Chapter 35
Walking in a park on Gracechurch street the next morning, Elizabeth gave Georgiana a mischievous grin and said, "Jane might need to use her angel wings if she finds herself floating away from happiness."
"Mr. Bingley will be floating away with her," Georgiana said with a giggle as she and Elizabeth strolled behind the besotted couple.
"Well if that is the case, then she won't even notice when she floats away and leaves us behind."
"I dare say her and Mr. Bingley would have left the Gardiner's without us if your aunt had not intervened," said Georgiana with a smile.
The three young ladies along with Lady Matlock had come to call on the Gardiner's that morning. When Bingley had arrived at Matlock House to see his fiancee after making it back to town, his absence being over a full week longer then the expected week, he was informed of her location and he hastened to Gracechurch street. Miss Bingley after he had left her, attempted to follow him back to town and an express caught up with him letting him know before he reached town. He intercepted his sister and brought her back to his relatives in the North, where he began the process of seeing her dowry released to be set up for her care. He found an establishment for her and with the solicitor that would oversee the disbursement of her funds made it clear that he would not cover any expenses if she exceeded what she had. If she married the funds would be transferred to her husband and that man would be responsible for her care and could allow her to spend as he liked, until then though she would only be allowed the intrest from her dowry to live on.
Bingley also took away his smaller carriage he had originally sent North for his sister's use. Since she had attempted to use it to return to town he had no intentions of leaving her with the use of one of his carriages anymore. She did not have enough ready cash to purchase a carriage herself immediately and he knew she was to proud to travel post. He planned on severing his connection to her and made it clear to her she would never be welcomed by him again. Miss Bingley was quite surprised to find her malleable brother had apparently found his steel, and nothing would move him from his course. All attempts to do so resulted in further consequences for her. He had even gone so far as to tell her that he would not negotiate a marriage settlement on her behalf if she found a match, that she could look after herself, she had always put her own interest first and now she could be in charge of them. She was reduced to being a spinster with no close relation to care for her. He even refused to see to the hiring of an appropriate companion, vowing she was no longer under his protection so she could hire one if she choose to protect her own reputation, it meant nothing to him. Now after his lengthy absence him and Jane were both eager to see each other.
The other ladies had all hid amused chuckles when Bingley was announced. He and Jane had both stood smiling and blushing, looking at each other without saying a word. Georgiana and Elizabeth avoided looking at each other so as to avoid breaking into laughter. Lady Matlock had laughingly suggested that Bingley escort Jane, Elizabeth and Georgiana for a walk in the nearby park. All agreed to the suggestion. Jane and Bingley in their own dreamy haze would have left without any outerwear or the other two if not for Mrs. Gardiner. She had gracefully looped her arm through Jane's and said, "I would not forget Lizzy if I were you. If you leave without her and she finds herself stuck inside holding your bonnet on a nice day like this, I shrudder to think of what her and Georgiana might do to it in revenge. "
Jane has startled, reached up and feeling no bonnet on her head blushed. Laughing, Elizabeth handed her sister the missing bonnet, and looped her own arm merrily through Georgiana's saying, "My own sister has forgotten all about me. A lifetime of love and devotion gone in the blink of Mr. Bingley's eyes."
"Perhaps you need a new sister, Lissy," Georgianna said mischievously. "I am amenable to applying for the position."
It was Elizabeth's turn to blush as the others laughed. Jane, with a serence smile said, "A sweet, gentle sister that teases you. What a wonderful notion. And she comes with an eligible older brother. Yes, I do believe you should accept Georgiana's application. She would make a fine sister or adopted sister-in-law for me."
Remembering the seen earlier, Elizabeth said to Georgiana, "I dare say you are right. I though would not have been above chasing after her and reminding her of my existence, and her bonnet. If it was shopping I would not, but we were talking about the park. It is as close to a country ramble as I am going to get in London."
"You are not the only one they are oblivious to. That young gentlemen appears to have hailed Mr. Bingley more than once," Georgiana said with a giggle pointing out a young man a year or two younger than Bingley, that was greeting a blushing Bingley.
Elizabeth stood frozen her, eyes wide in terror. Finding her voice, she whispered, "No." Then frantically to Georgiana, "No, no. It's impossible," before starting to tremble in fear.
Georgiana threw her arms around Elizabeth to comfort her and called desperately, "Jane!"
Jane turned towards her and seeing Elizabeth, gave a cry of distress and started towards the pair. Bingley and his friend also started toward the pair, alerted by Georgiana's call and Jane's distressed response. While the armed guard Col. Fitzwilliam had assigned, scanned the park for danger, taking a protective stance near the ladies at Georgiana's cry. His job was to look for danger and eliminate it if necessary. He knew the memebers of the walking party would see to Elizabeth's distress. His eyes scanned those near and far as he attempted to figure out where the danger was likely to spring from.
Seeing Bingley and his friend advancing Elizabeth broke out of Georgiana's embrace, grabbed her hand and looked frantically around. Before she could run, Jane was at her side pulling a trembling Elizabeth into her own arms. Jane said, "Sshhh dear. Your Jane is here. " And begin to softly sing the words of an old lullaby to her. Elizabeth though would not be calmed and was mumbling the words no and impossible to herself.
Jane as she struggled, along with Georgiana's assistance, to hold on to the frantic Elizabeth said, "Let us go to Uncle Eddy's, Lizzy."
This seem to calm Elizabeth a little and she subsided in her struggles. Elizabeth whispered, "It is impossible it is not real." All the while still looking like a frighten dear ready to bolt. The guard had abandoned his search for danger within the park and was now attempting to determine from watching Elizabeth what the danger was. He had been unable to determine that anyone within sight in the park appeared threatening, yet she was still clearly distressed. He took a step back from her so that Bingley could take his place closer to the ladies since it appeared there was no physical danger present at the time.
"Can I be of any assistance?" Bingley's friend ask in a concerned tone.
"Thank you, Lawton. My betroth's uncle lives nearby. I think it is best we get Lissy there quickly," Bingley said, concerned that she looked near collapse.
"I will be happy to help you escort the ladies there Bingley," Lawton said, but Elizabeth, already pale and trembling, whimpered when the young man stepped near to assist. Her guard tensed and frowned, committing the man's features to memory to share with Col. Fitzwilliam. He would have offered to help support Elizabeth, since he too was concerned for his charge, but wanted to have free use of both of his arms if the danger she seemed to think was near materialized.
Feeling the tension that had infused Elizabeth's form Jane spoke up saying, "Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Lawton, but I think it is best that we continue alone to my Uncle's. I would rather not risk distressing my sister further with the presence of a stranger."
"Of course, Miss Bennet. I hope your sister recovers from her upset. And you need not worry about me spreading gossip about this incident. It was a pleasure to meet you, Bingly is a lucky gentleman," Harold Lawton said and with a last concerned look at Elizabeth he departed as Jane and Georgiana supported a pale trembling Elizabeth between them.
Bingley offered to lend the support of his own arm to Elizabeth, concerned that if she swooned in her distress, the two young ladies support would not be enough. Elizabeth though, shrank away from him reluctant to not be in contact with both Jane and Georgiana.. The three headed towards the Gardiner's residence, casting concerned glances at Elizabeth. She was still trembling and seemed to have retreated into herself, but did not faint.
Once back at the Gardiner's, Lady Matlock and Mrs. Gardiner were instantly concerned at the state Elizabeth was in. Elizabeth was quickky guided toward a sofa, and not a moment to soon. Before reaching it though, her strength appeared to give out. Seeing the familiar surroundings of her Aunt and Uncle's home that represented saftey, she fainted in a combination of relief to be there and as a result of the tension and fear that had been coursing through her body.
The other three explained what had happened as best they could and notes were dispatched to Gardiner's warehouse, Matlock's club and Darcy House. The note to Darcy House included a note to the butler there to send footmen to find whichever of the Fitzwilliam males or Darcy that he could on an urgent matter. The logical conclusion all of them had reached was something in the park must have triggered a bad memory for Elizabeth. Lady Matlock knew the males of her family would be keen to investigate and to be there for Elizabeth. Darcy she knew would berate himself for attending to his business rather then being with Elizabeth in the park. He was not likely to want to allow Elizabeth out of his sight after this. He had already been inclined to spend as much time as possible with her.
When Darcy, along with both his cousins, rushed into the sitting room at the Gardiner's Elizabeth was sobbing onto Gardiner's shoulder and attempting to speak but was incoherent and making no sense as he held her and spoke soothingly.
"Lissy," Darcy said stepping towards the pair and gently touching her shoulder. Hearing Darcy's voice Elizabeth turned towards him.
Upon seeing him, she said, "Wills," and quickky launched herself at him. He caught her and held her close, whispering her name and dropping kisses onto hair, uncaring if it went against propriety, all he wanted was to provide her the comfort she so desperately needed.
Finally she was able to say, "I saw him. It was him, but it is impossible."
Those already familar with the events at the park gasped as Darcy asked, "Saw who?"
"The man from the carriage. But it is impossible, he looked the exact same. The exact same, like he had not aged at all since then."
"A cousin or younger brother," Col. Fitzwilliam said.
"He looked exactly the same, not similar like a cousin or brother, more like and identical twin," Elizabeth said with determination. "I thought it was him, and I, I" Elizabeth said blushing in embarrassment and trailing off. Col. Fitzwilliam's suggestion of a younger relation made more sense then the frantic imaginings of Elizabeth's terrified mind that he had come back exactly as he was in the past intent on harming Georgiana and her since she had not kept silent like he instructed.
"You are safe. I won't let anyone hurt you," Darcy said fiercely as she continued to cling to him.
"I was foolish. I thought he had come back to do what he said. I tried to tell myself it was impossible, but I could not stop the fear. I have made a ninny of myself. I am sorry," Elizabeth said with shame. "I have always claimed my courage rises with every attempt to intimidate me, and this time my courage utterly failed me. I refused to believe that there was any real danger and when confronted with a memory I, I was like a silly child. I am sorry."
"There is no need to apologize," Littleton said firmly. "Being scared was perfectly natural."
"Who was it? What did he look like? Did any of you see who he was?" Col. Fitzwilliam asked. "If we can find him we can determine who his relatives are."
"He knew Mr. Bingley," Elizabeth said when no one else spoke up.
"Lawton?" Charles asked realizing that Elizabeth referred to his friend he had met in the park. Then he paled and said, "Lawton has an older brother a decade or so his senior. I have heard Lawton joke about how he supposedly could pass for his brother's twin when his elder was his age, but I have never met him."
"We need to pay the Lawtons a visit," Col. Fitzwilliam said grimly.
"His father is in Scottland, but expected back soon. His older brother may or may not be in town," Bingley said. "I have Lawton's direction, I can send a note requesting information about his brother. Harold Lawton would never be involved with something underhand or immoral, but I do not know if the same could be said of his relations or not."
"No," Col. Fitzwilliam said decisively. "We want the element of surprise. Let's go pay a call right now. He or his man can give us the elder brother's direction before the younger mentions today's incident."
"Mr. Lawton was genuine in his concern for Lissy," Jane said speaking up. "He assured us he would not gossip about the iincident."
"Mentioning it to an elder brother in passing would hardly be considered gossip," Littleton reminded her. "His brother would likely realize the significance of Lissy's reaction even if this Lawton only named her as your sister or the sister of his friend Bingley's fiancee. I would imagine he by now knows that Lysette Fitzwilliam has an adopted sister named Jane Bennet, who is engaged to Bingley.