Page 38 of Regrets

Mr. Wickham hesitated and then asked, “Is your brother also in Meryton, Georgiana?”

“Yes, of course; why do you ask?”

He closed his eyes briefly and then said, very softly, “I must tell you that he will warn you away from me. It would be best if you did not mention my presence here.”

Georgiana looked confused. “But why? Surely he will be as glad to see you as am I!”

“I fear not,” he replied, looking down. “We were not in charity with one another when we last met.”

“But why?” Georgiana pressed him.

“I will tell you, dear Georgiana, but you must not repeat it!”

“I promise!” she vowed, fervently.

“There was a – ahem! – a young woman who preferred me to him, and he never quite forgave me for it. I will take this opportunity, while we are both in residence here, to beg his pardon, though I did nothing wrong; otherwise, I fear he will strongly disapprove of my seeing you again. And I must see you again, Georgiana.”

Upon being reassured that nothing Mr. Darcy said would affect her opinion of him, Mr. Wickham bowed to Georgiana and then to Elizabeth, and departed, leaving both girls to stare after him.

Georgiana turned to Elizabeth. “What do you think?” Her voice was filled with joy and delight.

“He is very handsome,” Elizabeth said, cautiously. “But surely you do not intend to keep this meeting secret from your brother.”

“Well, you heard what he said,” Georgiana said, defensively. “Brother will disapprove of him.”

“I know, but it should nonetheless not be a secret,” Elizabeth insisted. “Your brother is responsible for your safety; he must be told.”

“Well, then, I shall tell him, but you must let me do so in my own time, Elizabeth.” Georgiana sounded very serious.

“Very well, Georgiana, but I depend on your common sense not to do anything foolish!”

***

That night, Georgiana’s emotions were running high; she could not speak with Brother about George, of course, but she could write to Anne!

Dear Anne,

You will not believe what happened today! I went to Meryton with the Bennets, as I told you I would in my last letter, and some of the militia were there, milling about the town. And of all things, I saw none other than GEORGE WICKHAM! Yes, the very man I have secretly carried in my heart all these years was right there before me! He has joined the militia and will be here in Meryton for as long as they are stationed here! I could hardly speak for joy, and he picked me up and whirled me around, just as he used to do when we were children!

George warned me that Brother would disapprove of him because they had fallen out over some woman who had preferred George to Brother! As who would not, for Brother, though I love him dearly, is far too serious, while George is always full of fun and laughter!

Lizzy was there, and she was very disapproving. She told me that I must tell Brother about the meeting, and I told her that I would, but in my own time. She was not happy, I could tell, but it is not really any of her concern, is it?!

Anne, I cannot tell this to anyone but you! It seems clear to me that George and I are meant to be together, for why else would it be that we are in the same little town at the exact same time? Is that not the most romantic thing you have ever heard?

Your ecstatic cousin,

Georgiana

Chapter Thirty-Two

Mr. Wickham could not believe his luck. He had known that something good was waiting for him, for his luck always turned eventually, but never had he expected to be so fortunate as to find Georgiana Darcy in Meryton!

He had long hoped to find a way to get close to Georgiana, who he knew remembered him fondly. His plan to have Mrs. Younge become her companion had come to nothing; but now here Georgiana was, most unexpectedly, practically thrown into his lap! And she had been so very happy to see him!

The chief impediment to his hopes was, of course, Darcy. Darcy would doubtless do everything in his power to keep Georgiana away from him; so he would have to convince Darcy that he was a new man, changed entirely from the – what had Darcy once called him? – ah, yes, the ‘immoral rapscallion’ that he had once been.

He whistled cheerfully as he returned to the encampment, where he found Mr. Denny waiting for him in their shared tent. Mr. Denny clapped him on the shoulder, exclaiming, “I say, Wickham, this is the friendliest town I have ever seen!”