Chapter Nineteen

Sorry it has taken so long for me to update. I should be updating this a bit more regularly now. I hopefully will have it finished soon. I also read back through my other chapters and have found some really bad mistakes. Sorry you had to read them and hopefully I'll be going back through them soon and editing them.

Eli hugged her sister tightly as they were saying farewell. Amanda was preparing to leave in the carriage with the Bennett's.

'Don't worry, I'll give him hell for you' I smirked, attempting to make Manda laugh when she seemed so distraught. I squeezed her hand and made to go back into the house. 'Are you coming inside George?' I asked him as he stood stoically behind us.

'I will in a moment. I would like a word with your sister before she leaves' he replied. I nodded politely and went back into the house.

'What's up Wickham?' Manda asked as he approached her. To which he looked confused and began to look skyward. 'I meant: what do you want?' she corrected herself.

'I… ehem…' he cleared his throat and shifted nervously.

'Well, out with it. I have to leave soon' Amanda stated as she glanced at the Bennett's who were looking impatient, already seated within the carriage.

'I would formally like to ask your permission to court Elicia. I very well can't ask your father for permission so I am asking you'. Once he began all of the words came tumbling out. 'I make a decent wage with the militia and would take very good care of her'.

'I know you would Wickham. I should probably call you George now I suppose. I expect you'll be my brother-in-law before long' smirked Amanda. 'Yes, I give you my blessing'

The answering smile on George's face was stunning. Amanda could not believe the difference between the character that she had always read about and this man who was clearly in love stood in front of her.

'Thank you. I expect I shall see you soon. Safe journey' said Wickham as he helped Amanda into the carriage.

'Good luck Wickham' she smiled back and squeezed his hand encouragingly.

Late the following day, a servant approached George and I as we were taking a turn about the garden. We were waiting for a carriage to arrive to take us back to the Bennetts house. What we were going to do after that I had no idea. The servant arrived with a letter and stated that it had just arrived and was addressed to me. I scanned it quickly and George must have noted the look of concern upon my face.

'What is it?' he asked with concern.

'Mr Bennett believes that Lydia and Bingley may have gone to Hammersmith. He has demanded that Manda take him and Mrs Bennett there so that they can look for them. He's going to find out that we lied to him. We will have nowhere to go!' I panicked.

'Come. It looks as though our carriage has arrived' George stated, pointing towards the carriage that was making its way down the long driveway.

'Where are we going to go?' I asked.

'Hammersmith of course' he replied.