Mr. Darcy's Diary

August

I have brought Georgiana back to London. She will stay with me until I can find a new companion for her. After the trouble with Mrs Younge, I am afraid to leave her, but I know it must be done. I cannot be always in London, and she cannot be always travelling with me. She must attend to her studies. However, I mean to make sure I am not deceived in a companion again. I will not only follow up references, I will visit former employers and satisfy myself as to their honesty, and the prospective companion’s suitability, before leaving Georgiana in her charge.

It is a comfort to me to know that as long as Georgiana is in London, she will have the protection of a faithful butler and housekeeper. They have been with the family for many years, and will soon alert me if anything is amiss. I do not mean to send Georgiana away from the city again, unless I can go with her.

‘I have discovered a lady who might suit Georgiana,’ said Colonel Fitzwilliam when he dined with me this evening.

As he is joined with me in Georgiana’s guardianship, I had told him what had happened in Ramsgate.

‘Who is she?’

‘A Mrs Annesley. She comes from a good family, and her time with my friends, the Hammonds, is coming to an end.’

‘Have you met her?’

‘Yes, on a number of occasions. I know the Hammonds have been very pleased with her.’

‘Then I will call on the Hammonds tomorrow and see what can be arranged.’

I called on the Hammonds and found Mrs Annesley to be a genteel, agreeable-looking woman who impressed me favourably with her breeding and her discourse. She will take up her position with Georgiana next week. I will remain in town for a few weeks to make sure she is as suitable as she appears, and then I intend to make several unexpected visits over the next few months to satisfy myself that everything is in order.

In the meantime, Georgiana’s school friend will be arriving soon. It will do her good to have some company of her own age.

Mrs Annesley arrived this morning. She and Georgiana have discovered a liking for each other and I think the relationship will prove to be a happy one. She is delighted to know that one of Georgiana’s school friends is to visit, and she has arranged a variety of outings for the girls. I hope this will complete Georgiana’s recovery from her affair with Wickham. I am persuaded that by Christmas she will have put the whole incident out of her mind.

Now that Georgiana is settled I feel confident about leaving her whenever Bingley has need of me. It is fortunate, for if I let him choose his own estate he will choose one with a flooding river, or rats, or an exorbitant rent. He will declare it capital and close with the agent before he has realized what he is about, and then he will ask me how he is to extricate himself from his predicament. It is far better that I help him to begin with, rather than having to rescue him at a later date.

I must confess I am looking forward to seeing him again. I am tired of London, and looking forward to a visit to the country.