Belle invited me in but I declined her invitation, knowing that absence would make Georgiana's heart grow fonder. And it did, for her eyes followed me regretfully as I left the house.
In only a few more days, or a week, perhaps, I will ask her to marry me. There is no sense in delaying. As soon as I am certain of success I will proceed. The sooner we are in Scotland the better.
27th July 1799
I met Belle this morning, walking by the sea, whilst Georgiana was busy indoors with her watercolours. Belle's 'headaches' are proving to be very useful as they give us a chance to talk. We met far away from the main promenade, where we would not be observed.
'How does Georgiana seem this morning? Does she speak of me?'
'All the time. She is head over heels in love with you, and I am not surprised. That new coat looks very well on you. It would turn the head of a more experienced girl than Georgiana.'
'Is she ready yet for me to propose do you think?' I asked her.
'Yes, she is, I am sure of it. I encouraged her to take a number of romances out of the library when we first arrived here and yesterday, as she sat and read, I told her that her novel reminded me of my own happy life. I told her that I had met the most wonderful man in the world, kind, handsome, and a good friend, and that we had eloped together. She was shocked at first, but as I spoke about it she began to see how romantic it had been and in the end she was convinced that an elopement was the best way to marry, just a woman and her beloved plighting their troth together. After much sighing and smiling, I ended by wishing her the same happiness I had found.'
'That all sounds very promising. I will come round to dinner tonight and then I will propose tomorrow,' I said.
'Call on us at ten in the morning,' she said. 'I will take care to be out of the room when you arrive, and you can have five minutes alone. Is that long enough?'
'Yes. Five minutes is all I will need.'
28th July 1799
I dressed with great care this morning and I wore the cologne I know Georgiana likes. I called at the house at exactly ten o'clock, and, as Belle had promised, Georgiana was by herself. I was shown into the drawing-room and she started up, took a step towards me. then stopped and coloured, and said that Mrs Younge was upstairs.
'But she has only gone to fetch her workbasket. She will be down directly,' she said.
'I cannot say that I am sorry to have found you alone,' I said, going over to her and taking her hand, then kissing it impulsively before looking deeply into her eyes. 'Georgiana, you must know, you must have felt how much I like you. In our childhoods we were always friends, but, now that we are grown, my feelings for you have deepened, and I find that friendship is no longer enough for me. I love you, Georgiana, with all my heart and soul. I have no right to ask it, no right to expect it, but'—I sank to my knees in a very pretty gesture of submission—'will you do me the very great honour of becoming my wife?'
She blushed and smiled and said, 'It is you who do me too much honour, George.'
'Does that mean that you accept?' I asked, standing up and touching her cheek.
'Yes, it does. As long as Fitzwilliam gives his consent to the marriage, I will be your wife.'
'Then you have made me the happiest of men,' I said, kissing her hand again.
Belle, who had been listening at the door, then entered the room and said, 'Oh, Mr Wickham, how good of you to call.'
'I had something very particular I wanted to say to Miss Darcy,' I said.
'Oh?'
'Mr Wickham has asked me to be his wife,' said Georgiana.
Belle clapped her hands together in delight.
'Oh, this is wonderful news,' she said. 'The best news possible. I cannot say I am surprised. You two were made to be with each other. I knew it from the first moment I saw you together. Just like my good, dear Stephen and me. Oh, the happy times we had together, from the moment we met, to all the magic of our wedding in Scotland, to all the happy years we had together until he died. I only hope you two young people can have the same.'
'Why should we not?' I asked, as though suddenly struck by the idea. 'Why should we not go to Scotland?' I turned to Georgiana. 'What do you say to the idea, my love? Just you and me, pledging our love for each other, with none of the pomp and circumstance of more trivial marriages, marriages contracted for the sake of family connections or for the sake of convenience. Then there needs to be a show, for there is nothing else to unite the two people. But for us, who love each other dearly, there is no need for it. We need nothing but each other.'
Georgiana was carried away by the idea of it and we made our arrangements then and there, with Belle adding her comments every now and again to help the matter along.
'I left the house with only a bandbox,' said Belle. She was so convincing with her reminisces that even I almost believed her stories. 'My dear Stephen was waiting for me with a carriage at the end of the road.'
'Were your family not worried?' asked Georgiana, as she began to think of the matter more carefully.
'Bless you, no.' said Belle. 'I did not just run off, you know; I left a letter explaining everything. I would not have worried them for the world! My papa said afterwards that it was the most romantic letter he had ever read. He said that that was when he knew I was really in love, when he knew I would do without all the fripperies that went with a wedding, just to be with the man I loved.'
Georgiana looked at me and I smiled.
'If you want a large society wedding then we will have one. I would not deny you any pleasure for the world. But if you would like something more romantic then we will go to Scotland. The scenery there is very beautiful and the people are warm and friendly. Well, my love, what shall it be? Shall we elope?' She smiled and I took that as her answer. 'Very well, then, I will arrange the carriage for tomorrow, and then on to Scotland,' I said.
'Oh, yes, George.' Then she faltered. 'What about when we return? What will we do then?'
'We will buy a house and surprise all our friends by throwing a party to celebrate our marriage,' I said.
I left her then. I had no fear of her changing her mind, for I knew Belle would spend the rest of the day encouraging her in her plans for the future.
29th July 1799
A calamity! I am undone!
I hired the carriage and was just about to set off to collect Georgiana, with our route to Scotland firmly planned in my mind, when who should I see but Belle, hurrying down the road towards me.
I knew at once that something was wrong, and I called out for the coachman to stop.
'Fly!' she said, when she reached the carriage. 'Go! It is Mr Darcy! He has found us out! He called on us not an hour ago, wanting to surprise his sister, and she, poor fool, could not bear to deceive him and told him everything. He is in a towering rage. He is ready to murder you. You must be gone from here before he finds you, or who knows what he will do?'
I could not believe it. To be so near and yet so far.
'Damn!' I said. 'Damn Fitzwilliam Darcy! Was he born to ruin everything for me? First he denies me a living and now he denies me a wife.'
'Do not stay!' Belle begged me. 'Go, now, at once. He is a powerful man. He has friends, influence; he could make things very difficult for you.'
I looked at Belle with her comely face and figure and I thought, Why shouldn't I have some company on my flight.
'Come with me,' I said impulsively, seizing the moment.