Chapter 24

Darcy pulled up in front of the rented house, hoping and praying he was not too late. There were no signs that anyone was about, but then again, the carriage house was in the back, and there was no way to tell if it had been taken out. He did not wait for the coachman to open the door. He helped the maid out, then instructed her to go around the side of the house and enter through the kitchens. "The housekeeper will care for you and see you have appropriate accommodations," he instructed.

After seeing that the girl had ducked into the side entrance, Darcy bounded up the steps and into the foyer. The housekeeper seemed surprised to see him, but he did not stop to explain his sudden appearance. He looked into the drawing room for the ladies, and when he did not see them, he went to the parlour. Neither of them was anywhere to be seen. As he was coming back out into the hall, he suddenly ran into Mrs Younge.

She fell back, as white as if she had seen a ghost, then tried to cover up her shock and embarrassment. "Mr Darcy! What a surprise. We did not expect to see you —"

"Indeed, you did not. I know what you have been planning." He looked past her to see Georgiana coming down the stairs. He frowned at Mrs Younge, his tone cool. "Consider this your notice."

Mrs Younge backed away in alarm, looking at Georgiana. As if his sister would help her. When he explained her true nature, Georgiana would not lift a finger to help her.

"What has happened, Mr Darcy? Shall we go into the parlour and discuss things?" she asked.

"No, thank you. I will speak with my sister in private." He looked down his nose at Mrs Younge.

Georgiana came slowly down the stairs. She looked nervous, and her cheeks were as red as two ripe cherries. She came into his arms and hugged him, but seemed tense and distant, holding herself away from him. He hated that there was that distance between them. There had never been a reason for it before. His anger flared as he thought of Mr Wickham and what he had almost done to bring a breach between him and his only sister.

"I am surprised to see you, brother. Is something wrong?" Georgiana asked, her voice quaking.

He took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. "I am afraid there is quite a bit wrong, my dear sister." He ushered her into the parlour and closed the door gently. He wanted her to tell him of her own free will, and so he led her over to the settee, motioned for her to sit down, and sat beside her, taking her hand in his. "What is happening?"

Georgiana's eyebrows went up for a moment, then she looked away. "I do not know what you are referring to, brother. Everything has been going well here. Mrs Younge and I were preparing for the next assembly, which is to be held a few days hence. And then there have been the endless calls. No doubt Mrs Younge has informed you of everything —"

"I know, Georgiana. But I would rather hear things from your own lips."

Georgiana bit her lower lip, taking her hand from his and folding her hands tensely in her lap. She had never lied to him. But would this be the first time she tried it? She looked away and made to stand, but he captured her hand once more and pleaded with her. "Georgiana, have I ever given you reason to fear me? I do not want to hurt you, but to help you."

That was all it took. She turned toward him and her face fell. "Oh, Fitz, I have felt so guilty over the last few days. It is true, Mr Wickham convinced me that the only way we would be able to be together was to run away and elope at Gretna Green. He loves me and says that you would not approve."

"Indeed, I do not. You do not know the kind of man he is," Darcy replied as gently as he could. "Any man who would want you to lie to your family cannot truly love you."

Tears spilled down her cheeks. She was so tender, so vulnerable. He silently berated himself for leaving her alone for so long. "I blame myself. I should have been more open with you about why he left. Georgiana, he came to me shortly after Father died and demanded that I give him a sum of money in exchange for the living he had been promised. I had no objection. For these many years now, I have known that Wickham ought not to be a clergyman. I therefore gave him the sum of three thousand pounds —"

"Three thousand pounds!" Georgiana repeated in astonishment. Darcy smiled crookedly. It spoke well of his little sister, who had always been raised in the utmost luxury, that she could understand the value of such a sum.

He took a deep breath and continued. "Yes. He told me he thought of studying the law. I hoped, rather than believed, him to be sincere. Unfortunately, my hopes were not justified. Wickham squandered the money quickly. When he came back to demand more, I refused. That is why we have not seen him since." He took a steadying breath, trying to think of a way to tell her the truth without crushing her spirit. "I think he convinced you to run away with him so he could force my hand. He knows how devoted I am to you, and that I would not want my sister to spend the rest of her days in squalor. He would have first your dowry, and then — whatever he asked of me."

Georgiana's lower lip quivered as it all came together in her mind. She looked away from him, trying to sort out what had happened. It was not long before she looked back up at him, stricken. "He only wanted to marry me to get the money he thinks he deserves?"

Darcy hated to be so blunt, but she had to understand Wickham's true nature. "I am afraid so," he said softly.

Georgiana's chin quivered in a futile attempt to hold back the tears. It did not last long. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed. Darcy scooted over to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She turned into his chest and cried. He did his best to comfort her. He had not seen her cry like this since their father had died. Pure, unadulterated hatred rose up inside him as he thought of Wickham. If he had his way, he would make sure the man never did this to another young lady again.

When Georgiana had finished crying, he brought out a handkerchief and helped her wipe her eyes. She let out a relieved breath. "I am so sorry for trying to deceive you, Fitz. It made me terribly uncomfortable. I thought he loved me. But I see now that he is a scoundrel."

"I am glad he did not succeed in his plans. I cannot imagine losing you to such a scoundrel," Darcy said. "It would have killed me."

She took his hand this time and squeezed it. "It would have killed me too, I think. In time." She looked up at the ceiling, trying to get the tears to dry up. "How did you know I was in trouble? Was it Providence?"

Darcy shook his head. In a way, it was. Elizabeth had risked so much in coming to warn him. He owed her a debt that he could never repay. "Not exactly. Miss Elizabeth Bennet became aware of what was afoot, and she came to London to tell me what she had learned."

"Elizabeth Bennet!" Georgiana cried out in shock. " She told you? And she went all the way to London? Surely you do not mean she made such a journey alone?"

Such a shock could not be quickly done away. It was almost a quarter of an hour before Darcy could adequately explain all that had transpired and do justice to Elizabeth's courage and sacrifice. Not least among his difficulties was explaining the role Mrs Younge must have played in besmirching Elizabeth's reputation. After all that had transpired, Darcy had no doubt she had done so deliberately, likely with the intent of isolating Georgiana and leaving her vulnerable to Wickham's persuasions. What better way to make a young girl leave her friends and family than to lure her away from her family and prevent her from having friends in the first place?

It took her a moment to process what she had heard, but soon Georgiana was crying again. "I have been an utter fool, Fitz. I let Mrs Younge poison my mind against her — my truest friend. How can we ever make amends?"

"It is not only you who misunderstood her. But now I understand she is a warm, witty, courageous and startlingly selfless young woman. If she had not done what she did today, our lives would be heading down a very different path now."

"What did Mrs Younge say to you about her?"

"That she was after my fortune, and any friendship she seemed to offer was not sincere. I am sorry to say that Mrs Younge painted Miss Elizabeth Bennet as the most mercenary of fortune hunters, and I was fool enough to believe her. Now I know how wrong I was. I allowed someone else's estimation to cloud my own. Miss Bennet is a loyal friend, one that I would encourage you to make amends with as quickly as possible." He sighed heavily. "And I will do the same, if she will allow me."

Suddenly, the front door slammed shut and the housekeeper's voice could be heard. Darcy and Georgiana sprang to their feet and walked to the front door, now standing open as the housekeeper called after Mrs Younge. Darcy saw the women climbing into a hired cab. Judging by her frantic expression and gestures, she seemed to be ordering the driver to make a hasty retreat. He did not catch the address, but was sure she was heading off before he could more fully express his displeasure. Let her. He had no intention of taking any action that could spread the knowledge of what had nearly transpired beyond their own circle. Georgiana's happiness and reputation were far more valuable than any notion of vengeance.

"Mrs Younge, where are you going?" the housekeeper called from the front stoop.

"Leave her, Mrs Bailey. She is not worth your time," Darcy said.

The housekeeper nodded, scowling as she cast one last glance in Mrs Younge's direction. Darcy stepped out on the stoop and watched her go. Mrs Younge glared back at him, raising her chin in defiance. Hopefully, this would be the last time they ever saw hide or hair of Mrs Younge.