Chapter Eight
Matlock House in London
She did not come out the whole time you were there?!” the Earl expostulated.
“Not once; I forced my way into her room at one point, but she refused to so much as look at me.” The Countess was still miffed by the whole event, not to mention the waste of more than a fortnight, traveling to Derbyshire and back.
“Unbelievable! I never imagined Georgiana capable of such behaviour.” The Earl had memories of a young, shy, well-behaved girl who bid fair to resemble her mother, Anne Fitzwilliam; he had never imagined that it would be Georgiana who would cast the family into disgrace.
Even Catherine’s behaviour was better than this!
“Nor I; what will become of her, do you think?” The Countess’ anxious eyes looked into her husband’s.
“I suppose we can always marry her off to some tradesman looking for an entry into society.” His tone was doubtful.
And at that, the implacable Countess of Matlock dissolved into tears.
Her husband took her into his arms. “Ellen, please…”
She wept on his shoulder. “Henry, it is too dreadful! That poor child, to be tainted at such a young age!”
“But she did do wrong, did she not?”
“She did, but she is young and inexperienced, and Darcy did not check the references, and it is NOT GEORGIANA’S FAULT!” The Countess was torn between her anger at Darcy, her anticipation of the shame that would fall upon the family, and her sincere pity for her wayward niece.
“Shhh, the servants will hear you.”
“The servants already know, I promise you. Everyone knows. Well, not quite everyone.” She pulled away from her husband, wiping at her tears, and her brow creased in thought. She was a woman who preferred action to wallowing in useless emotion, and the idea of taking action was appealing.
“What are you thinking?”
“Richard does not know.” How had she not thought of this before? How had she not spoken to Darcy about this?
“Must Richard be told? Has he not enough to do, fighting the endless war?” The Earl had a good deal of respect for his second son, who had chosen to make his way to the upper ranks through merit, rather than buying a rank, as so many second sons did.
Indeed, he had offered to purchase the rank for Richard, and damned if the boy had not been insulted at the very thought! The Earl had never been so proud.
“He is Georgiana’s other guardian. I do not think it has occurred to Darcy that Richard should be told. He did not mention it. So it falls to me to do so.” The Countess was already planning out the letter in her active mind.
“Richard will be furious.” The Earl almost blanched at the thought. A furious Richard was not someone one wished to be near.
“He will be, yes.” And Darcy deserves to feel some of that fury, the Countess thought as she made her way upstairs to her writing desk.