Chapter 23
For the rest of the afternoon, Georgiana fell into a deep sleep, as if her body and mind needed rest. From time to time, she opened her eyes, glanced at Elizabeth reading by the window, exchanged a smile, and returned to her dreams.
Elizabeth’s torment was not diminished in the slightest. Although she held a book, the pages were seldom turned, and she retained nothing from the few words she read. Even Mist and Didi felt the tension and stopped playing, sleeping peacefully in their baskets.
At dinner, Georgiana looked rested and wore a large smile —so large that Elizabeth wondered whether it was genuine.
“My dear, do you have any fixed plans tomorrow?” the countess asked.
“Yes, we have, Aunt. Our tenant Mr. Burk is not feeling well. And Mrs. Burk just gave birth to her fourth child; she is still in bed. Lizzy and I will visit them and take them a needed basket of food. And then we will stop in Lambton at Mr. Dunn’s shop.”
“That is lovely. But how does it happen that you know about Mr. and Mrs. Burk? I must say, I am impressed with you —a perfect mistress of Pemberley.”
Both girls smiled and blushed before Georgiana explained.
“Oh, I deserve no praise. William tells me everything that occurs on the estate. And Lizzy is my support in everything. Whenever I discover a problem, she has a suggestion to solve it. I believe Lizzy is the one who acts like the mistress of Pemberley.”
Elizabeth paled, and her nervous fingers were unsteady on her glass, which she raised hesitantly to her lips. She felt —as she dared not actually meet —Darcy’s eyes. She gulped some fresh water then finally spoke.
“The praise all belongs to you, dear Georgiana. I did nothing but provide ideas from time to time. But you are the one who employed them, and your generosity is what helps the people around you.”
“We are impressed with your achievements, dearest,” Darcy addressed his sister. “But we also appreciate Miss Bennet’s support of you, and we are grateful for it. I believe her friendship is beneficial not just to you, but to many others.”
Elizabeth ventured a glance at him then added, “Everything Georgiana does is the result of her excellent character, generous manners, and lofty education. She would have done all these things with the guidance and support of her brother.”
The countess laughed. “Well, well —such a burst of modesty! Do none of you desire credit for the good things you do? You know —young ladies —you both must learn to boast of your merits. Otherwise, how will handsome, eligible gentlemen hear of you?”
Elizabeth smiled, but Georgiana paled, and her discomfort was obvious.
“Aunt, I have no interest in any gentlemen, and I never will. I would be perfectly happy if none of them ever heard of me.”
The countess reached across the table to caress her hand. “Do not worry, dearest, that will change soon; I promise you that.”
“But until then, shall we change the subject, please?” Darcy intervened. “So you will visit the Burk family tomorrow morning?”
“Yes. Would you like to come with us, Brother?” Georgiana inquired. He hesitated a moment. “I do not want to disturb your and Miss Bennet’s plans, my dear. I have several things to attend to tomorrow, but later in the afternoon, I will stop by the Burks’.”
A trace of sadness shadowed Georgiana’s eyes that Darcy seemed to miss as the fireplace held his attention.
“Very well…as you wish…perhaps another time…”
“My dear, if there is anything you might need, just let me know. Who is driving Miss Bennet’s phaeton? Tell Mr. Slade I would prefer Todd. He is older and wiser than the other boys.”
“Thank you, we will,” Georgiana replied.
“And would you and Miss Bennet be so kind as to play for us after dinner?”
“Of course,” they responded.
That evening and the next two days, Elizabeth witnessed Georgiana’s struggles: she invited Darcy to join them in various activities, and he constantly refused.
He was always warm, caring, and willing to listen to anything she said.
He encouraged and praised her but avoided being in her company unless absolutely necessary —or rather, in their company.
Even more worrisome to Elizabeth was Georgiana’s attempt to hide her distress, struggling to maintain a bright smile and an amiable countenance.
After dinner on the third day, the three ladies retired for the night, but Darcy declared he still had business to finish in the library.
Half an hour later, with Georgiana well settled in her room, Elizabeth lost the fight between her reason and her heart. With little forethought, she returned downstairs and, despite the lateness of the hour, knocked on the library door.
She heard Darcy’s voice bid her enter, and she did so —tentatively —then stopped. He appeared so surprised that he rose from his chair in haste and hurried to her.
“Miss Bennet? What has happened? Are you unwell? Or Georgiana?”
“No —no sir, all is well. Forgive me for intruding…it is just…there is something I wish to discuss with you…about Georgiana…”
He looked intrigued, watching her intently. He surely wondered what she could possibly wish to talk to him about at that hour, and suddenly her gesture seemed strange even to her.
“Please take a seat. May I offer you a glass of water? You look rather distressed.”
“No…yes…thank you…I am not sure how to explain…this is quite difficult…”
“Is someone ill or in danger?”
“Oh no, sir.”
“Then please let me know how I may be of service to you. It is rather late, and you should not be alone with me. Can this conversation not wait until morning?”
“Forgive me for the intrusion. It is about Georgiana —about a conversation I had with her. She made a painful confession to me, and I do not know what to make of it in order to help her. I do not even know if I should be here…”
She sat and so did he, his eyes never leaving her. “Yes…?”
“I really do not know how to say this…nor am I sure whether I am being a good friend or betraying her trust. I am only looking for the best way to help her.”
“I have no doubt of your good intentions —nor would my sister.”
“Mr. Darcy, I am sure you know of Georgiana’s great affection for you. In everything she does, she is preoccupied with your opinion and your approval. And lately…she is worried because she feels you avoid her company…that you prefer to be with her as little as possible…”
Darcy frowned in astonishment.
“How could she believe such a thing? I am always here; I am with her every single day —”
“But, sir, except for riding with her a few times a week, you do nothing with her. She invites you to join her in visiting tenants…and many other things… and you refuse her…”
His eyes, narrowed in disbelief and disapproval, held hers briefly; then he rose to pour himself a drink.
“I tried to convince her otherwise. I know very well that you do not avoid her presence, but mine. I even mentioned it to her — mentioned that you and I had many disagreements in the past so you likely prefer to be in my company as little as possible…”
She paused a moment; he made no reply —no attempt to contradict her.
“But she disagreed with me, saying you started to distance yourself from her last winter…and that things had turned worse since April…”
His glare returned to her, and she could see his distress slowly become smouldering anger.
“I see. Miss Bennet, my sister went through a most difficult time. I am doing everything I can to help her, and I hope I am correct in sensing an improvement in her spirits. I admit that the friendship she has developed with you and your presence here were very helpful.”
“My friendship cannot replace the affection of a brother she feels she has lost…”
He began to pace the room.
“I cannot accept the blame for not behaving properly with my sister…of not knowing what is best for her. She must know how important she is to me and that I am doing everything for her.”
“She does know of your affection and your concern for her…but her feelings were…she…confessed to me about the incident…with the opium…”
He was dumbfounded for a moment then continued his tirade and his pacing.
“I am not as insensitive and oblivious to my sister’s distress as you are inclined to believe.
Her generous heart was broken after that scoundrel’s treacherous deceit.
The more genuine her affection, the more she suffers.
Her kind and generous nature did not allow her to blame anybody, so she blamed herself until her own feelings became too much to bear.
I do understand her quite well, and I suffered with her, knowing that she bestowed her affection upon the most undeserving of men.
Wickham is not worthy of a single moment of suffering by my sister. ”
“Sir, I do not believe you to be insensitive —quite the contrary. But in some respects, you are wrong: Wickham is not the reason for Georgiana’s torment.
There is someone she loves much more, someone for whose approval she would do anything, someone whose good opinion she feared she had lost forever.
She lost hope when she thought she had disappointed her brother —the most beloved person in the world to her. She felt he was ashamed of her.”
Darcy’s eyes were as dark as his countenance.
“I do not fully understand your meaning, Miss Bennet, and I do not appreciate this image you have concocted.”