Page 144 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“Thank you, Aunt Helen.”

Fitzwilliam looked at the clock upon the mantel. “We should return home if we are to dress and be back by seven.”

Lady Helen rose with them. “Do not be late. Your uncle is dining at his club, so I shall expect the three of you to entertain me.”

Fitzwilliam kissed her cheek. “We shall do our best.”

He and Georgiana took their leave.

Once they were in the carriage, Georgiana sat quietly for several minutes before looking at him.

“Fitzwilliam, is there anything else about George Wickham that I ought to know?”

“There is much I wish I had told you years ago. What would you like to know?”

She considered before answering. “When did he become bad?”

“I cannot tell you when his character first began to change, but I can tell you when Father finally understood what he had become. Wickham and I had completed our second year at Cambridge and returned to Pemberley for the summer. He seduced one of the young women employed in the house, and she became with child.”

“What happened to her?”

“Father learned of it before Wickham could persuade her to conceal the matter. A young man on the estate, whom she had known for years, wished to marry her. He loved her and was willing to take responsibility for the child.”

“And Papa helped them?”

“He settled five hundred pounds upon her as a marriage portion and granted the young man a good tenancy. Edward and Sarah Barlow married soon afterward.”

Georgiana stared at him.

“Mr. Barlow from Hill Farm?”

“Yes.”

“I am glad Papa did what he could for her. She is such a nice, friendly woman and she always brings preserves for us at Christmas.”

“Yes. She and Barlow appear to be very happy.”

Georgiana looked through the carriage window for a time. “Does Mr. Barlow know the eldest daughter is not his?”

“He has always known.”

“And he married her anyway.”

“He loved her, and she loved him. They would have married eventually, but Wickham’s treatment of her forced the matter. That is when our father sent Wickham away, which made matters easier for the Barlows.”

“Did Papa love Mr. Wickham?”

“He did, and that was part of the difficulty. But Father finally understood that Wickham could not be trusted. He would not allow him to remain at Pemberley and risk his bringing harm to another of the female servants.”

Georgiana lowered her eyes to her hands. “And you knew all of this. Why did you never tell me?”

Fitzwilliam was silent for a moment. “You were a child. You had never met Wickham, and after he was sent away, I believed there was no reason to burden you with what I knew of him.”

After a moment, Georgiana moved from the opposite seat and settled beside him. Fitzwilliam put his arm around her, and she rested her head against his shoulder.

“I wish I had known.”

“So do I, Sweetling. Had I guessed he would someday return and deceive you, I would have told you everything.”