Page 40 of Elizabeth’s Choice

“You have, and I still owe you one last wish. Anything you want, you shall have,” he kissed both of her hands.

She tiptoed to kiss his chin, “There is one thing that I have been considering, and I would like to use my last…”

She could not go on, as there was a knock on the door and they separated to answer it.

Mr. Bennet entered the library and with a serious scowl, said, “Lydia has run away with Wickham. It seems she used the cover of the ball to hatch a plan to run off with the scoundrel.”

~*~

Darcy, Elizabeth, and Mr. Bennet re-entered the ballroom with smiles pasted on their faces as they accepted several congratulations from their neighbours. While Elizabeth searched for Jane, Mr. Bennet went to speak with his wife and Darcy approached Colonel Fitzwilliam who had been speaking with his men.

Darcy pulled his cousin aside and quietly informed him, “Wickham has seduced Lydia Bennet, Elizabeth’s youngest sister, who is only fifteen years old, and the foolish girl apparently plotted to leave with him tonight. I need you and your men to help me track him down, since he has deserted the militia and has not repaid the debt I hold against him. Can you do that for us?”

“You know I would do anything for Lady Elizabeth, right?” Richard grinned but added, as he saw his cousin’s mood darken in envy, “I owe her so much more than what you owe me after she reunited me with Miss Grey and I am an engaged man! Grace and I will be marrying in February!”

Darcy’s face immediately lit up, “Congratulations! Why did you not tell me earlier?”

“I was just a little busy being summoned to the palace this morning and I only proposed to Grace yesterday,” the colonel replied, “and of course you and Lady Elizabeth will be invited to the wedding. But as far as Wickham goes, what is your plan for him? He will need to be made to marry Lydia Bennet and will become your brother.”

“It matters not as long as Elizabeth will be my wife. She was horrified that her sister disgraced the family name and worried that I would jilt her but I would never let her go. Wickham will pay the price but I would do anything to make Elizabeth happy,” he declared. “I know it is late and they had a long head-start so we shall chase them down tomorrow. From what Mr. Bennet gathered from Kitty Bennet, they were planning on going to London first for a shopping trip before eloping and I highly doubt that Wickham means to take her to Gretna Green to actually marry the chit.”

“He would never marry for less than ten thousand and I believe the Bennet girls have only five thousand each,” Richard responded. “He likely took the girl for amusement and whatever funds she had to pay for the journey. We will track them down and you can toss him into debtor’s jail until he comes to his senses.”

Elizabeth approached them and linked her arm around Darcy’s, “Do we have a plan, sirs? I would like to go home and apprise Georgie about what has happened. And, I have too many eyes on me with my robe and suit on and would like to depart.”

“But we have not danced yet,” Darcy grinned. “But as soon as our little ordeal is over, I will personally hold a grand ball in your honour to celebrate our betrothal. Will you be staying here at Netherfield, Richard?”

Elizabeth replied quickly, “Oh, no! No future cousin of mine will be staying under Miss Bingley’s roof! I told Jane that we will be having a houseful of gentlemen at Ashworth and papa will be taking her to Longbourn after the ball ends. You, too, Mr. Darcy. I sent word to your valet and you are coming home with me. You need never stay in the same house as that shrew again!”

Darcy laughed loudly enough for several guests to turn their heads to look at him, “Thank goodness. I nearly gave her the cut direct earlier tonight and after learning that Father always meant for me to meet you and not her, I will never think kindly of her again. Let us depart now. I would like to get an early start in the morning and we can devise our plans at Ashworth.”

Darcy, Elizabeth, and the officers left Netherfield after briefly speaking with Mr. And Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth decided to take Kitty to Longbourn and her parents were to stay at the ball to keep up appearances but to explain to everyone that Elizabeth was leaving to care for Lydia who took ill and Kitty was following along. Elizabeth was only glad that Jane had yet to know about any of it in order to protect her and to allow her to have a pleasant time with Mr. Bingley, even if his sisters were horrid and she wished she could poke Miss Bingley in the eye.

~*~

Georgiana yawned widely as she stretched her limbs after waking up. “Lizzie, do you know that you talk in your sleep? I kept waking up all night because I thought you were speaking to me but you kept mumbling about shooting an arrow into a large backside and poking someone’s eye. What on earth did you dream about?”

Elizabeth laughed loudly as she arose, “I had no idea that I talk in my sleep! I was so angry at Wickham and my sister Lydia, and I think I was fighting with Miss Bingley. Jane used to say I kick in my sleep but it has been a long time since she and I shared a bed and I suppose I was restless to get the day started.”

Georgiana giggled but asked, “Could I go with you? I know you will find them quickly and William said he already has Bow Street Runners looking for Wickham, but if I go with you, we can stay at Darcy House and begin shopping for your trousseau! How quickly do you think you will marry my brother? I am so happy that you will become my sister!”

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders, “We have not worked out the details but our priority is to find Wickham and Lydia first and then we will sort out the rest afterwards. But I would be more than happy to take you with us. Papa is to tell Jane this morning about what happened and he will go with us to town, and we will be taking the Darcy carriage as well as the royal carriage that I arrived in so we will have plenty of room. We will also need my uncle and aunt’s help and Mrs. Annesley will also want to assist us.”

“I plan on carrying my small bow and arrow everywhere so that I can protect myself and shoot Wickham’s large backside if he gives us any trouble. I must put my new skills to use to protect my family’s name!” she declared.

Elizabeth smiled, “I plan on doing the same. Mrs. Goodwin told me about Frank and I was in shock that Wickham seduced her when he was only fifteen and how closely intertwined our families are. If anyone continues to denigrate William, Mrs. Goodwin is prepared to let everyone know how atrocious Wickham is and all the wrongs he had committed for years prior. She is determined to clear up the Darcy name and place all the wrongdoing on Wickham. I plan on rewarding her and Frank handsomely for their courage.”

“I think you are courageous, Lady Elizabeth,” Georgiana smiled back. “You are the youngest recipient of the ladyship in the Order of the Garter for thwarting the plan to assassinate the prince, and Queen Charlotte simply adored you! It is astonishing that you taught Her Majesty archery and that Prince George held a contest in your honour.”

“They were very kind and I was simply doing my duty. It is still surreal to me that I have the title, but it is even stranger that I am betrothed to William. That he was not frightened off due to Lydia’s foolishness is next to a miracle and I am more than eager to begin a new life with him.” Elizabeth squeezed her young friend’s hand and continued, “Let us prepare now so we can depart soon. Your cousin and William believe we can find them easily but I am not so optimistic and want to strangle Lydia when we locate th…”

Just then, there was a knock on the door and Elizabeth walked over to answer it. Mrs. Goodwin said, “Mistress, your father is here and urgently desires to speak with you. I informed Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam as well but he said he needs to see you presently.”

Elizabeth turned to Georgiana as she donned her robe, “I will see what my father wants. Why do you not get ready and have your maid begin packing for a few nights away? Please inform Mrs. Annesley of our plans also.”

She traversed downstairs to find the gentlemen waiting for her in the sitting room. “What has happened, papa?” she asked, after she nodded her head to the other men.

“I come with terrible news, Lizzie,” her father explained. “I received a note from Lieutenant Denny who had been instructed to give it to me this morning and no earlier, that Wickham planned on tricking Lydia to town and that it was never his intent to marry her unless he is paid a large sum. From what I was able to piece together from Kitty and reading this letter, Lydia flaunted the idea of getting married before her elder sisters and that she and Wickham were to meet as soon as the ball started for a liaison. Lydia mentioned to Kitty about what a good joke it would be to elope to Scotland, but from what Wickham described,” he waved the letter again, “his plan was to abduct her so that he could ransom her for marriage.” He gave the letter to Elizabeth who read it and then gave it to Darcy.