The three ladies stood on the steps of the portico until Lady Helen’s carriage went through Pemberley’s wrought iron gate. A collective sigh of relief followed. Lizzy, who never stopped thinking about the plagues during her visit, felt as free as the Hebrews when Pharaoh finally told Moses that he would let his people go. Of course, they had all that Red Sea parting and wandering in the desert ahead of them, but one problem at a time.
“Lady Helen certainly makes the case for having a drawbridge built,” Lizzy said in an effort to lighten the mood. Although Anne and Georgiana laughed, it was a polite laugh, nothing more. When they went into the house, Mr. Jackson asked to speak to Anne, and so Lizzy and Georgiana returned to the drawing room.
“Georgiana, I can see that you are upset by Lady Helen’s unfortunate comments, but in society, when a woman of her rank wants something, she usually finds a way of getting it. No quarter is given.”
“But some of the things she said put my brother at risk,” Georgiana said, still not believing the thoughtless words that had come out of the mouth of a fellow wolf.
“Her words put her at risk as well,” Lizzy said, defending someone who did not deserve it. “She was so intent on making her case for William marrying her that she became careless.”
“We have no worries on that account,” Anne said as she came into the drawing room. “Apparently, Lady Helen’s dramatic entrance put Mr. Jackson on his guard, and he sent all the junior servants belowstairs. Nothing she said was overheard by anyone other than Mr. Jackson.”
“Will Mr. Jackson tell my brother?” Georgiana asked.
“Yes. I am afraid Nell is in for a reprimand of some kind.”
“I am glad to hear it,” Georgiana said with a fervor that surprised Anne and Lizzy. “I can understand her pursuit of my brother, and I can understand that in order to get rid of a rival, she would say anything to diminish Elizabeth. As Elizabeth said, no quarter is given. But it is what she said about Teddy that I find unforgiveable. My brother is always remarking on how attentive Teddy is to her in the wild, bringing her a mouse or rabbit because he knows she is always hungry. And has she forgotten the circumstances that resulted in Teddy becoming a wolf in the first place? He defended his master when a deranged werewolf lunged at him. I know that Teddy would do the same for Nell, and yet she talks about him in such a way,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Would you mind if I went to see Mrs. Brotherton? I would take great comfort in her company.”
“Please do, dear,” Anne said. Although she was only seven years older than Georgiana, in her brother’s absence, Anne had taken on the role of her young cousin’s guardian.
After Georgiana left the room, Anne turned toward Lizzy. “This is not entirely Lady Helen’s fault. If you are told from the time you are a child that you are better than everyone else, you should not be surprised that the child eventually believes it and becomes conceited. I think her mother would have kept her in check, but she died when Helen was five. Lord Granyard’s next two wives, wishing to curry favor with the father, doted on her excessively. The product of so much unearned praise is now before us. I almost feel sorry for her because she will be reprimanded, and the rebuke will come from William.”
“Do you really think he will admonish her?” Lizzy asked. She did not envy Mr. Darcy the task of disciplining a friend and neighbor.
“Without hesitation. He will not tolerate any behavior that jeopardizes another wolf. If he is willing to discipline the son of a prince, you can be assured he will not pause even for a moment to reprimand Lady Helen. But I have something else I wish to talk to you about.” Anne took a letter out of her pocket. “Mr. Jackson just handed this to me. It is from my mother, and it is not unexpected. Because of concerns for my health, Mama is sending a man for me so that I might return to Rosings.”
“I am concerned for your health as well,” Lizzy said, looking at the circles under Anne’s eyes and her pale complexion. “These past few days have been a trial for you, and you need to rest. Besides, you and I both know that the chances of William returning in three weeks are not good. It took him six days to get to Scotland in June when the weather was fine. What is the likelihood that he will have the same good fortune in November? But what will he do about the next nightfall?”
“I imagine he will go to the estate in Northumberland and stay with the family who provided food and shelter for the wolf and her pups. There is also another family in Yorkshire who will take them in. You need have no worries on that front. They are quite safe. But what are we to do about Georgiana? When it comes to her brother, she can be very stubborn, and she will think it disloyal for her to leave Pemberley. I can just see her acting out, with great dramatic effect, William’s return to an empty house.” Anne closed her eyes, remembering her dropping to the floor in Elizabeth’s bedchamber when she had heard her brother’s mournful howl. “Before all this unpleasantness with Lady Helen, she would have stayed at Granyard Hall with Lady Elaine, but she will have no interest in doing so now.”
“Are there no relations nearby?”
“The nearest relation is her father’s sister, Aunt Marguerite, who lives near Leicester.” Anne started smiling. “She is quite a character. I like her a lot, but she frightens Georgiana. She has been wearing widow’s weeds for ten years, and she will tell you why. ‘My husband died. I would like to think that he did that for me, so this is the least I can do for him.’”
Lizzy found that statement to be funny, and she started giggling and then laughing, and Anne joined in. They knew that it was not that funny, but it was proving to be cathartic. Of course, Georgiana would not find any humor in the situation, but while she was safely in the care of Mrs. Brotherton, the two ladies, now friends, could laugh as long as they liked.
After examining all the options, it was decided that Georgiana would have to choose between staying with Lady Elaine or Aunt Marguerite or going to Rosings with Anne. That afternoon, when presented with the choices, Georgiana was indignant, insisting that she was old enough to remain at Pemberley.
“I am not a child. In the spring, I will be out in society and will be encouraged to look for a husband, but you tell me that I cannot remain in my own home for a mere three weeks in a house teeming with servants.”
“You do not have to argue your case with me,” Anne said in a soothing voice. “I am just thinking what your brother will say to you when he finds you did not take our advice to stay with a friend or relation, and I am trying to think what I will say to him when he laces into me for leaving you alone in this great big house.”
“This is so unfair,” Georgiana said, pouting. And the sniffling began, and the tears flowed, but then Anne seized on the theme of her becoming an adult.
“Yes, it is unfair, but life is often unfair, and as an adult you will have your share of it. So what is your answer?”
But then a glimmer came into Georgiana’s eyes. “There is another place I can go.” Turning to Lizzy, she asked, “Now that Jane and Lydia are married, will there be room for me at Longbourn? I have not met your family, and it is always so much better when one can put a face to the names of people one has heard so much about.”
Lizzy gave Georgiana such a look. “So Nell is not the only clever female in this part of Derbyshire,” she said in admiration at little Miss Darcy’s maneuvering. “Of course, there is room. You are very welcome to stay at Longbourn.”
“Until my brother comes to Hertfordshire to get me.”
“Yes, until your brother comes for you.” And what would that mean for Lizzy?