] However the implication of your questions is that Darcy is essentially willing to break Georgiana and allow her and Wickham to live in poverty. I would think it more likely that appearances would be kept up and Georgiana would get her money. Either way it is a bad situation.

Ann Monserrat mentions that there was a sort of "Gretna Green business" existing by the end of the 18th century. A man (with necessary qualities, goes without saying) persuades a romantic heiress to go to Gretna Green with him - but makes sure that her family would know. The point was in making the family overtake them on the long road and pay the man a tidy sum as hush money. And no risk involved in taking a wife whose money could perhaps be withheld. If you remember, in "Pickwick" Mr Jingle did more or less the same. Wickham, of course, knew more about Georgiana's position than we do, so he knew which way would more profit come.