Chapter 39 Letters to Tomorrow
The following morning, Darcy and Georgiana joined Elizabeth at the table in the back corner of the Radcliffs' drawing room.
Elizabeth's books still occupied most of it, though she had cleared enough space for writing paper, ink, and the growing collection of notes the three had made during the past week.
Today they needed none of the books.
Elizabeth placed three sheets of paper before them. “Now for the letters. I am fearful that the person I was will not believe a word of mine.”
Darcy regarded the blank sheet before him. “We may require considerably more paper, for I fear the same will be true of me.”
Laughing, Elizabeth stood. “I will get more from the writing desk.”
Darcy took up his pen.
“The first difficulty is persuading ourselves to believe something impossible. We need to include something only we could know and something we can verify.”
For the next hour they worked with little conversation. Pages accumulated beside each of them as they recorded the events of the past year. Elizabeth wrote until her fingers cramped, rested them, and then continued.
The letter she carried on December twenty-first had to convince a young woman in April that within days Lydia would be lost, both her parents would be dead, and Longbourn would no longer belong to them. All five Bennet sisters would see their lives changed for the worse.
More importantly, Elizabeth had to tell her how to prevent it.
She was careful to record what she knew of Wickham and what he would do. Then she came to the part that mattered.
Papa may not believe the danger is as great as you tell him. Make him understand. If he will not act, go to Uncle Edward. Tell him everything and ask him to intervene. Do not wait for Lydia to do something that cannot be undone.
She underlined the final sentence.
Across the table, Georgiana had stopped writing.
Elizabeth saw the pain in the young girl's eyes.
After a moment, Georgiana resumed.
Mr. Darcy met Elizabeth's gaze before returning to his letter.
At last Georgiana put down her pen and said, “I have told myself not to go to Ramsgate and not to trust Mrs. Younge. I explained the false marriage and what Mr. Wickham intended.”
Georgiana looked at her brother. “But that is not what I most need to know.”
“What is, Sweetling?”
“That I must tell you.”
Darcy's expression changed.
Georgiana took up her pen again and read to herself the last words she had written.
If anything happens that frightens or confuses you, tell Fitzwilliam. Do not conceal it for any reason. He did not reject you when he learned what happened at Ramsgate. He did not abandon you. He loves you. Trust him.
Georgiana reached out to take his hand.
“Fitzwilliam, there is something else.”
Mr. Darcy waited for her to continue.
“If Mr. Wickham is still in England, I shall never feel entirely safe.”
“I will keep you safe, Georgiana. I will not leave you unprotected again.”
“What if the man who reads your letter does not understand the danger as you do now?”
Mr. Darcy considered that.
“Could he be transported?” Georgiana asked. “Sent somewhere so far away that he could never come near us again?”
“I do not know whether there is a lawful means to accomplish it, but I will make the attempt.”
Mr. Darcy drew another sheet toward him.
“I will instruct myself to put my solicitor to work upon the question. In the meantime, Wickham has debts. I have already purchased many from merchants in Lambton and Bakewell, and there will undoubtedly be others. I will have him sent to debtor’s prison while I work out the other. ”
“Perhaps he also left debts with the merchants in Meryton,” Elizabeth said. “He was there with the militia. Could he be court-martialed for desertion?”
“I do not know. But I will find out. Richard will know what laws govern the militia during wartime.”
Elizabeth studied his face. “You intend to find him before he can reach either girl.”
“Yes, before he can reach anyone.”
He began to write.
Elizabeth read his final line when Darcy turned the sheet toward her.
Do not wait for George Wickham to destroy another life before you act.
“That,” she said, “I believe you will understand.”
“Yes. I pray so.”
Georgiana handed a page to Elizabeth. “Lizzy, you must write in mine.”
Elizabeth wrote her name, Longbourn, and enough about their friendship that Georgiana would understand why an unknown Elizabeth Bennet appeared throughout pages describing a future that had not happened.
She gave Edward Gardiner’s name and the Gardiners' address in Gracechurch Street as another means of finding her.
Then she added the part that mattered to her.
In the history recorded in these pages, you became one of my dearest friends. If you remember me, find me. If you do not, I hope you will allow me to know you again.
Georgiana read it and smiled.
“I shall.”
Elizabeth returned the letter. “Let us pray that we will remember.”
Mr. Darcy surrendered his pages to Elizabeth.
She found an empty space at the end and began.
My name is Elizabeth Bennet. I live at Longbourn near Meryton in Hertfordshire. You met me in Derbyshire in October of this year.
She stopped. That would convince no man of anything. After a moment, she continued.
You asked me to marry you. I accepted. We loved each other very much.
When she glanced up, Darcy was watching her.
“You appear very pleased with yourself.”
“I am.”
Elizabeth returned to the page.
If you remember nothing of me, you are not obliged to love me simply because this letter tells you that you once did. But I hope you will come to Longbourn and allow us to meet again.
She considered adding more, then decided against it. The man who read the letter would already have pages of history and instructions before him. He did not need Elizabeth to explain his own heart to him.
She passed the letter back.
Darcy read her addition before folding the pages together.
“You have left me a considerable task.”
“I have every confidence in you, sir.”
Darcy held out his hand. “Your letter.”
Elizabeth gave it to him.
He read enough to find the place where she had written about him, then took up his pen.
When Mr. Darcy finished, he handed the letter to Elizabeth.
His addition was brief.
Elizabeth Bennet, my name is Fitzwilliam Darcy. I live at Pemberley in Derbyshire and at Darcy House in London. If you remember me, find me. If you do not, keep an open heart when I find you.
Elizabeth read the final sentence again.
She ran her finger along his words, keeping her face averted so he would not see that she was weeping again.
Georgiana took Elizabeth's letter next and added her information.
Then she wrote:
Lizzy, if neither of us remembers, believe the pages you have written. You were my friend, and Fitzwilliam loved you. Write to me. I shall answer.
Elizabeth reached for her hand.
“We have done what we can.”
Elizabeth's fingers ached.
Georgiana flexed hers. “I hope I remember everything merely so I shall never have to read all of that.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I was thinking much the same.”
Darcy gathered the loose sheets into three separate piles. “You may both be grateful I insisted upon completeness when one of these letters prevents a catastrophe.”
* * *
Mrs. Radcliff entered the drawing room before Darcy could answer.
“Sir, did you receive an invitation from Mrs. Jacobs to dine tomorrow evening?”
“I did. I have not yet replied.”
“I have accepted for Mr. Radcliff, Papa, Lizzy, and myself. You must come. Everyone will wish to congratulate you.”
Georgiana brightened. “May I come, Fitzwilliam?”
“You were not included in the invitation, Georgie. You are not yet out.”
“Oh, of course. I forgot.”
Mrs. Radcliff went to her. “Soon, my dear. At fifteen, you are still a child, but at seventeen there will be more dinners and parties than you care to attend.”
Darcy promised to send his acceptance when he returned to Pemberley.
“I also have expresses to send today,” he told Elizabeth after Mrs. Radcliff had gone.
“I will write to Richard, and the Gardiners. And I shall send one for Bingley.”
“Mr. Bingley, sir?”
“Yes, I had a letter from him. He is in London, courting your sister. He is my closest friend, Elizabeth. I would rather he learn of my engagement from me than through neighborhood gossip, and I would like him here.”
Elizabeth began gathering the unused paper. “You may wish to tell him that Uncle Edward and Aunt Maddie, along with Jane, have also been summoned to Derbyshire, or he may be loath to leave London.”
Mr. Darcy laughed as he and Georgiana rose to take their leave.
Elizabeth accompanied them to the entrance and watched until the Darcy carriage turned the corner and disappeared from view.
* * *
The following evening, Elizabeth stood with the Radcliffs and Dr. Wynn in the drawing room of one of the neighboring estates while their hostess, Mrs. Jacobs, greeted Mr. Darcy.
He had called at Ashcroft earlier in the day, but they had not seen one another since. Elizabeth found that a single day of being engaged had already altered her expectations in an unreasonable manner.
She wanted to see more of him, alone if possible.
When he entered, Elizabeth watched him look around the room. His gaze found hers, and he smiled before his hostess claimed his attention.
He came to Elizabeth as soon as civility permitted and bent his head to speak to her.
“You look beautiful, darling.”
“Thank you, sir.”
When she raised her eyes, she found several people watching them.
“Mr. Darcy, several guests appear to be watching us.”
His low chuckle sent a thrill through her middle.
“Mrs. Radcliff has most likely told half the neighborhood of our engagement.”
Mrs. Radcliff, standing nearby, turned at once. “Sir, I did no such thing.”
Mr. Darcy raised his brows.
Their hostess soon made further concealment impossible by warmly congratulating Elizabeth on her engagement.
A young woman standing nearby looked at Darcy in surprise.
“Married?”
Their hostess laughed. “You have not heard, Miss Thorne? Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennet are engaged.”