Mr. Darcy leaned his head against the heavy wooden door and pleaded with his sister, his voice laced with weariness, sorrow, guilt. “He has, yes. Please, Georgiana. Please. I beg you. We cannot go on like this. I truly cannot bear it.”
Mr. Darcy heard the lock turn and he raised his head. The door opened, ever so slowly, and through the crack he saw his little sister. She was thin, pale, wraith-like, her hair tangled, her cheeks marred with the trail of her tears, and his heart broke all over again. “Oh, Georgiana!” His voice broke on a sob and he pushed the door open, stepped inside and enfolded her in his arms.
“You are breaking my heart, Georgiana. I am as much to blame as you, in truth, more so, and I do not know –“ He could not continue.
“Aunt said that you did not check Mrs. Younge’s references carefully enough,” his sister said. “But that cannot possibly excuse my willingness to run off with a man without your consent. It is my fault, not yours.”
“No,” her brother said. “My fault, mine entirely. I left you unprotected, and I did not tell you what I knew of George Wickham. He is a liar, a cheat, a man who preys upon women. I did not want to tarnish your memories of a childhood friend, and in so doing, you were left vulnerable.” I thought I was doing right, he wanted to scream. And in so doing, I allowed this terrible thing to happen!
Georgiana turned her head away. “Youshouldhave told me, Brother.”
“I know, Georgiana, and I will blame myself for not having done so for the rest of my life.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, and the two siblings clung together, desolate, distressed, and overwhelmed with regrets.
***
Bingley,
You are the best of friends. My sister and I will join you at Netherfield Park in a fortnight’s time.
Bingley, Georgiana is very fragile just now, as you might expect, and I hope that your sisters will be kind to her.
Darcy
Chapter Ten
September 1811
On the road to Netherfield Park
Her reputation is ruined, and if it becomes known that we are hosting her, our reputations will suffer as well.”
“Caroline, if you cannot be kind to Miss Darcy, then I will return you to London immediately.” Mr. Bingley’s tone left no doubt of his sincerity on the matter.
“You cannot blame me for being concerned for our family’s reputation, Charles.”
“I care not about our family’s reputation; I care about being kind to my friend. I require this of you, Caroline.”
Miss Bingley did not reply; she looked out of the carriage window, frowning.
Her brother continued. “Since you are no longer intent on captivating Mr. Darcy, there is no point in you serving as my hostess. You were only interested in the role in order to impress him, as I recall.”
Still no response.
Mr. Bingley shrugged. “Very well; Louisa, you shall be our hostess. As the married sister, it was your prerogative in any case. And I requireyouto be kind as well,” Mr. Bingley continued, turning to his other sister. “This is no time to pattern your behaviour after Caroline’s.”
She objected at once. “I do not pattern my –“
Surprisingly, it was her husband who interrupted with a snort of derision. “Of course you do, Louisa.”
Mrs. Hurst looked up at him, affronted. “I most certainly do not!”
“Yes, you, do, and it is not at all attractive.”
Miss Bingley now weighed in. “Only because she knows I am so often right!”
“No, you are very often wrong, and you lead my wife astray,” Mr. Hurst said. “But we will talk more of this at a later time, Louisa.”
