Just an FYI - next post will pick up where this one is leaving off.

Chapter 12

After the excitement of the ball and the joyous report of another act of bravery by the champions of Hertfordshire, the next two days passed rather uneventfully. That is, until a note from Netherfield was received by Mrs. Bennet that sent her into a hysteria.

'Leaving, Mr. Bennet! How could such an amiable man choose the worst of times to leave! Why, in this note - even though he does beg pardon for the haste - not a word of Jane or when he will return. This is simply not to be borne!'

The noise catching her attention, Elizabeth came to inquire as to the momentous event that had occasioned this outburst. She found her mother, seated between a patient Jane and Mary, waving about a letter and loudly objecting to the contents of said correspondence.

Mr. Bennet entered and asked, 'Who has sent you a note, Mrs. Bennet? And what has this to do with our Jane?'

'It is Mrs. Hurst,' cried his wife, 'She has written me that Mr. Bingley is gone and she knows not precisely where. Her brother has left without even bidding our family a proper farewell other than what he expressed to his sister to relay and after he showed such marked attentions to Jane.' After a few minutes of incoherent exclamations, she continued with more calm, 'However, Mrs. Hurst has also said that as no ladies remain in Netherfield beside herself, could we spare our two eldest to visit with her today? I am certain that both girls can go and I shall accept her generous invitation.' Having come to a decision, Mrs. Bennet was noticeably happier and bustled off to pen her reply.

Elizabeth was intrigued - what had occurred to cause such an exodus that Mrs. Hurst was the sole lady in residence? Were the gentlemen present, as well? Curiosity was further piqued by her mother all but ordering Elizabeth to accompany Jane. Perchance this was an opportunity to discover information; however, confusion remained in her mind regarding Mr. Collins and the injunction that she maintain a consistent presence near him. No, Mrs. Bennet surely had a plan, as always.

On their arrival at Netherfield, it became evident to both Bennet ladies the true cause of Louisa Hurst's invitation: James Pearson and Caroline Bingley were gone. They had absconded unseen late in the night for an undisclosed destination and, on the rest of the house rising in the morning, chaos had ensued. Whether they had left of their own accord or whether they had been induced by some suspicious individual with nefarious intent, was not known. As they spoke more with the flustered Mrs. Hurst, she explained that her brother had become quite agitated with the news and immediately insisted upon riding out with all speed to the Pearson estate in search of the missing couple, with Mr. Darcy accompanying his friend.

'Did Miss Bingley or Mr. Pearson pen a note to inform you of their departure and eventual destination?' Elizabeth asked. It seemed rather odd that two persons could disappear with nary a whisper anywhere of such foul designs, prompting her to further inquire, 'I hesitate to ask as the notion is horrid, but was there any indication that your sister did not wish to go?'

Shaking her head, Mrs. Hurst replied, 'We have searched through Caroline's and James' apartments and found nothing. Not an hour ago, Mr. Hurst likewise mentioned the possibility of unpleasantness and, as you can well comprehend, the thought is too distressing to me.' She could speak no more and brought a handkerchief to her face.

Jane glanced at her sister, who nodded, before gently placing her arm around Mrs. Hurst's shoulders and escorting the quietly weeping woman to the closest parlor. Elizabeth remembered from their previous stay the placement of Mr. Bingley's study and proceeded there forthwith, believing it likely that a note, if one were present, would have an appreciable chance of being found in the study, as opposed to one of the bedchambers. To place correspondence in one's rooms was essentially to say that it was private and not to be read; whereas, if one wished their letter found, the desk in master's study was a most rational location and highly conducive to gaining attention.

Elizabeth entered the study, looking first on the polished surface for confirmation that what she sought was to be seen, but there was a noticeable dearth of papers on any surface. She then walked toward the windows, taking note of the slight draft that streamed in which caused the drapes to flutter.

To flutter.

Almost running, she hurried back to the desk and began to examine the adjacent floor. There - lying beside one of the carved wooden legs so that only a corner was visible, a folded paper. She seized it and, unfolding the unsealed epistle, read the entirety in a few astonished moments. Mrs. Hurst was in dire need of this communication, as it provided hope and direction for the searchers; thus, Elizabeth hastened to the parlor where Jane was sitting with the married woman.

'- and John brought Agnes home. To keep her safe, he said. Hmph! I don't know if he was so terribly concerned or if he was more worried that she would do something imprudent. The officers will not be decamping until nearer spring and all of our family knows how very much Agnes adores a man in uniform. So brave, she says. So handsome, she says. So foolish, I say.'

Elizabeth stood outside the parlor, listening to Mrs. Hurst speaking animatedly with Jane and she was once again in awe at her elder sister's aptitude for cajoling confidences out of even the most intractable person. Not for the first time did she puzzle over where Jane had learned this remarkably beneficial skill.

On entering, she announced, 'I believe that I may have found something that may be of interest to Mrs. Hurst.' The two ladies looked up at her in anticipation and she held out the folded note to the troubled woman.

'What!?' exclaimed Louisa Hurst, reading the words, 'I cannot believe it of her. Truly, I am all astonishment. Miss Elizabeth, many thanks to you for recovering this letter for, had I not seen her writing with my own eyes, I would not have supposed it of them. Oh! That my brother should return soon; he will know better what to do.'

With a small sad laugh, she murmured, 'Oh Caroline!'

The men arrived and Mrs. Hurst cried, 'Charles! You must see what Miss Elizabeth has found - a letter from Caroline. Here -' and she thrust the paper into Mr. Bingley's hand.

That gentleman read the short missive and began to laugh. 'Well, Darcy, it appears that our trip was entirely unnecessary. Caroline has eloped with James Pearson. I must say that I am not altogether taken unawares; if you had seen her countenance while the ball, then you might have presumed she would find a way to flee. That she and James chose to elope does amaze me - I believed her to wish for a more common-place method of marrying.'

At the confusion on Jane's face, Mr. Bingley explained, 'Our two families are cousins and it was a great desire of our grandfathers to see our families closely connected. Caroline and James' betrothal is of a rather peculiar kind, as neither has spoken of it at any length but we all assumed that they would one day marry. Much as it may be considered duty, I imagine that their affection for each other is strong enough to allow such a hasty plan.'

From another corner of the room, a voice unexpectedly came. 'Will John return to Netherfield? Or will he remain with his sister in their home?' It was Mr. Hurst.

Mrs. Hurst looked at him, quite startled. 'I did not see you enter with Charles and Mr. Darcy. Did you ride with them?' she queried.

With some discomposure, he answered, 'When they headed northward, I turned to investigate in a different direction, thinking that we could examine the countryside more fully if we three took dissimilar paths. On finding nothing of note, I rode back.'

As Mr. Hurst was explaining, Mr. Darcy moved unobtrusively near enough to Elizabeth for him to say in a low tone, 'I have chosen to accept your offer of assistance. Perhaps we might speak further on what this might entail?'

With a nod, Elizabeth acknowledged his request.

After enjoying an afternoon with a grateful Mrs. Hurst and no additional revelations, Jane and Elizabeth were escorted to Longbourn by Mr. Darcy, who claimed business of some sort with Mr. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet was to come back shortly, for she had gone to visit her sister Phillips in preparation for that afternoon's card party; Mr. Darcy soon found himself seated in Mr. Bennet's bookroom, awaiting her return.

Presently, there came the sound of voices and footsteps approaching; the door moved and in walked a rather timid-looking . . . . George Wickham! Mr. Darcy was incensed - how had his greatest enemy happened into the one bookroom in England where Darcy himself was to be found? He cared no longer for his cousin the Colonel's advice regarding the Bennets. Mr. Wickham's own shocked countenance gave him no pause, for he did not doubt that this meeting was deliberately done. Standing, he opened his mouth to give free rein to his displeasure when someone spoke.

'Please do be seated, Mr. Darcy. Mr. Wickham, you may take the chair aside Mr. Bennet.' The words were uttered quietly but firmly, leaving neither man wishing to disobey. In the darkened corner stood Mrs. Bennet, who continued, 'Perhaps Mr. Darcy, you should explain your mutual history with Mr. Wickham to Mr. Bennet and myself. Mr. Wickham, you may speak when this gentleman is finished.'

Thus, Mr. Darcy repeated much of his previous speech regarding his journeying to Hertfordshire and seeking the aid of the Bennets; however, he now saw fit to include George Wickham's name as the wrong-doer. To the great man's tremendous incredulity, the officer neither argued nor made any effort to defend himself and, instead, hung his head as if in shame - but Darcy knew that he must be dissembling, for George Wickham was not one to feel mortification for his actions.

On receiving Mrs. Bennet's permission to speak, Mr. Wickham shockingly concurred with his former friend as to his proclivities of old and described how he had begun upon a far better path:

It was not long after he had received the bequest and recompense for the living from Darcy that George Wickham took himself off to London, seeking to increase his fortune, but money in the hands of one with such expensive and vicious tendencies could not last terribly long. After a relatively short time, he fell into quite straitened and desperate circumstances and sought out a former acquaintance in hopes that this fellow would know of a place where the money was ample and the effort necessary was nominal. It was through this man that Wickham had been directed to an estate in the southeastern corner of England; a nicely sized property that boasted of an attentive Mistress with several lucrative positions to be had.

These positions were entertaining and only occasionally taxing; however, being in this person's employ also brought Wickham into frequent contact with others of her household, namely, the Mistress's daughter. This young lady was an intelligent creature but often lonely, with none other than a companion and her mother for company. She was the one to seek him out, curious if the hints of wit and sense that he displayed ran deeper than a facade. She was drawn by his engaging manners, believing that he was not an evil person, per se, but one who required an inducement to follow good principles.

Secretly, they met on occasion at first, then with increasing frequency as time passed. Her interest in the why and wherefore of his activities elsewhere, particularly in London, was acute and he began to become chagrined of having to answer her forthright questions with the shameful truth, for he did not wish to mortify this ingenuous young woman or injure her opinion of him. Over a period - it came to about a year - they became fast, albeit surreptitious, friends and Wickham found that his desire to live as he had before was slipping away apace.

Their friendship remained steady until one momentous day. He had been given an assignment which might have pleased him immensely not a year ago but now placed him in a predicament and so he consulted his friend. She was appalled at the instruction but they worked together to determine a way that he could perform his duty, while protecting any innocents. It was during their scheming that both were astonished to find a mutual attachment - he was unbelieving in his deservedness of affection, being an imperfect vessel and with such a history of grievous sins; she, who was perpetually looked-over as her health was not good above half the time, was astounded that a man of vitality and understanding should look at her with fondness.

Their plan was not perfect but it was far, far better than what his employer wished him to do: He was being sent to remove an obstacle or, more accurately, to introduce a lever that an unscrupulous person might pull to their advantage alone. A naive young lady with little knowledge of the cruelty that one could inflict upon another was to journey to the seashore for a holiday. Her companion was known to George Wickham's employer; thus, he was given direction on her actions down to the minutest detail. He was to convince her to run off with him, to cause her to believe it an elopement so that he could bring her to his employer's home. The girl was then to be kept as a hostage and used as an instrument to force her brother's hand.

The newly betrothed pair felt that he must bring her not to the estate but, to protect her, to London where disappearing was a far simpler venture. The question was where? Where would be an appropriately safe location? The Mistress' daughter had a small amount of money that was hidden and unknown to all others. Utilizing these meager funds, he would have to find the girl's brother, who would need to be approached and persuaded of the danger. This was likely to be the greatest difficulty in the plan, for there was an unpleasant past between the two men.