Richard had not brought a carriage to Gracechurch Street and so they borrowed the Gardiner coach for the two mile journey to Grosvenor Square where Darcy's town home resided. The arrangements made while Jane readied herself for the visit, the carriage would return once they arrived at Darcy house and a Darcy carriage would bring Jane back.
"Miss Bennet, please forgive my forwardness but there is vital information I must impart and then, after you have listened, I fear I have a great favor to ask."
Jane startled at the abruptness of a man so recently in her acquaintance. She had expected this would take far more conversation and subtlety to learn more of what the colonel knew of her sister. As Jane reflected on that truth, she realized it was now two sisters that she needed intelligence from this new acquaintance and so she heartily nodded in agreement to his request.
"Mr. Wickham nearly absconded with a woman in my family just last summer and it was Fitzwilliam who put an end to the attempted elopement. The woman employed as my relation's companion is the associate I saw today and I was not entirely truthful about how much information she knew."
Suddenly, Jane began to fret as to the nature of the additional information the colonel held. Did he know good news or bad news about her sister, Lydia? Jane's mouth felt dry as she worked up the courage to ask him to continue.
"I am very sorry to hear of what happened to your family member. Please, do go on."
Further impressed by the mettle of Jane Bennet, Richard began to feel more confident in his plan.
"I need to confirm the location of your sister as it appears that Wickham has sold her to a house for the amusement of gentlemen. Forgive my vulgarity, but are you aware of such establishments?"
Feeling ashamed, Jane looked down at the floor of the carriage and gave a single nod to convey that she did know of such houses of ill-repute, but for a lady to ever speak of such was below her station and so she found herself unable to do so.
"I suspected you might be aware of that possibility when you stated you wished to continue the search for your sister. If I find a way to confer the location of your sister, would you be brave enough to go with me in an attempt to recover her?"
Jane's head snapped up to attention and the fierceness of protection for her foolish sister flashed in her eyes. "I would do anything to save my sister from her folly, but I am afraid my father will never pay the handsome amount I am to understand those houses require?"
"This is why I saved our discussion for the carriage. Your father need not know nor put up any funds."
Jane suddenly understood. "Mr. Darcy has paid for this?"
Richard laughed in spite of himself. "You are as quick as your sister. No, no please do not take it as a criticism," Richard began to save himself as Jane scowled. "I enjoyed many a conversational battle with your sister when we were in Kent. And yes, my cousin does have his uses, usually arising from his infinite purse. But there is more afoot here other than your family's salvation. There are many others who are quite keen to see Mr. Wickham find justice. If we can find your sister, we may have more information to find him."
Jane looked at Sarah who tried to look away as if she were not present in the carriage. In her sternest voice, Jane gave a warning. "You may tell your employer of our plans, but I entreat you not to speak anything to my father. Can I rely upon you?"
The young maid Sarah nodded and Jane took it at face value. "I do not wish to be a burr in your saddle," Jane offered a metaphor she thought the colonel might enjoy as a member of the cavalry. "While I am eternally grateful our aims are to recover my sister, would not it be easier to find Mr. Wickham through the previous associate of the companion?"
Richard raised his eyebrows as he had grossly underestimated Miss Bennet's mind for strategy. "I have men watching her house as we speak, but Wickham is a slippery eel. It is unlikely he will return back to her friendship if he has already partaken of her company in town and was not there when I visited."
"I see." Jane said as the carriage began to slow in Mayfair. Jane grit her teeth as the most uncharitable thoughts and descriptions of Mr. Wickham began to flood her heart and she tightened her hold upon the reticule in her lap. Richard noticed the change in Miss Bennet's demeanor and began to feel poorly to see a lady in such distress.
"Miss Bennet?" He attracted the lady's attention as the carriage rolled to a complete stop. "We shall save your sister. There is no difference to me as to her value and worth as a member of my family. Do not forget your sister is now married to my cousin."
"Thank you. I believe Lizzie may indeed be the one who has saved us all." Jane said earnestly as Richard gave her a nod in agreement and exited the carriage so that he might offer assistance to Miss Bennet.
Outside of the carriage, Jane marveled at the distinct differences between where Mr. Darcy lived in London and her aunt and uncle. She had come to this part of London for a few exhibits over the years and once for the delivery with her uncle to a fabric shop, though she had remained in the carriage when he conducted his business. The marble columns of the grand homes appeared as long, disappointed faces as Jane followed the colonel up the stone steps to Mr. Darcy's house. Giving Jane a roguish smile, Richard Fitzwilliam opened the door without knocking and called out boisterously as they entered.
"Is there a fair-haired maiden in residence?"
Jane tentatively stepped inside of the doorway as a young woman parted the double doors of the front parlor.
"Richard!" The young woman rushed into the entryway and greeted her cousin in the mirth and excitement of a woman her age. Georgiana Darcy's eyes lit up as she noticed her cousin brought a visitor. Immediately, Georgiana dipped into a small curtsy and Jane responded in kind. "Who have you brought to visit?"
"May I present Miss Jane Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire." Richard made the formal introductions and both ladies expressed a gratitude in meeting one another.
Richard looked above Georgiana's head into the stirrings of the parlor and found himself perplexed. "Dearest, are you entertaining?"
Georgianna's eyes widened as she had completely forgotten about her guests. "Yes, Miss Bingley and Mr. Bingley are here. They have received a letter from brother? Oh, Bennet!" Georgianna's mind jumped from one fact to the other as she suddenly realized that the woman with her cousin shared the same surname as the woman said to have married her brother. Richard chuckled.
"Yes poppet, this is Miss Elizabeth's older sister, Jane. She is in London visiting her relations and I thought it might be wise to bring her to meet you as we all have such happiness to share." Richard's jaw involuntarily tensed as he could not discuss the sensitive matters of Wickham and the lost Bennett sister with the Bingleys in the home
"Mr. Bingley is – is – here?" Jane stuttered as she tried to remain unaffected by the name.
"I believe you know the Bingleys well because my brother mentioned you had fallen ill at his home did you not? But you are better now I see." Georgiana accidentally provided the missing puzzle piece for Richard as the situation turned from inconvenient to an absolute disaster.
Richard realized now that Jane must have been the woman Darcy rescued Bingley from last autumn. He clapped his hand over his face and dragged it down as he realized how stupidly he must have sounded in Kent. Darcy never mentioned what offenses Elizabeth laid at his feet when she denounced his proposal apart from Wickham's lies and Richard suddenly began to think he had played no small part in the woman's justified anger.
"Miss Bennet, if you would rather not see them, I can escort you to Darcy's study until the Bingleys have been encouraged to leave." Richard said very quietly as Georgiana frowned.
Jane gave the military man a careful look deep into his eyes. Just as Jane was about to tell the colonel she was perfectly happy to go visit with the Bingleys, a shrill voice from the doorway of the parlor called out.
"Miss Bennet! Miss Bennet! How wonderful it is to see you, why it's been nearly six months since we last saw you when we left Hertfordshire." Caroline Bingley smugly smiled, attempting to begin the narrative she desperately wished to be true.
Jane stepped forward, no longer worried about sparing Miss Bingley any embarrassment. "You are mistaken, Miss Bingley, I called upon you and your sister here in London in January."
Behind his sister, a curious Charles Bingley appeared as a child finding a lost favorite toy. "Miss Bennet! How peculiar to see you here."
Tired of shouting from the entryway, Richard used his hand to gesture that perhaps they ought to all enter the parlor.
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That _ Caroline Bingley . . . lol. Don't worry, I'm working for not just an HEA for Elizabeth but also for Jane.