Pemberley to Waterloo: Georgiana Darcy's Diary, Volume 2 Read Online Free Page B

spoke to me of it last spring was that he'd meant to tell his grandfather the truth. But then the old earl's health began to fail. And after that, Hugh didn't dare tell him. The shock might have been enough to kill him outright. And besides that, dying as he was, the earl would never have had time to grow accustomed to the news--to accept it, if he could. He'd only have died angry and bitterly disappointed in the boy he'd raised almost as a son.
    And yet he so much wished, before he died, to know that his grandson would marry and have a family of his own. So seven months ago, I told Hugh that he had my free and full permission to tell his grandfather that he was engaged to me.
    "Here." Hugh dug in the pocket of his waistcoat and came out with a small, paper-wrapped parcel. "It was my grandmother's. My grandfather said"--he stopped and cleared his throat--"that it would have given her great happiness to know it would one day be worn by my bride."
    There were no strings tying the parcel, so when he handed it across to me the paper fell open to reveal a necklace, made of diamonds, set in a pattern of silver filigree to form the tiny leaves and flowers of some delicate climbing vine.
    I drew in my breath and started to shake my head. "I can't possibly accept--"
    Hugh stopped me. We had sat down on chairs opposite one another, and he leaned a little towards me, his hands loosely clasped between his bent knees and his dark eyes intent on mine. "Please. Take it. You gave the old man ... you gave him very great happiness, letting him think we were engaged. He had known your mother, when she was a small girl. He and your mother's father were old friends. My grandfather was ... his wits wandered a good deal, towards the end. And for the last two months he was entirely confined to his bed. But he would sometimes be aware enough to recognise me. And he told me several times that I'd done well to"--Hugh pushed a hand through his hair and had to clear his throat again--"to win your hand. He wanted you to have the necklace. As do I."
    For a moment, he looked so sad that my chest ached for him, wondering what it must be like to have to keep part of yourself always hidden, even from those you love best in the world. On impulse, I reached forwards and touched Hugh's hand. "I'm so truly sorry," I said again.
    Hugh squeezed my hand in return. But then he looked up and said with a gleam of his old smile, "And just at the very end, my grandfather was himself enough to say that he wished he might have met you--but that he promised to come back and haunt me if I ever let you down. So you see, you really have no choice but to take the necklace. You don't want to be responsible for my grandfather's uneasy spirit rising from the grave."
    I laughed at that. "Well, in that case, thank you. I'll wear it and think of him--and of you."
    It was at that precise moment that--apparently sent by the god of social awkwardness, if there is such a one--Edward walked into the room.
    I felt myself jump--and Edward stopped dead just inside the door, his straight dark brows shooting halfway up to his hairline.
    Not that I could in all fairness entirely blame him. He had only arrived the night before. And this morning, the first he sees me, I'm alone with a handsome man, holding his hand and accepting an obviously very expensive gift of jewellery.
    "Edward," I said quickly. "You remember Lord Cantrell. You met him here at Pemberley last spring." I got up and crossed to Edward and took hold of his arm. It was like holding onto a marble statue, his muscles were so tensed, and I tightened my grip, afraid--
    I'm not sure what I was afraid of exactly. It's not as though I truly believed that Edward might take one look at Hugh and challenge him to a duel with pistols on the spot. But I suppose I was afraid that Edward might lose his temper.
    He didn't, though. The muscles under my hand were still tight and hard as stone. But he didn't move or try to pull away, only nodded and