Page 70 of Near Pemberley

His tone caused immediate anxiety in her countenance.

Darcy crossed towards her slowly. “There is something I must tell you.”

By the time he finished explaining, Georgiana had gone very pale indeed.

“Miss Lydia Bennet?” she whispered.

“Yes.”

“Sister to Miss Bennet.”

“Yes.”

“And George truly abandoned her?”

Darcy’s jaw tightened. “Yes.”

Georgiana seemed unable to speak at all.

Then suddenly: “Is she safe now?”

The question appeared to affect him unexpectedly.

“Yes,” he answered more quietly. “She is safe.”

Georgiana lowered herself slowly into a chair. “Oh, poor Miss Bennet. Is this why they left Derbyshire?”

“Yes.” Darcy watched his sister carefully. “You are not frightened?”

Georgiana looked up at once. “A little,” she admitted honestly. “But mostly for her.”

The answer seemed to relieve him. “I hoped,” said he quietly, “that perhaps she might remain here for a short time.”

Georgiana blinked in surprise. “With us?”

“Yes. Until matters can be arranged properly.”

To his evident relief, she agreed almost immediately. “Of course she must remain.”

Darcy looked away briefly then, as though unwilling that either woman observe too plainly how much the response meant to him.

Only after both ladies withdrew did practical difficulties begin again pressing themselves forward with renewed force.

Miss Lydia had now been absent from Hertfordshire for far too long.

Even if Wickham were captured soon, gossip must already be spreading. In smaller neighbourhoods, scandal travelled with astonishing speed, particularly where the ruin of young women was concerned.

Darcy seated himself at last behind the desk and began considering possibilities one by one with habitual precision.

What had the Bennets told society? Could the family’s reputation still be preserved? How much was already suspected?

His expression darkened. Elizabeth must be suffering intolerably.

And then, another recollection returned to him.

The Gardiners. Cheapside.

He rose and rang again.