As Mr. Bingley was about to enter the dining-parlour he was intercepted by Mrs. Nichols.

She told him "Your guests are here."

He looked at her, puzzled. "Already? I thought Darcy would be sending his coach for them. How did they get here?"

"They walked."

"What? Through the night? It's only just dawn."

Mr. Bingley walked into the dining-parlour. Mary, Kitty, Lydia stood and curtsied to him.

"Good morning, ladies. Welcome to Netherfield. Please sit and enjoy your breakfast." When he had filled his plate and sat down Mr. Bingley said "Mrs. Nichols tells me you walked here through the night; that must have been scary."

As was her wont, Lydia assumed the role of spokesman. "Not at all, the moon was bright enough to light the way and Lizzy was our guide and Rex, the stableman's dog, came along to protect us from any brigands."

Mr. Bingley looked around the room. "Miss Elizabeth is here as well?"

"Oh no, she and Rex went back to Longbourn after they got us here."

"I don't understand why you walked here. Wouldn't it have been easier and safer to wait for Darcy to send his carriage for you?"

"Oh, Papa wouldn't have let us go. He had us up in the nursery. He said there was no need for us to learn anything, he was going to marry us off to some stupid men as soon as he could find them so Jane told us we should run away to here."

Mr. Bingley blinked. "Miss Bennet told you to run away. To here."

All three sisters nodded. Lydia said "Yes, she said you would save us. She thinks you're wonderful, you know."

Mr. Bingley blinked faster and his mouth fell open. "But she …ah … doesn't …"

"She loves you" Lydia asserted and her sisters nodded.

Mr. Bingley shook his head. He did not want to dwell on that last statement, not just then. "But what about your father? When he finds out you are here, he can come and drag you back to Longbourn."

Lydia and Kitty looked at Mary who answered. "Both Jane and Elizabeth say, and we agree, that our father is too indolent to exert himself in that way. He will be glad to be rid of us."

"Well." What more could Mr. Bingley say about that revelation. He smiled to himself, you rescue one kitten from drowning in a puddle and find out that you are really rescuing three. "Well ladies, I hope you enjoy your stay here. After you have finished your breakfast Mrs. Nichols will show you to your rooms. I'm afraid my other guests break their fasts at a more civilized hour than we farmers do so you may wish to take a short nap before they bestir themselves. I'm sure that Mrs. Longden has a busy day planned for you.

-}{-

It was quiet in the dining-parlour at Longbourn. It was not quite silent, there was still the incidental noise of cutlery on china, but the senior Bennets and their two oldest daughters were all doing their best not to make any noise that might trigger conversation.

It was quiet, that is, until Hill burst into the room and announced "They're gone. Miss Mary, Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia – they're all gone."

This prompted Mrs. Bennet to cry "They've been kidnapped … by kidnappers … who've kidnapped them. Oh, how will we ever pay the ransom?" Mrs. Bennet stood and clutched at Mr. Bennet's sleeve.

Mr. Bennet shook off his wife's hand. "There were no kidnappers."

"Robbers!" she wailed. "We could have all been killed in our beds!"

Mr. Bennet raised his voice. "There were no robbers."

"They eloped! Mr. Wickham came back for Lydia and he brought two friends for Mary and Kitty."

Mr. Bennet grabbed Mrs. Bennet by the shoulders and shook her. "Stifle yourself madam. There has been no elopement. I suspect your daughters have run away. To Netherfield."

He stared at his two remaining daughters. Jane met his gaze with that inscrutable look common to marble statuary. He would not get nothing out of her. Elizabeth, on the other hand – she wore a look he had often seen in her childhood, a look of barely concealed glee that she had pulled off some prank without being caught. So, he directed his remarks to her: "Elizabeth, kindly convey to Mr. Darcy my best wishes in dealing with his new charges. I am happy to be rid of them."

With that Mr. Bennet left for his bookroom.

-}{-

Elizabeth met Mr. Darcy by Longbourn's stable later that morning.

"Your sisters are at Netherfield" he said.

"Yes, I know. I walked them there. Then I came back."

Mr. Darcy forbear from scolding Elizabeth from making that round trip at night. He would choose his battles; instead, he asked "Could you not have waited for your father to let them go?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "He never would have cooperated. It was better to present him with a fait accompli."

"He has the legal right to go and retrieve them."

Elizabeth laughed. "A right he would never bother to exert. But if you're worried, make sure he gives you legal guardianship."

"I would feel better if I had it." Mr. Darcy sighed "Well, I had best go beard the lion in his den."

He extended his arm, Elizabeth took it, and they started walking towards the house. While they walked, he took a letter out of his inside jacket pocket and gave it to her. "Could you give this to Miss Bennet."

"Oh, is it from …"

"Sadly no. It is from your sisters."

-}{-

Mr. Darcy found Mr. Bennet in his bookroom.

"Sir, I wish to advise you that your daughters, Miss Mary, Miss Kitty, and Miss Lydia, are presently at Netherfield."

"Yes, I suspected as much."

"Do you wish them to return to Longbourn?"

"Not at all. I wash my hands of them." Mr. Bennet made a show of washing his hands. "They are all yours."

Mr. Darcy expected this attitude, but still he frowned. "In that case I will have Mr. Philips draw up the appropriate articles of guardianship."

"There is no need to go to all that trouble."

"I insist."

"Suit yourself." Mr. Bennet flicked his hand at Mr. Darcy in dismissal. "Kindly close the door on your way out."