Page 36 of The Marriage Game

The Countess sent a note to her nephew, telling him to expect her that afternoon, and that she would like to speak with him and Elizabeth, but not Georgiana. When she arrived at Darcy House, she was immediately escorted to the library, where Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy waited. A tea tray had been prepared, and everyone was soon settled with cups.

The Countess wasted no time in pleasantries. “Yesterday I was visited by Lord Fane’s mother.”

Elizabeth’s eyebrows rose. “If Lady Amelia visited merely to repeat her complaints against Georgiana, she may as well have saved her breath.”

“On the contrary, she asked me to encourage the match.”

Elizabeth was shocked into silence; Mr. Darcy said, rather sarcastically, “So she has changed her tune. Why?”

“Her son loves Georgiana. It is fairly well known that she herself had a loveless and even turbulent relationship with the late Lord Fane; perhaps she wishes better for her son.”

“It does not matter,” Elizabeth said, sadly.

“Indeed? And why is that? I rather thought Georgiana quite fond of the gentleman.”

“I can tell you in two words: George Wickham.”

The Countess slumped back in her chair. “I had put that entire episode from my mind.”

Mr. Darcy said, “If he reads in the papers that Georgiana has made a very advantageous marriage and is now connected with an important family, he will be here in a matter of days, threatening to go to the newspapers and demanding payment for his silence. I would pay him, if I thought that would be the end of it.”

“But you know full well that it would never end,” the Countess surmised.

“Precisely; and so it would eventually be put in the papers and known to everyone. Georgiana cannot countenance damaging the Westmoreland family name.”

“That is very sad,” the Countess said.

The three of them sat for a long minute in silence. Finally, the Countess said, “I have another dilemma, one with which I believe you can assist me.”