Chapter 12

When the butler appeared in the drawing room, to tell Mrs. Gardiner that someone wanted to speak to her urgently, she became very concerned and asked Jane and Georgiana to stay there until she returned. When she entered the parlor, she was very surprised to see who was waiting for her.

"Rebecca, why do you want to see me so urgently, did something happen with your family?" Mrs. Gardiner invited Rebecca to sit down and listen to what she had to say.

"Mrs. Gardiner, excuse me for showing up to your house without an invitation, but I need to tell you about something that happened at my house today that made me feel very uneasy." Rebecca sat down and began to explain the reason for her visit.

Rebecca Thompson knew Mrs. Gardiner very well, despite the difference in age they both had a very kind heart and were volunteers in an orphanage, where they made generous donations and organized charity events to raise funds to help children without a family.

After they sat down, Rebecca told Mrs. Gardiner about the meeting her mother had arranged at her home, and everything Caroline had said to Lady Anastasia. She also commented that what had concerned her the most, was the interest that the Countess had shown in knowing all the details that Caroline knew about the Gardiner family. She knew the Countess well, Lady Anastasia was an extremely frivolous woman, and considered everyone below her. She knew very well that she pretended to be her mother's friend out of financial interest. That's why she told Mrs. Gardiner to be very careful, because a woman like her, could do a lot of damage to Mr. Gardiner's business, spreading ill-intentioned rumors.

Mrs. Gardiner thanked Rebecca, and invited her to tea, but she excused herself saying that she had another appointment. Finally, they said their goodbyes and Mrs. Gardiner told the butler to go immediately to look for Mr. Gardiner.

Half an hour later, Mr. Gardiner called Georgiana and Jane to his office, and told them everything that had happened at the Thompson house. Georgiana immediately became concerned, but the Gardiners reassured her by telling her not to worry, that everything would be fine.

"Colonel Fitzwilliam should be back in about four or five days, so we have to buy some time. Madeline and I have decided that the best we can do in order to protect you, it is to send both of you to Longbourn immediately. We still have about five more hours of daylight, if you depart immediately, you will get there before dusk. In order not to arouse suspicion, you two will travel alone, accompanied by two men I trust, who will support the coachman and the page. I have written this letter to explain everything to my brother Bennet, but we will tell my sister that Georgiana is Madeline's niece who needs temporary accommodation. We know that she cannot keep a secret". In this way Mr. Gardiner explained to them what the plan was, to prevent Lord Matlock from trying to do something against Miss Darcy.

Jane and Georgiana left as soon as they could for Longbourn, on their way they thought that Georgiana needed a new name. She told Jane that when she was a little girl, she couldn't say her name correctly, she said her name was Anna so they decided that that would be her temporary name.

When they arrived at Longbourn near dark, the Bennets were all astonished, but received them with the joy that characterized a home full of women. Jane handed the letter to her father, who after reading it spoke to Miss Darcy in the library. He assured her that she should be tranquil, that he would take care of protecting her until her cousin returned. The truth was that Mr. Bennet was very grateful to the Colonel for all his efforts to find Lizzie. Upon learning that the Matlocks' were responsible for what had happened to Elizabeth, all the more he wanted to do everything possible to ruin the plans of those horrible people. If it was too late to help her beloved Elizabeth, it was not too late to help Miss Darcy.

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That same night at Matlock's house, Lady Anastasia had finally managed to meet with the two men she needed to speak to. She had been trying to locate them all afternoon, but they were both occupied playing cards and drinking with friends.

"I have finally managed to reunite you both. I have important information to share with you about Georgiana. Apparently, Wickham, your charms weren't enough to keep my niece close to you, and she decided to seek help with other people so she would not have to see you.", said the lady, looking defiantly at Wickham.

He wanted to defend himself, but he thought better of it, a spiteful woman was something that he always avoided. The Countess had come on to him on more than one occasion, but he only liked young women so he had rejected her as politely as he could. "Believe me, dear countess, that is not the case, behind all this is surely your son, the colonel." Wickham had such a big ego that he thought no woman could resist his charms.

"Enough talking, if you asked me to come here, please tell me at once why," said Lord Matlock abruptly.

The countess explained everything Caroline had told her, and that she thought this family might have information about Georgiana. Wickham told them that he had met the Gardiners last year, and that he would go find out what they kenw. He told them that he was sure that they saw him as a friend, so it would be easier for him to get any information. Besides, Wickham knew that Mrs. Gardiner loved Elizabeth very much, and surely, Lizzie had spoken highly of him. When he thought of Elizabeth, who had fallen in love with him at first sight, he felt a little sorry, because she had been a collateral victim of all this.

The next day, as they had agreed, Wickham went to visit the Gardiners and could not draw anything in conclusion. Even though he used all his charm, they only gave him evasive answers. At that moment, he decided that he should find a way to bribe some servant to tell him what had happened at the Gardiners' house in recent days. The only thing that he was completely sure, it was that Georgiana was not there.

Georgiana felt comfortable in Longbourn, just as at the Gardiners' house, she shared a room with Jane, and all the sisters had welcomed her with great affection. Although at first Mrs. Bennet scared her with her effusive temperament, she couldn't help but feel touched when she went into Jane's room to kiss her daughter good night, and kissed her too.

At the breakfast table all the Bennet sisters talked and planned a day full of activities for their new cousin Anna. "Anna, I assure you that you will not get bored while you are visiting us. Kitty and I last night, planned a day full of activities, so you can not complain about the hospitality of the Bennets" said Lydia, very happy to have a guest that changed the routine.

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"Good morning Fitzwilliam, I think it's time to get up. Today we do not have the excuse of the bad weather to stay locked up in our room", said Elizabeth to a sleepy Mr. Darcy who was hugging her, as he resisted getting up.

"We still have time, a few more minutes my love", he said as he tried to kiss her.

"No husband, we already know how those kisses end, and we don't have time for that. We must get to your home in Derbyshire as soon as possible, my family and yours must be very concerned. We don't know what information they have about our disappearance", Elizabeth said as she got up and began to dress.

"You are right Mrs. Darcy… I just want to clarify that it is not my home but our home in Derbyshire". Mr. Darcy after getting up, took Elizabeth in his arms and stole a kiss from her.

After washing up, finishing dressing, and bundling up, they went down to breakfast. Elizabeth asked one of the maids to prepare some extra sandwiches and fruits for the trip, which she packed with the few clothes they were carrying. When they left the Inn Elizabeth was holding her husband's arm, both of them smiling and happy until she saw someone around the mail coach asking questions.

"Fitzwilliam, look at that man who is close to the coach we are going to take, his face seems familiar to me". At that time Mr. Darcy was looking at two men entering the Inn where they had spent two nights.

Elizabeth, I think they're looking for us. The man near the carriage is one of the kidnappers, and I just saw two men entering the inn, who were looking for us a few days ago. I think we should hide immediately", explained Mr. Darcy, very concerned.

At that time Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth began to walk rapidly in the opposite direction from where the coach was. They walked for about ten minutes until someone told them to stop. They recognized the voice and before the person approached, they began to run. Fortunately, there were many people walking through the streets of the town, which served as protection. Finally, they found a stable, that was on the outskirts of town, and they hid. They stayed there for a few hours without saying a word for fear of being discovered. The only thing they did during those hours was hugging and comforting themselves with their company.

It was clear that they had lost the mail coach and that the kidnappers knew they were somewhere in town. Mr. Darcy went out to see exactly where they were and if those men were still looking for them. When he returned to the stable, he told Elizabeth that the best thing they could do was hide in the forest outside the town, and wait there for a day or two to see what would happen. With great care they began to walk, and when they finally reached the forest, they searched for some safe place where they could rest.

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Richard had spent several days on his horse, once he had arrived in Newcastle, he had delivered the message, and that same day he had continued traveling north. Finally, after many days of strenuous travel, he had managed to meet Bowman who had news for him.

"Fitzwilliam, good to see you. I have a lot of news for you, the first and most important thing is that your cousin, and the young lady who accompanied him, were seen in this town five days ago. My theory is that the kidnappers threw the carriage into the river to make us believe they were dead, apparently they weren't looking for ransom, but to get rid of them and make it look like an accident". Bowman explained.

"I know very well who did it and why, Bowman. All I want is to be able to find them as soon as possible", Richard said sadly.

"I understand. Regarding that, I don't have good news. The only thing I have been able to find out is that I am not the only one who has asked about them, some heavily armed men were looking for them too. Apparently, and for a reason that I still do not understand, the people of this town do not want to give me clues about what happened. I think they are protecting them, and of course, they do not know my intentions. The only person who spoke about them, told me that they had stayed at the Inn for one night, and then he hadn't heard anything about them again.

"I think it is a little late, and we will have to spend the night here at the Inn. I will take the opportunity to speak with the people who work there. They may decide to speak with us, if I explain who I am, and what my intentions are". They finished talking and left their horses in the stable, and they headed to the Inn. After freshening up and resting, Richard and Bowman gathered for dinner in the dining room where there were a few more guests.

James Mackay was going to spend the night at the Inn, and return to his estate the next day. He had been away from his duties for almost three weeks, and it was time to return to his normal life. But he could not avoid being worried about William and Lizzie. When his friend Mrs. Buchanan, had told him that armed men were looking for them, he felt guilty that he had left them alone. That is why he was very disturbed when he heard two young men, eating two tables away, asking questions about them. He got up from his table and decided to find out what were the intentions of these two strangers.

"Excuse me gentlemen, but I heard that you were asking too many questions about two people, in this town we do not like or welcome those who want to harm innocents", said James threateningly.

Richard felt a bit confused when he looked at the stranger in front of him, he sensed that this man could provide the information he needed, for that reason he carefully said, "I understand sir, but my friend and I are looking for my cousin, Mr. Darcy and Miss Bennet. They were kidnapped almost two weeks ago and we have not been able to locate them".

"Mr. Darcy? Is he the son of George Darcy, master of Pemberley?" James asked, very surprised.

"My cousin Fitzwilliam Darcy has been Pemberley's master for the last five years, since my Uncle George died", Richard explained.

"Your Uncle George? I'm sorry but who are you?" James asked again.

"Sorry sir, I don't know where my manners are. I have been traveling the last few days and have had very little rest. This is my friend John Bowman and I am Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam", said Richard as he extended his hand.

"Ri- Richard?" James Mackay said, unable to contain his surprise.

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Thanks for reading and for all your comments. We are nearing the end. According to my original plan there are three chapters left, we will see if I can finish the story in three more chapters without having an abrupt ending.

Gracias por leer y por todos sus comentarios. Nos estamos acercando al final. Según mi plan original quedan tres capítulos, veremos si logro terminar la historia en tres capítulos más sin tener un final abrupto.

Merci d'avoir lu et pour tous vos commentaires. Nous approchons de la fin. Selon mon plan initial, il reste trois chapitres, nous verrons si je peux terminer l'histoire en trois autres chapitres sans avoir une fin brusque.

Saludos,

Yo