Chapter 12:

The Colonel walked over to where Wickham's body lad, knelt down, and touched his pulse. He was dead.

"Thanks Heavens" whispered Richard, pursing his lips. Richard tilted his head, looking at the body infront of him, an ugly smile still etched on its face. Richard never liked Wickham, there had always been a controlled goodness around him, one that fooled the adults but never him, who perceptively saw beneath it. There was also that jealously, that boiling and ripping jealousy, that Wickham and Darcy were blessed with startling good looks and he, Richard, was not. With Darcy he could overlook it, for not only did he love his cousin, but his heart matched his handsome appearance. He was kind, he was good, and he was loyal. But Wickham? He was evil and his handsomeness was the tool by which he sinned.

"Scum" spat Richard on the floor, before standing back up and looking around the area in the forest with eyes of a Colonel. He directed his men to search the nearby area and then to come back and take care of the body. It was then when he noticed a letter sticking out of Wickham's pocket. He did not know what it was nor why it was important but he took it, remembering the glee with which Wickham mentioned it. It must contain information that ought not to be seen. Richard knelt down, picked it up and put it in his own pocket.

He was glad that Wickham was finally dead and their risk gone, but he did not know how deep his words would wound nor how long it would take to heal. Richard knew Darcy better than anyone and he did not forgive easily. He knew Darcy was in love with Elizabeth, but he did not remember everything and he had trusted her, and now to have Wickham be the one who told him—Richard cursed under his breath. He did not even want to imagine Mr. Darcy's ride home nor what would come when he would storm into Pemberley. He prayed Lizzy was prepared.

A part of Richard was thankful that at least the deceit was over, but there was a tang of guilt. He knew, and he ought to have ensured Lizzy told him right away. Richard did not think that Darcy had consummated the marriage yet, but heavens knew that if he had, he would not take this lightly. For all terms and purposes, they were married. They had declared marriage in Scotland in-front of witnesses, but Darcy was a proper man. He would not see it that way.

Darcy had many good traits but his temper was not one of them. Richard could only pray for Lizzy and indeed he did, from when he commanded his men to clean up the area, to when he rode the longest way home. He was not a coward, he knew he needed to face Darcy sooner rather than later, but he did not need to make it sooner than it already was.

PNPNPNPNP

Lizzy was in her bedroom, contemplating the events of the previous hour, when she heard a soft knock on the door.

She looked up and saw a maid come in, holding a note.

"From Miss Darcy, ma'am" she said, curtsying.

"I thank you" said Elizabeth, taking the note and smiling sweetly at the young girl. She must not be more than fifteen, thought Lizzy, reminding her of her own youngest sister, Lydia.

"May I bring you anything else, ma'am?" she asked politely.

"I am well, I thank you. Could you please wait until I read the note, I might perhaps need your assistance then" said Elizabeth, pulling away from her musings of the girl and her background, and opening the note and reading it with haste.

"She would like to meet with me in the late Mr. Darcy's study. Would you mind showing me to there?" asked Lizzy, folding the note and placing it on her desk.

The young maid simply nodded and led the way, out of the mistress' chambers and into the late Mr. Darcy's study.

Lizzy followed the girl, this time more aware than the last of the layout of this grand house. They were going into an area that was on the eastern side of the house, the part that was most likely shown to visitors when they came to visit this grand estate.

Lizzy followed the maid into the study, a large circular room, with tall windows and very masculine decorations. Aside from the dark wooden table and chairs, there seemed to be trinkets throughout the room, a collection of miniatures, and other paintings. These must have been the late Mr. Darcy's favorites, thought Lizzy as she looked around with interest.

A soft voice in the middle of the room called her attention and she looked there to find a lovely, tall, young girl, with the brightest blue eyes she had ever seen and an expression that she had seen one in Mr. Darcy many times and she had misjudged as pride, but now she knew, the girl in front of her was simply very shy, just like her older brother. Her husband. Her make-believe husband. Sigh.

"Miss Elizabeth" said Georgiana breathlessly. "I have heard so much about you! And to think that we are now sisters!"

"Please call me Lizzy" said Elizabeth lovingly, aware that there were servants around. Lizzy did not know what to tell Georgiana, for she did not know what Mr. Darcy would want when he found out the truth. Oh how she wished he would come quickly, she wanted the truth out and open—she needed to speak to him before things got even more out of hand.

"Are you unwell?" asked Georgiana, tilting her head and looking at Lizzy with slight worry.

"I apologize, I was woolgathering" said Lizzy, giving her a weak smile. "Shall we sit?" asked Lizzy, looking around.

"Yes!" said Georgiana, now blushing, "I did not want to speak before you, for now you are the mistress of this home, but I now see that you were uncomfortable in suggesting it" she added quickly, blushing as she spoke.

"It is quite alright, Georgiana" said Lizzy, reaching for her hand, "Come, let us sit." They sat down by a the circular table, on the big and masculine chairs that Lizzy could only suppose her own father, Mr. Bennet, would greatly enjoy.

Georgiana looked around the room, seeming to gather strength to speak.

"How did he propose?" she asked, not knowing what else to ask. She had heard from her own brother that Miss Elizabeth was a great conversationalist, but it seemed to Georgiana that Elizabeth was not herself that day.

"Oh?" Said Lizzy chuckling, not expecting that question. "It was quite shocking! He proposed in your aunts garden. How have you been?"

"I was worried" said Georgiana in a whisper, "Where is Fitzwilliam?"

"He had a business matter to attend to" said Lizzy cryptically, concern slightly veiled in her own voice.

"Oh" said Georgiana with concern in her eyes. "Richard came to get me and told me I should go to Rosings but instead I went to lady Catherine's house in London, she was already on her way there when we got there. She seemed eager to come to Pemberley but did not tell me anything. She waited until Richard left to plan her trip." It seemed Lady Catherine had suspected something was off from the very beginning.

"She asked you to come?" asked Lizzy with a knowing look.

"No" said Georgiana timidly, "I insisted on coming."

"I see" said Lizzy smiling approvingly.

"Do you think less of me?" asked Georgiana shyly.

"Oh no! Quite the contrary, Georgiana" said Elizabeth with a warm smile.

"I am very happy to see you, Elizabeth" began Georgiana, taking a deep breath as she spoke.

"Elizabeth sounds so formal, please we are sisters, call me Lizzy" said Elizabeth, reaching for Georgiana's hand and squeezing it lightly. She could tell Georgiana wanted to tell her something of importance but did not know what.

"Indeed, I shall, Lizzy" said Georgiana smiling widely. For a fleeting moment, Lizzy thought to tell her the truth but she could not shatter her happiness nor worry her more. She first needed to speak with Fitzwilliam, then they would decide together on the next course of action.

"Are you fond of this room?" asked Lizzy, looking around once again.

"It was my fathers favorite room, hence it has remained just so. My aunt never comes in here" she explained, the last words in a whisper.

"Is that why did you wish for me to meet you here?" asked Lizzy.

"I wanted courage to tell you something, since we are sisters you should know...I am sorry..." said Georgiana, tears threatening to pour out of her eyes. "I am so sorry" she said, now crying.

"Georgiana, what is ever the matter?" asked Lizzy worried, she reached for Georgiana and held her hands, as Georgiana took a moment to calm herself.

"There used to be a Stewart here at Pemberley when we were growing up who had a son, George Wickham" she said her lip trembling. "He was very charming and I….I was fond of him"

Oh no, thought Lizzy, she could see where this was going and as much as she wanted Georgiana to not re-experience the pain she knew that Georgiana needed someone to speak with. A female, a sister, a friend.

Georgiana quietly but tearfully retold the tail of her relationship with Wickham, his wooing, their plans to elope, and Mr. Darcy's timely intervention.

"I am sorry if you think less of our family now" said Georgiana, now crying.

"Oh Georgiana, I could never think less of you nor Fitzwilliam!" said Elizabeth passionately, reaching once again for Georgiana's hand. "You are my family now and family sticks together through everything" said Elizabeth lovingly.

"We are so lucky to have you!" said Georgiana, hugging her new sister with all the love she could muster. "Do not fear Lady Catherine, she has no control in this home" added Georgiana, reassuringly.

"I do fear Lady Catherine, I think the only person to fear in this home is your brother" teased Lizzy.

"Is that so?" asked a voice from behind them, both ladies turning and blushing as they saw the Master of Pemberley enter the room. Lizzy knew at once that he knew. His eyes were bulging, his breathing heavy, and his stance...hurt.

"Fitzwilliam!" said Georgiana with excitement running to hug her sweaty brother, unaware of the tension between her brother and his so called wife.

"Georgiana" murmured Mr. Darcy, softening as he embraced his beloved sister. "I am very glad to see you" he said, looking into her eyes, "You look well."

"I wish I could say the same, brother" teased Georgiana, a loving smile on her face. "You came straight from riding?"

"Yes" said Mr. Darcy, shifting uncomfortably in his feet. "Would you mind leaving me and...Miss Elizabeth alone for a moment?"

"Of course" said Georgiana, raising an eyebrow at the odd reference at Lizzy's maiden name. Miss Darcy left the room quickly, not wanting to keep her brother from what she imagined was warmly embracing his wife. She did not see his angry face, nor Lizzy's nervous looks, to realize that what was to come was not warm and most definitely, not an embrace.