Epilogue
They celebrated with tea and cakes at a far nicer tea room than the one she had visited with Mr Wickham, followed by a walk along the beach. She waved at Mrs Harvey and Mrs Johnson as they passed and picked up a few shells and interesting stones.
Back at the cottage, flowers and a fine dinner with all of her favourite dishes awaited. Throughout, they avoided any discussion of the events of the day and spoke only of plans for returning to Pemberley after a few more days in Ramsgate to avoid any speculation.
On Friday she finally had the opportunity to meet the two young ladies from the nearby cottage, and on Saturday the three indulged in a visit to the shore to sea bathe. Georgiana offered her thanks to Mrs Harvey and carrots to her horse.
“This was the most enjoyable part of my holiday,” she told the woman, earning a warm smile.
After services on Sunday, she said goodbye to her new friends, with wishes to encounter each other in London in the future, and they departed on Monday. Lane and one of the footmen traveled with the luggage in a hired carriage.
Once in the carriage they had the time and privacy to discuss in more detail the series of events and how Fitzwilliam and Richard had come to arrive at exactly the right time to rescue her.
Fitzwilliam had already planned to depart London on Wednesday, to surprise her on her birthday, she found.
When he read her letter, and found the bills from the jeweller he knew a scheme was afoot.
They had left immediately. When they arrived Wednesday evening, they took the carriage to the livery, then her brother walked to the cottage, just in time to see a man leaving. Fitzwilliam had followed him back to the inn, finally catching sight of his profile and confirming it was Mr Wickham.
“I returned to the house and spoke to James, the footman, who told me of Wickham’s frequent visits. James joined the household recently, you remember, so was not aware of the family history with Wickham.”
Early Thursday morning, Fitzwilliam had delayed Mr Wickham’s departure from the inn by paying a groom to loosen a horseshoe on one of his borrowed chestnuts, then “discover” that it needed to be reshod.
While that proceeded, Richard had called on some navy contacts and arranged for Mr Wickham’s impressment.
“I cannot explain it, but I simply knew that something dire was occurring, and that there was no time to spare,” her brother repeated.
“I am so very thankful. I feel so foolish. Looking back now, I see all their manipulations, but at the time I believed every word.”
After a brief sojourn in London, where her new companion, Mrs Annesley, joined them, the brother and sister traveled to Pemberley. There, the peace and beauty of her home began to heal her wounded heart.
In September, when a letter from Mr Bingley arrived inviting Fitzwilliam to join him at his leased estate for the autumn, Georgiana was able to assure him, with almost complete sincerity, that she was well, and he should enjoy the visit with his friend.
And that was the beginning of a different story…
~The End ~