Darcy's Diary Read Free

friends and family and run away with him to your utter ruin, is monstrous!’
    â€˜No!’ she exclaimed. ‘It is not so. He loves me.’
    I saw the fear in her eyes and I did not want to go on. For her to learn that the rogue had never loved her must hurt her. But I could not let her continue under such a misapprehension.
    â€˜I do not want to tell you this, Georgiana,’ I said softly, ‘but I must. He does not love you. He has used you.’
    At this she broke down. I was helpless in the face of her tears. I did not know what to do, how to comfort her, and in that moment I missed my mother more than I have ever done. She would have known what to do. She would have known what to say. She would have known how to comfort her daughter, whose affections had been played upon. I could only stand helplessly by and wait for Georgiana’s grief to spend itself.
    When her tears began to subside, I handed her my handkerchief. She took it and blew her nose.
    â€˜I must speak to Mrs Younge and make sure she knows what has been going on behind her back,’ I said. ‘It has been negligent of her not to notice.’
    Something in Georgiana’s expression stopped me.
    â€˜It was behind her back?’ I asked.
    Georgiana looked down into her lap.
    â€˜She helped me plan the elopement.’
    I felt myself grow grim.
    â€˜Did she indeed.’
    Georgiana nodded miserably. I was cut to the heart by the sight of it. For my sister’s happiness to be destroyed by such a worthless man!
    I put my hand on her shoulder.
    â€˜Never fear, Georgie,’ I said, overcome with tenderness. ‘When you are older you will meet a man who will love you for yourself. A good-natured, charming, respectable man, who is liked by your family. A man who will ask me for your hand in the proper manner. There will be no need for an elopement. You will have a grand wedding, with splendid wedding clothes and a honeymoon wherever you wish.’
    She tried to smile, and she put her hand on mine.
    â€˜I have been a sore trial to you,’ she said.
    â€˜Never,’ I told her gently.
    I wanted to find something to distract her thoughts from their unhappy path. I glanced around the room and my eye came to rest on one of her sketches.
    â€˜This is well done,’ I said. ‘I see you have caught the fishing boats just coming in from the sea.’
    â€˜Yes, I had to get up very early to catch them. The fishermen were surprised to see me sitting there,’ she said.
    I was pleased to see that she put aside my handkerchief as she took the sketch, and to hear that her voice was stronger.
    â€˜Perhaps you would like to finish it. Can you do so indoors, or would you need to go out again?’
    â€˜No, I can do it here. I have done enough to show me what is needed.’
    â€˜Good. Then I will leave you for a few minutes whilst I talk to Mrs Younge.’
    â€˜You will not be angry with her?’ asked Georgiana.
    â€˜I will be very angry with her. She will pack her bags and leave this house within the hour.’
    My conversation with Mrs Younge was not pleasant. First of all she denied all knowledge of a friendship between my sister and Wickham, saying she had never admitted him to the house and indeed that she did not know such a man.
    To hear her call my sister a liar made me more angry than I have ever been and she shrank, admitting at last that she had encouraged Georgiana’s friendship with him. Upon further enquiry I found that Mrs Younge had known Wickham previously, and had planned the first meeting between him and Georgiana. She had then told him where they would be every day, so that he could arrange several further ‘chance’ encounters. After this she had encouraged Georgiana to invite him to the house, and had taught her to see him, first as a friend and then as a lover.
    â€˜And why shouldn’t I?’ she asked when I berated her. ‘After he’s been so