July 1811
Richard and Lady Matlock arrived at Pemberley, along with Mrs. Annesley, in early July. Mrs. Annesley was a middle-aged woman that Lady Matlock had chosen to accompany Georgiana.
Lady Matlock had known Mrs. Annesley for several years, as she had been the wife of the former parson of Matlock. She was an intelligent, sensible, and good-natured woman with plenty of experience dealing with different kinds of people. Matlock's tenants held her in high esteem, as did the people who lived in the surrounding area. She had been a widow for over a year and had no children.
However, it is tough to help someone with very low self-esteem, shame, and little desire to live. Georgiana had not left her rooms for ten days; she had not bathed and barely ate. She cried for several hours daily and did not want to speak with anyone.
After Darcy filled them in on Georgiana's situation, excluding her questionable paternity, Lady Matlock asked to see her. She went to her niece's bedchamber and was horrified to see how changed she was.
The first thing she did was hug her tightly and caress her hair while Georgiana sobbed. After a few minutes, when her niece finally calmed down, Lady Matlock spoke earnestly: "Georgiana, I know you feel ashamed of what you did, and you probably have very negative thoughts. It is natural and understandable." She paused and looked into her eyes. "What you did was wrong, but worse is what you are doing now."
Georgiana shook her head. "Aunt, you do not understand..."
Lady Matlock gestured for her to be quiet. "I understand perfectly. But I also know your brother and everyone who loves you are worried about you. You are only fifteen years old, and if you make an effort to put this behind you, in a few years, it will just be a bad dream."
"You do not understand, Aunt; George is my brother!"
"First, we do not know if he is your brother. Second, you did not know if he is your brother, and no one else needs to know it."
Georgiana shook her head. "But I know..."
Lady Matlock shook her head and said, "No, you do not know; no one knows for sure. Your father did not know. Wickham does not know." She looked Georgiana in the eye and determinedly ordered, "You must take a bath, dress appropriately, and go downstairs to have dinner with your family. Mrs. Annesley arrived with me. You may remember her; she was the wife of our former vicar at Matlock. She is your new companion and is eager to see you. In a few minutes, a maid will bring hot water for you to bathe."
An hour later, Georgiana went to the drawing room, where they were waiting for her. Seeing his cousin so emaciated and thin, Richard swore to himself to do everything he could to destroy Wickham utterly.
Over dinner, Richard made his best effort to tell Georgiana amusing and fantastic stories about his regiment and the beautiful places he had visited on the Continent. Whether the rumours were true, we will never know. Darcy said very little, and Lady Matlock and Mrs. Annesley talked to Georgiana about music.
After dinner, Darcy and Richard asked Georgiana if she would play the piano for them. At first, she wanted to refuse, but when she saw the anxious faces of her guardians, she reluctantly agreed. Fortunately, doing something she loved so much as playing the piano, was a balm to her troubled mind and heart.
After she finished playing 'Moonlight Sonata, which was Darcy's favourite sonata, everyone applauded enthusiastically. It was the first time in days that Georgiana had genuinely smiled.
By no means Georgiana recovered her spirits miraculously, but from that moment on, mainly due to the efforts of all those who loved her, little by little, she began to rediscover the joy of living.