Jane stood, kissed her forehead, and started back toward the door. “I shall make you some ginger tea and ask Cook to make up a hearty broth for you.”
Elizabeth did not correct her misconceptions that this was a winter malady. Only her heart was sore and bruised, and nothing but time could heal that.
Worse than all her shame was the knowledge that her friendship with Georgiana was at an end. In only a very little time, she had gone from being the stranger too haughty to speak to anyone at a public assembly to a shy young girl with a sweet spirit, one of the dear friends of Elizabeth’s heart. That, too, was over. Mr Darcy had forbidden his sister from ever seeing her again. If there were any consolation in the matter, it was that Georgiana was already on the road to making new friends in the village. Elizabeth could at least help her there. There would be some awkwardness, and others were sure to notice the new distance between them. But if Elizabeth could only put the whole ordeal behind her and keep quiet, all might be givenlittle weight. By showing that she bore Georgiana no ill will, she could encourage all the rest of the neighbourhood to continue in the friendly acquaintance they had begun. Georgiana’s new popularity in the neighbourhood must not be ruined.
“This much, at least, I may do for my friend,” Elizabeth whispered to herself.
∞∞∞
“Miss Georgiana, I wish you would come away from the window and come down to supper. It is your brother’s last night here in Meryton,” Mrs Younge wheedled.
Georgiana turned around, frowning at her. “How can I? I cannot believe Miss Elizabeth Bennet would be so heartless as to go behind my back just to get her hands on Fitz. It does not stand to reason.” Her frown deepened. “And what do you mean, his last night? It is our last night in the vicinity for a while as well.”
Mrs Younge sighed but did not dignify the last comment with an answer. “As I have tried to tell you and your esteemed brother, she is a master of deception. She is a clever fox, willing to do anything to get her way. You know what the Bible says about the little foxes, do you not?”
Georgiana was not in the mood for a sermon. Nor did she think Mrs Younge was entirely qualified to speak about matters of religion. She never seemed to listen to the parson with any attention, and that certainly was not the fault of the dear old rector at Lambton. He always preached sermons that went to one’s heart, if one only listened properly. “No, I do not,” she said dully. “I do not think Miss Elizabeth Bennet is capable of suchtreachery. Are you quite certain you overheard her saying those things?”
“I did, I am sorry to say,” Mrs Younge replied. She sat down beside Georgiana at the vanity. Georgiana had been unable to stop crying since she had learned the news from her brother and Mrs Younge. She knew her face must be red and puffy from all the tears. She had changed into her nightdress, determined to go to bed and let all her feelings out as the tears wet her pillow. But when she had finished taking down her hair and arranging it in a messy plait, she had remained sitting there listlessly. As though a weight were pressing her down, it felt impossible to move from her spot at the vanity.
Georgiana turned her attention back to her reflection. “I do not wish to go down. I wish only to have a tray brought up and get an early night’s sleep. We leave early tomorrow morning. Perhaps some time away will hep me to see things more clearly.”
Mrs Younge stood and went behind Georgiana’s chair. She placed her hands on her shoulders and leaned down so Georgia could see her face reflected in the mirror. “Are you sure you should leave?”
Georgiana screwed up her nose, then turned to Mrs Younge. “Yes, of course. Why? It has always been the plan since my brother made these arrangements. We will only be in London for a week or so before returning.”
“I do not feel it would be wise to go now. Especially after what has happened today. Miss Bennet might try to spread rumours about you while you are gone. It would be a pity to allow her to triumph over you.” Mrs Younge paced behind her. “Do you not see? She might very well make up any lie she wanted to discredit you and turn the people of Meryton against you once more.”
“She did not turn them against me in the first place. It was my own fault they did not like me.” Georgiana narrowed her eyes. “It was you, actually, who advised me not to dance with anyone on the night of the assembly. If I had danced with Mr Lucas, none of this would have happened.”
“Do you really want to be saddled with a man like Mr Lucas?” Mrs Younge asked. “I have heard things told of him as well — more than I would wish to say to a young girl, but if you insist —”
“No, do not tell me,” Georgiana said hastily. She turned back to her reflection, trying to stop the tears from welling up. Bad enough that she had lost the friendship of Miss Elizabeth Bennet, that they would never again share the pleasant laughter and sisterly confidences that had flowed so easily between them. The loss of Elizabeth’s moral character, of the respect she had for the older girl, was far worse. How much easier it would have been if they were separated only because she was returning to Derbyshire! Then at least she could have treasured the friendship as much as ever, and still had the pleasure of thinking well of Elizabeth and wishing her happy, even if they were not to enjoy each other’s company. But to think that the friendship had never been real at all — to think that even the young woman she had respected and esteemed was an illusion, an act put on by an unscrupulous woman seeking an advantageous marriage, no matter who was hurt in attaining it — that thought held a bitterness that would be long in easing.
“Why grieve the loss of the Bennets’ society? They are not the only people in Meryton, you know. There are charming and influential gentlemen here, especially since the militia has arrived.”
“I am not interested in the militia,” Georgiana snapped. Lydia and Kitty Bennet were entranced by the idea of the militia staying in town for the winter. At that moment, she did not care in the slightest
“Take my advice, Miss Darcy. Take a day to recover from the wrongs done to you by Elizabeth Bennet, and then you must get back out into the village and show your face. Show people you will not be chased off by a greedy little husband-hunter like her.” Mrs Younge held her chin high, looking strange in the light cast by the candle. There was something frightening in her face, as though she did not actually seek to reassure Georgiana at all. With a shudder, Georgiana pushed the thought away, telling herself not to be absurd.
“I do not know if that would be wise. I promised Fitz I would come with him to London —”
“He will understand, my dear. Trust me. It would be best not to leave when your position here has only just begun to recover.”
Georgiana bit her lower lip as she thought. “Do you really think it would be that detrimental to my reputation?” She had not thought a few days in Town would sway things so greatly.
“I do. You have momentum now. It would be a shame to lose it.” Mrs Younge came back over to the seat she had occupied before she had started her pacing. Sometimes, Georgiana pictured her as a wild cat, sharpening her claws and biding her time until the right moment. But that, too, was only a ridiculous fancy, and probably ungrateful as well.
She quickly put the image out of her head. Mrs Younge was her friend, and she was older and wiser than Elizabeth.Georgiana sighed in resignation. “Very well. If you think it is a bad idea to leave, then I shall speak with my brother.”
“Good. I think you have made the right decision, dear. And now, I shall ring for your maid and have her help you arrange your hair. Supper will be announced any minute.”
Mrs Younge went to ring the bell while Georgiana stared listlessly at her drawn expression.
The following morning, Georgiana rose early to see her brother off for London. He had not reacted kindly to the idea of leaving her, especially when the idea that Elizabeth Bennet might seek revenge by spreading rumours about her was presented.Thathad been a mistaken, and one that nearly led him to forbid the whole idea. But at last, she had convinced him to allow her to stay on with Mrs Younge. They would face whatever came together. She stood in the drawing room now, close to the hearth to soak up its warmth. The maid had come in and built up the fire for her when she had rung, obviously surprised that she had risen so early. Georgiana wrapped her arms around her middle, staring into the flames while she waited for her brother to come down.
“You are up early,” her brother said. He looked very tall and imposing, standing in the doorway.
Georgiana gave a weak smile. “I wanted to say goodbye.”
