Charlotte and Jane stood, but Elizabeth sat on the rock, rocking back and forth. She was in shock. She who always thought herself correct in all things, was a silly girl, as silly as Kitty and Lydia. She knew nothing. Who was she? She certainly was not who she thought she was.
“Come Eliza, we must go. We have to save Lydia from ruin, and I think we need to speak to Mr Darcy,” Charlotte took charge of the situation. Although Lizzy sat on the rock in her own world, Jane was shaken to her core as well.
“I believe Mr Darcy went to London with Charles…” Jane saw the way Charlotte looked at her. Before the disgusting men had arrived, she was about to tell of her engagement. “Mr Bingley proposed and I accepted him yester-morning. He is on his way to London to see his solicitor. As I said, I believe Mr Darcy accompanied him. That was not the only proposal given at Longbourn yesterday.” Charlotte cocked her head and had a quizzical look. Jane gave a brief synopsis of the offer Mary received and rejected.
“That man was a fool. He tried to propose to me after he left Longbourn, I too rejected him out of hand. Even at my age,I am not desperate enough to accept such a man,” Charlotte shook her head. “Like me, Mary is not very romantic, but I believe she made a wise decision.”
The two who had been standing reached down and helped Elizabeth to slowly stand. She had just ceased her rocking back and forth as the tears ran freely from her eyes, and she was one who almost never cried. “Lizzy, there will be time to consider your errors, but now is not the time for self-indulgence, we have sisters to save,” Jane said firmly.
“You have the right of it, Janey. There will be much time to think later.” The look on her face became one of cold anger as she began to consider what needed to be done. “Charlotte, will you and your father go warn the shopkeepers not to extend any credit to any of the militia members?” Elizabeth cogitated for a moment. “That way, Mr Wickham will not think it is aimed at him. Also, we will have to have Lydia write a note telling him she is indisposed, and will be happy to meet with him when she is well. From what he said to Mr Denny, it sounds like he bolts at the first sign of trouble.”
“That is the Eliza I know and love. Together, we will walk back to where we met this morning, I will go speak to Papa, and you do what you have to so your sisters will be protected,” Charlotte stated. “We will make sure word is spread. Daughters, especially those of tender age, need to be well protected while the militia is encamped here.”
Elizabeth knew she had much to discover about herself, but that would have to wait. They had to act first, and then when the town and her sisters were made safe from the worst man she had ever met, she would have time to consider all she needed to think about.
Chapter 20
Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam called at Darcy House not long after Darcy and Bingley arrived from Meryton. He found his cousin in his study.
“William,” the Colonel boomed, “I was surprised to receive your note announcing you would be in Town for a few days. Were you and Bingley not in London recently?”
“We were, but Bingley recently got engaged, and needed to come see his solicitor to have the wedding settlement drafted,” Darcy revealed.
“And how goes it with the lady who you managed to insult at that assembly?” the Colonel grinned.
“She still will not converse with me, and she is the closest sister of Bingley’s fiancée,” Darcy averred. “Richard, how is it you are here in the middle of the day? Should you not be with your regiment?”
“Actually, my task was completed much sooner than expected. Hence, I am free to join you in Hertfordshire earlier than I had predicted, and yes, the sergeants and two other officers will be ready to travel to Bingley’s leased estate with me. Should we go on ahead, or wait for you and Bingley?”
“I think it is better we all return together. How many men will accompany you? Will there be more? I do have a second carriage at Darcy House if needed.”
“It will only be the four I mentioned besides myself and Andy, you do remember he does not want to miss the fun, do you not?” Darcy nodded. “Major Sisley, Captain Whitfield, and Sergeants Biggs and Johns will make up those who will comefrom the Dragoons to make sure Wicky is contained before we remove that blight from the face of society. I hope that damned wastrel gives me good reason to run him through, it will be so much easier that way.” Darcy did not miss the malevolent gleam in his cousin’s eye when he spoke of dispatching the libertine.
“In that case, we will bring the second conveyance, especially with the size of the sergeants. My travel coach can seat five of us with ease, leaving three for the other carriage.”
The Colonel looked at his cousin for a few moments and saw a sadness there which he knew was not caused by Gigi’s melancholy as she had recovered. “Wills, are you in love?”
“Damn! You read me far too easily. Yes, I suppose I am in love with the infuriating woman who refuses to interact with me.” Darcy told his cousin of his request to Miss Bennet. “It is my hope if she believes my attempts to make amends sincere, she will at least agree to converse with me. By the by, the day I saw Wickham, he was speaking to Miss Elizabeth and her sisters. If he has had the opportunity, I am sure he has spun one of his versions of his tale of ill-usage at my hands. If so, I may be facing a Sisyphean task. I will know when I see her at the ball. I almost forgot, the day we return, Bingley is throwing a ball for the neighbourhood, and he has sent an invitation toallof the officers.”
“That is why you asked for me to bring the letter Wicky signed renouncing all claim to the living, just in case.” Darcy nodded. “I did get the copies of the debt markers certified as genuine by your solicitor. Do you want me to bring them to you or hold onto them myself?”
“They are safe in your hands; besides, we will travel into Hertfordshire together. I forgot to mention, if Bingley completes what he needs with his solicitor early enough on Thursday, we will depart on that day. Will you and your men be ready if we do in fact leave London earlier? I know Andrew will be available.” Darcy grinned as he thought of something. “Ismy Aunt Elaine still parading every eligible debutante before Andy so he will marry and produce an heir?”
“She is, but you know Andy, he has specific interests and unless he finds a lady who he believes will be truly compatible with him, he will not settle. Mother knows this, but it will not stop her introducing him to anyone and everyone she can. At least with her attention on Andy’s marital prospects, she is not looking at me.”
“Or me,” Darcy observed. “When will you sell out so you may take up your Grandmother Lizette’s gift to you? Unlike most second sons, you do notneeda profession, especially one where they shoot at you.”
The Colonel’s maternal grandmother, Lady Lizette Lancaster had been the beneficiary of her husband’s estate, Lancaster Hills in Derbyshire, an estate which shared a border with Pemberley. Elaine had been her only child, and she had not wanted the estate, preferring it be left to her second son. Hence, her mother had left it to Richard. Andrew had no need for it as he would inherit the earldom one day, and neither did Becca who had a massive dowry. In addition Andrew, in the meantime, had Hilldale in Staffordshire until he inherited.
Being rather obstinate (a trait which ran in his family) Richard was determined to go into the army as he had planned before Grandmama Lizette’s death. He had a good steward, always visited his estate when in Derbyshire, and also, William kept a weather eye on the running of his estate for him. It cleared five thousand pounds per annum, so since he came into his inheritance, he had refused an allowance from his father. Any profits after the amount he held out for himself each year were invested with one Edward Gardiner. So, now twelve years after the estate became his property, the Honourable Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam was rather wealthy, not at the level of his cousin, but better than most.
“I had thought to wait until this interminable war with the Little Tyrant is over, however, if I meet a woman I wouldlike to make my wife, and she accepts me, I will resign from the army and sell out.”
“Will you have dinner at Matlock House this evening? Bingley and I will be there, I want to see Gigi.” Darcy remembered something. “What do you think about Becca and Gigi joining us at Netherfield Park when we return? They will remain at the estate until the wastrel is taken care of, and with no Miss Bingley present, their time at Bingley’s estate will be enjoyable, and who knows, they may become friends with some of the Bennet sisters.”
“I think it is a capital idea, we will need to garner my parents’ permission for Becca to accompany us, but as Andy, you, Gigi, and I will all be with her, not to mention her companion, I see no impediment to their bestowing their permission. If they both join us, we can have Andy bring his coach.” The Colonel suddenly realised something. “If Wicky recognises us, he will scarper. Is there a way to reach Bingley’s estate without being seen in the market town?”
“There is, it will take a little longer, but we can bypass Meryton altogether,” Darcy assured his cousin.
