Here we go, I typed THE END today. I am going to post the WHOLE ENDING now in the next few chapters to give you all a chance to chime in on the ending. Anyone who preorders a copy or purchases a copy when it releases December 31, THANK YOU! For the next week, me and my editors will be cleaning everything up and making minor edits that didn't get here to Fanfiction though I did try to bring as many updates as possible. Things like I am adding a line in the scene where Darcy and Elizabeth wake up in their town home that Darcy says Richard has a plan when they couldn't find Wickham, etc. Most of the time my subconcious handles all that and I'm adding details I didn't even know I would use later on, but this story went through so many radical changes, there are a few openings for those kinds of adjustments. :)

Your reviews DO matter, so please feel free to keep them coming. Will be great incentive to start on the next story tomorrow . . . :)

All my love,

Elizabeth Ann West

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Two days before Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy were to stand up for all of London to repeat their nuptials, Lady Matlock arrived at Darcy House with the same mission she had for each day since their arrival from Scotland. The butler led her ladyship to the parlor where she appeared surprised to find not just Elizabeth Darcy, but also Elizabeth's sister Jane, her son Richard, and her nephew. Usually when she came to collect Elizabeth for the daily rounds of visits and places to be seen the men had long left to see about their business. Spying her son in a close conversation with Miss Bennet did not please Regina Fitzwilliam in any way.

"Will you change your attire before we are to leave? The color of gray is not appropriate for a fresh young bride."

Elizabeth glanced down at her frock and smirked at her subconscious way of marking the day. "I sent a note. I am not up to social visits today."

Lady Matlock rolled her eyes. This time, she was not going to let Mrs. Darcy off with an excuse. If the woman was well enough to hold conversation in her own parlor, she was well enough to hold the same conversation in another parlor. "You look plenty well to me."

Elizabeth shook her head. "Truly, your ladyship, I have no desire to make idle chatter with those oblivious to the pain I feel." Elizabeth looked away and Lady Matlock, angry at being dismissed so summarily out of hand, barked at her nephew.

"Fitzwilliam, kindly explain to your wife how much your business and your status depends upon her performance in the social world. I can understand growing up in the country she is not familiar with our customs, but with the ball two days away and so many leaving for the country, it is imperative we impress all we can to attend both the ball and the church ceremony." Lady Matlock glared at Elizabeth who sat on the sofa leaning against the arm. Fitzwilliam ignored his aunt for a moment and poured himself and his wife a drink, carrying the glass of whisky over to her. The peculiar behavior of her nephew and his wife infuriated his aunt.

"You poor her drink? And whisky? It is much too vulgar a drink for a lady!"

Elizabeth offered her husband a minxish smile as she accepted her glass and raised it as a toast towards Lady Matlock. "I have found whisky to be a lady's best companion in finding husband." She and Darcy enjoyed a subtle laugh as Lady Matlock turned her attention to her son.

"And why are you here, son? You left the house quite early this morning saying you had to report to Headquarters. And yet I find you here." Lady Matlock spat out the accusation of nefarious behavior without naming the offense.

Richard gave Jane a knowing look, sighing in sympathy that they would both have to play their parts to keep the plans of a double wedding from his mother, just in case.

"Mother I had to report to headquarters this morning to sign the final orders for me to leave for Spain. My travel arrangements have been set and I will be on my way to the Continent by this time next week." Richard stood up and bowed to his mother before he continued. "There was also the added displeasure of watching George Wickham hanged for his crimes at dawn." All four of the inhabitants of the room shifted uncomfortably at the declaration of George's fate.

"Is that why you all have the longest faces in all of London? You mourn a criminal?" Lady Matlock scoffed and tried to make eye contact with any of the other four adults to no avail.

Elizabeth swallowed and stood from her place on the sofa to stand next to her husband. "George Wickham made choices in life that necessitated his punishment, and I believe the boy that grew up at Pemberley is who is mourned today as well as the acquaintance we thought capable of living a better life."

All eyes turned to Elizabeth as she so eloquently conveyed the tumultuous emotions going through so many in the room. No one wanted to confess that they felt pain at the death of a deserter. And yet Mr. Wickham's affiliation with the Darcy family since his infancy meant that the death of a half-brother Fitzwilliam could never declare could also not go unnoticed.

"I said a prayer for him in church yesterday," Jane confessed. Elizabeth looked at her sister in solidarity as Jane held tears in her eyes. For the Bennet girls, they had never been this close to a capital punishment. Their father never took them to the village to see justice carried out and impressed upon them it was not a spectacle for any man to lose his life.

"I did as well," Elizabeth said.

"There. You have done your Christian duty, and now I ask of you to fulfill your duty as a wife. Go above stairs and change into that lovely blush colored frock that you ordered last week. It matches your skin tone so well, and I shall wait here for us to leave." Lady Matlock again attempted to take command of the situation.

Elizabeth looked at her husband who set his empty glass of whisky on the mantle of the fireplace. "It is not the duty of my wife to listen to my relations who have overstepped their positions," Darcy said icily.

"I have not overstepped! Everything, the planning, the preparations, the guest list, the expense, I have done all of this for you. Do not speak to me about my place in this family, Fitzwilliam." Lady Matlock thought the matter settled, but she grossly underestimated her nephew.

"And I say my house will hold a day of reflection in light of the fact that a criminal apprehended within these walls has been put to death. There will be no social engagements this day. And that is my word." Fitzwilliam Darcy rarely raised his voice to a lady, and even now the volume raise was scarcely perceptible that in the direction of his aunt. But the fierce stare in his eyes stopped his aunt in her tracks.

Lady Matlock pressed her lips into a thin line disapproval. Deciding to let Darcy have his win, she turned on her heel to challenge her son.

"Come Richard, escort me back to Matlock House. I find myself unwilling to expend any energies to help the ungrateful." Lady Matlock took no leave of the party at Darcy House and Richard muttered a soft apology to Jane as he helped escort his mother out of the house.

Gently rubbing her husband's arm, Elizabeth expressed her thanks to her husband for his support and nearly embraced him to see the hurt in his eyes. Only she knew the depth of despair Darcy felt of the loss of so much potential in George Wickham. True, Fitzwilliam had accepted the man George became long ago, but his death spoke of a finality there was not to be any redemption.

"If you will excuse me, I believe I have some work I can see to in my study. Letters, contracts, I'm certain I can find something that should be addressed."

Elizabeth nodded. "There is a reprieve today, but with the ball tomorrow I fear the next few days will generally not be our own," she reasoned.

"Richard and I plan to call upon your father tomorrow and give to him our terms. You are certain, Jane, that you wish to marry in a day's time?" Darcy played the attentive older brother that the Bennet sisters never had. Jane giggled and blushed.

"Yes, I am certain. I am frightened and anxious, but I know if I have Richard by my side I shall be safe."

"And loved!" Elizabeth teased and the two sisters fell into a laughter that signaled for Mr. Darcy his presence became superfluous. As he left the parlor, he passed his sister Georgiana who asked if their aunt had just been to visit.

"Yes, and so has Richard. I am afraid that Mr. Wickham is no more."

Georgiana covered her mouth in shock and Darcy prepared to support his sister if the news was too much, but to his surprise she recovered, setting her shoulders back to hold her head up high. "It is unfortunate to be sure, but I believe deserved."

The two siblings shared a pert nod and Darcy explained that Elizabeth and Jane were in the parlor if Georgiana wished to join them. In another sign of her growing maturity, Georgiana stated that she would, and as the parlor door slid open and Darcy watched the perfect posture of his sister as she entered the room. The man felt a small glimmer of hope that though the changes for his family would be many, there would be love and companionship to see them all through.