Perhaps Elizabeth was not entirely unjustified in her concern. “I do not think she is backward. She was only worried about me.”
“You defend her?”
Georgiana’s heart jumped with fright at the look on Mrs Younge’s face. The expression of rage faded away in an instant, and Georgiana told herself she must have imagined it.
“Poor girl,” Mrs Younge said sweetly. “I always thought that your brother raising you in isolation at Pemberley was to your detriment. Now I can see I was right.”
Georgiana frowned. “You have only known me for a few months, Mrs Younge. You make it sound like we had been acquaintances for years.”
Mrs Younge looked surprised, though only for a moment. “I only meant that when I came to interview for the position as your companion that I was surprised your brother did not often bring you out of Pemberley.”
“I never wanted to leave Pemberley until you suggested we visit Ramsgate, and now Meryton. I was quite happy there,” Georgiana said in defence of her brother. He was the most wonderful person in the world, and she would allow no one tospeak against him. Even Miss Elizabeth Bennet had not done that, and she had the most cause to do so.
“Do not grow angry with me, my dear. I also have your best interests at heart. Many young ladies your age would fall over themselves to get a proposal at such a young age. Just think, you shall not have to go through the rigours and discomforts of the London Season in order to find a husband. You will be settled in a matter of weeks with a man who loves you. Indeed, I have never seen a man more devoted to winning a woman’s heart, not even my Henry.”
Mrs Younge went and paced behind the settee. Georgiana thought it odd. She had never spoken of her late husband by his Christian name. In Georgiana’s mind, there had been no great love lost when her first husband had passed away, as he had been many years her senior. Should she trust that Mrs Younge was an authority on matters of the heart?
“My dear, you are staring off into nothingness again. I must implore you to forget Elizabeth Bennet and her upset this afternoon. She is simply a jealous, cantankerous young woman who wants to steal away your happiness. That is all. Forget her,” Mrs Younge said firmly.
Georgiana nodded. “I shall,” she promised softly. After tea, Mrs Younge excused herself, stating that she should alert Mr Wickham that Miss Bennet knew of the intended elopement. He would likely want to move up the date of their departure. It would somewhat put a damper on their plans, for he had wanted to gain a special leave of absence so his departure would not be noticed so quickly. But by the time the militia noticed he was gone, they would have crossed the border into Scotland. Shortly thereafter, they would be wed. Over the anvil, it was true, which was not a match for any of the girlish dreams Georgiana hadhad, and which would be a sad embarrassment to Fitzwilliam. But surely that did not matter if they loved each other.
Elizabeth’s words came rushing back to her mind as she climbed the stairs to ready herself for bed. What would they do if Mr Wickham was branded a deserter? How would they live? Would his brother disown her once he found out what she had done? It was too terrible for her to dwell on.
With a heavy heart, she changed and nestled into the bed, keeping one candle burning to chase away the gloomy shadows. How she wished her mother were still alive. If she was, she would not feel so uncertain. Indeed, Mrs Younge would never have had to enter her life as a companion. Maybe she would have even had a sister to share her childhood with.
Mr Wickham understood her. They had grown up together and knew the heartache of losing both parents so young. And he loved her. She felt sure that she could trust this man who had come back into her life when she had felt so lonely and afraid. He would never leave her or turn his back on her, as the inhabitants of Meryton had done. And Elizabeth. Her betrayal and behaviour that afternoon only solidified her resolve. Mrs Younge had said if she were to be happy, she had to make her own way in the world. And this might be her only chance.
∞∞∞
“She knows, George.”
Mr Wickham started as the female voice came from deep within the shadows of his tent. “Mrs Younge?” he hissed.
He went to the back of his tent and pulled her into the dim light of the moon. Thankfully, Denny was a deep sleeper, and only shifted slightly at the disturbance before beginning to snore. “What in heaven’s name are you doing–?”
“She knows, I tell you!” Mrs Younge pulled her arm free of his grasp. “I do not know how she heard of it, but Elizabeth Bennet broke into the house today and confronted Georgiana about your plans to run away with her. We’ll have to move up our plans.”
“I have not got my leave approved yet.”
“Well, you’ll have to break some rules, won’t you?” Mrs Younge sneered. “Who did you tell?”
Wickham swallowed hard. He had been speaking with Miss Lydia Bennet on the lane leading out of Meryton. She had tried flirting — a girlish attempt at temptation. She was a pretty thing, but nothing compared to the temptation of £30,000. To throw her off, he had told her he would be leaving Meryton shortly. And no doubt, she had not been able to keep the secret.
“Foolish girl!” he cursed. He raked a hand through his hair, angry with himself for entrusting his secret to that chit, Lydia Bennet.
“There is no sense in flying into a rage. We have to keep our heads,” Mrs Younge said, her tone as cold as ice. “What are you going to do?”
Wickham turned to her with a snarl. “What I must.”
Chapter 20
Elizabeth could not sleep that night, no matter what she tried. Rather than wake poor Jane with her pacing back and forth, she lit a candle and went down to the parlour. After stoking the fire, she sat before the hearth in her favourite chair, heartsore and terrified for Georgiana. She stared into the flames, wishing she knew what to do. After the time she had spent with her young friend, she knew she could not just sit back and watch her throw her life away. Shame on Mrs Younge for being so free with her charge’s future! What she had to gain from the situation was still not apparent to Elizabeth, but there had to be something she was missing. Indeed, Georgiana might be in even more danger than Elizabeth realised.
Suddenly, Elizabeth stood and walked toward the little writing desk. “I shall write to Mr Darcy!” she said with a decided nod. However, halfway to the desk, she faltered. “No, a letter will not reach him in time,” she lamented. She chewed on her fingernail for a few seconds, returning to the chair. “And even if it did, he would not even open it, like as not.”
She sank back into the chair and continued to stew. There was no way she could stop Georgiana from leaving. It wasapparent that her friend would no longer listen to her. She was struck by Cupid and had eyes only for her beloved. And Mrs Younge had her ears. It was a deadly combination.
Minutes turned to hours. The fire died down, and still Elizabeth did not sleep. Gradually, an idea started to formulate in her mind. It was not one she liked, but might be the only means of stopping her friend from making a ruination of her good name and that of her brother.
