Page 201 of What Change Entails

“Miss Bennet,” Georgiana said, turning quickly.

Elizabeth crossed the room with the letter hidden in her hand.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“Anything.”

The swiftness of the answer caught at her.

Elizabeth held out the folded paper. “Will you give this to your brother when he returns?”

Georgiana’s eyes dropped to the direction.

Color rose in her face, but she did not tease. She took the letter with both hands, serious as any guardian of state correspondence.

“I shall give it to him myself.”

“Thank you.”

“He will come.”

Elizabeth tried to answer and failed.

Georgiana stepped forward and embraced her. The gesture was brief, awkward at first, then fierce enough to reveal how much feeling the girl had been holding back all afternoon.

“You must come back,” Georgiana whispered.

Elizabeth returned the embrace. “I hope to.”

“No.” Georgiana drew back, blinking quickly. “You must.”

The door burst open before Elizabeth could speak.

Lydia stood there with red eyes, a crumpled handkerchief, and Horace crowding behind her.

“If you are having a tragic farewell without me, I shall never forgive either of you.”

Georgiana made a sound perilously close to a sob and a laugh together.

Elizabeth held out one arm.

Lydia plunged into the embrace without hesitation, wrapping herself around Elizabeth and Georgiana until all three were caught in a thoroughly improper tangle beside the pianoforte while Horace attempted to insert his head between them.

“There,” Lydia said thickly. “Now it is fair.”

“Fair?” Elizabeth repeated.

“If everyone is miserable, no one can accuse anyone of excess.”

Georgiana wiped her cheek with the back of her glove.

“That is not logic.”

“It is sister logic,” Lydia said. “Very advanced.”

The carriage stood ready less than an hour later.

Pemberley’s front steps had become a scene of trunks, servants, umbrellas, damp gravel, farewell embraces, and Horace’s conviction that any departing carriage ought to include him. Mr. Gardiner apologized again to Mrs. Reynolds. Mrs. Gardiner thanked Georgiana with particular tenderness. Mr. Bingley hovered nearby, troubled and anxious, perhaps already thinking of Hertfordshire and Jane.