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And yet she seemed so young to make such a momentous decision. Darcy took a step closer to her, wanting to enfold her in his arms but unsure if his touch would be welcome. “Georgie, I know that your experience with Wickham hurt you. But all men are not like him—”
“I know. I know!” She gave a little self-deprecating laugh as she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. “There are honorable men like you and Richard. But honorable men are far rarer than I first realized.” She balled the handkerchief in one fist. “Even if I found such a man…how can I be sure? How can I know that he is someone to be trusted? I do not believe I could ever trust a man enough to marry him.”
Darcy’s heart ached. The wounds that Wickham had inflicted were so much deeper than he had realized. He reached out to Georgiana, praying that she would not shy away from him. But she leaned eagerly into his embrace and sobbed against his waistcoat. He stroked her hair, not caring how many pins he dislodged, and murmured comforting words.
As the tears began to abate, he said, “If you do not wish to wed, that is perfectly agreeable to me, dearest. Nothing would please me more than to have you live with me forever at Pemberley.”
She took a step back so she could gaze into his eyes. “Truly?”
“In truth, I did not know if I could surr
ender you to another man’s keeping.” This provoked a little giggle from his sister.
“I only ask one thing from you.” Georgiana sobered. “Nothing so burdensome. You are still young. Please do not determine your mind absolutely against marriage. You need not make a coming out, but keep an open mind. You might meet a man in two years or five or seven who will alter your opinion.”
The tension drained from her face, and she gave him a watery smile. “I promise you that. Thank you, Brother.” She peered over her shoulder toward Pemberley. “Perhaps I should go inside and splash some water on my face. I will join you for dinner.” There was a lightness in her step as she hurried into the house.
Richard folded his arms over his chest. “Well, your Miss Bennet has been filling Georgiana’s head with some interesting notions.”
Darcy lifted an eyebrow at his cousin. “Do you believe anything she told Georgiana is inappropriate?”
“I believe Georgiana is young to make such a momentous decision.”
Darcy shrugged. “Nobody would claim she is too young to marry; surely that is an even more momentous decision since it cannot be undone.”
“Touché.”
“As yet, the only decision she has made is to avoid a series of tedious social events. She will encounter many eligible young men in the course of her life. One of them could easily change her mind.”
Richard scowled. “And if it does not happen?”
Darcy shrugged. “Then she shall not marry. Many men do not.”
“It is different for men. They do not need protection as women do.”
Darcy ground his teeth in irritation. Richard was practically making Elizabeth’s argument for her. How galling. “Georgiana will never want for protection.”
“Of course not!” Richard said hastily. “But surely she will need guidance—”
“Do you not think she is a rational creature who can choose her own course?”
Richard’s eyebrow lifted. “You do not appear to believe that about Miss Bennet.”
No doubt this was how a bear felt just as a trap closed around its leg. Damnation! Darcy scowled while his cousin regarded him with a grin.
“The situations are in no way comparable. Georgiana is free to marry or not marry as she pleases. She has the means to support herself; it harms nobody. But Elizabeth…is stealing from Collins—as if Longbourn belongs to her.”
“Is she?” Richard regarded Darcy coolly.
“I believe I made the situation quite clear.”
His cousin leaned on the table, appearing quite at ease. “You made it clear that she will likely help Longbourn reap greater crop yields.”
“Precisely.” Was his cousin about to argue semantics with him? “Is that not stealing?”
“I suppose it depends. What is she doing with those crops?”
Darcy froze in place. “I do not know. Does it matter?”
