Chapter 7

Darcy pov

A knock on the door brought him out of his dark thoughts.

"come in" he said.

A servant soon entered his study with a letter in his hands, "an express came for you Mr. Darcy".

He took the letter from servant's hand with a small frown and dismissed him with a nod. As soon as he left Richard spoke up, " should I tell mother and father?"

He didn't really know what to say to that. He wasn't sure he wanted to share his sister's misfortune with anyone. Perhaps Richard saw something in his expressions as he spoke again, " Darcy, trust me cousin I do understand how you feel. I will handle the matter carefully. Besides you know my parents care for both of you just like their own."

He knew that was true. Regardless he had this strange urge to keep this to himself. But the more practical side of him won the mental argument.

"I know that Richard. And I will trust you with the task of informing your parents, but not everything." He hated the way his voice sounded pleading.

"No, not everything." Richard agreed. " I'll tell them all about Wickham and Mrs. Younge, but Georgiana's part will remain between us, it will never go out of this room."

Hearing that he released a breath and some tension leaked out of his shoulders. "That would be for the best. I will try to convince Georgiana to come with me to meet the Earl and Countess."

Richard nodded on hearing this and said, " I take it that she won't be able to meet me now?" at Darcy's shake of head he continued "very well, I think I need some time too."

They both rose from their places, and hesitatingly Richard placed a hand on his shoulder and said, " I have no doubt you will take care of Georgie, but take care of yourself as well. "

Darcy just gave him a wry smile and raised brow in answer to his cousin's rather emotional display.

Richard just shook his head and bade him farewell. Darcy soon returned to his table and distractedly picked up the letter. It was from Mr. bingley. He opened up the letter as he sat down, it was in typical bingley style. Though one thing did stood out. Bingley mentioned he had leased an estate called "Netherfield park" in Hertfordshire, and asked Darcy to join him there as his guest.

Darcy vaguely remembered the place from the time he and his friend Mr. Bingley were looking at various properties in different counties. Bingley wanted to buy an estate so that he could learn to be a Gentleman landowner, as he wasn't a landed one. His money had come from trade. Darcy had nothing against it. He wasn't really against trade, or people who were in trade. Bingley was in his opinion one of the best person he had met in his life, and Bingley's entire family had been in trade. So there's that.

Though that had been before this Ramsgate debacle, now he didn't know if he would be able to go anywhere for any amount of time. Even for his best friend. No, he didn't even wanted to think about separating from his sister. She needed him. And taking her with him was in any case out of the question, she was not yet out and in her present state she needed the comfort of home.

So regretfully darcy picked up a blank paper and wrote to Bingley. He just hoped that bingley would understand. He left the letter on tray to be posted and went again in search of his sister.

Richard pov

He had been there for a long time, he knew that much. After he left his cousin to his letters and business, he had wandered off in the direction of park. He really intended to tell his parents about Wickham and mrs. Younge but he had no idea how to tell and what to tell. The matter of Georgiana agreeing to the elopement was something that he would never mention to anyone, not even his parents. Even though they needed to be told, something about it. Something yes, everything-no.

But before he could deal with that he first needed to understand and accept everything himself. Oh he could totally believe how Wickham would manipulate a young lady, but even he hadn't thought Wickham would do something like that to Georgiana. And the involvement of Mrs. Younge meant it was a well thought plan.

He really did not want to think how close Georgiana had come to her ruin. He did not ask Darcy outright as to whether she had been compromised, but if she had been then he trusted Darcy enough to tell him. No , Georgiana was not compromised and that was a relief. Because at this point he would put nothing past Wickham. And that thought made him angry all over again.

He had done hours of thinking, roaming about the park and the conclusions from all that were shocking. This elaborate plan of Wickham was so well thought. He didn't blame Georgiana, no , she was just a child. Maybe she should have known better but then she has been raised by loyal servants and her brother. This made her trusting, she trusted the advice of Mrs. Younge partly because of her trust in both her guardians. Her trust had been her undoing. A lesson everyone has to learn in this society, do not be too trusting.

The other revelations were like a slap to his face. He and Darcy, both were man of world yet they both had been fooled by Wickham and Mrs. Younge. This entire debacle had been plotted and executed right under their noses and neither of them found anything amiss. Worse yet, they both knew Wickham well, yet it had been Wickham who outwitted them both and targeted the one person everyone in the family cared about most.

Yes the plan had been foiled by Darcy, but the damage had been done. He was well aware that this event would affect both his cousins in unexpected ways. They both were already painfully shy, this incident would only make them less trusting and more wary.

Looking up he found that he was already home. Better to get this over with he thought.

He found both his parents in his father's study. "Hello Father. Mother." He said to both his parents giving a light kiss on cheek to his mother.

"Come son." His father said "so what important matter did Darcy had to discuss with you?"

The question was asked in a slightly fond slightly amused way, and even his mother was shaking her head with a slight smile about her lips. But when they didn't received Richard's customary retort that usually followed such comments they both sobered immediately.

"What is the matter Richard?" this time his mother asked with a barely there hint of alarm in her voice.

He sat down across from them both wearily, furiously thinking where to start. His mother would immediately know if he would lie, but even though she would respect him enough and would not pry.

Now it seemed much more difficult to tell them and he realized what it would have taken for georgie and Darcy to recount it. And in that moment he admired both his cousins for their courage in admitting their faults. Right now he needed that same courage.

"Richard?" his mother said impatiently.

"something has happened, or one might say almost happened." That got the attention of both his parents and he continued" What I am going to say will remain among us, no exceptions". Even though he didn't mean it to sound like that, it still sounded much like his commanding voice. Both his parents nodded seriously at that.

He took a deep breath and launched into the tale. He told them everything about Wickham that he remembered, hiding none of the details. His mother was a strong woman, and this was nothing new for her she needed to know all too. He told them about mrs. Younge and her deception, the careful manipulation of Georgiana, the things Darcy told him. He told them all and they listened with increasing horror and shock, with exclaimation and outrage at the right places. The only thing he hid from them was Georgiana's agreement to the plan, but he thought his mother suspected yet she didn't voiced it so he ignored that thought.

He took a large gulp of brandy after he finished his tale. He realized his temper had gotten too high as well. For few minutes no one spoke a thing, they all stayed rooted to their places in various stages of shock and anger.

Finally his mother asked " Did you met Georgiana?"

"No. Darcy said she was in no condition to meet anyone."

"Poor child."

"I worry for Darcy." Surprisingly this was voiced by his father. But by the look on her face his mother had thought that too. " and what has been done about the woman and this blackguard.?"

"Darcy dismissed her immediately and Wickham fled. At the time his only concern was Georgiana, he hired men to find Wickham but they have not yet succeded. And the first thing he did after arriving in London was to write to me." He told his father.

"He did the right thing." Mother said, and seeing father's disapproving look she added, "Georgiana should be our first priority now. The details could be arranged later, first we must take care of her."

Father seemed slightly mollified at that but he still thought we should cover first all traces of any possible scandal. So, they discussed on how to close all loose ends and what should be done. Of course all the plans would be later discussed with Darcy before being confirmed.

" We should go meet them Husband." Mother said to father.

He exchanged a look with his father. This was not wise. And he was about to say something when his father cut him off," Richard, you go and get refreshed. You look like you have been to a battle. Don't worry son we will take care of it and this matter will never be spoken of by any of us."

This was both a promise and a question so he answered accordingly, " As you say father." After that he bowed to both of them and left. His father would make sure that no gossip would spread and he really did felt like he had been to a battle. He needed a bath and then he had a lot to do.