Page 96 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

Georgiana wiped her face with the handkerchief. “Could you be mistaken?”

“I could.”

She looked at him.

“For now, you should eat what you are able to tolerate and rest when you are tired. If you suffer pain, bleeding, fever, or anything else that concerns you, I am to be told at once.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And this conversation goes no farther than this room.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Dr. Wynn rose, and Mr. Darcy stood with him.

“Thank you,” Mr. Darcy said.

“I shall be upstairs if you require me.”

After he left, Mr. Darcy closed the door.

Georgiana sat with her face buried in the handkerchief.

“I thought it was over.”

Mr. Darcy returned to her. “It is over, Sweetling. That blackguard cannot harm you again.”

“But I shall have his child.”

Mr. Darcy’s face tightened.

“I should have warned you about him,” he said. “This is not your fault, Georgiana.”

“Fitzwilliam, you could not have known.”

“I knew what he was. You did not. I knew what he had done before, and I allowed you to leave my protection without telling you enough to recognize him. I chose Mrs. Younge and placed you in her care.”

“We both trusted her, Fitzwilliam.”

Mr. Darcy was silent.

Georgiana reached for him, and he took her hand.

“I do not blame you.”

Georgiana looked at Elizabeth.

“You do not know what happened.”

“No.”

“I want to tell you.”

“You need not tell me anything you would rather keep private.”

“I want you to know.”

Elizabeth nodded and waited.