“Would you be uncomfortable if we close the door, Mrs. Bennet?” Mr. Darcy asked.
In response, their hostess rose, crossed the room and closed the parlour door. Returning to her seat, she said, “If there is anything I can do to help Miss Darcy, I will do it, gentlemen. You need not be concerned on that score.”
Both men looked at their feet and then at one another, uncertain as to how to begin. Mrs. Bennet waited.
Finally, Mr. Darcy said, “Some weeks ago, my sister fell into the hands of a rogue while visiting the seashore with her companion. She had known him since childhood, and was soon persuaded that she was in love with him. I arrived in time to prevent the affair from going any further, but I found her with him in a rather…” he trailed off.
“Compromising position,” the Colonel added, seeing that his cousin could not finish the sentence. “We have not been able to get any further details from her as to what other – er, activities they may have engaged in, and we are very much concerned that she may be with child.” He finished in a rush.
Mrs. Bennet sat for a moment, thinking quickly. “So you do not know if they…” And now she trailed off.
“Precisely. What she said was that he had put something of his into something of hers and it was disgusting, and as you can imagine, we are now in the position of having to believe the worst.” Mr. Darcy covered his flaming face with his hands.
Mrs. Bennet winced. “That does not sound good.”
“No, it does not,” Mr. Darcy muttered.
“I can understand why this has been difficult for you to tell me,” Mrs. Bennet said. “Does she know that you are speaking with me on the subject?”
“Not yet, no,” the Colonel said. “I think she would never leave her room at Netherfield if she knew that the topic had been canvassed.”
Mrs. Bennet nodded. “Very well; you may leave this with me, gentlemen. But I think I should speak to her at Netherfield. Shewill doubtless shed tears, and she would be far more comfortable doing so in her own room.”
Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam agreed with alacrity, almost speechless with relief at being able to have assistance on this subject, albeit from such an unexpected source. “When will you come?” Mr. Darcy asked.
“Why, now, of course,” she replied in surprise. “I see no reason for delay.”
***
“What a lovely room this is, Miss Darcy!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed.
“Mrs. Hurst is an accomplished hostess,” Georgiana replied, confused as to the purpose of Mrs. Bennet’s visit, but happy to show off her blue and cream bedroom. There was a warm fire in the grate, flowers on the mantel and a little writing desk with cunning little drawers. She peered around Mrs. Bennet, wondering if perhaps Mary had accompanied her mother.
“No, I am here on my own,” Mrs. Bennet said, at once perceiving Miss Darcy’s confusion. “May we speak in some confidence, my dear?”
Now suspicious, Georgiana settled herself on the bed with some reluctance, nodding at the chair beside the bed for Mrs. Bennet.
“Your guardians tell me you have no mother figure in your life, Miss Darcy, and I am here to fill that role, however temporarily.”
“They told you,” Georgiana said, flatly.
“They did, but only in the most general terms. I am not here to lecture you on any point, Miss Darcy. I am here to provide reassurance.”
“Reassurance?”
“Yes; you are not the first young lady to fall prey to a wicked man, and you shall not be the last. It seems to me that no lasting harm has been done.”
As expected, tears were now falling down the young lady’s face. “Mrs. Bennet, I fear that this is not the case. There may indeed be lasting harm, and I do not know how – if – I do not know!”
“What do you fear, Miss Darcy?”
“That I am – am – with child!”
Mrs. Bennet rose, sat beside Georgiana on the bed, and gathered the girl into her arms. “Why do you think that, dear girl?”
“Because he kissed me and then –“ She could go no further.
Mrs. Bennet felt a cold hand grip her heart. If this was all the description that she had been able to give her guardians, it was no wonder that the two gentlemen were distraught! “And then, what, Georgiana?” Neither of them noticed that the ‘Miss Darcy’ had been dropped.
