Page 74 of Succession

G eorgiana showed her mother the message from Brother, stating that William had found Elizabeth; Lady Anne knew it was time for her to go.

She and Hannah finished packing her clothing and jewelry; she would leave behind the Darcy diamonds, as they rightly belonged to the mistress of the house. She then prepared to leave Pemberley forever. She drifted through the house, making her farewells to the formal parlour, where she had first sat when her father, the Earl, came to visit; to the formal dining room, where she had held many dinners for neighbours; to the ballroom, which had been closed off since her Mr. Darcy had died; to the portrait gallery, where her own picture hung. Then to the rooms the family used – the family parlour, the family breakfast room, the family dining room. She even ventured to peek into the mistress’ rooms, where she had spent so much of her life. Elizabeth had redecorated the rooms, and they were lovely.

Hannah had not wanted to accompany her mistress to Cresston Hall, as her entire family lived in Lambton; but it was impressed upon her that her mistress could not travel without a female companion. Offered a substantial increase in salary and a promise that she could return to Derbyshire any time after a one-year period, Hannah had accepted the situation and now viewed the upcoming trip as an adventure.

Georgiana, however, was far less sanguine about the matter, as she was as yet unreconciled to the necessity of her mother’s departure. “No, no, this cannot be right,” the girl wept, again and again.

“It is my own fault,” Lady Anne said replied, again and again, her voice shaking with her own grief. “Your brother is right to send me away.”

“I will go with you!” Georgiana had said, her voice rising in determination. “Wait for me, please! I can be ready in a trice! I do not want to be at Pemberley without you!”

“No, Georgiana, my dearest, sweetest girl; your place is here, preparing for your Season.”

Nothing Lady Anne could say soothed the girl’s aching heart; finally, Lady Anne motioned for Mrs. Annesley to take Georgiana away.

***

Lady Anne and Hannah left the next morning, just as the sun was peeking over the horizon and before Georgiana was awake. There was no point in putting either of them through a long, protracted farewell.

***

Later that day, a messenger arrived at Pemberley with a note for Lady Anne from Mr. Darcy. Mr. Barton was puzzled as to what he was to do with it; finally, he simply put the message on Mr. Darcy’s desk.