Page 106 of Twice Chosen

The story came unevenly.

Mrs. Younge. Ramsgate. Wickham's arrival. The secrecy that had seemed romantic because Georgiana had been lonely and eager to prove herself grown. The plan to elope. Darcy's unexpected arrival.

Georgiana cried before she reached the end.

Elizabeth did not interrupt except to hand her a handkerchief.

When Georgiana finished, she stared down at her hands. "I thought you should know before you became my sister."

Elizabeth moved closer. "Why?"

Georgiana looked up. "Because it concerns my character."

"No."

The word was firm enough that Georgiana blinked.

Elizabeth took her hand. "It concerns his."

Tears filled Georgiana's eyes again. "I lied to Fitzwilliam."

"You were frightened."

"I nearly left with him."

"You were fifteen."

"I knew better."

Elizabeth's heart ached. "Knowing a rule is not the same as understanding a person who means to deceive you."

Georgiana looked away. "Fitzwilliam came before--"

"And you told him."

"Because he found us."

"You still told him."

Georgiana began crying.

Elizabeth held her.

After a while Georgiana whispered, "He said the same thing."

Elizabeth smiled into her hair. "Your brother occasionally has sense."

Georgiana laughed weakly.

At the doorway Darcy stood unseen.

He had come to ask whether they wished to join him for tea and stopped when he heard Georgiana speak Wickham's name.

He should have left.

Instead he remained long enough to hear Elizabeth say that his sister's shame did not belong to her.

Darcy closed his eyes.