Page 49 of Georgiana
“Do you recall me asking if you’d taken care of my letters prior to us leaving Adborough Hall?”
“Yes, ma’am, I do. I wrapped them up in a pink ribbon so that they wouldn’t get separated.”
“And what, exactly, did you do with them?”
“I gave them to Mr. Chapman to post to his Grace in London.” Anna paused and began to wring her hands. “Did they not make it to his Grace? I was so careful with them. I’m sorry, my Lady−”
“You did nothing wrong.” She broke into her maid’s apology. “I was not specific enough inmydirection to you.” She sat at her desk, letter in hand. “Thank you, Anna. Please tell Mrs. Darcy that I will see her at dinner.”
“Yes, my Lady.” Anna curtsied and backed out the door.
What to do now? Max knew everything. How she felt. Her confession about Wickham. All her secrets and fears. Her soul had been laid bare and she had nothing to lose. She looked at the letter in her hand and began to read.
Chapter Fifteen
Georgiana sat gazing out her bedroom window, the letter held loose in her hand. Her mind whirled in frantic circles. What to do? Write back or ignore Maxwell completely as he had done her the past four months? What course of action should she pursue? None left her feeling satisfied, or content.
The clock struck the hour and she realized she’d been in the same attitude for over two hours. At almost the same time her stomach rumbled and she remembered she’d not eaten since breaking her fast that morning.
She tugged the bell pull, summoning her maid and tucked the letter in the top drawer of her desk. Within minutes Anna entered and she began to dress for dinner. While Anna fixed her wayward curls, Georgiana made up her mind to ask Lizzy for advice. Her sister by love had never led her down a wrong path and this decision was too momentous to make on her own. She didn’t even entertain the thought of asking her brother. Fitz would not be able to see past his own anger and she desperately needed the level-headedness Lizzy demonstrated on a daily basis.
Once dressed, she took the letter, folded it into a smaller rectangle and slid it into one of her hidden side pockets. Lizzy and Fitz had not come downstairs yet, so to occupy her time and mind she picked up the blanket she’s been stitching for one of Pemberley’s tenants and waited for their arrival. She’d completed one small pattern by the time they made an appearance. Unexpectedly nervous, she set aside her stitching and stood.
“Do you mind if we proceed to the dining room right away, Brother. I have not eaten since breaking my fast this morning and my stomach has kept up a steady conversation with me for the past half hour.”
“As you wish, Georgiana.”
Fitz signaled Carson to notify the kitchen, then offered his arm to Lizzy and the three of them made their way to the family dining room. This was one of Georgiana’s favorite rooms. It held only a smallish table, seating up to eight with ease, two sideboards and wide comfortable chairs that made one want to linger at the table. In the morning, the room was bathed with sunlight and in the evening, the moon cast its warm glow over the gardens which beckoned beyond the terrace doors.
“Lizzy tells me you received a letter from his Grace,” Fitz murmured between the first and second course. She should have known her sister by love would not keep such momentous news secret and yet she experienced a twinge of disappointment. She wished to discuss the letter with Lizzy alone, although… Fitzhadbeen more than conciliatory in his dealings with her over the past few weeks and he deserved to know what Maxwell proposed.
“I have and he has given me leave to share what he wrote with you and Elizabeth.”
“He gives you leave−”
“Fitzwilliam, you promised to remain calm.”
Lizzy laid a restraining hand on her husband’s arm and he abruptly closed his mouth into a thin, disapproving line. Georgiana had seen that look upon his face only once. The day he turned Wickham out of their rented house in Ramsgate.
Georgiana reached into her pocket and pulled out the letter, passing it over to Fitzwilliam.
“Elizabeth, would you read it first. I’m afraid I may not hold my temper in check and will trust you’ll share the salient points.” Darcy signaled the footman to leave and asked they not be disturbed for the next half hour, whereupon the dessert course would be served.
After the footman had departed and fully closed the door, Lizzy opened the letter and began to read silently.
“No, this will not do. I must know what he wrote.” Fitz bit out between stiff lips. “Please read it aloud, Lizzy.”
“Very well,” she answered and complied.
My darling wife, Georgiana,
Fitzwilliam snorted and Lizzy raised an elegant eyebrow at him.
“Sorry my love. I shall behave.”
She smiled softly and continued reading.
May I call you Georgiana, for that is how I think of you. I am in receipt of your letters. All five of them and have no hope of others being delivered any time soon. I want to, nay, Ineedto say:
