"Miss Lucas!" Darcy confirmed, his voice mirroring her own shock. "And Monsieur Corbin with her. Or should I say, the count de Aubrac."

"They are safe!" Elizabeth could scarcely contain her excitement. She stared across the floor towards her friend as the music came to an end. Of all people to encounter in town, she had not even dreamed of meeting Charlotte. Where had she been all this time?

Her resolve to speak to Darcy was forgotten for the moment. She waited impatiently for the final swell of the music, and then she and Darcy made their way to the far side of the room, stepping through and around the crowd. Charlotte and the count were standing together looking in a different direction as Darcy and Elizabeth approached. Charlotte turned her head when she heard Elizabeth calling her name..

"Charlotte!" With the greatest relief Elizabeth stepped forward and embraced her friend. Tears of joy filled her eyes. "It is you! My dear, dear Charlotte! You escaped! How did you make it out of Paris? We were beside ourselves with worry!"

Corbin, on the other side of Charlotte, looked at Elizabeth with a mixture of surprise and some other emotion. He laid a hand on Charlotte's elbow but did not speak. He glanced quickly between Elizabeth and Darcy.

"Elizabeth." Finally Charlotte responded. She stepped back from Elizabeth to survey her from head to foot. "I did not know if I would ever see you again."

"We have been in town for weeks! But we did not know you were here, else we should have called on you immediately."

"You and . . Mr. Darcy?" Charlotte looked between Darcy and Elizabeth questioningly.

"We are married," Elizabeth confirmed. "We married not long after you fled. I have so much to tell you, and so much to ask! Where is the rest of your family? Are they in town as well? And Monsieur Corbin, I am delighted to see you here, too!"

Charlotte looked ill at ease and took another step back from Elizabeth, towards Corbin, her eyes averted. Corbin spoke sternly "I prefer to be addressed as the count," he announced. "And you may address my wife as countess."

"You are married? The happiest of news! Congratulations!" Charlotte did not answer. She glanced away uneasily and Elizabeth began to feel concerned. Something was wrong. Why was she keeping her distance? Why wasn't she happier to see Elizabeth again?

"This is indeed an evening of wonders," Darcy added. "Our best wishes to you both."

The count stepped in front of Charlotte in a protective stance. "It is no thanks to you, madam," he said to Elizabeth, his eyes flashing.

A pause fell on the little group as Elizabeth looked between the two of them. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Lizzy, how could you betray my family?" Charlotte asked plaintively. "How could you betray me? You made me think you did not care for Wickham!"

"What are you speaking of?" Elizabeth's eyes widened. "I don't understand."

"He knew that we were trying to leave Paris, and his spies followed us to the coast. If it hadn't been for the count waiting to take us across, my family and I would surely have been arrested!"

Now Elizabeth was truly astonished. "How dreadful! How shocking! But why do you think I had anything to do with it?"

"You knew we were leaving when I told you goodbye! You were the only one I told."

"Do you mean on the night of the recital? You told me nothing!"

"Yet I saw you speaking with Wickham himself right after that!"

"Only because he approached me and began asking questions! But I barely spoke with him! I certainly did not tell him you were leaving. How could I tell him something I did not know myself?" Elizabeth was beginning to feel desperate. How could such a misunderstanding have occurred? Darcy, too, was puzzled. His face creased in concern as he looked between the speakers.

"Your name has been closely linked with Wickham's the past few days." Corbin's voice was still heavy with suspicion.

It was Darcy's turn to step forward protectively. "What do you mean by that? Explain yourself!" Elizabeth felt a thrill of pride as he came to her defense.

Corbin glanced uncertainly at Charlotte. "We have been told that Mrs. Darcy and Wickham had a close association in Paris. She only-" he hesitated, looking back at Darcy. "Forgive me, but we were told she only threw Wickham over when she became aware of your fortune."

Elizabeth waited for Darcy to refute this but he did not do so. Instead he only looked at her with an expression she had never seen before. "That is not true!" she exclaimed. "Tell him that is not true! You know I did not care for Wickham!"

Darcy appeared to choose his words carefully. "I recall that you were very fond of Wickham at one time."

"That was before I met-" she broke off, trying to control her rising emotions. "My opinion of Mr. Wickham began to change even before I met you." Darcy met her glance evenly but did not reply.

"It is said that you encouraged Wickham's advances until you became aware of Darcy's fortune," the count went on. "Then you threw him over for purely mercenary reasons."

Elizabeth could feel her face beginning to flame. "Who says this?" she demanded. "Who is telling you all this?"

"It is well known in certain circles. The reports have been circulating for several days."

Elizabeth looked at her husband again. "Surely you will defend me, sir," she implored. "I am your wife. You know these are all falsehoods."

A muscle in Darcy's cheek twitched. "You are defending yourself most ably, madam. You do not need my poor assistance."

"Will you say nothing at all?"

"This is hardly the time or the place," he answered, flicking his eyes towards their surroundings.

Elizabeth followed his glance. Their conversation had begun to attract attention; people nearby were turning their heads and starting to take an interest. She took a step towards Charlotte and lowered her voice. "Please, let us go somewhere quiet and speak rationally of all this. You have been sadly misinformed."

"I think not." The count maintained his protective stance in front of his wife. "You have said quite enough already." Charlotte looked miserable but did not contradict her husband.

A wave of disbelief and anger swept over Elizabeth. How had gossip about her managed to find her in London? And how could Charlotte believe it? This must be Wickham's doing, a taste of what was to come if she did not go along with him.

Her humiliation was complete. Even her own husband would not defend her.

The people around them were now openly staring at her. Elizabeth looked at their faces and saw the same confusion and suspicion that was on Charlotte's face. She squared her shoulders, raised her chin and addressed Charlotte one last time. "Please accept our congratulations on your marriage once again. I trust that we will come to a better understanding some time soon. Any time you wish to call at Darcy house, you will be more than welcome." She inclined her head with all the dignity she could muster, curtsied, and then allowed Darcy to lead her away through the crowd.

Darcy looked neither to the left nor the right as he guided her towards where Jane and Bingley stood. She scarcely knew how to look or what to say. Her husband's refusal to defend her had cut her to the quick, especially since it had come just when she had been ready to confide in him. Now she could not do so. If she told Darcy now that she had met with Wickham privately and concealed the fact, he would still be suspicious. He would most likely think that she was only confessing now in order to protect herself in case he found out about their meeting through other means. Why, oh why, had she not told him everything at once?

Jane was standing with a group of other ladies, speaking amongst themselves, as Darcy and Elizabeth approached. Elizabeth pressed on his arm to hold him back. "Please, Fitzwilliam, I must speak with you."

"Later, perhaps." Darcy did not slow down. He stopped in front of Jane and the others and dropped her hand without looking at her. "There are things I must do now." He turned and walked away without another word.

Jane's eyes widened as she watched Darcy disappear into the crowd. "Lizzy, what is happening?"

"I wish that I knew." There was much that she could say, of course, but where to start?

Just when you thought things were looking up . . . . argh! Fair warning: from here on out in the story, the angst only goes up! You might hate me before it's over, but I promise things will work out! In the meantime just hang on for the ride! Thank you for all your kind feedback. I treasure every word! Until we meet again, enjoy your holiday and summer! -Elaine