“Fitzwilliam lost his mother when he was but 12. When he was 22, he lost his father and had to take over management of the estate—about as old as your elder sister. He lost his long-time steward 6 months later. Of course, he also became, along with my cousin Richard, guardian of a very young sister, whom he had never spent more than a month in the same house with. A few months later, he capitulated to nearly ceaseless nagging… can I say that word without sounding unladylike?”
“It is just us here.”
Georgiana smiled. “He reluctantly decided to participate in the season, and barely escaped an organised and ruthless compromise attempt the first month. He has played the fox in the marriage hunt since he came of age, but the pressure doubled or trebled when he inherited.”
Elizabeth tapped her chin. “I never considered it in that light.”
Georgiana stared down at her shoes. “It gets worse…farworse. I would like to tell you my most shameful secret, if you are of a mind to hear it.”
Apparently, it was time to take up the yoke ofMistress of Awkward Conversationsagain.
“Something tells me you have aneedto tell this secret tosomeone, and I am elected. I do not mind. I have heard secrets before, and I keep them to myself. Something in my character encourages people to unburden themselves.”
Unable to look Elizabeth in the eye, Georgiana began her tale at barely above a whisper.
“My father’s steward’s son was his godson, and he took the trouble and expense to raise and educate the boy beside my brother. He even paid for a gentleman’s education and arranged for a valuable living to be reserved should he take orders.”
“I know some of that.”
The assurance seemed to steady Georgiana.
“After Father’s death, the son came to my brother and claimed he did not want to be a clergyman. He asked for and was granted £3,000 in exchange for the living, as well as £1,000 willed to him outright. Fitzwilliam considered it a bargain because he thought too poorly of the man’s character to allow him to take charge of people’s spiritual needs.”
The young lady started to shake, so Elizabeth sought to distract her for a moment. “That clears up a point. I am embarrassed to admit I once believed your brother denied the living. I came to think better of him, but it is helpful to have the full story.”
Georgiana shook even more and could not look at her new friend. “Oh, you do not have the full story—not by half.”
“Are you certain you wish to tell me?”
“I am… I feel… well—” she mumbled, “I have two reasons for telling you. First, I want to be your friend, and I think you need to know what kind of person you might offer the hand of friendship to.”
“And the other?”
“As you said, I need to tellsomeone. Nobody knows about this except Fitzwilliam and Richard, but I trust you, and I would be relieved to say the words.”
“Why do you trust me? You hardly know me.”
“My brother told me to trust you implicitly. You are theonlyperson, male or female, to earn that distinction. Even our relatives do not get such faith.”
Elizabeth blushed at the compliment paid outside her hearing. “Your brother is right… occasionally.”
“This may be one of those times.” She paused a moment, plucking up her courage. “Fitzwilliam had no idea what to do with me, so he sent me to school, as happens to most ladies of my station. Last summer, at my request, he took me from school and granted me a holiday in Ramsgate with a new companion.”
“Generous of him… or careless. It could go either way.”
Surprised at the criticism, Georgiana continued, “Probably the latter. That same man… the steward’s son—”
“Mr Wickham?”
Georgiana turned sharply to stare at her friend.
“He joined the militia and is stationed in Meryton, near my home. All the ladies swooned over him for a time, but his character has recently been revealed aslacking.”
Georgiana stared down. “His is not the only one. He came to Ramsgate, seemingly by chance, to convince me to elope with him.”
Elizabeth gasped in shock and nearly shouted, “He what?”
Georgiana cringed. Elizabeth immediately slid across the couple feet that separated them and wrapped her in a tight embrace. Tears leaked from Georgiana’s eyes, and Elizabeth felt as though she had slapped the poor girl.
