"Zibby, they will be here in just a few minutes." Once alerted to the carriage's approach, Elizabeth made her way outside to wait for it. When it did not arrive as quickly as she would like, she started walking down the drive to meet it. At her mother's words, she halted and returned to wait with her parents. It did not take too long before the carriage stopped before them. The door opened and Mr. Bennet stepped down.

"Papa!" He simply held his arms open, and Elizabeth flew into them, if not for the carriage behind them she would have bowled them both over. "Papa, I am so glad to see you." She sniffled as she could not stop the tears from flowing.

"Lizzy, stop blocking the door, I want to get out. Why are carriage rides so tiring?" Lydia said from inside the carriage but once she exited, she held tightly onto her sister. Mary then descended and assumed Lydia's spot when she let go.

"Lizzy, I missed you! It feels like it is so long she we have seen you." Mary, too, was emotional.

"You all look so wonderful, but where are the rest of you?" Elizabeth had looked in the carriage and found it empty.

"They will be along in a moment. They are in Mr. Bingley's carriage," Mr. Bennet replied as he urged his daughters toward Mr. and Mrs. Hurst.

"Mr. Bingley, I did not know he was coming! Oh, Louisa will be so pleased," Elizabeth exclaimed.

"We hope so. We did not tell her because we did not know if he would be able to join us." Mr. Hurst explained as Mrs. Hurst greeted the Bennets, hugging the younger girls as if they were her own. "There they are now."

The other carriage rounded the bend in the drive and came into view. As it drew closer, they could see Kitty's eager face was pressed against the window and she was waving wildly. When it stopped, Mr. Bingley exited and stood back as Kitty rushed out toward Elizabeth. She stopped before she got to her and stood very close, examining Elizabeth with great interest. "You are just the same. You have not changed a bit."

"It has been four months. I do not know what you expected to find, perhaps that I grew an extra eye or maybe a tail. Though, you do find me quite excited to be in your company today. I cannot say I have always felt that way about my sisters." She wrinkled her nose at Kitty.

"Yes, she is just the same as she has always been." Jane joined them. "Can you tolerate yet another embrace, Lizzy?"

"Of course, and then some. I shall never tire of them." Elizabeth did not realize how much she had missed her dearest sister and friend until that moment. The tears threatened to overwhelm her.

"Oh, now, now, Lizzy. Sshhh. All is well." Jane had transferred Elizabeth into the arms of Mrs. Bennet, who held her for several moments. Finally, Mrs. Bennet released her and framed Elizabeth's face with her hands and looked at her daughter. "Beautiful, as always. Happy too, but maybe a bit more introspective."

"I am happy here, but I do not know how you can tell anything given I am a blubbering mess." Elizabeth wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands.

Mrs. Bennet removed a handkerchief from her reticule and dried Elizabeth's eyes then her own. "You are a sight to behold, child."

Mr. Hurst cleared his throat to get everybody's attention. "We are so happy to welcome you to Raber Hill and that we may return the wonderful hospitality you offered us last autumn. Let us all go inside. We have rooms ready, and I am sure you would like to refresh yourselves." Mr. Hurst spoke more quietly to Mr. Bennet, "And then there are some things we would like to discuss with you and Mrs. Bennet before the rest join us later this afternoon."

Elizabeth and Mrs. Hurst led the ladies away while the gentlemen walked more slowly behind them, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. "Mr. Bingley, we do have a room here if you would like to clean up. I am sorry I cannot offer you further accommodations, particularly given your news. Congratulations to you, sir." Mr. Hurst shook the younger man's hand.

"I understand completely. A single gentleman staying in a home with five unmarried ladies would not be proper, especially when one is my fiancée." Bingley smiled widely.

"Fiancée, fiancée, fiancée. I do believe that is the young man's favorite word of late. It is peppered quite liberally into his conversation," Mr. Bennet said good-naturedly.

"It is a brilliant word, is it not?" Bingley replied. "I am grateful to the Lees for the invitation to Clessondale but I am rather looking forward to staying with Louisa. I never thought I would say that but now that Caroline will no longer demand both of our attention, I am eager to see what our relationship may be. If you do not mind, I will go her once the Bennets' trunks are unloaded from my carriage. I shall return with Louisa and David later. I do think Mr. Bennet would appreciate a little bit of quiet, though."

Mr. Bennet nodded, "I love my girls but after so many hours with them chattering and switching between the carriages I would appreciate a little silence. However, I am now up to date on what society considers fashionable regarding weddings. Feel free to quiz me later. I suppose that was of more interest to you, Bingley."

"The wedding things themselves, no. What makes Jane happy, yes."

"Good answer, Bingley, very pleasing. It will endear you to gentlemen and ladies alike," Mr. Bennet joked, but his laugh was punctuated by a small yawn.

Mr. Hurst summoned a footman and murmured a few words to him. "Mr. Bingley, one of my servants will go with you to direct your driver to the dower house. Bennet, let me show to your rooms."

They parted ways with Mr. Bingley, and he once again stepped into his carriage. As Mr. Hurst had said, he had not been sure if he would be able to make this trip, so Louisa was not told, lest she be disappointed. He hoped it would be a nice surprise for her.

When he arrived, a manservant admitted him into the dower house and led him to what had become David's study. "Bingley, welcome!" David got up and greeted him warmly.

"Hurst, good God, you are almost unrecognizable," Bingley blurted out. In the almost four months since they had seen each other, the years had turned back for his brother-in-law. Hurst stood straighter, moved more quickly, just seemed all around a different man. It was his eyes that were most notable, though. They were clear and bright, and so very like Elizabeth's that Bingley was surprised their resemblance went undetected for the first few weeks of their acquaintance. "I am happy to find you in such good health."

Hurst patted his stomach. "It is amazing what moderation will do for a man." His overindulgence for food and drink, now curbed, as well as an increase in his daily exercise, had resulted in a trimmer physique.

"Of course, that is wonderful, but it is not just that. You seem lighter in ways that are not physical. May I hope that I will find Louisa the same? Her letters sound very optimistic."

"My Louisa is glorious." David said easily. "We have worked hard, and we are as close, if not closer, than we have ever been. She is well. She is happy." My Louisa is glorious, Bingley was pleased with Hurst's simple words of admiration for his sister. "Let us get you cleaned up and then you can join us for a cup of tea before we go up to the house. I still have not told her you are coming. Do you mind sneaking up the servants' stairs?"

~~IOAF~~

Louisa was having a good day. The illness that plagued her frequently of late had granted her a reprieve, so she was able to see to her work. Since moving to the dower house, she had assumed mistress responsibilities and she had learned so much. She was surprised at how much she enjoyed the sense of accomplishing something each day. She had not realized how idle she had been before.

The Bennets were arriving today, and she and David were invited to dinner. It was of this that she was thinking of when she entered the drawing room. She addressed the figure sitting in the chair, hidden by a newspaper. "David, we have some time before we must leave, I thought some tea would be nice." The only response she received was an absentminded 'hmm'. "It will be so lovely to see everyone again. I especially look forward to seeing Jane. I think Charles is close to proposing, at least his letters make it seem so. Perhaps, since I have a moment, I should write to encourage him. I do owe him a letter." This time she received what she could only describe as a snort in reply.

Seating herself at a small desk, Louisa began her letter. Eventually she noted a presence behind her, assuming it was her husband reading over her shoulder, she was startled to hear her brother's voice. "How delighted I shall be to receive such a letter!" She dropped her pen, making splatters on the paper.

"Do not stop on my account," Bingley said, as Louisa turned to stare at him. "Is something amiss? Perhaps you do not like your pen. Let me mend it for you. I mend pens remarkably well." She continued to stare, unable to speak.

"Hello sister. Do you have a room for a weary traveler?" Bingley started to get concerned, Louisa looked as though she was about to cry. "Louisa?"

"You do not want to stay at Clessondale with Mr. Darcy? You want to stay with us?" Louisa finally asked. It was not quite the welcome Bingley had expected.

"Bingley has always stayed with us. We saw no reason to change that now," David said as he rose from a large wing chair on the other side of the room where he had concealed himself. "We did not think you would mind."

"Mind? I am delighted, though I am all astonishment that you are here." She hugged her brother tightly and he returned the gesture. "I shall see to your room."

"I have seen to all that. Your excellent management made it easy for me to do so, Bingley would have to sleep in the stables if it was all left to me." David patted her hand affectionately.

"I am rested and presentable, so we have time to talk before we leave for to meet everyone else. And I can tell you of Caroline." Bingley's expression lost some of its glow.

"Is it horrible that I completely forgot about Caroline? I am so sorry to have left you to deal with her."

"I would say it is just as it should be. While dealing with Caroline these past months was unpleasant, it was not your responsibility. I should have taken her in hand long ago."

"She is not with you, is she?" Louisa was not prepared to welcome her sister back into her life. She liked who she was without Caroline.

"I would not do that to you, nor would the Hursts allow it."

"Damn right." David just shrugged when Louisa shook her head at his words.

"Caroline is enjoying the comforts of her own home. She and a friend from school have set up an establishment together and employed a companion to serve as chaperone to them."

"Nothing announces oneself as a spinster as surely as that, I dare say. The other woman is also an unrepentant harpy without a friend in the world, I take it," David said. "I assume she only entered into this situation for her own benefit. She cannot truly consider Caroline a friend."

"I can only say they share similar temperaments, but it is advantageous for them both. Miss Franklin lost her parents at a young age and has been living with a distant relative who recently passed. She has no other family. Sharing the expenses allows them to settle in a more fashionable neighborhood than either could afford on their own. Caroline practically recoiled when I suggested a very nice townhouse not far from the Gardiners. But it has worked out for the best." Bingley's grin returned. "For instead of Caroline taking the lease, I bought it. I believe Jane will be very happy living near her dearest aunt and uncle. And I have also made an offer on Netherfield."

"Oh Charles, do you mean it? You are engaged, then?"

"I am. Tell me, have I beat Darcy? He is not yet engaged to Elizabeth, is he?"

"You did not propose to Jane so you could beat Mr. Darcy, did you?"

"Of course not, besides Darcy insists there is no competition, but I think that is because he knew he would lose."

Exasperated at her younger brother, Louisa could only shake her head. "That you each may be engaged to women you love should be victory enough. Does it matter who does so first?"

"No, but I should like to win all the same," Charles admitted with a grin.

~~IOAF~~

At the main house, Elizabeth's four parents came together once again. Once this business was over, they could truly put the more painful aspects of Elizabeth's disappearance behind them.

"Colonel Fitzwilliam and his father have been kind enough to seek resolution for us in regard to the evil-doers responsible for impeding Elizabeth's recovery and prolonging her absence. The colonel was here with us only a few days ago and it seems our situation is coming to its conclusion.

"Townsend, who heads the Bow Street Runners, implemented a full-blown investigation of his men and their activities. Needless to say, they have since cleaned house quite a bit. Now, specific to our case, they have found evidence that Rush, the man that was coordinating efforts on our behalf in London, was not only negligent but outright dishonest. He has been released from his position, obviously. And he has admitted to his complicity with his brother-in-law in Surrey. That man, Kahl or Hall, whichever name he goes by, accepted over five thousand pounds while not doing a minute of work to find Elizabeth beyond submitting his bogus reports. The magistrate in Epsom, was only too happy to him send him off with the Colonel for Townsend and the London courts to deal with."

Mrs. Lee handed him a glass of wine to calm his growing agitation. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet also accept a drink. After a few fortifying swallows, Mr. Bennet urged him to disclose that which he was building towards. "When we spoke in London, it was my understanding that, considering the offenses of both men, a walk to the gallows was inevitable. Is that what has come to pass?"

"For our false investigator, yes. Justice was swift. However, Townsend sent the colonel with a proposition." Mr. Hurst's face had a look of disgust on it, that was mirrored by his wife. "Though deserving of the most final of punishments, Townsend asked that we spare Rush and have him transported instead. You see it would not look very good for a Bow Street runner to meet his end so publicly. In truth, he did not want the crimes themselves made public for Townsend believes it would shake the citizenry's confidence in the organization. But we have the power to preserve the integrity of the police force and he asks that we do so."

"That is not only cowardly but manipulative. To place such a burden on a family that has been so wronged is unconscionable." Mr. Bennet was irate.

"We do not lament Kahl's punishment. It was just. It was justice, and the law was adhered to accordingly. However, it is not for me to be executioner or savior. It is a decision that does not sit comfortably with me."

"You said he had a proposition. What would you receive in return?" Mr. Bennet asked.

"Neither man had holdings of any worth, so there is no possibility of monetary restitution. Townsend vows he will not only cover our losses in full, from his own pocket, he will double it if we agree to the transportation scheme and remain discreet."

"Paying for you silence, then."

"Yes, that added to our disgust. However, we have agreed to Rush's transportation. It will sit more easily on our conscience. And we are not so noble that we will not accept the money. It will go towards Elizabeth's dowry. And I imagine all will be resolve within a few weeks."

"And the darling colonel has informed us that there is a junior man in the Commons that has put his mind toward social reform, and that includes policing agencies. Lord Matlock is determined to meet with him and seeing that he made no agreements about disclosing information, he will speak to this Mr. Peel. Mr. Townsend will find that the runners cannot escape the greater scrutiny he is trying to avoid." Mrs. Hurst added.

"You have handled it well as anyone could," Mrs. Bennet commented. "Lizzy must have a handsome dowry, now."

"She does, indeed, for with Townsend's funds it is over thirty-two thousand pounds. And it was quite enjoyable to alert Catherine De Bourgh that Zibby had such a sum. While it did not silence her, it certainly was not what she expected."

"Lady Catherine De Bourgh, my cousin's patroness? I have never had the pleasure of meeting her but, from what I gather, few have. She came to stake her daughter's claim to Mr. Darcy, I imagine."

"While she was unpleasant, at least her visit was brief. And the Darcys handled her beautifully but poor Colonel Fitzwilliam. He had to deal with the aftermath which was probably worse." Mrs. Hurst went on to describe their interactions with Lady Catherine.

"Mr. Darcy must do something nice for him." Mrs. Bennet always did have a weakness for a man in a red coat.

"My dear Mrs. Bennet, do not ever tell the colonel that or we will end up with a granddaughter named Richenda." Further explanation was necessary to convey Colonel Fitzwilliam's demand for naming privileges over Darcy and Elizabeth's offspring.

"Is a proposal imminent, do you think?" Mr. Bennet asked.

"I do and I have a suspicion it will be very soon. I was thinking only yesterday that it is amusing that we have amassed this sizable dowry for Zibby but Darcy would have her without a farthing to her name."

"If they become engaged, must they continue to comply with your wish that they wait one year? That is a long time to wait and Lizzy is not the most patient of young ladies."

"You do not agree with our request?" Mr. Hurst knew Darcy and Elizabeth had been upset at the stricture, though they accepted it readily enough. He had not thought about how the Bennets might view the situation.

"I do not agree with it," Mr. Bennet said, though he could not help but feel empathy for the Hursts. "However, I do understand it. We have had the privileges of parenthood that you were denied with Lizzy. Our perspectives are very different."

"And you know Elizabeth better," Mrs. Hurst spoke hardly above a whisper.

"Yes," Mrs. Bennet said gently. "Please do not think that we begrudge you for wanting this time together. In principle, it is very reasonable."

"But?"

"But if she must wait, she will, for Elizabeth does not want to disappoint you or make you unhappy. In doing so, she will hide her own disappointment and unhappiness. And I cannot help but think it will keep you at arm's length rather than bringing you closer. If she is sad because she misses Mr. Darcy, she will tuck it away for she would not want you to feel guilty. She may curtail her excitement surrounding wedding preparations for she would not want you to think she is eager to leave you. Lizzy feels very deeply but she will not let you see it if she thinks it will hurt you."

"My father mentioned this. He and Elizabeth had a conversation about her being afraid to be herself. I thought we had gotten past it. She has seemed so happy." Mrs. Hurst's lip wavered. Mrs. Bennet rushed to console her.

"She is. That is not an illusion. I just think you may need to adjust your plan a bit."

"Zibby will inherit Clessondale from my parents, have we told you? Dave and Tessa have ties to here. Warwickshire and Raber Hill is their home. But once Zibby is at Pemberley with Mr. Darcy and starting her own family I am afraid she will have no reason to return."

"Lizzy is also very loyal. You will not lose her again. She is very like Mr. Darcy. It would not matter if you were turnip farmers with barely a farthing to give her, you are hers now." Mr. and Mrs. Hurst laughed at Mrs. Bennet's comment.

Mr. Hurst explained their reaction. "Did you know that turnips are one of Raber Hill's main crops? And from what I understand, the word raber means turnip grower in some forms of German."

Mrs. Bennet took that as a confirmation she was fully correct and repeated her assertion. "There you have it. You are Lizzy's now."