Darcy quickly caught up with Elizabeth outside. Finding a spot that was hidden from view of the house, he pulled his wife into his arms while she cried. "I am so sorry, Fitzwilliam," she sobbed.

"Why are you apologizing, my love?" he replied softly. "You have done nothing wrong, and I was deeply impressed by how you handled the situation with your father. While I might have been inclined to simply provide the funds to assist him, I believe it was wise of you to have him repay the money. We have more than enough means to give it to him outright, but it will hold greater value if he understands the cost involved."

"Nothing would have changed if we simply gave him what he asked for," Elizabeth told him, her voice muffled as she was pressed to his chest. "This way, perhaps I can do something to help my sisters. The money he repays, we can put in an account for my sisters to give them dowries, perhaps, or we can use a portion of it to pay for them to go to school or to have a governess or something. Surely something can be done to correct their behaviour. Jane and I have tried often enough but to no avail."

Darcy nodded his agreement. "What other stipulations would you like to include?" he asked.

"He must tell Mama, and they must learn to live on less. He will need to do what he can to increase what the estate earns and pay more attention to the running of it," she grimaced before she stated the next. "Do you … do you think you could give him a few suggestions on how to improve the estate's income? He has largely left things to the steward and does little to manage the estate, and with Jane and I both away, I am sure many things have been neglected."

Once again, he nodded his agreement. "I will ride out tomorrow morning to see what I may be able to suggest. We can spend a few extra days here to allow me to take a look at his books."

Elizabeth thanked him. "I have had a few suggestions over the years that he has not implemented. The steward would occasionally do as I suggested, but if it required any expenditure, Papa would never agree to it. And now, there will not be the funds to do so., even if he would agree."

Darcy continued to hold her, only moving to pull her into his lap, neither speaking for several minutes. Finally, Elizabeth broke the silence. "We have been here for less than a day, Fitzwilliam, and already I am anxious to depart. I am angry at Papa for putting his family — and us — in this position, and you know he was already thinking of this when he agreed to us marrying. He knew he would ask you for this money, and he fully expected you to simply give it to him without condition."

"Hush, love," he crooned as he felt her tense in his arms before feeling her tears soak his cravat. He continued to rub her back and attempt to soothe her by whispering words of love until she calmed. She, at last, took a shuddering breath and sat up, remaining seated where she was.

"I wonder what my uncle Phillips knows about this," she wondered. "Should we seek his advice on creating a document that would bind Papa to repay the debt, or is a written contract between you and him enough?"

"I would think a written contract, regardless of who wrote it, would be binding since both of us will sign it. I have read enough contracts in my years as master of my estate, and even before, when father began to fade, to feel we can write a document that will be binding," he told her.

She nodded at him. "My uncle Gardiner cannot be aware of any of this, and I doubt that my father would have said anything to Phillips unless he believed it absolutely necessary. Mrs Hill suspects something is wrong — she hinted at something amiss when I spoke to her about our trunks. I suspect he is holding something back in all of this, but what he did tell us is bad enough." She shuddered as she considered the threats these men made. A small part of Elizabeth was angry enough with her father to think a brief stint in debtors' prison would serve him well, but she would not allow any of her sisters to be used in such a fashion, particularly not Jane.

"We can go to our room and write up the conditions. I can hire can someone to stay nearby to protect your remaining family from any additional threats from these gentlemen, and I will arrange for the money to be paid to them directly," Darcy said. "There should be no reason for them to continue to threaten your family after they are paid."

Elizabeth nodded. "I am sorry I have brought this trouble to your door. I do realize that for you, this amount of money is likely insignificant, but it is substantial for Longbourn. I do not know how he could have amassed such a significant debt."

"I have seen a few men get in deeper than this in a matter of days," Darcy told her. "On several occasions, I have seen Wickham lose more than a thousand pounds in a matter of hours."

Elizabeth gasped her surprise. "I can scarcely believe that someone can lose so much money so quickly, but little that Mr Wickham has done surprises me. And while I can understand my father's desire to finally do something to aid his family, gambling such a large amount was incredibly foolish."

Darcy agreed with her, but before they could speak any further on the subject, Kitty and Mary approached, blushing and averting their when they saw Elizabeth's position on her husband's lap. "Mama told us to find you and bring you into the parlour to take tea. Lady Lucas has come to visit, and she desires to show you off," Mary said, rolling her eyes as she spoke.

Elizabeth sighed and reluctantly stood. Darcy did as well, and, placing his wife's hand on his arm, followed the younger girls into the house.

Darcy, at least, was greeted enthusiastically by Mrs Bennet when they entered the parlour with the rest of the family, all except Mr Bennet. Lady Lucas was slightly in awe of the taciturn man who was in evidence during the visit; he was not at all placid in the light of that day's revelations, and it showed in his demeanour. Elizabeth was equally quiet during the visit, still considering what she would insist upon in return for loaning her father the money needed. However, the two matrons were sufficiently loquacious that their input was rarely needed. Elizabeth was asked a few questions about spending the season in town, and she willingly described a few events. Lady Lucas briefly alluded to her aborted visit to Kent, but Darcy's comment, about how they had left nearly immediately due to Lady Catherine's displeasure. Little else was said, although both Darcy and Elizabeth were instantly alert to the subtle hint of some impropriety.

While Elizabeth had written to Charlotte since leaving Kent, she had not gotten any response and had assumed her friend was being prevented from doing so. However, it had not occurred to her since her marriage to think about what news Collins had shared with the Bennets or the Lucases or what news Maria Lucas may have shared upon her return, especially since none of the Bennets had mentioned any gossip from that quarter. However, the gleam in Lady Lucas's eyes made her wonder what that lady thought she knew.

Lady Lucas did not make her wait long. "Mr Darcy," she began, her voice sickeningly sweet, "I understand your aunt is most displeased with your recent marriage. Mr Collins has had much to say about it, especially after you treated her so abominably in London."

Darcy stiffened at the first mention of his aunt. "My aunt objected on the grounds that it interfered with her plans. She believed if I married her daughter, I would allow her to retain control of Rosings and not force her into the dower house as her husband's will ordered. My cousin Anne has been the rightful owner of that estate for more than two years, which means that my aunt did not have the right to appoint your son-in-law to the living. My uncle, the Earl, is presently investigating to see what he can learn from my late uncle's solicitors about how to proceed.

"We have learned much about my aunt's machinations since I married and have learned a few things about Collins as well. Do you know, madam, that your son-in-law attempted to throw my wife from his home without concern for how she would travel or when, without concern for her reputation or any harm that might come to her as a result? My uncle has also spoken to the archbishop, who is considering what to do with Mr Collins due to his actions and the obvious fact that Lady Catherine did not have the authority to grant him his position. So far, they have been reluctant to act because of the lack of rumours about Mrs Darcy's expulsion and because my wife does not want to see Mrs Collins harmed in any way. Should any gossip be circulated that might damage my wife's reputation, the archbishop and my uncle will take the steps required to protect our family.

"My aunt is no longer recognized by her family; her daughter has been removed from her care and is being treated by a physician in London due to my aunt's lack of care. Now tell me, Lady Lucas, do you truly believe I have treated Lady Catherine poorly, or is your fool of a son-in-law spreading rumours that would be potentially harmful to my wife? It is my intention to visit several shops in Meryton tomorrow, and if I hear a word spoken against my wife, I will be most displeased, and I will be sure to let my uncle know of it."

Lady Lucas could not respond to the direct threat in Darcy's words and tone. She had made sure everyone in Meryton knew of the compromise that had led to the Darcys' hasty marriage and had also made certain that the Bennets were unaware of it. That part had been easy since Mr Bennet had been restricting his family from visiting Meryton or shopping lately. Her face turned pale under Darcy's intense glare, and she suddenly remembered an appointment and scurried outside.

Elizabeth sagged against him. "She has spread some falsehood that Collins and your aunt concocted about the reason for my expulsion from his home," Elizabeth whispered. "She will never be able to retract all the tales she spread, and I have little doubt that everyone we encounter tomorrow will look at me with either pity or disgust."

Ignoring her family around them, he drew her into an embrace. "It will be well, Elizabeth," he told her quietly. "All will be well."

"What can we do?" she asked him.

"I will send an express to my uncle," Darcy replied. "He has been waiting until we arrived here to determine what needed to be done. I am afraid that things may not go well for Collins after this. Lady Catherine did not have the authority to appoint him in the first place, and his actions toward you are enough to have him removed from his position. I do not know what my uncle and the archbishop intend to do, but I will offer to purchase Mrs Collins a small cottage near Meryton if she needs a place to live. It is possible her husband will be sent somewhere as a missionary if they decide he is no longer fit for the church in England."

Elizabeth gasped lightly. "Poor Charlotte. But perhaps that would be a good situation for her; all she wanted was a house of her own and not to be a burden on her parents."

"Then that is what we will give her. She did not deserve such a husband," Darcy replied.

While they had this conversation, the Bennet ladies were discussing what they had heard and watching the couple. Jane tried to convince her mother and younger sisters that Lady Lucas was incorrect and that Elizabeth had not been compromised by Mr Darcy or anyone else, but Mrs Bennet was working her way into a fit of hysterics. Finally, the dam burst loose.

"What have you done, Lizzy?" she cried. "What was Lady Lucas speaking of? You must tell me at once, for it seems that all our neighbours know some gossip of you that they have hidden from this house. Tell me now, Lizzy Bennet, what you have done that will bring ruin upon all of your sisters."

Elizabeth stood. "My name, madam, is Elizabeth Darcy, and the only thing I have done is marry a good man, a man who loves me and will do what all he can to ensure my family is well taken care of, despite their own stupidity. Do not accuse me of anything. Mr Collins attempted to turn me from his home in Kent because Lady Catherine was concerned that I had taken Mr Darcy's attention from her daughter, completely disregarding the truth of the matter. Fitzwilliam was never engaged to his cousin, and neither party desired it, but Lady Catherine was determined to force her will. She blamed me when she could not, and so she told Mr Collins to throw me from his house, and he tried, but Fitzwilliam ensured I could not be injured when that happened."

Her husband had stood with her, and for the second time that day, she retreated to the garden where her husband attempted to comfort her.

She felt his arms around her before she spoke. "Can we never leave Pemberley once we arrive there? Between my parents, Lady Lucas, Mr Collins, and Lady Catherine, I do not think I want to see anyone else again for some time. What story do you think they have concocted that we will hear tomorrow in Meryton, and how many do you think will believe it?"

"It does not matter, Elizabeth," he told her. "Truly it does not. You have already won over many in the ton and no matter what rumours make their way there, my aunt will counter. We do not have to return to London next year if you do not wish it, although we will have to the next so Georgiana can be presented."

She sighed into his arms. "I just want to go home, Fitzwilliam."

"Home?" he asked.

She nodded and smiled up at him. "Is not Pemberley our home?" she asked impishly.

Darcy leaned down to kiss his nose. "Yes, dearest, Pemberley is home. I cannot wait to take you there. However, we must remain here for at least a few days to try to deal with what we can."

Elizabeth stood in his arms for several moments, taking comfort from him. "Thank you, Fitzwilliam. I think we need to rest before dinner, together, in our bed."

He grinned and drew her back to the house. Elizabeth showed him to the servant's staircase, and they snuck upstairs, where they remained until it was time for dinner.


The following day, they met with Mr Bennet just after luncheon. After Darcy had ridden the estate that morning, he and Elizabeth had walked into Meryton and paid any outstanding accounts for the Bennets and arranged for purchases to be covered through Michaelmas. In each store, they had obtained a signed receipt with the amount paid, which they would add to her father's debt.

Elizabeth presented her father with the paper outlining the conditions for paying his debt. He was to take an interest in the estate and actively work to increase its income. Darcy had written out several possible strategies that would be easy to implement and would cost very little. He had spoken with the steward and discovered that man had made several of the same suggestions over the last few years, which meant that doing these things would be simple. He had also asked the steward to inform Darcy about how things were going, which seemed underhanded, but they both felt it was a necessary step to allow them to know what was going on from a distance.

In addition to improving the estate, he would have to do what he could to improve his family. Jane would accompany the couple to Pemberley for the foreseeable future so she would be protected from the men who were threatening Bennet. The youngest girls would no longer be out and would go to school or have a governess at home who would teach them proper behaviour and decorum. Darcy would cover the cost of either option, but Mrs Bennet would not interfere. Mary would have a companion. She could also go to the Gardiners in London if she preferred, where Darcy would hire a music master for her. Mrs Bennet would also be informed of these conditions, and her spending would be restricted as well.

With at least two or more daughters from home, Mr and Mrs Bennet should be able to retrench and save a minimum of two hundred pounds each quarter to pay back the loan. Even if the youngest girls stayed home, their pin money could be cut significantly since they would have less reason to spend those funds. The dressed they had would do for now, and since they would no longer be attending social events, they could easily remake those dresses to fit their new status.

Eventually, Elizabeth could sponsor both girls in society, but only if their behaviour was amended to the point that it would be acceptable in town. Bennet was expected to inform his family of these changes immediately after the Darcys departed, and Mrs Bennet was not to send any letters to Elizabeth to complain about the conditions of the loan. If Bennet defaulted, Darcy reserved the right to throw Bennet in debtors' prison until such a time as he could pay back the loan.

Bennet was unhappy with the conditions but reluctantly agreed. He had little choice to act otherwise, as he was unsure what his family would do if he were sent to debtors' prison, and despite his indolence, he did not want any of his daughters to be used as they would be used if they were given to repay his debt. Reluctantly, he signed both copies of the agreement, and when the ink dried, he kept one and gave Darcy the other.