Chapter Fifteen

Elizabeth

E lizabeth paced the halls of Longbourn, her heart heavy with uncertainty. Was Georgie in the arms of his wife at this very moment? Had he already forgotten about her?

As she turned another corner, she nearly collided with her father.

“Elizabeth, what has you in such a state?” Mr Bennet asked, his brows furrowed with concern.

“It’s Georgie,” she began. “A woman came to the constabulary claiming he was her husband.”

Mr Bennet’s eyes widened slightly. “Well, that is wonderful if he is identified,” he said. “Why are you so solemn? You’ve been so close to him, I thought you’d want Georgie to find out who he is.”

Mrs Bennet joined them, her curiosity piqued by the conversation. “What’s this about Georgie?” she asked.

Mr Bennet explained, and Mrs Bennet’s expression shifted from surprise to a mix of relief and disappointment. “Oh, it would be a shame to lose him when he’s been so helpful with the estate,” she lamented.

Mr Bennet chuckled, shaking his head. “You were the one against having him here in the first place, thinking he was some sort of runaway up to no good.”

“Well, how was I to know he’d turn out to be so useful?” Mrs Bennet retorted. “But imagine the scandal if he turned out to be some ne’er-do-well!”

“Mrs Bennet, you are bound to give me a stiff neck with this constant back and forth. One second you are sad he is leaving, then you think he was a ne’er-do-well after all. Which is it?”

Elizabeth listened to their banter, feeling a dreadful weight in her chest. The thought of Georgie having a wife filled her with despair. She could feel the tears prickling, and she turned away, hoping to hide her distress.

Mr Bennet noticed her sudden silence. “Elizabeth, what is the matter? Mrs Bennet, our daughter seems rather upset at the prospect of finding out who our Georgie is.”

“Nothing,” she said quickly. “I am pleased, that is all. I am so happy for him,” she forced the words out, though feared they might choke her. Wishing to avoid further debate, she rushed away, unable to bear the conversation any longer.

As she left she heard her mother chastising her father, “Really, Mr Bennet, how can you be so blind? It is clear how much Elizabeth cares for the man.”

“Perhaps,” Mr Bennet mused, “but we cannot have one of our daughters mooning over a man without memory. It is for the best, I suppose that he has been found.”

Elizabeth dashed outside, the cold air hitting her face like a splash of water. Tears welled up in her eyes as she wandered into the garden, the weight of her unspoken feelings pressing heavily on her. How silly had she been to allow herself to lose her heart to a man with a wife, with a life she did not know about, a life that might have already been full of love and affection. What a fool she was.

“Elizabeth!” Georgie’s voice suddenly broke through her contemplation and she looked up. “Elizabeth!” he shouted, now running her way.

Elizabeth spun around and fell into a dash as she made her way towards him. Why was he here again, and alone? Hope flickered inside her, though she knew it was foolish to allow this. “Georgie, I—”

“It was not her,” he interrupted, his breath coming in quick puffs from his run. “The woman did not know me, and I did not know her.”

A wave of immense relief washed over Elizabeth, and she could not help but feel a smile tug at her lips. Her heart felt as if it might burst from her chest. “Oh, Georgie,” she said, then quickly added, “I am sorry for feeling relieved. You must be so upset now.”

He shook his head, stepping closer. “I am not upset. In fact, I felt relieved when I realised the woman did not know me. Because while my mind cannot remember a thing about my past life, my heart knows one thing with certainty—I admire you, Elizabeth.”

Her breath caught, and she looked up at him with wide eyes. His admission sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt an overwhelming mix of emotions—joy, fear, hope.

“I feel the same way,” she admitted. “But it’s foolish and silly. We have only known each other for a few weeks. And this woman… she might not have been your wife, but another might be. What if you are married already?”

He took her hands in his, his touch reassuring. “I might be. Or I might not. What if I am a pauper? Or rich?” he replied, his eyes locked onto hers. The intensity of his gaze made her knees weak, and she had to steady herself by gripping his hands tighter.

Elizabeth’s heart wanted nothing more than to agree with him, but her mind raced with the potential complications. What if he had a family? What if he turned out to be someone entirely different from the man she had grown to care for?

She clung to him, her heart pounding. “It’s all so uncertain,” she whispered. The thought of losing him now, after realising her feelings, was unbearable.

Georgie tightened his grip on her hands, his presence a balm to her frayed nerves. “Yes, it is. But right now, what I feel for you is the only thing that feels certain.”

Elizabeth felt the tears of relief and happiness streaming down her cheeks. “Then let us hold on to that certainty, no matter what the future holds. But my parents will not agree to us…” she looked down and raised her eyes gingerly, “courting.”

“I know it. But perhaps we can enjoy one another’s company as we have until now, in private. We need not tell them anything just yet. If something else is uncovered.”

She nodded, dreading the idea of sneaking around but also worried what her parents might say if she told them she wished to be with Georgie, her father’s words still ringing in her mind.

“Let us take time to get to know one another, away from prying eyes,” she said. “And we will see where time takes us.”

“I wholeheartedly agree, Elizabeth,” he said, holding her hand tighter.

They stood there, holding on to each other, caught between delirious happiness and the terrifying uncertainty of what lay ahead. Elizabeth felt a warmth spread through her as she leaned into him, drawing strength from his solid presence. She knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together. And for now, that was enough.