Page 57 of Sweet on Mr Darcy

“That is why we must elope. If there is a chance your brother could prevent me from becoming even closer to your father and family, he will cause so much upheaval that your father would die of an attack of the heart. We all know how weak he is. He could never stand against Darcy, no matter what he truly wished for…but if we stole away…stole away quietly and came back married…the deed would be done, and there would be no undoing it. Darcy might be angry, but your father could use his inheritance to subdue him. Darcy would never risk losing Pemberley.”

“Father would never leave Pemberley to anyone but Will.” Georgiana was unsure.

“I grew up in the house of the steward, Georgie. Everything that has taken Darcy years to learn since university, I knew by the time I left for Eton. That is why he refused to go on a tour after Cambridge. He did not wish for your father to hire me to do my father’s job. He knows that I can do everything that he can do, and he does not wish for your father to rely upon me.”

“Oh…” Georgiana could not think. Such was the web her suitor spun around her.

“If we steal away and return married, everything will be well. There will be nothing Darcy can do about it. And he will not be able to bar me from the family any more. He will be angry, but he will get used to it. Your father will have to be allowed to enjoy my company as he has always wished to do. We will be able to help him just as much as your brother does.”

Georgiana’s mind raced as George continued on. “There will be nothing sordid, my love. We shall take Mrs Younge with us. That is her job, to protect your reputation with her company.”

That was enough for Georgiana. “I will,” she promised.

Thursday 30 July 1812

Elizabeth arrived at Darcy Cottage in Lady Barry’s carriage with Jane and Lydia, perhaps two hours after breakfast, prepared for a morning of advising Anne on fashion plates and hairstyles. Kitty and Mary were accompanying Charlotte to stroll the assembly rooms and socialise with other ladies. A wagon with trunks full of gowns had been delivered the day before from London, all Priscilla’s gowns from last season that could be very easily altered for Anne’s everyday use.

Anne could–and would–purchase a brand new wardrobe, but she would not do it all at once, and this would give her something to wear until she went to London to go shopping with her aunt. The ladies entered Anne’s room to find fabric of every variety and colour everywhere. Lydia was as enthusiastic as Anne, and began to show Anne some drawings she had made for her the evening before when the elder Bennets were at the assembly, and the two youngest girls were left at the cottage with Lucas, his nurse, and the other servants.

Elizabeth noticed that Georgiana was missing. When Priscilla did not know where her cousin was, she left them and went to her bedchamber to find her. Before she could knock, she heard Mrs Younge’s voice.

“No, you do not need to bring that one, Miss Darcy. Recall that you will be gone for perhaps just over a week. A few simple travelling gowns and an extra pair of slippers is all you need. Perhaps a pair of walking boots; I cannot think you will even use them. But they will be helpful if it rains.”

“Of course, you are correct. How kind you are to advise me, Mrs Younge.” Georgiana’s muffled voice could be heard through the door.

“You must bring as much pin money as you have, and any jewels you possess, in case they must be sold to pay for the journey.” Mrs Younge instructed. “Poor Wickham has little funds of his own until your dowry is paid, but then you will both have all that you require to live fashionably, and they can be easily replaced.”

“I have some that my brother bought for me last year, but I must leave my mother’s jewels behind,” Georgiana said. “I know they are a small portion of what I will receive of hers after I am married, but I could not part with a single pearl if my mother wore it.”

“Now tomorrow night is Lady Arlington’s ball,” Mrs Younge said. “Your family will be gone until very late. When they return, we shall already have retired, and then while your brother is out walking with that girl, your father and Priscilla will be sleeping in. By the time you are missed, we shall be miles up the coast, and Wickham will have left evidence of the two of you hiring a coach to Scotland to guide them out of the way.”

Elizabeth was shocked by what she heard. Georgie is planning to elope with Mr Wickham. How could she?

Chapter Twenty-Three

Eavesdroppers never hear well of themselves. Was that not the phrase that was so popular? Elizabeth found it very untrue today. For she was overhearing her second conversation in under a quarter hour, and instead of hearing ill of herself, she was hearing ill of others, mostly Mr Wickham.

When she fled the upstairs corridor, she went to the ground floor and paced the hall for a moment, then collapsed on the bottom step as she thought desperately of the correct course of action. Her legs were no longer interested in governing the rest of her. What could she do? If she confronted Georgiana, she would be denied. If she went straight to Darcy, Georgiana would never forgive her. Never trust her again.

But if she did nothing…everything would be so much worse. Georgiana might actually run away, and it would be Elizabeth’s fault. She was considering Darcy as her husband. The companion of her future life. She could not go to him with secrets in her heart, even if she wished to.

As she sat and considered her options desperately, nearly in tears, voices drifted across the hall. She realised that the door to Mr Darcy’s study was not completely closed. She knew she should leave. How many times in one day could a proper lady eavesdrop upon others?

Then she heard one voice quite clearly. Wickham’s voice.

“–not nearly sufficient!”

Elizabeth went completely still. The man’s voice was strained…and outraged.

“You know my rule, George.” The voice of Georgiana and Darcy’s father drifted softly across the hall.

“Your hypocrisy, you mean,” said Wickham.

From inside the study, his voice rose. “You would let me be ruined over a sum you will never even miss? Your precious son spends more on billiards!”

“I will settle debts to honest men and tradesmen, George. I do not finance vice.”

Wickham laughed. The sound was ugly and frightening. Elizabeth would have been terrified to be in the room with him. She was terrified to be outside the door.