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Elizabeth looked intently at the younger woman. For the first time, it dawned on her that Miss Darcy could not be much older than Lydia, who had recently turned sixteen. “Pray forgive me, but you are so young, and you are so—” she hesitated in search of the right word “—so⁠—”

“—Innocent? Is that what you mean to say? What is more, you are asking yourself what I can possibly know about pain.”

Elizabeth’s silent acknowledgment of the accuracy of her companion’s claim encouraged the younger woman to continue speaking. “I fear I have suffered a great deal of pain for someone of my age, needlessly endured heartbreak largely of my own making no less. I am not nearly so innocent of the ways of the world as you think I am. You see, it was not long ago that I fancied myself in love with an older gentleman—one whom I had admired since childhood, and one whom I later learned had earned the wrath of my brother.”

Throughout Georgiana’s poignant discourse, Elizabeth silently listened, her manner a mixture of attentiveness, empathy, and patience. The longer the younger woman spoke the more Elizabeth began to suspect that Georgiana was the person whom Colonel Fitzwilliam had alluded to when he spoke of Mr. Darcy saving a young lady from being taken advantage of by George Wickham.

Giving proof to Elizabeth’s silent conjecture, the young woman wept. “Oh, Miss Elizabeth, had it not been for my brother’s intervention, I might have been married to that horrid man. I might now be Mrs. George Wickham!”

Elizabeth gasped at this disturbing revelation.

“Do you—do you know Mr. Wickham?” Miss Darcy cried.

How uncanny was this that two families so wholly unconnected with each other, two families separated not only by hundreds of miles but a huge gap in status and privilege would find themselves the victims of the same man. Now comprehending the full extent of how blinded she had been by Wickham’s charms and how easily she had been taken in, Elizabeth shuddered.

“Sadly, I am obliged to say I do,” she replied. “I became acquainted with him last year, as did all of my sisters. It pains me to say this, but I can no longer hide the real reason for my eagerness to return to town to be with my family.” Elizabeth wiped her eyes. “You see, I only learned this morning that my youngest sister has thrown herself into Mr. Wickham’s power. She ran off with him thinking he was taking her to Scotland to be married.”

Now it was Georgiana’s turn to gasp aloud.

Elizabeth said, “That is not the worst of it. Oh, if only that were the case. But, no—they never went to Scotland. Their whereabouts are completely unknown. I fear my sister is lost to us forever. My other sisters and I are ruined.”

Upon returning to the carriage, Darcy observed the young ladies locked in a caring embrace. Which of the two offered the greater share of comfort to the other he could not say. Only one thing was certain. Not only were the two women who meant more to him than anything in the world victims of Wickham’s treachery, but it was also touchingly apparent they had confided in each other their most closely guarded secrets.

CHAPTER 17

THE REST OF HER FAMILY

GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON

Not only was Elizabeth’s aunt receiving guests during a time when she least expected them, but she was also obliged to welcome complete strangers into her home amidst the chaos and confusion surrounding Lydia’s disappearance.

An elegant, educated woman, Mrs. Gardiner managed what otherwise would have been a situation rife with uneasiness with grace. Elizabeth could well imagine how different things would have been if she had arrived at Longbourn under such circumstances. Either her mother would have made impossible any manner of civil discourse with her theatrics over poor Lydia’s fate or she would have made quite the fuss over her illustrious visitors. In whatever manner her mother might have comported herself, Elizabeth was sure it would have been cause for utter embarrassment.

She took some comfort in knowing that her Gardiner relations were people of whom she was always proud. Her aunt Gardiner had a way of making everyone she met glad for the acquaintance. It was no different with Mr. Darcy and his sister, of that Elizabeth was certain. When it was discovered that her aunt had spent part of her youth in Lambton, a small town in Derbyshire near Mr. Darcy’s home, the actual reason for the Darcys now being in Cheapside was tactfully obfuscated by talk of shared interests and possible mutual acquaintances.

Not long after Elizabeth and her party had arrived, her uncle walked in the room. Elizabeth, expecting to see her father, was half disappointed and half anxious over his absence. Once again the proper introductions were made and a short period of polite discourse was attempted. By now, Elizabeth expected her guests to make their excuses and take their leave. How astonished she was by what Mr. Darcy proceeded to do instead.

“Mr. Gardiner, sir, might I request the privilege of a private audience with you?”

A sensible man, whom Elizabeth always thought of as being the complete opposite of his sisters—her mother and her aunt, Mrs. Phillips—the older man readily acquiesced in such a manner that suggested he would not dream of denying a man of Mr. Darcy’s consequence any request that he condescended to make. The two gentlemen swiftly went away immediately after that, leaving Elizabeth to wonder what exactly Mr. Darcy was about. Apprehension, anxiety and suppositions weighed heavily on her mind, even while she endeavored to cover up her unsettling sentiments and cease her occasional hand wringing with calm conversation with Miss Darcy and Mrs. Gardiner until the gentlemen made their return.

Mr. Gardiner upon entering the room hurried to the side table and poured himself a drink. Remembering himself, he turned to the younger man. “May I offer you a brandy?”

Darcy declined.

“Well, I hope you do not mind if I have one, for if ever a situation called for such measures, this would be it.”

“Not at all, sir,” Darcy responded.

With that, the older man took a long swallow from his glass. “Please, have a seat,” he said, gesturing in the direction of his large, overly cluttered desk. Setting his unfinished drink aside, Mr. Gardiner took a seat behind the desk.

“Thank you for agreeing to speak with me in private, Mr. Gardiner,” Darcy said to the older man, now settled in the seat opposite him.

“Indeed. I am much obliged to do so. I only wish my brother Bennet were here and then you might speak with him instead, for I have a strong suspicion this meeting directly pertains to his family. He has gone out for a walk, and I cannot say with any degree of certainty when he will return.”

“In a manner of speaking, yes, my purposes have everything to do with his family. However, I feel that time is of the essence. I trust you will acquaint Mr. Bennet of the particulars of our discussion upon his return.”

Mr. Gardiner nodded in silent acquiescence.