Chapter 35 The Same Man
Elizabeth stared at Georgiana.
“Did you say, George Wickham?”
“Yes.”
For a moment, Elizabeth could think of nothing to say.
The name was linked indelibly to Lydia. To Papa lying wounded in the carriage. To the terrible hours at Longbourn and all the months Elizabeth had wondered what had become of her youngest sister.
And now it belonged to Georgiana as well.
Mr. Darcy had turned from the window.
“You know of him?”
“Yes. I know of him, although I never met him.”
Georgiana stopped sobbing and stared at Elizabeth.
“He took my youngest sister.”
Georgiana's fingers tightened around hers.
“Lydia was but fifteen. She was lively and impulsive and far too pleased by the attentions of the militia officers. Wickham persuaded her to leave with him, and my sister went willingly, believing whatever promises he had made her.”
Mr. Darcy's expression hardened, but he did not interrupt.
“Papa went after them as soon as we discovered she was gone. He found them in St. Albans waiting for the mail coach.”
Elizabeth stopped speaking, and Georgiana pressed her hand.
“When Papa found them, Wickham shot him and left him lying in the street. Before he fled, he told Papa what he intended to do with Lydia. He gloated that he meant to sell her to a madam in London.”
Elizabeth swallowed.
“Papa sacrificed his life trying to save her, and Lydia was still lost.”
“Oh, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth tried to continue, but grief closed her throat.
Georgiana searched her pocket and held out a handkerchief. “Lizzy, take mine. It is clean.”
Elizabeth accepted it and patted her eyes.
Mr. Darcy crossed the room and sat on Elizabeth's other side. He said nothing, but his presence comforted her.
After a few moments, Elizabeth continued.
“Papa died that night.”
Georgiana leaned against her. “I am so sorry.”
Elizabeth put an arm around her.
“Mamma died a few hours later. I believe the shock was more than she could bear.”
Mr. Darcy looked stricken.
Elizabeth lowered her eyes to the handkerchief in her lap and smoothed one corner between her fingers.
After a moment, he asked, “And Lydia?”
“We never found her. Wickham was wounded but not fatally, and Lydia remained with him. We never learned what became of either of them.”
Georgiana lifted her head. “Then she may still be alive.”
“Yes. I do not know whether life or death would be worse for a woman in Lydia’s position.”
At length, Elizabeth continued.
“My sisters and I lost Longbourn to Papa’s heir. We were parceled out to our relations. After my holiday here in Derbyshire, I will hire myself out as a governess.”
Mr. Darcy looked at her.
“Is it because of Lydia’s ruin that you seek a position as a governess?”
“Yes. I cannot marry a decent man and bring the stain upon him and his family.”
Mr. Darcy held her eyes.
Georgiana had been silent for some time. When she spoke, her voice was quiet.
“He chose Lydia as he chose me. He told me what I wished to hear. He made me believe he loved me.”
“He did the same with Lydia.”
Georgiana rested her head against Elizabeth’s shoulder. “Perhaps neither of us was foolish.”
Elizabeth kissed her temple.
“Lydia could be very foolish. I loved her despite it. But being foolish at fifteen did not give a grown man the right to destroy her.”
After a moment, Elizabeth asked, “Where is Mr. Wickham now?”
“He died on the twenty-eighth of August,” Mr. Darcy said. “Georgiana escaped Ramsgate the previous day. Richard and I arrived the following morning and found Wickham dead. The surgeon believed he drank himself insensible, became sick, and suffocated.”
Elizabeth’s hand tightened around Georgiana’s.
“Wickham can never tell me what became of my sister.”
“I am sorry, Lizzy,” Georgiana said. She raised a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes.
“Brother, I feel unwell.”
Mr. Darcy’s eyes remained on Elizabeth for a moment before he rose. “Georgiana, do you wish to lie down again?”
Georgiana rested her head against the couch and closed her eyes, but a minute later, she sat up.
“No, it has passed. I think I should go home and rest.”
“You will meet us tomorrow morning, Lizzy?”
“Yes, if you wish it.”
Georgiana embraced her. “Thank you. I do wish it.”
Elizabeth held her for a moment. “Take care, Georgiana.”
Mr. Darcy followed his sister toward the door, but before leaving, he looked back at Elizabeth.
“Georgiana, go ahead. I will join you in a moment.”
When the door closed behind his sister, he returned to Elizabeth.
“I am deeply sorry for everything you and your family have suffered.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He hesitated only a moment before drawing her into his arms.
Elizabeth rested her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes, allowing herself simply to be held.
His arms tightened around her, and he rested his chin against her head.
“I wish I could undo some part of it for you.”
“I know.”
At last, he released her. “I must see Georgiana home.”
“Yes.”
He touched her hand before turning toward the door. “Until tomorrow, Elizabeth.”
“Until tomorrow, sir.”
She watched him leave, her heart pounding in her ears.
Mr. Darcy had held her in his arms.
Did he feel for her what she felt for him? She was almost certain he did, but perhaps he had meant only to comfort her.
Elizabeth sank onto the couch and closed her eyes, remembering the feel of his arms around her and hoping she had not mistaken compassion for something more.
* * *
Elizabeth slept poorly.
When she went downstairs the next morning and slipped outside, the sky was still dark.
Mr. Darcy waited near the gate with his horse, but Georgiana was not with him.
“Is Georgiana ill?”
“Yes. She was ill again after she woke. The sickness passed, but she was tired and wished to remain at Pemberley.”
“I understand that fatigue can be considerable in the early months.”
“She insisted I come. I believe she thought I might hover over her for the entire morning if she did not send me away.”
Elizabeth laughed.
“I expect she was right.”
His expression eased.
“Will you walk with me, sir?”
“It would be my pleasure, Miss Elizabeth.”
They started toward Arbor Low.
When they reached the stones, Mr. Darcy secured his horse and joined her. The horizon had begun to lighten.
Elizabeth looked across the henge.
“Mr. Darcy, when you asked why I was studying the disappearances, I did not tell you everything.”
He gave her his attention.
“I told you I wished to finish the studies I began with Papa, and that was true. But there is another reason. I believe the people who disappeared from Arbor Low may have gone somewhere.”
Mr. Darcy did not laugh or dismiss the idea. His expression grew more intent.
Elizabeth continued.
“The three disappearances on December twenty-first have held my attention for some time now. I am searching for clues, sir, because I have begun to wonder whether those people went to another time.”
She studied his face. Would he ridicule her?
“And you believe that if they could do so, you might be able to do the same.”
“I do not know whether I believe it yet. But I hope it very much.”
He was silent for a moment before asking, “Because of Lydia.”
“And my parents and my sisters.”
Now that she had begun, the rest came more easily.
“If I could return to a time before Lydia left with Wickham, I would not permit matters to unfold as they did. I would make Papa understand that Wickham was dangerous. If he would not listen, I would go to Uncle Edward. I would do whatever was necessary to prevent Lydia from leaving with him.”
Her voice tightened.
“Papa would never have to pursue them. Wickham would never shoot him. Mamma would not succumb to the shock.”
Mr. Darcy watched her without interruption.
“I know how impossible it sounds, but if there is even a chance that Arbor Low can do what the old accounts suggest, I cannot abandon it.”
Mr. Darcy considered her words for some time.
At last, he said, “We know that three people disappeared here on December twenty-first. We do not know what became of them, but if there is any grain of truth in the tales of Tam Lin and the others, there may be a way to return. We do not know where those people went, why the date matters, or what caused them to disappear.”
Elizabeth watched him in silence.
“The evidence is incomplete. That does not mean your conclusion is foolish. It means it is unproved.”
“You do not think me mad, Mr. Darcy.”
“I think you have evidence that does not yet permit a conclusion. You are attempting to find more.”
“Yes, sir.”
She had expected disbelief and feared ridicule. She had even prepared herself for Mr. Darcy to humor her because he knew how much Papa's research meant to her.
She had not expected him to take the idea seriously.
“Mr. Darcy, now you understand why the disappearances have consumed so much of my attention. If something happens here on December twenty-first, I must be here to test it.”
“Then we shall continue searching until December twenty-first.”
Elizabeth studied his face.
“You truly do not think me mad, sir.”
“I asked to join your research, Miss Elizabeth. Learning its purpose does not alter that.”
Her eyes filled, but she continued, “And what of Georgiana, sir? If I could return far enough to prevent what happened to Lydia, perhaps I could prevent Wickham from harming Georgiana as well.”
For a moment, Mr. Darcy said nothing.
“If there is evidence to be found, we shall find it, Miss Elizabeth. For both our sisters.”
Her eyes filled again. She no longer felt alone.
“Thank you, sir.”
The light had strengthened while they spoke. She looked across Arbor Low.
If there was a road back, she intended to find it.