Her silence forced him to pry his eyes open again. She was nervously fixed on their hands, her brow furrowed. “I am uncertain of what to say––”
“You need not say anything, my love. It is as it has been all his life. Wickham escaped untouched, while someone else will pay for his crimes. But do not fear,” he said, removing his hand from atop hers and weakly reaching up to trace her jaw with his fingers. “We will be settled at Pemberley. He will not harm us again.”
“Sir…”
“My sister. I know. I will seek an annulment between him and Georgiana––”
“Anannulment?”
“Yes. We will bring her back with us, and you can help her reclaim the woman she was before he destroyed her.”
“I do not… It is only that…” She stared at him with wide eyes.
“Elizabeth, what is it?”
“I…”
There was a commotion in the hall. Soon after, the door swung open, and instead of the doctor, came Lady Catherine in all her glory.
“Remove my nephew to Rosings at once! Where is the physician?”
Behind Lady Catherine, Georgiana ran into the room, throwing her arms around Darcy’s neck, tears streaming down her face.
“Oh, Fitzwilliam, you are alive. I was so afraid I would lose you.”
Darcy stiffened slightly at her familiarity but knew the fear of losing a loved one and found comfort in her affection.
“Thank you, Georgiana. I am well, only a little dizzy.”
“It is no wonder,” Lady Catherine declared, looking at the small room. “But now that you are awake, you can remove to Rosings and will be in better comfort there.”
“I am certain my nurse has been nothing but attentive,” he said, reaching over to squeeze Elizabeth’s hand.
A shocked silence consumed the room, and he looked about. “Elizabeth. What is amiss?”
There was a sharp intake of breath before Lady Catherine attempted to speak, her words coming out clipped. “E-liz-a-beth?”
Darcy turned his head back at the older woman. “Where is Bingley? I must ask him about the duel.”
“The duel?” Georgiana asked, shaking off her stupor. “Fitzwilliam…”
“Do not fear, my dear sister. We will seek an annulment from that blaggard. You will be free from him if it is the last thing I do on this earth.”
Georgiana gasped and stepped back from the bed. “Brother! What are you saying?”
Darcy looked at the faces of everyone in the room and pushed up on his elbows, his head still spinning. “I will not see you married to the scoundrel!”
“But… I…”
Heavy footsteps thundered down the corridor as a man’s voice boomed. “He is awake?”
Fitzwilliam Darcy felt the blood drain from his face, and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam stormed into the room.
“Praise be. You are alive, Darce!”
“As are you,” Darcy whispered before his head fell back and the room wentdark again.
Georgiana Darcy was troubled. The last week with her brother’s injuries had been one of fear and uncertainty. How would she go on if she lost him? Would Pemberley go to a distant cousin she did not know? Where would she live? Would Richard realize his full shame of her and send her away to a seminary?
