Chapter 26
Elizabeth stared at her husband, speechless, trying to make sense of his words.
“He is dead? What do you mean, dead? What happened?”
“Did you…?” the colonel asked, equally stunned. “Not that I would blame you…”
“Dear Lord, NO!” Darcy cried, releasing the claw that gripped Elizabeth’s chest. “How can you even ask that?” he continued. “If I had wanted that scoundrel’s death, I would have resolved the matter a long time ago. Come, let us sit.”
“Elizabeth, I should not burden you with this story,” he continued, after they had all taken a seat, “as it is not a tale for a lady. But you are already involved in the situation, and I am depending on your help with Georgiana.”
“I would rather feel burdened by the truth than by doubt and ignorance,” she replied. “What happened?”
“A few hours before dawn, I was woken by a servant telling me Mr Ross insisted on seeing me. Mr Ross looks after…delicate issues for me, including supervising Wickham and Georgiana. He has been to the house several times before, and you may have seen him, Elizabeth. Or if not Mr Ross directly, you may have at least noted the occasions someone came to bring me news. He informed me that Wickham had been involved in a game of cards at a house belonging to Mrs Younge, a mutual acquaintance I have yet to mention. He played and drank all night, probably inspired by the sum he anticipated receiving today. There were also several women in attendance. They were playing high, and at some point, a fight broke out. Wickham was apparently accused of cheating, maybe even caught doing so. Nobody remembers exactly how it began and who started it, but one of the players shot Wickham. Mr Ross, who was watching from afar, immediately informed me. They all scattered afterwards. I sent for our doctor straight away, but there was not much to be done, as he bled to death…”
“Dear Lord,” Elizabeth whispered, distressed.
“Poor wretch. He lost his life precisely when he expected to begin a new one! Can there be a more fitting punishment?” Colonel Fitzwilliam muttered. “So, where is the body now? What has been done?”
“Wickham’s body is now at his lodgings. I shall, of course, arrange for his funeral.
I brought poor Georgiana here, almost dragging her.
She was shocked, distraught, as expected.
I do not know…she hardly speaks at all, she hardly moves, she seems simply inert.
I have asked the doctor to call to examine her.
I do not know what more to do. I believed I had everything under control and had thought of all the possibilities, but I certainly did not expect such a turn of events. ”
Elizabeth observed her husband’s anguish as he paced about the room, not daring to comfort him as she wished to.
“Well, as cruel and unfeeling as it might sound to Mrs Darcy, I dare say the situation reached a better conclusion than we expected, with little involvement on your side,” Colonel Fitzwilliam mused.
“I am relieved that you did not give him all that money. I wager he would have wasted the entire sum soon enough and would still have ended up losing his life for nothing, just as he lived it.”
“From the little I know about the man, I understand your sentiments, Colonel. You should not concern yourself about my sensibility,” Elizabeth replied genuinely.
As grieved as she was to hear about anyone’s death, she could spare little sorrow for the man who had caused such harm to the entire Darcy family.
And yet, his widow was deeply suffering, and even Mr Darcy looked troubled and affected.
She walked to him and as surreptitiously as she could took his hand to inspect it.
His fingers had their usual colour, and no red spots marred the white of his shirt; the wound indeed seemed to have closed.
Relieved, she glanced up at her husband, still holding his hand.
“Fitzwilliam, how may I help you? What can I do?”
He brought her hand to his lips briefly.
“I am not quite certain yet, but I thank you. Mr Gardiner is taking care of the details. I believe Richard and I should go there too. The funeral will be a private, quiet affair… Mr Ross is gathering evidence about events and who is responsible for his death. I expect to discover even more misery once we dig deeper into Wickham’s affairs. Georgiana needs care and protection.”
His words came out fevered; all his usual self-control and composure had vanished.
Elizabeth felt the impulse to embrace him, but the colonel’s presence restrained her.
Instead, she touched her husband’s arm and said, “I shall take care of your sister. You need only introduce me to her. I am glad the colonel will accompany you to put an end to this dreadful situation.”
“I want to see Georgiana too before we leave. I have not seen her in months,” the colonel said.
“We should be careful not to distress her further—” Darcy said, but the colonel interrupted him, clearly exasperated.
“Darcy, I love her deeply too. I am her guardian, and her well-being is my main concern. But I told you before that you are too coddling and lenient with her. Distress her? Well, she will have to bear the distress since this situation is due largely to her actions and her stubbornness. The consequences, besides that poor waster’s death, will last for a long time. ”
“Richard, there is no need to reprimand her. She suffers enough even without us blaming her.”
“Well, she is to blame, Darcy!” the colonel continued, growing angrier.
“You tried everything to protect her, you begged her to return home, and yet she chose that scoundrel over you! Wickham was a miserable scab, but she should have known better than to betray you. Even after she eloped and married him, she persisted in her decision to stay by his side. Of course she is to blame! I do not dare imagine that she might be—”
The colonel suddenly paused his angry rant. He glanced at Elizabeth, then at Darcy. “Do not fear. I shall say nothing when I see her. I only wish to greet her,” he concluded, and they stepped out of the library and climbed the stairs to Georgiana’s chamber.
Darcy entered first, and a few moments later, he invited Elizabeth and the colonel to come in. The latter stepped forwards, while Elizabeth remained behind, waiting.
Mrs Green and one of the maids were in the room; on the bed, sitting with her back against pillows, was a young girl with fair hair and big blue eyes.
She was thin, pale, and so small that she could hardly be seen between the sheets.
Elizabeth mused that she was the same age as Lydia but looked several years younger.
The colonel sat down and embraced her tightly, all his rage vanishing instantly; Elizabeth and her husband exchanged glances, and he stretched out his hand to take hers.
“Georgiana, this is my wife, Mrs Elizabeth Darcy. Elizabeth, allow me to introduce my sister, Georgiana, to you.”
The girl’s lips trembled as she replied, “I am delighted to meet you, Mrs Darcy.”
Elizabeth stepped forwards, smiling at her.
“Please call me Elizabeth. Or Lizzy! And I hope I may call you Georgiana? I am so incredibly happy to finally make your acquaintance. I have long wished to meet you.”
“Dearest, we must go now,” Darcy addressed his sister. “I shall leave you with Elizabeth. Mrs Green is also here, so they will take care of you. The doctor will come to examine you soon. Please tell him if you are hurt in any way. I shall see you later.”
She nodded, lowering her eyes and saying nothing. The two gentlemen departed.
A few moments later, Elizabeth took a seat on the edge of the bed, close enough but keeping a respectful distance.
“Mrs Green, would you be so kind as to ask for some soup? And perhaps tea and biscuits, so we can eat a little while we wait for the doctor?”
“Of course,” the housekeeper replied. “Miss Darcy, do you need anything else? Oh, I am sorry, I mean Mrs Wickham…”
The girl shook her head silently, keeping her eyes down.
“Thank you, Mrs Green. We shall ring if we need further assistance,” Elizabeth said. When the housekeeper ushered the maid out and closed the door behind her, a deep, strained silence fell in the large, elegant room.
“I am very sorry to cause you so much bother,” Georgiana finally whispered. “I told my brother I should remain in my house. It is a shame that I am giving you so much trouble—”
“Please do not say that! Is this not your house too? Your home? This is where you belong and where you should be. All the trouble is over now that you are here and safe,” Elizabeth answered, trying to keep her voice calm and comfort the girl.
“I do not know where I belong…” she replied in a lost voice. “My brother told me about you…he is so happy to have you…he does not need a nuisance like me…”
Surprised by the girl’s words and pained by her sorrow, Elizabeth gently touched her hand. “I did not know where I belonged either…not for a long while. Please know I am truly happy that you are here. And so is your brother. You know him well enough not to doubt that.”
“I do not deserve my brother’s kindness, nor yours… I am not worthy of either of you.”
“We should not speak of worthiness. We are a family. You should try and rest…sleep a little… eat a little… I shall be here, watching you.”
“Please, do not waste your time with me…”
Elizabeth smiled. “If your brother told you about me, he must have mentioned that I am stubborn and obstinate. If I decide to stay, I shall. This is the trouble with having a sister — you cannot send her away easily.”
Elizabeth tried to smile, but the girl remained distracted, pensive, and disturbed.
“I have always wished to have a sister. If only…”
“Yes?”
“Nothing… I might try to sleep a little. I do not need the doctor — I am well.”