Chapter 20

C olonel 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 come from 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 to all of 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. "Is my 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 not need a 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 would like 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.

"Until dinner." The Colonel gave a rakish salute and then made his way out of the study.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

"We need to speak with Papa," Jane stated as the two eldest Bennet sisters crossed the park, heading for the front door.

"As long as he does not treat it like some big joke and does nothing," Elizabeth averred bitterly. "You know Papa will not bestir himself from his study unless he is forced."

Jane was taken aback. Could this be why Lizzy had seemed different? Had the blinders regarding their father finally come off? "Let us hope we are able to convince Papa of the seriousness and repercussions if he does not step in and act. It will not only be Lydia who will be ruined, but all of us. "

"I have an idea, Janey, which I will only action if we see our father will not act. Let us hope it will not be so." Elizabeth added silently. ‘ Even though I have no confidence he will take this seriously. '

With barely a knock Elizabeth pushed the study door open, followed closely by Jane, who closed the door behind them. Bennet looked up annoyed at being disturbed. If Lizzy was coming to entertain him, or play chess, she would not be with Jane. "What can I do for the two of you?" he asked with an edge of asperity in his voice.

"Papa this morning, Jane, Charlotte, and I went for a walk to Oakham Mount," Elizabeth began. Between her and Jane, they told all, except for any part which referenced Miss Darcy.

Rather than look outraged their father looked amused. "So what do you expect me to do? I doubt there is anything to it. Men talk to impress other men, so why bother me with this nonsense?" Bennet enquired.

" PAPA !" both sisters chorused.

"What can you do? You can verify the fact easily by asking if Lydia has received a secret proposal of marriage, if she is to meet Mr Wickham this evening, or if Mr Denny did attempt to take liberties with Kitty. Our reputations, the whole family's reputation is at stake here," Elizabeth insisted.

"Really Lizzy, I thought you would see the amusement in this. I am sure this is nothing but men boasting having made up a story out of whole cloth," Bennet replied disinterestedly, even while his conscience was telling him it was finally time to act on behalf of his family.

"What of the story Mr Wickham told Lizzy?" Jane demanded. Bennet had never experienced anger from Jane, his eyebrows rose without his urging. "If as you say the man was only boasting, why would he admit to dissembling to Lizzy?"

Bennet had no answer to what Jane pointed out, so he ignored it. "You have wasted enough of my time, please desist and go do whatever you do every day."

"Papa, if it does not involve you leaving your bookroom, may we do what we feel we need to in order to protect our family?" Elizabeth shot at her father. The scales were fully off her eyes regarding the man before her. He was selfish to such an extent; he cared not what occurred with his family. He did not seem to realise how much it would impact his peaceful existence if Lydia was in fact ruined.

"Do what you will, just do not trouble me," Bennet waved dismissively.

"In that case, before we leave, please sign this page, near the bottom." Elizabeth pulled a blank sheet of paper from the pile on her father's desk. He nodded so she handed him the page. His daughters watched as he signed where Elizabeth indicated. By the time the door was closed, their father was concentrating on the page he was reading and did not pay them any further heed.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Jane and Elizabeth found their mother and three younger sisters in the drawing room. The former was snoring lightly having fallen asleep in her favourite chair. Mary was reading, but not the book of sermons written by one who neither understood, nor liked the female sex. Kitty and Lydia were pulling apart some bonnets so they would be able to make them over.

Jane gently shook her mother awake. "Jane dear is all well?" Fanny asked as she was woken, albeit gently.

"We are about to see," Elizabeth stated. Jane nodded to her younger sister. "Lydia, did Mr Wickham propose to you, tell you to keep it secret, and did you agree to meet him unchaperoned at the old hunting cabin at five o'clock?"

"How would you know that…" Lydia clapped her hand over her mouth as she realised she had just admitted that what Li zzy said was the truth.

At first, that Lydia had been proposed to made Fanny well pleased, but as soon as she heard about the planned assignation, she knew there was something very wrong. "Lydia Adelaide Bennet, you tell me the truth now, did you agree to meet a man at the cabin this evening? Not only meet him but meet him alone?"

"But Mama I was only doing what you taught me to do," Lydia stated as she stood and stamped her foot. "I want to be the first one married among all of my sisters! Lizzy and Jane are only jealous!"

"This is why we tried to tell you fifteen is too early to come out, Mama," Jane shook her head. She turned to her youngest sister whose eyes were blazing with defiance. "Lydia I am engaged to be married. My fiancé did not ask me to keep it secret, rather he spoke to Papa, nor did he ask me to meet him unchaperoned at an out of the way cabin. Charles is also not a profligate and seducer of young girls. Pray tell, about what do I have to be jealous?"

"At least Kitty had the good sense to reject Mr Denny's advances," Elizabeth stated.

"It did not feel right," Kitty stated with a soft voice.

Fanny was reeling. Had she really taught her daughters, at least the two youngest, to behave in such a way which would lead to their ruin? Surely not! Then she remembered it was herself who had romanticised officers which led to Lydia's obsession with them. And she did tell them it was acceptable to flirt. Fanny put her head in her hands feeling mortified that she had been such a bad example for her youngest two.

Mary, who had remained silent up until now, could not remain so any longer. "Lydia you spoilt, stupid child!" Mary spat out. "Do you not realise that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable; that one false step involves her in endless ruin; that her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful; and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex? And if that is not enough, if you go and ruin yourself, we all partake in your ruin!"

"What Mary said is absolutely true. If you followed through with your planned assignation, Mr Bingley could break his engagement—a real one mind you—with Jane and suffer no penalties as it would not be breach of promise," Elizabeth added. "Do you know he has no intention to marry you? That vile man's only interest was to ruin you, and the rest of us by extension as repayment for my not spreading far and wide the pack of lies he told me at the card party."

" YOU LIE !" Lydia screamed and stamped her foot again.

"Lydia, when have you ever known either Lizzy or me to dissemble?" Jane asked. The youngest Bennet opened her mouth to retort. Then she realised what Jane had asserted was nothing but the truth. "Then whoever told you the falsehoods was prevaricating."

Her inclination was to call for Hill and her salts, but Fanny steadied herself. "How do you know all of this, Jane and Lizzy?"

"Because we heard it all from the devil's mouth, as the braggart spoke to Lieutenant Denny," Elizabeth revealed. She could see Lydia was about to interject, so she continued, and again like she had when her father had dismissed their worries, with Jane's assistance, she related all. Again they told all, except anything relating to Miss Darcy.

By the end of the telling Lydia had fallen back into her chair and was crying great big tears, and not forced ones either. Each word her sisters had repeated, the way the man she had thought she loved, who she was led to believe loved her, spoke of her, was a dagger through her heart.

"Did you tell all of this to my husband?" Fanny enquired; both of her eldest daughters nodded sadly. "What will your father do? "

"Nothing, he thought it was all a big joke, but we have a plan, Mama," Elizabeth stated. She related what she had thought of. By the end of the recitation, her mother and sisters agreed it was a good plan.

"I am sorry I did not appreciate your gifts before, Lizzy," Fanny said. "Now I realise you are not so intelligent for no reason."

"I have many amends to make, Mama. There will be time when we are safe from that predator." As ashamed as she was over her past behaviour, not only to her mother, but towards Mr Darcy as well, it was not the time for that yet. Now was the time to make sure the detestable man would receive his due.

Elizabeth sat at the escritoire in the drawing room and wrote her note. A groom was soon on the way to deliver it.