Chapter 62

Elizabeth waited with bated breath, expecting Darcy any moment now, according to his note to her uncle. Though she knew him to be constant, a part of her needed his reassurance even in the form of a meaningful look. He had time to think it over by now, the effect the matter with Lydia could have on his sister's future. A small part of her couldn't help but to be at war with what she knew she could count on- his faithfulness. Surely he understood, she reasoned, after his own sister had suffered so at the hands of Wickham.

Though she knew Lydia and Darcy's sister to be unlike in temperament, she also knew she could count on him to understand that a young woman is in no way equipped to make a lifelong decision at such a tender age. It wasn't him she doubted, it was the world as a whole, it seemed impossible that a woman in her situation could have so much hope for a happy future, surely something would prevent it. The world, after all, was immensely unkind to the sisters of fallen women, society believed they shared in the guilt; rejecting them as they would the perpetrator, regardless of where the blame truly lies.

She took a deep breath, determined to not make more of the situation than what it was, which at this time was uncertain. The state of their reputations, the location of Lydia, whom her sister would marry - it was uncertain - the worst had not come to pass, and may yet be prevented.

Jane, sensing her sister's dark turn of thought, interrupted her musings. "Surely they will be discovered soon enough, if for no other reason than lack of funds, neither is prudent, what they had with them cannot last long."

"I daresay, as soon as it is certain she is ruined, they'll crop up, as Wickham has no desire to go without what he believes is his due. He likely feels himself as entitled to it as an honest man does his wages. This, I gather, is his profession; scheming for what was never rightfully his, determined to avoid earning anything and instead obtain the inheritance of others through his happy manners, well hiding his true nature until his prey find themselves at his mercy," Elizabeth huffed.

"But can you think that Lydia is so lost to everything but the love of him as to consent to live with him on any terms other than marriage?" Inquired Jane, still not believing it of her sister. There must be some misunderstanding, she thought, surely upon realizing they were not headed to Scotland her sister would grant him no liberties.

"It hardly matters, in the eyes of the world, she'll still be condemned. It does seem, and it is most shocking indeed," replied Elizabeth, with tears in her eyes, "that our sister's sense of decency and virtue is at such a point that we should admit such doubt as not believing her to scruple any concern for respectability; I suspect it is to her but a lark. But, really, I know not what to say. Perhaps I am not doing her justice. But she is very young; she has never been taught to think on serious subjects; and for the last months, nay, for a half-year,—she has been given up to nothing but amusement and vanity. She has been allowed to dispose of her time in the most idle and frivolous manner, and to adopt any opinions that came in her way. Since the officers were first heard to be quartered in Meryton, nothing but love, flirtation, and officers have been in her head. She has been doing everything in her power by thinking and talking on the subject, to give greater—what shall I call it? susceptibility to her feelings; which are naturally lively and frivolous enough. And we all know that Wickham has every charm of person and address that can captivate a woman -her sense could hardly hold up to his charm, she has not enough of it."

"But surely she will hold to some sense of decency," cried Jane. "Even if she is so young as to enjoy a flirtation too openly, she would not, I think, put herself at risk of a child, without the benefit of matrimony. Surely even he would not expect it of her.'

Elizabeth and her aunt exchanged a look; they could both believe it of Lydia, to not concern herself with consequences, so much so she would not spare it a thought, and of Wickham, neither now believed he could be brought to care for what others would suffer. Her aunt was the first to speak, after Jane's exclamation. "We can know nothing until they are discovered, but either way she must marry and she must marry soon. As the matter is already decided in that regard, all we can do now is ensure that she is not brought to suffer a lifetime for this folly and that her children don't suffer by the hands of society for their parents' indulgence."

Elizabeth could not quell her anger at Wickham though, even at her aunt's gentle words, nor for the sake of Jane's sensibilities, "We all know that he has been profligate in every sense of the word. That he has neither integrity nor honor. That he is as false and deceitful, as he is insinuating. We can only hope for her sake, as well as our own, that whomever she marries, it won't be him. I daresay if she insists otherwise she'll have no happiness until she is a widow."

Jane looked at her in horror, due to the frankness of her statement, but before she could reply, her father and uncle joined them, just as Darcy was announced. Her eyes met his and she knew; he had not changed his mind, nor would he allow them to be kept apart.

Darcy saw the pain and anguish she was experiencing as soon as he entered, but he couldn't miss her relief, the flash of joy as their eyes met. Her exhaustion was still apparent but her love for him propped her up, he could feel it, as tangible as anything else in the room; relieving his own exhaustion at the night's events. She must, he thought, be desperate for news; sorry he had nothing to impart, he sat next to her.

A voice from behind him rang out, it belonged to Mr. Gardiner, drawing him back into reality. "I daresay my men found nothing but dead ends; I suppose your luck was the same?"

Darcy nodded in the affirmative, and Mr. Gardiner invited the gentleman into his study. Elizabeth felt the affront of being left out of business that so affected her, though she knew that was not the intent. She, risking the sting of humiliation, interjected, "I do not mean to be excluded from business that so affects myself and all my family. I understand society dictates what can reach a maiden's ears, but society, if this situation reaches their ears, will judge me as a fallen woman as well. I'm by no means ignorant that my dear sister could end in a brothel if not discovered shortly."

Mr. Bennet shrugged, he'd not have kept her from it at any rate. Darcy concurred she should not be left from a conversation that so affected her, and certainly not this which could give her some hope. Mr. Gardiner looked instantly to his wife, ever relying on her judgment; she requested and he relented, young women were not yet his purview, his daughters were still very young.

Upon reaching that agreement, those who wished it were invited to Mr. Gardiner's study. Jane, though hesitant at first to expose herself to such talk, not wishing to be alone, decided to join them. They were met with refreshments immediately upon entering the study, the staff again dismissed for the day.

The gentleman reviewed the efforts that had already been made, and the suggestion was made, by Mr. Bennet, that perhaps less reputable establishments must be searched. Until that point, it had been concluded that given the funds the couple had absconded with, respectable but moderately priced establishments must first be searched.

Elizabeth, thinking quite differently, said "Indeed, if their intentions were not to be discovered, but in this case, their aim is to be known, for Wickham's purposes at least. How could he force Darcy's hand if their transgressions did not become known in his circles; how could they be then believed, that two so poorly situated had any connection to such a man? Even if they were believed, who would then care at the sort of establishments you are searching? No, I must believe for his own self-interest, not Lydia's comfort, that he would wish to be seen as close to Darcy's circles that his current circumstances would allow."

Darcy lifted his head in shock, instantly believing she had the right of it. "It had not occurred to me until you said it, but I believe you have seen what we did not. Knowing in the past the sorts of establishments he frequented I started there, but you saw what I didn't, in this, he has no desire to avoid detection." He begged the use of a pen, and sent an immediate missive to his man of business; now in charge of overseeing the operation, which had, due to the workings of Darcy and Gardiner, had become quite extensive. They decided together that Mr. Gardiner's men should stay upon the path they were currently one, as the number of London's seedier establishments far outweighed the number of its finer ones.

"Well, now that business is seen to, I understand you have a potential husband for my wayward daughter, Mr. Darcy." Mr. Bennet said. His tone may have been even, but inside he shuttered. Matrimony had few advantages for a woman, the law no longer saw her even as a person, once she was wed. The institution kept her from poverty and kept her respectable, but for a woman who made a poor choice, there was no recourse unless her connections had the consequence to sway the Gentleman. No matter how badly she behaved, marriage, not of her choice, was a high price to pay. He couldn't like it, though he knew what must be done, for the sake of his other daughters, who should not be made to pay for Lydia's recklessness, whether or not she was entirely at fault.

Darcy, outlined the man's character as intelligent, capable, and kind, with the added benefit of wearing a red coat. Mr. Bennet snorted, knowing that would be the characteristic his youngest would find most compelling. "Very well, Mr. Darcy, and you believe you may be able to bring him to agree to her for a reasonable sum? I believe Longbourn may make some economies with three daughters married." Whether she liked it or not, if she wished her daughters married, Mrs. Bennet would need to learn to live off of half their income, he thought.

"Sir, I must insist the burden be mine, as the aim was ultimately at me," declared Darcy, taking his master of Pemberley tone. "Additionally, it was my intent to settle some money on each of my sisters, increasing their chances at a good match. I can brook no argument with this topic, it is I that allowed Wickham to escape justice for so long."

"That may be, Mr. Darcy, but nor were you derelict in your responsibility to Lydia, that rests squarely on my shoulders,' said Mr. Bennet, pinching the bridge of his nose, knowing there was something being left from the story of Mr. Wickham, but also knowing he would be unable to elicit it from his future son in law.

"Sir, if you must have your share, let it be her pin money for the annum throughout your lifetime. It's not my intent to pay all their debt, only a respectable dowry while guaranteeing the rest, which will ensure a lower interest rate as well."

"I believe we may also contribute to the future happiness of all my nieces; ensuring Lydia's situation is respectably settled, improves all their chances of a match. He sounds like a fine young man; the circumstances not of his making, it's unlikely he'll use it for ill, having served the punishment without committing the crime. If he starts his marriage without debt, I expect he'll stay there; using the advantage to save for daughters and younger sons."

Darcy nodded, and Elizabeth was grateful someone in her family had stepped up. She knew her father had tried, but she surmised what was not being said by her Darcy and uncle; that the chances of the young man consenting were much higher if the payout were immediate, this, after all, was not his burden to take on without advantage to himself.

"With your permission then, I'll ask him to attend me at Darcy House, to see if he is amenable to the idea. Either way, I believe I can trust him to keep our confidence. He struggled under his own brother's reputation, even at school, always he had to prove he wasn't his brother,' said Darcy.

Mr. Bennet nodded, about to take his leave, when Jane inquired, "I've not yet seen Mr. Bingley in all this fuss, I hope he does not feel forgotten."

"I understand his sister was to arrive a few days after you, which means only the day before yesterday. I imagine he was first about the business with his solicitor and then getting his sister squared away," said Darcy, thinking it predictable that Caroline would put up quite a fuss.

"With your permission, I'll summon him to Darcy House as well and explain the situation." The whole room turned their eyes to him, knowing what it could mean for Jane. She was the only one to look undisturbed, completely serene, trusting his good nature.

"It was not our intent to keep it from him, he's just been forgotten in all the fuss. I think it's right Mr. Bennet and I tell him ourselves," said Mr. Gardiner.

"If I may, Bingley has been a friend for years, so long as it's kept from his sisters, I see no reason he would abandon Miss Bennet. Given our years of acquaintance, I know that he would prefer to hear it from me, given that I was the target. I'll affirm to him that I'll be standing with the Bennet's as well as seeing to the business myself." He gave Elizabeth a pointed look and saw her immediate understanding. Though Jane would not believe it of the Bingley sisters, she guessed they would spread the rumors themselves to free their brother from the attachment.

He took his leave, all of them for the first time since the situation was discovered, feeling rightly hopeful for the future, with some solution in the works, even if Lydia was not yet found out; a proper plan was in place for her wellbeing so long as she could be brought back into their care.