After several minutes, Georgiana yawned. Then, a few moments later she yawned again. “I seem to be unusually tired this afternoon,” she said. “Would you mind terribly if I took a nap?”
“Of course not,” said Mrs. Younge. “You go get some rest. You seem a bit troubled. Perhaps the quiet of your room will help you think as well, though you may always tell me anything that burdens you.”
This comment relieved Georgiana’s mind greatly. Her companion seemed to think that she wished to be by herself to think over whether she should elope. That was perfect. “Thank you,” she said. She then laid aside her embroidery and headed upstairs.
Once she was in her room with Millie, she got the key to the door out of the desk and locked her door. Then she grabbed Millie by the hand and pulled her further into the room, as far away from the door as possible. She did not wish to take any chances on being overheard.
“Millie,” she said in a whisper, “I need your help.”
Millie’s face, which had been full of confusion, suddenly became very concerned. “What’s wrong, Miss? You know I will do whatever I can to help you.”
“You know Mr. Wickham, who has been visiting here occasionally?”
“Yes,” the maid answered. “He’s a charmer.” The way she said it was not particularly complimentary, and now that Georgiana knew what he was really like, she had to agree.
“Well, he and Mrs. Younge have been working together to convince me to elope with Mr. Wickham. I was almost convinced to go through with it, but I overheard them talking, and they said that if I didn’t go willingly, Mr. Wickham would force me. I need to get a letter to my brother and perhaps Richard as quickly as possible, but I don’t know how to do it without Mrs. Younge finding out about it.”
“Are you certain, Miss?” asked Millie. “I can believe it of that Mr. Wickham but why would Mrs. Younge risk her position like that?”
“The conversation I overheard between them was in herbedroom, Millie. And I heard him kissing her. She probably thinks he really loves her, and she’s helping him out of love.”
Millie scoffed. “I don’t think that man knows how to love anyone but himself. Fine, I can help you. The fastest way to get a message to your brother or to Colonel Fitzwilliam will be to send it express. They should get them first thing in the morning. Then, if they set off right away, they can be here tomorrow night. You might want to attempt to delay Mr. Wickham just in case they can’t get here right away.”
Georgiana was frightened by the mere idea that her guardians might not get here in time, and she began wringing her hands. “What will I do if they are delayed?” she asked.
“If they don’t get here before Mr. Wickham becomes insistent, then you will simply have to run away. Take whatever money you can find in the house and head for London. It won’t be comfortable, but it’s far better than being chained to a man for life just because he is greedy for your fortune.”
Georgiana nodded. Millie was absolutely correct.
“First things first, Miss,” said Millie. “You need to write letters to your guardians.”
“Of course,” said Georgiana. She sat down at her desk and began writing while Millie slipped out of the room.
The maid returned before Georgiana was done writing, but she waited patiently. The letters were short and to the point, asking her brother and her cousin to come to Ramsgate as soon as humanly possible, because she was in danger. She folded them up and sealed them. Then she turned to Millie.
“How am I going to send these by express? It is very expensive, and Mrs. Younge doesn’t allow me to carry much money. Never more than a pound.”
“Not to worry,” said Millie. “I know where Mrs. Younge keeps the key to the safe.” She held out a five-pound note to show Georgiana.
Georgiana handed her letters to the maid, who immediately headed out of the house, though she did inform Mrs. Younge that she would be running an errand for the cook. It was a mundane enough excuse, and Mrs. Younge paid it no mind whatsoever.
When Millie returned, she confirmed that the letters had been sent and that they should arrive at their destination firstthing in the morning, possibly even before the recipients woke up. Georgiana breathed a short sigh of relief, but she would not feel truly safe until either her cousin or her brother was in the house.
~~~~~
The following day, Mr. Wickham arrived in the early afternoon to hear Georgiana’s answer. She told him that she agreed to elope with him, but she would need a couple of days to get ready. Though he resisted, in the end he agreed that they could leave first thing in the morning, two days hence.
Georgiana allowed him to kiss her several times, though instead of being charmed and thrilled, she merely felt slimy and chilled. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice. They spent the rest of their visit making their plans and dreaming of their future life together.
Playing along with George’s plan was one of the hardest things Georgiana had ever done. She was not good at lying or acting, and she had very little practice at either. She was genuinely surprised that Mr. Wickham didn’t notice her awkwardness or resistance, but he apparently took her words at face value.
As the day wore on, Georgiana’s nervousness increased. She wondered if her brother would be able to get here today. Would she have to wait for another sleepless night full of fears for her safety? Finally, at nearly eight in the evening, Fitzwilliam walked through the front door and into the parlor where Georgiana was playing cards with Mrs. Younge.
She immediately jumped up and ran to him, nearly leaping into his arms. Fitzwilliam was here, and now everything would be taken care of. She would be safe.
