“I received at least three letters in which he expressed his admiration for a lady. In his typically reserved and secretive manner, he described her as the most accomplished young lady he had encountered recently.”
“We make a fine pair when devising battle plans,” Georgiana tittered, recalling how the colonel had found out her name as soon as they arrived at Rosings from an unsuspecting Lady Catherine.
“But what about her? Does she…like him?” the colonel asked, eager to learn more.
“I truly do not know. Our discussion was mainly around music and theatre. I am awful at engaging in intimate conversation. She possesses a keen intelligence and a wonderful sense of humour. Yet, I am not versed enough to learn the intimate truth from a more experienced lady at our first meeting. However, I observed her showing surprise during dinner when he spoke about the entail, blaming Lady Catherine for introducing such a subject. Then, when he appeared in the music room…there was a certain spark between them.”
“My God! How angry I am!” the colonel exclaimed in his usual forthright manner. “If only that scoundrel Wickham had not appeared in the county, Darcy’s journey to Hertfordshire might have had a different result—” He stopped in agony,realising that he had told Georgiana a secret he was not supposed to reveal.
And indeed, she blushed violently and cried out, forgetting all precautions, “He was there? Why? Was he looking for me?”
The colonel looked at her, slightly suspicious, interested to see whether she was still infatuated with that man. But on her face, he saw only despair and terror.
“I am sorry. I was not supposed to tell you that.”
“You are wrong, Richard. And Fitzwilliam is also wrong to keep it from me. I am only anxious thathecould do something against my brother. Last summer, I was terrified they might duel.” Georgiana’s voice trembled with fear and anger, her eyes reflecting the turmoil within her.
“That was also my fear, but Darcy has enough common sense not to put himself in danger, as we are responsible for your fate.”
“But I still do not understand what Wickham was doing there.”
“He has joined the militia, and his regiment happened to be stationed in Hertfordshire for the winter.”
“What a dreadful coincidence! I can only imagine what Fitzwilliam felt when he encountered him again. And you say that it was not planned by that…man?” she asked with such contempt that the colonel took her hand.
“No, it was just as you said—a dreadful coincidence. I cannot see how he could have found out where your brother was or planned such a complicated situation. But his presence made Darcy reject the idea of inviting you to Hertfordshire. I am confident that spending a few days in the company of Miss Bennet and her family, you would have befriended her and contributed to their understanding.”
“Did he leave the country because of Wickham?” Georgiana asked.
“No, he told me that Bingley made a poor choice, falling for a woman who was only interested in his wealth.”
“Oh!” Georgiana exclaimed, once again flattered that her cousin was discussing such intimate subjects with her. “He takes such good care of Mr Bingley.”
“I am delighted that he takes such good care of his friends, but he does not act as decisively in his own interests,” the colonel said, remembering how Darcy had wished to postpone their journey to avoid encountering Miss Bennet.
“How do you know?” Georgiana asked, genuinely interested yet looking as serious and composed as any young lady, when only a year ago she had still been a child.
“Because I know him. When he is ready to do something, he acts on the spot. I think he is still reflecting.”
“Then why did he come here after all?”
“It is possible indeed that he is approaching a decision,” agreed the colonel, even though not a single explicit word had been spoken between them. Their conversation the previous night could not be trusted as an admission that he loved Elizabeth Bennet and wanted to marry her. “I am scared that he is a little too…stiff,” he continued after a short pause.
“What do you mean?” Georgiana asked with enormous hesitation, unsure whether she could participate in such a discussion about her brother.
“He told me once some nonsense about her family not being equal to ours.”
“My God, that was why you said he is still hesitant…but is it a valid reason?” Georgiana asked, puzzled. “I do not understand. Is it about that entail…? I suppose there is no shame in it—they are not to blame for the decision of an ancestor. And besides, his wife need not bring a dowry.”
“I did not understand it either. You know how secretive he can be. Yet, when he finally agreed to come here, I hoped he might come close to a decision.”
“I do not see how we can help him,” Georgiana said, suddenly discouraged, looking to the colonel for help, ready to do anything her cousin might ask her to do.
“He must be in her company for as long and as often as possible. I hope that after seeing her, he will eventually make the right decision. And I shall do my best to present him in a pleasant light.”
“And I shall befriend her and spend every moment I can with her. But I cannot explicitly praise my brother. That is your task,” Georgiana said. It was an agreeable plan as she already liked Miss Bennet. In the short time they had spent together, she had discovered a young lady entirely different from the women in their London circle, all of whom gravitated towards her brother, seeing not the man but only his fortune.
She could not explain her certainty about Miss Bennet’s qualities and good nature. But then, with a smile, she recalled how she had learnt some insights about her during the two months at Pemberley without even knowing who she was.
