With four sisters, two of them very silly indeed, Elizabeth was well practiced in dealing with hysterical tears. She offered sympathy while it was of use in calming her young friend, but once that was accomplished, she felt a less saccharine dose was required to effect a cure. To Darcy's surprise and evident distress, instead of offering Georgiana further gentle words and reassurances, she caught her eye, raised an eyebrow in challenge, and said, "I will quote a very good friend of mine and say 'Whatever terrible thing you are imagining, stop it at once!' I have little enough time to spend with you both, and will not waste it while you weep for no reason, dear Georgie."
"No reason?" cried Georgiana. "Is it not good enough reason that I have lost your friendship, and my brother has lost his chance of happiness?"
"That would be reason indeed, and if it were so, I would join you in weeping, both for your pain and my own. But I see no cause for such grim expectations. Here we all are, talking together as good friends. No accident or war has separated us. We are not torn apart by storm or tempest. There is nothing threatening our friendship outside your imagination. Now tell me what it is that frightens you so." Her tone was commanding, just as she would use were she telling her youngest sister, Lydia, to stop behaving like a hoyden.
Georgiana had expected Elizabeth to make some polite excuse and depart as soon as possible to join her relatives. Instead, she was speaking to Georgiana as no one had since her father died, nearly six years gone. Not even her governess had spoken to her so shortly. The surprise shocked Georgiana into answering, even though what she said would no doubt achieve the very thing she was afraid of, and scare Elizabeth away.
"You would not want to be my friend if you knew everything. I did something very foolish last summer, and if anyone were to find out, I will be ruined, and all my friends will join in my disgrace. My poor brother's name will be tarnished, though he is entirely innocent. Is it not shocking indeed that a sister's sense of decency and virtue in such a point should admit of doubt? Yet it cannot be denied."
Relieved to find it was fear of rejection, and not tender feelings for Wickham, that had prompted Georgiana's tears, Elizabeth took Georgiana's hand and, standing herself, pulled her to her feet. "I do know it all, my dear. When he realised Wickham was in Hertfordshire and had charmed his way into the good opinions of everyone there, your brother saw fit to tell me, in the strictest confidence, of his history with that troublesome fellow. I am sure he planned only to mention gambling and drinking and general carousing, but you see, I had formed such a strong reliance on Mr Wickham's goodness and Mr Darcy's badness, that he had to tell me the most shocking thing before I would credit your brother with any motive other than spiteful jealousy. Do not reproach him for telling me. He was right to trust me with such a secret, for it protected me from Wickham's web of lies and seduction."
Georgiana looked from Elizabeth to William in wide-eyed shock. She could not decide whether to be angry with her brother, or relieved that her new friend was not decamping at speed. While she tried to find her footing in this new and uncertain world, William took her other hand. "My dear Georgie, please forgive me for telling another of your secret without first seeking your permission. I was so worried that Miss Elizabeth might be hurt just as you had been, and I knew her to be the most trustworthy of women."
In exasperation at her brother, Georgiana found her voice: "Oh, that is all very well, but could you not have at least written to me first? You swore me to silence. It was not your secret to tell, brother."
Elizabeth laughed, relieving the tension between the siblings. "You are right to chastise him, Georgie. But you must also forgive him. The poor fellow needs to be able to talk about it with a trusted friend, just as you do. He could not dare tell anyone else, and I am honoured by his trust in me, that he chose me as the person to unburden himself to. I think he might have still been wallowing in grief if he had not been able to talk it through, and realise that his own guilt was nothing to Wickham's. Perhaps you need the same opportunity? I would be happy to hear anything you want to say about it all, or, if you would rather never think on it again, I would be happy to join you in never mentioning that man's name. Whatever you prefer. But do not insult me by suggesting that I would shun you, or your brother, just because you once made a mistake."
Georgiana managed a watery smile, while William looked on in somewhat awed amazement at the skill with which his Elizabeth had brought his sister out of her sorrow. He bowed slightly to both women, saying in the most humble tones, "I have been used to making decisions for everyone around me, and too little accustomed to seeking their opinions first. Perhaps it was necessary in the past, when you were too young, Georgie, and I had no other trusted friend on whom I could rely, but I see that I will need to change my ways now: there are now two young ladies in my life who will no longer allow me to ignore their views. You will doubtless need to remind me from time to time, as I am rather set in my ways, but I depend on you both to assist my reformation."
Georgiana looked pleased – this was the first time her brother had spoken to her as, if not precisely an equal, at least an adult whose opinions might be of value to him. Elizabeth, however, had blushed and looked demurely away. It took Darcy a moment to realise that his statement had assumed more than Elizabeth had yet granted him. To claim her as a fixture in his life was nothing more than his heart demanded – whether or not she eventually agreed to marry him, he would always value and respect Elizabeth's views – but she had not given him permission to speak of her in such a way. He cursed his stupid tongue: once again it had raced ahead without his permission. Would he spend the whole day apologising? He cast about for some way to retract his assumption of future intimacy without in any way suggesting he did not wish for such a future.
As he drew breath to speak, Elizabeth gathered her courage to look up and meet his eyes. She was disconcerted, it was true, by the rapidity of this courtship and the rapidity with which her own feelings were becoming fixed in the gentleman's favour. But she refused to be missish, or to allow the circumstances to intimidate her. Georgiana had been correct: it was better for them to talk honestly than to allow misunderstandings to develop.
Darcy's face was anxious – clearly he was about to launch upon yet another apology – and her immediate instinct was to attempt to reassure him: "Peace, sir. You took me by surprise, it is true, but I will not pretend that imagining such a future is unpleasant. I am honoured to be treated with such respect, and admit that I have always seen mutual respect to be an essential element of any marriage. If our present path should lead in such a direction, Mr Darcy, your present assurances will do your suit no harm at all."
This was followed by a small smile, and suddenly it was Darcy's turn to blush. What an astounding woman she was! She had forgiven his impetuous presumption, had assured him that she was also thinking about what a future together might be like, and neatly avoided saying anything improper or committing herself to anything more than a continued courtship, all in a couple of short sentences! The more words failed him, the more she seemed to be a complete master of her vocabulary!
"I am glad to hear it, madam," he said, lost to time and place. He would happily have stood gazing at Elizabeth Bennet for several hours, but his sister, having recovered her spirits, was ready again to tease: "Thank you for showing us the chestnut tree, brother, but do you not think we should walk on now?"
With a slight start and a self-deprecating smile, Darcy offered an arm to each of his companions and led their little party back towards the Lambton High Street, where they chatted idly about items displayed in the shop windows and the Darcys exchanged memories of their childhood visits to the village.
When they passed the tea shop, Georgiana wheedled Darcy into taking them in for refreshments. In truth, he took little persuading, as any excuse to extend his time with Miss Elizabeth was welcome. The shopkeeper was alert to the honour of the Master of Pemberley entering her humble establishment, and proudly seated them at a table in front of her display window, so that anyone passing by might see her illustrious customers. Darcy and Georgiana accepted this without comment – seeing it as both their due and their obligation: as significant people in the community it was inevitable that the village's merchants would pander to their needs, and equally, it was appropriate for them to occasionally patronise such businesses to demonstrate their approval.
Elizabeth observed all this with interest. The same thing happened, of course, in Meryton, but on a much smaller scale, since none of the families in that vicinity were as prominent or as influential as the Darcys were in Lambton. She rolled her eyes slightly at the exaggerated welcome they received from their hostess, but approved of the quiet dignity with which Darcy and Georgiana carried themselves in the face of such treatment. She also noted that, while there was perhaps an excess of courtesy extended to her party, it did not cross the line into obsequiousness or fawning. Clearly Darcy and his sister were people of power and influence in the community, accepted the signs of respect that were the inevitable result, but neither expected nor demanded more than that. Unlike their aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh (who had provided her own exaggerated praise when others failed to do so, and who selected a parson for the living of Hunsford who was dedicated to flattering her at every opportunity), Georgiana and Fitzwilliam Darcy had, it seemed, none of that abominable pride which Elizabeth had once accused Darcy of.
She sipped her tea and thought once more of how unfairly she had abused him, and how glad she was to find he had forgiven her.
After a platter of tempting cakes and biscuits had been provided, the hostess retreated to a respectful distance, making herself busy in the back of the establishment. After looking about to ensure she could not be overheard, Georgiana surprised her brother by stating firmly, "Do not think that I am still distraught over him. I deeply regret my own actions, but I do not regret him. I was a fool to think that a little flattery and some handsome smiles were evidence of his love. I was a fool to think that my own enjoyment of being flattered was evidence of my own love. I have since had cause to reflect on true love, and I know that what I felt for that man was nothing of the sort. So I am not heartbroken, or pining for a lost love, or anything of the sort. I am merely very ashamed of myself, and very worried of what others will think of me should it ever become known."
Seeing that both her companions were about to interrupt her with reassurances, she rushed on, determined to say her piece before her courage failed her: "I know you will tell me not to worry – I tell myself the same thing – but when I was caught unawares earlier, I could not help fearing that I would lose your friendship, Elizabeth. We have not known each other long, but I could not have borne it if you had scorned me, as many of my acquaintances would. And if I had been the cause of you rejecting my brother, I would never have forgiven myself. I am so very glad that you have not. I would like nothing so much as to have you for a sister." Georgiana smiled and pressed Elizabeth's hand, before continuing, "Forewarned that he is there, and knowing I have the support of both of you, I do not think I should let that man scare me away from visiting your home, Elizabeth. I must learn to hold my head up in society, and what better place to do so than Hertfordshire? I do not think him brave enough to approach me, but even if he did, he has no power over me now. So brother, please may we go to visit Elizabeth when it is time for her to return home?"
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