Which do you prefer? The chapters have been short so that I'm able to get them to you faster. As a reader, it is always easier for me to follow that way (with frequent updates) without going back and rereading. I appreciate some of them (like this one) should be combined, but it would also mean waiting longer for an update. They work more like acts and scenes in a play this way. One of the readers mentioned it. I am not trying to get more reviews that way, though the feedback is helpful. I just thought I would see what the majority of you prefer. I don't mind holding them until I've had time to finish them.

On that topic, I went back and edited the previous chapter (thanks to your feedback), though nothing material has changed. Thanks for your help.

Chapter 56

For what seemed like an eternity, all their party could do was stare; the three newcomers from shock and incredulity (for this was that last thing they would expect from Elizabeth), and our dear couple from hardly knowing where to begin, having such monumental affairs to convey. Elizabeth, especially, hardly knew if alerting her aunt and uncle to their mutually declared affection, or alerting them to Lydia, would better quell the situation at hand, as she was well aware of the impropriety of their embrace.

Turning to Darcy, Mr. Gardiner directed his ire, shooting him a pointed look, well earned from his perspective, and thus he was the first to break the silence. "I took you, sir, as a man of honor."

Elizabeth could stand no more, the emotions of the morning catching up to her as her uncle's displeasure was directed where it was least deserved. She burst into tears (though it was hardly in her nature), and began her defense of Darcy. "Uncle, you mustn't blame him. Lydia has run off with a soldier, Mr. Darcy was assisting me as I could hardly support myself. His aunt coincidentally sent him, having relayed that she had come here first to express her displeasure. Oh, I don't know where to begin," she said, inhaling deeply, realizing she was likely incoherent while trying to relay everything all at once.

"Take care Elizabeth, your reputation is still worth protecting," said Mrs. Gardiner softly, squeezing her husband's arm, alerting him that nothing could be resolved in temper, hoping to remind him that this young man had no hesitation in regards to marrying Lizzy.

Darcy, finally able to force words from his mouth, said, "Sir, you'll need not call upon my honor. Having been assured of her regard, it is only a matter of her father's consent and yours in his stead."

Elizabeth interrupted, not wishing he would be bound without knowing the outcome, "Indeed, the matter of our mutual affection is resolved, though this business with Lydia is not. I will not bind him until he is certain that both himself and his sister can live with the result, I could not bear it, to bring him misery." Elizabeth held up her hand, "I think perhaps I should start from the beginning, as you will need to be aware of everything that has transpired in your house, though the business with Lydia is most pressing, my father is still hours behind his letter and nor would I wish you to be taken unaware by the matter of Lady Catherine who must not know of this situation."

Mrs. Gardiner nodded, encouraging them all to retire to Mr. Gardiner's study and rang for tea while granting all but the most trusted servants the remainder of the day off. Though Lizzy had the wisdom not to speak in front of the servants it surely wouldn't do to have their coming conversation overhead, this business with Lydia, may perhaps still be resolved in such a way that her friends could hush it up over time.

Once the door was shut and the servants were dismissed, Elizabeth succinctly walked the others through her day, outlining her realization of her feelings for Darcy prior to his letter, the reaffirmation of his character through his own words that led to her fully forgiving him and censuring of herself for her hasty anger, the appearance of Lady Catherine, the arrival of her father's letter (which she read in full), the sudden appearance of Darcy just as she finished her father's words, and finally the arrival of the rest of the party.

Upon the conclusion of her words, they were once again reduced to silence. Darcy because his heart was swelling at Elizabeth's confession that she knew of her own affection before receiving his letter. Truly he could not have hoped for so much when he had written the letter, this business with Wickham was a small price to pay, in his own mind, for having the promise of a future with Elizabeth, whereas he would have happily settled for merely the hope of one. Her aunt and uncle, not being ignorant of the world and knowing their sister's inability to exhibit discretion, were deeply concerned, but not hopeless, knowing that such matters could be handled successfully given the right inducements.

Finally, Jane spoke, exhibiting all of the naivety and willingness to believe the best of everyone that so marked her character, "But I am willing to hope for the best, and that his character has been misunderstood. Thoughtless and indiscreet I can easily believe him, but this step marks nothing bad at heart. His choice is disinterested at least, for he must know my father can give her nothing. He must, I think, truly love her then."

"Oh Jane, if I could only believe it, even for an hour it would provide such a relief, but I cannot believe so well of him. He cannot mean to marry her. He is mercenary to the core; I have found no decency in his character. Had he cared at all for her reputation, or her, they would have hardly headed for London. Even if she is ignorant, surely he knows that an elopement would have been bad enough, but staying together in London, without the benefit of matrimony would scarce ever be forgotten," she said, glancing at Darcy, not giving his secrets away, but impressing on him her family needed to know better than to hope for matrimony between the two, regardless of the situation they may be discovered in.

"I have been thinking it over, Elizabeth," said her uncle, as they sat there; "and really, upon serious consideration, I am much more inclined than I was to judge as your eldest sister does on the matter. It appears to me so very unlikely that any young man should form such a design against a girl who is by no means unprotected or friendless, and who was actually a daughter of one of the foremost families in the area where he is stationed, that I am strongly inclined to hope for the best. Could he expect that her friends would not step forward? Surely his commanding officer would have something to say on the matter, as he has his own career to think of. He could hardly expect a continued welcome in the neighborhood if one of his officers went unchecked in such a way.

As for Wickham, surely he is not ignorant that he could not expect to be noticed again by the regiment, after such an affront to Colonel Forster and the neighborhood in general? His temptation is not adequate to the risk! If this were merely a matter of, forgive me for saying so, desire, surely he would have found an outlet less costly." His wife shot him a look that he knew to interpret as a foreshadowing of the censure to come once they had a private moment, as a result of his using such candid speech. To aid himself in negating her ire, he said, "I am sorry to allude to such matters in front of my nieces, but I think it must be said, for the sake of easing their anxiety."

Darcy took a deep breath, and said, "I think I must add to the matter sir, though I don't relish the task, I would not have your family laboring under false pretenses." He proceeded to outline Wickham's depravity and desire for revenge, not wishing to add to those who know of his sister (however much he trusted them), he merely said that he had interrupted Wickham's elopement with a very young heiress, as recently as that summer. He continued by relaying more recent events, including how the man had slandered him as well as Colonel Fitzwilliam's intervention before he left Meryton.

He further shared that he believed it likely, that if Wickham had heard of Darcy's proposal, and was simultaneously driven to desperation and recklessness due to the colonel's intervention, in addition to feeling himself still entitled to the dowry had been removed from his grasp the prior summer, the man likely felt justified in blackmailing him, as his character was well enough known to Wickham that he knew better than to think he would abandon Elizabeth, even if she wouldn't accept him.

Upon his last statement, Elizabeth recognized the goodness and generosity of the man she had fallen in love with. She now fully understood how deeply she could trust him, as he had just declared he would not have abandoned her, even if she had continued to refuse him. How unselfish that was, to wish her the best life possible, even if it were not with him. She was not sure she herself could boast such a thing, but then recalled how she had tried to release him after Lydia's ruin. She mused that it seemed that they were both learning what it was to care for someone's happiness more than their own, which was the very essence of love, though she would have defined it differently just a day ago.

Mr. Gardiner intruded upon her thoughts by stating what they were all concluding, "Indeed, that does in fact, very much, change the matter, sir. He cannot be made a brother to you," He held up his hand, seeing Darcy was about to speak and continued "Nor could he be a husband to Lydia, he would abandon her until he again had a need for funds. We must consider other options. I wish we had the benefit of better knowing the situation in Meryton."

"My father should be with us before dark," Elizabeth said looking at the clock, "He should know better the situation at home, but I daresay we cannot trust my mother to remain silent." None of them spoke to that, not even Jane. They knew not what to say, none of them trusting Mrs. Bennet's judgment in the matter, knowing it likely her desire for symphony would outweigh her family's need for discretion.

"Mr. Darcy, may I induce you to stay for dinner?" Inquired Mrs. Gardiner, never forgetting her manners.

"I regret that I cannot accept. With Mr. Gardiner's permission, I mean to engage my man of business to set investigations on their trail at once. I pray you would share my excuses with Mr. Bennet and tell him I mean to speak with him as soon as the situation allows."

"Mr. Darcy, I can assure you that is not necessary. I mean take the same action myself. If it is in my power, I won't allow my niece to spend another night away from home."

"The fault is mine and so must the remedy be. I could not forgive myself if Elizabeth suffered any further due to my interest in her."

"You take too much upon yourself sir. I can assure you we all feel the responsibility of it and will not quit until it is found, but if you must persist, I will not stop you. I think there could be some benefit in having two independent investigations, with one not influencing the other —supposing them to be in London. They may be there, purely for the purpose of concealment, for no more exceptional purpose than knowing the longer this affair drags on the more likely our families only option will be to pay him"

"I think that wise as well, as they've already worked to misdirect their pursuers. Shall we keep it wholly independent? Or share details only among ourselves, until it seems clear one or the other is on the right track?"

"I think the two of us should meet, to ensure they are pursuing different avenues due to the likelihood of further misdirection."

Mr. Darcy began taking his leave, hoping to share reassurance through the looks he gave Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, seeing the need for privacy between the two, encouraged Elizabeth to walk him out, reminding her the study door would remain open.

"I can't know what to say, except I could not imagine going through such things without you. It's a relief, selfish though it is, just to feel your presence next to me," said Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth, together we will see this through. Don't lose hope, I won't allow this situation to separate us. We have, both of us, suffered from the same fears for our sisters. I remember well the agony when learning of Wickham's plans. I will not fail you, I know too well what you would suffer for it." She was about to cry out about the injustice of him needing to involve himself in her family's affairs, considering what he had already suffered at that man's hands, but he took her hand, bending over it and kissing it softly, as though sealing the promise. With her breath so effectively taken away, she could but nod and meet his eye.

Thoughts?