A.N. Thank you for the wonderful comments and suggestions. Now, let's meet some new faces and see if D&E are still together. Happy reading and commenting. Stay safe!

Chapter Four

Elizabeth could see Fitzwilliam's entire body stiffen with rage. He was white-knuckled and trembling as Mr. Kingsway stood up to confront Mrs. Bennet.

"Mrs. Bennet, you cannot know this!" Mr. Kingsway said sternly. "Mr. Darcy's will…"

Mrs. Bennet smiled artfully at Fitzwilliam. "I am certain. George told me…"

"Fitzwilliam, wait!" cried Elizabeth as he stormed out of the solicitor's office again, waiting for no one. She ran after him immediately.

"I have proof of George and my affairs. George also told me he had made another will with a new lawyer in London," Mrs. Bennet said to Kingsway. She took out the second treasure Morris had found on George Darcy's body. She had replaced a likeness of Fitzwilliam in the locket necklace with that of George Darcy and the empty space with her own likeness. Mrs. Bennet had wondered why the daft farmer would buy an expensive lovers' necklace for his son. It cost a fortune and depleted much of the savings she had skimmed from the household accounts for the past years for Morris to have Darcy's painting done in a rush. But it was worth it. Her plan was coming on nicely. Morris was now working with a professional forger on the 'new' will. "I cannot remember the lawyer's name. But it will come back to me soon. In the meantime, I expect to hear no later than the end of the week for a nice arrangement for me and my girls," said Mrs. Bennet, readying herself to leave and leaving Kingsway speechless.

The carriage ride back to the Gibson townhouse was tense, with not a soul uttering a word during the ride home. Elizabeth stared at Fitzwilliam, who did not meet her eye, though she pleaded with him mentally.

"Fitzwilliam!" Elizabeth shouted as Fitzwilliam jumped out of the carriage, barely waiting for it to slow down as they arrived at the townhouse.

"Better run after our new brother," Jane said wryly, amused by the entertainment.

Elizabeth ignored her and chased after Fitzwilliam, who had gone to his room. He was opening his trunk, and filling it with his belongings haphazardly.

"Fitzwilliam, surely you may request a valet to suitably ready your belongings," Elizabeth said, trying to be light-hearted. He continued to ignore her.

"Do not believe my mother for a second. Mr. Darcy was your fath—"

"Do not mention my father to me again!" Fitzwilliam interjected, seething.

"You cannot forget how he cared for you! It was plain!" exclaimed Elizabeth.

"My father cared for no one. If he cared, he would not have betrayed his best friend, your own father! Nor would he have lied to me for my entire life! Do not forget you should be furious with him as well!"

"I do not know the truth, Fitzwilliam. I know that Mr. Darcy was a good man, and my mother has a predilection for greed. That is all I know," Elizabeth said firmly.

"Let us not pretend that this does not benefit you," Fitzwilliam said. His face red with anger.

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked, confused.

"You, your mother, and your sisters will get much more than what you are used to. Do not feign ignorance."

"I do not care about that! Surely you know!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"I do not know anything anymore. I am to ride to Pemberley, post-haste. Your mother will not get her hands on that, at least," Fitzwilliam said taciturnly.

"Fitzwilliam," Elizabeth said, burying her face in her hands in utter despair. She feared him being alone on the road for so long. "Please, at the very least, bring your valet and send word ahead!"

"I am a man now, sole owner of a grand estate. Surely, I can manage for a few days," Fitzwilliam said, hiding his gratefulness for her concern. He was worried about the three-day journey he had not taken for five years, let alone all by himself. He would send word ahead, perhaps to his mother. He had questions that needed to be answered.

"Please do not leave like this," Elizabeth said, worried beyond reason. "It could be dangerous! What if you have an accident, like our fathers?"

"Then I suppose your mother will have a larger share of my father's fortune after all," Fitzwilliam replied in anger, causing Elizabeth to burst into tears. His initial instinct was to comfort her, but he could not bring himself to.

"Do not weep false tears for me," Fitzwilliam said. He wanted to sever the tie between them and do away with the Bennets. He could not tolerate the betrayal that her family seemed to bring.

"How can you be so cruel to me! And you promised you would not leave me. You have been like my brother for as long as I can remember!" Elizabeth cried.

"Right, how could I forget! I am but a brother to you," Fitzwilliam spit out at her bitterly.

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked, stunned at his resentment toward her.

"Worry not. I am sure it does not matter," Fitzwilliam murmured under his breath as he stormed out of the room. Elizabeth could hear him yell at a footman to arrange a horse for him without delay.

"Fitzwilliam…" Elizabeth whispered, sobbing deeply at yet another loss. Eventually, she gathered herself, walking to her room, but pausing as she came to the door of a sitting room, where she overheard her Jane scheming with her mother.

"It seems as though Fitzwilliam is headed back to Pemberley at once," Jane said dryly. "You must have upset the boy."

"Surely it is not my fault that his father is a philanderer," Mrs. Bennet said, petted her belly. "His child needs to have the security he deserves. And the child's mother."

Jane snickered, "And his sister."

"How right you are, Jane," said Mrs. Bennet. "At any rate, my little golden goose can fly back to his nest. I think I have plenty of cards to play." Jane and Mrs. Bennet laughed menacingly, making Elizabeth feel sick. She quietly walked away from the door to ensure they would not hear her and went back to the room that Fitzwilliam had stayed in.

Elizabeth looked out the window which faced the street and could see Fitzwilliam saddling a horse, ready for his departure. He happened to look up a final time and saw Elizabeth, surprise softening his expression. They locked eyes for just a moment before his face turned back to one of anger and he looked away. Fitzwilliam whipped his horses, galloping away into the distance.

~P&P~P&P~P&P~

Three days later, as Fitzwilliam arrived at Pemberley, an anxious feeling washing over him. He had not been back to his father's estate since he was ten years old. He tried to put it and all memories of his childhood, Mrs. Bennet, and Elizabeth out of his mind. Had he failed Elizabeth? He had promised to never leave her.

"Elizabeth," he cursed, embarrassed at the way he spoke to her. He remembered then that she was a part of this, too, and could not be innocent. He brushed the thought of her off, swearing to never align himself with the Bennets again.

As the horse arrived at the entrance of the house, the uneasy feeling returned. Fitzwilliam saw the staff lined up at the door, along with Robert Wickham, the steward Mr. Darcy retained, and his mother. Lady Anne dressed in opulent bombazine mourning clothes, smiled brightly at him. The estate guard at the gatehouse would have notified the main house of his arrival, which would account for the servants, but his mother? He did not truly expect her to be here so quickly.

"My son," Lady Anne exclaimed, opening her arms to him as he dismounted.

"Mother," Fitzwilliam said shortly, stiffly hugging her. He had assumed she would come for a brief visit shortly after his arrival. Yet, Lady Anne seemed too eager and too familiar as she led him inside. She reacquainted him with the servants he had once known and later even showing him her lavish suite of rooms.

The next day Lady Anne called Fitzwilliam down to the study that used to be his father's. She asked him about the last five years since they had seen each other. He obliged somewhat, not trusting her enough to tell her the full details of Elizabeth and the Bennets.

"Fitzwilliam, dear, I am sorry about your father. I had been in London for a time when I found out. I had hoped that you would write back to me," Lady Anne said, smiling.

"Right, I had not expected you so quickly," Fitzwilliam said awkwardly.

"A mother must come when she is needed!" said Anne.

"Do you recall the day I was born?" Fitzwilliam asked, thinking of a roundabout way to determine the truth of his parentage.

"Indeed, I recall that precious day! There had never been an easier birth. All said you were the most beautiful boy they had ever seen," Lady Anne said, hoping to please her son. The fonder he was of her, the more likely he was to let her stay in in Pemberley. Mr. Kingsway notified her that a small cottage in another estate had been allocated to her in the Darcy's will, but it was not enough. She wanted to stay and entertain at Pemberley. After that, she would spend more time in Darcy House in London. Her mind drifted to the balls she would organise. Her events would be attended by the wealthiest people in London.

"When I was in London… I heard some say that I did not look much like my father," Fitzwilliam said warily.

"Whatever do you mean? George is your father; there is no doubt!" Lady Anne said, confused.

"How can you be sure?" Fitzwilliam mumbled beneath his breath, uncertain relief washing over him.

"How can I be sure?" Anne asked, offended. "Am I not to know who sired my own son?"

Fitzwilliam flushed. "Forgive me, Mother."

"Who said this?" Lady Anne asked, upset at the accusation. "Tell me at once!"

Fitzwilliam hesitated, not wanting to tell her everything regarding Mrs. Bennet. But he was never comfortable in lying and so told his mother about the claims made by Mrs. Bennet at the solicitor's office.

"I cannot believe those lowly Bennets! Questioning the parentage of my children!" his mother exclaimed, hesitating before continuing, "George is indeed your true and natural father!"

There was something about the hesitation in his mother's voice that made Fitzwilliam feel as though she wasn't entirely telling the truth. It was almost as if she was calculating.

"Those social climbers perpetuate lies and animosity against those who considered them friends!" Lady Anne yelled, interrupting Fitzwilliam's thoughts. "I want you to have no more to do with them!"

"Believe me, Mother, I want nothing to do with them either," Fitzwilliam said, feeling better but not thoroughly convinced.

"Do you think it possible that Mrs. Bennet's child is indeed Papa's?" he asked.

Lady Anne considered, "I could not know, surely! I have not been part of George's life for five years. Though we ought not to forget the falsehood perpetrated by the Bennet widow about your parentage. That desperate woman!" Lady Anne projected false ignorance. The subject made her think of Fitzwilliam's younger sister, Georgiana. Some things must be left unsaid, as of now.

Fitzwilliam watched the fire as he listened to his mother ramble in anger, trying with all his might to forget about the Bennets, especially Elizabeth.

~P&P~P&P~P&P~

Mr. Kingsway still could not believe the revelations of Mrs. Bennet. He could not reconcile the allegations of Mrs. Bennet with the man he knew. Yet, she was in possession of an expensive locket from Mr. Darcy, with George and her likeness. He also recalled that Darcy wanted to take care of Mrs. Bennet if she should need it, as stipulated in Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth's marriage contract. Was the marriage contract between Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth an excuse by George Darcy to take care of his mistress? So far, Mrs. Bennet was unable to produce the new solicitor she claimed Darcy had hired before his death. Kingsway would continue to act for the best interest of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth, as per Darcy's instruction.

Kingsway learned that Mr. Bennet did not have much saving throughout his life and left hardly anything for his family. The Bennet women would only have the four per cent interest of the four thousand pounds Mrs. Bennet's father had left her. But he warned Mrs. Bennet of spreading the falsehood of Mr. Darcy. Kingsway reminded her that her unborn child would be legally assumed as Mr. Bennet's until she had more concrete proof than the locket.

"George was so honourable," he thought to himself as he accompanied the Bennets to their new home. Mr. Kingsway's plan was to allow the Bennets to live at the spacious Dowager House on Pemberley grounds, about three miles from the main house.

He fought against Mrs. Bennet's outrageous demand for a townhouse in Mayfair and an exorbitant amount of money to pay for expenses. With the move to Derbyshire, he could fulfil somewhat Mrs. Bennet's request for a better living condition. Simultaneously, he would keep Elizabeth near Fitzwilliam, with the hope that the two would continue their path toward marriage, per their fathers' request. He had written ahead to inform Fitzwilliam and Mrs. Reynolds, Pemberley's housekeeper. But he doubted that there could even be a marriage now, recalling Elizabeth telling him of Fitzwilliam's angry departure to Pemberley.

Kingsway settled the Bennets at the Dowager House. And then, he needed to speak with George's widow, Lady Anne.

He took the carriage from the Dowager house to the main house of Pemberley. There he met with Lady Anne in the large study that once belonged to Darcy. Fitzwilliam was out and about in the estate with the steward.

"Lady Anne," Kingsway greeted.

"On with it, Kingsway. I have no time for a lowly solicitor," she said coldly. "I have a dinner for my London friends to arrange."

"You are well aware that Darcy did not want you to disturb the management of his estates. Fitzwilliam has a guardian." Kingsway said carefully.

"My son will need someone to take care of things while Lord Metcalf is away, will he not?" Lady Anne protested.

"I am capable of assisting with matters for the time being, as stipulated in the will," Kingsway said firmly. "Mr. Darcy wanted Fitzwilliam to continue his tutoring at home, until it is time for him to attend university."

"Fitzwilliam has not asked me to leave yet, so I will not be going," Lady Anne said just as determinedly.

"That may be true, for now. But please know that I am informed about your scheme with Lady Catherine, among other plots," Kingsway said. He remembered all too well what removed Lady Anne from Pemberley in the first place.

"What? I know not of what you speak," Lady Anne said, feigning ignorance.

"Please do not pretend, madam. George told me that you planned to have Fitzwilliam marry early to his cousin Anne de Bourgh so that you might have an uncontrolled influence on the boy. It seems you have achieved your goal of influence, but you must not make him marry."

"Why ever not?" asked Lady Anne, indignant.

"Mr. Darcy put certain protections in place," explained Kingsway. He knew he could not tell Lady Anne about the marriage contract, as specified in George's will. No one must know of the agreement until after Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth were of age.

"What protections?"

"I cannot say, yet I can say that it is imperative to let Fitzwilliam reach the age of majority before he weds, do you understand?" Kingsway stated firmly.

"I will find out what protections George put in place. I shall ask Fitzwilliam to terminate his contract with you," Anne threatened.

"George made sure Fitzwilliam cannot do that until he reaches his majority and with the consent of his guardian," Kingsway replied coolly. "Additionally, there is another matter of stipulation in Mr. Darcy's will."

"Yes?" Lady Anne asked, bored with the conversation.

Kingsway paused before stating, "Seeing as Mr. Darcy was so fond of Elizabeth Bennet, who had saved his life, he asked that her family be provided for. I have installed them at the Pemberley Dowager House."

Kingsway had never seen such rage on a Lady's face. It seemed Fitzwilliam had not informed his mother about the arrangement for the Bennets. He left quickly after hearing her protest, again and again. He made his way wearily back to the Bennets later on.

~P&P~P&P~P&P~

The Pemberley Dower House was larger than Longbourn, with many bedrooms, spacious and tastefully decorated. Elizabeth was in awe of Pemberley Woods. The park was very large, and contained great variety of ground. As she settled into her new bedchamber, Elizabeth's thoughts drifted to her father and the circumstances of his and Mr. Darcy's death. Something was not right there. She could not shake the feeling.

"I wonder if Mr. Kingsway might be of any help," she said to herself, aloud. She knew the solicitor was visiting Fitzwilliam and Lady Anne before returning to the Dowager House, no doubt to alert them of their arrival.

Elizabeth left her bedchamber and went outside. She found Mr. Kingsway looking quite fatigued as he disembarked his carriage.

"Mr. Kingsway?" Elizabeth asked, worried that it was not the right time to be asking him for favours.

"Yes, Miss Bennet?" Mr. Kingsway said, giving her a tired smile.

"I cannot shake the feeling that something foul happened regarding my father's death. I have tried to put the thought aside, but I just cannot stop wondering how such an accident might have occurred," Elizabeth said.

Mr. Kingsway paused. "I agree, Miss Bennet. There are too many suspicious matters that have occurred since."

"Yes, how could the tipping of such a vehicle kill four men dead?" Elizabeth asked grimly. "Injuries, surely, but death to all four? It makes no sense."

"You are quite right," Mr. Kingsway said.

"I know this is quite improper for a young lady, but I want to find answers to this. May I count on your help?" Elizabeth asked, eyes hopeful.

"How?" Mr. Kingsway said, pausing.

"I intend to write to Sir William Lucas. He is our magistrate. He may be able to tell me more about the injuries of Mr. Darcy and my father. Would you look into the circumstances of their stay and departure from London for me?"

Kingsway hesitated. He was aware of Darcy and Bennet's stay in London but he would not reveal the detail to Elizabeth. After a moment of thought, he said that he could send someone to talk to the servants at Darcy House when he returned to London. If there was any foul play, Kingsway wanted answers as well.

Elizabeth was thrilled to be able to count on Mr. Kingsway's assistance. "Thank you, Mr. Kingsway. I should like to tell Fitzwilliam now—surely he will want to help us, by engaging your service and giving you permission."

Elizabeth curtsied to Mr. Kingsway and left at once, having a servant assist her with a phaeton the Bennets were allotted. She missed Fitzwilliam and their daily chat. She hoped they could resume their friendship. Elizabeth drove it to the formidable Pemberley House. It situated
on the opposite side of the valley. It was a large, handsome stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills. She went inside to ask for Fitzwilliam and was shown into the library.

"Fitzwilliam," Elizabeth called out to him with an eager smile, after taking in the magnificent collection of the library for a minute.

Fitzwilliam wanted to smile back, hungrily taking in Elizabeth's form. The black mourning clothes did not dim her appearance. Her eyes were as brilliant as usual. How he has missed her? Pemberley was a vast empty world and its woods was dull and grey, because Elizabeth wasn't there. He knew the Bennets would be arriving today. He took the cowardly way of not informing his mother and resorting to hiding in the library. "What are you doing here?" he said, pretending to be irritated, despite wanting desperately to embrace her and told her about his loneliness.

"I have a matter to discuss with you. I was hoping we might speak privately," Elizabeth asked, eyeing the other young man.

"Let us have the room," Fitzwilliam said to George Wickham, who was the son of the Pemberley steward. Wickham eyed Elizabeth for a moment, stood up slowly and blew past Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was surprised at the curtness with which Fitzwilliam spoke to the young man. It had only been a few weeks since Fitzwilliam left London, yet he seemingly had changed entirely.

"What could possibly be so urgent?" Fitzwilliam said, not looking at Elizabeth.

"It is the carriage accident, I—"

"I have asked you before to stop this conspiratorial nonsense," Fitzwilliam said, interrupting. He was bitter that she did not even ask after his well being or tell him she missed him. "Our fathers died in a carriage accident, nothing more."

The interruption and harshness of his tone upset Elizabeth. "You must put your hatred aside for one moment. There is something wrong with the accident. I suspect that there was foul play involved. I have already spoken to Mr. Kingsway, who has agreed to help me."

"Good, I expect you and Kingsway can manage this on his own then," he retorted.

"I need your help, Fitzwilliam. You are older—you have more money and we need your permission…" Elizabeth pleaded.

"Ah, it is always about money, isn't it? I suppose that is the world's only constant," Fitzwilliam said, staring at her; his body trembled with anger. Everyone seemed to be only interested in his fortune. His mother, his aunts and uncles! And now, Elizabeth. His Elizabeth! Perhaps he should go off to Eton, instead of staying in Pemberley, away from all the duties and enjoyed life with young men of similar age as him. He had not hired any of the tutors Mr. Kingsway told him to so far.

"No, that is not what I intended! I need your help! We have to figure out what happened to our fathers," she insisted.

Fitzwilliam ignored her, flipping the pages of the book.

"I looked at a carriage that was very similar to Longbourn's carriage. Surely such a vehicle could not kill four men dead just by tipping over. Injuries, certainly, or perhaps one unfortunate death, but not all four men! You can set aside your loathing of me long enough to understand what happened!" Elizabeth said.

"I do not wish to hear this anymore, Miss Bennet," Fitzwilliam replied quietly.

"Miss Bennet? We have known each other since we were little!"

"You confuse yourself. Our fathers were hardly acquaintances, seeing as though mine was callous enough to sire a child with your father's wife. We have remained too personal for far too long. I think you ought to address me as Mr. Darcy from now on."

Tears of frustration welled in Elizabeth's eyes. "Mr. Darcy," she corrected, stiffening. "You truly do not wish to investigate further into the accident?"

"No, Miss Bennet, nor do I care. The past is the past," Darcy said.

Elizabeth wanted to try one more time, hoping that somewhere beyond this stranger lay her friend. "Do you recall when your father was attacked by an assailant in the woodland near Longbourn? I flung the rock at the man's head, sending him off? What if—"

"No more of this!" Fitzwilliam yelled at her.

"What if the situation of similar circumstance?" Elizabeth continued, desperate for him to hear her.

"I said no more! Now leave at once!"

"Fitzwilliam—Mr. Darcy—Please!" Elizabeth said.

"At once! Or I will have you thrown out!" Darcy exclaimed, turning his back to her.

Elizabeth gathered herself, accepting that he would not help her.

Before exiting the drawing-room, she turned back and said, "Your father would be so ashamed of you!"

The words echoed in Fitzwilliam's head without ceasing, for the rest of the day.

* Description of Pemberley was from the original P&P.