“I would like that.”
“You must ask Lizzy again! She still loves you. She does — she does not like to admit it, and she says that love is not enough, but you can convince her that you will not dictate her behavior, and that you respect her, and…everything. That you love her.”
“Georgie, I will try.”
“You must! I expect you to tryveryhard. I shall help you! Let me tell you everything Elizabeth said about you.”
“What did she say?” Darcy flushed.
Georgiana laughed. “You will need to ask her — but remember, she loves you, and even if she pretends she does not, she does.”
“Did she say that she still loves me? When?”
“Begging for information told to me in confidence — you have changed! That is ungentlemanlike.”
Darcy rolled his eyes.
“Uhhh.” Georgiana frowned. “Never mind what she said. She just needs to be convinced you love and…respect her.”
This was not entirely encouraging. “Georgie, confessing your friend’s secrets to a gentleman admirer — if you are to do so, at least do a creditable job of betraying her trust.”
Georgie snickered. “If Lizzy didn’t want me to tell you, she had asked me not to…she claimed to be quite convinced you would never relent in your opposition, and we would never see your form again.Ialways believed in you — whydidLady Catherine visit?”
“Now that the pollution provided by you has been thrown from Pemberley, time has arrived for Anne and I to contract our long foreseen nuptials.”
“Gah!” Georgiana jumped back with a disgusted expression. “You couldn’t ever.”
“On the contrary, nothing would have proven easier: Lady Catherine had acquired a special license before she set off from London.”
“How did you disclose that you shall never marry her to Lady Catherine?”
“My other inducement to London. I left in secret by my carriage and gave orders to my servants and the locals to tell her I had gone north to Scotland.”
Georgiana’s mouth fell open. She clapped her hand over her mouth. “Not you! You did not!”
Darcy tilted his head. He tried to channel how Elizabeth would tease Georgiana.
Clearly the effort was a failure, as Georgiana giggled. “I near believed you.”
“I am trying to be less…less proud.”
“Do not change too greatly.” Georgiana embraced him. “I would have cried! I was so scared you would not come.”
“Time is here foryouto marry.” Darcy embraced her tightly. “Since Papa died, I have always, always…tried.”
“Fitzwilliam! You have been the best, the kindest, the sweetest brother in the whole of the land. You have cared for both me and Anne, and you… I always depended upon you, and your judgement, and your affection.”
“I made mistakes. You know I have. And I allowed you to leave without following you. I have not—”
“You followed me!”
“I have not always been the best guardian — but I always tried. And I am so…so proud of you. And so happy that…that you have done so well for yourself despite my failings. Georgie, I am…proud. Deeply and completely proud you are my sister.”
“AndIam proud you are my brother.”
“Then let us see you married to Peake. I will be happynowto meethimas a brother.”
Two hours later the ceremony was done, the vows said, the rings exchanged, the register signed. Georgiana and Peake shook hands with the vicar while Bingley and Elizabeth talked quietly next to a statue of the virgin that dated to before the reformation, and which apparently had survived Cromwell and the fire by hiding.
