The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux
A/N still a few chapters left. Had a bad spell. But I am back-
The Grieving Lady and Findings
When Lady Catherine came into the room, her favorite nephew, seeing him unconscious and so pale made her angry. So many injustices done to him, partly her fault, throwing Meredith at him. She had to tell them. Her anger at Meredith's gall got to her; all she wanted was William's money and would do anything to get it.
Elizabeth and Charles saw how she looked different, bigger. Her eyes didn't look like before. They looked at each other.
"Is anyone looking for him, for the ungrateful wretch?" She asked, her voice gruff.
Lucas came in and saw her; who was this lady? She was one of them, but why had she aged?
"Aunt Catherine, I am going to look for him," Richard answered.
"There is no need; he has stepped in a place where they might not be a way back; it depends on him." Lucas looked at Elizabeth.
"And where is that?" Richard asked, doubtful.
"I am glad you are here with your relative. Please tell me where your heart is." Lucas asked, not answering Richard's question.
Richard pointed at his left side. "Can you feel it beating?" Lucas asked.
Richard grinned, "Of course I can. I am alive."
"So you are," Lucas answered. "Now, place your hand over your right side."
Richard chuckled, but not for long. His eyebrows went up. Incredulous, he placed his right and left hands on both sides of his chest. "This cannot be," Richard shook his head.
Lady Catherine has been following Lucas's instructions; she exclaimed, "Do I have two hearts, but how?"
Richard went to William, and felt nothing on his left side; then he moved his hand to William's right side and opened his eyes, "He should be dead." At once, his aunt ran to Elizabeth for comfort, tears blurring her vision.
"Wait, feel the right side." Lucas urged.
Richard had already figured it out. "That is why he didn't die, or I didn't either; I see."
"My William is not dead?" Lady Catherine asked.
"Precisely, my dear Lady," Lucas said. "You need to listen. You are one of the people. We thought they were all dead in a terrible war where many died. Monstrous creatures, evil ones, invaded their land. The ones we fought wanted them gone, but the war had already been won. Your people helped win the war. I guess some escaped here. We have a feeling where the others are. You are hiding, I am sure. Someone in your past made sure you aged, not to be discovered. Whoever is helping probably comes for the 'dead.' We are nearly immortal unless our hearts are destroyed, or our heads have been damaged. That is the reason why we wear special clothing and helmets."
Lady Catherine asked, "If this is true, why did my daughter die? She was always ill; I buried her."
"You are part human, some weakness in her system. If she was buried, she might have died. She could have been healed had we known about you. One of you said that many of your relatives had been murdered; we need to investigate. Your people could kill with hands, feet, and mouth; many feared them. It is important nobody knows about you. Not until we know who has protected you and why. We hope you will come back when you are done here." Lucas explained.
Lady Catherine said, "So all it is said about the Fitzwilliams and Darcys is true. I saw my brother one day when highwaymen stopped our carriage; he killed them all, five of them. I wasn't shocked or scared when I saw him, neither was my sister. Who are you?"
"For that, you must wait for our Lord," Lucas answered.
"Understood," Richard was looking at Lizzie, wondering, but said nothing.
Lady Catherine saw Rosie, "You are the prettiest little dog." She bent to pet Rosie, who licked her hand. She also smells good, Rosie thought.
"So, is my nephew going to be well?" Lady Catherine asked, her eyes shining.
"We hope so; we do. You must know his body is adapting to only one heart." Lucas sounded crestfallen, making Charles sad again.
"Oh no, I need to tell you, Meredith wants Georgiana with her. She wants to use her to get William back. She wanted me to help her. Where is Georgiana?" Lady Catherine asked.
"She's on her way here," Richard said.
"Or not, Meredith said she would send someone to Pemberley to get her. Hopefully, they don't meet on the way, and something happens to Georgiana." Lady Catherine slumped her shoulders, her expression fraught with worry.
Lucas asked, "Can someone explain to me where is Pemberley, and do you have land charts?"
"I can, and I can get you a few maps, I mean charts," Richard volunteered.
"Please help Lucas," Lizzie wanted to wish Meredith harm, but she knew she shouldn't do so.
Darcy's eyes fluttered. "Why did you leave me? Please stay," his hand reached, but Lizzie had moved.
Lizzie turned red as a beet. "I am sorry, he thinks I am someone else."
"You are the Vicar's wife's friend, I see." Lady Catherine sized her.
"Yes, and she is my wife," Charles answered.
"You made them wealthy, and the vicar left. Too bad my boy didn't see you first. His wife has proven to be a great disappointment; I was foolish helping Meredith follow my boy. William and Richard, both mischievous and known for their looks, of course Meredith wanted him. It is my fault, I told my boy to marry Meredith, terrible advice."
Rosie barked twice agreeing. Charles looked at Rosie, "I see you agree." They all grinned, and Rosie barked once.
"I hope this is not an imposition, but I would like to stay here while William is down; I cannot bear being away." Lady Catherine asked.
Lizzie stood up, "Of course, please let me take you to a room near this one. You can freshen up and rest."
"I will be back shortly," Lady Catherine turned around to leave.
When Lizzie came back, Charles was waiting at the door. He held her and lowered his head; she lifted hers and kissed him. Like her no-name father had said, she learned how to kiss right away. Then Charles pushed her against the door, pressing his body against hers. He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around him. He groaned, she was right over his arousal. His hands were rolling up her skirt. Lizzie moaning, wished her dress gone. They forgot where they were, hungering for each other.
Someone knocked, and Rosie barked excitedly. Lizzie moved her hands to dress and straighten her clothes and hair, then sat down. When Charles opened the door nobody was there. He asked the guard standing by the door, "Nobody was here." The guard answered.
Rosie jumped on Lizzie, on her ear, "The bird on the window is not a bird; it wanted you to open the door."
Sure enough, a cloaked figure appeared in the room. The figure lowered the hood, but it wasn't her father. They saw a very tall female, her face was nearly blue, and the hair bright grey. Lizzie though she had cat's eyes. She had a Viking type helmet, Lizzie thought that it was decorated with horns. "My Lady," she bowed her head, "we were told that some of our people are here." When she spoke, Lizzie could see sharp teeth.
"Were you at the door?" Lizzie asked, not afraid, sensing she wasn't an enemy.
"Yes, I will be back, we came to see them but cannot stay long." She gave Lizzie a coin. "Tell them to call me when they are alone. You have two or three undesirables here. The ones we can kill, but there are too few of us. The one you sent to us is scared, but not enough; it has been highly enjoyable.," she stared behind Lizzie, "Oh, no!"
With those words she dissapeared. Lizzie turned around, Lady Catherine stood at the door. "Who was that?" She didn't seem scared.
Charles said, "Who was sent to whoever that was?" He knew the female was talking to Lizzie.
"No idea." But she did; she would tell him later.
"My brother turned into someone similar to who you saw. I think he had short horns and was much taller. His face and body were covered with gore; but we never talked about it. My brother was quiet for days." Lady Catherine told them.
"Aunt, maybe that is why I am still alive and few of my men die. But nobody said I looked different." Richard and Lucas, Lizzie's cousin were back.
Aunt Catherine said, "My dear, I saw the most extraordinary thing," she told them about the visitor.
"I want to meet her. It is hard to believe. I wish I knew more." Richard sighed.
George Wickham
He spent the days trying to survive. He prayed often, remembering his education, hoping he would get out of this alive. Selling young Lydia to his military cronies was one of the worse things he had done. They offered him a good bit of money for her, and he sold her. He had tried to seduce little Georgiana; the child of the man who helped him. And, finally, he killed William and Richard, he didn't see how he would be forgiven. Where had he gone so wrong; his father had warned him.
He knew the demons were looking for him. He stayed in a small cave at nights his horse stayed quiet.
A visitor
Lizzie saw the cloaked figure; she knew it was her father but stayed aloof, pretending she didn't know him . Not Rosie, she went crazy with joy. Ran around him, wanting to be picked up, and he complied. Rosie went under the hood to lick him. Charlie looked at Lizzie and grinned.
Richard noticed how Lucas and Charles bowed, but not Elizabeth. He was correct about Elizabeth; William told him he had met the lady for him; William thought she might be a wood fairy.
"I can only stay for a short while. We are from another place; we have been called Fae and other names. That is what Lucas is. I just found your people after you were wounded. I was the one who saved you. With your blood we were able to find them. Don't ask more questions; away from here, I can say more. Besides, I must ask someone for permission to talk. Let Lucas help you with the young lady. I must go."
"So, Lucas he must be your Lord," Richard started. He was interrupted by someone at the door.
"Mr. Charles, Lord Berger must see you; it is urgent. It is about Miss Darcy." Elmer, the valet-healer, came into the room.
"Tell him I will be there." Charles answered.
"Meredith, she has done something; and Berger wants to 'help,' to gain an advantage. I wouldn't say I like it, but we are in a bind. Richard, Lucas, please come with me."
Lady Catherine asked to stay with William. Her face fraught with worry. "William called you a wood fairy; when we followed William I heard him. Are you one? If so, can you make him better?"
Rosie barked upset. Lizzie whispered right on Lady Catherine's ear. "Don't as anything now. There are some in here that are -listening." Louder she chuckled, "Yes, in his delirium he calls me that, I wish I was one. We are doing what we can."
Lady Catherine nodded, nothing else was said about that. But she asked, "Who is Lord Berger?"
Lord Berger
Ernest Berger stood up when Charles came in the room with Lucas and COL Fitzwilliams. Following them Hurst came in with his cousin Lord Tobias Hurst. Berger looked displeased when he saw the Hurst; it was obvious.
"Hello Ernest, long time not see," Lord Tobias greeted him first. "Charles, congratulations, you married our prize beauty. If you waited a bit longer, I was waiting."
Lord Berger said, "Tobias, I must say it wasn't long enough. As for Mrs. Bingley, she is too good for you. Don't assume you had a chance."
The Hurst laughed, but Hurst told Charles, "Before you talk to Berger, Tobias needs a couple of minutes."
"Excuse me, Bingley needs to hear this, Meredith sent someone yesterday to get Miss Darcy. She wants to keep the young lady, hoping Darcy dies; or if he doesn't to use her as leverage to stay married. One of her friends told me. Her friends are a wild bunch, not to be trusted around a young lady."
Richard intervened, "When did you hear this?"
"Before I came. I will help however I can. Meredith must be stopped." Lord Berger assured them.
Lucas said, "Please excuse me; I must leave."
Richard nodded, "Charles, we will be back as soon as we can."
"Where are you going?" Berger asked, suspicious. He wanted an excuse to follow them. He looked at Lucas carefully, nothing; he was an ordinary person. He started walking after them when Caroline's husband stepped in front of him. He had a jeweled button, "Ernest, my wife found this in my brother and his new wife's room. It looks like one of yours, unusual stones, perfectly matched; I wanted to give it back. We have all commented in your unusual collection of buttons."
Lord Berger was tongue tied. He had been wondering where he lost it; it was one of his, no denying it . He saw how Charles turned around, stating. It was obvious Charles had no idea; Albert Hurst had wanted for Charles to confront Berger, and to be surprised; he was right.
"When were you in my room and why?" Charles asked, not friendly at all.
A/N So Lady Catherine saw Meredith for what she is. And now we know a little about Wickham.