'I can see you have much in common.' said Belle.
'Indeed,' I said. 'We both lost our fathers some years ago, my father following Miss Darcy's father to the grave within a matter of months. He was Mr Darcy's steward.'
'A fine occupation, and a very necessary one,' said Belle. 'Suitable for a gentleman, and yet at the same time of great use. So many gentlemen these days seem to fritter their time away on nothing. Miss Darcy and I were talking about it only the other day. Do you have a profession, Mr Wickham?'
'Yes, I intend to go into the law.'
'A noble calling,' said Belle approvingly. 'Do you not have family members in the law, Miss Darcy?' asked Belle. 'Was not your uncle a judge?' Georgiana said that yes, that was so, and Belle remarked comfortably that interests in common were so important to friendship and she was sure she was delighted that Miss Darcy had found such a suitable companion in Ramsgate. 'For the people hereabouts are not all of the right kind. You must ask Mr Wickham if he would care to join us for a picnic on the downs tomorrow,' said Belle to Georgiana. 'I would have suggested it last week, but without a gentleman to lend me his arm I could not have managed the hill and even you, my dear, I am persuaded would have found it difficult. But with a gentleman those kinds of things are so much easier.'
Georgiana invited me on the picnic and I accepted, saying I would be delighted to offer the ladies any assistance they might require.
It was time for dinner, and as we ate, we planned several excursions for the coming weeks. Georgiana became animated as we discussed picnics and boating parties, and by the time dinner was over she had lost her shyness around me and was treating me as she had done in the days, long gone, when we were all children together. Cries of, 'Do you remember, George, when...?' or 'Did we not have fun on the day...?' led to shared memories, and Belle smiled at us both benignly as we talked over old times.
'And how is your playing coming along?' I asked Georgiana as we moved into the drawing-room after dinner. 'You always had a musical touch, though you were not always inclined to practise,' I teased her.
'Miss Darcy is a proficient,' said Belle. 'She excels at music; everybody says so. Her masters are very pleased with her. So are we all. Play something for Mr Wickham, my dear. That pretty tune you were practising this morning, perhaps.'
Georgiana sat down at the instrument and played a lively sonata. She really played well, and as I sat and watched her, I thought, I will make her happy. She will want for nothing as my wife. She will have clothes, jewels, a pianoforte, a horse, and a fine house to live in. And when Fitzwilliam sees how happy she is with me he will forgive me everything, particularly when the children come along, for then he will have nephews and nieces to strengthen the attachment between us. We will visit Pemberley at Christmas and Rosings at Easter and before very long, perhaps he will decide to do something for us and Georgiana and I will have an estate of our own.
As I thought of Darcy I remembered him as a lonely figure, surrounded by friends and yet somehow out of their reach. I remembered him saying that he was looking for something. I wondered if he had found it. I had certainly found what I was looking for. a rich, beautiful, and well-connected wife. So at ease did I feel, so at peace with the world, that I hoped he had found what he was looking for, too.
Georgiana finished her sonata and I congratulated her warmly. She smiled at my praise and Belle and I exchanged glances again. It would be easy to win her affections and make her agree to an elopement.
I have a few weeks in which to woo her and then it will be off to Gretna Green and a wedding over the anvil.
16th July 1799
The weather could not have been more perfect for our picnic. I hired a carriage for the first part of the journey, but when we reached the downs I helped the ladies out. Then, giving them each an arm. I escorted them to a beauty spot with the coach driver carrying the basket. I thanked him for his trouble, paid him handsomely, and then set about helping the ladies to all the choice delicacies contained in the hamper.
Afterwards, Belle declared herself too tired to walk any further but said that we must not let that stop us, for she would enjoy watching us as much as she would have enjoyed walking with us.
I gave Georgiana my arm and we set off.
Luck was on my side. We had not been walking for more than five minutes when a sudden gust of wind blew her bonnet off and sent it tumbling down the hill. We both ran after it, just like children again, and did not see our danger until it was almost too late, for the downs fell away suddenly and Georgiana nearly ran over the edge. I caught her hand and pulled her back, dragging her into my arms. Our faces were inches apart and I felt her body melt into mine and I knew that she was attracted to me. I let her go, and I saw the reluctance in her eyes as she was forced to step away from me.
'I am glad I found you again, Georgie,' I said.
'As am I,' she whispered, overcome with confusion.
'I am afraid your bonnet is lost.' I said, as I watched the wind carry it out to sea. 'But never fear. I will buy you another one.'
'Oh, there is no need, I know you cannot afford it!' she said.
I smiled.
'What, do you think I am a pauper?'
'Fitzwilliam says that your pockets are always to let,' she told me.
'When I was a student then yes, I admit, I spent unwisely, but I am older and wiser now. Young men are apt to be foolish, but maturity cures the problem you know.'
I gave her my arm and she hesitated.
'Come now, we are old friends, are we not?' I said.
She smiled shyly and took my arm. I covered her hand with my own and she looked up at me, her eyes drawn to mine. I looked steadily into her eyes and then, when her eyelids began to droop and her head inclined towards me of its own will, I said, 'We must go back.'
She blushed and said. 'Of course.' and we walked back to Belle.
Belle had seen everything and cast a triumphant glance at me.
We had had the best of the weather. Clouds started to cover the sky and the breeze became colder. We gathered our things together and we went back to the carriage, just as it began to rain, and we were soon on our way back down to the town. I took my leave of the ladies and went to the milliners, where I bought the most beautiful bonnet in the window. And then I went to an out-of-the-way inn and entertained myself with a willing wench until the early hours.
17th July 1799
I called on Georgiana this morning, taking the bonnet with me.
'I promised you a new one, you see, and I do not forget my promises,' I said.
She looked doubtful and said that she could not accept it, but Belle said, 'If Mr Wickham was a stranger you would be right to refuse, for a lady should never accept a gift from a gentleman. But as he is such a friend of the family there is no harm in it, my dear, particularly as it is not a gift at all, really; it is only to replace the bonnet you lost.'
Thus encouraged, Georgiana tried on the bonnet and smiled as she saw how becoming it was.
'You have grown into a beauty,' I told her, turning the full force of my charm on her. 'The man who wins you will be lucky indeed.'
She blushed and turned away, but I saw her face in the mirror and she was looking happy and excited.
The boating outing this afternoon brought us even closer, for as she climbed into the sailing boat, she wobbled, and I had to catch hold of her and assist her bodily into the boat. I sat close to her throughout the voyage and twice she clutched at my arm when a large wave rocked the boat, and then again, when we disembarked, I had to render her my assistance.
Offering her my arm on the way back to her house, I felt her lean on me much more heavily than she had done previously, and press closer to me, and I thought that the time was soon approaching when I would be able to propose.