Chapter Thirty-One
The day was unexpectedly warm; so when Georgiana came to visit, everyone agreed to go to Meryton.
Kitty and Lydia were particularly eager to go, as it was known that the militia had indeed arrived and had marched down the main street of Meryton in all their red-coated glory.
Alas, Kitty and Lydia had not been allowed to go to watch it!
Instead, they had been forced to listen to Maria’s very dramatic recounting of the event, and suffer through her feeling of superiority at having actually witnessed it.
But now, with the supervision of the older girls in addition to Georgiana, who Mrs. Bennet considered “sensible,” they would be permitted to walk to Meryton.
Kitty and Lydia skipped ahead, laughing with glee and anticipation. Georgiana, watching them, turned to Elizabeth with a puzzled expression. “Why such excitement? What is it that they think awaits them?”
Elizabeth smiled. “Well may you ask, dear Georgiana. Honestly, I believe both of them have concocted some sort of fantasy in which one of the soldiers – or preferably several – fall in love with them at first sight. It is nonsense, but they are very young.”
“But no one can marry a soldier, can they?” Georgiana asked. “They are not well paid, and there is a good deal of moving from place to place, even if it is just the militia.”
“Yours is the voice of reason, Georgiana,” Mary put in. “They rarely listen to that particular voice. But no matter, we are all here to make certain that they do not embroil themselves in any sort of trouble.”
Georgiana nodded. “I shall certainly be watchful!”
When they arrived in Meryton, the streets were indeed full of men in smart red uniforms. Kitty clasped her hands under her chin in excitement, and Lydia hopped up and down. Elizabeth hurried to catch up with them, and grasped each one by the arm. “Listen, you two…”
Lydia pulled her arm out of her sister’s grasp, impatiently. “I know, Lizzy, I know. I will behave!”
“As will I,” Kitty echoed, but her eyes were already drawn to a large group of uniformed soldiers on the street ahead of her.
Elizabeth could not deny that it was an impressive sight indeed.
There was, she thought, no display more likely to gladden a true Englishwoman’s heart than that of brave men who stood ready to defend their shores.
For a moment, she understood her younger sisters’ fascination; but reason promptly asserted itself and she shook it off.
The girls visited a few shops, though the wares were of little interest just now in comparison with the men on the pavement. Suddenly, Georgiana’s eyes widened as she stared into the bakery window. “George?” she whispered.
Without a word or a backward glance, she ran into the bakery; Elizabeth, concerned, went in after her, leaving everyone else outside.
Elizabeth froze in the doorway, watching Georgiana run toward a man in a red coat; stopping just in front of him, she cried, “George! Why, I can scarce believe it!”
The man was grinning enormously. “Georgiana! No, I must say Miss Darcy, must I not? I certainly never expected to see you here!” He picked her up and whirled her around, right there in the shop.
“Nor I you!” Georgiana laughed, gaily. She turned then to Elizabeth, who had hurried up behind her and taken her hand. “No, no, do not lead me away!” She went on, “George – no, I must say Captain Wickham! It is Captain, is it not?”
“No, it is Lieutenant, but I will always be George to you, Miss Darcy!” He took a step closer and lowered his voice, speaking almost as if to an intimate.
“No, no, if I am to call you George, then you are to call me Georgiana, as you always did! In any case, George, this is my friend, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” Georgiana’s voice was breathless.
Elizabeth could certainly understand why her friend had been so entranced by this gentleman. He was very handsome and well-spoken, and when he smiled, his cheeks dimpled most attractively. Still, she was not at all certain that Mr. Darcy would approve of his sister being so familiar with a soldier.
“Are you two lovely young ladies visiting here in Meryton?” he asked, his dimples winking at them.
Georgiana replied, “Miss Elizabeth lives here, but I am visiting Mr. Bingley at Netherfield Park.”
“Dare I hope that you will be here long?” he went on, tilting his head to one side and opening his eyes wide.
“Until Christmas, I believe,” Georgiana replied.
Mr. Wickham hesitated and then asked, “Is your brother also in Meryton, Georgiana?”
“Yes, of course; why do you ask?”
He closed his eyes briefly and then said, very softly, “I must tell you that he will warn you away from me. It would be best if you did not mention my presence here.”
Georgiana looked confused. “But why? Surely he will be as glad to see you as am I!”
“I fear not,” he replied, looking down. “We were not in charity with one another when we last met.”
“But why?” Georgiana pressed him.
“I will tell you, dear Georgiana, but you must not repeat it!”
“I promise!” she vowed, fervently.
“There was a – ahem! – a young woman who preferred me to him, and he never quite forgave me for it. I will take this opportunity, while we are both in residence here, to beg his pardon, though I did nothing wrong; otherwise, I fear he will strongly disapprove of my seeing you again. And I must see you again, Georgiana.”
Upon being reassured that nothing Mr. Darcy said would affect her opinion of him, Mr. Wickham bowed to Georgiana and then to Elizabeth, and departed, leaving both girls to stare after him.
Georgiana turned to Elizabeth. “What do you think?” Her voice was filled with joy and delight.
“He is very handsome,” Elizabeth said, cautiously. “But surely you do not intend to keep this meeting secret from your brother.”
“Well, you heard what he said,” Georgiana said, defensively. “Brother will disapprove of him.”
“I know, but it should nonetheless not be a secret,” Elizabeth insisted. “Your brother is responsible for your safety; he must be told.”
“Well, then, I shall tell him, but you must let me do so in my own time, Elizabeth.” Georgiana sounded very serious.
“Very well, Georgiana, but I depend on your common sense not to do anything foolish!”
***
That night, Georgiana’s emotions were running high; she could not speak with Brother about George, of course, but she could write to Anne!
Dear Anne,
You will not believe what happened today!
I went to Meryton with the Bennets, as I told you I would in my last letter, and some of the militia were there, milling about the town.
And of all things, I saw none other than GEORGE WICKHAM!
Yes, the very man I have secretly carried in my heart all these years was right there before me!
He has joined the militia and will be here in Meryton for as long as they are stationed here!
I could hardly speak for joy, and he picked me up and whirled me around, just as he used to do when we were children!
George warned me that Brother would disapprove of him because they had fallen out over some woman who had preferred George to Brother! As who would not, for Brother, though I love him dearly, is far too serious, while George is always full of fun and laughter!
Lizzy was there, and she was very disapproving. She told me that I must tell Brother about the meeting, and I told her that I would, but in my own time. She was not happy, I could tell, but it is not really any of her concern, is it?!
Anne, I cannot tell this to anyone but you! It seems clear to me that George and I are meant to be together, for why else would it be that we are in the same little town at the exact same time? Is that not the most romantic thing you have ever heard?
Your ecstatic cousin,
Georgiana