“Indeed, she is not illegitimate,” said Darcy in a surprising turn of opinion. “Her parents are, as Georgiana related, married. There is no need to enlighten the world as to who exactly those parents are, simply that they were married. My cousin was known to be living with a woman. I agree that the best course of action is to engage in the proceedings immediately so as to associate the child’s adoption with the general conclusion of the late Viscount’s history.” Becoming very sombre and deliberate, he turned to Elizabeth and continued, “It is also a kindness to William’s memory, my love. He will be regarded as being a man of principle and decency where a man would most wish for such a character—for his child.”

The Colonel expressed his heartfelt concurrence with Darcy’s way of thinking, adding, “And, cousin Elizabeth, such a blemish is surely diminished by the inference of both her birth, and her future fortune.”

Georgiana still looked uneasy. Mr. Darcy, seeing her anxiety, asked what remained of her misgivings. Georgiana replied quietly, “Brother, I accept that this subterfuge is necessary for the good of the child now, as well as her future; and I believe that you and—George—are very properly deciding how to best preserve the honour of my late cousin’s memory. I do not know how such a stratagem is to be effected, that is all.”

Elizabeth laughed and replied, “Oh, dearest Georgiana! If that is your only vexation, dispense with it at once! It is only necessary that one person whisper it about as a great secret, and it will be immediately and generally believed as a gospel—and that hint may surely be arranged with discretion.”

At that moment, Mrs. Reynolds knocked and entered with Betsey, clean and in one of Georgiana’s old smocks. Her hair was now a beautiful dark golden colour, and she was a remarkably pretty child. She approached Georgiana, and in the voice of one much beyond her years, asked Georgiana if she could “pay a visit to Tabby n’ her kittens, please, ma’am?” Georgiana took her little hand and led her down to the kitchen to see the cats and to take her supper. That evening, as Georgiana helped Betsey to say her prayers, she asked,

“Betsey, will you and Tabby be happy living here with me?”

“Oh, yes’m! I asked Tabby, and she is very pleased wif’ her basket… but what will you do wif’ her kit’ns, Ma’am?” she asked, suddenly becoming frightened.

“Now, now. Tabby’s kittens are safe. When they are old enough to want an home of their own, we will find a nice family to take two of them together, and you may choose one to keep here with Tabby. That is a promise, Betsey.” She kissed the little head, and produced something from under her shawl.