I don't own Pride and Prejudice.
Elizabeth glanced across the carriage, and couldn't help but feel sorry the young girl currently asleep, resting against Charlotte. She felt Fitzwilliam take her hand, and turned, trying to smile at him. He had offered to ride, but Maria had been terrified to not have him in the carriage with them, so he had climbed right in, and took a seat on the side with her and Mary. She knew he would much rather spend some of the ride on horseback, but was willing to sacrifice his own comfort to bring security to a girl he hardly knew.
She had been thankful when she found out her husband had told Mrs Wilkes to privately inform his aunt and uncle of what he thought the situation might have been. The fact that he was correct in his guess, made her wonder just how often he'd come across similar situations. She knew it was sadly not uncommon for maids to be taken advantage of, and from what she had seen of the man she married, she could easily picture helping them recover from such.
She was also grateful to her new aunt who had managed to rearrange the carriage occupants without anyone suspecting there was a reason for it. They had dined once with Uncle James and Aunt Evelyn, as the couple had requested she and her sisters call them, so it was not out of the realm of possibility that they would desire Georgiana, Kitty, and Jane ride with them. Aunt Evelyn had told her right before they left that they had offered a spot to Mary, but the poor girl looked terrified at being parted from Elizabeth.
She was glad that Mary had chosen to come with them as she had begun reading aloud to them soon after the journey started. It was her calm, steady voice that had lulled Maria to sleep, and Mary continued to read even after, seeing how it calmed the clearly traumatized girl. Fitzwilliam made sure to hand Mary the container of water from time to time to make sure she didn't tire her voice out. When she wanted a break she would hand the book to Elizabeth, who would take over.
"I can't thank you both enough for what you are doing for my sister and I." Charlotte's voice was almost a whisper, so as not to wake Maria and now Mary who had both fallen asleep.
"I assure you Miss Lucas, this is no trouble." Fitzwilliam spoke up. "It has long been considered despicable by both my uncle and I that young ladies are treated as your sister was, and the men who do it see no repercussions."
"I just don't know what we are going to do when my parents find us. If it were just my father I would not worry as much, for he is not a cruel man. However, he will not stand up to my mother, and she will do whatever it takes to have a daughter as mistress of Longbourn. She was so angry when, according to her, one of the undeserving Bennet girls snagged the wealthiest man our county had ever seen." She rolled her eyes and imitated her mother's voice. "She looks at Maria marrying your cousin as a way to one up your mother."
"I'm sorry, but I no longer consider Mrs Bennet my mother." Elizabeth's face was hard, "Any woman that would send their child off alone, with no protection, deserves no such title."
"I couldn't agree more Eliza," Charlotte said with a fire in her eyes. "Now I just need to find a way to secure mine and Maria's future, and I myself will wash my hands of Lady Lucas."
"We will think of something, Charlotte, we will keep your sister safe." She promised her friend, praying it was a promise she could keep.
"Tell me Fitz, what do you know of Miss Lucas?" Aunt Evelyn asked as he escorted her on a walk around the inn during their first stop to change the horses. "Miss Bennet speaks very highly of her, and Kitty is most concerned for the younger Miss Lucas. She says she has never seen the girl so distraught. I commend the older sisters for their protection of the younger from the harsher aspects of the world. From what I've gathered their parents were of little use."
"You've gathered correctly I'm afraid. As for Miss Lucas, I would have to say she is just as intelligent at Elizabeth, however, more understanding of how the world works. Not that Elizabeth is naive, she just has not seen the true evils of the world, only heard about them." He remembered the shock on her face when she found out what had been done to Maria. "Think that as you get to know Miss Lucas you will see she is an ideal partner in life for Andrew."
"You see right through me as always, my dear Fitz." She smiled at her nephew. "I will admit I am eager to have my home filled with children again, and despaired Andrew ever finding the woman who could bring such a thing about. That is until the slip of a thing shows up at your door, brave enough to leave the protection of her parents, all out of love for a sister. I would be honored to call such a girl daughter."
"I will admit, I had my own hopes that Andrew would find Miss Lucas to his liking. I have met the girl's father, and while not an inherently bad man, he lacks the ability to stand up to his wife. That being said, I believe he does care for his children, and would likely sign an agreement much like my own father in law signed. If Andrew was amenable, I would have my attorney draw up a settlement that allowed Andrew and Miss Lucas to take guardianship of any children they believed to be in danger, or on the road to embarrassing the Darcy family. This would give them immediate guardianship of Maria as she has already proven to be in danger."
"Well, I believe I shall have to convene a war council with my daughter and your wife. If we are going to take on the role of match maker, I will need as many intelligent women as I can find." She gave him a playful smile as she spoke, but he knew she was entirely serious.
"Does it not feel better to stretch your legs after being cooped up in a carriage all morning?" Elizabeth asked her companions. She had encouraged Charlotte and Maria to take a walk with her and Mary to stretch their legs. Kitty had not been able to understand why she was not allowed to join them, but thankfully their aunt Gardiner was quick to explain that she needed help burning off the energy her children had built up.
"It does feel nice, and I'll admit that I appreciate the presence of the footmen as we walk." When he had heard of their desire, Fitzwilliam had assigned two of his footmen to follow them, the the others were to stay and watch over the rest of his sisters.
"I also feel better knowing my brother is just over there." Mary spoke up, pointing to where Fitzwilliam was walking with his aunt. He had whispered to her that he hoped to talk to his aunt about coming up with a plan to keep Charlotte and Maria safe, so she made sure to keep them far enough away to give them privacy, but close enough to make Maria feel safe.
Personally, she couldn't see any way to protect them from their parents with out the two girls marrying, and there is no way Maria could handle such a thing. If only there was another man out there like her own husband who would be willing to marry her friend, and take guardianship of Maria. Unfortunately, it would take a wealthy man to be able to pull off what her husband had with her sisters in their settlement. Sadly, rich men in a position or willingness to marry without concern for wealth and connections were few and far between. What were the odds they'd find another one in their lifetime?
"Oh Lizzy, I forgot to show you!" Georgiana yelled as she took off running toward her, a little dress in hand, "I perfected the new flower you taught us!" She showed the stitch off on the dress with pride.
"You have done very well my dear." The young girl glowed with the praise.
"What is the dress for?" Came a voice so quiet, they almost missed it.
"Lizzy taught us to embroider these little dresses, and we are going to give them to the tenant and servants' children for Christmas. She and Fitzwilliam have also given us permission to host a New Years celebration so they have the opportunity to wear them. Kitty and I get to plan it, if you would like to help us." Georgiana barely contained her excitement enough to keep her voice gentle.
"Could I help make the dresses?" Maria looked hesitantly to her sister.
"We would appreciate any help you are able to give." Elizabeth answered for her, "We are also working on clothes for the boys, though Jane and Mary are doing those. Mary created an adorable little sailboat pattern that we all adore." Mary glowed at the praise.
"Then I shall work on the boy clothes with Mary and Elizabeth can teach you the flower patterns. I'm sure we will enjoy having something to work on in the carriage." Charlotte smiled at her sister.
"But won't Mr Darcy grow bored if we are all stitching?" Maria asked, eyes wide with concern.
"My uncle complained about being just that, so my aunt told him he should just grab a needle and get to work then." Georgiana giggled, "And guess what, he actually did it! He's not very good, but Jane has been working with him. She is most patient with him."
"Jane has always been the sweetest creature who ever lived." Elizabeth smiled at the young girl.
"Oh, I'm going to go show Fitzwilliam, and pester him into learning like uncle is." Georgiana giggled, turning to Maria she smiled, "Would you like to join me, you don't have to if you don't want to." She quickly assured the girl when she saw the look of fear in her face.
"We shall always be within eyesight should you chose to go." Elizabeth assured her, and smiled as Maria hesitantly reached for Georgiana's hand.
"We'll see her recovered Charlotte, I promise you." She pulled her friend into a hug once the girls were safely with her husband.