Author's Note: Please let me know if you see any inconsistencies or errors. I am trying to fix them as I go through, but I know I have missed a couple. Thanks so much, and I hope you enjoy!

Also, posting chapters will begin to slow down from this point as I will be not merely editing what was previously written before.

Chapter 19

"I believe it advisable to remove Elizabeth from London, sir," Darcy protested as the gentlemen spoke after dinner. "This matter of Wickham being involved adds greatly to my concern. I know him entirely too well to be unconcerned when his name is mentioned in connection to anyone I care about."

"I would prefer not to remove her from London, not yet," Elliott insisted. "We will need her here after we face Bennet. Of course, she will not go to Longbourn under any circumstances, but she may be called to give testimony."

"Gentlemen, I suggest we speak to Elizabeth in this matter. I know my niece well enough to know she would not be pleased with these decisions being made for her," Gardiner inserted into the conversation. At this, Darcy flushed slightly and seemed to release some of his frustration. He nodded and began to lead the others from the room.

However, he was halted by his uncle's arm. "We need a plan before we speak to the ladies," he insisted.

"Elizabeth will not respond well to a plan formed without her input. She is not a lady who would allow the men in her life to command her; she is an intelligent woman who is able to consider matters rationally and without excess emotion. Perhaps you would excuse your own wife from such a conversation, but I will not," Darcy stated.

"She is not your wife yet, Darcy," the earl observed.

"But she will be, and I intend to act now as I will then. Her uncle is correct; she would not appreciate not being included in this discussion. If you prefer to remain here and discuss it amongst you, you may do so, but I will go and solicit her opinion in this," he retorted before stalking from the room, followed by his cousin.

Gardiner laughed as he watched the young man depart. "He is quite a young man," he said quietly, causing the earl to nod.

"He is a very good man. I wish my elder son had turned out half as well. He was always been a responsible child and, since inheriting the estate from his father, has only become more so. I confess, his ease with Miss Tomlinson is surprising, especially given the short duration of their acquaintance." With that comment from the earl, the rest of the gentlemen followed Darcy into the parlour where the ladies waited.

Darcy was already seated next to his intended and the colonel next to Georgiana. The other gentlemen rushed to sit next to their wives though Mr Elliott, as a bachelor, sat in an armchair between Elizabeth and Gardiner. After a few moments of general conversation, Georgiana was encouraged to depart to the music room so the others might speak of weighty matters.

"Should she not be involved, William?" Elizabeth whispered to her intended.

"No, I will tell her what we discuss later, but there are things that it is best she not hear in company with others just now," Darcy whispered back. "Your uncle just informed me that Wickham is involved with Collins, having offered his services to 'help' claim your inheritance."

Elizabeth's mouth dropped for a moment into an O. "Is that the man who attempted to elope with your sister?" she whispered back. At Darcy's nod, she looked at him with concern. "What do you think he will do?"

"I would not put it past him to attempt to swindle your uncle's cousin. He is pretending to be his solicitor in this matter and knows just enough about the law to be dangerous. That is what we were discussing in my study, but before we make plans, I wished to consult with you. I would like to take you to Pemberley to remove you from any danger."

"Before we wed?" she inquired with an arched eyebrow.

"Would you rather go to Scotland first, dearest?" he teased before becoming more serious. "I am concerned about your safety, especially knowing Wickham is involved." Darcy informed Elizabeth about what they learned in their meeting at the solicitor's that morning. Some she already knew from her uncle, though some of what was conveyed had been unknown to her.

"Scotland is sounding better and better, William," she said when he finished. "You are concerned about this Mr Wickham's involvement in particular, are you not?"

"I am, Elizabeth. I know him too well to doubt he will do all he can to injure me once he learns I am involved in this. Right now, he is only hoping to fleece a foolish man in order to provide for him, but when he learns I am involved, he will become more determined. I worry for your safety. He would not hesitate to harm you in order to do damage to me, while at the same time accumulating wealth for himself."

The others in the room listened as Darcy spoke—the gentlemen had already known much of what was shared—but none, other than the colonel, were aware of the full extent of Wickham's depravity.

"Darcy, I know that you and Wickham have had a falling out, but you were friends in your youth. Do you really believe the man would injure Miss Tomlinson to get back at you?" Lord Matlock asked.

"I do," Darcy replied seriously, his tone grave. "Wickham and I have not had a mere 'falling out', Uncle. It was far more serious than that."

As Darcy began to tell the company about his experiences with Wickham—excluding the incident with Georgiana—they gradually came to agree that Darcy was correct. However, Gardiner had already sent a man to Kent to purchase the debts left by Wickham and to use those to imprison the man, at least temporarily, until they could deal with him.

The colonel perked up at this idea; he would enjoy a trip to Kent to "assist" George Wickham come to town. The debts paid by Gardiner, combined with those Darcy already held, would put Wickham in Marshaelsea for some time and would likely neutralise any threat he presented.

A half-hour later, it was determined the party would remain in London for a few more days. Gardiner would ensure Wickham was detained in Kent, allowing him to be dealt with at their leisure. The parson was not a factor—a letter informing him that he could not exchange Longbourn for Briarwood was discussed, though, in the end, it was determined to be unnecessary. Their greatest concern was how to deal with Mr Bennet and take him to task for his failure to act as required in regard to Elizabeth.

In the meantime, a companion would be hired to stay with Elizabeth. She and Darcy would be seen around town, and their courtship—they did not want to announce an engagement at the moment—would be made public. Lady Matlock would assist by introducing Elizabeth to other ladies her age while subtly explaining her history and her inheritance to ease her way into society.

Additionally, several footmen would be hired to accompany her for her protection at Darcy's insistence. Something gnawed at him that made him insist more than he typically would have done, and Elizabeth had acquiesced easily enough.

"I do not like the restriction on me, but my walks would be curtailed in town regardless, and I will allow it for your peace of mind. However, do know that I do not like to have my actions restricted, at least not without cause. I appreciate that you took the time to explain your reasoning to me," Elizabeth told him when they sneaked into the library to steal a few moments together. After exchanging a kiss or two, he expressed his concern for her safety and nearly demanded that she not leave the house without accompaniment.

Darcy held her closely. "Now that I have found you, I cannot stand the thought of losing you, dearest Elizabeth," he whispered before kissing her once again. They were breathless when they parted, and Elizabeth stepped away from his arms.

"I can see how easily a woman can lose her sense of what is proper," she stated breathlessly. "I fear I am in some danger from you, William."

"Danger? From me?" he stammered.

"Yes," she replied seriously. "I lose all sense of decorum when I am in your arms, and I fear you do as well. It is yet uncertain when we will be able to marry, so we will need to take care."

He was abashed by her words. "I apologise, dearest." His eyes were cast down until he heard her melodic laugh.

"It is well, William," she replied. "You have done nothing I did not wish."

Darcy smiled down at her for a moment, but his expression quickly changed to a frown. "I hate not knowing what lies ahead. We cannot make plans for our wedding until while we are waiting on your safety to be ensured. I realise eloping to Scotland is not the most advisable idea, but I confess I would very much like to do so."

"I know, but we will still be able to see each other while I am in London," Elizabeth soothed, stepping forward to place her hand on his arm. "Come, let us join the others. My uncle will want to depart soon."

They returned to the drawing room, where they found the others preparing to leave. "Darcy, we will speak more on the morrow," the earl stated loudly. "My wife has invited your intended for tea—come early so we might talk first."

Reluctantly, Darcy saw his company out and kissed Elizabeth's hand in farewell.

"I will call on you tomorrow morning, dearest," he whispered as he released her. "Good night."

He watched her carriage depart before returning inside. His cousin waited for him in the study.

"I think it unwise for you to travel to Kent, Jonathan," Darcy said without preamble. "At the moment, Wickham is unaware of my involvement in this, and if he discovers that I am interested in Elizabeth, he will attempt to do far more than he is presently considering. I beg you, stay out of it for now."

Fitzwilliam seemed to consider this before speaking. "Surely he knows you are a trustee of the estate."

"He may, but he does not yet know of my personal involvement with Elizabeth herself. He does not know that Elizabeth and I are engaged, and you know when he discovers that, it will make him more determined to steal her away from me or to harm her in some way. If he is still free when my aunt begins introducing Elizabeth around, well …. You know me and that I tend to worry about the worst possibilities imaginable, Jonathan, but I have a deep sense of foreboding about that. I desperately want to snatch Elizabeth and carry her straight to the border; damn the consequences and the gossip that may arise. I want to protect her."

"Calm yourself, Darcy," Jonathan replied, laying his hand on his cousin's arm. After a moment, he poured them both a glass of whisky and brought it to the chairs before the fire. His cousin scrubbed his face with his hand before accepting the proffered glass. The two spoke together late into the night as they discussed and discarded various plans to protect Elizabeth from Wickham and Mr Bennet.

A/N: I'm trying not to make this too complicated or too angst-ridden. Mr Bennet is awful, Mrs Bennet not any less so. Mr Collins is a fool, and Wickham is devious but not particularly bright. Don't worry, all will get their comeuppance, and D&E will have their HEA. The story is half done, if not a little further along.