Chapter Twenty-Six

Elizabeth had been with the Gardiners for nearly a week when Amy, one of the maids, came to find her, announcing, "Miss Elizabeth, you have a visitor."

"A visitor, Amy?" Elizabeth looked up from the intricate piece of embroidery she was working on. It was an intricate pattern of flowers that she was designing herself. It was a long time since she had worked on such a complicated piece and she had begged her aunt for some threads and canvas so she had something to distract her from her worries. "Did they ask for me? Are you sure it's not Mrs. Gardiner they want?"

"The gentlemen gave me his card, miss," said Amy, holding it out to her. "It's Colonel Fitzwilliam."

Elizabeth took the small white card. It did indeed belong to Colonel Fitzwilliam. She didn't know want to think. What was the colonel doing here? She wished her aunt and uncle were at home, but Mr. Gardiner was at his business premises and Mrs. Gardiner had gone to visit her sister. She did not relish dealing with the colonel by herself. He had always been kind to her, but after her sudden departure from Rosings she suspected there would be an awkwardness between them.

She also worried that Mr. Darcy might have told the colonel about his marriage proposal. It had after all been the colonel's idea and that proposal still caused her cheeks to burn. She wondered whether to ask Amy to tell the colonel she was feeling unwell and could not see him. It was cowardly, but she could not think what else to do.

"Miss…? Shall I tell the colonel to wait?"

Elizabeth thought for a moment. If she sent the colonel away she would never find out why he had called. She was certain he must have called for a specific reason. The only way to find out was to hide her embarrassment and face him. "Thank you, Amy. Please tell the colonel I will be with him shortly."

"Yes, miss." Amy bobbed a curtsey and departed to do her bidding.

Elizabeth carefully put her embroidery away and then checked her reflection in the small mirror by the door of her chamber and smoothed down her dress. She was ready. Leaving her chamber, Elizabeth went downstairs. The colonel was in the morning room and he rose as she entered.

"Colonel Fitzwilliam, what a delight," she said, fixing a firm smile on her face.

"Miss Bennet. It is a great pleasure to see you too. Please accept my apologies for my unexpected visit," said the colonel politely, looking as handsome as ever in his pale grey tail coat and ruffled white shirt.

"There is no need to apologise, sir, although I am sorry neither my aunt or uncle are at home to greet you."

"Perhaps on another occasion," said the colonel.

Elizabeth wondered what was amiss. Something indeed was wrong. The colonel's normally cheerful expression was absent and he looked as if he was a man carrying the problems of the world on his shoulder.

Elizabeth sat down and waited for him to speak.

"I came here today because…" The colonel stopped talking. He wandered over to the window and stood staring out.

"Colonel, is something wrong?"

The colonel turned around, sighing deeply. "I'm afraid there is, Miss Bennet. I was wondering whether you had heard from Georgiana."

Elizabeth was surprised by the colonel's question. "No, sir, I haven't. I did write to say goodbye, but as yet I have heard nothing back. Has something happened to Georgiana?"

The colonel paused again, gazing at the floor, making Elizabeth feel very uncomfortable indeed.

"Colonel, if something has happened to Georgiana, please tell me so at once," she urged.

The colonel left the window and came and sat down. "Miss Bennet, I am not sure I should even be here. I am certainly not here with my cousin's permission. I would ask that anything we discuss is kept between us."

"I can assure you of my discretion, sir," murmured Elizabeth, who was feeling more uneasy with every passing moment.

"Georgiana has disappeared," said the colonel.

"Disappeared?" Elizabeth did not understand. "Disappeared where, sir?"

The colonel threw up his hands in a gesture of despair. "We do not know. She left Rosings three days ago and we have no idea where she is. Someone of her description was seen catching a coach to London, but the trail has gone cold and we are not even certain it was her."

Elizabeth was shocked. Georgiana had shown herself to be stubborn, but to run away? She could hardly believe it. "So why have you come to me, sir?"

"I thought… at least I hoped, you may have had contact with her."

"Colonel, I am afraid I have not. I told you I wrote to Georgiana, but I have not received a letter back." Elizabeth did not know what else she could say. Was Georgiana's disappearance linked to her own? "Was Georgiana upset about anything before she left?"

"She was upset about you leaving and she voiced her displeasure with anyone who would listen, but neither Darcy or I saw signs that she would suddenly leave."

"How is Mr. Darcy?" asked Elizabeth.

Colonel Fitzwilliam sighed. "Distraught. Although he doesn't say so. "

"I suppose he blames me."

"No…not at all, Miss Bennet. If there is any blame to be apportioned he lays it on himself for not being more understanding of Georgiana."

Elizabeth was still angry with Mr. Darcy for his thoughtless proposal but she could not help feeling sorry for him. Whatever she might think of him, she knew he was very fond of his sister.

"Colonel Fitzwilliam, your news is disturbing, but I do not know how I can assist you."

"Miss Bennet, Georgiana was close to you, I wondered whether she ever talked to you about a friend, someone she would go to."

"She never spoke of any friends. I gather she had led a very sheltered life."

"That is true, but I thought perhaps…. You do know some of her history, don't you?"

"Yes, sir. Georgiana did confide in me a little, but she is not someone who easily shares her worries. I know nothing that could be useful to you."

The colonel's mouth fell as he took in her words.

Elizabeth waited patiently for him to speak again. He suddenly stood up and gave Elizabeth a small bow. "I must take my leave of you, Miss Bennet. I have taken up too much of your time already."

"I am sorry we did not meet under more pleasant circumstances," said Elizabeth, also rising. "When you find Georgiana, I would be grateful if you would inform me. I shall be worrying about her until she is safely back with you."

"It will be my pleasure. And if you remember anything you think might be useful to us please let us know. We are currently residing at the house in Sloane Square."

Elizabeth was grateful that her aunt and uncle were not at home. She stayed where she was, sitting on the sofa wondering about Georgiana's disappearance.

She had spoken the truth when she said Georgiana had no friends. She had spoken warmly of the artist who had admired her work but it had been a fleeting acquaintance. She could not imagine Georgiana would descend on her without a prior invitation.

And then there was the man she had been in love with, but he could hardly be described as a friend and Mr. Darcy had banished him. Georgiana had mentioned how much she missed him, but she was certain there had been no contact between him … except … the letter Georgiana had received. She had never asked Georgiana who it had come from. Could it possibly be that it was from this man? No… Mr. Darcy had said the relationship was over.

Elizabeth felt very uneasy. Where was Georgiana and how could she support herself?

When Mrs. Gardiner returned, Elizabeth told her of the colonel's visit, but not the reason for it.

Mrs. Gardiner was dismayed she had missed him. "Is he staying in London long?" she asked as she unpacked a basket of items her sister had given her including a box of cotton threads.

"He did not say, Aunt, but he sent his kind regards to you both," said Elizabeth carefully.

"He is a nice young man, Lizzy," said Mrs. Gardiner, opening a small wooden box and holding up two shades of green threads. "Just the sort of man you should marry."

Elizabeth tried not to be exasperated. "Aunt! The colonel is a very kind man, but he has no wish to marry me nor I him."

Mrs. Gardiner gave a coy smile. "That's a pity. He is just the sort of man you should marry. Then you could stop thinking about work. Now what do you think of this pale green? Did you want this shade for your embroidery? My sister said she had this to spare when I told her you were short."

"That was kind of her. I must thank her." Elizabeth took the thread gratefully. It was just the shade she wanted. "How was she?"

"Very well indeed, Lizzy. She was disappointed that you did not accompany us…"

Elizabeth listened politely as Mrs. Gardiner spoke at some length about her sister and their new home, though afterwards Elizabeth had little memory of what her aunt said. She was too busy thinking about Georgiana Darcy. She only hoped she was not in any danger.

Mr. Darcy rubbed his tired eyes and tried to focus on the papers in front of him. He had hardly slept since Georgiana had disappeared. He had to find her.

"Have you found anything useful?" said a voice from the door. It was Colonel Fitzwilliam.

"Not yet," said Darcy, looking carefully at a sheet of paper before tossing it aside. "I am trying to find Mrs. Younge's address. "

Colonel Fitzwilliam came forward. "Georgiana's old companion? I thought you wanted nothing to do with her."

Darcy looked despairingly at his cousin. "I don't, Fitzwilliam, but Georgiana has few friends and I cannot believe she has the resources to be alone. I am trying to think of who she might take refuge with."

"No… I cannot believe it. I never thought Georgiana had any great affection for her."

"Well, she trusted her enough to keep the secret of her relationship with that scoundrel Wickham," said Mr. Darcy pointedly.

The colonel nodded ruefully. "Can I help you examine those papers?"

Mr. Darcy handed him a small pile. "Where have you been?"

The colonel sat down and started to scan the first piece of paper. "I went to visit Miss Bennet."

Mr. Darcy looked up. The mention of Miss Bennet caused his heart to thump painfully. "And why would you do that?"

"Because I thought she might know something that could be of help." The colonel sounded nervous

"And did she?"

"No…" The colonel's colour heightened as he tried to defend his actions against his cousin's disapproval. "Miss Bennet is probably the closest thing Georgiana has to a friend."

Mr. Darcy tried to quell his rising anger. "You should not have gone there, Fitzwilliam. This is family business."

"Under normal circumstances, I would agree with you, but we will not be able to contain the news of her disappearance much longer. People will start to ask questions and can you really expect the servants not to talk or even our aunt?"

"The servants will not gossip, they know they face dismissal if they do."

"And our aunt?"

Darcy did not want to think of Lady Catherine. He blamed his aunt for the position they were in. If she had not been so intransigent about Elizabeth, Georgiana would never have disappeared from Rosings.

"Darcy, why did you not go and see Miss Bennet yourself?"

"Because I could not see she would have any information for us," said Darcy, frowning as he looked at an old letter from Mrs. Younge. "If she played a part, she would never say."

"Darcy, Miss Bennet is an honourable woman, I am sure of it."

"Fitzwilliam, you have always shown your admiration for Miss Bennet."

The colonel blushed. "She is an attractive woman and a good woman. But Darcy, do not be afraid. Miss Bennet means nothing to me."

"Why should I be afraid?" said Darcy, putting the letter to one side and gathering the others back into a neat pile.

"Because I believe you like her more than you care to admit," suggested the colonel.

"As usual you're talking nonsense. Miss Bennet has gone from our lives and I would prefer you did not mention her again."

Darcy was not accustomed to speaking to his cousin in such a sharp manner, but he had no wish to discuss his feelings about Miss Bennet with him. Even a small mention of her name hurt him.

"What are you going to do this evening?" asked the colonel.

"I have an address. Whether she still resides there I do not know, but I shall go."

"Let me come with you," said the colonel

"No… Fitzwilliam, this is something I should do alone."

Mr. Darcy could see his cousin was not happy, but he wanted no company. He had to go alone.

"Very well, but be careful, won't you?"

"Of course." Darcy left his cousin alone. He wanted to leave at once. Georgiana had been missing too many days already. He was very worried about her.