Elizabeth hesitated for some time before taking that step towards thanking Mr Darcy. There were several reasons for her reticence, but above all, the immense shame she felt before him, for he had witnessed the full degradation of her sister.
“Stop,” Agnes told her. “That is precisely the one reason you must not consider, because it springs from pride. The very thing you reproached him with for so long.”
It was true, and Elizabeth tried with all her strength to overcome her tendency toward pride when it was about her family. She had to go in person. A letter would not suffice. She needed to look into his eyes and thank him, but at the same time allow him to see how deeply she regretted the arrogance with which she had once believed her family superior to his.
Once again, Agnes brought her back to reason.
“You have nothing to reproach yourself with except your anger. You did not defend your mother or Lydia. You defended the idea of family itself, which everyone ought to respect.”
Elizabeth’s hesitation ended abruptly one morning when Lydia revealed something that staggered them all. With the same thoughtlessness that seemed only to have increased sinceshe regarded herself as a married woman, she disclosed a secret she had promised to keep. Mr Darcy had paid Wickham’s gambling debts, amounting to somewhere near five thousand pounds.
The shock was so great that for several minutes nobody could speak. Only the ladies were present, but Mrs Gardiner immediately sent for her husband, who confirmed the story. Faced with this new disaster, Elizabeth asked Agnes to arrange a visit to the Darcys under the standing invitation Miss Darcy had extended.
“I should like to go to that jeweller and sell the cameo,” she whispered.
Agnes rose at once and almost dragged her into the music room so that they might be alone.
“You will do no such thing,” she said firmly. “He has no need of money, and once again it is pride speaking. That man wishes only to help you, and money means nothing to him. He certainly does not want those five thousand pounds returned, but perhaps he would not refuse the cameo.”
It was a small trap Agnes laid for her, for she was determined that Elizabeth should go and speak to him. At the same time, she was perfectly certain that he would never accept the cameo back.
∞∞∞
With the cameo concealed in her purse, Elizabeth set out for the Darcys’ one bright morning, so unlike the turmoil within her. She would have preferred Agnes to accompany her, but that very morning both children had fallen ill, and her friend had been obliged to remain at home.
The invitation had come from Miss Darcy, yet their relationship allowed her to ask whether her brother might also receive her for a few moments.
She found herself before their house entirely unprepared, for it had proved impossible to put her thoughts in order during the ride. She looked with admiration at the handsome stone townhouse rising behind black iron railings in one of the most fashionable streets in London. The tall windows and elegant doorway, framed by columns, proclaimed wealth without ostentation, yet quietly affirmed the family’s place in London society.
She was pleased that the first of his houses she had seen had been Pemberley, which had charmed her from the first moment. Both houses were magnificent, yet whilst Pemberley seemed to place all its grandeur at the service of a family’s happiness, the vast white marble hall, dominated by a sweeping staircase of noble wood and furnished with elegant pieces, spoke instead of pride and position in society.
Georgiana appeared immediately and welcomed her warmly into the drawing room.
Only then did the bashfulness that had settled upon Elizabeth begin to disappear, discovering a room full of life. The carpet had clearly been disturbed by Georgiana’s haste. Books lay open, sheets of music were scattered across a table, and her shawl had fallen beside the sofa, creating a delightful disorder that contrasted strongly with the elegance of the room itself.
Elizabeth glanced at the books and stooped to pick up two sheets of music.
“I know,” said Georgiana. “I am untidy. But I am trying to prepare myself and choose the music I shall play, because Fitzwilliam is planning a dinner for Mrs Cooper and the colonel—”
She broke off suddenly and burst into laughter.
“Well, I have clear orders from the colonel not to call her Mrs Cooper. She must now be addressed asthe future Mrs Fitzwilliam.”
Her cheerfulness was infectious.
Seating herself in a comfortable armchair, Elizabeth entered the game with pleasure. “Well, the future Mrs Fitzwilliam sends her apologies, but both children fell ill during the night.”
“I am sorry for the children, but I am delighted to have you here. You cannot imagine what it meant to me to meet you at Pemberley and to have the honour of becoming your friend.”
She paused again, though this time a blush rose to her cheeks as she looked at Elizabeth with evident uncertainty.
“Do not doubt that I consider you my friend as well,” said Elizabeth, who had recognised from the beginning Georgiana’s need for female companionship.
“And Fitzwilliam is delighted that you are in London.”
It was Elizabeth’s turn to look at her carefully. Yet the young woman was entirely free from malice or hidden meaning. Elizabeth doubted very much that Fitzwilliam was pleased by the arrival of the Bennet family in London. Still, she refrained from saying so, for it was obvious that Georgiana knew nothing of what had occurred during the previous fortnight. But she was curious to know how Georgiana had concluded that he was happy about her presence in London.
“Do you think so?” she asked directly, looking at her.
