Chapter 13

James had been very surprised to learn that the man in front of him was William's cousin and his beloved Emma's nephew. Now he could understand William's resemblance to George Darcy, he was his son. But what surprised him the most, was that the detestable Lord Matlock decided to name his second son after the son he and Emma had lost. From what little he had been able to talk to him, it was obvious that this young man was not like his father, but rather he was very similar to his Emma, he had the same eyes and the same smile, and above all, the same kindness when speaking.

"As they say the world is very small, rescuing and helping the son of an old friend after so many years is something very exceptional", Richard said, very surprised after what Mr. MacKay had told him.

James, trying to measure his words because he did not want to be indiscreet, said to Richard, "I also know your father and almost all of your family. I was… I was a very close friend of your aunt Emma, whom, because of your age, I imagine you never met. Just a few days ago it was thirty years since her death in case you didn't know. "

"Of course, I know, it is true that I never met her, but I was born the same day she passed away. As you can see, my birthday is the same day as the anniversary of her death". When Richard finished speaking he was shocked by the look of horror on Mr. MacKay, who immediately stood up, and left the room without saying a word.

Once he had left the Inn, James began to run without knowing very well where he was going. When he got tired of running, he was in the middle of nowhere, he knelt and began to cry without consolation, just as he had done thirty years ago, hugging his recently deceased wife and believing his son dead.

Richard and Bowman had not understood much what had happened, and decided to continue eating. When Bowman said that he would go to sleep, Richard explained that he would wait to see if Mr. MacKay came back because he hadn't had a chance to ask him any questions regarding his cousin. He sat drinking ale and writing a letter to Mr. Gardiner to let him know the latest news.

An hour later James returned to the Inn calmer and determined to find out everything he could about the death of his son, but he obviously wasn't going to disturb the young man that he just met. He would travel to London to speak directly to Matlock, and if he had to kill him in order to get the truth, he would do it.

"I am sorry young man, but I think I ate something that made me sick. I needed some fresh air. I think you wanted to ask me some questions, I am at your service". James couldn't stop looking at Richard, he was so similar to Emma that just because of that fact, he wanted to help him and be his friend.

They talked for almost two hours, in which James learned that the Colonel was an honest, hard worker, and a prominent soldier. The minutes seemed to fly by the side of this charming young man, he was supposedly the son of an Earl, and yet, he treated everyone around him with affection and respect, he was just like his beloved Emma.

For his part, Richard was just as delighted with the company of Mr. MacKay, he was a sociable and friendly man, very much like him. He even realized that they had the same literary taste. He felt so comfortable with James, that Richard told him that his cousin was not the only one in trouble but also Georgiana, Darcy's sister, and that he didn't know how to protect both of them at the same time. Out of shame, he didn't tell James that it was his own family that was plotting against the Darcys to take over their money.

"Colonel, I think that after all we've talked about, the best we can do is this. Tomorrow you must return as quickly as possible to London to accompany Miss Darcy, and Bowman and I will take care of finding William and Lizzie. I will recruit some men to accompany us, and don't worry about anything, I will be in charge and we will find them. It's the least I can do for the memory of my friend George Darcy. " After finishing the conversation both of them went to rest.

The next day everyone got up very early, and after breakfast Richard left for London. James, after recruiting five well-armed men, set out with Bowman for Gretna Green on the trail of William and Lizzie.

But before Richard mounted his horse, James approached him and said, "Take good care of yourself son" and without thinking he hugged Richard tightly, he found the situation a bit strange but said nothing. After that Richard left.

###

Georgiana had had a very entertaining few days despite the great sorrow she felt because she did not know anything about her brother. It seemed like there was a Bennet girl for every situation. When she was very sad, Jane, with her sweetness and maturity, comforted her like a good older sister. She practiced the piano and talked about music with Mary. Kitty helped her dress and every day she did her hair in a different style, she was also teaching Kitty to draw and they spent a lot of time together talking. Lydia was the one who made her laugh by telling stories about the officers, and many other gossips from people she did not know. Her days were always busy and she never felt lonely, even yesterday after dinner Mary played the piano, and she and the rest of the Bennet sisters danced while Mrs. Bennet clapped and laughed very happily. Even Mr. Bennet was very entertaining with his ironic comments and his black humor.

But one of the things that had struck her the most was how Mrs. Bennet had taken her in. Georgiana had lost her mother when she was very young, and had no memory of her. Her aunts Lady Catherine and Lady Anastasia had never been affectionate, and she was sure they were not very fond of her. For this reason, for a girl who always lacked the mother figure, Mrs. Bennet had become one of her favorite people. She loved how she tucked her in at night and kissed her before going to sleep, how she made sure she ate well, and mainly how she took her hands and caressed them when she gave her ridiculous advice on how to catch a rich husband. None of that mattered to her, only the love and attention that Mrs. Bennet gave her was what made her feel immensely happy, and she did not know how to explain it.

###

Lady Matlock, knowing that Wickham had not succeeded in locating Georgiana, had decided to do her own investigation, and for that she used stupid Caroline Bingley, who thought that the lady had a real interest in her.

"Thank you very much for coming dear Caroline, I am so happy to have met you a few days ago, it is good to know that people as vulgar as the Thompsons, at least have a decent and classy friend like you". Anastasia knew that by using simple flattery she could cajole Caroline.

"Same here Lady Anastasia, it was a pleasure meeting you, and I am honored that you invited me to your home". Caroline, for her part, believed that this new friendship was the key to entering the first circles, and becoming the future Mrs. Darcy.

Lady Anastasia, unsurprisingly, asked Caroline to go to the Gardiners' house to speak with Jane. She explained that she wanted to know about this woman, and her intentions with her niece, of whom she was very close and she loved as a daughter. Caroline promised to do that and inform her everything she knew as soon as possible. Also, Caroline took advantage of this meeting and asked her directly what the Countess knew about the rumors of Mr. Darcy and Eliza Bennet.

"Dear Caroline, my nephew is a very rich and handsome young man, and when a slut offers herself, he takes the opportunity to have fun for a while, but he is most likely already bored with her. You'll see how in a few weeks he is back and he doesn't even remember that woman. Men always do things like that, but we know that when he will look for a woman to marry, he will do it with someone like you, dear Caroline, and of course the whole family will support him". While saying that, the countess felt like laughing in the face of her temporary friend, Darcy would never marry a new rich like her, and the family will never allow it.

"Thank you very much Lady Anastasia, I understand the situation very well. That woman is just a pastime, of course Mr. Darcy would never stoop to marry her. " In those moments Caroline was ecstatic knowing that one day she would be Mrs. Darcy and niece of an Earl.

Caroline did as the countess had asked, and went to Cheapside alone, preferring not to tell Louisa or Charles to avoid problems. When she got there, Mrs. Gardiner received her without knowing what that woman wanted. She informed her that Jane had returned to Longbourn, and after fifteen minutes of awkward conversation Caroline left. As soon as she got home, she sent a note to the Countess saying that Miss Darcy was no longer in danger because Jane Bennet had returned to her home in Hertfordshire.

###

Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were to spend their second night hiding in the forest. After much walking, they had found a small abandoned cabin that had served as a refuge for them, especially at night when the temperature dropped very low. They had just finished the food that Elizabeth had packed for the trip, so they had resolved that the next day they would return to town to try to board the mail coach, or at least, to be able to send a message to Pemberley so Mr. Darcy's people would come to help them.

As expected, and despite everything that was happening, they were on a kind of honeymoon. Most of the time they were happy just being with each other. Elizabeth had thought a lot about what was happening to her, and although she couldn't tell if she was in love with Mr. Darcy, she did know that she really enjoyed being with him.

When the night had fallen, Mr. Darcy had managed to get a fire in the fireplace, as they had spent much of the day gathering firewood.

"Mister Darcy, when we get to your house in Derbyshire, can I order all I want to eat? I'm so hungry that I can't think of anything but food", Elizabeth said.

"When we get to our house, you will be the mistress, so you can order whatever you want. But are you sure my love that all you think about is food?" After saying that, he began to kiss her while Elizabeth laughingly tried to loosen his embrace.

So they spent a few minutes laughing and kissing until Mr. Darcy asked Elizabeth, "I don't know how you thought of becoming a companion when it is clear that your place is by my side my dear Elizabeth."

"You are so conceited Mr. Darcy; how do you know if Mr. Mackay's aunt turned out to be more entertaining than you?" After saying that she was silenced by a few kisses, he loved when she teased him. But suddenly his mood changed.

"Who is Mr. Mackay?" Mr. Darcy asked, very intrigued.

"Mr. James Mackay is Mr. James, that is his full name." Elizabeth was surprised that Mr. Darcy was so intrigued about this.

"And do you know where his estate is?" he asked.

"It's on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Why do you ask?

At that time, Mr. Darcy explained to Elizabeth that one of the requests his father had made in his will was to locate an old friend named James MacKay, and deliver a sealed letter to him. He told her that since he had never heard that name in his entire life, he had asked his uncle Lord Matlock, and he had told him that James Mackay was dead. He had kept the letter in hope of one day finding his descendants and delivering it to them. Elizabeth explained that James had told her how to locate him, so they could send him a letter, and ask if he had ever been friends with Mr. Darcy's father.

After talking about it a bit more, they made a bed on the floor, hugged, kissed, and forgot about their problems until the other day.

###

Lady Matlock was meeting with her husband and Wickham discussing how to locate Georgiana. Lord Matlock was sure that Richard had sent her to Pemberley, and although it would be difficult to penetrate the protection of the faithful staff, he was sure that they would not oppose him, if he personally went in search of her.

Wickham said it was too obvious to hide Georgiana there, that surely Richard was more cunning than that. At that moment the butler came in, and gave Lady Matlock the note that Caroline had sent her.

"I think I know where Georgiana is hiding," said Lady Anastasia.

"Where?" the two men asked at the same time.

"In a place called Longbourn, in Hertfordshire."

Thank you very much for your comments, I really write for all of you who enjoy this story and let me know what you think. I can read English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, so if you want, you can leave me comments in those languages as well.

I have a problem, according to my original plan this story is fifteen chapters long, and I don't know how I'm going to finish it, if I only have two chapters left to write. I accept suggestions!

Muchas gracias por sus comentarios, realmente escribo para todas aquellas personas que disfrutan esta historia y me dejan saber que piensan. Yo puedo leer inglés, español, francés y portugués así que si quieren, me pueden dejar comentarios en esas lenguas también.

Tengo un problema, de acuerdo a mi plan original esta historia es de quince capítulos y no sé cómo voy a hacer para terminarla si sólo me quedan dos capítulos por escribir. Acepto sugerencias!

Merci beaucoup pour vos commentaires, j'écris vraiment pour toutes ces personnes qui aiment cette histoire et me font savoir ce qu'elles en pensent. Je peux lire l'anglais, l'espagnol, le français et le portugais, donc si vous le souhaitez, vous pouvez également me laisser des commentaires dans ces langues.

J'ai un problème: selon mon plan initial, cette histoire compte quinze chapitres et je ne sais pas comment je vais la terminer s'il ne me reste plus que deux chapitres à écrire. J'accepte les suggestions ! (Je peux lire le français mais je ne peux pas l'écrire très bien)