This chapter is to tie together several events. The first two parts happen within days of each other, the third part afterwards of both. Things will be rolling along after this chapter. I'm thinking I have two or three to go. There will be a twist to my resolution of D & E that is different from the book and the movie—think about the title—it will have to do with that.

Chapter eight

Part 1

Another post made it's way to the Rose and Crown, addressed to one Elizabeth Bennet. The servants of the Inn marveled that the lady would receive two letters in such a short period of time. She did not seem of much importance.

At the sight of the letter, Elizabeth, having noticed it was from her dear sister, Jane, tore open the missive without much thought to her surroundings. But as she read it, her face turned ashen and she felt faint. She sat, much without thinking, and tears clouded her eyes. It was at that moment that Mr. Darcy made his entrance, and having done so, knew immediately that something was terribly wrong.

"Miss Elizabeth, are you alright?"

"I hardly know." she answered, her voice weak.

"What is it?" he sat on a chair across from her.

She pointed to the letter, "Jane has written...Lydia...has run away...with Mr. Wickham!" she cried.

Mr. Darcy's face registered his emotions, first shock and then anger.

"If that were not bad enough, Jane has sent Mr. Bingley away."

"Why?"

"She does not want our name attached to his." Lizzy looked at Fitzwilliam, "Lydia has no money, we have no connections, I fear she is lost forever."

'And taking you down with her.' Mr. Darcy thought to himself. Her tears were destroying him, he wished he could hold her.

"I must find my aunt and uncle, we are to leave at once."

"Is anything being done to retrieve her?"

"My father will leave for London as soon as my uncle can join him. I do not know what can be done, it truly looks hopeless."

"This is grave indeed, I will leave you." Mr. Darcy's face was grim. Not only his hopes dashed, but Bingley's as well. And, he thought, if he had not interfered in the fall, Charles and Jane would be married and this turn of events would not touch them. Mr. Darcy decided then and there to find Wickham and do whatever it took to make him marry Lydia.

As Elizabeth watched him leave, she wondered if she would ever see him again. It made her cry harder when she thought she might not.

Part 2

Charles Bingley was a man on a mission, on his right sat a letter from his most beloved Jane and on the left a map of London. The letter contained words that he had never wanted to read and still blanched at the thought of. She had sent him away! She had written that their names could never be attached now that George Wickham had done this most scandalous thing. He had gone to Longbourn upon receipt of this letter, but the servant said she had refused to see him. He had gone there many days in a row and still, the same reply. It had been all he could do but to break down the door. And then, an idea had occurred to him, perhaps if he went to London, he might be able to track down the errant pair and set this sordid affair to an end. So it was in this frame of mind that he presently studied the map.

"Charles, there you are." Caroline exclaimed. Her brother looked up from his writing table.

"Caroline." he said, simply, then returned to his endeavor.

"Whatever are you doing?" She walked behind him and looked over his shoulder.

He looked up at her, "It's a map, Caroline, of London."

She shrugged at him and walked to the front of the table. She sat herself down across from him and waited.

"Yes?" he asked, knowing that there would be no peace until his sister said whatever it was that was on her mind.

It was all the encouragement she needed to launch into her tale, a juicy bit of gossip she had been most joyous to overhear.

"Have you heard about Miss Lydia Bennet, dear brother?" she wore a vindictive smile that could not be suppressed. "She has run off with that cad, George Wickham!"

Charles only looked at her, wondering what else she might say. He was not long in finding out.

"I cannot tell you how glad I am that I talked Mr. Darcy into separating you from Jane. Can you imagine? Us being connected with them!" she shrieked.

"You did what?" his voice was angry, not at all grateful as she had expected. He stood and walked to where she was sitting.

"I suggested to him that Miss Jane did not return your feelings, and pointed out all the instances of indifference that I percieved." she said, proudly. "He noticed the impropriety of the family all on his own."

Charles looked at her, blankly. She took this as a sign to continue.

"I knew he thought himself to be your most trusted friend and I knew that he would take it upon himself, as he always does, to look out for you. It was, if I do say so myself, my finest hour." she said, confidently. He knew she supposed her manner to be that of a most accomplished lady, but he found her instead to be an icy cold witch.

"So you see, Charles, in the end, it was for the best..."

"You lied to Mr. Darcy and you think it was for the best?!" Charles asked, incredulously.

"Charles, I do not like your tone of voice with me!"

"And I," he no longer fought to control his anger, "do not like you interfering with my life!"

She looked at him, her face contorting. She had never heard him talk with such animosity.

"Mr. Darcy came to me a few months ago and told me everything." he told her, watching for her reaction.

"Everything?" the color drained from her face.

"Well, no, not everything. He did not tell me of your part."

"Why would he tell you everything?" She could not discern Mr. Darcy's actions.

"He found out it had not been true, and he wished me to return to Netherfield to secure the lady's affections." he said, his tone reflecting a certain wistfulness, the kind one feels when one misses an old friend.

Caroline stood silently, probably for the first time in her life, she had nothing to say.

"I did go back and I did secure her hand. And after this terrible turn of events, she sent me away, so that our names would not be attached. And she did this, dear sister, because she is a lady," he looked at Caroline, disgusted, "and you are not."

At that moment, when he had finally found his voice with his sister, he came to a decision. Blast Wickham, he was going back to Meryton! And if he had to sit outside her house for the next forty days in all kinds of inclement weather so be it. Surely someone would take pity on him and let him in. No one was going to stop him from being with his most beloved Jane, not Darcy; or Caroline; or George Wickham; or even Miss Jane herself!

Part 3

The Bennet house was in an uproar. Elizabeth and the Gardiner's had just returned and Mrs. Bennet was complaining of heart flutterings of the most acute kind. Mr. Bennet was inclined to believe that this time, perhaps, her pains were real and for once, he was truly concerned. For her part, Elizabeth's feelings turned from anger towards Wickham to heartache for Jane, and if she admitted it, herself as well. Jane said hardly a word, her sadness speaking volumes in the silent way she went about the business of caring for her mother and remaining sisters. The happy manner that usually permeated the house was replaced by a deathly void of anything joyful. Truly the demeanor of all concerned was that of a most pessimistic view. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner left the following morning for London and spent three fruitless days trying to track down the errant couple. They found no leads of their whereabouts, and Mr. Bennet, still concerned for his wife's health, deemed it necessary to return to her. He left instructions to his brother that if Wickham was found and was made conducive to marrying Lydia, that a monetary gift would be forthcoming for the nuptials.

A week later, a letter arrived at the Bennet's from Mr. Gardiner. The couple had been found and Wickham had been convinced to do right by Miss Lydia. He had agreed to a small yearly allowance of a hundred pounds, and his regiment was to be stationed in Newcastle. The couple wished to visit Longbourn after the ceremony before they had to leave for their new destination.

Mrs. Bennet celebrated by leaving her bed and dressing, her heart no longer fluttering. She left the house to tell the neighbors of the glad tidings. Mr. Bennet saw immediately that her illness had been self-induced and promised himself never to believe any of her symptoms again. As for Jane and Lizzy, each had their own reasons to hope for another happy occasion in the near future. Jane posted a letter to Mr. Bingley at the first available moment, only to announce the marriage, not to ask him for his return. She trusted that he would discern the right course of action upon hearing the news.

Before the letter had been out of her hands even a few hours, Mr. Bingley returned.

"I am glad you chose to let me enter today, Miss Bennet." he had said.

"There is much to tell you."

"No. You must let me speak first." he swallowed, it was hard to talk when he was around her, his only desire being to hold her, "I know what you wrote to me, but I will not be dissuaded. I still wish to marry you."

She smiled at him, the most glorious smile. "Lydia has been married." she said, simply.

"Well that is good news indeed, but if she had not, it would not have changed my mind." he told her, firmly.

She looked up at him in a most sweet manner, and he could not resist. Glancing around to see no one lurking about, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek. She colored but smiled and he knew all was right between them.

Later, as Lizzy and Jane retired for bed, Jane could not help but notice her sister's demeanor. She had made her happiness known of the glad news of Jane's wedding plans, yet there seemed to be something sad in her eyes as well. Jane was quite determined to find out what was the matter.