Chapter Sixty-Eight
It was not long before Georgiana was lying on a bed in a guest room at Longbourn.
Mrs. Hill took charge immediately. She chased out everyone except for Mrs. Bennet, of course, and Lydia, who flatly refused to leave.
Mrs. Hill carefully removed Georgiana’s ruined clothing, and cleaned the dirt from her face, arms and legs.
She noted bruises on the girl’s body, and then, blocking Lydia’s view of Georgiana with her body, quickly checked to see if the girl had been meddled with.
Satisfied on that score, she covered Georgiana with a quilt, bathed the girl’s forehead with cool water, and chafed her hands. Finally, Georgiana’s eyes opened; she looked about her in confusion.
Mrs. Bennet saw Georgiana’s expression and went to her at once. “You are safe, Georgiana,” she said, softly. “You are at Longbourn; Mrs. Hill is taking care of you.”
“How did you find me?” the girl whispered.
Lydia appeared beside her mother. “Well, you fainted and could not get up. We needed help, so I sent Kitty to the road, and she found Elizabeth, my father, and your brother.”
“My brother?” Georgiana gasped, trying to sit up.
“It is all right,” Lydia soothed her. “He has gone with Kitty and my father to see…well, Mr. Wickham. If he is still there.”
“You said he was dead,” Georgiana whispered. “I remember that.”
Lydia only shrugged. Then she said, “I did not think you would want any of your clothing; Jane burned it all up. You are about my size, so we can share for now.”
***
Kitty led the way into the woods. “He is just past that big rock,” Kitty said, stopping and pointing.
Mr. Darcy strode ahead, Mr. Bennet just behind him, and then stopped. George Wickham was lying on his back. There was a good deal of blood near his head, but the bleeding had stopped; he was dead.
Kitty had tiptoed up behind Mr. Darcy. “Lydia said he is dead; is he?” Her voice quavered.
“Yes,” Mr. Bennet said, shortly.
“Take her pelisse, Mr. Darcy,” Kitty whispered. “You would not want it to be found here.”
Mr. Darcy did so at once. He was glad that someone was thinking clearly, for he certainly was not.
He was filled with rage at what Wickham had done to Georgiana, despair for what his sister must have gone through, and remorse that he had left her alone.
How had he not understood how desperately she wished to see Wickham?
How had he underestimated the power of Wickham’s charm?
Why had he not sent her away the moment he knew that Wickham was in Meryton?
And what on earth had she been thinking? He realised that a portion of his fury was directed at his sister. How could she have put herself in this villain’s power?
He turned back to Kitty. “I thank you, Miss Kitty,” he said, rather formally. “Let us go now.”
***
Mr. Bingley was waiting patiently for news in Longbourn’s parlour, Jane’s hand clasped in his. Elizabeth sat by the window, watching for the carriage.
“They are here,” she announced.
The three of them rose when Mr. Bennet, Mr. Darcy, and Kitty entered the room.
“Tell us, Darcy,” Mr. Bingley said.
“Wickham is dead,” Mr. Darcy said, shortly. “I found her pelisse beside his body.”
Jane shook her head. “Even if it could be cleaned and mended, I do not think she will ever wish to see it again. I have already burned her other clothing, so give the pelisse to me.”
“I must see my sister,” Mr. Darcy said.
He began to climb the stairs, but Mrs. Bennet met him halfway. “I hope you will wait,” she said. “Your sister is finally asleep, and that is the best thing for her just now.”
“I must know what happened,” he insisted.
“Perhaps it will be enough if I tell you what did not happen,” Mrs. Bennet said. She looked at him meaningfully, and he understood at once.
“Are you certain?” he asked.
“I am, yes.”
He sat down abruptly, right there on the staircase, as if his legs had suddenly refused to hold him upright. “Thank God,” he whispered.
“Indeed. Now, then, you must go back to Netherfield Park and say, with a smile on your face, that Georgiana is to spend the night with her friends at Longbourn.”