The next day after luncheon at the Lambton Inn, the Gardiners and Elizabeth stood from the table. They had been discussing visiting Mrs. Gardiner's childhood friends who still lived in town. Elizabeth was prepared to go with them even knowing that after introductions and a few minutes of general conversation, she would not take part in the dialogue between old friends.

Thankfully she did not have to worry about a weary visit as the maid entered the room holding letters. "If you please, ma'am. The Post's just come."

Elizabeth took the Post as she was the closest. "Two letters from Jane. At last! I wondered why we had not heard anything."

She tried not to look so happy that she had a ready excuse to avoid the outing. "Would you be very angry if I beg you to postpone our outing? I shall stay here and read my letters."

"Not at all," answered Mrs. Gardiner. "Of course you want to read your letters. Your uncle and I will visit my friend and call back for you in an hour."

The Gardiners departed and Elizabeth sat on the sofa on the other side of the private sitting room, unfolding the first letter from Jane. It was a cozy letter full of detailings about how delightful the Gardiner children were, how pleased Jane was with the nice weather, how Kitty had just now quit crying that she had not been invited to go to Brighton by Colonel Forster's wife like Lydia had been, and that Mrs. Bennet had finally stopped mentioning the cruelty of not allowing both sisters to go.

Elizabeth sighed glad that she was far removed from that situation. And that Mrs. Bennet was far removed from her. For she knew that if her mother was there, she would have been beside herself with the news that her second eldest would be marrying the man with £10,000 a year. Elizabeth was quite glad her family was far away from Derbyshire.

She put that letter aside picked up the second, which was also from Jane but had been addressed quite ill, almost completely illegible. How odd, it did not look as if rain had washed the address away, but that Jane herself had written it with a shaky hand. With misgivings Elizabeth unfolded the letter.

"Dearest Lizzy, since writing my last letter something has occurred of a most unexpected and serious nature, but I am afraid of alarming you. Be assured, we are all well. What I have to say relates to poor Lydia."

"Lydia?!" Exclaimed Elizabeth.

"An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed. The letter was from Colonel Forster to inform us that Lydia was gone off to Scotland with one of his officers. To own the truth, with Wickham. You will imagine our surprise and shock. To Kitty, however, it does not seem so wholly unexpected. We are certain they are heading to Gretna Green, though perhaps through London first. Lydia has always wanted to go to London."

Then in even worse handwriting, more was added to the already shocking news.

"We have received more news and I warn you Lizzy, it is not good. Lydia has arrived at Meryton on the Post coach. Wickham had abandoned her—"

"Oh no!"

"— at a Post stop. They were to take the Post coach to London, but while she was using the facilities, Wickham took the coach heading north according to passerby. I can not believe Wickham behaving in such a manner and I am not sure this is an accurate retelling of events."

"I can! Just after he ruined the reputation of Lydia, how could you not believe it?"

"Thankfully Lydia was loaned the fare to Meryton, but she arrived by herself. I fear she did not keep her feelings regarding Wickham to herself on the journey."

"Oh, Lydia! How could you?"

"Colonel Forster states that they are trying to locate Wickham. Thankfully they are spreading the news that Wickham and Lydia are engaged. That should help preserve her reputation until they locate Wickham and they are married. Oh Lizzy, how I wish you were here as Mama is in hysterics. Kitty has been banished to her bedroom until Papa is no longer angry with her. I do wish you would come back quickly. Mr. Gardiner would be of great use right now to calm Mama and help in the search for Wickham. Dearest Lizzy, I cannot help but beg you all to come here as soon as possible."

Elizabeth stood and paced the room still holding the letters in her hand. She had begged Mr. Bennet against letting Lydia accompany Colonel Forster's wife, who was only one year elder than Lydia, to Brighton. How thoughtless of her to share her complaints regarding Wickham on the Post coach. Hopefully the passengers remember that they were already married, and not just betrothed.

What all would have to be done before they could depart for Hertfordshire? She paused in her walk about the room. Would Mr. Darcy even want to marry her with Wickham his soon to be brother in law?

Then the maid opened the door, "If you please, Ma'am."

In walked Mr. Darcy. "Miss Bennet, I hope this…"

"I beg your pardon. I must find Mr. Gardiner this moment on business that cannot be delayed."

"Good God, what is the matter?"

Elizabeth sniffed.

"Of course, I will not detain you for a moment, but let me go or a servant to fetch Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. You are not well, you cannot go yourself."

Mr. Darcy takes her arm and guides her a chair, and sits down across from her, taking her hand. "You are not well, may I call a doctor?"

"No, I am well." She stares at the letters in her hands, knowing everything will irrevocably change when Mr. Darcy learns the news.

"Is there nothing you can take for your present relief? A glass of wine? Truly, you look very ill."

She sniffed again and dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. "No, I thank you. There is nothing the matter with me. I am quite well. I am only distressed by some dreadful news, which I have just received from Longbourn."

Her voice broke and Elizabeth dropped her head, trying to regain her composure. Mr. Darcy brought his fist to his mouth, still holding her hand.

"I am sorry, forgive me. I have just received a letter from Jane, with such dreadful news it cannot be concealed from anyone. You shall not be surprised with what you know of the man. My youngest sister, Lydia, has left all her friends, has eloped with Mr. Wickham. They have run away together from Brighton. You know him too well to doubt the rest. But it is even worse—" She chokes on a sob. "He abandoned her at a Post stop. She arrived in Meryton alone."

Mr. Darcy stood abruptly walking to the fireplace rubbing his hands on his face.

"She has no money, no connections, nothing to tempt him. My parents are spreading the news that they are wed and Wickham had to return North."

Elizabeth let out her breath and suddenly felt exhausted. It should not have surprised her that Mr. Darcy stood to move away from her. He was probably thinking of calling off their engagement no matter how the news would affect his reputation. But that did not signify now. Not when her and her family's reputation was ruined due to Lydia's thoughtlessness.

"Your words to me last year were prescient."

Mr. Darcy turned towards her, his hands held behind his back. "Please, let us not speak of what I said at that time. It does not show me in the best light."

They were both silent, except for Elizabeth's sniffles. She was quite sure, no matter how kind a man she now knew Mr. Darcy was, her betrothal to the man she loved was over.

"I am afraid you have long been desiring my absence. This unfortunate affair will, I fear, prevent my sister's having the pleasure of seeing you at Pemberley today."

"Oh, yes. Be so kind as to apologize for us. Say that urgent business calls us home immediately. And if you would be so kind to conceal the unhappy truth as long as possible."

"You may be assured of my secrecy. But I have stayed too long." He picked up his hat and riding stick. "I shall leave you now."

Elizabeth stood, still holding the letters that sealed her family's fate. Mr. Darcy stared into her eyes as if memorizing her features, then quit the room. She quickly turned away letting the tears fall until the door opened.

Spinning around with hope in her heart, it dropped to dread when her aunt and uncle stepped into the room ready for their outing that afternoon. Elizabeth hated to be the bearer of bad news, but in this case there was no one else to do the job and necessity prevented her from drawing the pain out.

"Even if what you say of Wickham is true," said Mrs. Gardiner. "I still cannot believe this of Lydia."

"Ever since the militia were quartered at Meryton, there has been nothing but love, flirtation and officers in her head!" Elizabeth wiped her cheek.

"If he can be found quickly," interjected Mr. Gardiner, the voice of calm logic, "then a marriage between him and Lydia will take place and the worst will be averted."

Elizabeth's uncle had a disposition that believed anything would resolve satisfactorily. Which was beneficial for a shop owner of an import business but not quite so realistic when it came to the matter of his niece running away with a man that had summarily abandoned her.

"We must not assume the worst," stated Mrs. Gardiner. Elizabeth shook her head. "It is possible, Lizzy."

"Indeed it is," agreed Mr. Gardiner. "Why would any young man form a design against a girl who is by no means unprotected or friendless?"

Elizabeth took a deep breath and stayed silent. They were not privy to all the details regarding Wickham that she was. And she felt it was partially her fault for not making his character well known once she knew the truth of it. But that would have betrayed Mr. Darcy's confidence, and tarnished the reputation of his younger sister. Which she would never do, and so again she came to the conclusion that there had been nothing she have done to prevent this, that she had not already tried.

She followed her aunt and uncle out of the private room into the hallway that would lead them to the staircase up to their rooms. Mr. Gardiner and Mrs. Gardiner stopped abruptly and Elizabeth almost bumped into them. She peered around her uncle and saw the servant's door in the hall had opened, and out walked Mr. Wickham.

Both parties were speechless. Elizabeth was still holding in her hands the letters delivering the dreadful news from Jane. Wickham must have accompanied those very letters on the Post coach.

Elizabeth was the first to recover from her shock at seeing the very man that had ruined her sister's and family's reputation. She stepped around the Gardiners and willed herself to not let any of her thoughts show on her face. She did not know how, but they had to keep Wickham in their sights and alert her family. "Mr. Wickham!"

The man smiled and bowed, with every appearance of a well bred gentleman. "Miss Bennet, how surprising to see you here. And these are your relatives, I remember them from your aunt's card party in Meryton."

"Yes, we are touring the Peak District on holiday."

"I had never expected you to travel to Derbyshire. As I remember, you had mentioned you wanted to avoid a certain someone."

She was careful not to give any sign that she was perturbed, and would rather smack him across the face than play nice. But to save her family's reputation, and forcibly keep Wickham until her family could arrive to force a marriage, she would play act to the best of her ability. "My aunt and uncle invited me to accompany them on their tour. I could not turn down a chance to see part of England I had heard so much about."

Then she realized those very letters detailing Wickham's misdeed were in her hands, in full view of the reprobate himself. With what she hoped was a natural movement, she moved her hands behind her back. "We have been having a wonderful time viewing the peaks and where my aunt spent her childhood. You spent your formative years in Derbyshire as well, did you not?"

Elizabeth felt the letters tugged out of her hands. Mrs. Gardiner most likely, and hopefully she could hide them in her reticule without catching Wickham's notice.

"I did indeed, I spent my childhood like a son to the late Mr. Darcy, the most wonderful of men. It is a shame his son has not turned out with the same generous nature."

"Have you returned to visit your friends and family, as well?" Asked Mrs. Gardiner.

"I am very fond of this village and with a short reprieve from the militia I chose to visit my friends and family here."

Mr. Gardiner cleared his throat. "Would you care to join us our private dining room? It is good to see a friendly face we knew in Hertfordshire."

Studying Wickham's face, she saw his eyes dart away to the outside door. He was on the verge of running, and then they would most likely never find him again. And her family's reputation would forever be tarnished. "You must be parched after your travels."

Thankfully her uncle was a shrewd man. "Indeed, you must sit with us, I will buy the first round."

And with that, Wickham espoused delight in spending time with old friends from the country. Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth followed the men back into the room, exchanging wide eyed glances but not speaking a word of their thoughts.

As she sat and smiled prettily at Wickham, her thoughts were consumed with how they would keep Wickham in Lambton until her family could arrive. It would take at least three days for a letter to reach the Bennets, and three days travel north making it a se'ennight complete. She could not think of any method that did not involve the scoundrel held in the local gaol.

The men continued to share tales of travel and excellent locations in Derbyshire while Mr. Gardiner continued to ply Wickham with drink. Elizabeth was suspicious of her uncle when he showed no signs of an over indulgence of drink, yet Wickham was swaying in his seat.

"I imagine you are quite tired," stated Mr. Gardiner. "You had just arrived on the Post coach today?"

Mr. Wickham started to nod but then frowned. Elizabeth's heart sped up and she darted her eyes at her uncle.

"We are going to tour the church and then call upon old friends but we have a set of rooms upstairs. Why do you not rest and we will call back for supper?"

Elizabeth stared at her uncle, hoping her shock was not present on her features.

"Much obliged. I am…shall accept your offer."

Mr. Gardiner stood but Wickham needed help to stay upright. Elizabeth turned away from the scene, her wrist caught by her aunt. "Come," she whispered. "Let us go to our rooms and let your uncle be seen alone with Wickham."

A man's reputation could survive being seen to help another man who had too much drink. Elizabeth quickly darted up the staircase unsure of how Mr. Gardiner had managed this feat. But uppermost on her mind was how would they keep the scoundrel for a se'ennight until her family could arrive? Would anyone miss him? And how would they keep Wickham's kidnapping secret?

She had a chance to ask her questions when her aunt followed her into Elizabeth's room. "What is uncle doing? How is he not showing signs of drink? He had as much to drink as Wickham! We can not —"

"Lizzy dear, come away from the door. We do not want to be heard." Elizabeth walked to the far side of the room and sat on the bed while Mrs. Gardiner perched on the wooden chair in the corner. "Your uncle has a stratagem for those he must meet as part of his business, but does not want to suffer for it. He pours it in the nearest plant."

Elizabeth gasped then covered her mouth to muffle the her laughter.

"I did wonder how he showed no ill effects. That is clever of him. But aunt, we will not be able to keep Wickham in our room. It will take a se'ennight at least for a letter to arrive and them to travel here!"

"Your uncle has had to deal with unsavory situations a few times in the course of his imports business. I am sure he has a plan." Heavy steps were loud in the hallway, as if someone was walking slowly and stumbling.

She nearly held her breath, hoping Wickham would not realize he had been tricked, and would raise an alarm. But who would believe a gentleman had plied a man with drink for a scheme?

Thank you for all your suggestions for my unhappy constipation situation! I've found that doing all of these every day is keeping things moving: prunes, bran cereal, coffee, duclolax chews. It is wild that I need to do all of them!