Thank you for your patience! I won't make any promises about when I will post another chapter, but I am making progress toward the end of this story.
Darcy could not smile as he pointed his horse toward Lambton. He was on his way to call on the woman he loved, but the uncertainty of the situation rendered him tense with nerves as well as anticipation. He felt sure that Elizabeth was more charitably inclined toward him than she had been in April, but whether or not she would be receptive to a renewal of his addresses was a different matter entirely. He was determined to find out, however, and for that purpose he had left his guests behind at Pemberley in order to visit her. It would be easier if he could have private conversation with her, but that was not a likely scenario, so he preferred to meet her in Lambton. He would much rather speak to Elizabeth under the eyes of her kind aunt and uncle than with a suspicious and jealous Miss Bingley looking on.
Before he knew it, Darcy found himself handing the reins to a stable boy at the inn and going inside to inquire if the Gardiners and Miss Bennet were there. His plan to try and divine Elizabeth's feelings would have to be put off to later if they had gone out. However, he was surprised, though pleased, to discover that Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had just gone out and their niece was alone. Everything was going his way so far, but still, he could not smile. The maid opened the door and prepared to announce Darcy, but she was cut off by Elizabeth's appearance. Darcy was shocked by her expression.
She had been crying - was still crying, in fact - and wished for her aunt and uncle's immediate return to the inn. There was some emergency that had greatly upset her and it was only at Darcy's insistence that she was persuaded not to run after them herself. After a servant had been sent to fetch the Gardiners, he tried to find some way to help her, but there was nothing to be done. Once Elizabeth began to speak, he listened with dismay to her story. Wickham. Darcy was not surprised by the man's perfidy, but it pained him to see one so dear to him in such wretched pain.
Darcy hardly knew what he said next. Once he had got over the initial shock, he began to think. The situation seemed nearly hopeless to someone who knew Wickham's true nature, but perhaps it was not. Perhaps there was something to be done. Wickham was the sort of man who could be bribed and Darcy had the resources to bribe him. But first he must find him - that would be the more difficult task. London was a good hiding place. How would he discover them?
The conversation with Elizabeth dwindled and Darcy excused himself. He did not want to leave her, but it seemed wrong to intrude further on her privacy. He took a long look at her before he left the room and as he closed the door, he was struck by inspiration.
Mrs. Younge.
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Darcy rode slowly home from Lambton, his thoughts on Elizabeth and what a state he had found her in just now. The situation was grim, and it was difficult to see her in such pain, knowing there was nothing he could do to ease her suffering. He was glad, at any rate, that he had been the one to find her. Elizabeth had confided in him, which meant a great deal to Darcy. And from the things she had said of Wickham, it was clear that she believed in the truth of his account in that wretched letter he had written in April. However, none of those things were much comfort in the face of Wickham's perfidy and Lydia Bennet's foolishness. There was no going back from such a scandal and Elizabeth and most of her family would suffer for the thoughtlessness of others.
His thoughts followed Elizabeth through her journey home, feeling the anxiety she must feel, both for her sister's immediate safety and for her family's imminent disgrace. He hoped the Gardiners' travel was uneventful and restored them to their Longbourn relations at the earliest possible hour, to give and receive whatever comfort might be possible.
When he arrived at Pemberley, he tried to dismiss his bleak mood and he mostly succeeded, though with some difficulty. Both Georgiana and Miss Bingley noticed it and tried to distract him, though in very different ways. His sister tried to comfort him with music and asked him to read to her. Miss Bingley also played and sang, but her manner was much more showy. She sought to put herself forward for admiration, rather than comforting her object. Though Darcy had not said as much, both women suspected that his poor humor had something to do with the absence of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Georgiana was sorry, for her assumption was that her brother had proposed again and been rejected. Miss Bingley was aware of Darcy's attraction to Elizabeth and rejoiced when she learned of the latter's sudden departure from the area, not caring exactly why. She hoped to make Darcy forget about that lady and bring his attention back to her, a feat that she thought was still within her power, though she had been eclipsed for a time by Elizabeth.
He lay awake in bed until the small hours of the morning, planning his strategy. He would go in search of Mrs. Younge first and hopefully she would have knowledge of Wickham's whereabouts. Darcy would search out Wickham and when he found him, do everything in his power to make him marry Lydia Bennet. Darcy had a feeling Wickham was in financial difficulties and hoped his desperation might moderate his demands. There was hope that a marriage could be brought about, if Darcy were willing to lay out some money, and he certainly was. Money seemed nothing in comparison with the disgrace the Bennet family was facing.
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Darcy knocked on the door of the finest of the modest-looking homes on Gracechurch Street and before long a servant admitted him and left him in the drawing room to wait for Mr. Gardiner. He was not left alone for long; Mr. Gardiner entered the room and greeted Darcy cordially, uncertain what had prompted the unexpected honor of his visit.
"Do sit down, Mr. Darcy, and tell me how I may be of service." The two men sat.
"Actually, I came to discuss how I might be of service to you."
Mr. Gardiner's brow furrowed. "I beg your pardon?"
Darcy hesitated before beginning the delicate subject. "I am not sure if you are aware or not, but I happened upon your niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, in Lambton just after she had read some letters from home.
Mr. Gardiner's expression became guarded and he remained silent, waiting for his guest to continue.
"Miss Bennet was very distressed and revealed more to me of the contents of her sister's letters than she might have under different circumstances."
The older man nodded. "I see."
"In short, I am aware of your family's recent difficulties."
"Mr. Darcy, I hope we can count on your secrecy. My youngest niece hardly deserves it, but for the rest of the family, I hope you will keep silent on the subject."
"Of course. But please do not make yourself uneasy about your niece's predicament. The situation is not wholly hopeless."
Mr. Gardiner looked skeptical. "Perhaps not wholly, but nearly so. I have made inquiries everywhere I can think of, with no success."
"I am sorry that I could not visit you sooner with this news, but I could not do so until I had news of Wickham's absolute agreement to marry your niece."
"You have found them?! And he has agreed to marry her?"
"I have seen them both, in quarters that I believe you will wish to remove her from as soon as may be. I hope you will allow her to be married from this house. The rest of the business may be finalized soon, I hope."
Mr. Gardiner closed his eyes and sighed in relief. "I considered their marriage as very unlikely, I will admit, but I had such fears for her safety. I am glad to hear what you tell me. But how have you brought it all about?"
"I have discovered that Wickham's debts are not as great as I had at first suspected," Darcy lied, trying to be vague. "Although I will not insult your intelligence by telling you that he intended to marry your niece from the beginning, he can now afford to do so and is willing to do the right thing."
The other man shook his head. "It is no good, Mr. Darcy. You are not a good liar. You have put forth a great deal of money."
Darcy judged it best that he not protest. "I have pledged some money, but not a great deal."
"A fortune, or what would he live on?"
"No fortune was pledged - you may be sure that I would never hand over a large amount of cash to Wickham, for I know he would disappear with it, leaving your niece ruined and the family disgraced."
"What, then?"
"I have purchased him a commission in the army. After their marriage, they will go to Newcastle, where he will take his place among the officers quartered there."
Mr. Gardiner smiled a little. "Yes, the army. You do have a sense of humor, Mr. Darcy, however serious you might appear."
"I am glad you find it acceptable. We can discuss further particulars soon, but I think you might wish to fetch your niece from her current lodgings and bring her here. She may protest that she wishes to stay with Wickham, but I believe she will be more comfortable with you and your good wife. I am persuaded that he will easily convince her to do so, if I ask him to."
"You hold that much sway over the rogue?"
"I hold some of his debts and I have arranged this marriage to relieve his present difficulties. He knows I have the upper hand."
Mr. Gardiner nodded. "Then I think the best plan is for you to take Mrs. Gardiner and me to bring her home, after which you and I will compose a letter to Mr. Bennet containing everything he needs to know."
Darcy shook his head. "I think it would be best if you left your good wife at home, sir. We will unfortunately be passing into unsavory parts of the city. It might be unsuitable for a lady; indeed, I am sorry that your niece has resided so long in such a place."
The older man looked grave. "Then let me speak to Mrs. Gardiner and we shall soon be off."
Darcy and Mr. Gardiner were on their way within a half hour. The latter would have preferred to leave much sooner, but no short explanation would satisfy his wife. He could hardly blame her - it was all too shocking. He could scarcely believe it himself. It was surprising enough that Mr. Darcy had paid them a visit at all, much less delivered the news that their troubles were over. He would be relieved to see Lydia and she and Wickham would be married soon. It was the most any of them could have hoped for.
To be continued...
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