Abril 1812
After Wickham's confession, Darcy was enraged and he wanted to call Wickham out. He wanted to destroy the schemer and make him pay for Georgiana's suffering and death. But even killing Wickham wouldn't bring Georgiana back; in addition, there was a baby to consider, and Wickham truly seemed regretful.
During the long and gloomy journey to Pemberley, Darcy and Wickham by mutual agreement rode in different carriages and barely spoke to each other.
Darcy had a lot of time to reflect on his life, his responsibility in Georgiana's debacle, and his last meeting with Elizabeth.
The hard truth was, Wickham was right about several things. Instead of paying attention to his sister, he had stayed in London courting an insipid and vain woman for whom he felt absolutely nothing. When the gossip started, he had worried more about his own reputation than Georgiana's wellbeing. He never asked Georgiana why she didn't tell him about Wickham, or why she did what she did! She had tried to talk with him several times, she had written him several letters, but he didn't listen and dismissed her. He hadn't bothered replying to most of her letters. He told the wonderful woman he loved that she was unworthy of him, but, despite that, he was still willing to marry her, when the reality was, he was unworthy of her!
He had been an arrogant fool; he was ashamed of himself. He had been a proud man all his life, and now his pride had lost him everyone he cared about, his sister and his Elizabeth.
During the journey to Pemberley, Wickham reflected on his life. He knew he hadn't been a good man and he now had a little girl who, one day, would know about his dishonorable past. He was ashamed of himself! Unfortunately, he couldn't change the past.
Three days after Georgiana's burial, Wickham made the most difficult and unselfish decision of his life: He wouldn't accept Darcy's offer to return to Greystone and he wouldn't live with the interest of his daughter's dowry. He loved his daughter dearly; she was his most precious treasure and he would give his life gladly for her. He wanted, for the first time in his life, to earn his own money and be a man whose daughter could be proud of him.
He met Darcy in the study to tell him about his plan.
"First, I want to thank you for your generous offer, but I won't be returning to Greystone."
"Do you want to live in another place?" a surprised Darcy asked.
"No. Since Georgiana's death, I have been thinking about my life, Georgiana, my beautiful daughter, and you. I know I haven't been a good man and my daughter deserves a better man as a father," Wickham sighed. "This is the most difficult decision of my life, I love my daughter dearly, but if you agree with me, I want to leave her here with you. You are a good man, a good example of honesty and integrity for my daughter, and I know you'll love her as much as I." Wickham swallowed hard. "I don't want your money, and if you accept my proposal, I will buy a commission in the militia."