Pair of Protectors

Georgiana Darcy, "unable to support the idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as a father, acknowledge the whole to [Darcy]. You may imagine what I felt and how I acted. Regard for my sister's credit and feelings prevented any public exposure; but I wrote to Mr. Wickham, who left the place immediately" (end of Chapter 12/35).

Mr. Darcy protects his sister at all costs, kicking Mr. Wickham and Mrs. Younge out of their lives when she is in danger. Mr. Wickham "persuaded" Miss Darcy that they were in love in order to strike back at Darcy, who had refused to give him more money after he had spent all of his own (chap 12/35). He used Miss Darcy's affections to revenge his own personal vendetta against Darcy. Contrary to previous views, Darcy deeply cares for his sister and is willing to stand up to anyone who would try to take advantage of her and her fortune of thirty thousand pounds. He wants his little sister to be happy, no used by some gold-digger who only wants her for her money, like Mr. Wickham. Elizabeth and Darcy are very similar in their desire to protect their sisters, both standing up and looking out for them. Elizabeth cannot stand Darcy because he is the "man who ha[d] been the means of ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of a most beloved sister", who was just protecting Mr. Bingley from an "unhappy connection" with a family who seemed to want to marry because of status and money (chapter 11/34, 12/35). Mr. Darcy took his experience with the gold-digger Mr. Whickham, and applied it to the Bennets. Darcy is wary, unwilling to let anyone else get hurt because he wasn't paying enough attention (like with his sister) to his surroundings. While Elizabeth cannot have feelings for Mr. Darcy because he ruined Jane's chances with Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy cannot jump into a relationship that reminds him of the dysfunction, pain, and deception of Mr. Wickham. Elizabeth doesn't have the feelings, but has the opportunity and Mr. Darcy has the feelings even though he doesn't have the opportunity. Will our pair of protectors remain strong, or give up some of their inhibitions and take a risk?