Page 142 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

“Do go away, Mary,” Lydia urged, hurrying over to her and blocking the younger officers’ attempt to leave. She made shooing gestures with her hands. “You are spoiling our fun.”

Mary looked at her hands and then up at her face. “Lydia, you and Kitty will follow Mrs. Conker to the dining room where she will bring you tea.”

Lydia stood up taller. “I will not go. You cannot make me.”

Kitty hurried over and took her arm. “Come away and have some tea, Lydia dearest.”

Mary moved to one side to clear the way to the door, Georgiana shuffling along with her, half-hiding behind her. Mary spied Elliot’s wooden expression, his person implacable and formidable.

Lydia shook off her sister. “Leave me be, Kitty. You never want to have any fun.”

“That is not true, Lyd, you know it is not,” Kitty cried back. “We should have went away as soon as we discovered Aunt Phillips was not at home.”

“This way, Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty,” Elliot said, holding his arms wide and herding them with his bulk toward the door in spite of Lydia’s loud objections.

Mary watched him wait for Mrs. Conker to go along with her sisters down the stairs. He kept his position until they reached the main floor. Then, he returned to stand guard in the doorway. That is when the two junior officers made their retreat.

“Now, Miss Darcy, do not look so frightened of me,” Lieutenant Wickham said, drawing Mary’s focus back to him. “I mean you no harm, believe me.”

“Make him go away,” Georgiana whispered.

Mary turned around and took both her cold hands in hers. “Be strong, my dear,” she urged in a low voice. “Do not give him power over you by showing him how afraid you are. Use your anger to force him to see that you are not weak.”

To Mary’s satisfaction, Georgiana squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.

“I have no interest in speaking to you, George. What you tried to convince me to do was despicable. I was a child. For shame,” she said, finishing with a voice that throbbed with anger.

“I thought you cared for me,” Mr. Wickham claimed. “The depth of my own feelings must be my excuse.”

Mary had never been prouder of her friend when Georgiana managed to create a scoffing laugh.

“It is true,” Mr. Wickham asserted. “I loved you. I still love you.”

“You love no one,” a new, deeper voice claimed.

Mary turned around and spied Mr. Darcy standing directly behind his sister. He put his hands on Georgiana’s shoulders and squeezed them gently. Lizzy eased her way around them and came to stand next to her sister.

“So, you are Mr. Wickham,” Lizzy said, lifting her chin. “In place of my aunt, I request that you leave her home. At once, sir.”

He ignored Lizzy, his regard fixed on Mr. Darcy and Georgiana. “I will leave, as requested. However, I wish to say that I am in earnest in my assurance that I have no intention of harming Georgiana in any way. You may not accept my assurance, but I mean everything I have said.” He bowed deeply and stalked from the drawing room, brushing past Elliot, who did not move aside to make his passage easier.

Mr. Darcy nodded at his manservant, indicating that Elliot should follow Mr. Wickham out, harrying his retreat. Lizzy swiftly pulled Mary into a loose embrace.

“Well done, Mary,” she said, pulling back and stroking her arm. “Stanley told us Lydia and Kitty are in the dining room, annoyed and acting like spoiled brats.”

“Stanley said that?” Mary asked doubtfully. Lizzy shrugged. “I thought not.” Mary glanced at her friend, who had settled into her brother’s arms. An occasional shudder passed over her.

“I stood up to him,” Georgiana told Mr. Darcy. “I did not run away and hide in a corner.”

“I saw that, my dear one,” her brother said, praise in his voice. “I am sorry I was not here.”

Georgiana pulled out of his arms. She smoothed her dress and patted her bonnet to be sure it had not gone askew. She took a long breath, visibly calming herself further. “You will not always be next to me, Fitz. I am attempting to become more self-reliant, remember?”

Mary enjoyed the softening of Mr. Darcy’s expression as he said, “I remember. I am proud of you.”

I have never missed having a brother until this moment.

“Thank you. But I could use a cup of tea, I think,” Georgiana said.