Elizabeth continued, “Mr. Bingley, might I take Mrs. Bingley for a stroll?”
Mr. Bingley looked at his bride with some concern. Would she be comfortable with this?
“I promise all will be well,” Elizabeth assured him.
Elizabeth offered her arm; Georgiana rose and took it. Elizabeth led her young charge outside; assuring herself that they could not be overheard, she then turned to face the young woman beside her. “Mrs. Bingley, I know who you are. Your brother and your cousin spent time here earlier this winter, and I was told of your recent history.”
Tears started in Georgiana’s eyes. “Oh, no! What you must think of me! I beg you, Miss Elizabeth, tell no one!”
“Oh, heavens, Georgiana – Mrs. Bingley – I only wish to reassure you that you are among friends here! I would not dream –“ And Elizabeth opened her arms wide and pulled a sobbing Mrs. Bingley into them. “There, there, all will be well,” she murmured soothingly.
“I did not know – Charles never said – “
“I was told in confidence; I do not think Mr. Bingley knew anything of it.”
“The rest of your family?”
“My elder sister, Jane, knows; but I assure you, no one else has even an inkling. There will be talk, of course, as Mr. Bingley never mentioned a wife and danced with my older sister twice at a recent assembly, but my advice to you is to simply ignore it. The talk will die down if there is nothing to fuel it. If there is anything you need, even if you just wish to talk about your experiences, you have but to ask Jane or myself.”
“Thank you, oh, thank you!”
“Mrs. Bingley, you have been through more than any young lady should have to endure; you deserve some kindness.”
“I had not thought to find kindness from a perfect stranger! My own brother is so angry that he will barely speak to me.”
“I know he is angry, and he must get past it,” Elizabeth said, firmly.
“Oh, thank you for understanding! When he caught up with me at Gretna Green and found me there with Mr. Wickham, he turned on his heel and left me! Just when I needed his help the most! And did he ever tell me how wicked our old friend had turned out to be? No! I knew nothing of it!” Words were spilling from her lips.
“He – he just walked away?”
“Yes. I deserved it, I know, but if he loved me, he would have helped me, would he not?”
“I am so sorry, Mrs. Bingley. He is angry with you, you are angry with him. At some point, the two of you must talk to one another.”
“He will not speak to me at all, and I would just as soon not speak to him, so I know not how such a conversation would ever take please. But would you please call me Georgiana?”
Elizabeth replied, “I would be honoured. And I am Elizabeth or Lizzy. I have kept you out in the cold long enough, Georgiana; let us go inside and see if there is any cake left!” Her voice sounded happy, but she was very, very worried that Mr. Darcy would never make peace with his sister.
Chapter Sixty-Three
As he and the Colonel left Chestnut Creek and headed south towards London, Mr. Darcy found himself on the horns of a dilemma. He very much wished to return to Miss Elizabeth, but if he were to go to Meryton, he would be expected to stay at Netherfield. And that was a problem for him, as he was not certain he could contain his ongoing anger at his sister. That said, he knew he needed to get over his anger in order to be able to succeed in his courtship.
“Darcy!”
Mr. Darcy raised his head. “No need to yell, Richard.”
“No need? I have said your name three times!”
“I apologise,” Mr. Darcy said, stiffly. “I was lost in thought.”
“And what weighty matters have you so engrossed?”
Mr. Darcy sighed.
“No, no, do not tell me; let me guess. You want to see Miss Elizabeth, but you do not want to see Georgiana.”
Mr. Darcy scowled at his cousin.
