Sorry for the late update, although I wrote this chapter 2 weekends ago I haven't had time to edit. My water heater broke and my apartment flooded. I sincerely appreciate everyone who is constructively expressing their opinion and helping with spelling and grammar.
To the one guest who keeps redundantly commenting that they want longer chapters and no author notes THE ANSWER IS NO. You were outvoted, the majority of people prefer more frequent updates. You're not fooling anyone by posting several comments. If I need to I'll start deleting them; I won't give you a platform for your temper tantrums and stupidity. No wonder you don't want to put your name on the things you say. If you don't like it, read something else. Or, you can wait until the book comes out and pay for it and read all the chapters at once. If you're not capable of understanding why you should pay for a professional edited work that's not my fault. While you're reading a WIP you'll get short updates sometimes and of course, it's got typos it's a WORK IN PROGRESS. You get it for free. Grow up, go buy something you prefer to read. If you don't like the notes, skip them, don't throw a tantrum. I'm not one of those authors who will quit, I'll just block you.
Chapter 64
Feeling all of the hope and promise of a new day upon leaving Elizabeth, Darcy raced home to write Parker and inquire after his man of business, hoping for news. If Lydia could be found quickly enough, it could be put about that her father had relented and taken her to London. As she would be returning home an engaged woman, with any luck, incredulity in regards to their story would bear little weight, as all would assume the groom knew more than the speculating neighbors, and if he would have her, it could matter little to the rest of them. With two other daughters to be so advantageously married, the Bennet's respectability would not be in question. The remaining sisters, Kitty and Mary would not suffer the consequences of their sister's behavior, by all accounts, they too would be raised in consequence.
He dashed into his study, jotting down a note for Parker, insisting his man place it in the recipient's hand himself, cryptic though it was, it wouldn't do to have it about London that something was amiss at Darcy House. Neither he nor his bride could endure the Ton's scrutiny at present, not while Lydia was still missing and certainly not while she remained unwed.
The events of the last few days were well worth all that he had endured for Elizabeth's sake. It had been worth it just to see her joy upon perceiving him in the same room. This matter would be laid to rest and they would wed before anyone else could intervene with rumors, gossip, or speculation. The whole of London could howl, but Elizabeth would be his wife unless she was determined to protest it. There was nothing that could not be dealt with if they were together, though it may take time. Georgianna and their children would be fine, the Darcy name could endure. Why have so much respectability if one could not spend it where it really mattered?
He began his second note, sending for his man of business, then immediately retired to his rooms to refresh himself. It was amazing in retrospect that Elizabeth had endured his presence that day, he looked and smelled as though he had been out most of the night, though he had only just now taken notice of it. He took it as further proof of her affection, that she seemed not to notice, and endured his valet's scornful looks, he was in the right and entirely unaccustomed to an employer who lacked hygiene, he could hardly blame the man from his silent admonishment through disapproving looks.
He returned downstairs to find no news from Parker, but a missive from his man of business. Lydia had been found; would he care to meet him near the inn? Darcy, perusing the address, realized that Elizabeth had the right of it; the couple was not hiding, they were in a very respectable inn, though not in the very best accommodations. Wickham had wished their stay to be known, the first circles would not have rooms there, but it was possible relations would. Had they the benefit of time, their stay would have been made known to London's elite. Darcy threw up a silent and urgent prayer that no one known to the first circles had also been staying there.
He jotted a quick note to Mr. Gardiner, detailing the location of the meeting with his man, and he called for the carriage. He prayed the situation was not irredeemable the whole way there. Darcy would stand by Elizabeth regardless of the situation, but he knew the pain she would feel to have a sister married to such a man. He could only hope the situation was not such that Wickham was the only option for a groom.
Arriving swiftly, as the location was not far from his home, he reflected how that too was likely deliberate; Wickham's way of mocking him. He saw his man of business immediately upon entering the tea room, and retreated to a quiet table near the back -this business could not become the overhearings of the gossips of the Ton. The location was not the most fashionable, but it was certainly respectable enough for those, who did not at the moment, wish to be seen.
"Tell me the whole of the matter, I beg of you do not delay,' Darcy said in desperation, well aware that the details about to be relayed to him would dictate the first few years, at least, of his life with Elizabeth. He prayed he could spare her the disgrace, the fear for her sister being wed to Wickham. If it were him, the concern for his sister would eat away at his comfort, regardless of how happy his circumstances were otherwise. It would always be there, the guilt at feeling joy while a loved one suffered.
"While the situation is in no way respectable, it is not nearly so bad as expected. As you know, they have only been here two days, yet he has not been seen for a day and a half. Those who remember him think him a brother by marriage as he treated her as a burden. As she called herself Mrs., most think he was escorting a married sister. I believe it to be an advantage as she could not be without a chaperone otherwise. With no one recalling him very well, her reputation is well enough intact, as no one has heard the name, Miss Bennet. As they checked in late at night when they arrived and he departed just before noon the following morning, it's as though he was never here. It's simply not the time many guests are about, and the clerk, who did remember him, seemed to assume that he was perhaps a brother-in-law seeing her to her own relations. He remembers the man leaving in a bit of a fit the next morning, assuming it was some sort of family dispute. We were, of course, discreet in our inquiries, and he also assumed we were sent by her father, not knowing the exact date of her arrival. She has put it about that she meant to do some shopping before returning to her family asking directions to the haberdashery."
Darcy breathed a heavy sigh of relief, he had not considered even the potential for the news to be so benign, as he thought it impossible they would not make a spectacle. He never thought he would find himself so thankful for her silliness. Her own nonsense may very well save her; imagining herself as good as married, and thinking of bonnets above all else, the lack of shame for her situation leading others to assume it was respectable. He then felt fear for her, for a moment, that she had not the sense to immediately seek out her family when she was abandoned, but realized that perhaps the confusion created by her lack of sense may very well be God's grace, using what he could to buy her a second chance. He sincerely hoped she would use that second chance to build a better life.
He was so lost in thought that he had not heard Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bennet approach. Taking their seats, they inquired immediately about the situation at hand with all the seriousness and fear upon their faces that he would expect. Darcy nodded, and his man immediately relayed the news, though none could call it good, it was in fact much better than expected.
"Sir, if I may, you are too well known in town," his man of business said, "whereas the clerk already believes I'm employed by her father. I could settle the accounts on his behalf and put it about that he is eager to be back on the road to Staffordshire, or some other out of the way place, unconnected to the family. It's early enough in the day to be plausible and leaves those who take an interest to assume her brother-in-law brought her part way and her father met her to continue on. I'll refer to her as Mrs. Wickham, keeping up the ruse, so long as she is kept from town for several years, it would be impossible to trace what is known back to the Bennet's, unless it is known in their home county."
They all silently prayed Mrs. Bennet had kept to her rooms and nodded in acquiesce, thinking it the best plan to solidify the assumptions the servants at the hotel had already made. They continued to conspire that Lydia should be in no way scolded until they had left the hotel; she must be lured away without a scene. She would be told she should have her fair share in the shopping, as her sisters were also in town for their trousseau. Additionally, before it could be determined what story should be spread in Meryton, they would need to assess the situation there. After retrieving Lydia, Mr. Bennet would return to Meryton and seek to find out if a story that he had taken her to town to escape the illness suffered by the remaining Bennet women would be believed. Mr. Gardiner would remain and negotiate in his stead; seeing to the marriage contract, finding another groom, or whatever would become necessary to see Lydia escorted down the aisle with all due haste.
Darcy, though he did not like not managing things directly, accepted he could do more to protect Lydia by staying away. Darcy took his leave, silently praying for their success; Mr. Gardiner removed to wait in the carriage, finding no plausible explanation to accompany Mr. Bennet and Darcy's man of business to remove Lydia.
I'm hoping to find a little time to finish up the next update before the weekend, works been busy though. Thanks for your patience.