Chapter Sixty-Two

M rs. Hill heard the news from her sister, who was Netherfield's cook. "I do not believe it," she told her sister frankly. "Mr. Bingley married? Impossible."

"Not just married, but the wife in the family way! And well along, at that!"

"But he was flirting with our Miss Bennet not long ago." Mrs. Hill was perplexed.

The two shook their heads; there was simply no understanding the ways of the quality.

Mrs. Hill, knowing that Mrs. Bennet did not do well with surprises, took it upon herself to inform Mrs. Bennet of the situation. Her reaction was much the same as her housekeeper's. "Mr. Bingley married? Impossible!"

Upon being assured that it was true, Mrs. Bennet called for her two eldest daughters to join her in the parlour. "Now, Jane, you are betrothed to Colonel Fitzwilliam."

"Yes, Mama, I know."

"So you no longer have feelings for Mr. Bingley; is that right?"

Oh, heavens, Elizabeth thought. "Mama, we know that Mr. Bingley is married."

Mrs. Bennet put a hand to her chest. "You knew? And you did not tell me?"

"We were enjoined to secrecy by the Colonel."

Mrs. Bennet eyed them. It was clear that she felt that no promise of secrecy should have included their mother, but she let it go. "And who is the young lady who is now Mrs. Bingley?"

Both girls shrugged. "I have no idea, Mama," Jane said, fingers crossed behind her back.

***

The Bingleys and the Hursts attended the wedding of Charlotte Lucas to William Collins. All eyes turned to Georgiana as she walked into the church on her husband's arm.

She could hear the whispers. "I heard he had married!" "What was he doing dancing with Miss Bennet? And twice, at that!" "I had not thought him a rake!" "The new Mrs. Bingley is full young, is she not?" "I would guess sixteen." She ignored the whispers as best she could, as Charles led her to the Netherfield pew at the front of the church. He paused at the pew behind the one assigned to Netherfield and bowed.

"Mrs. Bennet, may I present my wife, Mrs. Bingley?" The matron rose and curtsied; Georgiana returned it. Charles then presented the rest of the family – Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary, Miss Lydia, Miss Kitty, Mr. Bennet.

Georgiana's heart was pounding as the introductions were performed. She reminded herself, over and over, that they could not possibly know who she was or what she had done. In fact, the two eldest Bennet daughters regarded her with what seemed to be a good deal of kindness. Miss Bennet was soon to be her cousin by marriage, and evidently her brother was interested in Miss Elizabeth.

After the wedding, the Bingleys and the Hursts were invited to attend the wedding breakfast at the family home of the bride. There, Georgiana found herself to be the object of considerable interest. She was asked how long she had been married to Mr. Bingley, how they had met, and a vast number of other questions. She had hardly known which way to look, but she did her best to recall the details she and Charles had agreed upon. Happily, the two eldest Bennet daughters stayed near her, and deflected a good many of the questions, saying, "Oh, there is plenty of time to quiz Mrs. Bingley; let us instead compliment Lady Lucas on her choice of wedding cake!" and "Mrs. Bingley, would you not like to sit? Look, here is a chair for you."

The bride was evidently a dear friend of Miss Elizabeth's; Georgiana had to smile when she heard the new Mrs. Collins say, for the sixth time, "You will write to me, Eliza."

And for the sixth time, Miss Elizabeth replied, "Of course, Charlotte."

And then – "Oh, Eliza! I shall never have a friend as dear to me as you!" And the two girls embraced, tears coursing down their cheeks.

Georgiana was more than a little envious. Growing up at Pemberley, she had lived in considerable luxury, but she had never had a friend.

***

Mr. Collins stood tall at his wedding breakfast, accepting accolades as to the wisdom of his choice of brides as his due. He watched Mrs. Collins with pride, as friends and well-wishers gathered around her. She was obviously well-liked and much respected; she would make a perfect wife for a rector.

Finally, it was time to leave for Kent. Charlotte's trunks were strapped to the back of the hired carriage that would take Mr. and Mrs. Collins to the Hunsford rectory.

Elizabeth stood outside with the Lucas family, watching the carriage until it turned the corner and disappeared from sight. She took a deep breath; Charlotte was gone, but Georgiana Darcy Bingley was here and doubtless needed support.

Going back into Lucas Lodge, Elizabeth paused to take a good look at the new Mrs. Bingley. She was quite pretty, as young as Lydia and blonde-haired like Lydia as well, and certainly far too young to have endured so much. She had been made to sit in the Lucas' most comfortable chair, and Mr. Bingley and the Hursts were standing around her as if to guard her.

As Elizabeth approached, Mr. Bingley turned and greeted her. "This is a happy day for your friend, is it not, Miss Elizabeth?"

"It is indeed, Mr. Bingley," Elizabeth replied. "Mrs. Bingley, we are delighted to have a new neighbour; perhaps you might come to tea one day at Longbourn?"

Georgiana blushed. "I would like that very much, Miss Elizabeth."

Elizabeth continued, "Mr. Bingley, might I take Mrs. Bingley for a stroll?"

Mr. Bingley looked at his bride with some concern. Would she be comfortable with this?

"I promise all will be well," Elizabeth assured him.

Elizabeth offered her arm; Georgiana rose and took it. Elizabeth led her young charge outside; assuring herself that they could not be overheard, she then turned to face the young woman beside her. "Mrs. Bingley, I know who you are. Your brother and your cousin spent time here earlier this winter, and I was told of your recent history."

Tears started in Georgiana's eyes. "Oh, no! What you must think of me! I beg you, Miss Elizabeth, tell no one!"

"Oh, heavens, Georgiana – Mrs. Bingley – I only wish to reassure you that you are among friends here! I would not dream –" And Elizabeth opened her arms wide and pulled a sobbing Mrs. Bingley into them. "There, there, all will be well," she murmured soothingly.

"I did not know – Charles never said – "

"I was told in confidence; I do not think Mr. Bingley knew anything of it."

"The rest of your family?"

"My elder sister, Jane, knows; but I assure you, no one else has even an inkling. There will be talk, of course, as Mr. Bingley never mentioned a wife and danced with my older sister twice at a recent assembly, but my advice to you is to simply ignore it. The talk will die down if there is nothing to fuel it. If there is anything you need, even if you just wish to talk about your experiences, you have but to ask Jane or myself."

"Thank you, oh, thank you!"

"Mrs. Bingley, you have been through more than any young lady should have to endure; you deserve some kindness."

"I had not thought to find kindness from a perfect stranger! My own brother is so angry that he will barely speak to me."

"I know he is angry, and he must get past it," Elizabeth said, firmly.

"Oh, thank you for understanding! When he caught up with me at Gretna Green and found me there with Mr. Wickham, he turned on his heel and left me! Just when I needed his help the most! And did he ever tell me how wicked our old friend had turned out to be? No! I knew nothing of it!" Words were spilling from her lips.

"He – he just walked away?"

"Yes. I deserved it, I know, but if he loved me, he would have helped me, would he not?"

"I am so sorry, Mrs. Bingley. He is angry with you, you are angry with him. At some point, the two of you must talk to one another."

"He will not speak to me at all, and I would just as soon not speak to him, so I know not how such a conversation would ever take please. But would you please call me Georgiana?"

Elizabeth replied, "I would be honoured. And I am Elizabeth or Lizzy. I have kept you out in the cold long enough, Georgiana; let us go inside and see if there is any cake left!" Her voice sounded happy, but she was very, very worried that Mr. Darcy would never make peace with his sister.