They were immediately admitted to the Matlock townhouse and were greeted warmly by the countess herself. “Welcome, Mrs Gardiner and Miss Bennet. We have heard so much about you from my son, Colonel Fitzwilliam,” the countess said. “I believe you have already been introduced to my niece, Miss Georgiana Darcy?”
Miss Darcy curtsied and gave a shy smile. “We have had the pleasure, yes,” she murmured, almost too quietly to be heard. “How good it is to see you again, Miss Bennet. I am glad my cousin was kind enough to invite me to this tea.”
“We would not have wanted it any other way, my dear,” the countess said.
Elizabeth sat down near Georgiana, noticing with satisfaction that her aunt and the countess were speaking comfortably together. She had never expected Mrs Gardiner to be less than genteel and polished, even in the face of the nobility, but Elizabeth had not expected so great a degree of civility from the countess. They spoke of the play Mrs Gardiner had last attended, which the countess thought of seeing as well, and even exchanged a little mild gossip.
Elizabeth could not be quite as easy as her aunt, for the thought that the tea was a kind of audition was inescapable. No doubt the countess, very naturally, wanted to judge her suitability for Colonel Fitzwilliam. Thankfully, she did so with a far greater degree of subtlety than Elizabeth would have feared. Her questions were those any new acquaintance might have asked, and her answers were friendly and open. Tea was very pleasant. If the countess was indeed assessing her suitability as a wife for her son, she seemed to approve.
“Have you been in London very long, Miss Bennet? I assume this is not your first time, but it is mine, and I find it very diverting,” Miss Darcy said. She took a sip of her tea, sitting perfectly straight-backed and proper. Her effortless grace and elegance spoke eloquently of her private tutors.
“Though I have been fortunate to visit my aunt and uncle before, I must say I feel as though I have never really seenLondon before this trip. I was rather young on previous visits, and we largely stayed at home.”
“And how do you find it? Town, I mean?”
“It is, as you say, very diverting.” Elizabeth looked down at the fine teacup and saucer with their painted design of spring violets. “But I must confess, I have been pining for home. I miss the country and the fresh air.”
Miss Darcy giggled and leaned closer as if she were about to share a great secret. “I believe that is the thing I have found most difficult to get used to. How can people stand to live here all year round? The stench!” She leaned back, and they shared a laugh. “Give me the fresh country air any day.”
“I quite agree,” Elizabeth replied. For such a shy girl, Miss Darcy was very easy to talk to. No doubt the conversation was helped along by the many interests they shared. They both enjoyed reading, and music — although she had heard Miss Darcy was much more accomplished than Elizabeth had ever dreamed of being — and they were both proponents of long walks in the country, no matter the weather.
As the afternoon progressed and the older ladies seemed to gravitate toward one another in conversation, Miss Darcy lowered her voice, almost whispering in Elizabeth’s ear. “Would you do me a great favour, Miss Bennet?”
“Of course, if your request is at all in my power,” Elizabeth replied.
“Would you come to the conservatory with me and speak in private for a moment?”
Elizabeth thought this a little odd, but had no objection. “Of course.”
They rose and excused themselves, Miss Darcy giving the excuse that she wanted to show Elizabeth something in the sunroom. They walked down a maze of halls, and when they came to the rear of the house, went through a set of double doors that opened on a capacious, humid space filled with late afternoon sunshine.
She was taken aback by the beauty of the exotic plants and the sound of trickling water issuing from a fountain in the centre of the gravel walkway. They walked side by side down the aisles for a while, enjoying the sounds of a few birds that were nestled aloft in the branches of the trees. “You have made quite an impression on my cousin,” Miss Darcy began after a while.
Elizabeth felt her heart race. She had not expected to have this kind of conversation with Miss Darcy. “I suppose I have, although I did not set out to do so. He is very easy to get along with, and I enjoy his company.”
Miss Darcy nodded, remaining quiet for a little while longer. “There is another gentleman, I believe, who has caught your fancy? A Mr George Wickham?”
Elizabeth was immediately put on the alert. “Yes, I know Mr Wickham, although I would not say he has captured my fancy.”
Miss Darcy stopped in the path and turned toward Elizabeth. She looked very grave indeed. “Miss Bennet, I hope I may speak plainly? I do not wish to offend you, but I have information that I must share with you concerning Mr Wickham.” She motioned to a white marble bench a few paces away, and they sat down.
Elizabeth was even more perplexed when Miss Darcy took both her hands and pressed them with a familiarity that she would have thought would be saved for a much longeracquaintance. Yet Miss Darcy’s diffidence and obvious sincerity made it impossible to be repelled by the gesture.
At last, Miss Darcy spoke. “I must tell you what happened between Mr Wickham and myself.”
Elizabeth drew in a breath, her mind travelling back to the strange conversation she had had with Mr Darcy. Surely the woman whom Mr Wickham had tried to trick into an elopement was not his very own sister? She nodded and bid her continue.
“Last year, Mr Wickham came back into our lives after a long stint of separation. I believe my brother told you he refused to give him a living that my father had set aside for him? A parish in the confines of the Pemberley estate?”
“Yes, Mr Wickham told me so.”
“Well, he did not tell you the whole of the matter. When my father died, my brother gave him a substantial sum of money instead of the living. Mr Wickham did not then fancy the thought of joining the church. And so, my brother gave him the money instead and sent him on his way.” Miss Darcy looked down at her hands, turning them over as if to inspect them. “He squandered the entire sum within a twelve-month, after which time, he returned and demanded more. That is when my brother refused.”
Elizabeth shifted uneasily. But she could see no hint of guile in the young woman’s gaze. “Go on,” she urged.
“That was some years ago. We did not see him again until he suddenly came back into our lives, claiming that he had been reformed. After a few weeks of renewed acquaintance, he claimed passionate love for me. I was fifteen,” she replied. Sadness had overwhelmed Miss Darcy’s face, and Elizabeth held her breath at what her heart knew was coming.
After a steadying breath, Miss Darcy went on. “Quite deliberately, he courted me when I was away from my brother. We learned only later that my paid companion, Mrs Younge, was his confederate. She and I had travelled to Ramsgate for an extended stay. And it was there that Mr Wickham began to press me into an elopement, even though it made me vastly uncomfortable. But by that time, I thought I was in love with him.” She sighed. “He had worn me down by his constant protestations of love until I finally agreed to elope with him. I would have married him, too, if it had not been for my brother coming for a surprise visit the morning we were due to run away to Gretna Green.”
