Copyright 2023 Elizabeth Frerichs

Cross-posted on elizabethfrerichs dot com and wattpad

"If it was a choice between ensuring he married your sister and watching your family suffer ruin, I would certainly move heaven and earth to bring such a marriage to pass."

Elizabeth's fingers tightened on Darcy's arm, though she kept her gaze fixed on the path as it crested Oakham Mount. "Yet another reason why you might wish to reconsider your hasty proposal," she said lightly.

"Never," Darcy said fervently. "We have been given an opportunity to change the future. Even if we do not succeed, I would not for the world regret my proposal. Saving your sister is merely another reason to be grateful for Tuesday's repetitions."

Elizabeth nodded, her shoulders tensing as though already burdened by the task ahead. "I suppose you are right. Very well, what do you suggest?"

Unfortunately, he did not have the foggiest idea, so he merely requested she tell him more about her family as they settled on a fallen log at the top of the mount.

He had been so certain that one of their parents would be their best ally, however, as Elizabeth unfolded her parents' disinterest in raising their daughters, that certainty was shaken to pieces. For the first time, Darcy looked at the Bennet girls with pity instead of revulsion. Yes, they were wild and their behaviour was scandalous. However, they had no one to tame them; no one to care whether they behaved ill or not, who would see the best in them and encourage it, as his mother had done for him. No wonder they would have ended up with a man like Wickham.

"Miss Engel did say that killing Wickham would not help the situation, as I would likely only end up with an equally odious brother," he mused aloud.

"Pardon?"

Darcy started, realising he had not told Elizabeth that bit either. He sighed. "It was before you awoke. I was—" How to describe that wretched period? "I was desperate. Both to end the repetitions and to save Georgiana. Killing Wickham seemed like a straightforward solution." He swallowed hard, hoping his love would not think less of him. "I—I could not do so. Miss Engel came to me before I could enact any plan and chastised me for considering the matter."

"Frankly, I am surprised you have not considered it long ago. If someone had treated Jane the way Mr. Wickham has treated Miss Darcy, I would not be sanguine about the matter," she said fiercely.

Darcy smiled down at her. "You are as protective of your sister as I am of mine."

"Well, perhaps not equally so—after all, you are Miss Darcy's guardian and I am but Jane's younger sister." She speared him with a look. "Now, what exactly did Miss Engel say?"

He frowned, trying to recall what else she had told him. "Looking back, I believe her uncertainty was due to how Wickham's death might affect my pursuit of you."

"Ah."

"Indeed. She said that she could not yet See the outcome of my choices. I wonder—is that because this time is outside of the normal flow of life, or is it because we had not yet begun our friendship?"

Elizabeth smiled ruefully. "Your guess is as good as mine. Regardless, it sounds as though the cords are one issue and my sisters are a separate issue. We shall have to save them from themselves more than from Mr. Wickham."

"I believe you are correct. It must be hard for them to have two parents who do not care enough to discipline them."

"I am certain it is."

Darcy flushed. "I did not mean to imply—"

"No, it is all right." Elizabeth sighed. "I am my father's favourite, but that does not mean that he disciplined me either. Truthfully, I followed his few restrictions out of care for him, rather than out of any consequences he enforced. And I did not always follow them anyway."

Elizabeth had suffered from a lack of discipline, and he had suffered from an overabundance of it. Both of these methods had wounded them, and neither provided a good foundation for the future.

Darcy cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well, regardless, I have been considering whether finishing school might provide an appropriate avenue. What do you think?"

Elizabeth nearly tripped. "Longbourn cannot support tuition for—"

"Bingley and I would sponsor them."

"Mr. Darcy, you cannot simply volunteer your friend for such an undertaking—not to mention that it is not your place—"

Darcy once more halted and faced Elizabeth. "It is not my obligation—it would be my pleasure to do so. Let me help. There is little enough I can do to assist—"

"I greatly appreciate your desire to help, your care for me and for my family. I cannot agree though. Even if I were to agree, Wednesday's advent would then be entirely dependent on you—on our marriage, and—"

"I would be willing to sponsor them regardless of your answer to my proposal," Darcy protested.

She lifted one eyebrow. "You would open yourself and my family up to accusations of impropriety?"

"No, of course not."

"Such accusations would follow, however, should the matter become known."

"I have no intention of making my private affairs public," he said stiffly.

She sighed gustily. "You may not; my mother is a different kettle of fish."

Darcy frowned. "Even if she knew it was in your best interest to remain silent?"

Elizabeth nodded.

"Very well. For the moment, we shall defer that option and focus on your sisters. Then we shall begin by spending time with your sisters." He hesitated. "Would Miss Bennet be a likely ally? If she knew the truth?"

Elizabeth's eyes slid closed. "Yes. she would, but—"

Darcy pressed a hand over hers. "It is difficult to explain the repetitions, particularly to do so more than once. I wonder if she herself might provide you with the key to convincing her."

"How so?"

"My uncle was kind enough to tell me something he had not told anyone, thus providing a means of proving my words the next time we spoke."

Elizabeth took a deep breath. "I shall consider the matter."

A/N: Thanks for reading and engaging :) Just a reminder: next week, posting switches to Tues,Thurs, and Saturday until I can catch up.

Thanks to Stephanie and Aimee for their awesome edits!

See you guys next week!