Page 219 of A Question of Character

The atmosphere stayed warm, unlike previous meetings in this room.

Conversation resumed naturally after the first moments of greeting. Kitty inquired after Miss Darcy’s health with genuine concern, Mary expressed the hope that time and proper guidance would restore her peace of mind, and Mrs. Bennet lamented once again the dangers to which wealthy young ladies were exposed. Darcy thanked each of them with courtesy before his gaze landed unconsciously upon Elizabeth. The weariness remained, but so too did the unmistakable relief of seeing her again.

Elizabeth took his hand and waited for Darcy to speak.

His fingers closed around hers with gentle firmness, and for an instant neither seemed inclined to release the other. The room remained full of conversation, yet the familiar warmth of his hand conveyed more than either could comfortably express before an audience. Mrs. Bennet pretended not to notice. Jane very deliberately examined the embroidery resting in her lap.

Eventually, he offered her a wan smile.

Though subdued, it was genuine. Elizabeth thought she had never valued one of his smiles more highly.

“I suppose George has told you everything,” he began.

“He has related the principal events,” Mr. Bennet answered before Elizabeth could reply. “Though I suspect there are particulars which need not become the property of every curious neighbor.”

Darcy inclined his head.

“I should be grateful if they did not.”

“You may depend upon our discretion.”

“Indeed, he has. How do you fare? How is Georgiana?”

Elizabeth’s question softened the gravity that had come over the room. Darcy looked at her for a long moment before answering, as though grateful she had thought first of his sister rather than of the extraordinary circumstances themselves.

Darcy shook his head.

The movement carried equal measures of affection, disappointment, and concern.

“My sister refuses to accept her culpability. She insists she acted on her best interests and it is not her fault this other Wycombe was duplicitous.” Her apologies had been born of shock and abandonment; once the first anguish passed, she again insisted that Wycombe’s deception absolved her of every choice that had preceded it.

A brief silence followed.

Jane spoke first.

“She has suffered a severe disappointment.”

“She has,” Darcy agreed. “My aunt believes much of her present obstinacy arises from wounded pride. Georgiana cannot yet bear to admit how thoroughly she deceived herself.”

Mrs. Bennet sighed sympathetically.

“Poor child. It is a painful lesson.”

“I fear she will need time to understand the error of her ways. I can scarcely fathom how the dear girl I knew in town could be so…”

Elizabeth allowed the sentence to trail away. She could not reconcile the affectionate, timid young lady she remembered with the one Mr. Wickham had described. Yet perhaps both had existed together all along, hidden beneath fears no one had fully perceived.

“Yes, there are no words.” Darcy frowned.

He rested one hand upon the arm of his chair before continuing, choosing each phrase with visible care.

“She is ashamed one moment and defiant the next. Lady Matlock refuses to indulge either disposition. Richard tells me my aunt has already set Georgiana to writing letters of apology she does not particularly wish to compose. Whether they will ever be sent remains another question altogether.”

“I am very sorry, Elizabeth, for not believing you regarding George. As for Wycombe,” Darcy continued, “my solicitor has sent his description to the men handling the Ramsgate claims and to several creditors known to have dealt with him under George’s name. He appears to have fled for the coast. Whether he has crossed the Channel or merely wishes us to believe so, I cannot yet determine.”

“Can he be prosecuted?” Mr. Bennet asked.

“For the debts contracted under another man’s name, certainly, if he is found and sufficient witnesses can be secured. The greater difficulty is pursuing him without making Georgiana’s involvement public. Colonel Fitzwilliam and I have agreed that her protection must take precedence over our desire to see him punished.”