Sorry it took so long to update! I couldn't decide whether or not to redo this chapter or keep it as I had intended. In the end, I decided to keep what I had drawn out in the first place. Enjoy! Thank you all for reviewing, the next chapter will be London society, Miss Bingley, and some of Darcy's family!
Lydia Bennet was missing.
George Wickham was AWOL.
Colonel Fitzwilliam was the unluckiest cousin in the world. He was dreading telling his cousin and his beautiful wife that her youngest sister had fallen into the miscreants hands.
He had volunteered to take the express himself to Hertfordshire, familial obligation forced him too. Two days ago the party from Longbourn had departed. Yesterday they had arrived in Brighton to find the camp all in a dither. Mr. Wickham had deserted his position, stolen half of the regiments coin, and to top it off, he took the young Bennet girl with him.
And now, today, Colonel Fitzwilliam was standing outside Netherfield Hall, the letter clutched tightly in his hands. He sighed, another girl ruined by Mr. Wickham.
Netherfield was empty. Darcy, Elizabeth, Georgie and Charles were apparently at Longbourn.
"I guess that solves that problem" He sighed. "Two birds, one Wickham sized stone" He muttered as he took off towards the smaller estate. As he approached he noticed his cousin in the garden with one of the younger Bennet sisters. Mary or Kitty, he determined, but as to which one it was, he could not recall. He smiled as he observed Georgiana's carefree smiles and laughter.
Georgiana, his own flesh and blood, another victim of Wickham's cruel nature. She was so sweet before the Ramsgate incident, so innocent and naïve. She was still young, and she had vastly improved with Lizzy's friendship, but she had been irrevocably affected. But Georgiana was lucky; she was saved just in time, mere minutes before she would have sealed her fate forever.
"Richard!" Georgiana had spotted him. He dismounted just in time to catch his cousin.
"Georgiana!" He twirled her about, listening for a second to the sound of her sweet laughter.
"Why are you here?" She asked.
"I have to speak with your brother," He told her.
"Oh, I'll show you to him" She said, grabbing his hand.
"No, it's alright. Stay out here, it's just boring business stuff, Aunt Catherine is in trouble again. Miss Bennet, a pleasure to see you again," He stated, hoping that it was enough to cover the fact he had forgotten which one it was.
"Oh, you know Miss Katherine?" Georgie asked with a teasing smile.
"The Colonel and I had the pleasure of meeting before the wedding" Miss Kitty replied. He remembered her know, she was close to Miss Lydia Bennet, but less exuberant it seemed. "I am pleased to see you are well, sir" She told him softly.
"You as well Miss Katherine. Please, excuse me, I must speak with Darcy" And he took his leave. He asked to be shown to the library, telling the servant that he had urgent business with Mr. Bennet and the Darcy's.
Two minutes later the three of them entered the library.
"Richard!" Darcy greeted shaking his hand.
"Mr. Bennet, you rememeber my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam" He shook hands briefly with the older gentleman. Lizzy stood stalk still next to her husband. He turned to her.
"Please, just tell us" She whispered. "Something is bad if you've come all this way alone"
"Richard?" Darcy asked. The Colonel sighed.
"I arrived at the same time that Watkins and his party arrived. The camp was in a tither. Wickham had stolen from several other officers, and went AWOL. Upon further search, it was discovered that Miss Lydia Bennet was not asleep in her room at the Forrester's residence. Mrs. Forrester discovered a note from Miss Bennet under her pillow" He passed the letter to Mr. Bennet. The older gentleman read it quickly, passing it to his son in law. Mr. Bennet then sat heavily on the chair, his head in his hands.
"Read it aloud Fitzwilliam" Lizzy whispered. "Please"
"Jeanie, I cannot thank you enough for inviting me to stay with you in Brighton. It has been a most illuminating adventure. Mr. Wickham and I have decided to run away, we plan on eloping to Gretna Green. I am so happy that I find words are not enough in describing my state of mind. I hope you shall be happy for me, much love, Liddy. P.S, if you could inform my family of my good fortune, I shall forever be grateful"
"Oh god" Mr. Darcy wrapped an arm about his wife before she could collapse. She turned into his chest and began sobbing. Mr. Darcy led her to a chair, and sat her down upon it. He poured her a rather large glass of wine from the table, and urged her to drink.
"Is there not something we can do?" She asked, hiccups and sobs making her sentence difficult to understand.
"We can find her, and hope that she has not yet eloped" Richard said quietly. "I've redirected Watkins north, in the hopes of cutting them off. He was able to borrow one of the militia's fastest mounts. It is suspected that they were on foot for a few towns, until they were far enough away to catch a coach. However, I do not believe they are heading to Gretna Green. I believe we shall find them in London"
"Lizzy, dear, Richard and I will travel to London in an hours time. Tomorrow, Georgiana and you will join us. Mr. Bennet, the invitation stands for you as well" Mr. Darcy stated.
"I shall accompany them tomorrow. I must write to my brother, he will help as well" Mr. Bennet looked ashen. Lizzy stood from her own seat on wobbly legs, making her way to her father's side.
"Papa, please, let me" She whispered. His hand was shaking as he attempted to write the letter. "Mr. Darcy and the Colonel will find Lydia, we must have hope"
In truth, Lizzy was despairing herself. Her father was not strong enough for this, he was too old. Even now, she worried that it might just be too much for him to bear.
"Mr. Bennet, perhaps it would be best if you were to stay here, at Longbourne. If you were to leave with us as well, people will talk. We need to preserve her reputation as long as we can" Mr. Darcy said quietly.
"Her reputation is ruined" Lizzy sighed, and tried to reassure her father that all hope was not lost.
"Lizzy dearest, please go back to the parlor. I must speak with the gentleman, I do not want you to fret in your present condition" Mr. Bennet finally spoke. Lizzy started to object, but her husband cut her off.
"Lizzy, please" He helped her from her spot kneeling next to her father. She kissed her fathers cheek, then her husband, and finally her cousin.
"Colonel" she stated, smiling gently at him, "We haven't had the chance to announce it to William's family yet, but I feel that this situation needs a bit of light in all this darkness. We are expecting a child in September" The Colonel smiled, the news taking him by surprise, and lifting his spirits.
"Congratulations!" He hugged Lizzy, and clapped his cousin on the back. "I think Bennet Richard Darcy sounds wonderful, would you not agree Mr. Bennet, sir?"