“Then he will be the one missing out on hearing the little bird playing and singing. I know I am not the match you were expected to make –“
“Nor was George Wickham.” She almost smiled through her tears.
“I will devote my life to making you happy. I know we do not love one another, but I believe that will come.”
“What of Miss Bingley? Will she not hate me?”
“She no longer lives with me.”
“She no longer – but why?”
“Because where you bring joy, she brings misery. Where you are a little bird, she is -is – a crocodile!”
“A crocodile?!” Georgiana could not help but laugh.
Mr. Bingley shrugged. “It was just the nastiest creature I could think of, and she was always crying those crocodile tears. But my older sister, Mrs. Hurst, is a far different person, particularly when she is not around Caroline. The Hursts live with me, as Mr. Hurst does not get along well with his father.”
“And my child?”
“Will be raised as my own.”
“I think she is a girl, but if it is a boy…”
“Then he will inherit. Your child will be our child.”
“Then I will marry you, Mr. Bingley.” Her voice was soft.
“Charles. You must call me Charles.” He took her gloved hands and placed a gentle kiss on each of them.
“And I am Georgiana.” She sat back, smiling in earnest for the first time in many months. Of course, as they entered the park, they excited a good deal of interest from pedestrians and riders. Occasionally, Georgiana could even hear their words. “Is that not the Darcy gel?” “What is she doing in the Park?” “Who is the man with her?” But no one accosted them, and soon enough, they were back at Matlock House.
“Well?” the Earl enquired as soon as they entered the drawing room.
“Miss Darcy – Georgiana – has consented to be my wife.”
The Countess rang the bell and called for champagne.
Details were quickly agreed upon. The Matlocks would prevail upon the Archbishop of Canterbury for a special license so that the wedding could take place at Matlock House, rather than in a church. It was fortunate that the Archbishop owed the Earl a favor. The ceremony would have to be performed by a rector, of course, but doubtless a handsome donation to a building fund would ensure the rector’s silence.
Georgiana needed clothing, particularly as her shape was changing quickly, but going to a modiste was deemed by the Countess to be too risky. Sally would be prevailed upon to enlist the help of as many of the maids as was necessary in order to provide Georgiana with a wardrobe. The couple would remove to Netherfield until after the babe was born.
“Miss Bennet will be rather confused when I arrive with a wife already in the family way,” Mr. Bingley said to Mr. Darcy.
“Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth have been told of Georgiana’s situation. They will spread the word that you weresimply being a good neighbour by dancing with Miss Bennet, even though you danced with her twice.”
“Excellent. Say, I had rather thought to see Colonel Fitzwilliam here.”
“He hied off to Meryton to make certain Miss Bennet had no opportunity to forget him.”
“Where will they live?”
“I gifted Chestnut Creek, one of my estates, to Richard. It is near to Pemberley.”
“Perfect; when you marry Miss Elizabeth, she and Jane will be happy to live near one another. But you had already thought of that, of course.”
“I had, yes.” Mr. Darcy did not want to talk about Miss Elizabeth. “Listen, Bingley, Georgiana’s dowry is thirty thousand pounds and it will soon be yours.”
“I will put the money aside for Georgiana’s use, of course, but I had rather assumed you had been forced to give those funds to Wickham.”
