Chapter 16:

The night that Elizabeth Bennet had arrived in London, looking every bit the lost soul that she felt inside, her dearest sister, Jane Bennet, had been at the theater and entirely missed her arrival. She had been invited by a new acquaintance, a Miss Murphy, who was a chatterbox and pleasant company, and having been trying to forget the Bingleys, Miss Murphy had been a welcomed distraction.

Miss Murphy, or Penelope, as she insisted that Jane now call her, was very eager to introduce her to her brother, Viscount Peter Murphy, who was a notorious rake and heart breaker and Penelope felt if only met someone as good and beautiful as Jane, he would settle down. Mrs. Murphy, Penelope's mother, was very eager to see her eldest son finally settle down and was in approval of Miss Bennet's character and manners. Unfortunately for them, Miss Jane Bennet was still in love with Mr. Charles Bingley and thought she demurely smiled at their hints and suggestions, her heart was not ready to be touched again.

Jane came home from the theater with a radiant smile and was welcomed warmly by her aunt who linked arms with her eldest niece and whispered in confidence that Elizabeth had arrived, on her own, without notice and without belongings.

"I do not have the pleasure of understanding you, Aunt" said Jane in her loving and sweet voice.

"I do not have the pleasure of understanding either" teased Mrs. Gardiner, laughing at her own jesting.

"Lizzy? Is here?" asked Jane incredulously, looking around for her beloved sister.

"She is sleeping. It seems she needs the rest—I do not know the particulars, what I do know is the same tale that your mother said that she was visiting Mrs. Morling" said Mrs. Gardiner in guarded whispers.

"Yes" said Jane pursing her lips, as she thought hard on the subject. Her own mother had likewise told her that Lizzy had had a change of plans in her itinerary, which Jane found odd as they always confided in each other. But it had only been a week since Lizzy's last correspondence from Kent had arrived and she could only imagine that Lizzy's next letter would explain the sudden change. "Well, I am glad she is well" said Jane, eager to see her sister.

"I believe we should let her rest tonight" said Mrs. Gardiner, giving Jane a meaningful look, "I have placed her in the room beside yours, you may check on her if you wish, though I think she is sleeping soundly."

"I see" said Jane, giving her Aunt a weak smile, "I thank you, you are too kind" said Jane, wishing her simply words could convey all the gratitude that she always felt at her Aunt and Uncle, who though lived in Cheapside, were the most refined and loving of her relatives.

"How was the theater with Miss Murphy?" asked Mrs. Gardiner, they were now by the stairs, having walked through the drawing room in guarded whispers, "Did the Viscount grace you with his presence?"

"No" said Jane laughing, knowing her Aunt was very eager to see her well matched, "I have yet to meet him, though his reputation precedes him. It seems his Lordship is not as keen as his sister and mother in their eagerness to marry him off."

"Perhaps he has not met the right one" said Mrs. Gardiner, raising an eyebrow. She could see Jane married well and she knew that given the opportunity, she could turn melt any man's heart.

"Indeed" said Jane, smirking, "I am off to bed" said Jane, ending the conversation.

"Goodnight my dear, please do let me know in the morning how your sister is doing" added Mrs. Gardiner, looking around before she continued, "She would like to leave tomorrow to Longbourn, but I do not know if such an idea is wise. I shall let you decide what is best. If you both think tomorrow is necessary, I shall prepare everything."

"I thank you" said Jane, squeezing her Aunt's hand, before going up the stairs to peek in on her sleeping sister, before going into her room and succumbing to sleep herself.

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Lizzy did not remember the details of when she arrived in London nor when she left. It seemed that she had merely opened her eyes and her dearest Jane had vaporized in front of her, her loving, sweet smile giving her all the reassurance she needed. Lizzy could not keep secrets from Jane and though a part of her was embarrassed to share the tale, she felt the need to divulge everything to Jane, who listened quietly and guarding her expressions, merely squeezing Lizzy's hand for support at moments of need.

"Oh my" said Jane at the end, in a final whisper.

"Indeed" said Lizzy, standing up from the bed where they had been sitting, holding hands, while Lizzy was telling Jane what had happened in Rosings, Scotland, and at Pemberley.

Lizzy walked towards the window, where she pushed the curtain a tiny bit, just to see the sky and sun shinning outside. Everything looked so calm and serene. It was is if the world had not stopped and only she had lived in alternate universe, where she had shared the most intense moments of fear, dread, and even love. It was then that Lizzy understood that sometimes it takes losing everything of importance, to know what you truly love and need.

Lizzy tilted her head, looking behind her and catching Jane's worried expression. Lizzy had forgotten all about Jane, Mr. Bingley, and even her parents. Her only concerns were surviving and keeping Mr. Darcy alive—but she was now eager to see them, to breath them, to drink them in, and to find out what had happened in their lives while she was gone, even if they did not know that she had been gone.

Could Mr. Bingley have truly loved Jane? Now Lizzy wondered. She felt the ache in her heart at being away from her Mr. Darcy, as she had known grown accustomed to think of him. Her Mr. Darcy. Lizzy had blamed Mr. Darcy for keeping Mr. Bingley away from Jane but if he truly cared for her, if Mr. Bingley really loved her sister, he could have come from her. It was now, that she was away from her true love, that knew that with certainty.

"What now?" asked Jane, pulling Lizzy from her whoolgathering, not knowing that Lizzy had been thinking about her.

"I would like to go home" said Lizzie, gulping loudly, "To Longbourn."

"Then home we shall go sister" said Jane, standing up and embracing Lizzy. "I shall ask our Aunt to make all the plans. If we make haste, we may make it for supper tonight."

"That sounds lovely" said Lizzy, letting out a heavy sigh. Her family was not easy, nor were they really refined, her mother could be loud and uncouth, in all honesty Mr. Darcy had not been wrong, but they meant well and they loved her and she wanted nothing more than to be in the safe heaven of her childhood home, even with all the craziness that it came with. And so it was decided that they would leave for Longbourn that day, arriving before dusk.

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Mr. Darcy was thankful that he had let go of his pride and his cousin had agreed to come with him. Though he had intended to ride his horse, for it was significantly faster, he was not in the condition to do so. The horseback ride from Scotland to Pemberley had almost depleted of whatever strength his Elizabeth had worked so hard to rebuild.

The morning after Elizabeth's disappearance, they set out to London, using the time in the carriage to discuss the possible locations of her whereabouts. Richard assumed she had gone to London.

"Surely she must have some family" said Richard, probing his cousin's memory.

"I believe Mr. Bingley did mention an uncle in Cheapside" said Mr. Darcy, rubbing his forehead with his finger, trying to remember every detail that could now help him.

"Cheapside?" asked Richard, raising an eyebrow. Richard may not be as wealthy as Mr. Darcy, but they were related and of noble birth, would his cousin really marry beneath him?

Mr. Darcy seemed to have read his cousin's mind for he quickly retaliated.

"Elizabeth is not beneath me. Her relations do not matter to me, nor does her fortune" he declared proudly, "She is my match, body and soul, and I shall not have you disparaging her!"

"Never" said Richard with a wicked smile, he loved seeing his cousin in love. They rode in silence before Mr. Darcy broke it by asking the question they both had in mind.

"Do you think Wickham acted alone?" asked Mr. Darcy, allowing himself to take his mind off of Elizabeth in the time being.

Richard shifted uncomfortably in his seat, allowing the bumpy rode to distract him from answering.

"The honest truth is that I do not know" he said, now looking up and meeting Darcy in the eye, "I believe he initiated it and promised the men a hefty return, making promises on your supposed ransom, however, I do not know if they will be so easily dissuaded. They have, after all, invested time and resources into kidnapping you and Miss Elizabeth." Mr. Darcy was about to correct Richard on the proper name for Elizabeth, namely Mrs. Darcy, but dropped the subject but he was eager to discuss the matter at hand.

"Do you think they shall try again?" he asked.

"No" said Richard confidently, "My men followed them back to Scotland and though they are angry, they will not try again."

"I believe you shooting Wickham did that" said Mr. Darcy sarcastically.

"Quite so" said Richard.

"Then? What is troubling you?" asked Mr. Darcy.

"You" he said simply, waiting for his cousin's anger to explode.

"Me?!" he asked.

"Yes, you. You have not fully recovered, you are chasing a woman whom you have already compromised, and though this may seem obvious, I am quite sure you are already married" said Richard, a smirk on his face.

"How so?" asked Mr. Darcy, the thought not having occurred to him.

"You declared yourself married in Scotland in front of witnesses. That is all you need" said Richard.

"So we are married?"

"Congratulations" said Richard, with a broad smile.

"Indeed" said Mr. Darcy, now lost in his thoughts. They were married. She was his. And he, he was most certainly hers. From the moment his light eyes met her dark ones, he was lost.

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I know there is a bit of time travel...indulge me lol its fanfiction and having them ride for days just complicates the story.