Page 130 of Obligation and Redemption
DUE TO THE FINE WEATHER, Darcy arrived when expected. The house had been opened, but did not have the knocker out, so he hoped to have no visitors. He was caught off guard when his sister descended the steps to meet him. “Georgiana, this is a surprise.”
“Forgive me, Brother, but I was anxious to return home. James has been here with me since I arrived.”
“Georgiana, there is nothing to forgive. I am most anxious to speak with you though, so why don’t I go change and meet you in your sitting room in half an hour. ”
When Darcy entered her room, Georgiana was nervously playing with her skirt as she waited for him to join her.
Darcy slowly but purposely crossed the room and sat beside her on the sofa.
He waited for her to begin, but all he heard was silence.
In light of his long journey, during which his active imagination would afflict him, his patience was wearing thin, so finally he said, “Well, Georgiana, you have asked me to come, and here I am. What is it you have to share with me? I own that I am quite eager to hear what is troubling you.”
Georgiana had desired to impart all that she had learnt about Mrs. Darcy to her brother, so she had summoned him to town, relieved that her express had been successful in bringing about a quick journey on her brother’s part.
She had every expectation that this could be the longed for assistance her brother needed as a way to respectfully get out of his undesired marriage.
But when her brother came into her sitting room, fear invaded her mind.
Everything seemed so easy before he arrived, but now she was not so sure.
As she faltered, her brother had spoken.
That was the impetus she needed. “Brother, I…um, thank you for coming so quickly. I had hoped you would, of course, but did not know for sure.” Her eyes were cast down at her fidgety hands as they worked the lace on the skirt of her dress.
“Go on.” Darcy could tell his sister would need help coming to the point.
She looked up at him and when their eyes met, she gained the strength she needed to tell him what she knew might pain him at first, but would hopefully give him relief in the end.
She stood and walked the two steps to the table beside the sofa.
Opening the drawer, she took out a white handkerchief; she turned and handed it to her brother.
“Do you know whose this is?” she asked softly.
He took it from her trembling hand, mindful that she was in obvious distress, but not yet knowing why.
After turning it over and looking at the familiar stitching, he replied, “Of course, this is Elizabeth’s.
I can tell by her former initials and the pale lavender flowers stitched in the corner.
Her sister, Miss Bennet, made her one each year for her birthday since she turned sixteen at her coming out.
I believe she has five of them. She used to have five, rather.
One was sacrificed to my injuries when we met during the storm. ”
Georgiana was surprised her brother had such intimate knowledge of his wife’s past. “Yes, well, you may be wondering why I have one in my possession now.”
“I am.”
“You see, this was presented to me by someone.” She paused as if to gather courage, taking a deep breath.
“It was given to me by Mr. Wickham.” She stopped there, looking at her hands again as they had grabbed onto her skirt tightly, as if that would somehow protect her from the explanation to come.
After a few moments of silence, she ventured a glance towards her brother’s face again.
She paled as she saw his stony visage looking at her.
She could tell by his increase in breathing that he was affected by what she had said, and that he was steeling himself so as not to lose control.
She remembered Ramsgate and shuddered. Realising that he must be thinking that she had somehow fallen into Wickham’s power again, she continued, “I was shopping with my aunt, my maid and a footman, and while Aunt Estella went into the milliner’s shop, I went with Maggie and the footman into the bookstore there on Bond Street.
Aunt Estella said I could go since I had a chaperone, and it was just next-door.
I was looking for a new book to read and was walking down the aisle alone; I promise that Maggie and the footman were in the shop with me,” she quickly said trying to impress upon him her innocence in all of this.
She continued, “And after being in there for a few minutes, George, um, Mr. Wickham approached me from behind. I recognised his voice before I saw him, and he began to tell me what I have wanted to tell you. It has been six days now, and I have been desperate for you.”
“Georgiana, get to the point,” Darcy said in a clipped tone, anger flashing in his eyes, his attempts at staying under good regulation losing their battle.
She was frightened but continued, certain that he needed to know the truth and would be glad to know, in the end.
“He showed me the handkerchief that I have just given to you and told me that Elizabeth had given it to him while she was in Hertfordshire last; that she had given it to him as a token of her affection. Brother, they were lovers!” she exclaimed, her voice rising in volume as her resolve and sense of justice strengthened.
Tears came to her eyes, unbidden, as her heart broke for her brother’s situation, first having to marry such a woman, and second, to have her shame him in this way.
Her brother was too honourable for that, the very best of men.
Georgiana’s sobs resounded against the crackling fire in the hearth.
Darcy stood quickly, and began pacing around the room, agitation clear.
Georgiana continued, “He said that Elizabeth despises you and came to him for solace, that they had been good friends before the wedding. As you and he had many disagreements, it was natural for her to turn to Wickham to provide a diversion from her marriage. He said that she confessed that she purposefully took you somewhere secluded, so that you would have to marry her. Of course, you knew that part, but to have it confirmed….”
“That is enough, Georgiana!” Georgiana jumped, knowing her brother would be angry, but surprised nonetheless. “I do not need your commentary; just tell me exactly what was said.”
Georgiana, grabbing her own handkerchief, began to wipe away her tears as she continued, “He said that they have remained in contact, and that she has declared her love for him. And that she…she… is carrying his child.” She began crying in earnest and could not bring herself to say any more until she calmed down.
Darcy stopped pacing and leaned onto the mantle with both hands, holding on so tightly that his knuckles turned white. This could not be! I am certain this could not be! She is not with child, and anyway, she could not be so dishonourable! The woman I now know would never act this way.
But then, do I truly know her? Could her interactions with me be nothing but an act, a ploy to get into my graces?
Could she have used beguilement to manipulate me?
She did defend him once. I discounted it at the time as ignorance of his true character, but could she have wanted me to absolve him, so she could see him more easily?
But she takes no pleasure in carnal intimacies.
Surely, this cannot be true. But then again, Wickham is skilled at seduction.
I did nothing to make her want to be with me.
He could have enticed her to accept his advances.
Darcy’s mind raced to past interactions, looking for proof that Elizabeth was innocent.
As soon as he would think of something to show her virtue, he would think of another that might prove otherwise.
His reverie was interrupted. “Brother, I know this is difficult now, but perhaps this is a blessing in disguise. Now that you know about her infamy, you can use this information and proof to divorce her and be rid of her for good. Then you could marry someone whom you can favour in truth.”
He looked at her in astonishment. Is that what she truly thinks, that I could want an escape from my marriage – that I think so little of Elizabeth and our union, to be looking for ways to escape?
As if to evade his fears about Elizabeth’s mutiny, his worries went back to his sister, and he asked, “Did anyone see you talking to that blackguard? Did either of the servants catch you talking with him?”
“No, I do not think so, but of course I cannot be certain.”
Darcy let go of the mantle with a small push and returned to his sister’s side, trying to remain calm so as not to cause her fear. “Georgiana, is there anything else you can tell me? What was his stated purpose in approaching you?”
“He said he wanted you to know of your wife’s treachery, that you should always wonder if the child she carried, the heir of Pemberley perhaps, was yours or his.”