Chapter X #3
“Oh, his charming manners fooled me too,” continued Georgiana, with no malice, but a relentless avalanche of force that brooked no disagreement.
“It was only by the grace of my brother, who joined us unexpectedly, that saved me from hardship and ruin at the hands of that reprobate, for he had convinced me to elope with him. We later discovered that he and my companion had a prior acquaintance and had planned it all between them for the sole purpose of laying their hands on my dowry. Had I married him, he would have ruined my life and revenged himself upon my brother. Yet you dare to sit here and claim Mr. Wickham is a better man.”
Georgiana snorted, a response dripping from the well of her contempt.
“You have no right to say such things of my brother when you know nothing of him. If you have any sense of decency or self-preservation, you will avoid all future contact with Mr. Wickham, for he has neither morals nor a shred of integrity. You may do as you will. But never, ever malign my brother in my presence; he is the best man I have ever known.”
With Georgiana’s last warning, the room fell silent, no one within the range of her voice feeling anything other than utter shock at what they had just learned.
Mrs. Bennet regarded Georgiana with disbelief mixed with sympathy, while Mr. Bennet with calculation—given what he had just learned from Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, it was clear several more pieces of the puzzle had just settled into place.
As for her sisters, they all looked upon Georgiana, unable to comprehend what she had just revealed.
“If you utter one more syllable,” said Mrs. Bennet when Lydia opened her mouth, her shock giving way to redness in her cheeks, “I shall confine you to your bedchamber for a month.”
The girl’s mouth snapped shut. She even had the sense to turn away from her mother rather than glaring in outright defiance.
This notion of Mrs. Bennet being displeased with her youngest daughter was new, but Elizabeth could not say that she was not deadly serious.
Lydia might face more than just confinement to her room if she did not desist.
“Oh, you poor dear,” said Mrs. Bennet, turning her attention back to Georgiana.
The matron rose and knelt next to Georgiana, taking her hand within her own. “That despicable man took advantage of your trusting nature, and you have no mother to comfort you.”
Georgiana gave her a wan smile. “I am well, Mrs. Bennet. I am almost recovered, and I had my aunt, my cousins, and most importantly, my brother to help me overcome my disappointment.”
“Of course, you did,” said Mrs. Bennet. “Mr. Darcy has done right by you, my dear. I hope we can offer you some small assistance in your recovery with our friendship and esteem. Please know that you are welcome to stay with us as long as you wish, for I hope my daughters will become great friends with you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Bennet,” replied Georgiana, offering her a shy smile. “I appreciate your welcome.”
Mrs. Bennet smiled at her and nodded, striking Elizabeth with an odd notion.
Her mother had taken to Georgiana with such ease that Elizabeth was certain she considered her an honorary daughter already.
The girl needed a mother figure in her life, and if Mrs. Bennet was not the most sensible, she was most certainly a mother, regardless of her sometimes strange way of showing it.
Mr. Bennet cleared his throat, catching and holding their attention.
“Mayhap I do not need to emphasize what a great boon Miss Darcy has given us all by exposing the rake who used to walk in our midst, but I believe I shall, regardless. If even a whisper of this makes its way to anyone, it might ruin Miss Darcy’s reputation irrevocably, for nothing more than being put upon and deceived by an unscrupulous man.
I will have your solemn promise that you will never speak of this matter again, even amongst yourselves. Have I made myself clear?”
“Of course, Mr. Bennet,” said Mrs. Bennet, rising to her feet again. “No harm must come to our dear friend. We shall never speak of it again.”
Though he acknowledged her, Mr. Bennet said nothing, his heavy gaze falling upon the one daughter who was not nodding along with Mrs. Bennet’s statement.
Lydia sensed his authority at once, yet her reaction was a huff, accompanied by the folding of her arms, as she glared about her in silence. Her antics did not amuse her father.
“I will have your verbal agreement, Lydia,” said her father. “If I ever hear any trace of this matter on the tongues of anyone, I shall know to whom I should direct my displeasure.”
While Lydia paled, she nodded at once. “I shall not speak of it.”
“Good.”
Little enough passed between those present for some time, though Georgiana carried on a low conversation with Kitty and Mary.
The rest appeared to be considering what they had just heard, while Mr. Bennet fit the new pieces of the puzzle in with those he already possessed.
That his gaze often fell on Elizabeth did not escape her attention.
The most promising was Lydia, for she appeared thoughtful, her gaze focused inward.
At times, she shook her head or muttered to herself, trying to dismiss what she had heard, but the tight downturn of her brow told Elizabeth she could not, no matter how much she wished.
Lydia might still refuse to believe, but it heartened Elizabeth to know that Georgiana had courageously imparted information that might make her hesitate.
Perhaps the girl would think before doing anything rash.
At the very least, an instant of indecision might make all the difference.