Page 41 of Elizabeth’s Choice

Elizabeth explained to Richard while Darcy was reading it, “Apparently, my sister boasted about her dowry being five thousand pounds and how accomplished I was in being able to purchase a house in my own name in March. Lydia exaggerated the fact that I had won numerous competitions and how I amassed stacks of gold and silver and was able to afford ever so much jewellery as well as dozens and dozens of dresses.”

Darcy turned to Elizabeth and wrung his hands, “I am sorry, my dear. It is all my fault. If I had not been so impulsive…”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, “I appreciate the gifts that you have given me and will not allow you to apologise for it. That girl has no sense and although she did not deserve to be abducted, if she had a hand in this, she must be made to learn from it. What does it mean for her future, though? Wickham wants thirty thousand pounds from me to marry her!”

Colonel Fitzwilliam rubbed his chin in contemplation, “If Miss Lydia left with him of her own volition, she will need to marry him and William and I will convince him after he is tossed into debtor’s jail for a few days. If he did indeed abduct her and she did not go willingly, there is no basis to force a marriage, since no one in their right mind would judge her for being abducted. We would be called savages if any man can carry off a woman to force the marriage.” He looked at Darcy and chuckled, “He would have abducted you to the wilderness of Derbyshire long ago if that was the only criterion!”

Darcy laughed, “Yes, I would have, but good thing it is criminal and he will be hanged for attempted theft of Miss Lydia’s dowry. But do not worry, I will pay him off to marry her if needed and your family’s reputation will be safe. I owe you far greater than the sum he is demanding.”

“I hope it is not necessary but I never know with Lydia,” Mr. Bennet hung his head in shame. “Mrs. Bennet and I should have done better to educate her and we know we indulged her far too much. Lizzie, we can depart whenever you are ready. I will wait for all of you here.”

Darcy, Elizabeth, and Richard returned to their rooms to pack their bags and the entire group was prepared to depart in the next half hour. Darcy, Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Mrs. Annesley were in the Darcy carriage, while Mr. Bennet, Colonel Fitzwilliam and his men were in the royal carriage, rushing to London so that they might see an end to this ordeal quickly.

Chapter 25

With Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Gardiner, and the Bow Street Runners on the manhunt for Wickham, it was not two days later when the scoundrel’s location was discovered. He had been using Mrs. Younge’s boarding house to hide away, and one of the Runners confirmed that Lydia Bennet was being kept there also, although no one had seen her come out of the house. Mr. Gardiner assured Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth that a judge in Old Bailey reaffirmed that Wickham would be punishable for the attempted theft of Lydia’s dowry and that although Lydia might have to be married off to a stranger in the countryside, the Bennet name would remain respectable, especially with Lady Elizabeth’s newfound title.

Elizabeth bit her nails as she sat in the carriage on the way to Mrs. Younge’s boarding house, “What if she gave away her virtue to Wickham? Must they be made to marry? I know our betrothal is public but I will not begrudge you if you break it off, William. I cannot commit you to a life of being brother to that… that cur! I despise him and wish for every calamity to befall him.”

Before Darcy could reply, Georgiana exclaimed, “If you jilt Lizzie for this, William, I will never speak to you again! She is at no fault for Lydia’s foolishness and I cannot comprehend why women are solely blamed and the entire family’s reputation is ruined.”

Darcy laughed, “I would never, Georgie, and as a Lady of the Order of the Garter, Elizabeth will be above any marring of her reputation, but it is true that the other Bennet sisters will be seen as ruined and why we are attempting to avoid it.” He reached forward to hold Elizabeth’s hand and continued, “Even if he must be made to marry Lydia, I never need to see him again after this so it is of no consequence. I plan on publishing our betrothal this week and you shall not be rid of me so easily.”

Elizabeth smiled, “You are a good man and I am blessed to know you. I hope it will be over quickly.”

“Please stay in the carriage while Richard and his men confront him,” he pleaded. “I know you will want to talk to him yourself but you and my sister’s safety is my utmost priority. Richard will meet us there and the Bow Street Runners will also be present to capture him. We cannot risk any danger to you. Will you promise me?”

Elizabeth huffed as she crossed her arms, “My intention is not to sit safely in the carriage, William. Georgie and I both brought our bows and arrows and we can protect ourselves, but I know you and Colonel Fitzwilliam will be concerned for us and I have no wish to be a distraction. We will not go into the building until directed to do so and will remain by the carriage. You must promise to keep yourself safe as well.”

“Thank you, my dear. Yes, I promise to be safe. I am a leisurely gentleman and certainly have no wish to endanger my life with a wedding in the future! Should we set a date? How about the day after your birthday? I would not want to wait a day longer than when you sign the papers for Ashworth.”

Elizabeth smiled, “We shall set a date as soon as this horrible affair is completed. After Lydia is placed back in the nursery at Longbourn, we can focus on our own happiness for a change.”

They looked outside as the carriage came to a halt and saw that Colonel Fitzwilliam and two officers were speaking with two plainly dressed men who were the Bow Street Runners. Darcy squeezed Elizabeth’s and Georgiana’s hands, “Stay here and we shall return soon with Wickham and your sister in tow.”

Elizabeth watched as he and the other five men knocked on the door and entered the boarding house. She counted, “Five, four, three, two, one,” and then opened the door to the carriage and began to ready her bow and arrow.

“I thought we would stay inside the carriage, Lizzie. You promised William!” Georgiana gasped in astonishment.

“I told him I would stay by the carriage, not in the carriage. I do not plan on stepping too far away but will be prepared if Wickham should dart out of the building and I can scare him enough to stop him. You may stay inside,” Elizabeth retorted.

Miss Darcy laughed as she stepped out as well and held her bow in her hand after donning her quiver full of arrows. “I feel as if we are going hunting and Wickham is the prey. I hope he will faint from fear in seeing two ladies ready to battle a villain. But, oh! Speaking of the villain, is that Wickham walking towards the boarding house? Where is Lydia?”

Elizabeth could see Wickham across the road, his attention focused on reading a piece of paper in his hand and he did not see them as he neared the door, but she also noted that he had a pistol in his waistband.

She pulled Georgiana back and whispered, “Stay behind the carriage. He has a pistol and I do not want us to be shot. But, if he enters the house and is surprised by William and the others, he might shoot and gravely wound one of them. I must do something.”

She stepped forward from the carriage and shouted at the man, “George Wickham! Where is my sister? You kidnapped her for ransom and I am here to negotiate with you. Drop your weapon or I will shoot you!” And she aimed at the man who finally saw her and began to draw his gun.

But before he could aim the weapon at her, Elizabeth released her arrow to hit the pistol perfectly on the side of the barrel with enough force to make Wickham drop it onto the ground.

As he rushed to attempt to retrieve it, she yelled, “If you touch the pistol, my next arrow will be in your hand. Do not move an inch but slowly raise up both arms!”

Wickham fearfully obeyed her and stuttered, “Please do not hurt me, Lady Elizabeth. I did not know. I just discovered that you are the famous Captain Fairfax and that you were bestowed a ladyship in the Order of the Garter. I would have never brought your sister here if I knew you were favoured by the Queen and the Prince Regent! Please let me go and I will disappear quietly. Lydia is safe and unsullied. She is inside and you can take her home.”

Just then, William opened the door and stepped out first. “Wickham! Why are you…” he looked at his former friend’s arms in the air and looked at Elizabeth who had her arrow aimed at the blackguard. He quickly noted the arrow and the pistol on the ground and asked her, “Did you disarm him with your arrow? Why do I have the feeling that you probably saved my life?”

Elizabeth kept her bow pointed at Wickham and smiled, “I probably did but will not keep score. Did you find Lydia?”