Note: This is Wednesday evening. The assembly was on Tuesday the week prior.

This will be the final chapter on Wednesday.

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Richard dismissed the notion that he should have made alternative arrangements for transportation apart from walking and spurned the thought that he should take a brief respite. Regardless of what his hubris mind was insistent upon, his body chastised him. It had been long since his leg held such ache, or his step so faltered. He was quite lame by the time his uneven gate was observed and, to his chagrin, given assistance to the house proper.

'Sirs, the butler said that you had requested notification upon Mr. Fitzwilliam's return; which he has. He may have been rather hobbled, and required assistance to his rooms, then immediately sent his man upon errands… Mr. Fitzwilliam has since made application for my services this evening, until his man completes his tasks. Will that suit?', Fletcher said..

'By all means, assist Richard. Hobbled? Does he require additional aid? The apothecary, perhaps? Is he much pained?' Alex inquired, his tone concerned.

'I know little, only that my services have been petitioned in the interim. It is not likely that he will venture from his rooms this evening as he has requested a tray for dinner.'

'Will you inquire if he would wish fellowship?'

'I will inquire. Sirs. '

…***...

'Miss Elizabeth? Are you here?', Sarah asked the seemingly unoccupied room as she entered after knocking and receiving no reply.

'I am here, Sarah.'

'Are you well? Have you been to your room since the callers took their leave?'

'Yes. I am well enough', she paused, 'I felt rather unsteady and slipped away.'

'Unsteady? Are you certain that you are well? Is it your lady days, miss? Should I warm a brick?' Sarah asked with much concern, her questions spilling out before answers could be given.

'Not necessary. I would request to be left to my peace. I should be back to rights by dinner.'

Sarah acknowledged, then quit the room.

Elizabeth sighed, displeased in her obfuscation; yet understanding the necessity of the whole of it. If anyone inside the house had been knowledgeable to the occurrence in the garden, the house would have been in quite the uproar. She took solace in the stillness. This would not be the first time that holding her tongue would be the saving of her and her sister's reputations. Until a spare moment when she might have a word with Richard or Jimmy, she felt it was best to simply put the matter out of her mind; feign as if nothing of note had transpired.

…***...

When the Darcys had not received word from Fletcher when the time to change for dinner became near, they took action upon themselves. A decision was made to thrust their attendance upon him, and for Richard's comfort, of course, to forgo the standard of full dress and attempt a state of half dress. However, they quickly were brought to the conclusion that without prior preparation by Fletcher they were woefully inept at compiling the proper items. They had overlooked the intricacy of detail involved to achieve the singular appearance of their insistence and the tailoring tricks used to accomplish such. To simply locate them amongst the items, and ascertain which what belonged to whom, appeared to be beyond their ken; and far exceeded their patience.

'Should we not simply forgo the pretense" This is our cousin. He is more apt to be clad in his banyan since he has taken to his rooms.'

'Are you suggesting we traipse about the halls so fully undressed?'

'He is known to be pained and taken to his rooms. Would it not bring him more comfort if we were to present undressed as well? I am well aware that we shall demand information, but would that not be better achieved if we did not appear as inquisitors?' Alex asked, his eyebrow raised.

'You sound as if I were a prideful and arrogant prig.' Fitz declared, his stature revealing the potential truth in the declaration.

'To many, you are. It is the privilege of the first-born; presumed though it is.' Alex smirked. 'Even so, this is our cousin and our friend. Shall we not keep that in mind and leave the arrogant sod you are apt to be in the hallway?'

'Perhaps,' responded Fitz.

…***...

With exception to the most personal of attendance, Charlotte Lucas had remained steadfast in the attendance of her brother. She made every attempt to hold her vexation towards her family, who had sent neither note nor person with the simplest of inquiries as to his current state. However, the girls had all been very kind to her, often keeping her company for short spells.

Her reply would oft be that there was no change to be discerned. However, such had been evolving since the day's progression to dusk. The occurrences of eye flutters, hand contractions, and leg spasms were increasing. This gave rise to much hope, yet concern remained. She knew of such incidents where the person who opened their eyes were much changed. Whether or not her brother would fully return to her and her family remained still to be seen.

As frequent as she had been left to her own during this ordeal, she had allowed herself overmuch latitude to contemplate the fullness of matters. Every attempt to think beyond her own comforts inevitably led her back to such self-regarding notions. If her only brother were to succumb, what would her future hold? She could not fully comprehend such potentials. However, hearing the whispers of others gave her some inclination of what could befall the women who were left to their own within the world.. She was all too aware that she was considered too plain to draw attention through her charms alone. The more thought given, the more frequently her mind spiraled into using language that a proper lady should not be aware.

…***...

John's eyes fluttered. Unlike previous efforts, the light within the room did not blind him. He caught view of his sister sitting vigil, looking most overwrought.

His mind was captured within a state of unbalance; his time and place out of sorts. His imaginings were so encompassed upon the flood, that combined with the disquieted appearance of his sister, he could only draw one conclusion.

'Did my dearest Mary die? Did the waters take her?'

…***...

Charlotte gave no notice at the fluttering of John's eyes. It was his vocalizations that drew her awareness. Incoherent mumbles surrounded only one comprehensible word, 'Die.'

'No John, you are not dead and still very much amongst us! You are here, at Longbourn; the dower house, ' Charlotte reassured. In swift action, water was offered.

After but a few sips, John's attention waned. His eyes closed. Charlotte was reassured that her brother would, in all likelihood, return to her and her family. Only the fullness of time would make it clear as to what capacity.

…***...

Fletcher was closing Richard's door as he was approached by the Darcy twins. 'He is expecting your company. Be forewarned, he has been given laudanum to ease his pains. He may not be in full possession of his wits.'

'Is he otherwise attended?'

'His own man is still away with a peculiar coordination of errands, and is otherwise unattended. If you shall excuse me Sirs,' Fletcher said as he hastened to complete Richard's most recent request.

'If you are not Charles or a Darcy, I bid you, leave me be!' Richard called out in response to the firm knock upon his door. "Darcys. Capital! Overlook that I am unable to greet you properly, would you?'

'Of course! Is it the injuries previous, or have you managed to add an additional affliction?' Alexander asked.

'Either, both, or neither...knee burns like the devil, even so. I appreciate your allowance of the loan of Fletcher.' Richard answered. However his pattern of speech was peculiar; over enunciated. 'I over-extended myself.'

The silence that quickly settled between the three men was disturbed by the arrival of their dinner trays.

'Richard, was that not James that we saw in service at the Bennetts household?' Alexander asked.

Richard nodded.

Alexander continued, 'I was under the belief, by your own words, that his posting within your household was assured. Did he succumb to a transition in character?'

Richard was at a loss. Most baffled on how to settle this matter with as slight a betrayal to those involved as could be managed, he gazed forward and said nothing.

'I grow weary of the obfuscations. Your clarification on this matter can no longer be avoided. Tell us what mire has befallen. Your failure to disclose is giving cause for the drawing of our own conclusions, and those presumptions are neither particularly satisfactory or savory.' Fitzwilliam challenged.

Richard sighed. The moment he had desired to never occur was upon him, and he had naught but himself to blame. Perhaps it was the fog of laudanum clouding his reason, but he now better understood what James had been attempting to apprise him. He was simply too close to the matter. His ham-handed handling was making a mull of it all. He had been repeatedly cautioned against approaching the girls directly, putting to ruin all efforts made to avoid this very occurrence. James was correct! Blast it all! He did lose all good judgement when it came to those girls. So he asked them, 'Which to you holds the higher precedence, life or honor?'

'That would be an excellent point of later debate. However, I fail to see how that applies to the current point of discourse.', said Fitzwilliam, his composure beginning to thin.

'Richard,' Alex theorized, thinking aloud,'Your prior wounds. Your impairment. It was never disclosed where those injuries were incurred, other than you were in country at the time. The only accounting received is that the injuries were indicative of an incident on water. Little was known of your injuries before a person unknown brought you to London for care. I have been told of several partial accounts of a grievous flood that ravaged this county at a similar season and year. Is it at all possible that you were caught in the flood that ravaged this county?'

Richard nodded. At the first mention of the flood, he drew all of his mind to focus upon his next words.

'I have also heard of such a tragic event befalling this area. The Bennett twins, their brother, perished during that event, if I have been correctly informed. Were you, by chance, somehow aware of their brother?' Fitzwilliam contributed.

Richard again nodded. He did not intend to lead his cousins further astray from the fullness of the truth. Although, he fervently hoped that they were guiding themselves in the direction that would be most beneficial to all involved. Even so, they were diving all indications of drawing to conclusions that were right enough to the truth to suffice.

'So Miss Elizabeth and Miss Mary are under your protection then. Actions taken during the flood...your protection is in...homage. So you do hold them in a special regard, but not one congruent with the most common of thought.' Alex concluded.

'Is that the full motivation that brought us here? If so, why were you not forthcoming with such news?' Fitzwilliam said. He had experienced sufficient machinations from others in recent years and he expected better from his cousin.

'Do you recall your original motivations for your decision to locate and pursue a suitable bride?' Richard queried.

Fitz and Alex began to answer at once; one on top of the other, so it was impossible to discern who was saying which at what time. 'Father's death.'

'I came to presume time would be in our favor, but that was foolish.'

'I did not wish to burden Georgianna with the burden of being the sole Darcy of our line.'

'The consistent reminder of the need for an heir.'

'Your injuries were a most poignant reminder that we should not dally.'

'Being in possession of a twin does not negate my obligations to the family.'

'I wished to find a woman of my own choosing.'

'My tastes are my own, and I would not have them bandied about by others in their machinations.'

Once the onslaught of answers had come to conclusion, Richard continued,' Is it fair to conclude that after nearly three full seasons, London was unable to produce a lady to your satisfactions?'

'There is no need to be tawdry.'

'The truth is often vulgar.'Richard retorted,' May I remind you further what the event was that led you to agree to seek a bride outside the purview of the Ton? To flee London and the society therein to seek gentlewomen of more genteel breeding?'

'Caroline Bingley's attempted compromise.' Fitzwilliam said, such venom in his tone.

'Your brother's sacrifice.', Alexander whispered.

'Would you have looked at the Miss Bennetts so fondly if I had brought them to your attention so boldly as you would intimate?'

'So rather than being direct in your intentions; to introduce us to ladies with which you felt obliged to protect, you took the half-foxed fanciful musings of bachelors over billiards and lured us here?' Fitzwilliam spat.

'You are near enough the full of it that I shall not correct you. Our sheer number is directly related to the bosky declarations of our intended endeavors to the parlors of White's by my father on the eve of his eldest son's wedding.'

'Of that we are aware. Our original design had been the five. I did not give full credit to it coming to fruition. However, your father's ramblings made it impossible for us not to continue.'

'Richard, I am certain that we are not the only persons to notice your peculiar demeanor towards the twins. Your protection is being undermined by your desire to remain in their sphere. Perhaps you should break our ranks and go elsewhere; to London, to Rosings... You will only harm them further by remaining. If your purposes included facilitating our introduction, you have achieved such' Alexander concluded.

Richard became increasingly determined to conclude the conversation prior to any further inquiry that would require him to cross the line between illudance and falsehood. He began to droop his eyes, his head increasingly faltering. 'You are not the first to suggest such, I considered returning to London as soon as I call upon the girls to take my leave. Only one matter remains to be seen.' Richard muttered, making every attempt to slow his speech as he continued.

'That would be?'

'The procurement of mareradish, and a goat.' Richard concluded. 'Perhaps my fatigue was more fact than rouse', he thought to himself as he dozed in earnest.

The Darcys took their leave without further word. While not fully satisfied, they were given sufficient answers with which to waylay much of their overall concerns.

…***...

In the darkest part of night, in a part of London that most persons of respectability prefer to feign the existence of, a man sat. The Times was scattered about him in an anteroom whose usual purpose was clear. His state of undress would be scandalous in another location beyond his bedchamber. However, he ceased to mind what others might think of him when he visited such places. To note his attendance would be in fact admitting one's own indulgences.

Instead of the more common distractions and entertainments of his current venue, the only matter that held his attention was the set of columns which held the societal reportings.

'It is not here.' he mumbled. 'Perhaps they held such tattles for the morning pages. I can wait another day to bring that presumptuous pup and his pompous masters to heel.'

…***...

Glossary:

*Hubris - prideful

*Mareradish - horseradish

*Unsteady - moody/ill-tempered

*Lady days - period

*Halter - a rope or strap with a noose or headstall placed around the head of a horse or other animal, used for leading or tethering it

*Undress - having jacket and cravat removed, something that was not done in polite or mixed company if the gentleman could avoid it

*Half Dress for men meant less elaborate knots in their neck cloths, and more casual styles of clothing

*Ken - one's range of knowledge or sight

*Banyan - men's robe/dressing gown

*Prig - a self-righteously moralistic person who behaves as if superior to others

*Catechize - to question/interrogate

*Bosky - drunken

*Homage - respect and honor, often after the person being honored has died.

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