“Wickham was already married?” the Countess gasped.
“Yes, and to my companion, Mrs. Younge.” Poor Georgiana burst into tears yet again.
The Countess wondered if this situation could get any worse. Her niece had eloped with the steward’s son; she had thought nothing could be more terrible. Now it appeared that the marriage was not even valid! And her niece was with child!
Her mind whirled. Was an unwed mother worse than an elopement? No, not if the unwed mother could be hidden away until the babe was delivered and then sent safely away to foster parents. Alas, it was too late for such a deception to be practiced for Georgiana. All of London already knew about the elopement, and now the servants were about to know of the bigamous marriage and the illegitimate child, thanks to Agnes’ presence in the room.
The Countess shook her head, clearing her thoughts. Apprehensive as she was for her social standing and family name, the weeping girl before her must be her first concern.
“I will keep this paper safe, Georgiana, I promise. Look, here is a lovely warm bath for you. Agnes, run to Sally and have her bring my special bath salts for my niece. And, Agnes, I know you are already bursting with anticipation to tell all the servants what you have seen and heard in this room. But hear me well – I will throw you into the street without a reference the minute I hear that any of the other servants have learnt of this; do you understand me?”
The Countess’ steely tone wiped the smile off the maid’s face. “Yes, my lady,” she replied, voice quivering.
The Countess took pity on her. “Agnes, I am not a dragon. But I think you can understand that I wish these events to be hidden as long as may be. Having the London servants’ grapevine afire with the news would defeat that purpose. You have been in my employ for, what – six years?”
“Seven next month, my lady,” Agnes replied.
“I am certain I can trust you, then. Can I not?”
“Oh, indeed, my lady.”
“Go then, and find Sally; tell her to come here. You can then go about your regular duties, Agnes.”
There, the Countess thought, as Agnes scurried off. That might delay the news from making its way out of this house by at least a day. She was too experienced to believe that Agnes could keep the secret for much longer than that.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam returned to Netherfield rather late, but the advanced hour did not keep them from learning about the drama that was currently being enacted. Mrs. Hurst whispered to the two gentlemen that her brother, Charles, had informed Miss Bingley that she was to be removed from the bosom of her family and made to live in lodgings in London, financed only by her dowry.
Thanking Mrs. Hurst for the information, the two retreated to the billiards room. Colonel Fitzwilliam began, “I do not know quite how to feel about this, Darcy. Bingley goes from namby-pamby to autocrat in the space of one day? What the deuce?”
Mr. Darcy shook his head. “I am equally bewildered. I did encourage him to speak to his sister; that evidently did not go well.”
The Colonel said, uncomfortably, “I fear I may be to blame. My agreement with him as to courting Miss Bennet made him see his own faults, perhaps a little too sharply.”
“You cannot blame yourself, Richard. Bingley’s faults and his actions are his own. He is, perhaps, a little too susceptible to counseling from those he considers his superiors. Myself included, if I am honest.”
“And, knowing that as I did, I should have been more circumspect in my advice.”
There was a quick knock on the door and Mrs. Hurst peeked in. “I apologise, Colonel; with all the uproar in the house, I quite forgot to give you this message. It arrived a few hours ago. The messenger has already left.” She handed the Colonel a sealed message and left, wishing them both a good night.
“It is from Mother,” he said. He ripped it open and then gasped.
“Richard?”
“It is Georgiana; she is at Matlock House.”
Darcy was at his cousin’s side in an instant and read the message himself. “We must go immediately.”
“We must, of course, but –“
“But we will stop first at Longbourn to explain.” Darcy understood the Colonel’s concern immediately.
“Bingley is also going to London tomorrow with Miss Bingley, you recall,” the Colonel said. “Or so he says. He might ask that we travel together.”
“We will simply say that we are in London on family business and cannot delay.”
“Fair enough.”
