The next day passed and there were no accidents, though sitting through the unwanted attentions of Collins wasn't helping in her recovery.

By mid-evening, Lizzie was feeling well enough that she didn't need to take long breaks to rest after a bit of exercise.

She was ready.

"What! Now?" Jane sputtered. "But it's the middle of the night. Hadn't you better, I don't know, wait till morning or wait till your leg heals more. It's dangerous to ride at night. You can't see where you're going."

Jane was sitting on her bed, watching as Lizzie packed a few pairs of clothes in her saddlebags and then her allowance. She had easily found her trousers from her mother's poor attempt at hiding them. Really though, if she didn't want her daughter wearing them, she'd burn the pants.

"Fear not, I shall not ride. Only walk alongside the horse. I shall light a lamp once I'm far enough away from the house. I left a letter for you and there's a message in it for father. Don't worry Jane. I shall be careful."

Jane didn't seem entirely convinced. She sighed, "I'll make you some food for your journey. I'm sure Hill made enough food for leftovers that will last a few days."

"Thank you." Elizabeth smiled gratefully at her sister, watching her as she sneaked out of their room to the kitchen.

About twenty minutes later Lizzie stood next to her horse with Jane standing with a shawl wrapped around her.

"You better write to me," Jane said sternly.

"I promise," Elizabeth said with a laugh. The girls hugged one another for about a minute before they separated and Elizabeth started out.

The cool air was nice compared to the hot daytime. The tree that marked the end of her father's property came too soon for her and she turned around to look back at the house. The lights were all out, everyone safe in bed.

Her heart did a little skip. She was about to do it.

No, she was doing it! She was finally leaving home. The place she had known her whole life.

Charles was happily reminiscing about the dinner at the Bennet house still and about Jane. He had completely ignored his friend who was trying to walk him through his land.

"If you aren't going to pay attention then I don't see why my presence is necessary," Darcy growled, in a foul mood for some reason.

"Wha—oh sorry Darcy. I was just thinking about a couple nights ago."

"I figured." Darcy rolled his eyes. "Shall we continue this later then since you can't seem to concentrate."

"Lunch?" Charles grinned. Darcy gave an unenthusiastic glance towards Netherfield. "Don't worry, since we said we wouldn't be back for a while, we can eat in town and return after that."

The dark man sighed with relief, "Sounds good."

The two turned their horses back to town.

"You know, you didn't have to accept my invitation in staying at Netherfield if you truly want to avoid Caroline. Only you can afford to live in a hotel room for an extended amount of time."

"The boarding house was just fine, Charles. There's no need for keeping up appearances that I do not have here."

There was a long silence before Charles spoke up again.

"You and Elizabeth talked a surprisingly long period at dinner." Charles recounted.

"You really can't think of anything else but the weekend can you?" Darcy muttered gruffly. He straightened in his saddle, "Didn't think you were paying attention to anyone but Ms. Jane."

"Well she was distressed with having Collin there, and for good reason. The man is slimy." Charles grimaced when he thought about how the man took liberties in touching Elizabeth, "Thank you for looking out for her."

"That wasn't really my intention." Darcy cleared his throat uncomfortable all of a sudden.

Charles glanced over at his friend with a smile that knew better.

"I swear, if the two of you weren't bent on disliking each other than you'd make a great pair."

"Contain your jokes, Charles."

"Fine, I'll drop it...for now." Charles teased.

Darcy wasn't going to divulge about his meeting Ms. Elizabeth the following morning and how she had successfully pulled one over on him with loading his gun.

If she were truly still upset, she could've shot him.

What a true idiot he was. He, who prided himself on having sense and being aware of things, got tricked by a young woman. Darcy wasn't going to say it had anything to do with her fine eyes or the fact that her body was suddenly pressed closely to his own.

All he needed to do was to stay focus on what was at hand.

Once the two men made it in town, they noticed that there were a few groups of people talking amongst each other.

"Figure it's just gossip. Small towns do that often enough with little discretion." Darcy murmured.

"I wonder what happened to have everyone so interested."

"Probably the engagement of Ms. Elizabeth and Collins was announced."

Both men looked at one another and shuddered at the thought.

The owner of the general shop noticed Charles and stopped in front of the gentlemen while they dismounted their horses.

"Mr. Bingley."

"Mr. Morris, how are you today?" Charles smiled politely.

Mr. Morris's face remained serious, " Have you heard the news, sir?"

"No, what news would that be, sir?"

"Ms. Elizabeth Bennet has gone missing."

"Missing?" both Darcy and Charles said in unison.

"Yes," Mr. Morris nodded, "people are wondering if she was kidnapped, eloped or just plain run off."

Darcy fell silent, turning his head and staring intently out towards the open trails.

"When did this happen?" Charles asked Morris, hoping to gain more information from the man.

"Apparently at night. When the rest of the house woke up, she was gone. Jane was left unharmed, thank goodness. But sirs, we've heard reports that you've been seen with them frequently enough, did you see anything odd? Did she seem like she was about to run off?"

Charles's eyes drifted to Darcy who had spent most of the evening with her. And if Jane usually stayed with Elizabeth, it was impossible for there to be a kidnapping unless the older sister was drugged.

"I'm not really one to judge someone's motives in this case and will be a poor judge on the matter."

Morris only nodded, "I know you're a good sort of gentleman, sir." There was a pause with a wary glance at the dark-cladded man to his side, "However, we don't get that many newcomers through these parts, and when one of our own goes missing and after spending time with someone unfamiliar to the rest, it raises suspicion. Like I said, I know you're honorable, but others may start to grow suspicious of you and your friend. Best be careful, sir." The store owner gave one last glance to Darcy before going back to his shop.

Charles was anxious to go to Longbourne, but knew now was not the time. He looked to his friend who was being quiet again.

"What are you thinking? Could it be a kidnapping?"

"If it were, they took a great risk not being caught in a household full of other people and her sister. No, I don't think that that is the case."

"So what, do you think she ran away on her own free will? Why?"

"I don't know."

"Then what do you know, man? Speak up! There will be a whole town descending upon us because a girl has gone missing and we are the likely candidates to have done it!"

Darcy finally looked towards his friend who was looking more worried by the minute, "Charles, there is no need for you to get worked up, I'm sure she will be discovered. Besides, you have the workers at Netherfield to vouch that you were home all night."

"I know." Charles pulled off his hat to run his fingers through his hair, trying to think. "So, if this isn't a kidnapping like you say, then she ran. Jane is her closest sister and stays with her, so she will know of her sister's whereabouts."

"That's what I am thinking too." Darcy nodded.

"But Darcy, don't they give some form or other that might hint to a flight?"

"Sometimes, yes." Darcy thought of his sister, Georgiana.

"You were the one with her at dinner! What did you talk about?" Charles asked suddenly.

"I asked after her health and then she asked me about why I carried a gun."

"Your gun?" Charles frowned in confusion. "Why?"

"She wanted to know if I was a bounty hunter. She asked me if I was hunting someone currently and if it was hard."

Charles looked a shade paler, "You don't think—she wouldn't run off to—oh God I need to go after her."

Charles walked quickly back to his horse to climb back on. Darcy grabbed his shoulder.

"No, let me. This is my fault. I should be the one to bring her back."

"Darcy, you've already done enough. You've already saved her once. No reason for you to have all the glory." Charles managed a grin.

"Technically we did it together and besides you can't leave your family here at Netherfield house just after they arrived. I won't be too long. She couldn't have gotten too far."

"That is assuming you can track her."

"Seriously, this is me you're talking about."

The two men were interrupted from their banter by the appearance of Jane Bennet coming into town on her horse. Charles quickly got her attention and she steered her horse over to them. Charles helped her down and held the reins of her mount.

"Jane, what's going on? People are saying that Lizzie has gone missing and there are rumors circulating that it is possibly a kidnap." Charles rattled off quickly.

"Charles, calm yourself before you cause a scene." Darcy hissed.

"My younger sisters had no qualms about sharing our sister's disappearance to their friends and them everyone else who would hear. Can we talk somewhere private?"

"Of course." Charles nodded and they entered the restaurant in town sitting at a corner table far away from prying ears. Once the person waiting on them were out of earshot, the men began.

"Do you know what truly happened, Jane?"

"Of course she does, Charles. I would assume you helped her leave, Ms. Jane."

Jane looked up at Mr. Darcy, but she wasn't upset by the accusation or nervous at all for being caught.

"I did."

Charles was too shocked to understand, "But why?"

"Because she is my sister and I love her dearly. She's been thinking about doing this for some time and I've been aware of it from the beginning."

"Where does she plan on going?" asked Bingley.

"There is no clear destination." At the men's confused looks, she clarified, "She wants to become a bounty hunter."

"Bounty hunter." Darcy groaned and leaned back against his seat. He should've known their conversation and her interest in his gun was too strange to be a coincidence.

"I know how strong Lizzie is and all," Charles said in as polite of way he could manage, "but she is still just a young woman. Anything can happen to her out there, and she's alone."

"Ms. Jane, I know you think you are trying to help your sister, but her plan is foolish," Darcy spoke up, not concealing his harsh words. "A woman riding on her own is asking for something bad to happen. If you really want to help your sister, you will tell us which way she was headed."

"Let us bring her back. She can do other things that aren't as dangerous. What about her silent protest with trousers?" Chares asked.

"She has no desire to come back."

"It's not up to her," Darcy said gruffly.

Jane said with a bowed head, "I'm sorry. It is my fault for telling you both so much in the beginning."

Silence fell over the table, and the woman serving them set the drinks and food down before disappearing again. Neither man had any interest in eating though.

"Jane, please. People think she was kidnapped and since my friend and I here are new and have been seen with your family, we are the likeliest candidates."

Jane's eyes widened with concern before she dipped her head down again.

"She was headed in the direction of the forest that borders our land. I believe she is headed west."

Charles gave a sigh of relief, "She's going to stay in touch with you, correct?"

"Yes."

Charles looked to Darcy who understood what the other man was thinking. Darcy nodded his silent agreement.

"When she messages you, can you please keep me informed. Darcy will find her and see that she is safe."

Jane finally regained herself. Her head snapped back up and she shook it in objection, "I can't have you do that, sir."

"It is no trouble; I'm heading in that direction after my business is finished here with Charles is over. I don't think he'll mind me leaving a bit early than scheduled."

"But I'm not sure she wants to have company."

"She may not think so, but it is also good to have especially if she's trying to be a bounty hunter."

Jane sighed in defeat, "If you must go, you are looking for someone with short hair. You've already seen her in pants before."

"Short?" Charles's mouth opened in closed, his brain failing to come up with anything else to say.

"She cut her hair?" asked Darcy, taking over.

Jane nodded, "She asked me to cut it before she left. So, it won't be so obvious that she's a woman."

Darcy already knew from experience that it was possible to mistake her from a first glance. His thoughts supplied him with the image of her long hair and how it felt when he touched it. Soft and addicting. To think it was chopped off made him a little sick to the stomach. This woman was way too complicated to understand, and he needed to find her before she did something else rash.