

AN: I'm always nervous posting a new story. :) This idea came to me a while back and would not go away. Now seems like the perfect time to share it, and I hope you liked it. This is a two-shot, so this story will conclude with the next part. Thanks for reading!