Chapter 21 The Influenza #2
Georgiana laughed. “Lizzy, I shall eat breakfast in my room with my birds while Fitzwilliam is away.”
At the mention of his name, his handsome form rose at once in Elizabeth’s mind, and she felt a sudden longing to see him again.
She imagined brushing back the unruly lock that so often fell upon his brow, and the thought of his nearness brought a warm color to her cheeks.
Startled by her own indulgence, she checked herself and turned her attention back to Georgiana and the lovebirds.
The purchases were paid for, and Dunn was given the cage and birdseed to carry.
From there, they moved on to the monkeys.
Both women were permitted to hold the tiny primates.
They were affectionate little creatures, clinging sweetly to their hands.
Elizabeth could not help wishing for one herself, though she knew it was entirely out of the question.
Instead, she contented herself with holding little Jacko for a few minutes longer.
When it was time to leave, they returned the monkeys to the keeper and stepped back out into the street.
As they sat in the carriage, the birdcage resting on the opposite seat, Georgiana said quietly, “Lizzy, it worked. I did not think of Wickham once all day, until now.”
Elizabeth studied her friend’s face. “How do you go on? Are you still frightened?”
Georgiana shook her head. “No. I am more angry than frightened. We should never have suffered what we did but for a kitchen servant who admitted that degenerate man because she preferred him.”
Her voice tightened. “That means he spent time in our kitchens or meeting privately with the girl. And he held power over Mrs. Younge as well. He must be a very charismatic man, do you not think?”
Elizabeth considered, recalling the two occasions she had been in his company.
“I have met him only twice. Once at Aunt Phillips’s, at a card party, and the second time when he was making an indecent proposal to my fifteen-year-old sister.”
Her expression hardened.
“He is very handsome, as you saw, and his voice is well modulated. His manners are exquisite. I can easily see why women trust him.” She frowned. “His face and manners are very ingratiating.”
Four days passed pleasantly enough for the two young women at Darcy House, and then, one morning as they breakfasted in Georgiana’s room, everything changed.
Georgiana was feeding bits of scrambled egg to her birds by hand when a tap sounded at the door.
“Come in.”
Ruby entered and curtsied. “Miss Darcy, I have a note for Miss Elizabeth, from Gracechurch Street.”
Elizabeth felt an instant unease. Her aunt would not write unless there was some urgency.
She rose as Ruby crossed the room and handed her the letter.
“Thank you, Ruby.”
Elizabeth sat down and broke the seal. She read the short note once, then again, before lifting her eyes to her friend.
“Georgiana… I am called back to Longbourn.”
Georgiana’s face paled. “Why?”
“My mother writes that my father has taken ill and I am to return home to care for him. Mother fears for his life.”
Georgiana whispered, “Oh, Lizzy… this is very bad.”
“My mother has a tendency toward exaggeration. I cannot yet know whether this is a true alarm, or merely a scheme to draw me home and place me once more in my cousin’s path.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Or perhaps my father truly is dying, and she has sent for me, her least favored daughter, as a last resort. When it comes to the sickroom, my mother has never been of much use. Our housekeeper has always been more nurse than she.”
Georgiana reached for her hand. “You will write to me, Lizzy. I should wish to know how you go on,” Georgiana asked, concerned. “Are you close to your father?”
Elizabeth sat, staring at the pair of lovebirds, lost in thought.
“I love my father,” she said at last. “But when I begged him to see to Lydia and Mr. Wickham, he refused.”
She turned to her friend and said angrily, “It pains me to admit it, but I believe he was too indolent to care. Our entire family might have been ruined, and he would not lift a finger. I brought Lydia away only through a clever deceit. Otherwise, she would have run away with Wickham by now, and we should all have been lost along with her.”
She drew a breath.
“Georgiana, I do love him… but I am very angry with him still. I do not know how I am to attend him in Christian charity when I think of his blatant disregard for all his daughters.”
Georgiana’s eyes clouded in sympathy.
Elizabeth forced a smile. “It is well, my dear girl. I will go to him. I will do what I can and give him the treatments Dr. Edgerton has prescribed. And I will write to you, so that you may know how matters stand with my family and me.”
Then, her eyes filled with compassion, she added, “Your brother should be home soon. When he receives your letter, he will return directly to you and attend to the business of Wickham.”
Georgiana reached for Elizabeth’s hand.
“It is strange, is it not? You ran from him with your sister to save her, and then you came to me and saved me from him.”
Elizabeth gathered the girl into her arms.
“Perhaps it was Providence, my dear. Providence watches over us all, you know.”
Georgiana clung to her for a moment, then drew back, tears in her eyes.
“I shall miss you, Lizzy.”
“And I shall miss you too,” Elizabeth replied. “But remember, we will write to one another. And when I come into London again, I shall send word that I am in town, and I will visit you, if you will have me.”
“Yes,” Georgiana said, wiping her cheeks. “That is what we shall do.”
Then, with a faint spark of hope, she added, “And if Mr. Bingley purchases the estate he and my brother viewed, he will invite my brother to assist him for Mr. Bingley knows nothing of running an estate… and then I shall visit you as well.”
Elizabeth laughed at this. “Yes. We shall see each other again. And in the meantime, we will write.” Elizabeth’s pulse quickened. If Mr. Bingley should indeed purchase Netherfield Park, she would see Mr. Darcy again. Upon that slender eventuality, she fixed all her hopes.
She rose. “Will you come with me while I pack my things?”
Together they walked to Elizabeth’s room, chatting amiably all the while as Elizabeth packed her trunk.