Page 84 of Dear Friend

“There is another offence,” he said. “A far more serious one, and what I am about to tell you must go no further than your ears.”

Elizabeth's expression became grave. “Of course.”

“It concerns my sister, Georgiana.”

Her eyes widened, but she remained silent.

“She is much younger than I, and last summer she was staying at Ramsgate with the lady who then had charge of her. Wickham contrived to renew his acquaintance with her there. Georgiana had known him from childhood and remembered the affection my father had always shown him. She trusted him.”

Darcy paused. Even now, the recollection was difficult to endure.

“Wickham persuaded her that he loved her and intended to marry her. She was just fifteen.”

“Fifteen?” Elizabeth repeated, shocked.

“Yes. Georgiana has a considerable fortune, and I have never doubted that it was his principal object. He persuaded her to elope with him to Gretna Green. I arrived unexpectedly only a day or two before they intended to leave, and Georgiana, unable to conceal anything from me, told me everything.”

Elizabeth had gone very still beside him. “Good heavens.”

“When Wickham discovered that I knew, he abandoned the scheme and left Ramsgate. I have not seen him since, until yesterday.”

“Then that was why...” Her expression altered with sudden understanding. “When you saw him in Meryton.”

“Yes.”

Elizabeth was silent for a moment. “I cannot wonder that you were angry.”

“I ought nevertheless to have governed myself better.”

“I think you governed yourself remarkably well if riding away was the alternative to what you wished to do.”

Darcy looked at her.

A faint smile touched her lips. “You did look as though you wished to murder him, Mr. Darcy.”

“I considered several less permanent alternatives.”

That earned him a brief laugh, though her expression soon sobered again.

“Your sister... how is she now?”

“She has suffered greatly from it.” Darcy exhaled. “For some time she could scarcely speak of anything without assuring me how sorry she was. I was obliged, naturally, to dismiss the companion who had permitted the acquaintance of Wickham and engage another in her place. Georgiana then became persuaded that I could no longer trust her, or that I meant to watch her more closely because she had disappointed me.”

Elizabeth's expression softened. “I can only imagine what she has had to go through.”

“Mrs. Annesley, her new companion, is a sensible and trustworthy woman, and I wished Georgiana to understand that I had confidence in them both. Remaining constantly at her side would only have persuaded her that I did not, which is partly why I left for Som...” Darcy caught himself. “Why I came to Hertfordshire.”

“You may trust me, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said. “I would not betray your confidence, nor your sister's.”

The words struck him with uncomfortable force, and Darcy was grateful he had not made the slip he had nearly made. This was not the time to mention Somerset. Not until he could give Elizabeth something more concrete than the unanswered letters. Richard's inquiries had already produced one promising lead, and Darcy could only hope it would amount to something.

“Thank you,” he said simply.

They walked on for a little while before Elizabeth asked, “What will you do now that you know Mr. Wickham is here?”

Darcy frowned. “I considered that very question last night. I know of sufficient debts to make Wickham's situation exceedingly unpleasant, but I have no intention of provoking him into spreading some account of Georgiana in revenge. Her name must be kept entirely out of it.”

“Then what can you do?”