She looked at him. “What if he leaves his post?”
“He will not do so without consequence,” Darcy returned. “And precautions will be taken. You need not fear him. Only – do not go anywhere unattended.”
She hesitated only a moment. “I cannot believe I was so deceived,” she said.
Darcy inclined his head. “You were not to blame. I should have spoken sooner. I did not imagine he would dare so much.”
She drew a breath. “What will you do now?”
He hesitated slightly. “Georgie, I must speak to Miss Elizabeth,” he said. “There are things she ought to know – particularly of Ramsgate. I do not want to have any concealment between us.”
Georgiana’s colour rose. “Must you?”
“I would not act without your consent,” he said at once.
She was silent a moment. “If you believe it right… then I shall trust your judgement.”
His expression softened. “Thank you, my dear. Miss Elizabeth might help you. You must not fear her opinion.”
“If you say so.”
He moved toward the door, then paused. “I shall ask Miss Elizabeth to join us.”
Darcy returned within a few minutes, Elizabeth beside him. Georgiana rose at once, her composure visibly strained, though she made an effort to receive Elizabeth with calm.
“My sister has consented,” Darcy said, addressing Elizabeth with quiet gravity, “that I should explain what has passed between her and Mr. Wickham in the past. I thought you should know. I must ask you not to repeat it.”
Elizabeth raised her brow slightly at first, then inclined her head, her expression attentive.
Darcy did not immediately sit. “As you already know, Mr. Wickham applied to me once more, after the greater part of hisfortune had been spent, declaring his situation to be desperate and expressing a willingness to take orders. That was the last I saw him until this summer,” he began. “When Miss Darcy was in Ramsgate, she was placed under the care of a companion who, unfortunately, proved unequal to the trust placed in her. During that time, Mr. Wickham contrived to renew his acquaintance with her.”
Georgiana lowered her eyes.
“He persuaded her,” Darcy continued, more steadily, “that he was attached to her – that his intentions were honourable – and that an immediate marriage would secure their happiness.”
Elizabeth’s expression did not change, but her attention sharpened.
“My sister,” he said, more quietly, “was prevailed upon to consent to an elopement.”
A brief silence followed.
“I was fortunate enough,” he continued, “to arrive before the scheme could be completed. The design was abandoned, and Mr. Wickham quitted the place.”
Elizabeth drew a slow breath.
“Miss Darcy’s fortune is considerable, I imagine?” she asked.
Georgiana started; Darcy, observing Elizabeth closely, replied, “It amounts to thirty thousand pounds.”
“Good Heavens.” Elizabeth turned then – not to Darcy, but to Georgiana. “You believed him?” she asked gently. The question was not unkind – but it was direct.
Georgiana flushed deeply. “I did.”
“And you meant to go with him.”
“Yes.”
“Poor Georgiana – how very little you can have understood of the danger.” Elizabeth regarded her steadily. “You did not fully understand what would have followed?”
