“What is Georgiana to do?”
“Discourage his interest; she must be seen to favor someone else.”
“That will be difficult for her if she has formed an attachment to Lord Fane! William, you and I know the power of love, do we not?”
Mr. Darcy scoffed. “She cannot love him, not yet.”
“Indeed? And why not?” his wife demanded, hands on her hips.
“It takes time to fall in love with someone,” he insisted.
“Does it?” she enquired, staring at him.
“Of course it does.”
“Tell me, how long did it take for Charles to fall in love with Jane?”
“Months…?”
“Let me think; they first danced on the fifteenth of October, and he was ready to offer for her at the end of November, at which point you and Caroline spirited him away. So what is that, six weeks?”
“Yes, but…”
“And Georgiana and Lord Fane have known each other since they danced together at the Stewart’s ball in early February, and this is mid-March, so very close to six weeks.”
“All the more reason that they should be separated at once,” Mr. Darcy insisted.
“As you separated Charles from Jane?” Elizabeth pressed.
“So you think me wrong?”
“I thinkuswrong. I attempted to dissuade Georgiana from seeing Lord Fane as a suitor, and I told her the reasons for it. I believe I was wrong to do so, and I wish my words unsaid.”
“You did the right thing.”
“I wish I could be as certain as you, William. But it is done now.”
***
About an hour before dinner, Georgiana knocked on Elizabeth’s bedroom door. Upon hearing Elizabeth’s voice bidding her to enter, she walked in.
Elizabeth, seeing Georgiana’s pale, tear-stained face, ran to her and hugged her hard. “I am so, so sorry, Georgiana,” she whispered. “I should not have said anything.”
“No, you were right to caution me,” Georgiana whispered back. “And there is another thing.”
“Another thing?”
“Yes; if I married Lord Fane, and George Wickham then told his tale to the newspapers, the Westmoreland family would be in disgrace because of me. I could not do that do him!”
“You are right, I did not think of that.”
“What am I to do, Lizzy? I do not want to hurt Lord Fane’s feelings! We have been on drives through the park many times, and I have agreed to drive out with him again tomorrow. I have danced with him at any number of balls. He has sent me heavens only knows how many bouquets. How do I now tell him that I am not interested in him?”
“Georgiana, is that really what you want to do? To discourage him?”
“No; but it is what Imustdo. I will send a note canceling tomorrow’s drive. That will be a start.”
“Oh, Georgiana, this is dreadful!”
