Chapter 4 #6
“Ten thousand a year at least I would hazard. And unmarried, Sir William seemed to think. What a pity he is only looking for this girl and not for a wife. Though I suppose a man of such consequence would never look at a country gentleman’s daughter.
” She sighed. “Still, it is affecting, is it not? Like something from a novel.”
Mr. Bennet said nothing. Elizabeth, from across the carriage, saw that his eyes were distant, his expression thoughtful. He was not listening to his wife’s chatter. He was thinking.
Georgiana’s Confession
When they arrived at Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet retired immediately to her room, still exclaiming about the evening. Mr. Bennet paused in the hall, looking at his daughters with an expression Elizabeth could not read. Then, without a word, he retreated to his library and closed the door.
Only when both doors had closed did the sisters slip into the morning room and shut themselves in.
For a long moment, no one spoke. Then Mary moved to the window and drew the curtains.
“We cannot continue much longer,” she said quietly.
Jane sank into a chair. “The gentleman who seeks her is in the neighbourhood, staying at The George, and searching for her.”
“Mr. Wickham has fled,” Elizabeth added. “The immediate danger has passed.”
Lydia stopped her pacing. “But she is still terrified of her brother. That has not changed.”
“No,” Elizabeth agreed. “But we are no longer protecting her from Mr. Wickham. We are keeping her from her guardian. That is a different matter entirely.”
Kitty fingers curled into her palms. “We must tell Papa, eventually. We cannot hide her forever.”
“The longer we wait, the worse it will be when he discovers it,” Mary said. “He will discover it. Servants talk. Things are noticed. It is only a matter of time.”
“Anne should know what has happened to-night,” Jane said quietly. “She deserves to know he went to the magistrate.”
“Now?” Lydia asked. “To-night?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said. “We tell her what occurred. Then we decide together what must be done.”
Jane nodded slowly. “If she wishes to remain hidden?”
“Then we shall have a terribly difficult conversation with Papa in the morning regardless,” Elizabeth said. “But we cannot keep this from her. It concerns her most of all.”
The sisters looked at one another. Finally, Mary spoke. “We should go now.”
They climbed the stairs together, through the darkened schoolroom to the nursery door. Elizabeth knocked softly.
“Anne? May we come in?”
The bolt slid back, a wedge of wood scraped away, and the door opened. Anne stood in the dim firelight, still dressed, her face anxious.
“What has happened? I heard the carriage return. I thought—” She stopped, seeing all five of them. “What is wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong,” Jane said, stepping inside. “But we have news.”
Anne moved back, allowing them to enter. Lydia closed the door behind them and shot the bolt home.
Elizabeth guided Anne to the chair by the fire. Kitty extracted a small bundle from her reticule. She set a slice of cake and some biscuits on the table on a serviette.
“We need to tell you what occurred this evening.”
Anne sank into the seat, her hands gripping the arms. “Tell me.”
“A gentleman spoke to Sir William Lucas as magistrate,” Elizabeth said. “He identified himself as a Mr. Darcy. It is no longer just a private search. He has made it official.”
The colour drained from Anne’s face.
“Sir William spoke of it at the party to-night,” Jane added. “He told everyone of a gentleman from Derbyshire seeking a fair-haired girl of fifteen who had been taken from London.”
“Everyone knows now,” Anne whispered. “The whole neighbourhood is searching for me.”
“Sir William assured him that if any family had news of a young lady in distress, they would come forward,” Elizabeth said.
Anne pressed her hands to her face. “What have I done to you all?”
“There is more,” Elizabeth said gently. “Sir William confirmed that Mr. Wickham departed Meryton some days ago. He left in great haste.”
Anne’s head jerked up. “You are certain he is gone?”
“Yes.”
Anne’s breath shuddered out. Relief flooded her face, followed immediately by fresh anguish. “My brother—he must have searched everywhere. All this time, he has been searching, thinking I was—” She broke off, pressing her hand to her mouth.
“He is at The George,” Elizabeth said quietly. “Waiting for any word of you.”
Anne stood, moving to the window. She wrapped her arms around herself. “He has always been kind to me. That is what makes my shame so much worse.”
Elizabeth exchanged a glance with Jane, then moved to stand near her. “What is it you fear most?”
Anne was silent for a long moment. “When he looks at me, he will see how far I have fallen from what he believed me to be.” Her voice was barely audible. “I cannot bear that.”
“Or,” Jane said softly, “he will see that you are fifteen years old and were preyed upon by those who should have protected you.”
Anne shook her head. “He never makes errors in judgement. He never acts without thinking. I—”
“He chose Mrs. Younge,” Lydia said quietly.
Anne turned to stare at her.
“He trusted her,” Lydia continued. “He believed her character to be sound. Was that not an error?”
“He could not have known she would—”
“Neither could you know what Mr. Wickham intended,” Kitty said. “Nor that Mrs. Younge would betray you. You were deceived by people older and more cunning than yourself.”
Anne sank back into the chair. She stared into the fire for a long time, saying nothing.
Finally, she spoke. “He has only ever tried to protect me. I have put him through such torment.” She looked up at the sisters, her eyes red. “He must be frantic. He must think the worst has befallen me.”
“Then he should know you are safe,” Elizabeth said gently.
“But I—” Anne stopped. Her hand stole to her throat. “I lied to you. When you found me, I was so frightened, I gave you my mother’s name. I could not think clearly enough to do otherwise. My true name is Georgiana. Georgiana Darcy.”
The sisters were quiet, absorbing this.
“Your brother is?” Jane asked softly.
“Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire.”
Mary’s expression grew grave. The weight of it settled over them all.
Georgiana looked at each of them in turn. “You have shown me such kindness. I owe you the truth at least.”
“You owe us nothing,” Jane said. “You were afraid. That is understandable.”
“What do you wish to do?” Elizabeth asked. “Your brother is here. Mr. Wickham has fled. We cannot hide you indefinitely. Our father will discover it soon if he has not already begun to suspect. You must decide what you want.”
Georgiana’s face crumpled. “I do not know. I want—” She stopped. “I want to see him. I want him to know I am safe. But I am so afraid of what he will think of me.”
“Then perhaps you need not decide to-night,” Jane said. “It is late. We are all overwrought. In the morning, things may seem clearer.”
“What if he comes to-morrow?” Georgiana asked. “What if Sir William sends him here?”
“Then we shall manage it as it comes,” Elizabeth said. “For to-night, rest. You are safe here.”
Georgiana nodded, though she looked far from settled.
The sisters filed out and descended the back stairs in silence. When they reached the landing, Jane caught Elizabeth’s arm.
“Did we act rightly?” she whispered.
Elizabeth was quiet. “I cannot say. I only know we had no other choice.”
Sleep, when it came, was fitful and troubled for them all.