have. It seems that you were correct about him.” Her bottom lip began to quiver. “He was rather cruel...” Georgiana could withhold her tears no longer.
“He did not harm you?” Jane asked.
Georgiana shook her head and covered her face with her handkerchief.
Elizabeth moved to the sofa next to her young friend and slid her arm around Georgiana’s shoulders. “If you would like to speak of what happened, your confidence is safe with us, Miss Darcy.”
Georgiana nodded, but leaned into Elizabeth and began to sob wholeheartedly. Elizabeth reached around with her other arm and embraced her. Rubbing her back, she whispered soothing words until the younger lady calmed. When she straightened, Jane handed her another handkerchief.
When Georgiana felt up to speaking, she did so without looking up from the handkerchief she held in her lap. “I am sorry for my outburst.”
“Nonsense, it is to be expected after suffering such a disappointment,” Elizabeth answered.
She looked up, confusion and shock obviously displayed across her features. “Truly?”
“Yes, of course,” Jane replied.
“But, a lady is not supposed to exhibit her emotions in public.”
Elizabeth smiled slightly. “It is perfectly all right here; we are not in public—you are among friends.”
“I do not know what is appropriate. I have never—” Georgiana burst into tears once again.
Jane moved onto the sofa to the other side of Georgiana. “There is no shame in crying. It is perfectly natural under the circumstances.”
Georgiana only began to cry harder. Jane and Elizabeth shared a look of confusion and concern. Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders slightly. The Bennets remained quiet until Georgiana calmed.
“Do you wish to tell us what happened with Mr. Wickham?” Elizabeth coaxed.
Georgiana nodded and went on to describe the scene. When she came to the condition placed upon her dowry, she clarified, “It is something Fitzwilliam has discussed with me in the past. If he approves the match, it need not be mentioned to my suitor, for my brother has the power to disregard it. Since George said Fitzwilliam would not approve, I felt I should tell him of it.”
“And you are how old now?”
“I will turn sixteen late this summer.”
Elizabeth had realized that Georgiana was young, but she had estimated she was a bit older than she was in reality. She nodded. “Your father was a wise man, ensuring your best interests in the only way he could after his passing. How did Mr. Wickham respond upon hearing of the condition?”
“He became angry.” Georgiana went on to describe the remainder of their conversation. Both Elizabeth and Jane were appropriately shocked at what the man had said to their friend.
“When you were here yesterday, I was so confused by what was revealed. Although he went home at night to sleep, George practically grew up in my household and had been looked upon with such affection by my parents.” She looked down at the cloth she twisted between her fingers in her lap. “I had loved him for so many years, ever since I was a little girl. Though I had known him before, I was so young then that he barely acknowledged my existence. When we met again, not only did he notice me, but also, after a while, he told me that he returned my affections! You were right, Miss Elizabeth—I did not wish to believe what Mrs. Gardiner said.
“Since Mr. Wickham left yesterday afternoon, I have spent my time alone, thinking. I know the people of whom Mrs. Gardiner spoke—the people of Lambton and tenants of Pemberley. I had heard my father and brother speak of them, had gone along with our mother when visiting the sick and injured, and had heard many stories of the good my parents and brother had done for them. Most of all, I know my brother. That I allowed Mr. Wickham to convince me that all these people lied, only to believe his story instead—it is shameful and inexcusable! Worse yet, I doubted my brother’s integrity! I do
“He did not harm you?” Jane asked.
Georgiana shook her head and covered her face with her handkerchief.
Elizabeth moved to the sofa next to her young friend and slid her arm around Georgiana’s shoulders. “If you would like to speak of what happened, your confidence is safe with us, Miss Darcy.”
Georgiana nodded, but leaned into Elizabeth and began to sob wholeheartedly. Elizabeth reached around with her other arm and embraced her. Rubbing her back, she whispered soothing words until the younger lady calmed. When she straightened, Jane handed her another handkerchief.
When Georgiana felt up to speaking, she did so without looking up from the handkerchief she held in her lap. “I am sorry for my outburst.”
“Nonsense, it is to be expected after suffering such a disappointment,” Elizabeth answered.
She looked up, confusion and shock obviously displayed across her features. “Truly?”
“Yes, of course,” Jane replied.
“But, a lady is not supposed to exhibit her emotions in public.”
Elizabeth smiled slightly. “It is perfectly all right here; we are not in public—you are among friends.”
“I do not know what is appropriate. I have never—” Georgiana burst into tears once again.
Jane moved onto the sofa to the other side of Georgiana. “There is no shame in crying. It is perfectly natural under the circumstances.”
Georgiana only began to cry harder. Jane and Elizabeth shared a look of confusion and concern. Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders slightly. The Bennets remained quiet until Georgiana calmed.
“Do you wish to tell us what happened with Mr. Wickham?” Elizabeth coaxed.
Georgiana nodded and went on to describe the scene. When she came to the condition placed upon her dowry, she clarified, “It is something Fitzwilliam has discussed with me in the past. If he approves the match, it need not be mentioned to my suitor, for my brother has the power to disregard it. Since George said Fitzwilliam would not approve, I felt I should tell him of it.”
“And you are how old now?”
“I will turn sixteen late this summer.”
Elizabeth had realized that Georgiana was young, but she had estimated she was a bit older than she was in reality. She nodded. “Your father was a wise man, ensuring your best interests in the only way he could after his passing. How did Mr. Wickham respond upon hearing of the condition?”
“He became angry.” Georgiana went on to describe the remainder of their conversation. Both Elizabeth and Jane were appropriately shocked at what the man had said to their friend.
“When you were here yesterday, I was so confused by what was revealed. Although he went home at night to sleep, George practically grew up in my household and had been looked upon with such affection by my parents.” She looked down at the cloth she twisted between her fingers in her lap. “I had loved him for so many years, ever since I was a little girl. Though I had known him before, I was so young then that he barely acknowledged my existence. When we met again, not only did he notice me, but also, after a while, he told me that he returned my affections! You were right, Miss Elizabeth—I did not wish to believe what Mrs. Gardiner said.
“Since Mr. Wickham left yesterday afternoon, I have spent my time alone, thinking. I know the people of whom Mrs. Gardiner spoke—the people of Lambton and tenants of Pemberley. I had heard my father and brother speak of them, had gone along with our mother when visiting the sick and injured, and had heard many stories of the good my parents and brother had done for them. Most of all, I know my brother. That I allowed Mr. Wickham to convince me that all these people lied, only to believe his story instead—it is shameful and inexcusable! Worse yet, I doubted my brother’s integrity! I do
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