Safe Passage
Elizabeth rose early, as was her custom, and crossing the passage a short while later, she paused, almost without knowing why.
The door to Mrs Younge’s room stood open.
Within, the chamber was already in order; the bed made, the dressing table cleared, the windows thrown wide to the morning air.
There was no sign that it had been occupied at all.
A maid passed her with a curtsey and went in without remark, and Elizabeth, after a moment’s hesitation, moved on.
She went down and found Mr Darcy already in the breakfast room, drinking coffee and reading a newspaper.
He stood as she entered, and after a brief greeting resumed his place near the window.
She seated herself, poured a cup of tea, and buttered some toast, while Georgiana joined them soon after.
Her brother spoke to her quietly, and she listened with easy attention before following him a little apart.
Kitty arrived in haste and spoke at once of the tide, while Mary came more deliberately, her book still in hand. When Georgiana returned, her manner was composed, though with an ease that had not always been hers.
“I believe we ought not remain much longer,” she said, taking her seat. “Ramsgate has answered its purpose very well, but I should be glad to leave it while it still does so.”
Mr Darcy looked at her with quiet approval. “A few days more will suffice.”
Kitty expressed immediate disappointment, though she allowed there was still time for the sea, while Mary observed that a shorter stay need not diminish the benefit of it. Elizabeth said nothing; the proposal struck her as entirely sensible, and perhaps the more so for being so quietly made.
The morning proceeded much as it always did, though later Elizabeth would reflect that it had done so with rather less interruption than usual. They walked upon the parade later that morning, the sea bright and the air brisk with movement. Elizabeth was aware of him before she saw him.
Mr Wickham approached from the opposite direction and did not alter his course.
As they met, he bowed with easy civility, which Mr Darcy returned.
For a moment, Wickham’s expression shifted—calculation, quickly mastered—and though he spoke a few words of general address, there was nothing in them that required reply.
Then he passed on.
Elizabeth did not look back; yet when she glanced at Mr Darcy, she saw that, though his countenance remained composed, his attention was still fixed upon what had just occurred.
The tide was favourable, and by noon they were upon the sands.
A bathing machine stood ready. Kitty was first within it, and almost immediately after was calling out from the water with unrestrained delight, while Mary followed more cautiously, attended and exact in every step.
Georgiana paused at the door before descending, but once in the water her hesitation gave way to evident enjoyment.
Elizabeth had already gone in and swum out a little way, turning easily with the tide, while from the shore Mr Darcy watched.
Georgiana laughed, as if surprised by it, and would not soon leave the water.
They remained longer than had been intended.
Kitty moved through the water with unrestrained spirits, sending up bright splashes as she turned, once catching Georgiana’s sleeve in playful retaliation, to which Georgiana answered in kind, though with less force and more delight.
Mary withdrew first, satisfied with what she termed a sufficient trial.
Elizabeth swam further out, then returned, sending a light spray as she passed them.
Mr Darcy stepped forward as they came ashore and offered his hand.
They returned to the house with spirits sensibly fatigued by the exercise and the sea air, and after they had eaten, went out again without plan or particular direction.
Kitty proposed the lighthouse and was not contradicted, and they took the lower path, pausing where they pleased, no one calling them back or urging them on.
Georgiana spoke more freely than Elizabeth had yet heard her do, turning from one subject to another without hesitation, while Mary lingered to observe the harbour wall and Elizabeth listened. By evening, it was settled that they should depart the following morning.
The following morning, they left Ramsgate. Elizabeth, with her sisters, sat opposite Mr Darcy and Georgiana. For some time, little was said, until Georgiana spoke.
“I did not expect you. How came you to Ramsgate?”
“I called at Ivy Cottage with Mr Bingley. Miss Bennet told me that Mr Wickham was here—and had been calling. I came at once.”
Elizabeth inclined her head slightly. “Mr Wickham was introduced to us within a few days of our arrival. His manners were easy, and his attentions… frequent.”
Georgiana’s colour deepened. “I believed him well disposed. But I did not like the manner of it.”
“He sought to recommend himself,” Elizabeth said, “and to secure an intimacy that was not yet warranted.”
Mr Darcy listened without interruption. Mary, who had been reading, now closed her book. “There were inconsistencies,” she said. “In his accounts, and in Mrs Younge’s. We saw them speak together before we were introduced, yet afterwards they behaved as though they had not met.”
Elizabeth glanced toward her, but did not contradict it.
“I asked Mrs Younge about it, after you mentioned it to me, Mary,” Georgiana said. “She told me she had not realised he was the same gentleman who had asked her for directions.”
She hesitated.
“And Miss Elizabeth observed that he seemed to have a great deal of leisure, and no very clear account of how it was employed.”
Georgiana continued more slowly. “When I asked him if he had studied the law, as he had once intended, he did not answer me directly.”
Kitty, who had been listening with increasing interest, spoke suddenly. “I thought it odd at the time. I was taking a letter to be sent, and I knocked another from the table.”
Elizabeth turned toward her.
“It was directed to Mr Wickham. I knew the hand, though I did not think much of it then.”
“You mentioned it to me,” Georgiana said quietly.
“I did. But I did not understand what it meant.”
Elizabeth considered it. “It would explain a great deal.”
Mr Darcy’s expression altered slightly. “Mrs Younge is his aunt,” he said, and after a pause added more quietly, “I was not aware of the connection when she entered my service. She will not return to it.”
Georgiana spoke after a moment. “What did they want with me?”
Mr Darcy did not answer immediately. He reached for her hand and held it gently in his.
“To persuade you that you were in love,” he said at last, “and thereby secure your fortune.”
Georgiana did not withdraw her hand. “I see.”
Elizabeth said nothing.
“It was not accomplished,” Mr Darcy continued.
“No,” Georgiana said quietly. “It was not.”
The motion of the carriage, and the length of the morning, soon overcame Kitty and Mary; Kitty’s head came to rest upon Elizabeth’s shoulder, while Mary slept with her book still in her hand. Georgiana sat quietly beside her brother.
At length, Elizabeth spoke. “You understood it very quickly.”
Mr Darcy turned toward her. “I have had cause to consider him before.”
She met his gaze. “And now?”
“I do not mistake him again.”
Elizabeth inclined her head slightly. “No,” she said. “Nor do I.”
Mr Darcy was silent a moment before speaking again.
“We shall reach London by the afternoon,” he said quietly. “I have given directions that everything be prepared.”
Elizabeth glanced toward him. “That is very good.”
Georgiana rested undisturbed beside him, while Kitty slept opposite, her head still against Elizabeth’s shoulder. For some time, nothing more was said.
At length he spoke again. “You have my thanks.”
Elizabeth turned toward him.
“You and your sisters have been of the greatest service to my sister,” he continued.
“I only observed,” she returned.
He looked at her steadily. “I am in your debt.”
Elizabeth met his gaze before she shook her head. “There is no debt. Georgiana is a very dear friend.”
He was silent a moment, as though considering this, before speaking again.
“Mr Bingley had at first intended to settle in the south; but since seeing something of the country about Pemberley, he has found himself much taken with the neighbourhood.”
Elizabeth glanced toward him. “It is a very fine country.”
“So it is,” he returned, “and the society has its advantages.”
She hesitated a moment. “The society has much to recommend it, I am sure.”
Mr Darcy met her glance briefly. “I believe he thinks so.”
“Have you seen any of the houses with him?”
“One or two.”
Elizabeth inclined her head, as if satisfied.
They reached London in the afternoon. The carriage drew up before Darcy House without delay.
The others stirred as it came to a stop; Kitty waking, Mary gathering her things, Georgiana rousing more slowly beside her brother.
The door was opened immediately, and servants appeared at once.
Mr Darcy gave a few directions, nothing more than was necessary.
Elizabeth descended last, Mr Darcy handing her down.
Georgiana took Kitty and Mary with her into the house, leaving Elizabeth and Mr Darcy to follow more slowly.
Elizabeth paused for a moment upon the step, then went in.