Page 23 of The Countess and Her Sister
“You and William both have a particular reason to feel generosity to that poor young lady who was prevailed upon. I know a little of why you must have thought of your sister at such a moment – what you do not know is that at that same moment, William was thinking of me.”
Georgiana gave Elizabeth a searching, pleading look.
Elizabeth had no wish to draw any attention upon them by taking Georgiana’s hands, much as she wished to; she only gave the girl a nod of reassurance.
“Will you tell me what you mean by that? He did say there was something – that he would tell me in time….”
“He told me that he hesitated because it is not his story to tell. But I know he trusts you; he said that you would hear me with compassion if I wished to tell you the truth myself.”
“Of course I shall,” Elizabeth said, feeling a mounting sense of dread at what Georgiana could say to her that would have to do with the discovery of Captain Tilney and Miss Thorpe’s dalliance.
Georgiana dropped her voice even lower as she began to tell her story.
“Last summer, after William recovered, we planned to go to Ramsgate together. At the last minute, business detained him, but he escorted me there with my new companion, Mrs. Younge, whom he had hired when Lady Susan went into mourning. He returned to London the very next day, and several days later I happened to meet with an old family friend, Mr. George Wickham. He is the son of our late father’s steward, who was a very kind old man.
My father was always partial to George, who was his godson.
He supported him at school, where I have lately learned that George behaved very badly. ”
“In the same fashion as Captain Tilney?”
“Yes. But when I met him at Ramsgate, I knew nothing of the many ways he had wronged and offended my brother. He wooed me, and I was persuaded that I was in love – Mrs. Younge supported it, promoted it, even – and I consented to an elopement. But thankfully William arrived on the very morning of the day it was arranged to take place – oh, Lizzy, I cannot tell you of the pain I felt when he was ill, and I thought I would lose him! He is the dearest person in the world to me, with our parents gone and our cousin Frederica lost to the sweating sickness before the remedy came.”
“Jane took sick just after her husband died,” Elizabeth said with a look of commiseration.
“Then you understand the feeling of giving thanks every day that somebody who holds your whole heart still walks the earth at your side. I could not deceive him, and I was foolish enough to believe that he would welcome George as a brother. That is when I learned how deep George’s treachery ran.
He had been offered a generous living at the parish of Kympton when my father died, but had no wish to take orders, and my brother paid him three thousand pounds beyond the thousand my father bequeathed him.
When George gambled it away in a year, he asked for the living, but my brother had given it to another man, and really thought George was unsuited to such a profession. ”
Elizabeth raised her brows as she imagined someone as dissolute as Captain Tilney leading a congregation. “That could lead to the worst sort of mischief.”
“I fear I was led to such. George boasted to my brother of how he had… what had transpired between us… and how it would materially damage my chances of ever….” Georgiana wiped away a tear.
“That is too cruel,” Elizabeth breathed, her heart twisting with sympathy for Georgiana and painful recollections of Jane’s ordeal.
“It was his revenge on my brother, to make a play for my dowry. He never cared for me, beyond the amusement of… our time together.”
“What happened to the man? Did your brother call him out?”
“Richard wished to, but they never had the chance. George fled to London and caught the sweating sickness a fortnight later, that last wave of illness that lingered in the unsavory parts of town. He had lost his last farthing at cards and had no place to rest and recover, nor any coin for the remedy, no friends who would tend to him, not even Mrs. Younge, who had conspired with him. He was desperate enough to write to William, and my brother went to London with the intent of assisting him, to at least prevent his death for the sake of our father’s memory, if he could ascertain that it was not another ruse. But he was too late.”
“Your brother is a generous man indeed if he could be so merciful. Anybody who had done such a thing to my sister, I would happily let rot,” Elizabeth said, catching herself before she could blurt out that she was glad Robert Fitzwilliam had gotten his just desserts before the cure.
“They feared that I might be with child,” Georgiana said, her voice barely audible but thick with emotion.
“Richard said he was glad George was dead, that if I was… that they would bribe the vicar to put our names in the marriage register, that I might be at least a respectable widow. I am glad we did not have to resort to such wickedness. I hope you do not think less of us for even considering such a scheme.”
“I would do the same for Jane,” Elizabeth said at once. But her thoughts were not all for her sister at such a moment – she was overpowered by her admiration for Mr. Darcy.
“Thank you for hearing me, Lizzy. William was right – you were just the person to unburden myself to. I fear my story might cause Lady Jane undue distress, but it is such a relief to confide in somebody who understands and thinks no less of me for such foolishness.”
“I think more highly of you for knowing what ill treatment you have endured,” Elizabeth said emphatically. “And I am honored that you have trusted in my discretion.”
“Of course! William is full of praise for you!”
Elizabeth felt her heart beat a little faster at this, and she finally allowed herself a glance in Mr. Darcy’s direction. He was speaking with Jane, Lady Catherine and Mr. Bingley, who appeared to be arguing. A moment later, Elizabeth watched in horror as Jane burst into tears and fled the room.
She was on her feet in an instant, pursuing Jane, and Georgiana followed close behind her. In the corridor, Elizabeth found her sister leaning against a pillar, weeping into her hands. As she approached, Jane wrapped her arms around Elizabeth and sobbed onto her shoulder, shaking violently.
“You may come up to my room, for privacy,” Georgiana said, patting Jane’s shoulder as if she knew not how else to be of use. “Nobody will follow us there.”
Jane nodded her head in agreement, and Elizabeth wrapped an arm around her sniffling sister as they followed Georgiana upstairs. After she bid them sit comfortably on the bed, Georgiana declared she would leave them to speak, while she stood guard outside the door lest Lady Catherine pursue them.
Once they were alone, Elizabeth embraced her sister, who let out a weepy moan. “Oh, I have made such a fool of myself!”
“No indeed – Lady Catherine has only shown herself to be an insufferable bully! What did she say to you – what did she do?”
“She confronted Mr. Bingley. She said that he is unworthy of my acquaintance, much less my hand, and that he and his sister are both an embarrassment to Mr. Darcy, who ought not be friends with them. She said that Miss Bingley is a pesky social climber of no significance who would happily trap Mr. Darcy as I did Robert, and that she is in collusion with her brother to fawn over me so that they can take advantage of my station – I cannot repeat the rest of it, for it is all too much!”
“I wish I could beat her about the head with my slipper,” Elizabeth fumed. “Though I daresay she was right about Miss Bingley’s avarice. The rest of it makes me as murderous as Rebecca!”
“Am I being selfish, Lizzy? I thought it a fine thing to have so many gentlemen to consider – that surely amongst such a number, I might find one I could trust. I know that Mr. Darcy is a good man, but we have nothing to say to one another – I cannot account for how you get on with him, unless you are simply doing as you often do, in baiting people you find ridiculous. He is so severe and dreary, yet he has shown me kindness even before I knew of it! But Mr. Bingley… he would rely on Mr. Darcy more heavily than Richard does if he were to take on all that Thomas requires in a guardian. And yet when I think of how gentle and jolly he is, how he wishes to make me laugh – I hate that it is not enough!”
“Oh, Jane, I hardly know how to answer you. You must be the one to choose what will make your life all that you wish it to be. It is not selfish, but sensible.”
“I wish it to be as it has been these two years! Not once have I wanted more than the cheerful company of my family. A devoted husband would be a fine thing, but I cannot bear the thought of a choice which may be wrong – what if I should regret it, and always wonder? I must disappoint somebody one way or another.”
“If you really wish no alteration, you may close Matlock House to visitors, decline any invitations you choose. Or we could go north to Matlock Hall, divert ourselves in the countryside, and be utterly rid of anybody you have no wish to see.” Elizabeth’s heart broke as she spoke the words that might deprive her of such company as had grown so dear to her.
Jane clasped Elizabeth’s hands, her own still damp from wiping away so many tears. “Do you think so? Would Mamma allow it?”
“I have observed her looks all evening, and I believe she has begun to comprehend her own miscalculation,” Elizabeth said. “And nothing will teach her to abandon an idea like Lady Catherine championing the notion.”
“Perhaps you are right – perhaps I ought to consider it. I am in quite a state right now – perhaps an hour of sunshine in the garden with Thomas tomorrow will see me thinking entirely differently about it – I hardly know, but I wish to go home, Lizzy.”
“I heartily agree. Let us thank Georgiana and then take our leave.”
Downstairs, Elizabeth and her sister discovered a chaotic scene unfolding.
Lady Catherine was screeching with indignation, while Mr. Bingley appeared to be thoroughly giving her the business, as Rebecca encouraged him.
Mr. Darcy was placating the Gardiners, who appeared to have received their own share of the domineering dowager’s wrath.
As Elizabeth and her companions halted abruptly in the doorway, Miss Bingley fainted elegantly in Mr. Darcy’s direction, but Richard moved swiftly to catch her.
He lifted her indecorously in his arms and deposited her on a sofa with little consideration for the lady’s comfort or dignity.
Lady Augusta fanned herself with great animation as she chastised Richard for encouraging Miss Bingley’s antics, which inspired a raucous burst of venomous language from Lady Catherine on the machinations of that fortune hunter.
Mr. Bingley was pacing with indignation as he made his retort, and Rebecca was his faithful assistant as she supplied a few choice words of her own and reminded him of past offenses of Lady Catherine’s toward Mr. Bingley over the years of his friendship with Mr. Darcy.
She glanced at Jane and beamed with pride.
When Mr. Bingley perceived this, he looked at Jane and blanched.
Lady Catherine bristled, but he moved away from her.
“I will say no more, nor hear any further abuse. We have caused Lady Jane far too much distress, and my respect for her equanimity compels me to refrain from telling you to go to the devil, Madam.”
Mr. Darcy joined Mr. Bingley in approaching the ladies. “Miss Bennet, Lady Jane, I apologize for this unfortunate ordeal. My aunt will take her leave now; she has a house of her own and need not impose any further on the relations she has abused in a way that is entirely beneath her.”
“She will not be welcome at Matlock House,” Lady Augusta cried.
“There is surely room for her in Bedlam,” Lady Rebecca said drily.
“I cannot possibly open my townhouse on an instant’s notice. Darcy, I will stay here, and you will rid this house of tradesmen at once.”
“London has many hotels, Madam; some may prove of superior enough quality even for you,” Mr. Darcy said coldly.
Across the room, Georgiana roused Miss Bingley with smelling salts. At once Miss Bingley leapt to her feet and began to lament her mistreatment to her brother. Mr. Bingley looked at Jane, then gazed between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Finally, he turned to his screeching sister and raised his voice.
“Be silent, Caroline! You may not have deserved her derision, but you are certainly guilty of what she has accused you. Darcy is too generous to discourage you as brazenly as would be necessary for you to comprehend his want of interest, and it begins to bore me to hear of it. I cannot imagine what he must feel about it, but it has been many years now that he could have offered for you and chose not to.” Mr. Bingley let out a deep exhale and turned to Rebecca with a bright smile. He tipped an imaginary hat to her.
When he looked back at Jane, he smiled ruefully and offered her a handkerchief. “I apologize for my part in the unseemly behavior you have witnessed, dear Lady Jane. I could not allow her offenses to go unanswered. In the future, I hope to defend your honor with greater decorum.”
Lady Catherine had still not ceased her litany of aspersions, and Mr. Darcy was obliged to have her removed from the house by two of his largest footmen.
He could not meet Elizabeth’s eye as he added his own apologies to Mr. Bingley’s eloquence, and Elizabeth was pained to think that this might be their last meeting, should Jane decide to heed her advice.
She had no chance to even speak another word to him, nor share a moment of thrilling mutual esteem; Lady Augusta was determined to see her children home directly.