Chapter Eighteen

T he relationship between the Matlocks and the Darcys was well-known. Thus, it was no surprise that Matlock House had been besieged by newspaper reporters, hoping for more information on the elopement of "Miss GD of Derbyshire.' The Countess had canceled the majority of her social engagements, an act which, upon reflection, may have been an error. Should she have faced the gossips down, rather than going into hiding? Might burying herself at Matlock House not look like an admission of guilt?

Not that she or the Earl had anything about which to feel guilty! After all, it had not been the Matlocks who had allowed Georgiana to be in the company of George Wickham. What had Darcy been thinking? Or, as that awful snippet in the newspaper had said, where in the world had he been? But their son, Richard, was one of Georgiana's guardians as well, so he too had been accused of neglect.

It had been fortunate that Richard was on leave when the article was printed. He had ridden to Pemberley immediately, ready to tear his cousin apart. Mr. Darcy had not been in residence and no one would tell Richard where he was, until he had reminded Mrs. Reynolds that he was also Georgiana's guardian. The woman had then broken down in tears and told the Colonel that Mr. Darcy had gone to someplace called Netherfield in the little town of Meryton.

Her son had then ridden all the way back from Pemberley to London in order to report Darcy's absence to her before setting off again to this Meryton place. He had found Mr. Darcy there, and heard his story, as he reported in his long letter to his mother.

? Dear Mother,

I have run Darcy to ground at last. He is in Meryton with his friend Bingley, as Mrs. Reynolds said. Mother, I know we are meant to be furious at him, but truly, the man is in pieces.

He was not anywhere near Georgiana when she met up with Wickham. It appears now that Mrs. Younge, the companion Darcy hired for Georgiana, is a long-time compatriot of Wickham's. By design, Mrs. Younge suggested a seaside holiday at Ramsgate for Georgiana, an idea that appealed to her young charge and to which Darcy made no objection. And it was to Ramsgate that Wickham also went, pretending to be there by coincidence.

Georgiana had never been told anything of Wickham's behaviour, as we feared the truth too terrible for a young lady's delicate sensibilities. For that decision I must take my share of the blame, as I agreed to withhold the truth of her old friend from her. So when Wickham appeared at Ramsgate, she welcomed him as a childhood friend.

Mrs. Younge encouraged the friendship, going so far as to tell Georgiana that she had written to Darcy and received his permission for the relationship to progress. In short order, Wickham proposed and Georgiana accepted. Wickham convinced her to agree to an elopement, bringing Mrs. Younge along to lend respectability to the enterprise. As if that scoundrel had any idea what respectability entails!

In any case, Darcy decided to join Georgiana at Ramsgate, and set off to do so. A broken axle delayed his arrival by enough time to allow the elopement to take place. Darcy learnt from the household servants that Georgiana had been taken to Gretna Green; he leapt on a horse and rode as fast as humanly possible, arriving there just after the wedding – and bedding, if you will forgive my mentioning it – had taken place.

Wickham demanded Georgiana's dowry which, as you know, is protected by a trust and can only be released with the agreement of both Darcy and myself. Upon learning this, a fight ensued between Wickham and Darcy, which I am glad to report cost Wickham two teeth. The local magistrate was called and Darcy was reminded that he no longer had any rights to Georgiana, and Darcy then left.

I know the ton is making mincemeat of the Darcy name, and the Fitzwilliam name by association. I suspect there is nothing to be done but to ride it out, but you understand these social niceties far better than I, dear Mother.

We cannot dissolve the marriage, but I fear for Georgiana's safety and well-being. I will never release the money in the trust to that villain, but we must make certain that Georgiana is at least fed and housed. To that end, I have men in London scouring the streets, looking for some sign of Wickham, Georgiana, or Mrs. Younge. I will, of course, alert you immediately if I learn of their whereabouts.

I have informed my superiors that I have a family situation requiring my extended leave.

I remain your devoted son,

Richard Fitzwilliam

The Countess read the letter over several times before showing it to the Earl. They were agreed that Georgiana must be found, but that they would leave that task to Richard.