Upon reading the gossip about Miss Darcy, Caroline Bingley's first reaction was disappointment. Although she had failed to capture Mr. Darcy's attention, she had hoped her brother would marry Georgiana.
After a few minutes of reflection, it was joy. Surely Lady Isabella would end the courtship, and Mr. Darcy would be free again. He would not be a sought-after bachelor among members of high society for the next two years. It was her perfect opportunity; she would do everything she could to be Mrs. Darcy and needed her brother's assistance.
Pretending that she was reading the gossip for the first time—she already knew it by heart—she exclaimed, "Oh Charles, I cannot believe it! Look what it says here: I find it hard to believe that Miss Darcy could behave in such a manner." Caroline dramatically handed the newspaper to her brother.
Bingley read with horror what his sister pointed out: "I do not think this can be true. Poor Miss Darcy, to be so accused!"
Exasperated, she replied, "Charles, do you not see? Whether it is true or not does not matter. Her reputation is utterly ruined. Who is going to want to marry her now? It would be best if you went immediately to visit Mr. Darcy. Since we are their friends, it is our duty to support him and Georgiana. If you want, I will accompany you."
After hesitating momentarily, he replied, "You are right, Caroline. Besides, I was thinking of asking him to come with me to visit some estates for lease."
That same afternoon, Bingley went to Darcy's house, but he had already left London. Darcy's housekeeper didn't know when he would return. He would have to go alone to visit the four estates and make a decision without Darcy's help. He hoped Miss Darcy was well.
Lady Catherine was furious with Darcy. None of this would have happened had he married Anne, as she had wisely advised him. With Anne's good example, Georgiana would have learned to behave decently and not as a woman of such low morals. As always, she was right!
It was too late, and she would not allow her dear Anne to marry Darcy now. It was a pity she could not fulfil her dream of uniting Rosings with Pemberley, but Darcy no longer deserved Anne.
On the other hand, she realized Anne was getting sicker daily. If she passed away without being married, Rosings would be inherited by a far relative of Sir Lewis, whom Lady Catherine was unfamiliar with. It was imperative that Anne marry as soon as possible to keep Rosings in the family.
After careful thought, she concluded that Anne should marry Richard. As a good 'Christian, she would continue to associate with Darcy, but she would not allow Georgiana to visit Rosings or continue writing to Anne. Her daughter was too good and pure to associate with a woman of Georgiana's calibre.
With that excellent resolve, she wrote a long letter to her brother, Lord Matlock, to tell him of her plans. She was sure Richard would be happy and grateful to leave the army once and for all and marry Anne.
PPP
In a house near Hyde Park, an elegant gentleman was reading the gossip page of the newspaper with a frown on his face. At 58, he had much more money than he could spend and a very guilty conscience.
His greatest sin was devoutly loving a woman he could not marry. Back then, he was the third son of a marquess destined to be a barrister, and her parents wanted their youngest daughter to marry a wealthy gentleman. His income at that time was only £800 a year. No one imagined that shortly after she was forced to marry another, his two brothers and his father would tragically die in an accident, and he would inherit the title and all the properties that went with it.
He married a good woman because he needed an heir, but sadly, she died a few years after his only son and heir to his title was born.
It was difficult to see his lost love in London on her husband's arm with a fake smile on her pretty face. Her husband did not love her, nor did she. He took every opportunity to see her, to be close to her.
The month they were together was the happiest of his life. He would have gladly fled with her to America, the Continent, or wherever she wanted, leaving everything behind. He did not care about his title or fortune; none of that made him happy. But she had a son she loved very much, and she was unwilling to abandon her son to be with him.
When he found out she was expecting a child, which he was sure was his, he did not even have the privilege of being by her side during her pregnancy. He could not be by her side when she died giving birth or even claim his daughter. Legally, the child did not belong to him, and her husband raised her himself. He could not leave his daughter part of his fortune, as it would create enough gossip to ruin her.
He had watched her grow into a beautiful young lady like her mother. Every time she visited the Matlocks', they invited him over so he could see and speak with her.
Maybe now was the right time to act, and for the first time in his life, he could take steps to protect his daughter. He did not know how but knew he had to do something to prevent Georgiana Darcy's life from being completely ruined. He was a Marquess, and it was time to use his power to help his daughter!