“Not really. I cannot bring myself to begin.”
“Are you still distressed by Miss Bennet’s departure?”
Georgiana shrugged.
“Why have you not written to her, to ask her about it?”
“I have my reasons,” she said, her expression closed.
She was still unwilling to confide in him. He felt sad, knowing the reason behind it.
“I can understand you being angry, at the beginning, but once you had calmed down, perhaps you ought to have contacted Miss Bennet.”
Georgiana gave him a probing look. “I could say the same about you, Brother.”
Darcy had to bite back a laugh at the irony. “We are talking about you, now,” he said, firmly. “Is there no civilized way to resolve this?”
Georgiana rose and went to the window. “Miss Bennet has wronged me, William. I do not know if we can resolve it.”
“Would you be willing to try, at least? To find out if she has something to say?”
She turned around, conflict written all over her face. “Oh! This is so hard!” she said, anguish in her voice. “I do not know what to do.” She took a deep breath. “You think I should speak to her?”
“I think it is worth a try.” He held his breath. It was Georgiana’s decision. He did not want to push her into it. He understood her hesitation.
“Very well. I will write to her,” she whispered.
A huge burden lifted from his shoulders. “Good. I believe she is at her uncle’s house. You could write her a note inviting her here.”
Luckily, she did not ask him how he knew.
“She may be angry with me. What if she refuses?”
Darcy smiled inwardly. “I doubt it very much.”
Darcy was dying to know what came of the meeting between his sister and Elizabeth, but he remained patient, until Elizabeth arrived at his doorstep and informed him that she and Georgiana were friends again.
He took both her hands and brought them to his lips. “That is excellent news. Do you think we should tell her about the engagement now?”
“I am not sure. Our conversation was difficult. But we cannot delay. I would not want her to hear it from someone else.”
“Then come, let us get it over with, whatever the consequences. We will take the carriage, and I will speak to her alone. Then, if all is well, you can join me.”
It took only five minutes to go from Grosvenor to Cavendish Square.
He found Georgiana with Mrs. Annesley. She stood up with a smile when she saw him.
“You look much happier,” he remarked.
“Yes, we have reconciled our differences. It was a misunderstanding on my part. I am so ashamed.”
“We have both been guilty of judging others wrongly.”
“Yes, butyoujudged her at the beginning, William. I judged her when she was already my friend. I should have known better.”
“I also—” he thought better of telling her about his own folly – how he had jumped to his own conclusions about her departure. “Anyway, what matters is that you are friends again. Have you forgiven her for everything?”
“There was nothing formeto forgive. She did nothing. I was the one who wronged her. I feel so dreadful! I apologized to her, but how can an apology make up for what I put her through? I only hopeshewill forgiveme.”
