Georgiana’s shoulders hunched, and she rubbed her elbows as if she was cold.
“You are much younger than she is,” said Darcy, gently, realizing that Georgiana had been hoping for a closer friendship. “You are still not out of the schoolroom. Maybe when you are older…”
Georgiana examined her hands, turning them over, lost in thought, while Darcy struggled to calm the tension inside him. He could not hope for anything but the misery of seeing Miss Bennet marrying someone else.
“Still,” she added, turning to her brother with a sense of urgency. “There might be a chance.”
He shook his head. “There is no time.”
“Brother, you are head over heels in love with her, and, even if she does not return your feelings, I am convinced Elizabeth Bennet will suit you. I believe you will be happy together. You must swallow your pride, apologize for the way you misspoke last time, and ask her to give you time.”
Head over heels in love. Georgiana, who was little more than a child, had worked this out. He gave a bitter laugh.
“I do owe her an apology, but I do not think that will solve the problem.”
“It is better than doing nothing. Who knows, maybe you can even convince her to stay.”
He ran his hands through his hair, torn. Georgiana’s words struck a chord. Every part of his being was spurring him to fight for Miss Bennet. It was not like Darcy to sit back and accept his fate. He was a Darcy, and Darcys did not let obstacles stand in their way.
And yet. Miss Bennet had turned him downbecausehe was a Darcy. Because of his arrogance. Because he had tried to run roughshod over her.
Georgiana’s urgings were music to his ears, but they were spoken in innocence. In any case, for Elizabeth’s sake, he could not urge her to stay. Her father and uncle were right. The sooner she left, the better. She could not run the risk of a full-blown scandal.
Besides, if she liked – Darcy balked at the word love— if she liked this Mr. Millett, then who was Darcy to stand in her way? If it made her happy, that was all that mattered.
Chapter 18
Later that morning, as Georgiana was playing a new musical composition from the sheet music he had recently bought her, a note arrived. It was addressed to his sister.
There was only one person currently in London who wrote to Georgiana, and that was Mrs. Gardiner. His pulse began to hammer as he waited for Georgiana to tell him what it was about. No doubt it was about the Gardiners’ plans to attend Astley’s Amphitheater.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “Mrs. Gardiner writes to say Miss Bennet is leaving town tomorrow!” She looked up from the note, her browfurrowed. “Oh, no! I shall miss her! This really is distressing news.”
Darcy stood up abruptly, knocking over his teacup. He cursed under his breath as the dark brew dripped from the tablecloth onto his buff trousers.
“I must go and change,” he said, regarding the damage in dismay. At least the tea had not been hot enough to burn him.
He strode across the music room, trying to calm his errant thoughts. Was this, then, the end? Would Miss Bennet simply disappear from his life?
Just as he reached the door, he turned back. He needed to know more. Was there a reason for Miss Bennet’s sudden departure?
“Tell me! What else did Mrs. Gardiner say?”
“Here,” said Georgiana, giving him the paper. “Why not read it yourself?”
He strode over quickly, took it and skimmed through. He found no explanation of this sudden decision. He read it through again more slowly.
Dear Georgiana,
I hope you are well. I am writing with unhappy news. Miss Bennet is planning to leave early tomorrow morning. I thought you should know.
If you wish to say goodbye to Miss Bennet before she leaves, we will be promenading on the Queen’s Walk at two o’clock this afternoon.
If we do not meet with you today, I hope you will visit us soon, even if Miss Bennet is no longer here. Maggie keeps asking when you will be coming again.”
Darcy handed the note back to Georgiana, trying to come to terms with this sudden development. He had been expecting Miss Bennet to leave, but he had not imagined it would be so soon.
“We must, of course, go and say goodbye to Miss Bennet,” said Georgiana. “Especially you.”
