Author's Note: Sorry this took so long! I finished Camp NaNoWriMo and took a few days off from writing. I hope you enjoy. Quick recap: Darcy has arrived home and asked Lydia to tell him exactly what happened to Lizzy.
"Mrs. Wickham, I am waiting," Darcy grunted impatiently. He was in no mood to be kept waiting, not when his wife was lying unconscious in a bed.
"I am trying to reconstruct the incident in my mind. You must understand that the experience was very traumatic and overwhelming."
"Well please, start from the very beginning."
"The day began early when we wished you and the Bingleys on your way. After you all had gone, we walked the gardens. We took a very long walk, perhaps too long. I know how taxing long walks can be. After our walk, we had a picnic lunch. There were a wide variety of refreshments. I recall she ate a bit more than I ever recall her eating in the past. Then we went to the music room to listen to Georgiana play. She did not seem peeked at that point, at least not that I can recall. After we enjoyed the music, everyone went to rest in their chambers, but Elizabeth wished me to stay behind and speak with her."
"What did she wish to speak to you about?" His face was very severe. He was certain something was off with the story, but he had yet to determine what that was.
"She wished to enquire after my husband," she spat out.
"She enquired after your husband?" he asked in complete disbelief.
"Yes. She did. As you recall, they were friends once."
"Well then Mrs. Wickham," he said through gritted teeth, "continue with your story."
"So, after I asked her to speak with me," she began realizing her mistake, "no she asked me to speak with her."
"What was it, Mrs. Wickham? Did you call the meeting or did she?" he growled.
"I called the meeting. No! I mean, she did."
"Mrs. Wickham," he said approaching her, his voice booming and echoing through the room. "I am certain you are not telling the truth. You must tell me what actually happened and you shall do so at once!"
Lydia was frightened, exceedingly so. She had never seen Mr. Darcy so angry before. He was downright intimidating. "I pushed her! That is how she fell. She did not collapse!"
"What?" he bellowed.
Lydia started to cry, sobs wracked her body as she realized what she had just revealed. "She threatened to kick me out and cut off all financial assistance and I could not let her do such a horrid thing."
"Well, that, that is certainly your fate now. You are to leave our house this very second. And do not expect a lick of support. You can start for all I care after what you have done. Do not expect any more kindness from us."
"No!" she sobbed throwing herself at her brother-in-law. "You cannot do such a thing. Please let me stay until Lizzy is awake. I wish to apologize."
He removed her arms from around her legs. "If you wish to apologize, you may write, but nothing else. Now you will be escorting out of the house. Your trunks will meet you."
"Where, where are you sending me?" she sobbed even harder.
"Home, to your parents. Perhaps your father can knock some sense into you."
"No, you cannot send me to my parents. Longbourne is terribly boring."
"Boring! That is your complaint? You could have killed my wife, your older sister, and the unborn babe. You are a thoughtless, foolish woman and you're banned from Pemberley from this day forth."
"But it was not just me!" she cried in a last ditch effort for self-preservation."
"What?"
"Miss. Bingley knows the truth. She told me what to do after Lizzy hit her hear. She helped me hide the whole thing."
By now, a footman had fetched Mrs. Reynolds, who had just arrived in the doorway with some manservants.
"Mrs. Reynolds," he barked. He was still incredibly angry, "Have Mrs. Wickham put in a carriage and sent to Longbourne. Her trunks will be packed and sent later."
"Yes, Mr. Darcy." He had never yelled at her before, not once. She had the manservants drag a screaming Lydia from the room, and from the home. She left in spectacle, just as she arrived.
Mrs. Reynolds entered the room in an attempt to soothe the master, but he was red with anger, his knuckles white with frustration.
"Mrs. Reynolds," he said as he tried to gain control of his temper, "it was just revealed to me that Elizabeth's incident was not an accident. Mrs. Wickham pushed her."
"Good Lord, no!" She thought Lydia was brash, but never thought her to be violent.
"As you can see I am very distressed."
"She is out of the home now. Now you may focus solely on your wife and her recovery."
"I am afraid now," he said finally getting his breathing under control, "for Mrs. Wickham revealed Miss. Bingley played a role in the cover up."
"Heavens no! What is to be done?"
"I wish to throw her out of my home, but I am going to wait for Charles to arrive. Their carriage should be arriving shortly. She is his charge. He will decide what is to be done about her. I am certain he will agree with me and have her sent away."
"Very good, sir."
"When is doctor Perry to arrive? I cannot wait any longer."
"Sir, the sun is barely up, but I hope he shall be here shortly. May I get you anything?"
"The scotch from my dressing room, please." He said sitting down beside Lizzy.
If she disapproved, she did not show it. She poured him a rather larger glass and left him to his thoughts.
"Oh Elizabeth," he whispered before taking a large gulp of his drink. It burned his throat but he welcomed it. The pain he was feeling was nothing to what she was surely feeling. "My darling, I cannot believe I left you alone with your wretched sister. Please wake up so that you can forgive me. Please, please, please, wake up," he whispered as he placed kisses on her limp hand.
He threw back his scotch before retrieving a book to read aloud to his unconscious wife. He had finished only two chapters when Mrs. Reynolds returned to inform him that the Bingleys had arrived.
"Send Mrs. Bingley up to sit with her sister. I shall meet with Charles to consult him about his sister."
"Very well," she said as she scurried down the stairs.
"All those responsible will be punished," he said to his unconscious wife, "and that is a promise, Elizabeth."