Pemberley Variations 02 Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds

Author:Abigail Reynolds [Abigail Reynolds]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Jane Austen Fan Lit
Published: 2011-05-18T04:00:00+00:00

The very quietness of her voice pulled Elizabeth from her own hopeless misery. Poor Georgiana was clearly troubled. Perhaps she was afraid of what this would do to her own chances or still worried Elizabeth was angry with her. "You are very generous, more than she deserves."

Georgiana's hands clutched at her skirt, then she stood. "Please excuse me. I must go."

Elizabeth laid her hand on Georgiana's arm. "Is something troubling you?" She might not understand Georgiana, but she could not ignore her distress.

"You would despise me, too, if you knew." Georgiana averted her face, but did not try to move away.

"If I knew what?"

"Last year, when I was still young enough to believe in love, there was a man. He was an old family friend, or at least I thought he was. I did not know he and Fitzwilliam had fallen out. He told me he loved me, and convinced me to go to Scotland with him. I knew I should not, that it was wrong, but people make fools of themselves for love. I would have gone, had not Fitzwilliam discovered it and stopped me. I cannot bear to think what I almost put him through."

Elizabeth's heart went out to her. "Please, sit down. You must not blame yourself for trusting a man who loved you."

"He did not love me. He only wanted my fortune. He admitted as much in the end." She spoke bitterly, but resumed her seat.

"Oh, my dear. I am so sorry."

"It taught me a valuable lesson. Love causes nothing but pain. The next time, I will know what a man who says he loves me truly wants. How could I be fool enough to believe anything else of George Wickham? He had nothing, no money, the lowest of connections."

The name stopped Elizabeth short. "George Wickham? He was the man who did this?"

Georgiana paled. "You know of him?"

"I have met him. He is the officer with whom my sister has eloped." Their eyes met in shared horror.

So tricking young girls into believing they loved him was not new for Wickham, nor was trying to maneuver his way into obtaining Darcy's money. Had he targeted Lydia because of Elizabeth's marriage to Darcy? Was this, too, her fault?

"I am very sorry. I hope it works out for the best for your sister."

"Thank you, though I doubt the outcome can be good. Still, I hope you do not let one selfish man keep you from believing in love."

Georgiana's mouth twisted. "I believe it exists, though rarely. What I doubt is my ability to recognize it, when the majority of gentlemen who express interest in me only care about my fortune."

No wonder Georgiana had been so ready to believe her a fortune hunter.

Elizabeth wondered if her husband had been as cynical about love before meeting her. And she had taken his precious gift and trampled it in the mud.

Elizabeth made a rare outing into the park, seeking to walk off her restlessness. She was returning to the house when she saw the carriage drawn up in front of the house.

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