The ladies all nodded their agreement. Countess Cowper announced, “I, for one, will certainly attend your ball, Mrs. Darcy!”
The others all chimed in; it appeared that the patronesses of Almack’s had been entirely won over.
Chapter Seventy-Eight
Darcy House
Countess Esterházy did not delay; the very next morning, Elizabeth received a note informing her that the Countess would bring the woman she knew as Mrs. Younge to Darcy House that very afternoon. She read the message aloud at the breakfast table, causing Mr. Darcy – who had been informed of the prior day’s proceedings – to frown and Georgiana to turn white.
Mary flew to Georgiana’s side at once, promising that she would be there for the entirety of the meeting.
Mr. Darcy excused himself to go to his study.
When Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived at Darcy House not half an hour later, Elizabeth immediately stared at her husband. “You sent for Richard?”
“I did,” he said. “He deserves to be part of this.”
The Colonel sat calmly at the table and held his cup out for the footman to pour his coffee.
“You cannot run her through in my drawing room,” Elizabeth said, firmly.
“See, Darcy? I knew marriage would ruin all our fun,” the Colonel complained to his cousin.
“I am serious, Richard,” Elizabeth insisted. “If it is Mrs. Younge, our Mrs. Younge, then Countess Esterházy will know how to proceed.”
They did not have to wait long; scarce an hour after breakfast, the Countess Esterházy was announced. The woman with her was very obviously trying hard to hide behind the Countess’ skirts.
“Hello, Mrs. Younge,” Georgiana said, icily. “I did not expect to see you again.”
Mrs. Younge immediately went on the offensive. “And imagine you being in polite society, after almost running off with – with Mr. Wickham!”
Georgiana did not bother to reply. Instead, she turned to the Countess and said, “This is indeed the woman who tried to ruin me.”
Mrs. Younge forced out a laugh and said, “No matter; George will find me and help me, as he always has!”
“Do you mean George Wickham?” the Colonel put in, lazily.
“Yes; he was mine long before we came to Ramsgate, Miss High and Mighty Darcy, and he will always come back for me!”
“Not this time,” the Colonel said. His voice was grim.
“What do you mean?” Mrs. Younge asked. She looked genuinely worried for the first time since she had entered Darcy House.
“He is dead.”
Mrs. Younge went white. She stared at the Colonel and finally whispered, “Dead?”
“Very dead,” he replied. “For several weeks now. There is no chance of him coming for you, Mrs. Younge. So you have a problem.”
“A very serious problem,” Countess Esterházy snapped. “For your references were forged, and that is a hanging crime.”
Mrs. Younge turned immediately to run from the room, but the Colonel rose from his seat in one fluid motion, and caught her before she had taken half a dozen steps.
“I will send a message to the Runners,” Mr. Darcy declared.
“And I will make certain that Mrs. Younge does not leave before they arrive,” the Colonel said. “Sit down, Mrs. Younge, and have some tea. It will likely be the last decent tea you enjoy for some time.”
The Countess turned to Elizabeth and said, “I cannot thank you enough, Mrs. Darcy – and you, Miss Darcy! – for saving me from making a terrible mistake. When I think of what she might have done to my poor niece!”
