Page 56 of The Crown’s Gift

Elizabeth saw Georgiana happy and understood another piece of Darcy. His caution had not grown from pride alone. At twenty-eight he had carried responsibility for a grieving child, a great estate, and a name everyone expected him to protect. He had become controlling by degrees no less comprehensible than Sir Thomas had once become detached.

Comprehensible was not excusable. It was harder to hate.

On the fourth morning, Mary and Georgiana practiced a duet. A folded sheet slipped from between the pages of Georgiana's music and fell beneath the bench.

Mary retrieved it.

There was no direction outside. She assumed it was a copied exercise and opened it before Georgiana turned from the keyboard.

The first line stopped her.

You have ignored two warnings. Five thousand pounds will purchase my silence; nothing less will prevent the truth of Ramsgate from reaching every drawing room before your brother can hide it.

Mary's hand went cold.

Georgiana saw the paper. All color left her face.

"Give it to me."

Mary folded it at once. "I am sorry. I thought it was music."

"Please."

Georgiana reached for it, but her fingers shook so violently that the page rattled between them.

Mary did not release it. "Is it from Mr Wickham?"

Georgiana looked toward the open door.

"How do you know?"

"The writing. At Aunt Phillips's party he copied a verse into my commonplace book. He makes the capital W like two crossed swords. And the word nothing—the final stroke turns backward."

"You must forget it."

"I cannot."

"If William learns—"

"He will blame himself," Mary said.

Georgiana closed her eyes.

Mary understood that she had guessed correctly.

"How many letters?"

"Three. The first came in London. It said only that old friends might meet. I burned it. The second described what would be printed if I refused. This one was placed in my music case yesterday in Meryton."

"You went to Meryton with us."

"I left the case in the music shop while Mrs Annesley examined strings."

"A gentleman in a dark coat stood across from the shop when we arrived. I thought nothing of him until I found the letter."

Mary's fear sharpened into anger. "He was near you."

Georgiana gripped the edge of the instrument. "He says he has letters proving I intended to elope. Some are mine. Others he can create. If society knows, no one will care which are forged."