Chapter 20

When Elizabeth peeked outside the next morning, she found two rather large men stationed outside the kitchen door. They introduced themselves as two of the guards hired by Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam and gave Elizabeth the correct information to identify themselves. With that assurance, Elizabeth set out on her walk with both men accompanying her and soon reached the summit of Oakham Mount, where Darcy and Fitzwilliam waited.

"Good morning, gentlemen," she greeted them as she approached timidly. As much as she would have liked to approach Darcy as she had on a previous morning, she held back because so many others were watching.

It was apparent Darcy felt similarly. "Good morning, Elizabeth," he replied, looking equally unsure of himself.

Fitzwilliam merely grinned. "I think my greeting is superfluous, so I will stand over here, with my back to the both of you as I speak to your guards. Just pretend we are not even here." He winked at his cousin, causing Darcy's cheeks to flush. Although not directed at her, Elizabeth noted the wink and blushed at the implication of the colonel's words, and she slowed her approach toward Mr. Darcy.

After a moment, his whispered "Elizabeth" broke the spell, and they both took the remaining steps that separated them and immediately embraced the other. Their kiss was brief and far more chaste than those on previous meetings, since both remained keenly aware of the men standing nearby.

"How are you, dearest?" he asked after several moments. Reluctantly, he released her, although they still stood closer than might have been appropriate otherwise.

"I am well. My father was forced to tell my family about Colonel Forster's warning yesterday after Mama heard the gossip of Wickham's escape at church. She took to her bed in hysterics, and my father retreated to his study. My sisters and I spent the day in my room, discussing matters and enjoying each other's company. We have not done that in many years, and where I might have been inclined to believe otherwise, I think Kitty and Lydia might be able to be improved with a little attention paid to them. Like my father, I was inclined to view them as silly and to avoid them. However, yesterday has shown me that I was wrong."

Darcy smiled gently at Elizabeth. "I have noticed you no longer refer to your father as ‘Papa.'"

She sighed heavily. "I cannot view him in the same way as I did before. Not after I realised he was willing to circumvent any chance at happiness for me by forcing me to always remain at Longbourn. He will not even attempt to get to know you; he has accused you of being the worst sort of cad who only wants to take advantage of me, yet has allowed my sisters to flirt with every officer they encounter. I have been somewhat valued as a companion to him, but more so because I took over his role as the manager of the estate, enabling him more time to spend with his books."

He pulled her back into his arms. "I am sorry, Elizabeth. As you know, my relationship with my father was injured by his preference for Wickham, and he often took his side over mine. They are different situations, but I understand your disappointment now that you recognise his true nature."

Elizabeth shivered as the wind picked up around them and snuggled deeper into Darcy's chest. Darcy chuckled slightly and opened his coat, bringing it around to cover Elizabeth as he held her more tightly to himself. "I love you, William," she whispered.

He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "As I love you, Elizabeth. Now, what else did you and your sisters discuss yesterday?"

Her voice was slightly muffled. "Lydia joked that we should all travel to Pemberley, and you and I can marry from there. She thought one of my uncles could be persuaded to accompany us as chaperones until the banns could be called. You can also protect us until Mr. Wickham is caught." She paused and laughed. "She suggested we escape the house before dawn and meet your carriages in Meryton, which was a bit much, though I confess that I did like her plan, however improbable it might be."

She felt his chest move as he chuckled. "It might not be. I wonder what Phillips would say if I suggested it, and then your other uncle might arrive as early as this afternoon. Will you be surprised to learn we dined with your Aunt and Uncle Phillips yesterday evening?"

"I adore my uncle, but Aunt Phillips is much like Mama. I hope it was a pleasant meal."

"It was. Bingley spoke mostly to your aunt while your uncle kept Fitzwilliam and me well occupied. He also suggested taking you girls away from Hertfordshire, so he may be willing to travel to Derbyshire."

He felt Elizabeth burrow deeper into him as she said, "Have I mentioned that my Aunt Gardiner is from that area of the country? She grew up in a town called Lambton. Do you know it?"

He pulled back to look at her. "Then she will certainly want to accompany her nieces to Pemberley, as it is merely five miles from Lambton."

"Truly?" At his nod, she continued. "Then that will be a good reason for us all to go. Perhaps if my aunt and uncle offered to convey us to Lambton without mentioning Pemberley, my father would not even bother to protest. We can make it seem as though this trip has nothing to do with you. Once we are there, he will not stir himself to come and collect us."

When he agreed to her plan, her face transformed into one of pleased surprise. "You mean to convey us all to your home, sir? All five Bennet daughters, with or without their parents' permission?"

"I do," he said simply.

"I worry that even should my uncles suggest such a journey to my father, he will not allow us to go, regardless of the destination. Mama would surely protest."

"Your mother only needs to know that Bingley is going, and she will send Jane after him. She may protest your youngest sister's departure, but based on what I have seen, Miss Lydia gets whatever she desires and your mother will allow her."

"How do we keep Mama from wanting to go? We cannot leave any of my sisters here, but surely Mama is safe from Mr. Wickham."

Darcy seemed to consider this. "She will need someone to remain with her, will she not? Do you think her sister could be persuaded to stay with her for a time? We must convince her that the five of you leaving while she and Mr. Bennet remain is the best option."

Colonel Fitzwilliam approached. "I could not help but overhear your conversation," he began as he stood beside the couple. "I believe Colonel Forster might be able to help with this. When we spoke a few days ago, he suggested removing the Bennet girls from the area since Mr. Bennet did not seem to take their care seriously. We might be able to use Mrs. Bennet's fears for her daughters to convince Mr. Bennet to allow their uncles to remove them to a place of safety."

"It is worth a try," Darcy stated while Elizabeth nodded. "Is there anything else we should know? How soon can you be prepared to depart?"

Elizabeth explained they could leave in the morning if appropriate permission were obtained. Once Mr. Gardiner arrived, the gentlemen would meet with both of Elizabeth's uncles, and the five of them would consult with Colonel Forster if they believed it necessary. When the plans were made, both Darcy and Fitzwilliam would allow her uncles to persuade her father to do what was right.

The guards accompaniedElizabeth back to Longbourn, and later reported to Fitzwilliam in a note that he shared with Darcy that they heard a noise in the brush as they returned to the house. Two or three additional guards would arrive that afternoon, and Fitzwilliam would send for as many more as might be required to track the reprobate down.

Darcy had also alerted the militia of the possibility of Wickham haunting the grounds around Longbourn. Since Wickham had escaped from the gaol as a militia member, he was now a deserter and, combined with his other crimes, would likely be hanged, if not outright shot, when he attempted to run from the men tracking him down. The militia's investigation of the area found evidence of where someone—most likely Wickham—had slept the night before. In a seemingly reckless display of confidence, he had not bothered to do anything to mask his presence, and there were clear indications he intended to return.

That afternoon, Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived at the Phillipses' house to discover Mr. Gardiner waiting for them. After introducing Mr. Gardiner to the colonel, they sat to discuss the situation, including Bennet's refusal to allow Elizabeth and Darcy to marry. Mr. Gardiner shared that the funds Elizabeth and her grandmother had managed to save had grown to more than twelve thousand pounds, including the additional deposits made by both uncles.

"Honestly, both of us were so pleased to be able to do something to provide for the girls since my brother could not be bothered. We were both willing to make some small sacrifices to add to what Elizabeth was doing. The funds Phillips sent were also slightly larger than he told Elizabeth about, just in case any of the other girls found out about it, or worse, in case my sister learned of them," Mr. Gardiner said.

"I confess to deceiving Elizabeth about some of the amounts received from the tenants and the costs of items she had me pay. I also siphoned some from the household accounts when I could, thinking it would not hurt my sister to cut back in some areas. It was high-handed of us, but since Bennet refused to do anything, we took what steps we could," Mr. Phillips added.

Darcy nodded his agreement. "Had you not, Mrs. Bennet would have expected you to assist her. This way, you have, in essence, forced Mr. Bennet to do as he ought to have done all along."

"So, gentlemen, how do we circumvent Mr. Bennet, get Darcy married to Miss Elizabeth, and protect them all from possible ruin at the hands of Wickham?" the colonel asked, wanting to get the meeting back on track.

"My wife spent several years in the village of Lambton and has been begging to return. I do not doubt she will be delighted to escort them to Pemberley," Mr. Gardiner replied enthusiastically.

"I would say any of Elizabeth's family is welcome, though I doubt her father will be as welcome as the rest of you. She and I discussed early this morning that her youngest sisters would benefit with a little attention. They will be welcome to stay with us as long as they like after the wedding," Darcy offered.

"Both of you should remain out of sight from Longbourn, but start preparing to depart in two days. I must dispatch my carriage to retrieve my wife and family and bring them here. We can depart the day after, on Thursday," Mr. Gardiner instructed.

Darcy raised a hand to stop the men from rising. "Forgive me, but I may have a better solution. I can send an express to my townhouse in London, and a carriage can be prepared to bring your wife here first thing in the morning. We can leave Hertfordshire as soon as the horses are rested."

With this plan in place, Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Phillips rose to depart to meet with their brother and force him to do what was right for all his daughters.

Darcy returned to Netherfield to write and send several letters, most by express, arranging for accommodations along the way north. A rider was hired to convey two letters south to London, while a second went north to deliver letters to the inns that would house their party as they travelled to Pemberley. This rider carried additional letters to be delivered to the housekeeper at Pemberley informing her of the large party of guests she could expect as soon as may be and another letter to Georgiana informing her of what had transpired in the last fortnight and that she could expect to meet her future sister sooner rather than later.