I gaped outright as George vividly mimed the improbable scene. “There I cringed, liverish and stammering, pinned by Winston’s dagger glare while serpents and daggers practically shot from her ladyship’s stare.” His wide eyes implored belief. “When without hint or warning, Lord High and Mighty Marquess of Stony-faced Snobbery drew me aside and spoke private words of approbation and encouragement!”
My jaw likely clattered to our feet in undignified disbelief. Before a coherent response formed, he rushed on earnestly. “I swear on Mother’s gravestone, that granite pillar informed me in lucid detail how thoughtless ignorance had nearly shipwrecked his own brightest hopes. But Providence grants an opportunity for a wiser course if I would embrace it!” George shook his head in wondering disbelief. “I stood dumbstruck, unable even to choke forth gratitude before Belmont brusquely dismissed me to make apologies.”
My mind spun dizzily, struggling to reconcile such astonishing revelation with long-held assumptions. At length, I found my voice to rasp, “But what brought about such an astonishing turnaround from the one with the greatest cause for objection?”
George slowly shook his head. “Dash me if I comprehend, Darcy! Unless...” Sudden thought arrested him. “When I spoke initially of childhood attachment to a lass of interesting background but irregular status, Belmont’s reaction gripped me oddly.” He searched my face intently. “Do you suppose some unwed indiscretion long past left him inclined toward sympathy in such sticky circumstances?”
I shifted uneasily, my pulse quickening at an unwelcome speculation. But before I formed the hasty words, George abruptly waved aside the notion with fresh sobriety. “No matter! Do you remember what Lizzy always used to say? Something like ‘think on the past only as it gives pleasure’ or something like that? I aim to do the same.” He extended his hand, and I clasped it firmly in relieved solidarity. Whatever weaknesses once jeopardized my mercurial brother’s happiness, perhaps metal indeed now annealed to stand fast when fires roared hot and unrelenting. And who was I to scorn Heaven’s unorthodox methods of instruction or Redemption’s call to the least likely, however late in the hour?
“I am proud you faced down your demons,” I told him. “Lesser men would have fled without a backward glance. I had hoped this engagement would be the making of you, and so it has.”
George’s whole countenance brightened, years falling away. “Beyond my fears of not being good enough, nothing equals Lucilla’s smile… to say nothing for her kisses. Oh, Fitz!” He sighed, and drat if he did not place his hand over his heart like a solemn pledge. “She is my angel, Fitz. Whatever sacrifice I must make, it proves cheap when I see heaven’s own smile bestowed.”
My throat tightened unexpectedly with bittersweet longing. How piercing sweet to be deemed worthy of such devotion! But I tamped the wayward envy down. “Then I wish you both lasting delight ahead.”
But shadows crept back, dulling his cheerful visage. “I do have one regret—how I grieved dear Lizzy! Thoughtless ingratitude poorly repaid her ready championship.” He grimaced. “I posted an apology and farewell yesterday, before emotions lured me astray from rightful vows. I know she could have had no real expectations of me. Still, tender heart must feel some pang, however transient regard proved.”
My breath seized as premonition screamed ice through every vein. I grated through frozen lips, “What have you done?”
Bewildered, he hastened to explain. “I wrote kindly, wishing her well! Admitting attraction dangerously flared too fierce and must be banked. Of course, I credited your wise intervention steering my resolve back true.”
Horror slammed my gut like a sledgehammer. I could scarcely rasp incredulous denial. “Please, tell me your momentary madness did not—”
Realization slowly drained his features of all color. “I... perhaps hinted she posed a temptation from Lucilla’s side I narrowly overcame...”
“You saidwhat? And you had not even the decency to tell her the truth to her face, but to write her a letter accusing her of being a temptress?”
Sickly green stained his cheeks. “Oh Lord, you cautioned expressly not to stir things up further over this! I told her you said—”
I gripped my fists to resist shaking sense back into his vacant skull. “And you blamedmefor the faithless way you no doubt broke her heart?”
“Well, it was you who said…” He sighed. “Oh, damn.”
“Exactly what did you tell her?”
George scrubbed his palms nervously on the buckskin of his breeches, then miserably recounted damning phrases that painted me as a ruthless puppet master, deliberately angling to keep star-crossed lovers apart. Nausea and outrage churned acidic in my throat, hearing irreparable damage so callously inflicted upon a gentle spirit. Never had I imagined even reckless George capable of such brutal carelessness cloaked in brotherly concern.
“George, your thoughtless idiocy has wildly overreached this time! You wounded her more than Father ever did, and you mademelook like the one at fault!
He winced, cowering under my blistering attack. “Surely any fancied attachment she had for me cannot cut so deep—”
“You are a fool,” I hissed. I leaped from the bench and flung myself into the saddle. For too many years, I had stood passive witness to Elizabeth’s bewilderment and distress without intervening. No more! Come heaven or hell’s full wrath, this time, I would stand by her side. And woe betide any who dared obstruct my course now!
Twenty-Nine
Elizabeth
Thatbreakfastcouldhavecurdled fresh cream with bitterness. Seated elbow-to-elbow round the Westing’s little table, not one of us seemed able to lift eyes from our plates. Cutlery clinked sharply amidst smothering silence until one could hear their teeth grinding.
Jane made the first gallant foray with determined brightness. “The ham seems quite nicely roasted! The maid added touches of honey, I think.”
Uncle Gardiner only raised his brows as he finished the last bite from his plate. He swallowed and gravely set down his napkin. “Jane, I see no reason for you to return with us today. Lizzy must go, but perhaps your aunt and Mrs. Westing would still value your help. If you are willing to render it.”
“Indeed!” Aunt agreed. “Just until she regains her strength. I cannot know how I will sit constantly with Helen and still find the time to manage that lively toddler!”
But Jane’s tender features creased in compassion toward me. I swallowed and shook my head. No need for her to come away so soon… not when Mr. Bingley was making daily pilgrimages to Farthingdale, and she could entertain him with our aunt as a chaperone and not… well, it was so much more peaceful for them to get to know one another here than it would be back in Hertfordshire.
Jane drew a slow breath and shook her head. “I believe Lizzy needs me more.” Her resigned smile met mine. “I will go back today.”
