Chapter 9

Colonel Fitzwilliam had thought about how to share the news he had received one hour ago, but once in front of the Gardiners and Jane, all that he had rehearsed did not help much, it was difficult news to share.

"Mrs. Gardiner, Mr. Gardiner, Ms. Bennet, I have received a second report from the investigator and it is not encouraging news. They found the carriage with the Darcy crest, the one in which my cousin and Miss Elizabeth supposedly eloped, in the middle of a river in Scotland. At the moment, it is not known if it was an accident or a premeditated act. Nor have they found or heard from Darcy and Miss Elizabeth."

As it was obvious the news caused distress in Elizabeth's family, and Jane could not hold back a few tears. The colonel explained to them that he later planned to speak with Georgiana, and that the next day, he would personally depart to inspect the place where the carriage had been found.

He also explained that his cousin was probably going to take the news very badly. For Georgiana, Darcy was the most important person in her life and her closest family, so just thinking that something bad could have happened to him, would cause her great pain.

For that reason, he asked Ms. Bennet and Ms. Gardiner if they could come visit Georgiana first thing in the morning, before he left for the north, so that she would not feel alone and know that there were people who could accompany her while everything was resolved.

"Of course, Colonel, you can count on us. We will accompany and take care of Miss Darcy as long as you are looking for your cousin and our niece." said Mrs. Gardiner as Jane nodded to her words.

Richard had seen the anguish on Jane's face and felt guilty, for being the cause of her sadness. For some reason he didn't want to see Miss Bennet sad. Since the day he met her, he hadn't stopped thinking about her, and he would have loved to meet her under other circumstances. He thought of Mr. Bingley and how he had been persuaded to abandon Jane. He liked Bingley, but he had always found him a cowardly man whom his cousin handled like a child. Miss Bennet deserved better than Mr. Bingley, of that he was sure.

"I want to apologize for what happened yesterday at Darcy's house, with everything that is going on, I had forgotten to instruct the butler to tell that the family is not receiving callers" said the Colonel, unable to avoid looking at Jane to see how she reacted.

Before her aunt could answer, Jane felt the need to let the colonel know that nothing the Bingleys said or did could affect her. After today's visit she had convinced herself that all of this was in the past. "Do not worry Colonel Fitzwilliam, we don't care what the Bingleys say or think." When she finished she smiled at Richard who couldn't help but feel immensely happy knowing that she no longer admired that man, who did not deserve her.

They talked for a while longer, Richard explained what he planned to do in the next few days, and that in about six days he planned to return because he had to report back to his superior officer. He would try to obtain more days off, but could not guarantee that he would. Finally, it was time to leave and everyone said goodbye wishing him luck. He promised that if he had any news, he would send an express immediately.

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Georgiana didn't know what to do, she couldn't continue playing the piano, she was shocked. Sitting next to her was George Wickham, the man she thought she loved, saying all those words that had made her fall in love with him less than a year ago.

"Are you not happy to see me my dear?" Please don't tell me that you've forgotten about me, about our love. For my part, I still love you just like the first day I saw you again at Ramsgate". Wickham knew that he had to be very persuasive, especially since he had seen some doubt in Georgiana's eyes.

"What are you doing here Mr. Wickham?" Georgiana asked shyly.

"Now I am Mr. Wickham to you my love? I liked it better when you called me George", at that moment he took one of Georgiana's hands and kissed it, looking at her intensely. "I'm here because your uncle has hired me as his personal assistant. When he found out what your brother had done to me by denying the living, he wanted to rectify it by offering me a job. I have good pay, and I am preparing to become a solicitor. Right now, I have a stable financial situation and I can offer you a comfortable life. My dream is, and has always been, that one day you will be Mrs. Wickham".

Georgiana was still shocked, and was not able to say anything, she just looked at Mr. Wickham and at the door, waiting for her aunt to arrive and put an end to everything that was happening.

For their part Lord and Lady Matlock were in the library talking about how they would allow Wickham to see Georgiana periodically.

"You know very well my Lord that as long as Richard is around Georgiana, George will have no opportunity to seduce her. But of course, that bastard has always been your favorite, even more than your own son, you are not going to do anything that could harm him", said Lady Anastasia to her husband.

"It is not that easy Anastasia. Richard is a prominent officer and his senior officers highly consider his opinion, and I have no direct influence over the higher-ranking officers. But I'll talk to all my contacts to have him shipped out of England for a while".

After nearly an hour of leaving Georgiana at Wickham's mercy, Lady Anastasia returned to the music room. Wickham said goodbye to both ladies and left. Lady Anastasia ordered tea and chatted with Georgiana about how handsome and gallant Wickham was, and how any woman would be happy to be the wife of a man like him. She also repeated what Wickham had already told her, that she should keep all this a secret, that if Richard found out he would probably forbid her to see him, because Richard always agreed with Darcy.

"Georgiana, I don't think your brother, after what he has done eloping with that woman of inferior class, can come to tell you what is right or try to intervene in your life," concluded Lady Anastasia.

Richard had decided to go look for Georgiana at his parents' house, and also talk with his father about everything that was happening. Whenever he was hungry, he entered through the back door that connected directly to the kitchen and ate something. As he got closer to the back door, he saw someone he knew coming out, instinctively he hid, and he could clearly see who he was. "What the hell is Wickham doing at my parents' house", he asked himself.

His parents were in the drawing room with a very quiet Georgiana who wasn't even looking at him. He sensed that something was very wrong and preferred to pretend nothing was happening. He did not trust his mother and preferred not to alert her, he knew that she should be behind all this. Sure, once again, she had deceived his father, all his life his poor father had been the victim of a shameless, manipulative woman who did not love him.

When they got to Darcy house, Richard asked Georgiana what had happened at his parents' house. She started crying and told him everything, how Wickham had stalked her, everything he had told her and how Lady Anastasia had left them alone. Richard congratulated her for telling him everything and asked if she was fine. She told him that she would never again believe in the lies of that man, that now she knew very well who he was, and was immune to his words. He congratulated her once more and told her that he was very proud of her and how much she had matured in the last year.

Richard finally told her the news about Darcy's carriage and explained that he was going on a trip the next day. Georgiana was very sad about everything that had happened that day, so after dinner she immediately retired to her room. Richard also went to sleep, without knowing everything that awaited him the next day.

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Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth had woken up a few minutes ago, but both pretended to be sleeping so as not to wake the other. The morning was very cold, both were still covered with all the blankets and tightly hugged. Elizabeth was surprised, she would never have imagined ten days ago, that sleeping in the arms of the obnoxious Mr. Darcy would be so pleasant.

She had always thought that he was a very handsome man, but she had never given importance to that fact when she thought him a cruel and unforgiving man. These days she had discovered another Mr. Darcy, the one that perhaps he wanted to hide. This new Mr. Darcy was honorable, he was able to accept his mistakes, and above all, he was very protective. She had never felt protected by anyone, in fact, she fulfilled that role in her family, so she was deeply confused by the feeling that she could entrust her well-being to another.

But there were other feelings that she was beginning to experience, other things that she had noticed that attracted her in a way she couldn't explain. For example, she had noticed how his beard had started to grow and how attractive he looked, or how strong his arms were, and how firm his chest was. She did not quite know why she was uneasy when she remembered the time he called her my love. Who was he thinking about, who would be the woman who inspired those words. In those precise moments that she was thinking all this, she felt Mr. Darcy spoke softly in her ear.

"Miss Bennet, I think it's time to wake up. In another hour we should be boarding the coach", Mr. Darcy said while still hugging Elizabeth.

"I know Mr. Darcy, but it's so cold, I don't feel like getting up. I hope you slept well", Elizabeth added, trying to sound as casual as possible.

"I slept better than ever" and after that neither of them spoke for a few minutes. "Stay here, I will get you some breakfast and some hot water" and with that he got up, got ready and went out in search of what he had promised. Minutes later he appeared with a breakfast tray, and a jug of hot water. They ate in silence and he left the room to wash himself with the water from the well, and left her the hot water and the privacy of the room.

Mr. Darcy was happy, he couldn't help but smile when he remembered how Elizabeth had hugged him looking for his warmth, and how comfortable she felt being in his arms. As he was walking back to the Inn, a well-dressed man passed him, surely a gentleman from the surrounding area. He greeted him kindly and the man looked him up and down and with a face of contempt, ignored him. He was about to say something, but realized it wasn't worth it. He thought of the attitude he had shown in Hertfordshire and again, he felt ashamed of his behavior.

As he went up the stairs in search of Elizabeth he heard some men ask the Inn's receptionist if she had seen a woman and a man with their physical description. The owner of the Inn, who knew the couple were friends with James, said no, but gestured for Mr. Darcy to hide. He hurried up the stairs and into the room. Elizabeth was surprised to see him so agitated and asked what was going on. He explained to her, and when they looked out the window they saw that there were three men, walking the streets of the town, watching or waiting for someone to appear.

"The mail coach leaves in ten minutes, I don't know if it is safe for us to leave our room now". Mr. Darcy was worried, he knew they had to board the coach to be able to leave this nightmare behind once and for all, but he could not put Elizabeth at risk any more. He knew she was in trouble because of him. "I think the best thing is that you stay here, I will leave you all the money left, and once I have reached Pemberley, I will come to look for you immediately with the necessary protection to prevent any of these men from hurting you".

"Don't talk nonsense Mr. Darcy, I have an idea. Please turn around", he obeyed, not quite sure what she was going to do. Elizabeth took a shawl out of the small suitcase and tucked it into her clothes at the level of her belly. "Mr. Darcy, now you can watch. What do you think?"

He was a bit surprised at first but then he got the idea. The men were not looking for a peasant couple with a wife with child. Elizabeth told him that she did not want to be left alone, that he needed to understand that they were together, if those men recognized them, they would not dare to attack them in public.

"It is fine, we will do it" said Mr. Darcy resigned and added, "I must tell you Mrs. Darcy that you look very beautiful with child", he offered his arm and Elizabeth could not help blushing and to think that he had called her Mrs. Darcy.

They went out and walked calmly so as not to attract attention. One of the men looked at them for a few moments as they made their way to the station, and none one of the men recognized them. They got on the mail coach, and only when they had left the town, they could feel safe. The coach was full of people and quite uncomfortable compared to the way Mr. Darcy always traveled, but none of that mattered when he thought they were finally on their way to Pemberley.

When Colonel Fitzwilliam got up, he received two messages that would force him to change all his plans. The first from his cousin Anne de Bourgh, and the second one, from his superior officer. Both contained news that left him stunned and unsure of what to do.

I want to ask all of you who comment about grammar errors, editing, etc to read at the beginning of the story where it says "Clarifications for those who decide to read my story." If you have read it, and still insist on writing about that, I must tell you that your reading comprehension is worse than my use of the English grammar :)

Thanks for all your supportive comments and all the good vibes!

¡Muchas gracias a todos por su apoyo y la buena onda!

Merci à tous pour votre soutien et vos bonnes vibrations!

This story is planned to last fifteen chapters so many things will happen and others will be resolved in each remaining chapter.

Saludos,

Yo