The seven-day trip to Scotland was uneventful since the road to Edinburgh was well-maintained and the weather was fine. At last, at dawn on the eighth day, an exhausted Darcy arrived at Greystone.
Nobody was waiting for him in the foyer, and there was a gloomy air in the house. Several minutes later, a very disheveled Wickham came to greet him. Darcy was very surprised to see him; it was clear his former friend was in bad shape. He looked old and haggard and it seemed he had been crying.
"Darcy, thank goodness, you came!" a relieved Wickham exclaimed.
"What happened? Is Georgiana alright? The baby?"
"I have a daughter; she was born six days ago, and is a beautiful and healthy baby, but unfortunately, Georgiana lost a lot of blood and she has an infection. The doctor said she wouldn't live long."
Darcy was shocked. Childbirth was never safe and he had known from Wickham's letter that something was wrong, but this was Georgiana they were speaking of. His legs were shaking, he felt sick, and he had to sit on the nearest chair. For several seconds his mind was in turmoil: his little sister was going to die. At this moment, he remembered the conversation he had with Miss Bennet several months ago at Oakham Mount. She had told him about her dead sister, and encouraged him to make amends with his sister before it was too late. She was right.
"I want to see her," Darcy demanded.
"She is resting now; the doctor gave her some laudanum. There is a maid in the room, and she will call me when Georgiana wakes up. You may refresh yourself first and we can meet in the study in half an hour or you can go directly to Georgiana's bedroom."
Darcy went to the same room he had used several months ago. He changed clothes and, before going to Wickham's study, he went to Georgiana's bedroom. The room was very dark; there was a very tired maid sitting next to Georgiana's bed. He knew the lady sleeping in the bed was Georgiana, but she looked so different than the sister he remembered. She was very pale, her once beautiful hair looked dull and there was a pained and restless expression on her face.
He dismissed the maid and sat in the chair. He took his sister's hand and started caressing her hair. In a tender voice, he said. "Georgi, I am very sorry I didn't come before. I love you." He stayed in this position for several minutes until Wickham came with a little baby in his arms.
"This is our daughter; her name is Georgiana," he swallowed hard, "Would you like to hold her?"
Darcy only nodded and took the baby in his arms. He felt a strange sensation, like he was traveling backward seventeen years in time; this tiny baby was the image of his sister. He realized without a shadow of a doubt that, despite all his disappointment with her, he would always love Georgiana dearly.
Several hours later, a dying Georgiana woke up for some minutes; Darcy and Wickham were at her bedside. She was dizzy and feverish, but she recognized her dear brother by her side. She tried to speak at first but her voice wouldn't come. With great effort and in an uneven voice, she said, "Brother, you came. . . I missed you . . . so much . . . please forgive me?"
"Hush, Georgi. You have to rest. I forgave you a long time ago… but you must know, most of the faults were mine. I wasn't a good brother. I neglected you, and for this, I am terribly sorry. I love you very much."
She gave him a weak smile and squeezed his hand. Moments later, Georgiana was gone.