Darcy's mouth dropped slightly opened.
"Edward, I thought you said that…" He trailed off, disgruntled and disappointed.
"I know!" replied Edward indignantly. "Mother said she would stay at Longbourne for a while! She didn't tell me were she was going to go after that! I don't expect she wanted you to know!"
Darcy closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.
"Edward, whether you like it or not, I am your parent, and you will show me some respect, please."
Edward bowed his head.
"Yes… father." He said stiffly. "I apologise."
"Well, then. Since it's obvious that Lizzy isn't here, how about a nice cup of tea?" Mrs. Bennet suggested, beaming. "So I may get to know my grandson, ooh, what a spiffing word, better!"
Edward glanced at his father.
"You go, Edward. You and Annabelle can go… I'll go look for Lizzy." Darcy answered distractedly. He made for the carriage, then thought better of it.
"I'll take a horse, if I may." He spoke abstractedly.
"Father!" Annabelle ran towards him. "Father, may I come with you?" She felt like she was five years old and her father was a stranger once more. Darcy stared at her with glazed unseeing eyes.
"Annabelle?" He asked, as though unaware that she existed. "You look so much like her. So much like her." Darcy's gaze turned and fell on Edward. "So do you, Edward." He turned and mounted the horse that the man had brought out for him. Annabelle rushed to him and clutched his hand.
"Let go, Annabelle!" Darcy glared down at his daughter.
"Father! I wish to go with you! I wish to see my mother!"
Her words finally got through to him.
"Go? With me? Nonsense, child. Impossible!" With that, Darcy wheeled the horse around and galloped away.
Annabelle sank to the ground, crying bitterly.
"It's alright, Annabelle." Edward hugged her awkwardly. "You'll meet Mother soon… I promise."
Annabelle shook her head.
"I'm pathetic." She laughed through her tears. "I'm supposed to be the older sister." Edward laughed too, and they embraced.
"Shall we go in then?" Edward offered her his arm. She smiled bravely and blinked away her tears.
"Thank you." She replied.
------------------
"Darcy!" Charles Bingley exclaimed. Darcy charged up the stairs.
"Have you seen Lizzy?" He asked urgently.
"Yes, yes I have!" replied Charles, agonised.
"Bring me to her at once!" Darcy commanded, a wild look on his steady features that Charles couldn't recognise.
"Darcy, I can't." Charles' eyes pleaded with him to listen… to understand.
"What are you speaking of, Bingley. You must take her to me, before it's too late!" Darcy told him imperiously. Charles winced at his tone.
"It is too late, Darcy – she's gone!"
------------------
"Do you know when Father will return?" Annabelle asked Edward. Edward shrugged in reply.
"You know him better than I do, what is your opinion?" He asked her quietly. Annabelle considered the question.
"He loved Mother very much… it took him a while to get over her disappearance. He refused to spend time with me. I remember asking Aunt Georgiana – you would love Aunt Georgiana, she's the sweetest person, and Uncle Fitzwilliam, oh! They're just so happy!" She broke off, remembering the original question. "I remember asking Aunt Georgiana," she tried again. "Why Father didn't like me. But…"
"But?" Edward pressed eagerly.
"In the end… after the tenth anniversary of Mother's disappearance, Father became… more of a father to me. And we were happy. Then Aunt Georgiana married Uncle Fitzwilliam, and everything was perfect." She turned enthusiastically to her brother. "We have a cousin, brother! A cousin." Annabelle frowned. "Several, in fact."
Edward laughed, rolling his eyes at the same time.
"In answer to your original question, I believe that Father would search forever and a day if there was the slightest glimmer of hope that Mother could be found."
Edward bit his lip.
"That's a long time." He remarked, sounding suddenly childish. Annabelle nodded solemnly.
"It is."
-----------------
"What do you mean, she's gone? She can't have just left!"
"Darcy, please!" Charles placed a restraining hand on his friend's arm. "She stayed long enough to see Jane and the children… I didn't even see her myself! By the time I was notified of her presence she had left. Jane was in a terrible state. She claimed that Lizzy insisted that you had remarried, and that her presence was not required there any longer. Lizzy could always move much faster than dear Jane could… and she was unable to stop her from leaving."
Darcy looked at his friend, eyes wild.
"Where can I find her?" He asked desperately.
"Jane said that she hinted at going to Longbourne, Darcy."
----------------
"Edward!" The two twisted to see Aunt Kitty running towards them. "Edward, Mary wants you!" Edward smiled and started to get up.
"Would you like to come as well, Annabelle?" He asked her. Annabelle shook her head.
"No thank you… I think I will stay out here a while longer." Annabelle replied, smiling gently. Waving him off, she sat on a grass knoll just out of sight of the house.
The atmosphere was so calm, so peaceful.
As if something momentous was about to happen.
---------------
"Longbourne!" Darcy groaned. "I've already been there, Charles. She wasn't there!"
Charles looked pained.
"Perhaps she's with your sister?"
"Perhaps." Darcy agreed, brightening up. "Did she take one of your horses, Charles?"
Charles shook her head.
"I don't think so, Darcy… she probably had one at hand already."
"Thank you for your help." Darcy said, turning around and hurrying down the stairs.
"Anytime… I hope you find Lizzy." He smiled encouragingly.
Just as Darcy mounted his horse, a crash resonated from inside the house. Following it was a silence filled with tension.
As though something momentous was about to happen.
A/N: Jelly goes to: EllaBella87, forgotten-kiss, anonymous, Allison, WhiteCamellia, kamalchemy88, Pilas, Nautica7mk, Kyra3, icefirestar, Halandleg4ever, the Mouse in the Opera House, ionalama, lasswithadelicateair45, BecReader, percyismine, bobmcbobbob1, FutureFamousMovieDirector, mufasa, embracing,Serindipity9