Chapter 28

'Your mother made a comment about your dowries the other day. She felt like she wanted to boast about it, and you all laughed.' Jane, Mary, and Bingley were walking in the garden on a pleasant afternoon. He had been invited to dine with the family. Both girls turned crimson following Bingley's inquiry. Mary seeing her sister was not able to speak just then, she took it upon herself to answer.

'Our father revealed the situation of our dowries to us saying that now was the time as the elder sisters may now marry. He told us that he invested mama's dowry and he saved a little bit himself, and so we will receive three thousand pounds each when we marry, plus a hundred per annum until Longbourn is ours. Jane and Elizabeth have an extra two thousand pounds to their name that comes from our uncle.' Bingley stopped. He considered what this information meant to him.

'That is… impressive. It is wonderful news. Good for you, all. That is… almost twenty thousand. Oh, now wait until I tell this news to my dear sister. I would love to see her face when she learns of it.' Jane giggled.

'Mr. Bingley, that is… wicked.' He grinned at Jane.

'Could someone explain?' Mary was perplexed.

'Well, my sister, Caroline thinks the whole of Meryton is not worth her attention, including your family. She very much wants to think that she is part of the ton, you see. That is high ambition. She heard you had a thousand each as dowry which was a paltry sum in her eyes. I am sorry to say. It never mattered to me.' He looked straight into Jane's eyes. He wanted her to understand. She smiled and nodded.

'I see. Your sister could do well to read some sermons.' Jane and Bingley burst out laughing and Mary joined them although Mary was completely serious.

Darcy jumped for good measure. His breast was full not just with air, but elation. Oh, Elizabeth, wait for me! He could not wait to see her again and kneel in front of her asking for her forgiveness for leaving her in the first place. She would understand though, he thought. She would understand that he had to be sure of his choice.

With rapid steps, he went in search of his sister. He found her in the kitchen chatting with Cook. He smiled at them both shocking Cook in the process. He excused themselves and pulled his sister with him. He took her to their parents' portraits taking two steps at a time.

'I have made my decision.'

'Oh?' She looked at him in trepidation.

'Love.' He said, 'I choose love, Georgie.' In a heartbeat, she was in his arms.

'Oh, Brother. I am so happy for you. You chose well. Oh, I am so happy!'

'I think I had to come here. To Pemberley. I had to make my decision here. I cannot tell you how painful the time since I left her was for me. It is crazy that I feel this way. I thought last night that I do not know much about her, but what I know makes me want to be with her. Does this make sense?' She rapidly nodded. 'I want her with me. I do not think I could be with any other now that I know she exists in the world.' He turned to the portraits.

'Mother, Father. Please be happy for me. I need Elizabeth. I think I already love her.' He touched both paintings in reverence. He sighed.

'I feel like a stone has fallen off my chest. I know it is the right decision. I probably knew it then but was frightened to admit it. What is the point of our short time on this earth if we cannot be happy? You were right, Georgie. I want to be happy.'

'This means, I have to leave again, Georgie. What would you like to do?'

'Are you asking me?'

'Yes.'

'It is just that you usually make the decisions on your own.'

'That sounded very much like an accusation… Well, let this day be the day of new beginnings. What would you like to do? Come with me or stay here?... Before you make your choice, I have to tell you that Wickham is in Meryton. Apparently, he joined the militia there. They are stationed in Meryton of all places.' She sucked in a breath hearing this. Then, a look of determination appeared on her face.

'I want to go with you. He will not make decisions for me.' He looked at her sister in awe.

'You have grown. Maybe this incident was not a total disaster… Can you forgive me?'

'Forgive you? What for?'

'For not telling you about him. It has been eating at me.'

'Well, that would have helped. On the other hand, who knew what he was capable of. Nobody could have predicted that he would stoop so low. There is nothing to forgive. Just please know that you do not have to protect me like a child anymore. I am growing up.' They hugged.

'I know. I know… All right then. Let me think. It is Wednesday today. As we probably will not be back for a while, I need some time to put things in order. A few days will suffice. We show ourselves one more time at church and then we can then leave on Monday next.'

'I cannot believe this. I am going to have five sisters!'

'Georgie, I have not asked her yet.'

'But you will.' She grinned.

While Georgiana spent the days visiting tenants and leaving some already prepared gifts and some money at each house accompanied by her companion and a footman, Darcy requested the company of his steward and spent the rest of the day with him. The next day they were out early in the morning checking on the estate for any ongoing issues. All his muscles ached by the time he got back to the house with a list of things to decide. He took a needed bath and went down to his study to check on the mail. Curiously, there was a letter from Meryton.

Darcy opened the letter. It contained two letters, one from Mr. and the other from Mrs. Phillips. He remembered the couple with warmth. What could they have to say?

Mr. Phillips, after warm greetings and apologies for approaching him in the first place, informed him about Wickham trying to get sympathy from his wife by telling a story of ill-treatment by him. How unsurprising. His reaction was to crumble the paper. He was glad he told Miss Elizabeth about him. That scoundrel. He really needed a good beating. He would never understand otherwise. He sighed. He should have let Richard do the honours. Now he tried to prey on the unsuspecting population of Hertfordshire. It was good he was going back. He would have to warn the merchants. They would not survive if Wickham did the same thing as he did in Lambton.

He was grateful for Mr. Phillips. What good thinking, what quick mind. He felt some guilt about him, if not for Elizabeth, he would have ignored the kind gentleman.

He sat down for the next letter. He smiled as he opened her letter. He fondly remembered the lady. Unfortunately, his smile disappeared as he read her letter. He jumped up from his seat, so shocked he was.

Dear Mr. Darcy,

I am very sorry to disturb you. I hope you are well. I have been thinking of you.

I know my husband wrote to you about Mr. Wickham. Be assured that he will not be able to blacken your name in the neighbourhood. I and my sister, Mrs. Bennet, will make sure of that. He will not be accepted with open arms by our neighbours. If there is anything we should further know about him, please let us know.

I am writing to you because something of a serious nature happened that I think you should be aware of. A week after the ball, last Wednesday, your aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, paid a visit to Longbourn, uninvited and unannounced. I know all this as I was just there visiting with my sister and the girls. I am sad to say that the visit did not go well. She quite felt entitled and ignored basic courtesy. We were all very surprised at first, and then quite appalled at her behaviour toward us. I am sorry to be so blunt, but her ways did not earn her any respect.

To our surprise, she wanted to see our Elizabeth. The first thing she said to her was to disparage her looks. I was so shocked; I regret now that I could not speak up at the time.

It turned out that Mr. Collins had insinuated to her that she tried to… catch you. Your aunt asked to talk to her in private in the garden before we learnt that. Lydia ran inside after some time saying that your aunt called her a…, well, a lady of ill repute. She wanted her to promise that she would leave you alone and would not marry you. She said you were engaged to her daughter, but then she admitted that it was only a wish of your mother and hers. My sister, as soon as she heard what she said to Lizzy, stormed out and put Lady Catherine in her place. She was quite magnificent. Mr. Bennet followed, but there was no need for his intervention. He ordered her Ladyship off his property though.

Elizabeth was very brave, but I must say that this confrontation was ill-timed as my niece had been feeling rather melancholy of late as it is. My sister told me that one day she cried herself to sleep in her arms. I hope that you fair better.

Take care of yourself.

With best regards from Meryton,

God bless you.

Mrs. Phillips

'Good Lord! Aunt! What was she thinking? Oh, my God! This cannot be.' He exclaimed out loud to the walls of his study. He was mortified.

She dared to call her a common whore! Heavens!

Oh, Elizabeth! And I was not there. I was not there to protect you. What kind of a gentleman am I? I should have dealt with my aunt a long time ago. He kept postponing the confrontation; he knew his speaking up would cause an ugly one. Now, Elizabeth was attacked in her own home! When will he learn?! The Wickham debacle happened because he did not want to take the 'good brother/friend image from her sister. He kept silent about how Wickham had become a two-faced snake.

'Thank goodness for Mrs. Bennet. She had to do what I should have done.' He collapsed on his chair. How could he show his face now? Miss Elizabeth must hate his family. Oh, Elizabeth.