I'm hoping to get a few more chapters fleshed out so that I can edit them during the week. I'm not sure though, so I apologize if there is another long gap.

Chapter 66

Darcy paced the floor in his study; the most important task was accomplished, Lydia Bennet was found. Wickham was still out there, likely waiting to become a threat to their reputations unknowing how his ill-conceived abandonment had affected his scheme. He wondered how Elizabeth was fairing; knowing she would be relieved to have her sister safe and within her sight but aware how much of the matter still needed resolution. She would not be ignorant that much still needed to be accomplished to keep their reputations safe. Bingley, Parker, and his own cousin were still wild cards. He silently prayed they would all play their parts. There was little to be done about it though until one of the other gentlemen arrived. It was easier before when he could at least be active in the resolution. The worst of was the waiting, the wondering, reviewing all that could go wrong in circumstances such as these.

After several hours of this trepidation, Bingley was finally announced. He started jabbering in that jovial way of his even as he stepped through the threshold, entirely unsuspecting as to the circumstances of his summons.

"I assure you, Darcy, that if you were not such a great tall fellow, in comparison with myself, I should not pay you half so much deference. I declare I do not know a more awful object than you, on particular occasions, and in particular places; at his own house especially, and on an afternoon when you have nothing to do but to think too seriously on a subject. I wouldn't be so dreadfully lost in serious thought for half a kingdom." said Bingley, poking a bit of fun at his friend as he entered the room. "I must say, I'm sure yourself and Miss Elizabeth will work the matter out shortly. I understand from her sister that she is likely to hold you in some great affection. Jane relayed that her sister is one to laugh off matters unless they pertain to those she cares for. I must apologize for my part in the affair. I spoke with such relief that she returned my affection that I could hardly contain myself. It would have been far more rational to hold my tongue. Well much more rational, I dare say, but it would not be near so much like love." Charles said, now poking fun at himself. "I came to see if you wished to call on the Bennet sisters with me. I've finally removed myself from Caroline's crosshairs when I received your note. A foul temper she is in, insisting I could have increased our consequence instead of binding myself to my dear Jane. I finally found relief when Lousia took her shopping. Even social expectations must yield to a lady's modiste appointments, I suppose."

"Bingley matters between Miss Elizabeth and I are near settled. It's another matter regarding the family that I've called you here for," said Darcy, mildly irritated with his friends' happy spirits. Could he not sense the tension in the room?

"I hope you'll not join Caroline again, in your carrying on about the unsuitability of her family. You can't mean to abuse her family and still pursue her. Darcy, I think you may need further education in how to speak to a woman properly, it's just not done to insult a woman's family while trying to marry her. Such doings should be left to the jaded and unhappily wed."

Darcy gaped, of course, he would not insult Elizabeth's family now that he was set on pursuing her. He was no fool; she would have his hide. Little good it would do him anyway as she would not give them up, nor would he separate them. He thought it was reprehensible when such things took place. Upon marriage, a woman's family became her husband's family. It was an abdication of one's responsibilities in the worst way to not properly see to them. Family should only be cut when one becomes irredeemable, but never due to circumstances beyond their control. That being precisely why matters should be so seriously considered before an offer of matrimony was made.

"I will by no means insult Elizabeth's family, as they now suffer for my connections. I must have your word that this will not reach Miss Bingley's ears."

"Good God Darcy, your countenance is such that I would think Napoleon had invaded, had I not just quit the paper. What has Caroline to do with the matter?"

Darcy took a deep breath and relayed his fears about Bingley's sister, Wickham's schemes to ruin the family of the girl he wished to wed, and how Lydia Bennet (though foolish) was a young girl caught up in the rivalry of grown men. He proceeded to relay his plans to deal with the matter, preserving the respectability of all the Bennets. On this point, he was quite clear, the fault lay with his connections, so the remedy would be his as well - under no circumstances would he quit Elizabeth. Bingley was either for or against them, but there would be no sitting on the sidelines, waiting to see how matters resolved. The tasks ahead of them required resolve, and both Bennet sisters deserved men determined to work on their behalf.

Bingley heard the entire matter; not uttering so much as a word - quite shocking, it was, he thought, as he tried to make sense of the matter. He had heard of Wickham's depravity from Darcy's mouth previously, but it seemed fit for a novel that his friend's father's godson would go to such lengths to wound him. On the strength of Darcy's regard though, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion, thus as Darcy concluded the current state of affairs, he determined to follow his friend's lead. "It seems you have the matter well in hand Darcy. How may I be of assistance? I could not rest if I did not do my fair share. Surely you don't think I would abandon such an angel over this trifling little matter? You've taken the proper precautions; it seems unlikely the matter will be made known. Caroline is unlikely to wed anyway, her ambitions are higher than her station. Her temper is such that those who would look past her birth won't look past her disposition."

Bingley perked up, his demeanor back to his previous way of being. "Let's put the matter to rest before we go to Gracechurch Street this afternoon. What a fine surprise it would be for the young ladies there. I would not have them suffer another day with the matter."

"The power of doing anything with quickness is always prized much by the possessor, and often without any attention to the imperfection of the performance. Though this matter may not be put off, it's as urgent as anything ever was, but nor is it a matter that may be resolved without attention to the details. Miss Lydia's entire future is dependent upon it; as is the life we will have with our future wives; Wickham, I assure you, has proven he will return knowing he will leave with coin on each occasion. No, we must think every step through, or the doings of this week will haunt us a lifetime, and perhaps, the lives of our children."

As Bingley began to inquire after Darcy's intentions for the remainder of the matters to be cleared up, Colonel Fitzwilliam was announced. He was in a fine state, weighed down by guilt he looked as though the devil himself had chased him there.

The gentleman greeted one another, Colonel Fitzwilliam was apprised of the current state of affairs, and as the other two insisted on a short recess to allow him to refresh himself, Richard interrupted, determined to come clean with his cousin.

"Darcy, I must reveal to you the role that I have played in this fiasco. I was concerned relaying more of the matter would lead to ill-founded fears on your behalf."

Darcy looked at him incredulously. "You cannot blame yourself, I've not the pleasure of understanding you. Before you left Darcy house you told me you had warned his colonel. I can find no fault with you for ensuring the man was kept an eye on. Present circumstances imply the necessity of it, though I have no doubt it provoked him somewhat. I can only assume he, by his own actions, would further reduce his circumstances sooner, rather than later, regardless of his superiors being aware. You cannot be blamed for his manner of resolving desperation of his own making."

Richard let out a deep breath and relayed his antagonism of Wickham, ensuring the man would be able to rack up no further debt, nor find another willing woman. He had not only warned the colonel but made sure the merchants knew of his habits - then faced Wickham and savored the enjoyment of rubbing it in.

Darcy was no longer in the dark about the circumstances that led to Wickham's most depraved act thus. "Do you presume that I've dealt with him so carefully all these years because I had not the nerve to face a man that I had grown up with? While I can harbor no resentment against you for ensuring the community was not unaware, had you not a care for our ward? What if he had shot off his mouth to a camp full of soldiers about my sister to even the score with you? Are you ignorant of his spiteful nature? You may be a master at strategy when your affections are not engaged, but little good it does you when your hot head prevails," Darcy spat.

"I cannot argue with you on that account Darcy. I was fool enough to think that I could intimate him. It seems that you were correct to think his sense of spite would win out over his self-preservation."

"What are we to do now," inquired Bingley, ignoring the bit about his sister, assuming Wickham had threatened slander of some sort. "You can't mean to leave him, allowing him to come back at his leisure."

"Not at all, that's why my cousin is here. Being one of his majesty's officers I'll have little influence, whatever his crimes. I need Richard's connections to ensure that he sees the inside of a debtors' prison or a transfer to a regiment where he has few friends. He's a deserter now, which should get him transferred to the front, though we need to be sure he's put where his slander can do us no harm. The army is full of second sons to very influential families. I won't take long for Wickham to threaten to fill their ears with his lies."

"I have just the connection we may be in need of. One of my former officers is leading his own regiment. He's just been called to the front. It's where he would have landed anyway, being a deserter, my man will just ensure he has no one to speak with on the way there."

The gentleman concluded matters there, Darcy giving way to Richard's insistence that he take up the hunt for Wickham. He could write Colonel Foster, due to his previous warnings, and insist the matter be put in his hands, as he would likely be glad to be absolved of his duties.

As much as Darcy wished to join Bingley to visit the Bennet sisters, he had already set appointments to interview governesses that could pose as Lydia's new companion. Even if he managed to get Parker to take her, she would need further guidance. He had insisted when meeting with Mr. Bennet that the expense be his own, thus he sent Bingley on his way and begged he give his regards to Elizabeth.