Chapter 41: Terrible News
Darcy knocked on the door to Elizabeth room and waited for her to answer. When she didn't respond, he slowly opened the door and called out to her. "Lizzy? Is everything all right?"
Elizabeth came out from the bathroom carrying her things. Darcy could see the tears in her eyes; he knew that something was very wrong. He stepped in and closed the door, "Lizzy what is it? What's the matter?" he asked her his voice filled with concern as he rushed across the room to her side.
"I have to leave at once," she said as she placed her things into her bag.
"Why? What's happened?" he asked trying to calm the racing of his heart. She looked so upset; he hated seeing that look in her beautiful eyes. "Please Lizzy, tell me what's wrong?" he pleaded with her as he took her hand in his.
Elizabeth's looked up into his eyes as raw emotion overcame her. "Oh Will, the most dreadful news has come from home," she told him as fresh tears sprang to her eyes.
Darcy guided her over to the chair and sat her down. "Tell me what it is?" he coaxed her gently. "Is it your parents, is someone sick?"
"No, my mother and father are not ill, but Jane emailed me late last night to tell me that Lydia has run off with George Wickham," she blurted out.
Darcy turned away from her and began pacing at back and forth, "Wickham!" he repeated his name.
"Yes, she was staying with some friends at the Forster's beach house. Jane said that Mr. Forster called early in the morning to say that Lydia and Wickham ran off together. He said that they spent a great deal of time together, but that he thought it a harmless crush. He said that Lydia left a note saying that they have run off together to be married," she told him trying to keep her emotions in check.
"What about your father, what is being done to find her, to stop them from marrying?" he asked his mind already racing with what he might do to help. What could Wickham be planning, he knew full well that a poor girl like Lydia Bennet could hold no real desire for him. There had to be more to it than this.
"Jane said that my father has contacted family in London because they believe that's where they have gone. He's planning on leaving for the city himself to try to find them, but you know as well as I do how impossible it will be," she told him.
"I am so sorry this has happened," he told her.
Elizabeth wiped her eyes and went to finish packing. "You know him well enough to know that marriage is not what is really on his mind," she said sadly thinking of the eventual heartache her younger foolish sister would eventually endure.
Darcy didn't say anything. He glanced down at his watch then ran his hand through his hair. "I don't want you to drive back to Longbourn with how upset you are. It will be faster for you to take the helicopter. I will have all the arraignments made for your rental car to be returned," he told her in a distant and distracted voice.
Elizabeth nodded her head, "Thank you."
"Of course, this means you will miss our picnic with Georgiana," he told her wishing that things were different. "I will have to explain your leaving so abruptly," he said not sure what he would tell everyone.
"Oh yes, I forgot about my promise to stay longer," she told him as she closed her bag. "Please explain to her as you see best about what has happened, but don't tell Charles or his sisters about this." Elizabeth let out a small sigh as fresh tears welled up in her eyes, "I realize Wickham could sell this story to the press because of who Jane is, and perhaps that's his plan."
Darcy knew she was hurting and it was killing him inside. "I will not say a word to anyone," he told her then added, "I promise you."
"Please let Georgiana know I will write as soon as I can," she told him as she looked into his eyes. More than anything she wished he would take her in his arms and tell her everything was going to be all right, but instead she watched as he walked over to the phone and called for the pilot to be ready to leave at once. Several minutes later he hung up the phone and turned to her. "Everything is ready for you," he said in a sympathetic voice.
Elizabeth smiled, "Thank you so much for being such a help right now," she told him as she picked up her bag and headed for the door.
"Lizzy..." he called out her name before she opened the door.
She stopped at turned to look at him. "Yes Will?"
He looked into her eyes. There was so much pain and sadness there he wished he could make it go away. He wanted so much to go with her to hold her tight in his arms and assure her that all would be fine. But the truth was at that moment he wasn't even sure himself what the future held for them now. All he knew was he had to find Wickham and hopefully return Lydia to her family before it was too late. "Let me help you with your bag," he said finally as he escorted her to the landing pad. He stood there and watched as she lifted off, his heart aching as he watched her go.
Elizabeth sat back in her seat and closed her eyes as fresh tears sprang forth. She felt sick, for Lydia sake, and for her own. This news of her sister's involvement with George Wickham had changed Will's feelings for her, she was sure of it. The further the helicopter flew away from Pemberley the stronger the feeling she had that she would never see Will Darcy again. Her heart was breaking in that moment, and there was nothing she could do to stop it from happening. She sat quietly and allowed her tears to fall freely.
After watching Elizabeth take off, Darcy wasted no time in speaking with Richard. He went straight to his study and asked Rupert to have Richard join him there as soon as he could. He sat down behind his desk and pulled out his list of contacts in the London area. Someone was bound to know where Wickham was hiding. He came across the number of the agency they had used before in tracking down George. He was just about to make a call when Richard came in, "Oh good I needed to speak with you, and I'm afraid it couldn't wait." he told him as he motioned for him to come in and shut the door.
Richard could see by the look on his face something was very wrong. "What's going on Darcy?" he asked him. "You look upset."
Darcy ran his hands through his hair, "That's putting it mildly," he told him. "I just put Elizabeth on the helicopter headed back to London. She was devastated, and rightly so."
Richard walked over and sat down, "What has happened, I thought Elizabeth was planning to stay for several more days," he asked him. "Is her family all right?"
Darcy nodded his head, "Yes they are all well, but her younger sister has involved herself with George. She ran off with him to London; they are eloping according to the note she left for the friends she was staying with."
Richard's eyes narrowed, "What do you think he's really up to Darcy? We both know he's not about to marry that poor girl unless there is some kind of benefit in it for himself."
"That's exactly what I have been trying to figure out. Lydia is not worth enough money to be a temptation to him so he must be planning to use her in some way. Elizabeth mentioned she thought he might try to use her to sell a scandal story to the press, being Jane's younger sister there might be those in the press interested in paying for a story like that."
Richard nodded his head, "Yes especially if Charles should renew his relationship with Jane. The gossip rags would have a field day with that one."
Darcy looked at his cousin, his facial expression said it all, "Richard will you help me find him?" he asked. "Maybe if I can find them, I can persuade Lydia to go back home with her family before it's too late."
"Of course you can count on me," he told him. "I will get Sims on it right away and I have a few friends who I know can help."
Darcy had to do something for Elizabeth. She was so crushed when she left. "If you could have seen the look in her eyes, Richard. She looked so lost, so alone and my heart just ached for her," he told him. "I have to try and make this right for her sake."
The flight from Pemberley went quickly, and Elizabeth was thankful for all that Will had done in arranging her travel for her. He even had the foresight to have a car and driver waiting to drive her home from the airport. She took in a deep breath as she walked through the front door of her home and prepared herself for the worst. Jane was there waiting for her. "Oh Lizzy, I'm so glad you are here," she told her as she wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tight.
"Where are Dad and Mum?" she asked as she headed up the stairs to put her things away.
"Dad is in his study, and Mum is in her room with one of her migraines," Jane told her then explained, "Lizzy, Dad was planning to fly to London in hopes of finding Lydia, but then she called."
Elizabeth stopped what she was doing and sat down on her bed, "What did she say?"
Jane looked away and let out a small sigh, "Lizzy, it's not good. Lydia went on about how she and George wanted to marry and that she wouldn't come home until Dad gave his consent to sign the papers and agreed to help them financially by giving George a job."
"I hope he has better judgment than to give in to her spoiled demands," Elizabeth told her.
"Lizzy there is more, Dad did say that he would never sign papers allowing her to marry George Wickham and that Lydia was to return home at once. He was so furious with her, but then she cried that she was pregnant and that Dad had to allow them to marry," Jane told her.
"Lydia's pregnant with Wickham's baby..." Elizabeth could hardly believe what she was hearing. After several moments, she asked, "What did Dad say to her?"
"He was so stunned that he didn't speak to her anymore. He just handed the phone to me and walked out of the room," Jane told her then added, "I told Lydia she should come home, but she wouldn't. She said she would call back in a few days after Dad has had time to calm down and would be more reasonable to her demands."
Elizabeth got to her feet, "What a selfish, spoiled girl she is!" she shook her head in frustration. "Lydia thinks of no one, but herself. I knew if they let her go off with Sara Forster that something like this would happen. Her behavior proved she couldn't be trusted. I knew she would end up in some kind of mess!"
Jane tried to calm her sister down, "Lizzy maybe things will work out in the end. Perhaps George Wickham has changed, and he will turn out to be a good father and husband to Lydia."
"Jane I know you want to believe that, but his behavior where Lydia is concerned is for selfish motives you can be sure of it," Elizabeth told her. "And Lydia's behavior will do nothing but cause pain to herself and those around her!"
Jane knew Elizabeth was upset for her sister, but she wondered if there was more going on than she was telling. "Lizzy what happened while you were at Pemberley. I got your text saying you were going to stay longer before this all happened. Did you work things out with Darcy?"
"I think we were beginning to work things out, but it doesn't matter now. As soon as Will heard about Lydia and Wickham running off together I could see it in his eyes; he was completely stunned and disgusted. I doubt I will ever hear from him again and he may wish that Georgiana ends her friendship with me as well."
Jane was just about to go and comfort her sister when she heard Kitty calling her. "Jane, Mum wants you."
Jane let out a heavy sigh. "Lizzy I'm sorry. We do need to talk more, but right now I need to go and check on Mum, so she does not get Dad even more upset."
"It's fine Jane, you go ahead," Elizabeth told her.
"Lizzy, I really think you should go and talk with Dad, he has been very quiet, and I think very devastated by all of this," Jane said.
"All right Jane, I will finish up here and go and speak with Dad," she told her as she finished unpacking.
Elizabeth knocked on the door to her father's study and waited for him to answer. "Dad, may I come in?"
Moments later her weary father stood in the doorway with a sad smile on his face. "Oh, Lizzy I'm so glad you are home."
She greeted him with a kiss and followed him into his study and waited as he closed the door and sat back down at his desk. She was just about to ask how he was holding up when he motioned for her to sit down. "You know Lizzy you were right about Lydia and her wild behavior. I should have listened more, but I was too busy to be bothered."
Elizabeth could hear the regret in his voice, "I am sorry to have been right in this case. I wish more than anything to have things be different."
Her father smiled then asked, "Did Jane tell you that Lydia called and demanded that she be allowed to marry this scoundrel and that I should provide him with a job as well."
She nodded her head, "Yes, she also told me that Lydia is pregnant."
"I do believe you warned me that this would happen as well," he said sadly.
"Dad... what do you intend to do?" Elizabeth asked him, ignoring his comment.
"What else can I do, I will give my consent for them to marry and do my best to provide him with a position in the company so that he can care for Lydia and my unborn grandchild," he told her.
Elizabeth got to her feet, "You cannot agree to this, there are things that you don't know about George Wickham. He's the worst kind of man. He will be a terrible husband to her, and I shudder to think about what kind of father he will make."
"Lizzy, I have no choice in the matter. Lydia will not come home until I agree and your mother will not be happy until she's back here," he told her then added, "Besides Lydia will need to marry now that she has a child on the way."
"Lydia doesn't have to marry. She can live here, finish her schooling, and get a job to care for herself and her child. She doesn't have to depend on George Wickham for anything we will all help her," Elizabeth told him. "Jane and I can help her."
"Lydia is not like you or Jane. She's a silly stupid girl, and quite incapable of taking care of herself as you and Jane are. She must marry him now that a child is involved," he told her. "I really have no choice, but to agree to her demands and hope all will be well."
"I pray for Lydia's sake it will be, but knowing what I do of George Wickham, I highly doubt it will," was all she said as she got to her feet and walked over to the door.
It didn't take Darcy very long to find where George was staying with Lydia. He hated having to go to him like this, but he knew the only way for Elizabeth to have peace was for her sister to return home where she belonged. He took in a deep breath as he stood in front of the hotel room door and then proceeded to knock. Wickham opened the door with a huge grin on his face. "Darcy, I was beginning to think you weren't coming," he told him as he opened the door and let him into the room. "You aren't getting sloppy in your old age, are you? There was a time you would have found me within a day, and here it has already been four," he taunted him.
Darcy shook his head in disgust, "I'm here to speak with Miss Lydia Bennet," he told him.
"Well, Lydia isn't here right now," George told him. "But you are welcome to wait; she shouldn't be too much longer. She's off getting her hair done."
"This is all some kind of game for you, isn't it?" Darcy demanded.
"Of course, not," George told him. "I'm in love with Lydia, and we plan to be married."
Darcy glared at Wickham, "She's only sixteen. There's no way you can marry without her father's consent and once I tell him what a deceptive, vile man you are he will never allow you to marry her."
Wickham laughed, "Oh I think he will, Lydia is almost two months pregnant with my child," he told him then added, "I have every confidence he will allow the marriage and probably even welcome me into the family."
Darcy shook with anger, "Why? Why do this to her, to her family? What purpose does it serve, she has no money and please spare me your lies and professions of love for her we both know the only person that you love is yourself."
Wickham smiled, "Oh Darcy you are so skeptical of me, of course, I love her. After all, she's carrying my child."
Darcy couldn't control his anger, "This is me you're talking to. I have seen you at your worst, and I know you don't care for this girl or the baby, so just tell me what you're up to," he shouted.
Wickham shrugged his shoulders. "Darcy you always were too perceptive for your own good," he laughed sarcastically then added. "This is a very cold and calculated plan to get my revenge on you, the great Fitzwilliam Darcy. I have a very good reason for marrying Lydia Bennet, and her name is Elizabeth Bennet!" he told him waiting and watching for his reaction.
Darcy's eyes flashed with anger as he looked at Wickham with disgust. "What does Elizabeth have to do with you?"
Wickham walked over and poured himself a drink. "She has everything to do with me, soon she will be my sister," he told him snidely. "You see Darcy; I know all about you and Elizabeth's feelings for each other. I knew when I saw the two of you together at Bingley's Party at Netherfield. I saw that love-sick puppy dog look in your eyes when you were around her. Why do you think I danced with her, you were so jealous? I imagine it took all of your willpower to keep from storming over and ripping her out of my arms," he taunted him. "When Lydia told me that the two of you were at Rosings together, I knew it would only take the right amount of money placed in the right hands of some of the staff to buy me all the information I needed. I know you spent nearly every day together while you were there and I know that you had a certain item sent to you while you were at Rosings Park. It was not hard to figure out who and what it was for. I will marry Lydia, and when you and Elizabeth are married, we will be family," he laughed. "Why even my soon to be father-in-law will be providing me with a job, so we will be living very nearby."
Darcy didn't say anything; he wanted to strangle Wickham for his treachery. "Suppose you're wrong about my feeling for Elizabeth Bennet, you have taken a pretty significant risk."
Wickham finished his drink, "Look at you Darcy, as soon as I mentioned her name your mind began racing. Of course, you are in love with her, and you being the honorable sap that you are, will marry her. Just the fact that you are here proves that you are in love with her. Why do you think I had Lydia run off with me in the first place? I knew when word got back to Elizabeth she would turn to you, and you being the man that you are would seek me out," he taunted him. "Just accept it, Darcy, I have won. You and I will be brothers, we will be family, our children will be related, and there is nothing you can do to stop it," he laughed and went on, "Just think we will see each other at holidays, and birthday parties, family visits. There is nothing stronger than sisterly love. Elizabeth will want to have time with her family, and you will be forced to call me brother. I'm so looking forward to spending time at Pemberley. It has been far too long since I have been home again."
Darcy glared at him. "So this is all about revenge for you?" he accused him. "You would destroy this young girl's life all so you can take your revenge out on me."
Wickham poured himself another drink, "Come now Darcy don't be so dramatic. I have hardly destroyed Lydia's life. She and I have had a great deal of fun together, and we will continue to," he told him snidely. "And if I can cause you pain and suffering in the process then, well so much the better for me."
Darcy felt like his hands were tied, and he hated that. "What if Elizabeth and I don't marry?" he blurted out in a moment of frustration. "What if I walk away? Then what becomes of your little plan?"
Wickham shook his head and laughed, "Well Darcy that's your choice of course. You could always walk away from the one woman that you love and spend the rest of your life alone and miserable. Either way, I know you will be suffering, and I relish in that knowledge. The great Fitzwilliam Darcy brought down from his pedestal by the lowly son of his father's employee," he taunted him.
Darcy lunged forward at Wickham and caught him off guard. In a moment of anger, he slammed his fist into his face. Wickham tried to defend himself but he was no match for Darcy, and he spun backward from the force of his blows. Darcy was about to hit him again when he stopped abruptly. "You're not worth it," he growled as he stormed out of the room leaving a stunned and dazed Wickham struggling to get to his feet.
As Darcy left the hotel room, he caught sight of Lydia as she came out of the elevator, "Miss Bennet?"
Lydia stopped, and her mouth dropped open, "Mr. Darcy...what are you doing here?"
Darcy walked over to her. "I came to speak with you about your plans to marry George Wickham."
Lydia laughed, "Yes, isn't it oh so romantic, George and I have run away together. We are to be married very soon."
"Miss Bennet, I have something to tell you that may change your mind," Darcy told her.
Lydia laughed again, "There is nothing that you could tell me that would make me change my mind about marrying George. We are going to have a baby, of course, we are going to be married!"
"He's only marrying you to try to get back at me. He's a liar and worse. He gambles, drinks, and he has squandered thousands, all in selfish living. Is this the kind of man you want to raise your child?" Darcy warned her. "If you marry him, you will have nothing but heartache and pain."
"Wickham told me all about you. He told me you would try to stop us from being together, because of your jealousy of him!" she snapped at him.
"George Wickham is a liar, talk with your sister Elizabeth about this before you marry him. She will confirm everything that I have said to you," he encouraged her. "If you think you have to marry him because of the baby, I will help you. I can help you with expenses; you can finish your education."
Lydia pushed past him. "I'm marrying George Wickham because I love him and he loves me. I don't need your help, Mr. Darcy. You have treated my poor Wickham terrible, and everyone knows it. He's not the horrible person you make him out to be, you are!"
Darcy watched as she stormed off down the hall and into their hotel room. He stepped into the elevator and let out a heavy sigh. His heart was so heavy that he felt as if he couldn't breathe. If he went ahead with his plan to be married to Elizabeth, he would never be rid of Wickham. He loved Elizabeth, but he knew that she would never give up seeing her sister or spending time with her family, at least not completely. For the first time since his father's death, he felt as if things were completely beyond his control and he didn't know what to do.
By the time, he made it back to his office he was beginning to calm down. He sat at his desk and thought about what Wickham said. "My soon to be father-in-law is giving me a job, we will be settled very nearby." Darcy's mind began racing, perhaps he couldn't stop Lydia from marrying Wickham, but he might be able to influence where they lived and how close it would be to any of the rest of the family. He grabbed his cell phone from his pocket and called his cousin to discuss his idea. Wickham may want revenge on him, but Darcy knew one thing he wanted even more, and that was money.