Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, Jane Austen does.

Author's note: I would like to thank the beautiful Patagonian for beta-reading this story and Carlanime and Sandra for the encouragement.

At exactly six o'clock, Miss Younge, holding John by the hand, was introduced in his study by his disapproving butler. For a moment she looked around the room, impressed with her surroundings, but clearly determined not to be intimidated. There was an air of good sense about her that Darcy liked, and he was happy to be dealing with her rather than with her foolish mother.

Darcy bade them sit down and offered some refreshments, which were gratefully accepted. It was not, strictly speaking, necessary (in fact, Darcy was certain most of his acquaintances would be shocked to hear who he was showing so much civility to), but he was curious about the story behind this abduction. Besides, he felt a little sorry for scaring her earlier and for causing a disagreement between her and her mother. He had a notion that his twenty pounds might come in handy.

As he was counting the bills, he saw she was biting her lip nervously.

"Is Mrs. Gardiner very angry?" she finally asked.

"I doubt very much that she is happy with you, Miss Younge."

"It is my mother that made me do it, sir, I swear!" she answered energetically. "She made me give up a very good position to go to Mrs. Gardiner and take the boy away as soon as I could. Now I'll never get anything good ever again. And all that for stupid Wickham!"

"I take it that it was Mr. Wickham's idea?"

"Yes," she answered contemptuously. "He's always full of ideas on how he's going to get rich and make us live in luxury. First, he was going to be a lawyer, but he never even finished his studies. Then, it was all the heiresses he was going to marry, but the best he ever brought back was some girl who had nothing at all, who he didn't even marry, and in the end he left her behind for us to take care of. Once, he joined the militia and told us he was going to become a general, but he left after he'd lost too much money at cards. Then he was going to be a professional gambler, but that didn't work out either, and now he's decided he wants to become a thief – a gentleman-thief, as he calls himself – and that's why he wanted John to help him because he's small. But we haven't seen Wickham in a week, and there are quite a few moneylenders looking for him, so I doubt he'll be much around for a while. We'd have been saddled with him, too," she added with a glance at the boy. "And you were right, this morning, it's no life for a child, being a pickpocket. He's much better off with the Gardiners."

She fell silent and glared at Darcy's inkpot. He wasn't sure what to say about her outburst. He could imagine too well how frustrating it must be to see a parent under Wickham's spell, year after year. But he couldn't tell her so.

"I commend you for your good sense and your kindness, Miss Younge," he finally settled on.

She blushed and thanked him.

"What are your prospects now?" he continued. "I cannot suppose that your mother will thank you for bringing John to me."

"Well, if I find a new position, it will be all right," she answered. "Mama can't very well do without me, what with Wickham always borrowing money from her. But if Mrs. Gardiner is really angry, then it's going to be very hard."

Darcy thought it over. In her last letter, Georgiana had written that she had trouble finding a new maid. Could he trust Miss Younge enough to recommend her to his sister? Oh, who was he trying to fool! Of course he would recommend her to Georgiana. When had he ever been able to resist the idea of helping out sensible, brave and independent young women? He offered to write to Georgiana immediately, and Miss Younge seemed genuinely happy at the prospect of discovering Kent – she had never been out of London. She promised Darcy that Mrs. Bingley would never have any reason to complain, and thanked him again and again.

As soon as he'd finished his letter to Georgiana, Darcy ordered his carriage, and took John back to Gracechurch Street. They rode in silence. Darcy was worried about Miss Bennet, and John was too busy enjoying the ride.

There was light coming from the drawing room, and Darcy thought it best to tell the footman he wanted a private audience with Mr. Gardiner, without leaving his name. John had different plans, however. Without heeding Darcy, he jumped out of the coach and ran up the stairs. Darcy was hardly in the hall before the boy threw the door of the drawing-room open, and jumped into Miss Bennet's arms. They both started crying.

But Darcy had no time to feel discomfited. His hand was in hers. She was looking at him with adoration and gratitude through her tears. In one moment, all his most painfully sweet fantasies were upon him, more powerful and intoxicating than ever before.

"Oh, Mr. Darcy, how can we ever thank you!"

It was too much, and before he could think, the words were out.

"Will you marry me?"

"Yes, of course! Of course, I will marry you!"

At that moment, Mrs. Gardiner came in, wondering what the commotion was. One look was enough to convince her of what was going on. She'd long had her suspicions, and she was glad to see it come to a happy conclusion. She took John from Elizabeth's arms and spent as much time as possible fussing over him, sending messages to the rest of the family that John was safely back home, and kept everybody away from the drawing room.

Darcy and Elizabeth had of course much to discuss that evening. He soon learnt that she had revised her opinion of him a long time ago – even before her sister's elopement. After reading his letter, she had at least acquitted him from villainy. He found that, when she had visited Pemberley, Reynolds had praised him so much that she had allowed him to be not so bad a man, and but for his unfortunate manners, she had almost regretted her refusal. When she had heard that he had befriended the Johnsons and the Gardiners, she had been certain he would avoid her at all costs.

"I was ever so surprised when you appeared at Longbourn," she told him. "I did not know what to make of it. I thought – surely you must have forgotten me, after all these years, but you were so civil, so attentive, not only to my father, but also to me, that it took me quite a while to recover from it."

He learnt that she had wanted to tell him about her youngest sister for a long time, and that scruples on that account had been the only thing that had kept her from fully encouraging his attentions. That she had been unable to discourage him was due to the fact that his visits had provided much needed solace from her grief.

He assured her that he had never forgotten her, that the prospect of hearing from her again had been his main reason for befriending the Johnsons, his only reason, really, and that he had only gone to Longbourn to see her. He told her how what she had told him, almost eight years ago, had made him reconsider his conduct, his manners, his approach to others.

They spent a long time talking, and Mrs. Gardiner had to remind them that the family was going to bed.