Elizabeth reproached herself for making the comment about Lydia’s actions. “Georgiana, I am sure the particulars were not similar at all.”
Georgiana closed her eyes as she struggled with the painful memories of being deceived and disappointing her brother. “No, Elizabeth, they are quite the same.” She paused in an effort to summon the strength to continue. “I also ran off with George Wickham.”
Elizabeth drew her arms around the young girl and pulled her close into a hug as tears began to well up in Georgiana’s eyes.
“Oh, my dear, sweet Georgiana.” Elizabeth closed her eyes in contrition at her thoughtless comment about Lydia’s behaviour and thought frantically for something to say to lessen Georgiana’s regret. “Georgiana, I understand Mr. Wickham was a longtime friend of your family, is that correct?”
Georgiana sniffled and nodded an affirmative.
“Was he particularly attentive to you?”
“Yes, Elizabeth. He was always kind toward me.”
“I thought as much.” Elizabeth drew away and clasped each one of Georgiana’s hands. “Georgiana, you are still young and have so much to learn. Mr. Wickham is the sort of man who knows how to charm a young girl by saying the things she wants to hear, by giving her the attention she longs for.”
Georgiana looked at Elizabeth and took in a few tremulous breaths. “If I had known someone like you whom I could have talked to… and who would have talked with me, I often have thought I would not have made such a dreadful decision.”
Elizabeth smiled, aware that this young girl had lived most of her life without a mother or close female friend. She’d had governesses, but she wondered whether they were women with whom she could confide her deepest thoughts and ask her hardest questions. Elizabeth took the girl’s hand firmly in hers. She pondered how difficult it must have been for her to have lost both her parents while still young. Did William even know how to talk to this young lady about the things she most needed to hear?
“Georgiana, if there is anything you wish to talk with me about, I would be happy to oblige you. If you have any questions, I would be honoured if you would feel free to come to me.” Elizabeth laughed softly. “I may not have all the answers, but I will do my best.”
Georgiana took Elizabeth’s arm, and they both turned and began walking again. “I do want you to know, Elizabeth, that I am terribly sorry for my Aunt Catherine’s behaviour toward you and wish to apologize for her. I fervently hope that Fitzwilliam is able to make my aunt see just how excellent you are for him… and for me… before she is able to do any harm!”
Elizabeth sighed as she took in the disquiet on Georgiana’s face and in her words. “I appreciate your concern, Georgiana, and I do hope your brother can smooth things over with your aunt; I would not wish to be the cause of a rift between them. But there is one thing of which I am certain.” She turned her face off toward the southern horizon, looking toward London. “William and I will be married at the end of all this; even if we must marry again!”
Chapter 33
One month later
Darcy stood up at the front of the church at Longbourn alongside his best friend, Charles Bingley. The small chapel was filled to overflowing with guests waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Bingley looked out at the people who had become his neighbours since first coming to Netherfield. He made eye contact with several, giving them a wide grin, all the while anxious for his bride-to-be to make her way down the aisle.
In stark contrast to his ebullient friend, Darcy avoided the eyes that were upon him. He kept his eyes set on the back of the church, waiting for Elizabeth to come down. As he patiently waited for her beautiful, reassuring face to appear, he began to suffer that all too familiar sense of being scrutinized by those seated before him in the church and wished that he could disappear into the crowd unnoticed. But he could not. Not today.
Bingley and Darcy. Best friends. Soon to be brothers-in-law.
When Darcy had returned to Hertfordshire after his short stay in London the previous month, he was welcomed into the Bennet household, particularly by Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth had the sole responsibility, while her father and husband were still in town, of informing her mother that she and Mr. Darcy had married. Her father had written from London to say that Lydia was acquainted with the situation and that it would be futile to try to keep their marriage a secret any longer.
Mrs. Bennet, however, first received the news that Lydia was not to be married and bore it with great disappointment. It was all Elizabeth could do to soothe her spirits. Her mother had held such strong hopes that Mr. Wickham would marry her sweet Lydia! In her vexation and disappointment, she blamed her husband and Mr. Darcy for their interference. Elizabeth waited until she had calmed down before she told her what she knew she must.
When Elizabeth felt her mother was in a condition to attend her words, she gently told her of her marriage to Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Bennet could not think poorly of Elizabeth’s situation, but she hardly understood why a man of Mr. Darcy’s stature and wealth would look twice at her second eldest daughter. But that he did, she considered with great pleasure, although the truth be owned, her attention dwelt a great deal more on Lydia’s disappointment than on Elizabeth’s happiness. When the reality of Elizabeth’s good fortune became clear, suddenly everything paled in comparison. Word of Elizabeth’s happy alliance spread quickly about the countryside, propelled mainly by Mrs. Bennet herself.
It was apparent to Elizabeth that her mother had no qualms about their marrying on a ship, by a captain instead of a clergyman, and she was not even disturbed that they had kept it a secret for all these months. Instead, Mrs. Bennet noted all the advantages of such an alliance; particularly that it would throw her other daughters in the path of rich gentlemen.
This day, Darcy stood alongside his best friend for the wedding. But he was not just standing up with Bingley; he and Elizabeth were going to recite their vows for all to see.
Most guests in attendance eventually knew the truth of this couple’s situation. But it was also common knowledge that the couple had not lived together as man and wife, per the fervent admonition of Mr. Bennet. As much as he graciously welcomed Darcy into the family, he did insist that their marriage be solemnized by the church first. And as the guests at the wedding looked upon the striking, but quite nervous Mr. Darcy standing at the front of the church, most had forgotten that he and Miss Elizabeth Bennet had been married for several months already.
Darcy had agreed to abide by Mr. Bennet’s constraint for another month’s separation to ensure that there would be no scandal to besmirch the union, given its unusual start. Fortunately for Darcy, the month passed quickly, as plans for the ceremony took precedence over all other things. He satisfied himself, however, with stolen kisses along solitary walks with Elizabeth and whispered endearments during dinner engagements.
Among those looking up at the two men in the front of the church was Miss Caroline Bingley. It had been her brother who had the daunting task of informing her that the man for whom she had harboured longtime hopes was married to Elizabeth, and had been for some time. She took the news as one would expect she would, making inane comments about how London society would appreciate the new Mrs. Darcy’s attempt to bring country dances to the ton and how she had never understood what women saw in Mr. Darcy anyway.
Noticeably missing was Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She still stung from her nephew’s rebuke and had not reconciled in her mind the need to apologize to his wife. The unfortunate consequence of her decision was that Darcy’s cousin, Anne, could not be in attendance. Truly glad for her cousin to have found a wife he so greatly loved, she sent along her best wishes and apologies for her mother’s cruel and unrepentant attitude. She hoped in time Lady Catherine would see the error of her ways and accept the woman he had married, and expressed a wish to meet Elizabeth as soon as could be arranged.