“Fitzwilliam!” the girl cried, throwing herself into Darcy’s arms with unrestrained affection.
A sharp stab of something uncomfortably pierced her chest before the girl’s next words dispelled her concerns entirely.
“Oh, Brother, I have missed you so dreadfully!”
“Georgiana,” Darcy said. “What are you doing here? And how did you travel alone?”
“I am not entirely alone—Lady Matlock’s coachman accompanied me, though she remained in London.” Georgiana turned bright, curious eyes to Elizabeth. “You must be Lady Elizabeth! Oh, may I call you sister? I have always wanted a sister, and you are even more beautiful than Fitzwilliam described in his letter.”
She was swept into an enthusiastic embrace before she could form a proper response. Georgiana’s warmth and genuine delight were infectious.
“I am very pleased to meet you, Miss Georgiana,” she managed. “Though perhaps we should continue this conversation inside where you might warm yourself properly.”
“An excellent suggestion,” Darcy agreed, retrieving Georgiana’s portmanteau. “Come, we shall have tea brought to the drawing room.”
Once settled before a fire with steaming cups of tea and a plate of small cakes, Elizabeth had opportunity to study her new sister-in-law properly. Georgiana possessed the same dark eyes as her brother, though hers sparkled with an animation quite different from Darcy’s reserve. Her manner was open and engaging, though Elizabeth detected an underlying shyness that emerged when conversation lagged.
“You must tell me everything about your journey,” Darcy said. “I cannot believe Lady Matlock allowed you to travel without her.”
“She was most reluctant,” Georgiana admitted, “but I persuaded her that I was perfectly safe with her coachman, and she had several engagements in London that required her attention. Her coachman will return tomorrow and then she will collect me from here three days hence. If that is not a bother.”
“Not at all, Darcy said at once. “I am so pleased to see you.”
She beamed, but then, her visage took on a concerned expression. “There is another reason for my visit,” Georgiana said, her expression growing more serious. “I bring word from Mr Wickham—our Mr Wickham. His health has declined significantly of late.”
Elizabeth noticed Darcy’s posture stiffen, his teacup suspended halfway to his lips.
“His heart grows weaker by the day, and he has lost sight in one eye entirely. The physician visits twice weeklynow.” Georgiana’s voice carried genuine distress. “He speaks constantly of his desire to see you again, and to meet Elizabeth.”
“I had hoped his letter indicated improvement in his spirits, if not his health,” Darcy said.
“He maintains cheerful correspondence because he does not wish to worry you,” Georgiana replied gently. “But Lady Matlock has offered to conduct you both to Matlock with us if you wish to.”
“Of course we shall come,” Darcy said immediately, then turned to Elizabeth with sudden uncertainty. “That is, if you are willing to undertake such a journey.”
Elizabeth met his gaze, seeing the vulnerability there, the fear that she might refuse this deeply important request. The realisation that her answer mattered so much to him sent warmth spreading through her chest.
“Naturally I am willing,” she said. “Mr Wickham is your family, and therefore he is mine as well.”
The relief and gratitude in Darcy’s expression made her breath catch. As Georgiana clapped her hands in delight and began planning their departure, Elizabeth felt the ground shift subtly beneath her feet.
She was no longer simply enduring this marriage or making the best of difficult circumstances. Somewhere along the way, without conscious decision, she had begun to think of herself as truly belonging to this small family—and they to her.
The thought should have frightened her. Instead, it filled her with a warmth that had nothing to do with the fire crackling in the grate.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Elizabeth
26th November 1811
Several days had passed since their departure from Hertfordshire, and Elizabeth reflected on how the time had unfolded quite differently than expected. She had looked forward to introducing Georgiana to her family, anticipating warm embraces and easy friendship between the girls of similar ages. Instead, she had been taken aback by her sisters’ cool reception of Darcy’s sister.
Lydia and Kitty, whom she had expected to welcome Georgiana with their usual enthusiasm for new acquaintances, had been surprisingly standoffish. Her youngest sister had displayed an almost snobbish disdain that was entirely unlike her usual character. Elizabeth might have attributed it to wounded pride over being sent from the dinner table, but Lydia’s manner had grown increasingly odd in recent weeks.
Only Jane had been welcoming, though when Bingley made his offer midway through Georgiana’s visit, she had been forced to remain out of sight due to their mother’s histrionics. Having two of her titled, highborn daughters married to newly installed gentlemen proved too much for her poor nerves and she’d taken to the vapours.
However, none of this was relevant, for Elizabeth was away from Hertfordshire for at least a week now.
