Hello everyone! I hope your weekend is off to a lovely start. Please enjoy this next chapter, and if you do, please leave a comment to let me know what you think! I cherish every comment! Without further ado, here we go!

Chapter Twenty Eight

The first few days at Longbourn were everything Elizabeth could have wished for. After the noise and confusion of Paris, the panic and the hurried exit, Meryton and the quiet countryside around it were the ideal setting for the two sets of newlyweds to relax and wonder at the sudden change in their circumstances. Elizabeth and Darcy took long walks through the fields and other areas, Elizabeth showing her husband her favorite former haunts, and she delighted when he took as much pleasure in them as she did. They left her family behind as often as they could politely do so, and the time alone only improved their intimacy as a couple.

It was an odd sort of wedding tour, Elizabeth thought, but she did not mind if Darcy did not. As soon as the house in town was ready she and Darcy would travel there. They would stay there until the end of the season and then they would go to Pemberley together. She herself was eager to see the house which would become her new home for much of the year and she would not have minded leaving for it right away, but Darcy insisted that there was work needed before his new wife should see it. She tried not to be impatient, and to enjoy this interlude with no responsibilities whatsoever. Soon enough the duties of the mistress of a fine home and estate would be on her shoulders.

Every day with her new husband convinced Elizabeth of the worth of the man she had married. Darcy was dignified with her family but displayed no improper pride. He was tactful and patient, especially with her mother, and went out of his way to be friends with her father. He could be counted on to consider his words carefully before speaking and to give wise counsel when asked. Mary admired his knowledge on a number of subjects, and even Kitty and Lydia, who found him boring to start with, began to value him as a brother. He found even more approval in their eyes when they discovered that, as a gift to Elizabeth, he had set up small accounts for her mother and sisters at two or three of the better shops in Meryton. After that they could not sing his praises enough.

Best of all, he was just as attentive and affectionate with Elizabeth at Longbourn as he had ever been in France. He gave every appearance of being a man deeply in love, showering her with little gifts at unexpected times and being more content in her company than in anyone else's. He was not above whisking her out of sight for breathtaking kisses when she least expected them, a gesture that always left her wondering how she had ever thought of him as proud and disagreeable.

All in all, after less than a fortnight of marriage Elizabeth could barely remember a time when she knew Darcy only as a proud and unpleasant man. Instead she could not even imagine why she had taken so long to accept him.

But this joy and happiness was not yet complete, for every day she and the rest of the family waited for the Gardiners to appear.

They were not greatly surprised when one day went by without another carriage making its way up the drive. But as one day turned into two, then three, and finally a week, their concern mounted. At length even Mrs. Bennet wondered aloud what could be taking her brother so long.

"I always knew they would come to no good in that foreign country," she proclaimed to anyone who would listen. "If only my brother had listened to me! But he thinks of nothing but money, and now he has no one to blame but himself if they never make it to England again. If only they had not taken in that little orphan child! Why did they do it? They should have come away at the very first sign of danger!"

Mrs. Bennet and her daughters were sitting together in the afternoon, working on a basket of clothing for the poor. The gentlemen had gone out riding together as they sometimes did before dinner.

Elizabeth bit off a thread in her mouth. "If the Gardiners had come away at the first sign of danger they would never have met Jules at all. And he has become very dear to them."

"Jules has become their own child," Jane added. "They would not even consider leaving him behind. They love him."

Mary shook her head solemnly. "Charity is a noble pursuit, but charity begins at home. It was foolish to risk their own safety to help someone who had no claim on them."

"Perhaps they felt that the bonds of love and affection were a stronger claim than any born of mere obligation," Jane answered gently, and Mary flushed.

Elizabeth wondered what Darcy would say if he heard this conversation. She herself was sorely tempted to answer more strongly in defense of an orphan child left alone in the world. Instead she decided to steer the conversation elsewhere, before she said something she might regret. "Why haven't we received a letter from the Gardiners?" she wondered out loud instead. "Even if they could not leave Paris for some reason, they could have sent a message. We should have heard something from them days ago."

At that moment they heard the front door open and the voices of the gentlemen returning from their ride. After a minute Darcy, Bingley and Mr. Bennet all entered the room together. Darcy's eyes lit up as they always did when he looked at Elizabeth, and she felt the rush of affection that was becoming a familiar sensation whenever they came together. But Darcy did not smile as he crossed the room to her side. Instead he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, as if to protect her. Bingley sat down next to Jane and took one of her hands in his but said nothing. Mr. Bennet remained in the doorway, looking gravely all about the room.

Something was wrong. Elizabeth looked wildly back and forth between Darcy and her father, wanting to ask what was the matter, but her throat seemed to close up. The faces of her aunt, uncle and Jules came to her mind; she could not speak a word. Jane, too, seemed stricken. It was Lydia who exclaimed, "Good lord, what are you about to tell us?"

"I regret to be the bearer of bad news," answered Mr. Bennet, heavily. "We have just received word. The king of France is no more. He was sent to his death two days ago."

There was a shocked silence. Then, "God in heaven," Elizabeth finally said, weakly. "What about his family? The children?"

"It does not look hopeful for them."

"How perfectly dreadful!" Jane's eyes filled with tears and Bingley put his arm around her.

The news was terrible, but it was not what Elizabeth had feared the most. Perhaps the worst was yet to come. "Is that why we have not heard from my aunt and uncle?" She steeled herself for her father's reply, but it was Darcy who answered.

"I wish we knew." He sat down next to her, and Elizabeth realized he would have put his arms around her if they were alone. "France must be more unsettled than ever now. It may be that the Gardiners are in hiding in the city, or that they have fled but are having difficulty reaching the coast."

"Or they might be-" Lydia began, in her impetuous way, but her father stopped her with a savage look..

"You must not say that! Not while we have any hope."

"What hope?" Mrs. Bennet now came to life. "I knew this was how it would be! If the French could do away with their king they would think nothing of doing the same to my brother and his wife! It is all over for them! Mr. Bennet, you must find out if my brother left any property or possession in England and make sure that it is safe! And if it is not safe, then you must make it safe at once! I absolutely insist. But first, Mary, ring the bell for Hill, and tell her to bring my smelling salts!"

At once the sitting room erupted in confusion. Mrs. Bennet wept loudly. Her daughters tried to console her but met with no success. She would not listen to reason, moderate her responses, or think of anything beyond her distress over a brother in whom she had scarcely ever shown any interest. At length Mr. Bennet suggested that she might be more comfortable if she took to her bed. Mrs. Bennet took the suggestion and went upstairs, accompanied by her younger daughters, who would be forced to sit and listen to her for some time. The Bingleys, Darcys and Mr. Bennet were left alone in the sitting room.

Mr. Bennet looked as though he had just aged in only a few minutes. He looked at his two oldest daughters with tears in his eyes and then kissed each of them on the forehead. "Jane, Lizzy, I am more grateful than ever that you have spouses who can support you during such a time." Then he turned and went into his study without another word. They heard the door of the room shut firmly behind him.

Now that she did not have to be strong for her family, Jane crumpled. She put her hands over her face as the tears came freely. Bingley gathered her close, speaking soothing words.

Elizabeth felt decidedly out of place. In former times it would have been her responsibility to comfort and support her older sister, but Bingley had now taken that role for himself. She was beginning to swallow hard when she felt Darcy pull gently on her hand. "Come, love," he coaxed. "Let us leave Jane and Bingley to themselves."

Gratefully Elizabeth allowed her husband to lead her out of the room, through the hallway, and then outdoors, into the little garden behind the main house. Darcy removed his coat and wrapped it around her, but she still shivered, more from the horror of this latest development than from the winter air. Darcy took her into his arms and she leaned into his warmth and strength.

"Tell me truly, Fitzwilliam. Where do you think my aunt and uncle are? Is there any chance that we will see them again here in England?"

"We will," he answered at once. "Do you remember the promise I made to you the night before our wedding? I told you that I would get your aunt and uncle, and little Jules, safely out of the country. I have not given up on my promise. A gentleman always keeps his word."

That was all very well, she thought, but no doubt Darcy was trying to protect her, telling her what she wanted to hear. "Yet some things are outside a gentleman's control."

Darcy's arms tightened around her. "You have been through so much, my darling. Would that I could carry this burden for you!"

His tenderness was too much for her. She began weeping, letting her tears flow freely as Darcy pressed tender kisses on the top of her head. At length her tears slowed and she managed to choke out, "I cannot imagine how they must be feeling! How frightened they must be!"

"I understand." Darcy soothed. "I feel the same way. But I promised you I would bring them back safely to England, and it shall be done!"

"How? For unless you possess some power or talent that I do not recognize, it seems an impossible situation. Lydia was right. They may be in custody. They might even be-"

"I am certain that they are alive and well," Darcy interrupted. "But they may be staying out of sight for a time."

Elizabeth pushed herself away from her husband and did her best to dry her tears. "Do you still have business contacts in Paris? Can you find out any information that way?"

"I am not sure. So many have decided to flee." He hesitated. "It might be easier to communicate with my associates from our house in town."

"Are you saying that it is time to leave Longbourn?"

"Only if you wish it."

"Would you go to town by yourself?"

"Good heavens, no!" he responded instantly. "I would not willingly leave you behind. But this is not how I wanted to arrange things. I wanted Darcy house to be perfect for you first. And you have been through so many changes already, I wanted to give you time to absorb them before taking up any new duties."

How tender he was with her, how gentle! She lifted her chin and spoke firmly. "My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me. I will have to take up my new duties sooner or later, and if doing so now can help my aunt and uncle it will be a trifling sacrifice."

"My darling! We will do as you wish." Darcy kissed her tenderly, a lingering kiss that became more passionate and was only broken off when they heard the door of the house open and close again. They stepped quickly away from each other. A moment later Jane and Bingley came around the corner.

"Here you are, Darcy. Jane and I wondered where you and Lizzy had gone."

"Elizabeth and I were just discussing what we should do in light of this new development," Darcy answered, with a roguish look at his wife.

Elizabeth was aware that her cheeks were flushed but she did her best to answer naturally. "Mr. Darcy thinks he may have a better chance of finding out information about the Gardiners if he is in town."

"After all, few of my contacts know to write to me here," Darcy pointed out. "My steward in town will forward any correspondence of course but it would be faster to come straight to me."

"Exactly so!" Bingley exclaimed. "I was coming out here to tell you that I think it is time for us to go to town. Longbourn has been a pleasant interlude but this business with the Gardiners and Paris must be addressed! Jane and I are quite in agreement."

"Then I think we should go at once," Elizabeth answered, "though I do not know what good it will do, unless one of you is in touch with the Fleur de Lys himself."

"The Fleur," Darcy repeated. He gave her a bemused smile. "I know how you have admired him in the past. I have been rather jealous of the man, to be perfectly honest."

"Oh, you need not be! He is nothing compared to you. But you must admit, he has quite a history of rescuing poor innocents in France, if half the stories are to be believed."

"Only the Fleur can answer that question," Darcy answered, with a sidelong glance at his friend. "Perhaps you will even be able to ask him yourself one day. In the meantime Bingley and I will offer what poor help we can. How soon can we go to town? Can we be ready to leave first thing in the morning?" They all agreed that they could. "Then we should go inside and tell Mr. Bennet what we have planned. Our wedding trip has come to an end."

So, their little interlude is over and it is time for reality to come crashing back in. Hang on, it's going to be a bumpy ride here on out! Thank you again for commenting, and I hope to see you again in three weeks! -Elaine