Chapter 13
Before she could allow herself to rest though, Elizabeth went to check on Georgiana.
The girl was sleeping, but she woke up with a start at her entrance.
Elizabeth put her at ease, explaining that Darcy and her uncle had returned to the inn to get some sleep, that they were still in the process of settling things with Wickham and would continue on the morrow, but they all were well and unharmed.
It took some time until both of them finally went to sleep.
Elizabeth’s natural distress after such a day was amplified by her feelings for Darcy and their most recent interlude, the delight of the almost illicit nearness they had shared and the newness of the sensations she had felt at his touch.
She felt that she had reasons to hope but also to have concerns, worrying she might have assumed too much from his actions or words.
The dawn finally came and brought some peace and rest for Elizabeth. She overslept, and only Georgiana knocking on her door startled her awake.
“Come, come, please. I had not realised it was so late. I think I was more tired than I realised. I shall be but a moment,” she apologised with some agitation looking for her garments.
“There is no reason to hurry, Elizabeth. You may sleep longer if you wish. Tom has just brought me my trunk. He said my brother and your uncle have already left to conclude the affairs. I assume he meant with George. Hopefully, all is well.”
“I am sure they will reach an acceptable understanding. Although I have to say, any gesture of kindness on Mr Darcy’s part is commendable and undeserved.”
“I know, Miss B…Elizabeth…I wish the last months had never happened…I wish last year had never happened!”
The girl’s dejection was plain, and her grief had obviously not been soothed overnight.
Elizabeth tried to comfort her, inwardly thinking that she could not but heartily disagree with her wish.
If the last year had never occurred, she might have been saved from much distress, but also prevented from the joy of meeting Darcy and all the overwhelming feelings — different over time, opposite even, but always powerful and impossible to ignore — that he had brought into her life.
Whilst waiting for the gentlemen to return, Elizabeth and Georgiana, with more appetite than the evening before, had a good breakfast in their room, then eventually prepared for the journey ahead and packed their belongings.
It was expected they would leave as soon as the business with Wickham was completed, unless it was too late in the day.
Normally, Elizabeth would have used that time for another walk — this time with no other purpose than to enjoy the exercise — and to see a bit more of the town. However, Georgiana was less inclined and still apprehensive of any contact with strangers, so they remained inside, talking.
Around noon, they heard voices in the hall and a knock on the door. Mr Darcy entered, looking at both of them with some uneasiness.
“All is done. We can depart for home, if that is acceptable to you, ladies.”
“We can? And…George?” Georgiana asked timidly.
“We have reached an understanding. Considering our past relationship and the affection our father had for him, I promised to support him to find new employment. He decided he would like to join another regiment here, in the North. We wrote to Colonel Forster, at his regiment, and to Fitzwilliam, as well as to my solicitors in London. It will take a while to have everything arranged, so until then, Wickham will remain here. He has all his expenses paid at the inn for the next month, but it should not take that long.”
“Oh…thank you, Brother,” the girl whispered. “I am so happy you are helping him. This situation…I should be blamed for it, I started it, I encouraged it. I only hope he will find his way and his place after all.”
“I hope the same, but I have little confidence. My dear, I know that you gave him some money. I told him he may keep it. I do not wish for another argument on this subject.”
“Oh…thank you again, Brother! F-for the money…it was my pin money…I shall not ask for more, I promise!”
“Georgiana, you are entitled to use your allowance in any way you wish, and you will continue to receive it regularly. However, if one knows that he can easily make money without much trouble, one will never be induced to make any effort to secure an honourable living.”
“Yes, I know…I have been blind and foolish. And very immature. I hope you will forgive me one day,” she pleaded, her eyes to the floor from shame. Darcy stepped forward and embraced her gently, and she accepted the comfort for a little while.
“Forgive me. I only need a moment to refresh myself, then I shall be ready to go,” she said, hurrying into the room she had slept in.
Only then did Darcy meet Elizabeth’s eyes. He saw in them the recognition of being again alone, in the same room as last night, and the memory of their hands joined together.
“So it all worked out rather well,” she uttered.
“I assume you demanded he remain here for a month. Did he consent to act like a gentleman and accept your requests and rein his own within reason, after all? He should have, considering he made another small fortune from you and Georgiana in only a few days.”
“No, he did not,” Darcy replied, moving near her so he could speak in a low voice.
“He did not act like a gentleman, and neither did I. He is a despicable scoundrel. He blamed Georgiana for the elopement, he threatened me with the scandal, and he had the effrontery to tell me he had more debts to cover than Georgiana’s ‘paltry’ allowance could afford.
I shall not trouble you with it all. Suffice to say, he will have to stay in his room for a few days so his face can heal,” he concluded, rubbing his right fist. Elizabeth did not miss the gesture.
“You hit him?” she enquired with disbelief.
“I did, and I am ashamed to admit that it gave me much pleasure and satisfaction. I acted like a savage, I know. Mr Gardiner was probably appalled since he witnessed the entire scene.”
To his astonishment — would she ever cease to amaze him, he wondered absently — she smiled with mischief, and on an impulse, she took his right fist in her small hands, caressing his knuckles.
“I am sure my uncle felt equal satisfaction and pleasure watching you. I would have, had I been there. I hope you did not hurt your hand. You have suffered enough from Wickham.”
Her voice — half teasing, half affectionate — and the silent expression in her eyes dissipated most of his anger and distress.
“If I did, it was well worth it only to feel your touch,” he confessed, covering her hands with his left one. She blushed and allowed for several moments the stolen — yet so delightful — sensation of their entwined hands, then gently removed hers.
“We should leave, should we not?” she asked.
“Yes, it is time to return home,” he replied, and her heart ached as she recollected that she would have to travel even further, to Hertfordshire, very soon. She could not call Pemberley her home, at least not yet.
∞∞∞
The first part of the return journey was mostly silent, and awkward, as Georgiana’s distress and remorse was painful to watch.
She sat on the cushion next to Elizabeth, looking outside, and rarely contributed to the conversation.
She looked mortified, fighting her own thoughts, almost crushed under the shame of her actions, barely looking at her brother and even less so at Mr Gardiner.
The hurry was not as necessary on their way back, but they still travelled with as much haste as possible.
They also spent three nights at inns, and each of them allowed Georgiana the opportunity to become closer to Elizabeth.
As restrained as she was with her brother, she opened her heart to a friend who was old enough and wise enough to be trusted, but young enough to understand her.
Darcy found several opportunities to talk privately to Elizabeth; only short conversations, lasting just moments, mostly enquiries after each other’s comfort and well-being, but the warmth of the thoughts behind the enquiries was fulfilling for both of them.
The added countless moments — in the carriage, across the table while dining, before retiring for the night — when their gazes met and held, conveying so much, completed an as yet unspoken understanding, stronger with every hour, every mile of road covered.
However, these moments were bittersweet for Elizabeth, as she knew their arrival at Pemberley, although it would be the conclusion of a most disturbing situation, would also mean starting her preparations for returning to her family.
“From my calculations, we should arrive at Pemberley late in the evening. To avoid any unnecessary disruption, we should enter through the side door. I trust we shall find Mrs Gardiner at Pemberley too — Mr Gardiner wrote to her from Carlisle. We will have to talk to Mrs Annesley and Mrs Reynolds as soon as we alight and see what has been talked about, what the servants know, so we can adjust our story accordingly. We claimed Georgiana was ill, but surely the servants will know she has not been locked in her apartment for seven days and nights now.”
“Brother, I am so sorry you have to lie for me. I know how much you abhor deceit. Mr Gardiner, Elizabeth, I deeply apologise…” Georgiana pleaded, affected by the new reminder.
“Miss Darcy, you have no reason to apologise to me, I assure you,” Mr Gardiner tried warmly to comfort her. “I only pray we can leave all this behind and see you and Mr Darcy at peace again.”
“Tonight, we shall be home. That is all that matters now,” Darcy confirmed. “There will be peace and tranquillity at Pemberley since there will be nobody but us,” he said, his glance conveying to Elizabeth that she, as well as her relatives, were part of that ‘us’.