Elizabeth drew in a gasp and covered her mouth. “Forgive me, my friend, I do not mean to act shocked. My judgement is not for you, but for the people who would try to use you so ill.”
“Thank you. It is fortunate that my brother happened to visit us at Ramsgate. I could not keep the truth from him, thinking that I would never see my dear brother again if I were to go through with the plan to elope. He stopped the whole thing, forced the man to confess his duplicity, and quickly sacked Mrs Younge. I have seen neither of them since.”
Elizabeth took her friend’s hand and pressed it. “Oh, Georgiana, it is horrible. I am so sorry for what you have been through!”
To her surprise, Georgiana smiled. “I am quite well now. And it is thanks in no small part to you, Elizabeth. The first days after Ramsgate were painful indeed. I locked myself away for nigh on six months before I could face anyone but my brother. Wick — I mean, the man had me entirely taken in. I thoughtmyself so in love with him, and then to find out that he was lying the entire time — well. I have always been shy, but now you can see why I was so painfully shy when we first met.”
“I do understand,” Elizabeth said softly. “And I thank you for telling me. Georgiana, I cannot feel anything but sympathy for you and disdain for this man who lied to you and abused you.” She paused for a moment before going on, listening to the wind dancing through the tree branches. “Nor do I think any gentleman to whom you might entrust this story would feel differently. Particularly not one so kind and understanding as Mr Bingley. It was not any lack of virtue on your part that caused this; it was this man’s deceit — and that of this Mrs Younge, who you ought to have been able to trust.”
Georgiana nodded. “Still, many men would not want to be saddled with a woman who had nearly run away with another man, even if their virtue was still intact. It is the principle of the thing.” Georgiana worried her lower lip, then turned to Elizabeth and pressed her hand. “Before this visit, thinking of him only as my brother’s friend, I had never considered that Mr Bingley and I might suit. His manners are so excellent, his spirits so good, and his face and person so handsome — I would not have thought he could ever be interested in me. However, when he greeted me so warmly yesterday, it made me believe I may yet find a good husband. Perhaps my life is not over, as I believed it was a year ago.” Her eyes glowed with unshed tears when she met Elizabeth’s gaze a moment later. “Perhaps I may yet make my dearly departed Mama and Papa proud of me. I never knew my mother, but Fitz says that I grow to look more and more like her each day. Thanks to your lessons, of course.” She beamed at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth smiled back at her protégé, who had become as close as a sister to her. “You give me too much credit, as always. But I am certain that your mother would be most proud of the woman you are becoming.”
“Thank you,” Georgiana said with a soft smile. “I wish she were here right now. I am so confused about my feelings. It was so immediate when I saw Mr Bingley yesterday, and I do not want to make the same mistakes again.”
“Perhaps it would be best to wait, in any case,” Elizabeth said thoughtfully. True, some women married at Georgiana’s age or even younger, but she had no opinion of the practice. Sixteen was surely too young to choose a partner for the rest of one’s life, let alone to run a household. “You are young yet. I would encourage you to take things slowly. If you are truly meant to be with Mr Bingley, then he will wait for you.”
“Thank you for that very sound advice. You are certainly right. I know he has started looking for a wife, but I would like to take my time in getting to know him better. He has always been kind to me, but until now, I was not old enough to be involved in his conversations with my brother — not really. He must get to know me as a young woman in my own right, and I must know him as a friend to myself and not just Fitz. Only then will we know if there could really be something between us one day.”
By the time they finished their conversation, clouds were rolling in, with the promise of rain on the horizon. When they returned to the drawing room, Elizabeth could not help but smile, for Mr Bingley’s eyes immediately went to Georgiana. For her part, Georgiana returned his quick, curious gaze a little shyly before sitting next to him and joining the conversation that he was having with Mary and Mrs Bennet.
Elizabeth took a moment to watch the proceedings. Jane and Miss Bingley were speaking rapidly together in the corner, turned to each other and acknowledging no one else. Mr Collins stood behind Miss Georgiana and Mr Bingley as her mother and Mary talked of Meryton and the public assembly to be held shortly. Lydia and Kitty were standing with Mr Darcy near the window, but quickly excused themselves as they spotted more callers coming up the drive. Elizabeth joined Mr Darcy and bowed as she approached.
“It is good to have your sister with us. She grows more lovely every day, it seems,” she said warmly.
“She does indeed. And all thanks to you.”
“Not all, but I am glad I could be of some use,” Elizabeth replied. She looked on tenderly as Georgiana and Mr Bingley spoke to each other, their eyes shining with fond regard. Her friend had spoken of her fragile, tentative hopes with such diffidence, but Elizabeth rather suspected that they would be a match one day.
With new callers coming to pay their respects, the guests from Netherfield Park took their leave, promising to call again soon, and begging a return visit at their earliest convenience. Mr Darcy bowed to Elizabeth as they were leaving, took her hand, and pressed a gentle kiss to the back of her hand. “Good day, Miss Elizabeth. I hope we may have the pleasure of seeing you at Netherfield again very soon.”
Her heart beat fast as he turned to leave, but he looked over his shoulder one last time before disappearing around the corner of the hallway.
Elizabeth let out a long breath. She had given Georgiana such wise counsel to have patience, but her own was sadlylacking. If Mr Darcy felt as much for her as she did for him, it could not be known too soon.
Chapter 24
Darcy found himself enjoying his time in Hertfordshire prodigiously, not least because hardly a day passed without a visit between Netherfield and Longbourn. Rarely in his life had he known such joy as he found in each meeting with Elizabeth. They said nothing that could not be said before all their friends and relations, but her eyes were eloquent. In them, he saw reason to believe her heart beat with the same wishes and desires as his. The season of their courtship was sweet indeed.
But his time at Netherfield Park could not be taken up exclusively with Elizabeth. One morning, Darcy and Bingley set off early to ride, since there would be little time later in the day. They came up the crest of a hill at a gallop, then stopped to look over the surrounding countryside awash with the golden light of early morning. It was a wonder to him he had never paid much attention to sunrises and sunsets until he had met Elizabeth.
At least, he had not noticed them since he had become the master of Pemberley. He had had much too much to burden his mind since taking over the estate when his father passed. For a time, his eyes had been closed to beauty — until Elizabeth had opened them again, and shown him how lovely the world could be.
Bingley sighed and looked over at him as the horses stamped their feet, eager to be off again. Heedless of the lively steeds’ wishes, they reined in their mounts and continued down the slight incline at a walking pace. “It is good to be out of the house,” Bingley said with a wry grin, “and away from Caroline’s biting commentary. I do not know why, but your Miss Elizabeth causes a reaction in my sisters that I can only describe as distressing.”
Darcy knew the reason, but did not wish to speak it aloud. “Miss Bingley has been in rare form as of late,” was all he chose to say in agreement.
“I have noticedyouare almost giddy as of late, and I think it has everything to do with Miss Elizabeth,” Bingley pointed out. “It is no wonder my sister is all out of sorts.”
Darcy had been dreading this conversation for some time, for to tell his closest friend that the idea of marrying his sister was utterly abhorrent must be painfully awkward at best. Much as he would have liked to have Bingley as a brother-in-law, he knew that Miss Bingley was not the woman for him. Her character was sadly flawed, for she might justly be described as self-absorbed, condescending, and petty, even vicious. He could never imagine himself with a woman who was so prone to backbiting and gossip.
Darcy chose a softer approach. “I know your sister has long fostered hopes we would end as a match, but I am certain we would not suit each other. No offence to you, my friend.”
“Absolutely none taken,” Bingley said. “Caroline can be insufferable at times. I hate how she eviscerates people with that sharp tongue of hers. She is just as bad as Louisa. I feel sorry for Mr Hurst. It is unfortunate that he married my sister for her dowry. I believe he regrets his choice, even if my father’s moneywas a motivator when they first became interested in each other. Money and position are not all they are cracked up to be, hmm?” Bingley shook his head.
“No, I suppose they are not,” Darcy said. “Surely there is no more important decision to be made in one’s lifetime than the choice of a wife.”
“Indeed. I have always been wont to be too impulsive in love, I believe — too quick to see everything in a woman, simply because she is beautiful. But if I do not at last choose my wife with more care, I shall regret it all my days.” He hung his head, and Darcy knew he was thinking of Miss Bennet. Jane Bennet looked like an angel, but Bingley had been sadly deceived in her character.
