Georgiana shook her head firmly.
“No. She did not follow me. She was by the river, just before the overcrop – you know where the bank is steep and the water very fast. She was about to take off her stockings – she meant to dip her feet in the river.”
She flushed as she saw from his expression that such improper behavior would hardly endear Miss Bennet to him.
“There was no one around,” she elaborated. “Except me.”
Darcy wished Georgiana would not try so hard to justify her new acquaintance’s behavior. No self-respecting young lady wandered around unchaperoned, and a gentleman’s daughter certainly did not take off her stockings in a public space.
“Consider what you are saying, Georgiana. Wouldyoudo something so improper?”
“I might, if I believed I was alone, and no one would see me. You go swimming sometimes.” She looked down at her feet. “You will no doubt tell me that you are a gentleman and that it is different for a lady, of course. I am aware that is the case.” She looked frustrated. “The point is, there was no one else around.Iwas alone when she saw me.”
“That is not the same thing. You are on the grounds of Pemberley.” He stopped, thinking of Wickham. What if it had not been Miss Bennet who had found her, but Wickham? Darcywould not put it past him to find more unpleasant ways of coercing Georgiana to marry him.
“And you were very improper to be wandering the grounds alone. Where was Mrs. Annesley? You should know better by now, after your experience at Ramsgate.”
Georgiana’s eyes widened. “You cannot seriously believe that Wickham would do me any harm. Not here, surely?”
He did not want to frighten her, but he had to ensure her safety. “I hope not, but it is best not to tempt fate.”
“Am I to remain a prisoner in the house, then?”
“Of course not, little sister. But if you have someone with you, then Wickham will be less likely to approach you.”
Though Mrs. Younge’s presence had not proved a deterrent at all.
His mind went back suddenly to what Georgiana had said earlier. “What was Miss Bennet doing in Pemberley in the first place? This is my land.”
“There are public footpaths. People are allowed to walk and ride there.”
Darcy raised his brow skeptically.
“She told me her uncle had paid to tour the house. We could ask Mrs. Reynolds about it.” There was a hopeful note in her voice.
“I certainly shall. But it does not prove her innocence.”
Georgiana threw up her hands. “Sheisinnocent. I wish you would trust me. I am not completely stupid. I did tell you that Wickham wanted to elope with me, after all, even if it hurt me.”
Only because I happened to visit at the right time, thought Darcy, but he would never say such a thing aloud. The fact is, she could have kept silent. He shuddered at how close they had come to complete and utter disaster.
“I trustyoucompletely, Georgie.” He could imagine how hard it must have been to make that confession. He reached out totouch her arm, but she drew back. “It isother peopleI do not trust. Don’t you find it too much of a coincidence that Miss Bennet was able to weasel an invitation to Pemberley on the same day she set up a tour with the housekeeper?”
“No. I do not.” His sister’s voice was uncompromising. “And I am certain she had no idea who I was.”
“She may simply be a good actress.”
“At least give her a chance.”
“I did give her a chance. I did not call the magistrate. I let her go free. That is more than she deserves. Georgiana, you know what we do with criminals who are caught stealing in England. She will be arrested, and she will either be deported or swing from the end of a rope.”
“For stealing a vase?”
“For stealing a piece of bread.”
He had always thought the laws were barbaric. It did not deter hungry – or greedy – people from stealing in any case. Darcy would never condemn a young lady to such a terrible fate just for taking a vase, no matter how valuable, but he was not about to tell Georgiana that.
Georgiana gave a cry and sank into a chair. Her face was blotched, and she was looking horrified.
