Lizzy flew out of the carriage to her mother. Mrs. Bennet almost sank from the weight of her despair and Bingley caught her before she fell. After being led to, and then sitting down on a nearby bench, she handed the letter to Elizabeth, who read it aloud.

Dearest Ma-ma,

By the time you find this I shall be far away with my dear Wickham; he has asked me to go away with him, and I expect us to be in Scotland within the week. I only wish I could see the faces of my sisters when they find out that I, too have caught a husband. Give my love to them and to Kitty and Mary and my father. Do not worry after me, for I am having the grandest of adventures!

Yours,

Lydia

Everyone's reaction could be seen plainly on their faces; Mary scowled, Mr. Bennet shook his head in disgust; Georgiana turned white, and Lizzy openly cried. The realization that Wickham had yet again been the cause of so much anguish filled Mr. Darcy with anger. If only he had taken care of this problem in Ramsgate!

"Richard, you will come with me to find them?" he asked his cousin, although it was more of a statement than a question. Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded that he would,

"We will leave within the hour." Darcy told him. He turned to Mr. Bingley, "May we borrow two of your horses?"

"Of course, I will send for them."

"Are your sisters staying at Netherfield?"

"Yes, until the end of the week I believe."

"Tell them nothing." Mr. Darcy commanded. He was taking charge of the situation and his new family were quite in awe of this side of him that they had not seen prior.

"We cannot ask you to go." Mr. Bennet told his newly acquired son in law.

"You cannot go, Mr. Bennet." his wife, scolded. "You might be killed."

Darcy ignored their conversation, for his mind was already made up.

"I am going whether you ask me to or not." he answered, firmly. He would not be talked out of it.

"what else can I do?" Bingley asked.

"I need you to stay in Hertfordshire for a little while," He paused, developing a plan. "Georgiana, you stay here with Elizabeth, if that's all right with you?" he looked at Mr. Bennet, who nodded his agreement.

"Charles, you and Miss..... I mean, Mrs. Bingley go to Netherfield. I'm sorry you can not leave yet for your trip abroad, but I would feel better if you stayed here while we were gone."

"By all means," Charles agreed. He knew his sisters and brother in law would be surprised at his return to Netherfield and wondered what excuse he would give them as to why he was delaying his honeymoon.

"Mr. Bennet, do you have a small satchel I might use?"

Soon, one was handed to him and also some food that was left over from the breakfast; all that was left to do was wait for Bingley's steeds.

"Fitzwilliam, what will you do?" his sister asked, a tone of desperation in her voice.

Her brother was not prepared to tell her. If left up to him, none of them would know his plans, but he wanted to say goodbye to his wife, so he motioned for Elizabeth to follow him to the carriage. From that carriage, he pulled his trunk down from the rack. He rummaged in it until he found a few pieces of clothing and the small black leather bag that held his pistol. If need be, he knew he would use it. He packed the satchel with his finds, and turned to Elizabeth.

She had recognized the small leathr bag and knew it's contents, for her father had one just like it that he kept in the desk drawer in his library. In an instant, she had a thought of a duel gone wrong; her beloved William laying in a heap and Mr. Wickham laughing.

"William, no." she pleaded, a gnawing fear trying to grip her. Already upset from Lydia' s foolish belief in Wickham, she now had the added fear of losing her husband to the scoundrel.

"Elizabeth," He said, in a strong voice, "I must take care of this problem or it will keep happening. Wickham hates me, and will always try to make my life miserable. He is using your sister to get to me, I fear that he has no plans to marry her."

"But you could be killed." she said in a whimper. As she gave voice to her deepest fear, tears slid down from her eyes, marking paths in her cheeks. Mr. Darcy was tempted to cup her face in his hands and wipe her tears away with his fingers. That thought created another one, of kissing her soundly; and the daydreams he had been fighting to keep at bay during the time of their engagement, started assaulting his mind. There was something in her eyes that was different, or was it because he had not allowed himself to look there before? Whatever it was, it was drawing him in and he was not sure he could keep his promise of friendship much longer.

Colonel Fitzwilliam cleared his throat and Mr. Darcy came back to himself. He snapped his thoughts once again to the matter at hand, Wickham. He knew he must keep his wits about him if he wanted to stay within striking distance of his worst enemy. Still, it was difficult to leave her standing there; so he took her hands in his, pulled them to his lips and kissed them.

"Take care of Georgie, for me," he said, his voice hoarse with emotion as he searched her eyes with his and reassured her, "I will come back, Elizabeth."

"Please do." was all she could say.

"Where do you think we should head," Lizzy heard Colonel Fitzwilliam ask as they mounted the horses that Bingley's servant had brought minutes before.

"Not Scotland, I doubt he has any intentions of going there, London, that's where they will be." Mr. Darcy answered.

Without looking back, the two men raced away and Elizabeth stared at the path long after they had gone out of sight. Her fear was growing by the second, what would Wickham do when he realized that William and Richard were there; how could Lydia have been so foolish? She heard her mother wailing inside the house; and remembered what her husband had asked of her, to take care of his sister. Knowing there were others who needed her, Elizabeth found her courage and walked back into Longbourn.