Encounters by the sea

Instead of pursuing a trade in London, young Edward Gardiner instead chooses to become a hotelier. By the time that his nieces are old enough to make extended visits, he is the owner of more than one fine hotel on the coast of Kent. Lizzie Bennet first encounters the Darcy family (still intact) when she is thirteen, and then continues to encounter them in the following years.

AN: For the purpose of this story, Edward Gardiner is only slightly younger than his sister Fanny Bennet, but he waited to marry and begin a family until he had established himself. Another alteration is that both Lady Anne and Mr. Darcy, Sr., are very much alive at the beginning of this tale. All else remains the same.

Pemberley, 1804

When it came time to plan arrangements to summer in Ramsgate, Lady Anne Darcy was shocked to learn that the beautiful two-story "cottage" that they had traditionally used had caught fire during the previous winter and burned to the foundations. While the lady was saddened and disappointed at the news, it did resolve a certain issue, namely the problem of her sister, Lady Catherine Debourg

Lady Catherine was Lady Anne's older sister by seven years. They had never been particularly close in their childhood years. The older sister had essentially ignored her younger sister's existence once she herself had married well into a man of low title but large fortune. Then Lady Anne had come of age and had managed an even more spectacular marriage. While Mr. Darcy held no title at all, it was said, with only a small degree of hyperbole, that he "owned half of Derbyshire." Suddenly Lady Catherine made it a point to embrace her younger sister again. After that she set about trying to reestablish dominance over both branches of the family... to little success and a great deal of annoyance to one and all.

While the Darcy family was in their great estate of Pemberley, they were mostly secure from the cloying and demanding presence of Lady Catherine. She did not like to travel such long distances and she did not like to be too near to Matlock, where her brother the earl reigned. The same was true to a lesser extent in London. Made to feel her own insignificance by the upper-tier ladies of the Ton, Lady Catherine confined her forays into London to only a week or so each year, if that much.

But the Darcy family had a multi-generational tradition of spending at least a portion of every summer after spring planting and before harvest time at the beaches in Kent. And once Lady Catherine knew of this, she felt no shame at all in inviting herself to join the Darcys with her "little Anne" and doing her best to rule the roost.

As Lady Anne looked at the regretful reply from the land agent who managed that cottage and several others, she had an idea... a terrible, wonderful idea: My sister has refused to ever sleep in a hotel or in again after what happened in '01... And I seem to recall Lady Susan speaking with great length and adulation about a grand hotel where she and her family summered just last year...

At the Ramsgate Garden Hotel, 1804

On observing the quality of the newly arrived guests, the concierge, Mr. Coggins, sent a silent hand signal to one of his most reliable assistants while he directed the porters to begin taking charge of the family's luggage.

Within minutes a stylish, dignified woman of perhaps thirty glided into the lobby. Before she could greet the family, however, the older female guest smiled widely and said, "Miss Forthright! Oh! That is no longer your name, I suppose? How lovely to see you here!"

Pleased, the other lady answered, "It is Gardiner now, Lady Anne. My husband is the owner a proprietor of this and two other similar hotels, Mr. Edward Gardiner."

Lady Anne's husband, not to be outdone, said, "It is good to see you, Mrs. Gardiner. Your father is doing well, by the way. I recently visited him at his parish."

Madeline Gardiner smiled in honest appreciation. Mr. Darcy was the patron for the Kympton living that her father held. Though the Darcy's were by far the wealthiest family in the area where she was born and once lived, they had always treated her father and family with dignity and respect. "Thank you, Sir, my lady. It gives me great pleasure and honor to have you stay at my husband's hotel. I hope that you do not mind, but when I saw your name on the reservation board I changed your location to the Admiral's Suite? It has the best views and tends to be quieter than the suite you reserved."

"That sounds lovely, Madeli... I mean, Mrs. Gardiner," Lady Anne responded. She knew that this was not only in deference to their status, but also the lady's intimate knowledge of her husband and son's preference for quiet and privacy. She reintroduced her children to the innkeeper, since it had been ten years since the lady married.

"Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy I remember of course, though you were not quite as tall when last we met." the tall, handsome young man of twenty-one gave the slightest bow to the woman. She was quite obviously in trade, yet clearly respected and liked by his parents. "Miss Darcy, you are a very lovely young lady. And you look very much like your mother." Georgiana Darcy, at the tender age of eight, had to fight the very strong urge to hide behind her mother's dress. She was terribly shy but her mother was working with her to overcome it. Still she couldn't help but smile at the pretty and very kind lady.

Madeline personally escorted the family to the Admiral's Suite, informing the family about various planned activities at the hotel and various events in the area.

Fitzwilliam Darcy glanced out into a courtyard garden to see a group of children sitting with surprising stillness as a young girl of perhaps twelve or thirteen seemed to be animatedly telling a story. She was a pretty little creature with long, raven-black hair, a pixie face, and eyes that seemed to have a life of their own. He must have been focusing too long because he suddenly bumped into his mother, who had also paused... or rather little Georgiana, while holding her mother's hand, had stopped, causing the pile-up.

Embarrassed for his own distraction, young Darcy might have said something unkind had his mother not spoken to her daughter first, "Would you like to join the other children and listen to the story, Georgiana?" The girl, shy but fascinated, nodded. Then Mrs. Gardiner interjected, "That is my niece Elizabeth. She is a gifted storyteller. I am certain that she would be pleased to have one more in her young audience.

The woman walked over with Lady Anne and Georgiana, "I am sorry to interrupt, Lizzie, but Miss Darcy would like to join you. When your tales are done, would you kindly show her to the Admiral's Suite?"

The girl smiled brightly, making her already fine eyes almost glow, "Of course, Aunt Maddie. Miss Darcy, please sit here. I have just begun the tale of the Fox and the Crow, by Aesop. If nobody minds, I shall start again at the beginning, since our foolish feathered friend and the tricky fox have only just met anyway."

Young Darcy was somewhat surprised when his shy, retiring little sister sidled up beside the older girl with only the briefest hesitation. The girl began again, telling her story from memory, complete with expressions and voices to match the characters of the story. The governess remained behind as well, so Darcy forced himself to stop watching and continue on following Mrs. Gardiner with his family.

Young Darcy, being a grown man of one and twenty, was often away visiting with friends in Kent and London that summer, but he made it a point to spend at least a portion of the time with his family. And whenever he was there, he would witness his sister's happy interactions with the older girl, or hear joyous expositions of all that little Georgiana had done over that summer, mostly in the company of that same girl. The last two weeks were not as joyous for his sister though, since her new friend had been recalled to her family home.

It was only then that Fitzwilliam Darcy learned that "Lizzy" was Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of the master of an estate in Hertfordshire. He had naturally assumed that her family was in trade just as her uncle and aunt were. Of course Mr. Gardiner turned out to be a fine man and the owner of three large hotels. It mattered little though, because trade was trade and they were related on her mother's side. Darcy dismissed the matter anyway, assuming that his family would have little to do with the Gardiners or their pretty niece after that summer. And she was far to young for him to give regard to anyway, no matter how fetching a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty girl might be.

The following summer Fitzwilliam Darcy had graduated and taken over the management of his father's estate in Scotland, so he did not summer with the family. By his sister's letters, however, he learned that his mother had again chosen to reside in the Ramsgate Garden Hotel. The letters also indicated that Miss Elizabeth "Lizzy" Bennet was also there that summer, along with her older sister who was "so very kind" and who "is as beautiful as an angel!"

~oOo~

Pemberley, 1807

Sadly, the Darcy family did not summer anywhere but their own home in the year '06. Lady Anne Darcy had caught an innocent winter cold, which developed into pneumonia and carried her away before the spring thaw.

George Darcy, a usually vibrant and industrious man, retrenched emotionally, spending most of his time in his study, ignoring his children and most of his responsibilities. Fitzwilliam Darcy, at twenty-three, found himself stepping into more and more of the responsibility for not just Pemberley, but all of his family holdings and investments.

In the midst of this Fitzwilliam's former childhood friend and his father's godson attempted to insinuate himself into the elder Darcy's good graces. Fitzwilliam, who was away overseeing the work on a Welsh property at the time, only later learned that the scapegrace had been caught attempting to steal several very valuable items. There were reports of him importuning some of the younger maids as well. His father had come out of his stupor enough to release George Wickham from being transported, but he also ended all associated with the thief and forbade him access to any Darcy properties from that day forward.

Pemberley, 1809

Born down by his own heavy load of grief and responsibilities, Darcy sat beside his thirteen year old sister and held her as she wept. They were both clad in black again, this time due to the passing of their father. The incident with George Wickham had the beneficial effect of getting their father to leave his seclusion and take up his role as a father again. Fitzwilliam was still left with the running of the various Darcy interests, but at least the man had spent time being a father to Georgiana.

His prolonged seclusion, drinking, and inactivity had, unfortunately, weakened his heart. That spring Lady Catherine had broken her own rule against traveling north and attempted to install herself at Pemberley. She also insisted that Fitzwilliam Darcy return to the estate to marry Lady Catherine's sickly daughter Anne. Lastly, she tried to claime that this had been agreed upon by her sister, Lady Anne, and herself. This claim angered George Darcy, since he knew that his wife despised her sister and would never have made such a plan. In the heated argument that transpired Mr. George Darcy suffered a heart attack and died right in front of his shouting sister-by-marriage and poor Georgiana, who had been trembling in the corner at the volume and heat of the exchange.

The very first action that Fitzwilliam Darcy took upon arriving hours later was to drive the woman out of his home. With his father lying cold in a guest room his aunt was already ordering the Pemberley servants about as if she was the mistress of the house or even the queen. Unlike his father, young Darcy was in fine form and more than equal to the task of confronting the "lady." She finally had to be dragged, yelling and screaming, out to her waiting carriage. Before she left he told her in no uncertain terms, "From this day forward you are no longer any relation to the Darcy family. You are not welcome in our homes and we will not acknowledge you if we pass you on the street. Fly to London and raise a fuss if you wish... if I make your behavior known to Society you will find no welcome anywhere."

Ramsgate, 1811

Georgiana Darcy was not the pampered and entirely innocent girl that many thought. First of all, she had seen and heard enough to understand the world better. Though the Gardiners ran a highly respectable inn, those types of establishments sometimes had guests arrive with those of the opposite sex who were not their legal spouses. Mr. Gardiner discouraged anything blatant, but he could not police his guest's in what was now five hotels stretching along the Channel coast of England.

Naturally, when a guest was recognized with a questionable roommate, there was talk. And little ears can hear remarkably well. On one such occasion where the Duchess of _ was entertaining a very handsome "friend" while her husband was far away to the north, Georgiana heard many tittering comments and outright ribald jokes. Of course she asked her much older and wiser friend Lizzy what it all meant. Lizzy Bennet had an older friend in Meryton, Charlotte Lucas, who had always treated her with respect and who answered difficult questions honestly, so Lizzy chose to do the same. She was neither crass nor overly descriptive in her explanation, and she made certain that young Miss Darcy understood just how wrong such behavior was.

In addition, after George Wickham was cast out of Pemberley by her father, Georgiana heard quite a bit of servant gossip, not only about his thefts, but also about him attempting to use his position as George Darcy's godson to demand favors from the young and pretty maids. When Georgiana's brother returned after that incident, he also explained how his former friend had turned "quite wild" and should never be trusted again.

In the spring of 1811 Georgiana had caught a bad cold. Fitzwilliam, having already lost mother and father, most likely overreacted when he brought in a multitude of doctors to see to her care. Naturally, with medicine in its formative stage and many differing points-of-view, the examinations of these physicians produced various and contradictory prognosis. It was the family physician who supported the suggestion of Georgiana's companion, Mrs. Younge, that the girl would benefit from a few months by the seaside.

Darcy, now the sole master of six estates, various enterprises, and numerous investments, promise to visit "If I can," but could make no promises of any specific date.

Georgiana had hoped to stay at the same hotel that she had enjoyed so much with her parents, but the cottage they used to occupy had been rebuilt and modernized, so that is where she was sent instead. It was on the far side of Ramsgate from the hotel, so it was more than three weeks before she was able to meet with Mrs. Gardiner and make her aware of the fact that she was in the area. Madeline Gardiner in turn shared that her niece Elizabeth was expected in the following week and planned to remain for two months full.

Before then, however, Georgiana was startled when a man "accidentally" bumped into her outside of a bookstore and it turned out to be George Wickham. He behaved as if he and her family were still close friends and expressed great joy in meeting such a "dear and beautiful old acquaintance." From this she could only assume that he thought she had been kept in ignorance of his former misdeeds. Not wishing to create a scene or confront the man, she kept her silence.

She was alarmed when Mrs. Younge, her "trusted companion," informed Georgiana that she actually knew George Wickham, that he was a fine, upstanding man, and that he had often spoken of the daughter of his "dear godfather." The woman gushed on how coincidental it was that the "frightfully pretty" daughter that Mr. Wickham had often spoken of would turn out to be the young lady that she now served.

In other circumstances and in younger times, Georgiana might have fallen for this story, but her eyes were open to the evils of the world. She kept her silence, but as soon as she removed to her bedroom that night she immediately penned a letter to her brother. Unfortunately, she knew that he was taking a tour of his estates to address various issues. With so many properties spread of such a vast area, it might be days or even weeks before the letter reached him!

The following day, when George Wickham presented himself at the leased cottage's doorstep, Mrs. Younge showed no hesitation in allowing the man in. Then, shortly after, she made an excuse to leave Georgiana and the man alone. Georgiana, seeing the potential danger, excused herself to use the water closet and then slipped out of the servant's entrance without bonnet or gloves.

The next half hour's walk was somewhat embarrassing and not a little terrifying. She knew that she must look a spectacle, walking so rapidly without the appropriate outside overgarments. She also knew that her forsworn companion and Mr. Wickham must be aware of her absence by that time and would now searching for her. Yet Georgiana borrowed the courage she had learned from her older friend Lizzie and pressed on.

Madeline Gardiner was supervising renovations to the hotel's hedge-maze when she spotted a recognizable young woman walking at a rapid pace towards her. She was first startled to see the young lady's long blond hair flowing unbound and without a bonnet behind her. Then she saw the expression on Miss Georgiana's face and immediately began walking toward her!

"Miss Darc...!" her questions were cut off as the somewhat overset girl gave her a trembling hug. "Mrs. Gardiner, can we please go somewhere out of the public? Quickly?"

"Of course, dear girl. Come with me to our home." Georgiana had been a guest in the owner's beautiful home many times with Lizzie and later Jane Bennet. It was a pretty abode, almost as large as the interior of most stylish town homes. It was on the hotel property, but detached so that the family could enjoy their privacy.

The Gardiner children, or at least the boy and girl who were currently sitting at lessons, recognized the girl entering with their mother and both began to rise with smiles, but their mother waved them off, "You may greet our lovely guest later, children. For the moment your mother wishes to have a private visit with Miss Darcy." They looked disappointed, but returned to their lessons.

Once safely seated in Madeline's study, Georgiana recounted exactly what had caused her to take a precipitous journey across the breadth of Ramsgate. Madeline refreshed her guest's tea and nodded, "You did very well, Miss Darcy. The lack of a bonnet and gloves might garner a little talk, but nothing to what was obviously intended by those two. Have you sent this letter yet?"

"No ma'am. I did not have an opportunity to take it to the post this morning... and I was uncertain of who in the cottage to trust, since they are all new this year."

"You have demonstrated remarkable wisdom and foresight today and I applaud you for it. Allow me to get my husband and we will see to it that an express is sent to each of the possible places that your brother might be."

~oOo~

As it happened, Fitzwilliam Darcy was actually nearby at their small Kentish estate, where they grew hops for the local breweries. A copy of the letter from Georgiana reached him that same night. It was accompanied by another letter from Mr. Gardiner, the hotelier, explaining that the companion had eventually come searching at the Ramsgate Garden Hotel, but was turned away.

The little estate was four hours from Ramsgate. As tempting as it was to ride that very night, it was not wise. Knowing that his dear sister was safe for the moment, he waited until first light, then mounted his best horse and hurried towards the coast.

~oOo~

Elizabeth Bennet had arrived several days early due to a small twist of fate: the horses would be required in four days time to help in the fields. Since that was when she was supposed to depart, her father thankfully chose to send her early rather than make her delay. When Elizabeth presented herself at the dear Gardiner's home, she was both startled and enormously pleased to find Miss Georgiana Darcy seated with her young cousins.

She and Miss Darcy had maintained a fairly regular correspondence for years even though they had not met since Lady Anne passed away. So Elizabeth was well acquainted with everything going on in the younger girl's life. She had not been aware of Georgiana's planned holiday in Ramsgate because the dear girl had planned to surprise her.

That night she listened to a less sanguine recounting of the events that led up to Georgiana's current residence in her aunt and uncle's home. They shared a bed that night and Elizabeth held the girl as nightmares came to her in her sleep.

The next morning, while Georgiana was soundly sleeping, Elizabeth dressed and took her first much-anticipated walk on the beach of the summer. When she returned it was to find a large baroque-box carriage blocking the circular drive of the hotel. The exhausted horses looked nearly blown, but the coachman remained seated, seeming almost afraid to step down and attend to the poor animals. The reason for this could be heard in the lobby, where a large overdressed older woman was berating the staff at the top of her lungs and demanding that they deliver her niece "right this minute!"

The lady was also wielding a cane with a heavy copper ball on it's top as if to threaten the staff into compliance. More than twelve of the staff, all males, formed a semi-circle around the woman preventing her from proceeding further into the establishment. Unfortunately there were quite a few stylish guests who had sat down to breakfast and were now watching the spectacle. She recognized the woman from earlier years when the Darcys summered there. The woman had arrived once and tried to demand the family's relocation. Back then she had been denied and sent away with a bug in her ear by the senior Mr. Darcy.

Elizabeth shook her head, knowing that both her aunt and uncle were currently away at a monthly morning meeting with the other innkeepers, shopkeepers, and other worthies. Resignedly, she stepped forward. "Lady Catherine, may I ask what it is that you are trying to accomplish here?"

The lady whirled as fast as her height, bulk, and age would allow, then looked Elizabeth up and down. Although Elizabeth was dressed nicely, she had beach sand on her boots and her petticoats were also wet with sand. "Do you know who I am?!"

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, "I believe that I just addressed you as Lady Catherine, which would seem an answer unto itself. As you most likely do not remember me, I am Miss Elizabeth Bennet, of Longbourn in Hertfordshire, niece to the owner of this establishment. Now perhaps you will answer my question: why is it that you are accosting my uncle's staff and brandishing that cane around in a peaceful place of business? Mr. Coggins, may I assume that you have sent a runner for the constable?"

Before the man could do more than nod, Lady Catherine bellowed, "You can have no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason for my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I have come."

Elizabeth looked back at the woman with unaffected astonishment. She honestly could not think of the reason. From Georgie's letters she knew that the Darcys had broken all ties with this creature. She was quite certain that her uncle would not have sent an express to this woman. This realization, of course, gave her a growing suspicion, but she would not voice it yet, and certainly not with members of Society watching this specacle. "Indeed you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account for the honor of seeing you here. Even when you had family here you would never deign to lay your head here yourself."

"Miss Bennet, you ought to know that I am not be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall not depart from it. A report of the most alarming nature reached me just last evening. I was told that my niece, Miss Georgiana Darcy, has removed herself from the tender care of her companion, most likely through your interference, and has foolishly installed herself in this den of iniquity."

"Have a care, Lady Catherine, how you speak of this respectable establishment or you will be sued for slander. By characterizing it as such, you are doing the same to the current residents of this fine and very respectable hotel. In fact many of those notables of Society now sit in the dining area right there or fill the grounds nearby while your perform this farce."

Elizabeth watched as the woman suddenly became aware of her surroundings and the spectacle she was making of herself. Her own concern, however, was how this might impact Miss Darcy's reputation, "Now, while I would wonder at how you arrived at such a report, I would caution you that your very loud and boisterous declarations do neither you or your niece any favors. I know Miss Darcy quite well and recognize her as a young lady of impeccable character, wisdom, and reputation. IF, and I do say if, Miss Darcy felt the need to remove herself for the care of her companion and go elsewhere, it must be because she had cause to doubt that companion."

"Miss Bennet, you will answer me now and you will answer me immediately, Is my niece in this hotel?!"

Elizabeth remained calm as she answered quite honestly, "She is not."

The woman's mouth worked like a fish for a moment, but she could see no falsity in Elizabeth's expression.

"And will you inform me if my niece presents herself here?"

"I most certainly will not."

Lady Catherine was not a person used to being gainsaid. Her face turned purple with rage, but before she could speak further, a deep male voice intruded on the confrontation, "What I would like to know, Madam, is why the companion that I hired for my sister would fly to you when my sister wisely extracted herself from a potentially dangerous situation? The last that I remember, I had you dragged kicking and screaming from Pemberley when you caused my father's death and then attempted to take over."

Fitzwilliam Darcy hated to be in the public eye but he was also not a fool. Since it was clear that his aunt had something to do with Wickham and Younge's scheme, and since she was now dragging his sister's name through the mud, there was only one way to repair the situation: Destroy the aunt that sought to do his sister and the Darcy name harm. "As I have broken all ties to you for more than two years, the only possible way that you could have known of this is if you were an accomplice to this scheme.

"Only you did not account for the fact that my sister is both wise and brave, or that she has dear friends that she could trust and call on in her time of need. I have always known that you were a greedy, grasping woman and an embarrassment to the Fizwilliam and Darcy name, but I never imagined that you would stoop so low as to scheme against a child who is barely fifteen and the daughter of your sister!"

Lady Catherine was swaying now, having lost all of her bluster, intensely aware of the numerous eyes surrounding the scene that she herself had started. Just then the constable finally arrived with several men. Darcy pointed to his aunt, who seemed ready to collapse, "That is the creature who is causing a scene, constable. She has been yelling and screaming and hurling accusations like a madwoman while wielding that cane like a mace. I strongly suggest that you find a place to lock her away until I can come and speak with you."

Behind them the huge carriage suddenly leapt into motion, the coachman responding to a command from within. Darcy pointed, "The other culprits in this scheme seem to be escaping."

The constable directed some of his men, the ones still mounted. They spurred their horses after the fleeing carriage. Elizabeth could see that the chase would be short and worried aloud, "I fear for those horses. They were already nearly blown."

Fitzwilliam Darcy looked at the beautiful woman with appreciation. A master himself, he well understood her concern for the innocent beasts who were being made to suffer for their master's folly. The pair barely noticed the now trembling and largely numb Lady Catherine being escorted away and into another vehicle. "My sister?" He asked quietly.

"Safe and most likely still abed in my uncle's home. It is separate from the inn, so I did not lie. Sir, we have work to do to save your sister's reputation after that scene. Please understand and play along."

Darcy looked into those beautiful, bright, intelligent eyes for a moment, then nodded, "We are in your hands."

Elizabeth felt a thrill through her entire body. She had forgotten just how unfairly handsome Georgiana's brother was. She had only seen him that one summer, when she was thirteen, but even then she had felt it. She turned and gestured for him to follow. Instead he stepped beside her and offered his arm. Feeling a little weak in the knees, she took up his offer, "Well then, sir, let us break our fast and I will tell you what I know." She spoke loud enough that the people still watching could clearly hear.

"Of course. Lead on dear lady."

"Miss Darcy felt that there was something odd in the behavior of her companion. Then George Wickham appeared and seemed to know the woman. Dear Georgiana, knowing the man's true character and your interactions with him, made an excuse to leave the room, then she escaped out of the servant's door and hurried here. As your mother and father named my aunt and uncle as friends, she knew that she would be safe in their care."

"I learned as much in the express that reached me. And how is she now?"

"Shaken, but safe, Sir. She displayed incredible courage and intelligence by removing herself immediately from a dangerous situation as soon as she recognized it. You can be very proud of the lady she has become. Many others at her age would be frozen by indecision."

"I am proud. Very proud. And humbled by the friendship and care that Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, and you, have always shown to my family."

They made their food choices and then took their seats, seemingly ignoring the many onlookers. After a quick meal for both, Elizabeth guided Mr. Darcy out of the door and toward the Gardiner's home. "We did all that we could, Mr. Darcy. I believe that the roosters and hens will do their fair share of crowing and cackling, but at least dear Georgiana should come out of this smelling like a rose."

She looked up at the tall man and was momentarily frozen by the look in his eyes, "You are a wonder, Miss Bennet. I am sorry that I did not appreciate the truth sooner. Thank you for being a friend to my sister."

Struggling to regain her equilibrium, Elizabeth shyly answered, "All of the credit goes to Georgiana for her swift action... and a smaller part to my aunt and uncle. I did nothing."

"You faced down the dragon on your own and bested her completely. Do not think that I missed that it took more than a dozen men to do what you did alone. If my sister learned courage and bravery from anyone, it was you, Miss Elizabeth Bennet."

Thankfully for Elizabeth's current sanity, they arrived at the door right then. Georgiana, who was awake and dressed, spotted them, threw open the door, and then threw herself into her brother's arms.

~oOo~

Later that same evening the two Darcy's were sharing a meal with the elder Gardiners and Elizabeth. The constable and the magistrate had met with Mr. Darcy earlier and had completed the picture for him. The passengers in the carriage had been Mr. Wickham and Mrs. Younge, as suspected. The constable's men had easily captured and incarcerated the pair, along with the slightly recovered Lady Catherine. By placing all three in the same cell the constable was able to hear all of the many accusations and imprecations hurled around by all three.

In the end Mrs. Young was more than willing to reveal all after the other two both attempted to cast the blame on her. Wickham had even struck her. As for the tale, it seemed that Lady Catherine had sought out Mr. Wickham after she was tossed out of Pemberley. It took some time to find him and to bring him into her scheme. Then they had enlisted Mrs. Younge, gentleman's daughter turned petty crimina. She knew Wickham well and was willing to join in for a decent profit.

The plan was to drag Georgiana off to Rosings, where Wickham would compromise her and then wait for her brother to arrive. Lady Catherine planned to force Darcy to marry her sickly daughter Anne in return for George Wickham marrying Georgiana, whose virtue and reputation would otherwise be in shambles. Lady Catherine's parson was even now standing by, waiting to perform the ceremonies.

Among the other details exposed, Mrs. Younge admitted that her references had been penned by Wickham, Lady Catherine's personal maid, and the Reverend William Collins.

When Darcy informed the constable and the magistrate that Georgiana Darcy was the granddaughter of an earl and also the niece of one, the magistrate acted swiftly. Riders were sent to Rosings and Hunsford to collect the other conspirators. The personal maid somehow escaped and vanished, but the parson was dragged kicking and screaming into custody. After confirming the verdict with the county judge... who detested Lady Catherine by the way... all four conspirators were marched aboard a ship bound for Von Diemen's Land, there to serve out their sentences. Nothing more was heard of from any of them.

Meryton Assembly, September, 1811

The crowd in the assembly hall suddenly became quiet as the much anticipated Netherfield Party entered the room. For most this was the first glimpse of the young man who now leased the estate, along with the man's sister and her husband. Everyone already knew, or at least had seen the other three members of the party.

After all, they had attended the wedding of Fitzwilliam Darcy to their own Miss Elizabeth Bennet just two weeks before. They also recognized the elegant and pretty Miss Georgiana Darcy, who was allowed to attend only because she was with family, namely her brother and all of the Bennet girls.

So the only person who actually generated any excitement was Mr. Charles Bingley, the handsome young Master of Netherfield with five-thousand a year. Of course, if they knew that he had already met Miss Jane Bennet at her sister's wedding, they might have been upset. Worse, if they knew that Charles had already determined to win Jane's heart, they might have just abandoned the dance altogether.

By the end of the evening it was abundantly clear, however. While the handsome and married Fitzwilliam Darcy danced two sets with his lovely wife and at least one dance with each of his sisters, Charles danced every dance with someone, danced two sets with Miss Jane Bennet, and then returned to her side in between every dance.

Mrs. Bennet looked quite smug that night. The other four and twenty families of note all found reasons to despise the Bennet family... all except for those who had eligible sons who might gain greater connections by marrying one of the three remaining daughters, that is.

In an ironic twist of fate, it was not until the festive season that Thomas Bennet, the Master of Longbourn, received notice that the heir presumptive to the estate had been transported. Elizabeth knew the man's name, of course, but had no idea of the connection. After quizzing the Darcy's in his study, Thomas found great cause for celebration. When the identity of the man and his fate were confirmed, a thorough and unfruitful search for another heir commenced. Eventually it was decided that Jane Bennet's, or rather the future Jane Bingley's firstborn son would be the next heir.

With that decided, Mr. Bennet became more industrious, Mrs. Bennet became more calm, and the remaining three Bennet girls were allowed to pursue matches with less pressure. As a result all three married well, if not spectacularly, and enjoyed being married to men who loved their wives.

~oOo~

Darcy had sent notice to both Rosings and his uncle, the earl, after the events at Ramsgate. When Anne made no response the earl left London with his son Colonel Fitzwilliam to investigate. It seemed that most of the servants had stolen choice items and fled as soon as news of Lady Catherine's transportation arrived.

Poor sickly Anne had been left to survive on her own for several days before her uncle arrived, but after sending her to Bath she eventually recovered. She felt unable to manage Rosings though, so she willed it to Colonel Fitzwilliam on the proviso that he sell his commision. Since Richard had his eye on a wonderful lady with almost no dowry, he agreed.

Anne lingered in Bath for another decade, the slipped silently into sleep. She counted those ten years as the very best in her life.

~oOo~

Edward and Madeline Gardiner went on to establish four more hotels in resort areas throughout the British Isles. Their children then learned to manage these concerns at their parent's feet, eventually making the Gardiner name synonymous with grand hotels all over the British Empire and the world.

By tradition the Darcy's always chose to summer at one of the "Garden Hotels," wherever they might be. And as the divide between landed gentry and tradesmen faded, their children and grandchildren were encouraged to follow the course most appealing to them. Some Darcys and Bingleys went into the hotel business while some Gardiners became landed gentry.

Despite, or perhaps in keeping with that future, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, and eventually Lady Georgiana Wellings, Marchioness, always welcomed the Gardiners into their homes and treated them with the highest respect and honor.