Chapter 28

Yorkshire

The carriage was now rolling west on a road which had, according to Mr. Bennet, been built by the Romans more than a millennium earlier. The party had spent the previous night in Boroughbridge in a comfortable inn, and tonight hoped to reach North Stainmore. On the morrow they would, God willing, arrive at Gretna Green.

It was a brilliant warm day, with a bright sun lighting azure skies arching above, studded through with mounds of white cloud. The moors to either side were tinted purple with blooming heather, the lush green dales dotted with sheep like flecks of cloud fallen to the grass below. Hills undulated about the road, providing a stunning view of the moorlands and the tiny villages and hamlets tucked into it.

It was high time, Elizabeth mused, for the interested parties to declare their intentions. The whole situation was extremely awkward, of course, but when they arrived at Gretna Green, Lydia would need to marry someone.

"Sir Christopher?" Lydia asked, and her tone was sufficiently uncertain that Elizabeth turned to stare at her sister in concern.

"Yes, Miss Lydia?"

Lydia swallowed, looked down at the carriage floor, and then up at the man across from her. "This is an uncomfortable question, but I wondered if you have decided whether or not you wish to marry me."

Elizabeth suppressed a gasp and turned her anxious gaze on Sir Christopher, who thankfully did not seem put out at all.

"Yes, Miss Lydia," he said simply. "I would like very much to marry you."

Lydia's entire body relaxed, and she said, "I am glad, because I would like to marry you as well."

Sir Christopher's face lit up, and Elizabeth hoped that some portion of his happiness had to do with her sister as opposed to the ten thousand pounds. "I am most honored. May I ask why you have chosen me instead of Captain Scofield?"

Lydia tilted her head. "I like Captain Scofield, and he seems to be a very good man. I think you and I have more in common, however, and Lizzy says that it is best if a husband and wife share interests like going to parties, and being in Town a great deal, and the like."

The baronet turned an approving look on Elizabeth and said, "Miss Bennet is wise. It is certainly for the best if a married couple enjoys the same pursuits. In that case, I would like to make this formal. Miss Lydia Bennet, would you accept my hand in marriage?"

"Yes, thank you," Lydia replied far more demurely than Elizabeth had ever expected was possible.

"Then I will ask your father for his blessing when we stop next."

"I do feel rather sorry for Captain Scofield," the girl admitted. "He has traveled a long way for nothing."

Sir Christopher hesitated and then said, "Not for nothing. Darcy agreed to pay each of the unsuccessful suitors three hundred pounds, which is a substantial sum."

"How very generous of Mr. Darcy!" Elizabeth exclaimed, though she was not surprised by her fiancé's kindness.

"Thank you for telling me," Lydia chimed in. "I feel better now."

"And I am the happiest of men," Sir Christopher replied.

Elizabeth, watching him, thought that the conventional phrasing was apt enough. Lydia was pretty and lively, and with Mrs. Greenfield at her side, growing more sensible. Moreover, ten thousand pounds would be a great help to the baronet. She could only hope and pray the marriage would be a comfortable one for both parties.

Certainly, it would be far happier than if Lydia had married George Wickham.

/

London

Evening

Darcy leaped out of his carriage and strode up the stairs to Darcy House, struggling to contain an indecorous laugh. He succeeded in restraining himself until he entered the house and made his hasty way to his office.

Once he was within, with the door shut, he allowed his mirth to spill over. He had expected that today's confrontation with the Earl of Matlock and Lady Catherine would be an exhausting affair and perhaps result in a permanent breach in the family.

Instead, after a few skirmishes, his cousin Anne, now Mrs. Anne Buckley, had marched into the office and won the war. Lady Catherine had been so shocked, so horrified, so incredulous, that for a full minute she had merely stared at her daughter, her mouth hanging open so widely that a fly could have easily flown both in and out of that great pink cavern. When she had recovered, she began shouting in outrage, and to Darcy's surprise and pleasure, Mr. Buckley had stepped forward to remonstrate with his new mother by marriage. Lady Catherine had yelled for another minute and then, to everyone's astonishment, fainted.

When Darcy left the house, Lady Catherine was lying in one of the parlors on an appropriately-named fainting sofa, with two maids looking after her, and Anne was cheerfully discussing her plans regarding Rosings with their uncle, as she was now, due to her marriage, the legal mistress of the estate.

Darcy, tired after the long journey followed by the visit to the earl, had departed from Matlock House with Anne's blessing. Now he sat behind his desk, grinning in contemplation of the amazing events of the day, along with feeling warm contentment at Anne's sensible marriage. Darcy had not, of course, known Evan Buckley for more than a few minutes, but the man seemed devoted to his new wife, as well as being unafraid of Lady Catherine's howling. It was an encouraging start to a startling union.

He poured himself a glass of brandy, drank it slowly, and then forced himself to work through the letters on his desk, even as he contemplated his next steps.

If the Gretna Green party had made good time, they would arrive in Scotland the next day, whereupon Lydia Bennet would wed the suitor of her choice. Before Darcy had left to ride south, he had spoken with Sir Christopher and Captain Scofield, and both had told him that they were willing to marry the girl.

Mr. Bennet had said that they would spend Sunday in Scotland and then begin journeying south toward Longbourn. Darcy, thinking of his intended bride, was tempted to leap on a horse at once and ride north in the hopes of meeting the party. That was, however, foolish, as he might miss them on the road. Besides, he needed to speak with his man of business about the marriage settlements, which would allow him to marry his sweet Elizabeth sooner than if he dashed off to find her.

He would, however, travel to Hertfordshire as soon as possible and stay with Charles Bingley, who had given Darcy an open invitation to visit Netherfield.

He had been absently making his way through a pile of mail when he came upon one from his cousin Richard. He broke the wax, spread it out, and felt his heart race as he read the words.

Pemberley

Tuesday, 18th August, 1812

Darcy,

We captured Wickham yesterday. He attempted to take Georgiana by force, but fortunately Miss Bingley had seen and talked to him some days earlier. She had not met the man before, but she suspected something was wrong, and told us about him.

We dressed up one of the stable boys in one of Georgiana's dresses, and when Wickham tried to grab him, Joe punched him and threw him into the creek. We had to drag him out, as he was recalcitrant, frog marched him to a cart, whereupon we carried him to Lambton where he is currently installed in the magistrate's house under guard.

To avoid the enduring pleasures of Marshalsea, Wickham has agreed to journey to the Isle of Man to assist with the Foxdale Mine, where my old friend Joshua Morrow is the overseer. I daresay you remember Joshua; a very fine officer, now sold out, and not inclined to take poppycock from anyone. I will personally deliver the miscreant, and Morrow will ensure that Wickham never returns to England's shores.

Georgiana managed the news of Wickham's attempt with surprising fortitude. I was proud of her, and I am certain you are as well. With that villain gone, she is safe now.

I have no idea where you are, of course, and probably you will receive this after your return from Scotland. I hope that your pursuit of Miss Elizabeth Bennet comes to the desired end.

Sincerely,

Richard Fitzwilliam

Darcy's initial emotions were profound anger mixed with terror. To think of his dear Georgiana being targeted again by that vile rogue was hideous.

A minute later, the fear died down to be replaced by gratitude – for Richard's imminently capable hands, and even for Miss Bingley who had apparently been instrumental in keeping Georgiana safe. It was another remarkable moment in an already astounding day; he found himself genuinely grateful for Miss Caroline Bingley's presence at Pemberley.

Should he return to Pemberley instead of journeying to Longbourn? Did Georgiana need him?

He wanted to meet Elizabeth in Hertfordshire, but he had previously failed his sister once when he sent her off to Ramsgate with the treacherous Mrs. Younge. How could he stay here in London when she was alone at Pemberley?

A moment later, reason asserted itself. She was not alone. She had Mrs. Annesley, and the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, and dozens of servants who cared about her. Richard would only be gone for a few days; indeed, he might already have returned from the Isle of Man.

Moreover, the sooner he married his Elizabeth, the sooner she would be installed at Pemberley, and the sooner Georgiana would have a sister.

No, he would meet with his solicitor and arrange for the settlements, purchase a common license, and then make his way to Hertfordshire where, God willing, he would be reunited with his darling within the week.