Chapter 26

Mr Darcy said little on their way back to the rented house. Elizabeth did not object to the lack of conversation. A little time to think was most beneficial in preparing her for meeting her estranged friend.

When they arrived, Mr Darcy helped her out of the carriage, and she noted how warm his hand was against her ungloved one. She had forgotten to put them on before she had left. Warmth spread through her middle as well as her hand, and she masked her response with some difficulty. However, as they walked up the steps, Mr Darcy opened the door and Miss Darcy was instantly there to greet her. Elizabeth could instantly see that the poor girl had been crying, and as she came and curtsied before her, she saw that more tears were welling in her bright blue eyes.

"Oh, Miss Bennet, I am so glad my brother could prevail upon you to come!"

"Of course, Miss Darcy. I wanted to come." Elizabeth said warmly.

Miss Darcy instantly broke down in tears. Elizabeth cast her brother an alarmed look. "Would you allow us a moment to speak in private?" she asked.

"Of course. I will be in the study. Ring when you are ready and the housekeeper will tell me you wish to be taken home," Mr Darcy said. He turned and walked down the corridor as Miss Darcy led her into the drawing room. There was a cheery fire burning, and several candles had been lit around the room.

Miss Darcy turned when the door was shut and offered Elizabeth the chair nearest the hearth. They were both seated, and Miss Darcy drew in a great breath before beginning to speak. "I know it was an inconvenience to request this audience tonight, Miss Bennet. After all I have said to you, and at such an hour. You do me a great honour in coming to see me tonight."

"Not at all. As I said before, I wanted to come." Elizabeth reached over and took Miss Darcy's hand. "I know now that it was Mrs Younge who was spreading the lies about me, first to your brother and then to yourself. All is forgiven, Miss Darcy."

"I should have known better than to listen to Mrs Younge. She always seemed to be trying to draw me away from others, those who wanted to embark on a friendship, such as yourself and your charming family. I am only sorry that it took my brother's intervention for me to see the truth." Miss Darcy bit her lower lip. "I should have seen the difference between you and Mrs Younge. You were always so kind to me, and I treated you with contempt. And to think, even after all you have done for me! First you came to my rescue at the assembly, and then you tried to warn me about Mr Wickham and Mrs Younge."

"You did not know," Elizabeth said.

"But I should have known. My brother brought me up better than that. I would not be surprised if he is ashamed to call me sister." Miss Darcy hung her head.

"My dear friend, you are too hard on yourself. I do not think your brother could ever be ashamed of you," Elizabeth said gently. "Life teaches us many difficult lessons. I think from now on you will look closer at someone's character before putting your trust in them. I am sorry to say it, but one cannot trust everyone."

"But I can trust you. You have shown me that by your heroic acts today. If you had not gone to my brother, I would have been well on my way to Scotland by tomorrow morning, and promised to a man who cared nothing for me. I would be utterly lost." Miss Darcy shuddered. "I can never repay your kindness."

"There is no need. I am only glad you are safe and well, and that Mr Wickham and Mrs Younge will soon be held accountable for their actions. I only hope no one else has to endure what you have at their hands."

Miss Darcy seemed hesitant to go on but finally mustered her courage. "Does this mean that we may be friends again? It is more than I can hope for, but still, I ask it. If you can forgive me, I would like to try to be as good a friend as you have been to me."

Elizabeth took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I should like that more than anything in the world, Miss Darcy."

Miss Darcy leaned forward. Elizabeth did likewise, intending to shake her hand, but Miss Darcy suddenly threw her arms about her, embracing her tightly. Though surprised by the gesture, Elizabeth had no hesitation in returning it.

"Oh, I am very glad that we may be friends again," Georgiana murmured. "You are too good — entirely too good."

Elizabeth chuckled. "No, for I assure you, I am as glad to resume our friendship as you are. I have missed you, my friend."

∞∞∞

While the ladies talked in the drawing room, Darcy sat before the hearth in the study. He was tired, but any physical weariness was nothing compared to his profound relief that Georgiana was safe. If not for Elizabeth, he might have lost his sister forever. There were few people he knew of who would have done what she did that day, and still fewer who would have been so ready to forgive. She was a woman without equal.

It was all too easy to imagine friendship quickly growing between them. She was witty and wise in equal measure, not to mention fiercely loyal. Already he was drawn to her in a way he had not been drawn to any woman. The thought disarmed him even as it filled him with warmth. Perhaps Elizabeth could be more than just a friend.

He got up to pace in front of the windows, looking out at the night. The stars were invisible, owing to the rain clouds that had rolled back in. It was all too easy to imagine spending a rainy evening like this one with Elizabeth, reading or speaking companionably together. Suddenly, his thoughts turned to Pemberley, and for the first time, he could picture someone other than his sister living there with him. She was not the kind of woman he had imagined marrying. With casual arrogance, he had always demanded accomplishments and consequence as the first qualifications for a wife. Darcy was beginning to see how foolish he had been. Elizabeth was nothing like the woman he had thought he wanted in a wife and everything he now knew he needed.

Should he take Georgiana away from Meryton and return to Pemberley? Likely, she would need time to heal from the recent disappointment that Wickham had wrought. But would she want to leave Meryton now? If the friendship between them were repaired, Elizabeth would likely help his sister through the process of grief. Hopefully, having a true friend close by would help her get over Wickham more quickly.

Besides, he would not want to be parted from Elizabeth. And he could use some time away from London for the rest of the winter and the upcoming Christmas season. But this house would not do. He would much rather find a house further out in the country, a house that would accommodate some of their friends coming to visit for an extended stay. Indeed, Bingley and his family might enjoy some time in Hertfordshire.

A knock sounded on the door, and Darcy turned to see the housekeeper poke her head in to announce that Miss Bennet was ready to return home. Darcy thanked her and made his way to the drawing room. Georgiana was beaming, and he was relieved to see that their talk had gone well.

"Bailey tells me you are ready to return home?" he asked.

"Yes. I am sorry we were so long, but I've been having such a wonderful time catching up with Miss Darcy. You will come to call tomorrow, will you not?" Elizabeth asked.

"As promised. I can only hope I may win back your family's good opinion of me," Georgiana said shyly.

"Do not worry about that. I will explain everything, in bounds of what they need to know. I will say that it was simply a misunderstanding, and that all is well now."

Georgiana kissed Elizabeth on the cheek and bid her goodnight. No doubt Georgiana was exhausted after the day she had endured, and Elizabeth even more so. "I'll take you home now."

Elizabeth sighed as she put on her wrap. "I had not realised how late it was. Forgive me."

"Do not apologise. It was entirely my doing, in asking you to see my sister so late in the day."

The housekeeper opened the door and handed Darcy an umbrella. He held it over Elizabeth's head, standing out in the rain to make sure she was shielded. Once she was inside, he hurriedly folded it up and climbed in.

In a moment of absent-mindedness, Darcy sat beside her as he would have Georgiana, rather than preserving a proper distance by sitting on the other side of the coach, and knocked on the ceiling of the coach to let the driver know they were ready. The carriage was moving before he had a chance to move. A little guiltily, he found he did not wish to.

They were out of town before Darcy spoke. "I am glad things are well between you and my sister again."

"So am I," Elizabeth replied. "I suppose you will go back to London now?"

He could almost hear the sadness that thought brought in her voice. It gave him hope they would yet be welcome in Meryton. "No, actually, I think I should like to stay for the winter. I have plans to ask my steward to look into some country houses that are available to let."

"Really? Well, I know of a place that has been vacant for some time. A wealthy gentleman and his wife used to live there, but since his passing, she has been living in Town with her sister. It is a beautiful house. Netherfield, they call it."

"Netherfield," Darcy repeated. It sounded pleasing on his lips, a proper home for the winter.

There was another companionable pause. He spoke up again as they neared her home. Darcy could not call on the Bennets with his sister if he wanted to secure Netherfield for the winter. His mind raced as he thought of the next moment he might see her. "I hope to see you at the next assembly," he remarked. Indeed, it was all too easy to imagine the delight of dancing with her, losing themselves in the music.

Elizabeth laughed. "I am afraid that will not be possible."

His heart sank.

"Please do not misunderstand," she said quickly. "It is my punishment for going to London unaccompanied."

His indignation rose swiftly. After his conversation with Mr Bennet, he thought he had explained things sufficiently well. It was hardly fair for Elizabeth to be punished for what she had done. Indeed, she had saved Georgiana's reputation and happiness — perhaps even her life. "I will speak to your father, if you like. It was only because of the most urgent need that you acted so boldly." If he had not been such an unmitigated buffoon, none of this would have happened.

"Thank you, Mr Darcy, but that will not be necessary. It was my idea to have my father forbid me from the assembly. I did not want my younger sisters to think that they could run off to London without being punished." She smiled a little crookedly. "Having met Lydia, I am sure you will not be at a loss to understand how dangerous such an impression could be."

Darcy could well understand her motives in wanting to be a good example for her sisters. He looked at her admiringly. How strange it was that a single day had entirely changed his opinion of Elizabeth. Disappointing as it was that his vision of dancing with her at the next assembly was not to be, he surmised that there would be many more meetings and many more talks to be had with her. She did not know it yet, but he would do all in his power to remain as close to her as possible throughout their stay in Meryton.

When he returned home, Darcy was surprised to find Georgiana still awake. She must have waited up for some purpose, and when Georgiana called to him from the drawing room, he went to her. He smiled, feeling a warmth radiating through his heart for his beloved sister. "I did not think you would still be up. You did not have to wait for me, you know."

"I wanted to," Georgiana said. "Miss Bennet is well?"

"Yes, she is well. I think she is genuinely glad to have you as a friend once more." Darcy hoped his sister could sleep now that she had made amends with Elizabeth. He, on the other hand, would have difficulty sleeping. Now that he knew all Mrs Younge's criticisms of her had been nothing more than an attempt to hide her own villainy, he could not seem to stop thinking of Elizabeth. It was those dark eyes, perhaps, that saw so much and always looked on the world with good-humoured wit. What a fool he had been! If there was any hope of him becoming close with the bewitching young woman, he would eagerly jump at the chance.

Darcy looked up at Georgiana and realised he had been staring into the dancing flames of the fire, smiling to himself. He quickly tried to wipe it away, but found he could not.

"What are you smiling about?" Georgiana asked.

"Nothing. I am only glad things have come to a peaceful conclusion."

"Conclusion?" She baulked. "I would think this is only a beginning, not a conclusion." Her face fell. "You are not thinking of leaving, are you?"

"Only if you wish to do so. If you would rather remain, I shall be here with you. I have even told Miss Bennet that I intend for us to stay for the winter. We shall leave this house, however. I should like to have enough space to invite some friends. She told me of a house that is not far from Longbourn that is for let. I thought I would go and see it tomorrow. By her description, it would be a good place for us to settle for the winter."

"Truly? Oh, that would be wonderful, Fitz. I feel that we have been given a second chance here. It would be a shame to leave so soon." Georgiana stood and walked over to him, planting a kiss on his cheek. "I love you."

Darcy was a little surprised by the gesture, but his sister, once one got to know her, was very warm and open. Elizabeth would soon see that she had made the right decision in agreeing to have a fresh start with Georgiana.

He could only hope that in time, she would allow him to prove himself to her. He looked at the embers once again as Georgiana made her way to the door. "Do not stay up too late, brother. It has been a long and eventful day."

She was teasing, of course, but it had been. Indeed, it felt like they had lived several weeks in one day, so much had happened. "I won't be long," Darcy promised.

She left the room, closing the door gently behind her. However, before he could go to bed, there was something he needed to see to first. Darcy went to the writing desk and sat down to write a letter to the commander of the Meryton garrison. There was no need to put Georgiana's reputation at risk: the knowledge that Wickham had intended to desert his post, coupled with an offer to speak to the man in person and provide further information about Wickham's character, would do all that was required. Likely, none of it would be necessary. Darcy rather suspected that Wickham had already deserted. If he had dared to stay in Meryton, however, he would find his career in the militia cut short.

When he had blotted the pages and reread his handiwork, he folded the letter and set his seal on it. With the threat of Mr Wickham and Mrs Younge out of the way, he could rest at last. Darcy blew out the candles and exited the room, glad to retire to his bedchamber. Tomorrow would bring a new start for all of them.