Chapter 1.18
All four gentlemen agreed the evening before to convene at the office of Mr Darcy’s solicitor.
The settlement was prepared as previously discussed, and it was expected that Mr Wickham and Mr Bennet would sign it.
Afterwards, the day’s schedule included Mr Darcy assisting Mr Wickham in applying for a special license, Mr Bennet and Mr Gardiner taking care of the marriage announcements, and the colonel’s settling the matter of the new commission for the soon-to-be bridegroom.
According to the plan fixed late the previous night, Mr Bennet intended to depart for Longbourn as soon as possible.
Despite the various express messages sent to her, Mrs Bennet was expected to be past the limits of her nerves after more than two days of uncertainty.
Moreover, he absolutely refused to return to town or give permission for any member of his family to attend the wedding.
At Mrs Gardiner’s advice and persuasion, he allowed his eldest daughters to remain in town until after the wedding to assist Lydia, to help Mrs Gardiner control and chaperone her, and then to attend her wedding.
After all, for Lydia, it was indeed one of the most important events in her life, and she should have at least two of her sisters with her.
The arrangements were quite satisfactory for Mr Darcy as it secured him more time with Elizabeth.
Not wanting to waste the opportunity to host his future father-in-law in his house, he extended a dinner invitation for that same evening with only the Bennets, the Gardiners, and Mr Bingley attending.
The colonel, who was also invited, declined due to a previous engagement.
The gentlemen grew concerned about Mr Wickham’s arrival.
He was not a man to be trusted, and every minute of delay induced more anxiety and reinforced the colonel’s belief that he would not attend the meeting but increase his demands before agreeing to the marriage.
However, to their utter surprise, the gentleman in question appeared in a jovial mood, greeted them, and apologised for his delay.
No more than half an hour later, the settlement was signed.
As the first task was resolved, everyone’s attention turned to what remained to be accomplished.
They separated as planned with an expected reunion later that afternoon.
∞∞∞
Entering Mr Darcy’s town house for the third time, Elizabeth felt the difference as soon as she took the first step on the stairs.
Her fears and uncertainties vanished, and everyone from the butler to Mrs Hamilton—who greeted her in the hall and asked whether she would allow her to express her congratulations—was solicitous towards her.
It was obvious that Mr Darcy had kept his word and informed the staff of her new situation.
“Thank you, Mrs Hamilton. Your kind words are most welcome and greatly appreciated.”
“Mr Darcy told us we were to be at your disposal, so please let me know whether there is anything you need.”
“I shall, thank you, but for now I would only like to see Miss Darcy. She is well, I hope?”
“Mrs Annesley complained to Mr Darcy that she seemed to be in lower spirits than she was yesterday and that she did not eat satisfactorily. Except for that, she seems to be in good health. Please follow me, Miss Elizabeth.”
Mrs Hamilton entered to announce Elizabeth and then left quietly, but not without noticing Georgiana’s distressed reaction as she put her book aside to greet her visitor.
If Mr Darcy had not told her how pleased his sister had been by their engagement, Elizabeth would have been justified in believing the opposite.
She tried to maintain her countenance with a pleasant smile as she approached the bed.
“Good morning, Georgiana. I hope I do not intrude with this unannounced visit.”
“No, Elizabeth, I am pleased to see you. My brother let Mrs Annesley know that you might come, so it was not unexpected.” Elizabeth sat in the armchair near the bed, and they both smiled shyly at each other.
“Elizabeth, please allow me to congratulate you. I was so happy when William told me. I could not have hoped for a better sister.”
“Thank you, Georgiana. Your approval and good opinion are very important to me. I was afraid you would be…displeased with the engagement.”
“Displeased? Why should I be displeased?”
Elizabeth blushed in embarrassment. “I thought that, perhaps, after Mr Darcy told you about the situation created by my youngest sister’s thoughtless gesture—”
“Oh, Elizabeth, how could I be displeased with you for that? If you only knew…I was at least as thoughtless as your sister. I would have done even worse if not for my brother’s help.
” She paled more than usual, and tears appeared in her blue eyes, ashamed of what she had just said.
Elizabeth rose from the armchair and sat on the bed beside her, embracing her with affection.
Georgiana only leaned her blonde head on Elizabeth’s shoulder and began to sob.
Gently stroking her hair, Elizabeth tried to calm her with kind words.
“Georgiana, Mr Wickham does not deserve your tears. You should not suffer for him anymore.”
She felt the girl startle as she lifted her eyes, glowing with tears on her pale face. “Elizabeth, do you know about—?”
“Yes, I know. Your brother told me, and I must say that your courage and strength astonish me. I admire you so much, Georgiana.”
“I do not understand you, Elizabeth. What is there to admire? I acted foolishly: I deeply grieved my brother and almost dishonoured my name and my family.”
Elizabeth held her trembling hands and squeezed them gently.
“If this is the reason for your distress, you are quite mistaken. You acted far more wisely than many older and more experienced women would have done. It was easy for Mrs Younge and Mr Wickham—two masters of deception in whom you had every reason to trust—to persuade you, to make you believe yourself to be in love, and even to consent to an elopement. It is not difficult for the kind and affectionate heart of a young girl to misunderstand a tender childhood regard for an old family friend. But you did not lose your wisdom and admirably chose to trust in your brother and tell him everything about the elopement. Your heart doubted that man, and your reason told you what was to be done. This is extraordinary for a girl so young under those circumstances.”
Georgiana listened to her new friend with astonishment. Never in those long, painful months had she interpreted her actions in that way, and the praise from her future sister buoyed her soul.
“And I can heartily assure you that your brother is only deeply concerned for you, for the grief and pain you have suffered. We were both worried that perhaps you are still affected by—”
“Oh no,” Georgiana interrupted. “You must never believe I have any other feelings for Mr Wickham than anger for his ungrateful behaviour towards our family. And I am very sorry for your sister. I am afraid she will not be happy with him.”
“Yes, I share the same fear, but there is nothing else to be done. All of us, including your brother, tried to convince her not to marry him, but she could not be moved. She is not wise and would not listen, and she will have to pay all her life for that.”
They paused a few minutes, and then suddenly Georgian broke the silence.
“Elizabeth, is this your betrothal ring? It is so beautiful. I have never seen it before.”
Elizabeth blushed and exposed the ring to be better admired.
“Yes, it is the most wonderful ring I have ever seen. I am almost afraid to wear it.”
“Oh, but just wait. William will give you so many other jewels; they are all exquisite. Most of them are at Pemberley, and you must have a little more patience. I hope you will like Pemberley. It is the most wonderful place. You can ride for hours and hours and just rejoice in all its beauties.”
Her enthusiasm and animation made Elizabeth laugh, thus lightening their conversation considerably.
“Georgiana, I am sure I shall love Pemberley, though I hope to persuade Mr Darcy to leave the jewels where they are. As for the hours of riding—I am afraid I shall have to ask Mr Darcy to give me a little phaeton to follow you slowly. I am not very fond of horses, but I do like to walk and spend as many hours as possible outdoors.”
This statement greatly surprised Georgiana. “Elizabeth, you do not ride?”
“I am afraid not…and I have no desire to do it. I am sorry to disappoint you.”
“Oh, this cannot be. Then you had better consider breaking your engagement this instant, for William will not accept it. Riding is his favourite sport, and I do not think he will agree to your following him in a phaeton. That would slow him a little from his gallop.” They both started to laugh, well humoured.
“Perhaps I should have mentioned that to him before accepting his proposal.”
“Yes, perhaps, because you will have no alternative than to learn—trust me.”
Their voices were cheerful and a little loud. The conversation became more and more animated and continued in the same manner without the two young ladies noticing the opened door and the unexpected and unannounced guest who entered and stopped to look at them in surprise.
∞∞∞
Darcy leaned back against the carriage wall, staring out the window.
Finally, he was relieved and content with that awful day’s achievements, and he could relax a little, trying to ignore the man sitting opposite him.
All arrangements for the unwanted wedding were fixed, and in a few minutes, he would drop Wickham at his inn and continue the ride to his house where he hoped Elizabeth was waiting for him.
He was a little worried about his sister with whom he had not spoken since the previous day, and he trusted that Elizabeth’s care and open manners could bring Georgiana some relief.