The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux

Jane

The uncle growled, after reading Jane's letter; it sounded like a real growl; William swore Alexis's eyes changed, he looked different. "It is my fault; I believed her when I knew better not to; I wanted to trust her."

He pulled William aside, "There is much more here than meets the eye, I just don't know what. We need to make sure Lizzie is safe. As for Jane, she is like her mother; Liza deceived me, and I had to let her marry Thomas; you understand she was with child. In Thomas's defense, she told Thomas he was the one for her, and having a child was the only way for them to marry; Liza did as she wished; nobody could resist her. You need to know my love for my nieces blinds me. Liza was my twin; her children are mine. My parents said we were special; our sacs were fused, we held hands, some of our fingers had a thin membrane holding our hands together. They went away shortly afterwards. Nobody had ever heard about something like that; now, I feel incomplete. My parents said we shared one heart."

William went back to his room; it was 2:00 A.M, but he turned around and decided to talk to the Russian family in their suite; he knocked, the door was opened. Nobody was in the rooms; they were gone. A couple hours later around 4:00 A.M, they were back without ever leaving the house, as far as he could ascertain, with Jane.

He heard Jane didn't have time to marry Charles; though William could not figure out how they have caught her ten hours away from London. He had seen them a few minutes before 2:00 A.M. Thus, the round trip had taken but two hours. Jane woke up making a lot of noise, arguing with her Russian family. Then she went to beg her father, the now Lord Bennet, to help her, but he refused. Jane told him, nearly screaming, that she went to sleep in the carriage and woke up in her bed. That her grandparents had no right.

William woke up Elizabeth to ask how was Jane back in two hours, but she didn't answer him . Instead, Lizzie stated, "William, from now on, I will sleeping here, only for safety. Something isn't right; I can defend myself, but I don't want to die; I feel safer with you." Elizabeth made it clear; or so he thought, he was to leave her alone. She looked at him, expecting a response.

"This room is yours; of course, you will be safe." William understood he had no chance, never again. William would do anything for her, well knowing that sleeping next to him would require a lot of self-control. In the morning, she was stuck to him, holding his hand. He stood up, carefully, not to wake her up. He had slept well, for the first time since Lizzie left him.

He asked Alexis the same question at breakfast, "Alexis, how is it possible Jane was back in two hours?" Again, there was no answer.

Later that day the valet informed William, a couple footmen that worked for William, the day when Lizzie found him with his ex-mistress, left days later. Miles, his valet was trying to find out where they went. "Sir, it is something to think about, but I am leaning to believe that at least one of the maids in care of cleaning the house was also involved. The old butler retired before you married; though Mr. Barney came highly recommended, maybe you should have his references verified. Perhaps, you should ask General Fitzwilliams to help.?"

William worried someone working for him might be intent on harming him, or worse, harming Lizzie. He needed to trust someone, but who? Should he trust Richard? No, Richard would say he was making excuses.

Family meeting

William was surprised when Alexis asked to join the family. "William please come with me, my parents want you to join us; they are talking to Jane." As usual, he greeted him with a small hug. Alexis seemed fond of him; once again William wondered if he should trust him.

They met at the receiving room in their suite. There were guards posted at every door. The sisters sat together on a small couch. Jane was pale, her eyes red from crying; Lizzie sat by her, holding her hand. Alexis sat next to William across Jane. His eyes said it all; Alexis was still angry at Jane for the sleeping potion and the lies.

"Jane, I am very disappointed at your lying. I chose to believe you and to trust you. We don't lie or betray our family." Alexis petted the wolfhound, not looking at his niece.

"You don't understand; I love Charles. I knew I still loved him after a ball. Leo has repeated I can have lovers; I think he knew about Charles. He said whatever I wished, but not until I had children; he said he would tell me when." Jane repeated what her fiancé had said during the dinner. She never stopped crying.

Alexis asked William, "William, is she telling the truth?" Still, he would not look at Jane, making her cry more.

"Yes, my cousin and I told him he was wrong. Alexis, you heard Leo's other objectionable comments at a recent ball." William saw Lizzie mouthing 'thank you.'

The uncle had heard him as well and repeated some of Leo's words. The grandparents were disappointed "Why would he say that? Is he ashamed of his heritage? His mother said as much, long ago."

Alexis agreed, "That is correct. I talked to several guests and heard enough, and, hence, I must say I am against the marriage. But it doesn't mean that I approve of someone who takes my niece and has her lying to her family. Bingley was an idiot; our enemies had the chance toabduct Jane. We know that he couldn't have fought against them. Jane, he risked your life." Alexis' face was carved in stone. Anger etched lines between his eyebrows.

Jane tried to argue, but the meeting was over. "Lizzie, please take Jane to eat breakfast." The grandfather stood up to kiss Lizzie, ignoring Jane.

When the sisters left the room, the grandfather, the Russian prince, asked Alexis to summon Leonidas. "You can meet in my office is more private." William suggested.

"You come to the meeting as well, we need witnesses; and, you are family." Alexis asked William.

Leonidas was there in a couple of hours. He already knew of Jane's elopement. William noticed, the affable fiancé wasn't smiling. He looked tired and somber.

When the grandfather asked him, Leonidas refused to let Jane off. He stood up to get a large glass of cognac. He was angry. "No, absolutely not, I need a couple of children. I have a contract with you; you know it. I served you well on the promise you made me. In all these years I haven't found someone suitable until Jane. She can be with Charles, the young, spineless worm, once we have a child or two. I mean she can live with him; but I will never give her up, never. She is mine." Leo stopped to look at William, the artificial friendliness all gone.

He also reminded William of an angry predator. Who or what are these people? William wondered.

Leo kept staring at William, "Or is it William, our rich young aristocrat, willing to give Liza up? Liza, who should have been mine. If so, I will consider it; I would take Liza, of course. Otherwise, the answer is no; Jane marries me." He said smiling; William saw it wasn't smile; a dangerous predator was challenging him. Nothing was left of the diplomat's veneer.

"Of course not, Elizabeth is my wife. I can neither 'exchange' her, nor would I want to do so." William wanted to hurt Leonidas.

Her grandparents were displeased; the grandmother said, "Let Jane go. We found out about your ladies. Frankly, we believe in loyalty; you should know why. As to why you feel otherwise, is a mystery to us. Alexis repeated some of you remarks; you shouldn't want to risk having children with, ahem."

Leonidas said that besides the children, he couldn't lose face, and that was that, "It was a thoughtless remark, a child from your family will be an honor. I repeat, Jane is mine, and I waited long enough. Now, I must go, I have a meeting." He stood up, bowed, and left.

Whereas William had many questions, he knew nobody had answers.

Aftermath

The uncle kept looking and investigating, he talked to many, trying to find a way out. William was not informed, and the wedding preparations continued. Jane turned into a crying waif, going around, crying day and night. They had to say Jane caught a cold and needed to stay home; it was hopeless.

Leonidas came twice a day. Something he didn't do before; Jane couldn't reason with him, his visits were brief; William was sure he was making Jane was there. William had seen men looking at the house, and Leonidas talking to them.

Lizzie stayed sleeping in the room; in the mornings, she was always stuck to him holding his hand; at least, she would sit by him from then on.

Jane's wedding was attended by everyone who was somebody. Charles looked like a ghost, but still refused to acknowledge William. Jane was a sad bride, her eyes red and puffy before leaving the house, looked perfect. The marriage book was signed. William was one of the witnesses, he saw Jane sign. Leonidas kissed her, and all eyes were in them. It looked as a love kiss; to William's surprise, he noticed Jane opened her lips and closed her eyes; William didn't understand Jane.

At the church door, Leonidas kissed the bride, again, for all to see. At that point Jane seemed a broken doll. On the way out the church, while walking to the carriage, someone jumped from the crowd, managing to go between the ever present guards. It happened fast, the man had a dagger wounding Jane's husband right on his heart. It was bedlam, the blood splattered on Jane. She screamed and fainted.

Jane's husband was taken away to his townhouse. They found out that the assassin was an escaped prisoner, a Russian. Jane became a widow the same day, the casket was closed, and the body was sent back to Russia. Since It was nearly February, all was frozen, making the transport of the body easy.

Richard came with strange news for William, "I was told Jane's husband was seen alive aboard the ship taking him back to Russia. Our intelligence said it was staged; how? It is anyone's guess; we all saw the embedded dagger. It is very odd; I saw it as well. The prisoner was lost in the way to Newgate, a band of masked men managed to help him escape. Something is going on here."

Alexis stood by the door to William's office, he walked to Richard to touch his arm, "Let it go, best to put this incident behind us."

William was surprised at how quick Richard agreed. When William tried to talk to Richard later, he seem confused, or maybe he didn't want to talk about it anymore.

Leonidas at the Baltic Sea

Leonidas was on his way back to Russia. His mother, a Prussian princess, married to a Russian noble, had been right about him; he was ashamed of who he was; and one day, he would regret it. He laughed when his mother talked to him; he liked others not knowing.

He was realizing he loved Jane. After wanting Liza for so long, he had stopped caring. His mother warned him not to forget his hidden nature; they hid it well forever, and now he was associating with those who hated the ones like him, a dangerous game. A game, not only dangerous, but one that probably cost him his wife.

He had many affairs that meant nothing; he had told the truth during that dinner; love was only for his wife; the others were nothing. They were a cover he would say, because those like him never had lovers. What he wanted was one only for him, to be himself. He envied the young man, William, he had the only one for him, and he wouldn't hide it for fear to show his true self.

Leonidas was glad that he had taken precautions; he had substituted the signed marriage folio at his wedding. One of his men took it, almost immediately, while he kissed Jane. He was sure Jane's family would steal it. And then, what, she would be lost to him.

He had said many foolish things, trying not to be who he was. If he were honest with himself, he would see the idea of his wife with others made him jealous, murderous. He was bluffing when he said Jane could go to the miserable worm; it was nothing but a lie. Moreover, he had no respect for a male who let his siblings control his life.

What was Bingley thinking, seeing Jane while still married? Jane would had been ruined in her society, the fool. The thought Bingley might have laid with Jane made his eyes change with rage. For days, he thought of going to kill Bingley for daring, but Alexis forbade him. Alexis was obeyed by everyone who knew him; it was safer that way.

A terrible thought occurred to him; what if someone were to abduct Jane. He wasn't jesting when he said many would kill for one of the sisters. What had he done? Maybe his mother had been right; she was wise when she predicted one day he would regret his actions. Now, Jane was without his protection, from those like his so-called-friends.

At London

The grandparents asked William to take Jane to Pemberley, away from London. There were ongoing rumors, and its was best to go away. They disliked Charles and didn't want Jane to be near him. Their reasons made sense to Elizabeth, and she agreed; they left in a hurry. The uncle and Jane's lady's maid and her companion all came along. Richard and Georgiana followed a day later with most of the luggage and a carriage with the other servants.

On the way to Pemberley, Elizabeth became ill. They had to stop; William was frenetic thinking someone had poisoned her. She couldn't hold any food, they worried. He usually didn't stay in this lodging; he wasn't sure about it. The lodgings where he stayed kept a large suite of he and his family always reserved; basically he paid rent, but she was too sick.

He worried when Miles, his valet, asked to talk to him. Miles said he had spotted one of the footmen, dressed in fine garments; one of the ones that used to work for him that awful day. He said the footman was with a woman, who looked away when Miles saw them. He followed them and saw them going into one of the rooms. He went to ask the owner of the lodging, who said nobody was in that room. Miles went with him to the room. The owner opened the door; it was clean and empty. Miles had already alerted Darcy's footmen to be aware.

"Miles, you seem to have an idea who was the woman." William asked.

"Sir, you have enough to worry. I am not sure, but she had blond hair. Go to your lady, we are all alert." Miles answered. William felt uneasy, but Lizzie was too ill.

Lizzie allowed him to take care of her, refusing her ladies. "William, don't cry; it makes her more upset." Her youthful looking uncle pulled his aside and told him. "I know you love her; my parents and I know it; we know much and need to talk, but crying will scare her. She is still here; I am here as well. We are all making sure she will be fine."

William couldn't stop crying; he felt icy cold, "What am I going to do if she dies? I wouldn't survive it." It was true; he would die as his father did after his mother's death; his father wasted away. After what Miles said, he was scared Lizzie was going to die.