Chapter 11! I'm just going to see how the chapters work out, but hopefully I'll have another chapter up within the week!

The consequences of misunderstanding

Thoughts were flying through Elizabeth's head as she ran back to Longbourn. Mr Darcy, Mr Wickham and everything she had just said. She was angry at Mr Darcy but why she did not know. The way he treated her was just too much for Elizabeth to take so soon after she had found out about the lies surrounding the Darcy and Bingley families.

Then the thoughts about Mr Wickham grew stronger. How dare he treat her as some sort of prize he was competing for! The worst part was that he threatened her family and still expected her to marry him. Elizabeth prayed that he was not already at Longbourn for although he had threatened to kill her father, she was not going to let him get away with anything.

'Lizzie! Are you alright?' Jane cried as Elizabeth entered the drawing room, flustered. Mrs Bennet looked up sharply.

'Where is Mr Wickham?' She asked. Elizabeth just wanted to hide at this point.

'I do not know' Elizabeth replied simply.

'You do not know? You were just walking with him were you not? Surely you have not lost him on the way?' Mrs Bennet exclaimed. Elizabeth looked around the drawing room and met the eyes of her father, who was sitting in the big armchair. His eyes were looking directly into hers, as if he knew something was wrong. It was this that made Elizabeth realise that she could not tell her family about Mr Wickham because she could not bear to see them get hurt.

'Excuse me' Elizabeth said and fled from the room.

'I will go' She heard Jane say from the room she had just left. Elizabeth shut her door and ran to her bed, where she began to cry.

'Lizzie?' Jane called. 'Lizzie open the door.' Elizabeth slowly got up from her bed and made her way over to the door.

'Come in Jane' Elizabeth said as she opened the door to let Jane in.

'Lizzie! What on earth was that all about? Where is Mr Wickham?' Jane asked her sister.

'Jane! I-I can't tell you' Elizabeth whispered. Jane looked shocked.

'Why?' Jane asked, slightly shaken. 'We always tell each other everything.' Elizabeth was truly at a loss for words. If she told Jane, her life would be in danger. If she didn't, she was in danger of loosing Jane as a friend.

'Jane. If I could, I would. But I'm afraid of what will happen.' Elizabeth replied.

'What did he do?' Jane said.

'Who?' Elizabeth asked.

'Mr Wickham. Elizabeth it is obvious that he is the cause of your unhappiness. What has he done to you? Has he hurt you?' Jane asked, concerned.

'No, not yet. But if I tell you, he will hurt our family.' There was a silence in the air that made both girls uneasy. It was several minutes before Jane spoke.

'We are to go to Meryton this day to buy ribbons for the Pemberly ball. Do you wish to join us?' Jane asked. Elizabeth was shocked that Jane had dropped the sbject of Mr Wickham. Jane, upon seeing the shock on Elizabeth's face, said:

'Elizabeth, if Mr Wickham has threatened our family I am not going to press you further. Although you must realise that he is to be reported! For stealing and this!' Elizabeth nodded.

'I shall come with you to Meryton. I could use some fresh air.'

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It was a while before Elizabeth, Jane, Kitty, Lydia and Mrs Bennet were in Meryton. Mary had stayed at home with Mr Bennet, for they both did not want to venture into the town. Mrs Bennet kept going on about the sudden disappearance of Mr Wickham and it was giving Elizabeth a headache.

'I still can't believe you do not know where he has gone Lizzie! Perhaps we shall see him in Meryton.' She was saying but Elizabeth could not look her mother in the eye. Jane, seeing her sisters discomfort, said to her mother:

'Mama, perhaps it would be best if Lizzie and I go to ribbon shop while you and Kitty and Lydia venture to the dress shop.' Mrs Bennet looked at Jane.

'My dear! You must come to Mrs Green's dress shop! You have not a thing to wear! Mr Bingley will loose interest like that if you are not presented well!' She cried.

'Oh Mama! Do calm down! We shall not be long and we will meet you there' Mrs Bennet looked reluctant but eventually let them go.

They spent a short while in the ribbon shop before they began the slow walk to Mrs Greens. They had been walking for a little while when the sound of hoof beats could be heard and they looked up to see Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley riding towards them. Elizabeth froze. She longed to apologise to Mr Darcy for her behaviour earlier but did not know if she had the strength to face him.

'Miss Bennets.!' Mr Bingley called. Jane smiled up to him as he slowed to a walk beside them.

'Good afternoon Mr Bingley, Mr Darcy. Elizabeth and I were just on our way to Mrs Greens for our mother wishes us to have new dresses for the Pemberly ball.' Jane replied to which Mr Bingley smiled. Mr Bingley dismounted his own horse and began to walk alongside Jane and they became lost in their own little world. This left Elizabeth alone with Mr Darcy, who was now dismounting his horse.

'Miss Elizabeth.' He said.

'Mr Darcy.' Elizabeth replied. They walked in silence for a while until Elizabeth finally picked up the courage to talk to Mr Darcy.

'Mr Darcy, I am sorry for my behaviour this morning. I was a little out of sorts and I am sorry that I spoke to you like I did.' She said and held her breath.

'Miss Bennet. I could never be angry at you, for when I saw Mr Wickham I knew you were distressed.' Mr Darcy replied.

'Then why did you appear so angry?' Elizabeth asked. Mr Darcy stopped.

'I was angry because I felt ashamed of myself. I felt that if I could not comfort you then I was not worthy of being in your company.' He confessed. Elizabeth's heart started fluttering wildly.

'Mr Darcy, I do not know what to say. But I shall say this. What has become of Mr Wickham? I wish to know because my mother has kept pestering me about it and I cannot give an answer.'

'He will return shortly. I've sent him on a few errands for me, which I know he will not do but as long as he is out of trouble, he cannot harm anyone.' Elizabeth stopped at this. If only Mr Darcy knew about Mr Wickham's threat. She so longed to tell him, but feared it.

'Miss Bennet? Are you alright?' Mr Darcy's concerned voice reached her. She nodded feebly before walking onwards. 'My sister, Georgiana is looking forward to when you meet.' He continued. Elizabeth nodded weakly. If she told Mr Darcy, then he could stop him unless Mr Wickham got to her family first.

'Miss Bennet, are you sure you are well?' Mr Darcy asked with worry in his voice. Elizabeth had decided. She was going to tell him.

'Mr Darcy. You have to help me.'

That's it for this chapter! Hope you enjoyed it! Please review!