Chapter Fifty-Seven

December 1811

O n the morning of her wedding to Mr. Bingley, Georgiana was up with the birds. She had despaired of anything good happening to her for many months now, but today she would marry a kind, gentle man. He would then spirit her away to a leased estate in the county of Hertfordshire, where she would spend her days preparing for the arrival of her child.

The fly in the ointment, of course, was that she and Brother were very much at odds. She had tried speaking to him, but he had simply stared at her in response. She had taken to leaving any room that he entered. If he wished to punish her for her transgressions – well, she rather thought she had been punished enough.

By ten o'clock, everything was ready. Sally had contrived a beautiful wedding dress that managed to hide her belly. Her aunt had somehow been able to have slippers made to match the dress. Sally had pinned her hair up in an elaborate coiffure, anchored with diamond pins. Georgiana stared at herself in the mirror, thinking that she now looked more like Miss Georgiana Darcy of Pemberley than she had in a very long time, though she was still too thin.

Her uncle appeared in her doorway. "Are you ready, Georgiana?"

"Is Charles here?"

"He is, as is the officiant, Richard, and your brother."

"Then I am ready."

The Earl escorted her down the stairs. Georgiana was grateful for the support, as her balance was becoming precarious. While Brother would have doubtless been made happy by a miscarriage, Georgiana was determined to protect her child at all costs. She could not remember much about her own mother, who had passed away when Georgiana was a young child, but she had resolved to be the best mother any child had ever had.

As she entered the drawing room on her uncle's arm, everyone rose to their feet.

"Oh, Georgiana! You look lovely!"

"If I do, it is thanks to your own efforts, Aunt," Georgiana replied, warmly.

The Earl escorted her to Mr. Bingley, whose open face showed her that he, too, thought her beautiful.

"Good morning, Charles," she whispered.

"It is the best of mornings," he whispered back.

When the officiant prompted Mr. Bingley to produce a ring, he reached into his pocket and slipped a ring onto her finger. She gazed at it; it was a gold ring with a large diamond in the center, surrounded by smaller diamonds. "Beautiful," she whispered to him.

In short order, they were pronounced man and wife.

Despite the paucity of attendees, the Countess' kitchen staff produced a lavish wedding breakfast, complete with a wedding cake that had been heavily soaked in brandy. Georgiana did not think she could eat so much as a bite of it, but her aunt had foreseen this, and packed several slices of the cake into a box.

Once the breakfast had been consumed, her trunk was strapped on to the back of the Bingley coach. The Bingleys were then on their way to Hertfordshire.

***

Before the week was out, the ton was amazed to learn that Miss Georgiana Darcy had not eloped with the steward's son, as had been reported.

The previous information regarding Miss GD of Derbyshire was, we are forced to admit, in error. In fact, that young lady is married to her brother's dear friend, Mr. CB. The two are expecting their first child. In addition, there was no pounding on the Matlock House door, as was originally reported. We deeply regret the errors and offer heartfelt apologies and best wishes to the couple.

The story of Miss Darcy having been seen in the park was circulated widely. The man accompanying her must have been her husband! Astonishing that the newspaper had gotten it so very wrong.

***

Miss Caroline Bingley saw the notice in the newspaper. She had heard the gossip about the Darcys and had thanked her Saviour on her knees that she had not condescended to marry Mr. Darcy. Now it appeared that the gossip had been much mistaken. Evidently, Georgiana Darcy, that spineless and insipid creature, had managed to marry after all. She wondered if she might have met this Mr. CB. She had thought Charles to be Mr. Darcy's only dear friend, but evidently Mr. Darcy had another friend with those same initials.

Unless…?

No. Not possible. She dismissed it from her mind.