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Twenty-Three Years Later
“I think I’ll walk over to Georgiana’s,” Elizabeth told Darcy. “I know she’s coming to dinner, but...” She paused, not really needing to say it.
“It’s a year ago today that Wickham died, and she may need company,” Darcy finished for her.
She smiled at him, aware that they understood each other well enough that many things didn’t have to be said. Darcy didn’t need to add that he would be less of a comfort than Elizabeth, because he’d never overcome his resentment of Wickham. It was odd, she thought, that she’d forgiven Wickham years ago for what he’d done to her, but Darcy never would. He’d never forgive Wickham’s treatment of his sister, and any hint of what he’d done to Elizabeth would still bring rage to Darcy’s eyes.
Even though Elizabeth no longer felt the unreasonable fear she had for several years after Charlie’s abduction, she still walked over to Wood House with a maid. Darcy insisted on it. Elizabeth knew he felt it was his duty to protect her. Since he arranged that protection in ways that didn’t impinge upon her freedom, she was happy to oblige him by cooperating with it. It didn’t even inconvenience the maid, for she enjoyed the visits, as her sister worked for Georgiana.
Georgiana greeted her with a smile, and Elizabeth could easily see one reason for her happiness. “Emily! Charlie! I didn’t know you would be here.” She smiled at her niece and nephew, who were now husband and wife.
“We arrived last night,” Charlie said.
“I see you’ve put off your blacks,” Elizabeth said to Emily.
“Well, I’ll need a new wardrobe for the next five months, and I don’t want it to be black,” Emily Bingley said, gesturing to her rounded waist.
Elizabeth would always be glad that Darcy had elected to settle a sizeable dowry on their niece the moment he found out she was to wed Charlie. Elizabeth felt it was his way of finally paying Jane and Bingley back, and maybe Charlie too, though he didn’t even remember his abduction. The next half hour was pleasantly spent in catching Elizabeth up to date on the Bingleys. There was nothing new since Jane’s last letter, but Elizabeth always enjoyed confirmation that her favorite sister and her family were doing well.
After exhausting that avenue of conversation, Emily and Charlie announced they wanted to walk over to Pemberley to see their cousins. Elizabeth said she would prefer to ride back, and asked them to send the coach for her and Georgiana. She knew her love of walking made it a thin excuse, but she wanted Georgiana to have a chance to talk to her alone.
Once Charlie and Emily were gone, Georgiana turned the topic to a letter she’d received from her son, young George Wickham. He was studying law and was taking it very seriously, unlike his father, who’d merely said he was studying law before he eloped with Georgiana.
“How are you bearing up?” Elizabeth asked when that topic was finished.
“Better than you can know,” Georgiana said.
“You haven’t gone out of mourning,” Elizabeth said, hesitantly. Georgiana was still wearing gray.
“This evening. I’ll wear my blue dress.”
“I’m glad,” Elizabeth said, smiling at her. “Your brother and I are concerned about you being lonely, you know.”
“Don’t worry about me. Now that George is dead, and I have properly mourned, I’m free to make my own decisions. The one thing you can do to help me is to invite Mr. Robinson to tonight’s dinner.”
“Certainly,” Elizabeth said. Mr. Robinson was Georgiana’s nearest neighbor and a widower. Taking in the mischief in Georgiana’s eyes, Elizabeth grew suddenly suspicious. “Is he courting you?”
Georgiana gave a smile, the expression’s mischief matching her eyes. “I would say he has courted me. After my rejection of propriety for my first marriage, we thought we should keep it secret until the full year of mourning was over. I’ve learned that waiting is good.”
“That’s wonderful,” Elizabeth said. Mr. Robinson was a good man, and Georgiana deserved someone like him after the life she’d lived. “I hope you both will be very happy.”
“My first marriage wasn’t so bad. I know you think it was, but once George ran out of money, he had no choice but to stay here and pretend to be the best husband ever. He always cared about what people thought of him. I think that was part of his weakness. It was easier for us both that I didn’t have to depend on him. My decision to elope was wrong, but once I was married, it was right to reconcile with George. I did love him, even after I learned of his weaknesses.”
“I’m glad you’re able to move on,” Elizabeth said, because she would never be able to bring herself to agree that George Wickham had been a good husband.
“So am I,” Georgiana said, smiling.
~ The End ~
