by Bella Breen
Elizabeth saw that Mr. Darcy was still not his usual self. She walked over and gave him a hug, laying her head upon his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her. He ran a hand up and down her back. He finally exhaled and laid his head upon hers. “Thank you, Elizabeth. It was hard. I had always wanted her to act as a replacement mother, though she never did. She actually has gotten worse with age.”
“How old were you when your mother died?”
“I was young. I must have been around ten.” Elizabeth squeezed Mr. Darcy. That was quite young. And then to have her only sister be such an unbearable harridan. Mr. Darcy lifted Elizabeth’s chin up. “Come, let us go to bed and put an end to this day.”
Elizabeth smiled and kissed Mr. Darcy.
The next few days passed in peaceful, glorious quiet. Elizabeth continued to learn the ebb and flow of Pemberley. She found that she absolutely loved the wildflowers growing in the fields. She hunted for mushrooms with Georgiana in the forest, rode in the horse cart with Georgiana around Pemberley, accompanied Mr. Darcy as he fished in the stream, pricked her finger while trying to embroider, and grew closer to Mr. Darcy. Poor lady Catherine de Bourgh… if she only knew that her visit did the exact opposite of what she had wanted. Instead of splitting them apart it made them closer than ever.
After dinner, while Elizabeth was in the solarium reading a book amongst the flowers, the footman arrived with two letters on a silver platter. Elizabeth greedily took them. Finally she had received a letter. They were both from Jane, but one of them had been addressed so poorly that Elizabeth was surprised it had even reached her.
Elizabeth opened and read the letter that was postmarked first. She smiled, happy to read that Jane and Mr. Bingley were indeed growing very close. Jane wrote that she did not want to be presumptuous, but that she felt Mr. Bingley might propose for her any day. “I knew it!”
They had gotten Elizabeth’s express letter about Lydia going to Brighton. Mr. Bennet had not been happy that she had wasted money sending the letter by express. Jane wrote that he appreciated Elizabeth’s sentiments but he was sure that Lydia going to Brighton would get her silliness out and would do her good. “So, he let her go?”
Elizabeth was stunned. She could not believe her Papa was so close-minded to not even listen to her reasons. She shook her head and hoped that she had been completely wrong about that trip. The rest of the letter detailed that their Aunt Philips had invited the Bingleys to one of her card parties. The sisters had sent their excuses with Mr. Bingley, who had shown and won their aunt over by his enthusiasm and kind words for everyone.
Elizabeth opened the second letter with a smile still happy for Jane. What had caused this second letter to have been addressed so poorly?
Dearest Lizzy,
I am afraid to tell you of events that have passed showing you were right in your letter to Papa. Lydia has run off with George Wickham.
“Oh my word!” Elizabeth had not expected that. He had not even shown the slightest attention to Lydia. What had happened?
They left in the middle of the night, we presume for Gretna Green. Lydia left a short note for Col. Forster’s wife. She mentioned that she thought it was a fun game and how impressed everyone would be that she would be a married woman soon.
Mama has taken to her bed. Papa closed his study and will not come out. I do not know what we shall do. I tried to keep Mama quiet but you know how she is. The gossip is already all over Meryton.
Aunt Phillips came to inform us that the news is even worse. George Wickham had left debts with many merchants, gambling debts of honor as well. I am hoping every day we receive a letter that they are married.
I am glad you are so happy in your marriage and not here, but I long for another sensible mind at Longbourn. Neither of our parents are providing guidance and I am sure Kitty knows something.
“Oh no! Poor Jane.”
We have just received another express letter from Col. Forster. Investigation has revealed that George Wickham did not plan to go to Gretna Green at all. He instead is probably already in London. Papa is leaving for London. Oh, Elizabeth, this is so far worse. How much worse can it get?
Love,
Jane
* * *
Elizabeth stood, letting her book fall to the floor. She had not expected this when she wrote Papa. She had not expected Lydia to be so without propriety as to run away with George Wickham, whom Lydia had danced with maybe once. “This is horrible!”
Worse, how would she tell her husband, whose own sister had almost eloped with George Wickham? Elizabeth groaned. She felt a headache form behind her eyes. She was not up for company and she certainly did not want any servants to see her because she felt tears of frustration form that this situation could have been prevented.
Elizabeth grabbed her book and letters. She walked to her bedchamber and crawled into bed. Finally she let the tears flow. She had warned Papa so many times. Jane had also begged him to control Lydia, but he had always brushed it off. Now what were they to do?
Jane was almost betrothed to Mr. Bingley, but he would not offer marriage now. And what of her other sisters Mary and Kitty? No one would want to be associated with the family that had one daughter compromised into a quick marriage and another run off with a man who deserted his militia! Elizabeth rolled over and hid her head under her pillow.
Chapter 32
Elizabeth heard a knock at the adjoining door, then Mr. Darcy entered. “Elizabeth, are you ill?” Mr. Darcy walked over to the bed as she came out from under her pillow.
“I am not ill. I just received... distressing news from home.” Elizabeth looked down at the blankets. She still did not know how she was going to broach the subject with her husband. The history between him and George Wickham was long and horrible, not to mention what that man had tried to do to Georgiana and what he had done to her sister instead.
“What has happened? Is there anything I can help with?”
Elizabeth finally looked up at her husband. She could not believe how she had lucked out in her marriage. He did not even know what the problem was, and he was ready to help. She burst into tears.
Mr. Darcy sat down and pulled Elizabeth into his arms. “Tell me what is wrong.”
Elizabeth finally wiped her eyes. “I do not know how to tell you this, Fitzwilliam. Only you know how horrible this is. My younger sister Lydia was allowed to go to Brighton as the guest of Col. Forster’s wife with the militia. She has run off with George Wickham.” Elizabeth felt Mr. Darcy stiffen. “Only you and I know his history and how horrible a man he is. I should have told my father when I wrote him not to let Lydia go to Brighton. I did not want to break your confidence. This is my fault.”
“It is not your fault, it is my fault. I knew George Wickham’s entire history and knew what he had attempted with my sister. I did not let anyone know what a danger he was. I did not want the shame and embarrassment to come upon my family. Now your sister has been his latest victim. This is my fault.”
Elizabeth raised her head and looked at her husband. “I do not think this is your fault. You did not force George Wickham to do what he has done. It is my father’s fault for letting Lydia run wild and Wickham’s fault for taking advantage of that.”
“What is being done to find them?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Papa has gone to London. They were first thought to be heading for Gretna Green to get married, but another express from Col. Forster stated they had gone to London instead.”
“I am not sure George Wickham will follow through with the plan to get married.” Elizabeth sat up. “He does not strike me as the sort who would marry for anything less than money.”
Fear grabbed Elizabeth. “Will he hold Lydia for ransom?”
Mr. Darcy slowly shook his head. “There are many possibilities with a man such as George Wickham. It is imperative that he be found sooner rather than later, or Lydia might be lost forever.”
Elizabeth put her hand to her throat. She did
not want to ask what Darcy meant by that. She did not want to know the evils of the world.
“No, I will not tell you what I mean. There are worse things than running away with a man and not eloping.”
Elizabeth blanched. No matter how angry she was at her stupid younger sister, she still loved her.
“Can I read the letters?”
Elizabeth nodded and pulled them out from under the covers. Mr. Darcy quickly read them. “Your uncle, Mr. Gardiner, has offered to help. He is a very sensible businessman with a good head on his shoulders.”
Mr. Darcy folded up the letters and looked at Elizabeth. “I believe I may be able to help with the search for George Wickham and your sister. The governess I had employed for Georgiana at the time is a close acquaintance of George Wickham. I believe she is still in London. It is a possibility that she may know of his whereabouts.”
Elizabeth leaned forward. “But the planting? I know how important that is to you and to all the tenants.”
Mr. Darcy smiled at Elizabeth. “The test field with the new planting method is done. The planting of the other fields is going well and we are near the end of it. I feel I can leave now. Plus, I have a moral obligation to set things right. I did not let George Wickham’s perfidy be known.” Mr. Darcy stood up. “I will talk to the housekeeper and steward. We can leave within two hours.”
Elizabeth stood as well. “That soon? You consider this urgent?”
Mr. Darcy held Elizabeth’s hands while he looked at her. “There is much of the world, of the evil side of men, that thankfully you are not aware of. George Wickham is familiar with that side. I will not rest easy until I have located him and hopefully Lydia as well.” Mr. Darcy squeezed her hands. “We will travel through the night to reach London as quickly as possible.”
“I am not going to be left behind, Fitzwilliam. This is my sister.”
Mr. Darcy smiled. “I would not dream of it, Elizabeth. Notice I had said ‘we’?”
Elizabeth exhaled. “How will we ever tell Georgiana why we are leaving so suddenly for London?”
Mr. Darcy frowned. “I do not want to lie to my sister. As she informed me so recently, she is six and ten and old enough to be married herself.” They both smiled remembering that conversation. “No, it may do her good to know that she was not the only one taken in by that rake. We can both tell her why we are leaving.”
“I do not understand why I cannot go with you. I could offer comfort to Elizabeth’s relatives.”
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy shared a glance. “Georgiana, I admire your concern for Elizabeth’s family; however, I am not sure that is a good idea. An unmarried, virtuous young lady could have her reputation ruined by being around”—Mr. Darcy looked at Elizabeth—“pardon me, Elizabeth, by being around one who had her reputation ruined.”
Elizabeth looked at Georgiana. “Your brother is right. Lydia is ruined. I can safely say that she probably does not have an ounce of remorse. I think it would be much better if you were not around her at all. When we find Lydia she will stay with my aunt and uncle until she is married.”
Georgiana frowned. “I do not understand why they would not go to Gretna Green. Why would they elope if they were not going to get married immediately?”
Elizabeth put her hand on Georgiana’s. “I am afraid that you are much more virtuous than my youngest sister.” Georgiana’s eyes grew wide. She glanced at her brother.
Mr. Darcy frowned and nodded. “You can see that Elizabeth is nothing like her sister Lydia, but people will think the other sisters are exactly like Lydia. And you, an unmarried young lady, if you were seen in Lydia’s company you would soon share the same reputation. I also do not want someone with Lydia’s… behavior to be around you.”
It hurt to hear the truth about her sister, but she knew Mr. Darcy was correct. Elizabeth glanced down and then reached over and put her hand on top of Mr. Darcy’s. She had no ill will towards him for what he had said.
“I understand now. I will stay here and await your letters with updates.” Georgiana turned to Elizabeth. “I could help you pack.”
Elizabeth smiled. Georgiana was such a nice young woman. If only her younger sister had been the same. Even though Elizabeth did not need any help, she would not turn Georgiana away. “I will gladly accept your help. Thank you.”
Chapter 33
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth traveled with four outriders. They changed horses every few hours, so they traveled with fresh horses throughout the night. The trip was so swift that they arrived in London the next day. Elizabeth was exhausted from the nonstop travel, having slept upright with her neck bent while jostled by the constantly moving carriage. She was glad they arrived in London so quickly; however, she never wanted to travel through the night again. She was tired, had a headache, and a sore neck.
Elizabeth wanted to go to the Gardiners’ house immediately but Mr. Darcy managed to impart some logic. “We have traveled through the night and are not quite ourselves. I doubt anything will happen while we take an hour or two to refresh at the townhouse.”
Mr. Darcy was right, of course. That was the only downside to having an intelligent husband: he was frequently right.
In fresh clothes, having taken a quick bath and dinner, Elizabeth felt much better as they traveled through London to the Gardiners’ house. Elizabeth sincerely hoped that they would arrive to find their rush from Pemberley had not been needed, and that Lydia had been found and George Wickham and Lydia were already married. Elizabeth had a burst of hope in her chest as she imagined Lydia already married and demure now that she was a married woman. Elizabeth shook her head. There was no possibility of Lydia suddenly having become a model of propriety and decorum, nor of George Wickham having felt an ounce of remorse.
The Darcy carriage looked out of place in front of the Gardiners’ house. It was obvious that the Darcys had money. Her aunt and uncle did not live in the worst part of London but still Elizabeth worried about the carriage just the same. The outriders stayed at the Darcy townhouse to sleep after taking care of the horses. She did not know how they managed to stay awake and ride all night long. She hoped that Fitzwilliam gave them a bonus for their courage.
Elizabeth knocked on the Gardiners’ front door, which was opened by their maid. She bade them to wait while she checked if the master was at home. Elizabeth looked behind her to Mr. Darcy with raised eyebrows.
“He is being cautious. That is very sensible of him.” Elizabeth thought the maid should have recognized her. But she was wearing a fine coat over one of her new dresses from the Lambton dressmaker.
The maid opened the door, but her aunt and uncle were right behind her to welcome them inside. Hugs and back slaps were exchanged.
“Not that I am going to admonish you for showing up so suddenly, but what are you doing here?” Mr. Gardiner looked from Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth felt off-center and glanced at Mr. Darcy. Could everything have been resolved already? But where was Lydia?
Mr. Darcy spoke. “We are here because of Miss Lydia and George Wickham. I have been acquainted with that man my entire life and I feel an obligation to right his wrongs.”
Elizabeth could not hold back any longer. “Have they been found?”
The happy faces of her aunt and uncle fell. Mr. Gardiner sighed and shook his head. “They have not. I am having a deuced difficult time.”
“Edward!” Elizabeth’s aunt admonished her husband but Elizabeth was shocked as well.
“Sorry, Miriam, but I am exceedingly frustrated and angry at my niece and brother-in-law.”
Mr. Darcy glanced around and then faced Mr. Gardiner again. “I do not see Mr. Bennet. Is he out searching for them?”
Mr. Gardiner flattened his lips and stared at Mr. Darcy. “No. He has gone back to Longbourn.”
Elizabeth gasped. “But, Lydia has not been found!”
“I am astonished that he would leave. What precipitated this?” Mr. Darcy was as shocked as his wife.
Elizabeth was embarrassed that Mr. Darcy saw before his very eyes further proof at the want of propriety and decorum in her family.
“He said he had wasted enough time on his youngest daughter. That he would leave it to me since I know London better. Plus he received several letters from Mrs. Bennet concerned that he would call out George Wickham and die in a duel therefore leaving her and their daughters without a home.” Mr. Gardiner shook his head and looked at Elizabeth. “You know my sister. Therefore Mr. Bennet left.”
Elizabeth was horrified. How would Lydia be found now? Who could force them into marriage now if they were not already married?
It was Mr. Darcy who spoke. “Have you found any information at all? They are indeed in London?”
Mr. Gardiner nodded. “They are. I tracked them as far as a posting inn just outside of London. I know that they were met by someone; however, that is where I lost the trail. I thought it would be easy to find a militia deserter accompanied by a young woman. I have been proved wrong.”
Elizabeth felt for her uncle then, at the pressure of being the only person hunting for his wayward niece in such a big city. She could not believe her father abandoned him and Lydia!
Mr. Darcy spoke again. “I believe I know someone who may know of his whereabouts.” The looks on her aunt and uncle’s faces quickly led Mr. Darcy to modify his statement. “I know George Wickham. He was the son of my father’s late steward and therefore we grew up together. A few years ago I had hired a governess for my younger sister. The governess unfortunately turned out to be quite well acquainted with George Wickham. I am sorry to say that he charmed my younger sister. I stopped his plan when I unexpectedly joined them.”
“You know exactly what this is like then. I am very sorry to hear that, sir.” Mr. Gardiner dipped his head to Mr. Darcy.
