*This story is copyright protected.

Mrs Younge, Miss Darcy's former companion, paled when she opened the door to find Mr Darcy standing there. She quickly went to shut the door, however, Darcy was one step ahead, placing his foot in the way. It was then she noticed Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Gardiner behind him, along with Wilson and Taylor on either side of them. Further back, poised and ready to act, were the five men from the Colonel's regiment. Darcy took advantage of her distraction and pushed his way inside causing her to move backwards down the hallway.

"What do you mean by coming here, Mr Darcy?" She questioned trying to mask her shock, the ruffles of her white muslin cap fluttering with her nerves. Darcy's countenance darkened as he fixed her with a menacing glare.

The Colonel instructed his men to stand guard outside should Wickham try to escape, before he entered behind Mr Darcy, Mr Gardiner, Taylor and Wilson.

"Tell me which room he is in." Darcy demanded.

"Who do you mean, Sir? This is a reputable boarding house for women. If you are looking for that kind of entertainment, I suggest that you and your friends - "

"Please, don't play the innocent with me. You know I mean George Wickham. And, before you try to deny that he is here, we have had men follow, him and watching every door and window of this place. I know he is here, and it would be much easier and less costly for you, if you would tell me which room he is in." Mr Darcy mentally counted to five before his patience ran out. "Fine have it your way." he turned to his men, "Taylor, Wilson will you please kick open the doors to each room and call down once you have located Mr Wickham,"

"Sir." replied Taylor and Wilson with a nod in unison. They started to move towards the stairs but stopped just shy of the first step when Mrs Younge grabbed Darcy's arm.

"Wait!" She shouted in panic, halting Taylor and Wilson's steps.

"Yes, Mrs Younge?" asked Darcy looking down disdainfully at the hand still grasping his arm through his greatcoat. She quickly snatched her hand back.

"Changed your mind, have you?" asked the Colonel with a bored expression.

"Fine! I will tell you which room he is in," she said with a calculating gleam in her eyes.

"Well?" Prompted the Colonel impatiently, when she didn't elaborate further.

Mrs Younge threw a cross look to the Colonel before looking back at Mr Darcy. "What do I get for telling you where he is?"

"Mrs Younge, you are in no position to make demands. Given our past dealings, I am treating you very kindly. Do not push my patience!" Mr Darcy curtly replied, instantly squashing the advantage she had thought she possessed. Having been in Mr Darcy's employ, she had never seen him look so menacing and decided it would be in her best interests not to upset him further.

"Oh, very well, he is upstairs, the third door on the left." she said planting her hands on her hips.

"After you," said Mr Darcy as he gestured towards the stairs. With a resigned sigh, she led the way up the stairs and down the hallway to the third door on left. She stopped looking at Mr Darcy with her eyebrows raised, and a pointed look at the door in front of her. "There you go, sir." She said clasping her hands in front of her watching him closely.

"Thank you, madam." he said reaching into the inner pocket of his greatcoat and handing her a small handful of coins. She looked at him puzzled.

"I… I… I don't understand." Stuttered, Mrs Younge.

"For the door." he said and with that he kicked the door open splintering it on its hinges.

Mrs Younge screeched, running back downstairs, Mr Gardiner flinched, and he and Colonel Fitzwilliam followed Darcy into the room, whilst Wilson pulled the door and held it shut, standing guard in the hallway with Taylor.

Upon entering the room, they were hit instantly with the smell of stale alcohol and dirty bed linens. The room itself was a pigsty, with empty port and brandy bottles strewn amongst a few items of clothing and dirty plates. Mr Darcy waved his hand before him, in an attempt to fan away the dust they had unsettled with their abrupt entrance.

When the air had cleared, they found Lydia on the bed, screeching hysterically, struggling to pull the blanket to cover herself. Seeing her uncle, she fell silent with her mouth agape in shock. Wickham, the cad, casually stood from the bed, buttoning the fall of his breeches and straightening his half open wrinkled shirt, before stopping at the small round table and pouring a drink as if unfazed. The only tell-tale sign that he was unnerved by their sudden appearance was the tremor in his hand while he was pouring his drink. Society knew Mr Darcy to be a controlled, powerful gentleman, but Wickham knew Mr Darcy could be dangerous.

"You could've knocked, Darcy..." then nodding to Colonel Fitzwilliam he added, "Ah, Colonel Fitzwilliam, what a lovely reunion this is. But, ahem, maybe you could perhaps go and get something to drink for an hour or so downstairs," said Wickham with a wink, "We were just in the middle of someth-"

Mr Wickham's words were cut short, as Mr Gardiner, who had been preoccupied with protecting his niece's modesty and helping her dress, punched him squarely in the jaw. Falling to the floor from the unexpected attack, Wickham touched his hand to his jaw and put his fingers to the inside of his lip to see if he had drawn blood. Lydia screamed and pushed passed her uncle, to see if her dear Wickham was hurt. She looked over her shoulder, glaring daggers at him. Lydia then turned back to Wickham cradling his face and whispering endearments.

"Georgie, my poor Georgie, let Lyddie see what they did to your handsome face…" she cooed, making Wickham flush with embarrassment at being spoken to so childishly in front of these men! Shrugging her hands off and pushing her away, he stood up before the three men who stood glaring at him.

"Who the bloody hell are you?" he said, levelling Mr Gardiner with a glare.

"I am Lydia's Uncle, and I have come to take her from here. Now!" he said, with unconcealed rage.

"No, Uncle, I shall not leave! George and I are in love, and we are going to marry! There is nothing you can do to stop us," declared Lydia.

"What did I tell you my dear, Darcy would come and now I shall have what should have been mine all those years ago…"

"Oh, do be quiet, Wickham. You are a gambler and a rake! No one here is going to be dim enough to fall for your tales of woe." The Colonel cut him off.

"My Wickham should have Pemberley not him." She said pointing an accusing finger in Darcy's direction, as she laced her arm through Wickham's, whose eyes glittered maliciously. "Your father loved him more and you are just jealous."

"I stand corrected." said Colonel Fitzwilliam, whose eyebrows shot up at the poor girl's stupidity.

"Every man has a past. Lydia understands this." interjected Wickham looking at Lydia with fake adoration.

"She is still Miss Bennet to you, boy." said Mr Gardener menacingly as Wickham smirked at him.

"You are all just jealous because you are all boring and not as handsome as my George." She said sticking her nose proudly in the air.

"Please, Lydia, desist. Go and put your pelisse and bonnet on and we shall leave this place. You cannot truly want to stay here, and it will not be proper to be sharing a room before the wedding." Said her uncle trying to find a way to convince her to leave. Hoping some distance will make it easier to talk some sense into his niece. When she hesitated, he knew he was getting through to her. "Your family is waiting at our house and are excited to take you shopping for your wedding gown and the like. If you stay, you will not be able to do those things or enjoy your engagement as you should, will you?"

"I think we are all getting carried away. We have yet to discuss the settlement. There will be no marriage without a settlement!" said Wickham.

"What do you mean there will be no marriage?" said Lydia stepping back from him.

"Come Lydia. Let us put on your things and you can wait in the carriage. We shall sort all of this is out. This is something we would do naturally anyway. Your father, and any man who asked for your hand, would talk about the less romantic side of things." said Mr Gardiner. As angry as he was, he knew his niece was a sweet girl and did not want to see her hurt.

"Oh, Papa, where is he? I bet he and my sisters were so shocked when they heard" she said with a giggle. Wickham's offence was quickly forgotten. "Oh, and mama must be telling the whole of Meryton proudly. I must admit, I am a little sad to have not seen their reactions for myself!" she pouted, oblivious to the mounting tension in the room.

"Lydia, your Papa is back at our home. He suffered a heart attack when he could not find you. You have had us all very worried." she paused looking at her uncle as if expecting him to laugh and tell her he was joking.

"La! What a good joke! Papa always loves to trick us." She said with a slight panicked edge to her voice.

"I am afraid it is not a joke." said her Uncle gently, "he is still unconscious, dearest."

"But, this was supposed to be romantic. We were to all be reunited once we were married and have a merry party. I never meant for Papa..." She said in between sobs.

"I know. I know." He said putting his coat around her shoulders, having given up trying to locate hers in the chaos of the room. He put his arm around her, holding her closely and gently, leading her from the room.

"Wait! Where do you think you are taking her? We still have to discuss the terms of this marriage before I agree to be leg shackled to…" But Mr Gardiner ignored him and exited the room as Taylor and Wilson stepped forward to prevent Wickham from following.

"Shut up and sit down Wickham, I highly suggest it." said the Colonel, as Darcy gave Taylor a discreet nod to follow Mr Gardiner and Miss Bennet, to wait with them.

"Still Darcy's lapdog, eh, Colonel?" sneered, Wickham. The Colonel chuckled but it wasn't a friendly sound, making Wickham swipe his forearm at the perspiration on his brow.

"Scared Wickham?" taunted the Colonel.

"Not this time, no. You are here because you want something from me. So, I would take care to ask me nicely." he said defiantly, looking from Darcy to the Colonel, as he spat blood onto the floor between them, rubbing his jaw.

"Be reasonable, Wickham. We have come to speak to you about Miss Bennet and what your intentions are towards her."

"What about the little harlot?" he scoffed, with a seedy grin.

"Watch yourself," said Darcy warningly.

"Another word about my niece, and we will be dealing with pistols tomorrow morning. And I am an excellent shot." Threatened, Mr Gardiner, as he entered back into the room. Wickham paled and held up his hands in an acknowledgement of having gone too far.

"I never meant any offence. This has just become more out of hand than I thought it would. The crux of it is that I am in need of funds, and I know Mr Bingley is very fond of Miss Jane Bennet and..." He sighed retrieving the glass he dropped when Mr Gardiner had hit him. He paused looking at the spilt liquor on the floor in irritation at the waste, before refilling his drink.

"And what?" growled Mr Gardiner, his patience dangerously thin.

"Well, Darcy is very loyal to his friends, and if he and Bingley can meet my terms, I shall marry Lydia and save her and her family's reputation." He said, as if it were all so simple. He pulled, a chair out from the table and sat down, allowing a moment for the full effect of his words to sink in before continuing, "I want fifteen thousand pounds and a nice house in town for me and Mrs Wickham, as well as an annual income of three thousand pounds a year. And, before you tell me you cannot access those funds, let us remember how well I know the 'Darcy's'." said Wickham with a smugness. "I remember going through your papers in your study, just after your father's death, Fitz, and back then your wealth exceeded ten thousand a year. Now, rumour has it that you have grown your wealth, substantially over the past few years. Well, I want my share. Those are my terms." He finished looking at Darcy expectantly. A self-satisfied glint in his eyes.

"God help him. He's even more of an idiot than I thought." muttered the Colonel.

"I think it shows a good character trait, Colonel. I will always succeed. By any means necessary." At this Darcy could not help himself, he laughed gesturing at his surroundings.

"You think you are succeeding? Well, if this is success, I must be experiencing some exceedingly tough times." said Darcy, pulling a chair across from Wickham, with a slight grimace before lowering himself to sit on it.

"Laugh all you want, Fitz. But, I am the player holding the winning hand here." he said, knocking back the contents of his glass in one go and refilling it again.

"I'm sure you think you do, son." said Mr Gardiner with complete calm, moving to stand before him as he spoke. This seemed to unnerve Wickham more than his anger before had. "But you will listen to me now. You convinced my fifteen-year-old niece to elope with you. Instead of making your intentions known and asking for an audience with her father. You have left her compromised and exposed for your own gain. You lack honour sir! Unfortunately, for you, Mr Wickham, you have chosen a girl who is by no means friendless or unprotected. But even more, she is not part of the elite, she is a country girl from a small town where everyone is considered more family than acquaintance. And trust me when I say, she will be looked after regardless of the outcome." finished Mr Gardiner straightening and backing away from him.

"Well, I believed I was part of Darcy's family until upon his fathers' death he decided not to honour-"

"Good God man, give it a rest! You are not a 'Darcy' though, are you? You have no right to anything intended for that bloodline. You were offered the opportunity to build a life and a career, and you chose the money rather than to apply yourself. If you were as smart as you claimed and not so jealous of my cousin, believe me, you would have had a much more privileged existence. So please explain to me how you perceive yourself to be 'succeeding', because I am failing to comprehend just how that word relates to your current situation!"

"Says you," snarled Wickham at the Colonel.

"You suffer from too much imagination. Your ideas are so fanciful. It would serve you well George, to recognise you are at Darcy's mercy, and I think you have finally ticked him off."

"I do not think that Mr Gardiner needs to be burdened with our history and all your theatrics Wickham. This is not the first time we have done this, and to be frank, I am bored of it. You currently have two options. You will marry Miss Lydia Bennet, If she will still have you." Darcy said casting another look of revulsion around the dingy room that undoubtedly house a few rats among other vermin.

"If, she will still marry me?! Ha! What is the incentive for me to even offer for her hand?"

"You have always trodden the fine line between the gutter and hell." hissed Colonel Fitzwilliam.

"If Miss Lydia will still have you, I will buy you a new commission in a regiment on the other side of the country. I will pay off some of your debts and have a payment plan set up for you in order for you to pay the rest back a little every month but, this will be money you will have to earn. It will not come from my pocket. I will purchase a small cottage with a maid and a cook, and again, I will pay them directly. If Miss Lydia should want for anything, she will go to her family. No direct money will be given. You will have no control over Miss Lydia's funds. Understand, you will have to grow up and be an adult. You will provide for your wife and any children you may have. If, you show willingness and improvement, I may feel a bit more generous over time, but know that I will keep a close eye on you George."

"That is not fair! How can anyone be expected to live under those conditions!" said Wickham sitting forward in his seat, looking at the three gentlemen with desperation evident in his eyes.

"It is a fair deal, better than what you have now." Said Mr Gardiner.

"You cannot be serious. I admit I was demanding a bit much for the country chit but…" Wickham suddenly became more agitated, "Darcy, my debts amount to a total of almost ten thousand pounds. Mr Gardiner, you know as well as I, that the men that come to collect those large debts, do not care who they hurt or how they get what they are owed. Miss Lydia would not be safe without them being paid. I demand that they are paid, to have at least two thousand pounds per year and for a handsome dowry to be supplied for Lydia. I feel that I am being more that reasonable." Said Wickham beginning to sweat.

"Mr Wickham, when you decided to run off with my niece, you knew full well, she had no dowry at all and now to demand so much. I was hoping you had a scrap of decency in you, but you are a pathetic excuse of a man! I no longer wish to bargain with you and will do everything in my power to dissuade my niece from marrying you." he said with finality.

"If Lydia and I do not marry, then I will demand a payment of ten thousand pounds for my silence, or I will spread rumours!" He threatened, starting to realise he didn't have quite the advantage he thought he had.

"Ah, yes, if you do not marry Miss Lydia." said Darcy. "We have come to your other option. You will receive three thousand pounds and then you will disappear." He stood then stopping, in front of Wickham. "You look like you do not believe me, George. You were not wrong in your earlier assessment; I am a very wealthy and powerful man. I am glad you have finally acknowledged the power and influence that I wield. Just know, that the power and funds you think I have, and my disposal are nothing compared to what I actually have. Know that I could destroy, without so much as raising a finger," he said, as Wickham rose to his feet. Darcy lifted his hands, causing Wickham to flinch. He chuckled and smoothed the shoulders of Wickham's shirt with a thin smile. "If Miss Bennet does not wish to marry you, you will never look at her or another member of her family again. You will never speak of them and you will most certainly never threaten them, or I will do things to you that will make you wish that Mr Gardiner had called you out. Am I making myself perfectly clear, Wickham, or do you need me to explain it further to you?" asked Darcy innocently.

"I want eight thousand." he said swallowing, nervously.

"Five thousand." Darcy countered.

"Seven thousand." Wickham countered back.

"Five thousand."

"Seven."

"Four."

"Fine, five thousand." he said holding a trembling hand for Darcy to shake.

"You never did know when to stop. You always had to see how far you could push your luck." Darcy said, ignoring his extended hand, turning from him and walking back to the other side of the room.

"All this for the Bennet's? But, why? I understand Bingley is your friend, but surely you are overreacting." said Wickham with a frown.

"You think this is just for Mr Bingley's sake? Forgive me for not being clearer. I have still not forgotten the way you have treated my family, slandered my name and that of my excellent father to anyone who would listen. It is for these reasons, I will also, do everything in my power to make sure Miss Lydia does not marry you. We would all be much better off if you disappeared."

The Colonel and Mr Gardiner had been watching this heated exchange in awe at the control Mr Darcy maintained when dealing with a now pale and immobile Mr Wickham. He tried to answer back, but Mr Gardiner cut him off. "And listen to me, boy. If at any moment Lydia says, you are making her unhappy or you have hurt her, I will delight in wiping that smug smile off of your face and bringing her home."

"Naturally, Darcy and I would want to assist in any way we could, wouldn't we?" put in Colonel Fitzwilliam.

"Most definitely, please know that you may count on me and my considerable wealth." Darcy agreed with an innocent smile.

The Colonel folded his arms, one dark brow rising with slow and dangerous intent. His sharp cold gaze held Wickham's defeated one. By this point, Wickham was staring at the three of them with an expression that hovered between awe and terror. He sat blinking repeatedly and nodding furiously.

"I can no longer bare, this scoundrel's company, and I believe it is time we leave and speak with my niece to see how she wishes to proceed, Mr Darcy." said Mr Gardiner walking towards the door.

"Yes, I agree. We shall be back soon to let you know your fate. Oh, and Wickham, I wouldn't try anything stupid like running away. The Colonel has stationed his men around this building and has instructed them to prevent your escape by any means necessary." With that, they left in silence and entered the waiting carriage. Mr Gardiner thanked Taylor, who had stood guarding Miss Lydia sat within, pale and frightened, clutching her uncle's coat about her shoulders.