Page 75 of A Stronger Impulse

Mrs Bennet, after ignoring Netherfield for two weeks following Lizzy’s arrival—a slight for which Mr Bingley seemed rather grateful—resumed visiting shortly after the assembly. While Lizzy had been anxious about facing her mother again, Mrs Bennet talked away as though there had been no proposal, no rift, no expulsion. Granted, most of her conversation was directed at Jane, with suggestions on how to spend Mr Bingley’s money, but it was not in any way pointed. Lizzy noticed that Georgiana, although having little to say, seemed unoffended by the blatant crassness, and thankfully, Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley did not join them.

At the end of a very long hour, Mrs Bennet exclaimed, “Oh, Lizzy, you have not made my tonic for me in some time. Also, Lydia’s monthlies are troubling her fiercely. I hope you do not mean to neglect us for long.”

Lizzy bristled. How dare she expect that I continue on as before, as if I was not thrown out on my ear! “Yes, well, I have been gone, have I not? Jane’s stillroom has not any of my herbs. Perhaps Mr Jones can provide something, or Mrs Hill.”

“Oh, nobody is on my side. Nobody takes part with me! Nobody feels for my poor nerves. I have no pleasure in begging my undutiful—”

But Jane, seeing the conversation descending into no good place, found some mettle. “Mama, perhaps you could have Mrs Hill pack up Lizzy’s, um, herbs and such and send them to Netherfield?”

This, Mrs Bennet agreed might be done and finally took her leave, but Lizzy found herself unable to dismiss her own anger. When Mrs Nicholls brought in the post, Lizzy used the distraction to slip out into the park, where she might regain her composure.

She understood Mama. She did. Mama was neither sensible nor even-tempered and was so far from compassion as to make herself unfeeling. And yet, she was almost childlike as well: easily distracted, easily entertained, quick to anger, quick to laughter. There was no use in expecting sympathy or rapprochement—Lizzy had wanted too much from her. Had her father possessed the patience of a gnat, he might have been able to influence and guide Mrs Bennet; however, when she was not instantly and easily managed, he only dwelt upon his resentment and jealousy. Mama had come to Netherfield, but had no skill for restoring what must be restored; she was as a child in many ways and probably always would be. But she had come, saying nothing of the past.

The silence and peace of nature was just what Lizzy needed; she had hoped to be calmer before meeting anyone, but Georgiana appeared on the path, and Lizzy certainly owed her better company after an hour of Mrs Bennet’s.

“I apologise for my mother’s…er, enthusiasm on certain subjects,” she said upon joining Georgiana.

“Oh, she—that is, you listened to my aunt on so many worse occasions. Please, think nothing of it.”

For the first time, Lizzy noticed that her friend was as pale as a ghost. “Has something upset you, dear?”

Georgiana sighed. “Yes. I have received a letter. A terrible…that is…” She stopped and started several times but finally got out the whole story. “I suppose I must start at the beginning. My father had a steward, who was also his good friend for many years. He had a son, my father’s godson. As a child, he was kind to me. My father died, then his did—I did not see him for years. But this summer, in Ramsgate, I met him again.”

She has learnt of Wickham’s presence in the area,Lizzy thought. Frankly, I am surprised the news was kept from her this long. But it is good that she speaks of it, exorcising these feelings of shame and guilt. “Yes, with the awful Mrs Younge,” Lizzy said encouragingly.

“Yes. She and this boy—a man, now—were well known to each other. She reintroduced him to me.”

“How very unprincipled of her,” Lizzy replied. “You were under her care, not even out, and alone without family. Lady Matlock could not have hired a person less suitable had she tried.”

“I fell in love with him,” Georgiana blurted. “I thought he loved me too. He wished…he said he wished to marry. To elope. I began to—to change my mind about the elopement, but I did not quite know how to withdraw. And of course, I was quite desperately in love, I believed.”

Lizzy reached over, taking Georgiana’s hand in silent reassurance.

“One day, he visited me. As always when he came, Mrs Younge made herself scarce. He was—was bestowing his affections upon me in our own parlour when Brother unexpectedly arrived. The scene will live forever in my mind. Fitzwilliam was enraged, very red in the face, then suddenly, he collapsed. I went to him, screaming at Wickham to get help. But he…he laughed.”

Lizzy squeezed Georgiana’s hand, fury at Wickham’s callousness filling her.

“I could not believe the evidence of my eyes and ears at first. He left me there. To go for help, I hoped, but no one came, and I realised he…had not. Would not. The truth could not have been more obvious; he never had loved me, not really—his chief object was unquestionably my thirty thousand.”

“How awful,” Lizzy murmured.

“Mrs Younge, when she finally returned…she pretended, at first, to be as she always was, kindly and helpful. She called for her brother-in-law. Then the earl.”

Lizzy sighed.

“Yes. As the situation grew steadily worse, Mrs Younge changed. She began reminding me of the cause of my brother’s illness—which I had stupidly told her myself—wondering aloud whether or not she ought to tell the earl the whole story.”

“Threatening, you mean?” Lizzy asked, barely hanging on to her temper, even though she had guessed this part. “Extorting you?”

“Yes,” Georgiana agreed. “Demanding small things, at first. Then speculating about what might happen if she intervened with my brother’s care unless she had my jewellery as well. I thought my pin money never came, but I would not be surprised if she found a way to steal it. By the time we left Ramsgate, she had taken everything I had of value.”

Lizzy grimaced. “She was purely evil.”

Georgiana nodded.

“I only wish I could have her thrown into Newgate!” Lizzy cried. “But Uncle Gardiner promised to see you receive your pin money here and also to ensure that you are never required to see nor speak to Younge again. She is in the past, and it is done and over.”

“No. My past will haunt me wherever I shall go.”

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