“Precisely. There is no documentation, no evidence at all that such a conversation ever took place. Moreover, given that Anne is sickly and unlikely to be able to bear a child, neither of my parents would countenance such a marriage today.”
Elizabeth blushed at this, but said, “Why does your aunt persist?”
Mr. Darcy snorted inelegantly. “She believes that if she insists on it long enough and loudly enough, I will fall in with her wishes.”
“And Miss de Bourgh?”
“She has even less interest in wedding me than I have in wedding her, if that is possible.”
“I see.”
“Miss Elizabeth, I am a man of honour. Think you that I would have paid this much attention to you, were I betrothed to another?”
She shook her head, but did not respond. In silence, they walked back to the bench where the Colonel and Jane sat.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The butler struggled with Georgiana, intent on forcing her out, but she would have none of it. Desperate, unwilling to let anything stop her from finding her aunt, she kicked the butler in the knee; he cried out and fell against the wall, dropping Georgiana’s arm.
She ran from him and into the drawing room, but no one was there. She raced back across the hallway and pounded on her uncle’s study door. There was no answer; she threw the door open, but the room was empty.
She ran back into the hallway and then up the stairs, crying, “Aunt Elaine, please! It’s Georgiana! I beg you, I beg you to help me!”
A door opened and a voice said, “Georgiana? Georgiana Darcy? What in the world?” And the Countess of Matlock dashed into the hallway and gathered her niece into her arms.
The butler managed to get up from the floor, gather his wits and chase the shabby girl up the stairs, only to find his employer cradling the hysterical girl and stroking her hair. The Countess glanced at her butler and said, softly, “It is all right, Mr. Robeson. You will recall my niece, Georgiana Darcy. Have the Rose Room prepared for her immediately.”
“Yes, my lady.” Mr. Robeson was confused; he recalled young, pretty Miss Darcy. This ragged creature looked nothinglike her. But he also knew that his actions at the door, though performed in good faith, were best forgotten in light of this new intelligence. The pounding at the door had stopped. All efforts would be made to make Miss Darcy welcome.
The Countess managed to calm Georgiana down enough to understand that the girl had run away from her husband. There was evidently a good deal more to be learnt, but first things first: Georgiana must be bathed and put into appropriate clothing.
One of the upstairs maids heard the commotion and appeared. “May I assist you, my lady?” she asked, eyes wide at seeing Georgiana.
“Agnes, help me get Georgiana to the Rose Room. She needs a bath and clothes. See if you can find something of mine that can be made to fit her.”
Agnes managed not to gasp in shock. Georgiana Darcy! Everyone knew the girl had run off with a servant’s son; what was she doing here? She smiled to herself, gleefully, as she helped the girl walk to the Rose Room. What a tale she would have to tell downstairs tonight!
“Do not leave me, Aunt, I beg you!” Georgiana cried, when the three of them entered the bedroom.
“I shall not, Georgiana. I will sit with you while you are bathed and dressed.”
It was only when Agnes helped Georgiana out of her ragged dress that the Countess realised her niece was with child. And the bruises on her arms! The Countess barely managed to hide her shock.
“Burn the dress, Agnes,” the Countess ordered.
“Yes,” Georgiana echoed. “Burn the – no, wait!” She snatched the dress out of the maid’s hands and rummaged through its pockets. “Look, Aunt, look at this.”
The Countess unfolded the dirty paper and saw:
Evelina Mary Younge of this Parish
and George Phillip Wickham of this Parish
were married in Birmingham Chapel by Banns
This day of August the 24thin the Year 1809
By me, Curate Thomas Barnaby
