A/N: To anyone who's still interested into reading this, I am really sorry about stopping writing. It won't happen again, since I decided to finish it today. Delaying is never good. Sorry again.

21. Young bloods

"The bitter-sweet between my teeth trying to fight me in-between."

I'd never been as stressed as I was during these three long hours in my entire life.

Screwed. We were just plainly screwed. And though I suspected George to have guessed a little of our situation, there was no way on Earth the Bennett's would accept in their midst two family-less liars.

I felt doomed.

The sun had been rising a while prior, and we had then entered a small village visibly built in the middle of the countryside.

Close to London my ass!

Amanda stirred in front of me, and I launched her a sorry glance.

Then the carriage stopped right next to a pond.

"We're here."

I eyed Mr Bennett. There we go.

"Where are we?"

I narrowed my eyes at Am's dullness. Seriously?

"Hammersmith, Miss Price. This is where you live."

She exchanged a frightened glance with me, and the carriage's door opened. Amanda sauntered down and took in her surroundings, as did I when we got down.

Right. There was no bloody way on Earth we could still pretend the best of society lived here.

Hammersmith looked like a big farm. Nothing more. Or less.

"Mr and Mrs Bennett, I think...the time has probably come to-"

"There you are!"

My eyes widened one big time, and I whirled around as in a daze, seeing the coated and hatted figure of the man I loved walking towards us, impeccably timed.

I couldn't help but grin.

Didn't know why, but I knew we were saved.

"Welcome all! How was the road?"

"Mr Wickham! How unexpected!"

George stopped right next to Amanda, not before sending me a heated gaze, and my blood warmed at once. "Did Miss Price not tell you she asked me to ride ahead to make arrangements?"

I shot Am' a punch in the arm. "I-I quite forgot."

"Sir Reginald and Lady Nora are safely on their way to Bath."

"Uh... Good!"

"Perfect even!"

Amanda elbowed me in the ribs in retaliation. Yes, I was probably enjoying myself a little too much. Reginald. Really.

"Who, pray, is Sir Reginald?"

"Miss Price's father, Mrs Bennett. The house, I'm afraid, is locked up. The servants absolutely insist on accompanying Sir Reginald and Lady Nora, which is not convenient, of course, but very devoted."

Mr Bennett sighed deeply and turned away to curse under his breath, I could tell, while Amanda turned to George.

"Lady Nora?"

"That's a perfectly good name for the wife of a successful fishmonger."

"What are you doing here? Chasing after Angelina?"

George shot me a glance and smirked. "No, unfortunately not, though I like that kind of present." I smirked back.

"Then what's the point in helping me?"

"Because your face is most amusing when surprised." He sighed a little. "I do as you do. I have to see Bingley."

Amanda turned away and George had already paced forward to me when Mr Bennett faced us, his face most quizzical. "Where's Lizzie?"

And here he came.

"Uh, Bath! When Mama and Papa go on their expeditions, they always take their guests."

Mr Bennett then came forward, now uncomfortable. "Mr Wickham, I speak from one gentleman to another, with the expected amount of discretion that entails."

"I understand Sir, whatever you confide shall die inside me."

He looked over to his wife then back at George. "My youngest daughter, Lydia, has run away with Charles Bingley." He took another pace forward so that what he said was almost inaudible for me. "I do not know how to proceed. I cannot think of how to find my daughter."

George widened his eyes as if in recognition. Gosh he was good at this. "Well, surely they have gone to the Jerusalem! Fashionable inn, don't you think, Miss Price?" Am' nodded frantically. "And if it is your feeling that they have come to Hammersmith then we must find them and stop them from wrongdoings! Mr Bennett, Sir, permit me to be your guide!"

He then turned around to me, smirked widely and offered me his arm, which I took, of course, slightly clinging to his shirt even, and we trotted away together, Mr and Mrs Bennett high on heels.

"Oh, Mr Wickham, how fortunate we are to find you here!"

I smiled up at George. "Aye, very fortunate indeed."

And he granted me another of his heated gazes, and I blushed.