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Elizabeth felt as if a glimmer of light had appeared at the end of a dark tunnel.

“Papa, I believe such an arrangement would benefit Catherine, as well. She has always followed where Lydia led, and it may be that with the removal of her sister’s influence, Kitty will settle and improve.

” She moved to touch her father’s shoulder.

Feeling her, he glanced up and smiled, weakly but with the first genuine warmth she had seen from him since his chess game had been so rudely interrupted.

After a moment, Mr. Bennet sighed. “Unfortunately, that still leaves us with the problem of Lieutenant Wickham.” The expressions of all four became grim.

Rubbing his eyes, Thomas admitted, “As much as it pains me to admit, I fear that to do anything but send the man along his merry way will raise the threat of scandal. If I accuse him of kidnapping, I would have to make public what he has done… and what Lydia has done. And that would hurt all my daughters, not just the one who deserves the censure that would follow.”

“Sir, if I may suggest,” interjected Darcy.

“I would be willing to wager a great deal that Lieutenant Wickham has absented himself from his regiment without leave, and I highly doubt that the horse and vehicle he appropriated were given into his use for such an excursion. My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, is in the Horse Guards and is as intimately acquainted with Wickham’s character as myself.

I believe that Richard would be able (and in fact very eager) to assist us. ”

Darcy saw precisely when Elizabeth caught on to his plan and continued, “If Wickham has run true to form, I expect to find extensive debts left behind with the shopkeepers in Brighton as well as debts of honor among his fellow officers in the militia. When I gather those notes, they, added to the others that I have collected over the years, should be more than enough to put his liberty in peril.” Darcy hesitated to say outright that he believed it probable Wickham would be tossed on a ship loaded with convicts bound for Australia, if not worse.

“That would be an excellent plan, particularly if we can keep it all within the military and out of the public courts, exclaimed Bingley.

Mr. Bennet was on the verge of adding something when Miss Bennet quietly opened the door from the adjoining bedchamber, looking miserable and exhausted. Elizabeth flew across the room to embrace her sister and the pair stood together for some moments.

Eventually, however, Jane recalled the others in the room. “Lydia is asleep,” she said quietly. Looking toward Mr. Darcy, she added, “Your man is watching from the hall to ensure that she does not try to…” She paused to steel herself before finishing, “…to slip out and find Mr. Wickham.”

Elizabeth pulled her sister tighter and Jane finally let down her guard.

“Oh Lizzy, she has absolutely no concept that what she has done is wrong! There is no confusion, no sense of a misunderstanding. She shows neither shame nor remorse that Mr. Wickham was taking her to… to live together, unwed. She thinks it all some fine adventure… she said that I should envy her.” Here Jane broke down entirely and began sobbing on her sister’s shoulder.

Mr. Bennet’s head fell back into his hands, while Darcy and Bingley looked on miserably, wishing for something to do.

Eventually, Fitzwilliam caught Elizabeth’s eye, and, with that same unspoken communication that was building between them, she brought his attention to the teapot, now cold and empty, its lukewarm dregs having been forced down Lydia’s throat in an effort to counteract Wickham’s liquor.

Understanding immediately, Darcy moved to pull the bell rope and request a fresh pot .

By the time the maid arrived with the tray, Jane had composed herself enough to sit quietly beside Mr. Bingley.

Once the servant was gone and their privacy assured, Elizabeth served the others before preparing a cup for herself.

For a time, the room was quiet except for the sound of spoons and saucers.

“Well then…” began Lydia’s father, finally exerting himself to take some control of the situation. “Jane, thank you for sitting with your sister. While you were absent, your young gentlemen here were able to secure Lieutenant Wickham’s company for the night.”

Jane looked to Elizabeth in confusion; Lizzy just shook her head slightly to indicate that she would explain later.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bennet had continued in his acerbic tone, “It has been determined that we shall adhere to our original plan and carry on to the Gardiners’ home tomorrow.

Fortunately, we are now in possession of two carriages, I believe, so transporting our additional companions will not be a problem, I assume. ”

Darcy nodded curtly and offered, “With your leave, sir, I will send an express to my cousin tonight, apprising him of the situation and asking him to join me at my townhouse tomorrow night if he can get away from his duties. I have room and men enough at Derwent House to prevent Wickham’s flight until we arrange to turn him over to the military. ”

Tiring of the matter rapidly, Thomas agreed with little semblance of deliberation. “Yes, yes, that all sounds very well.”

“We must also notify Longbourn that Lydia is with us, without giving my mother such information as might alarm her,” noted Lizzy quietly.

Mr. Bennet grunted. “And I suppose what you are not saying is that this duty falls to me.” When no one responded, he grunted again and demanded, “Well, girls, what is the best way to explain this imbroglio to your mother without overwhelming her poor nerves?”

Choosing to take his question seriously, Elizabeth began slowly, thinking aloud.

“It would be wisest to stay as close to the truth as possible,” she offered.

“Perhaps it would be enough to say that Lydia told Lieutenant Wickham about how disappointed she was not to come to London with us for the shopping. Upon hearing that we were delayed barely ten miles from Meryton, he suggested it would be a quick trip by gig and she thought it would be a grand joke to surprise us. Spending a few hours alone with an officer in an open carriage marks her as a little wild, but such is what everyone already expects of Lydia. As long as their intentions remain a secret, her reputation should not be too badly damaged.”

Darcy agreed with the suggestion immediately.

“I doubt Wickham was stupid enough to confide in anyone that he was planning to desert his regiment. There will be some talk, of course, but he generally tries to maintain his image as a gentleman of principle for as long as possible so that his fellows will trust his mark when they gamble. ”

Mr. Bennet thought this over for a moment before agreeing.

“So be it, then. Lydia charmed an officer into a carriage ride to meet us, so desperate was she to help her sisters prepare for their weddings.” He looked to his eldest daughters for approval and then nodded again, more decisively this time.

Feeling restless, Bennet rose to stand by the window, although there was little to see beyond the curtains but blackness.

Glancing down, he smiled sardonically to see the table still laid with the chess game he had begun earlier with Mr. Darcy.

Thomas considered making a joke about the irony of him, an unreliable correspondent at best, leaving a chess match unfinished in order to write to his wife.

However, he could not quite frame the words and so silently drew out paper and began to mend his pen.

Although Darcy would have much preferred to stay by Elizabeth’s side, he knew that his own letters must be dispatched quickly.

After pressing her hand with his own, he left to arrange for the express riders and then to write to his cousin, summarizing Wickham’s latest misdeeds and the plan that he hoped would deal with the man once and for all.

When the door had closed behind her fiancé, Elizabeth joined her sister and Mr. Bingley sitting by the fireplace.

In quiet murmurs, the three traded information along with what comfort they could.

In less time than she would have thought possible, the letters were written, sealed, and sent, one north to Longbourn, and one south to London.

Although no one expected to sleep well, they all retired early, relieved to put the day behind them.

The next morning, Lydia appeared little affected by her misadventure and, indeed, her greatest concern seemed to be convincing Jane to loan her a fresh gown.

Fortunately for the eldest Miss Bennet, Elizabeth soon joined them and put a quick end to her sister’s whinging.

“Neither Jane nor I brought much with us, Lydia, as we expected to spend the night at Gracechurch Street. And no, we will not have our trunks brought in just so that you may paw through them. Whatever were you planning to wear when you arrived in London? Did you bother to think through any part of this ridiculous escapade?”

It took all of Jane’s patience to soothe her sisters enough that they could leave the room without creating a spectacle, but eventually, the three young ladies did descend to the main floor of the inn.

As they were passing through the common room, however, the youngest Miss Bennet caught sight of Mr. Wickham sitting at a table with his two guards and complaining loudly about his breakfast. Before her sisters could restrain her, Lydia flew to her paramour and attempted to throw her arms around his neck.

“Oh, my darling George! Isn’t this lovely?

We’re all going to London together! Now I can go shopping at all the best warehouses and my sisters shall be bridesmaids at my wedding!

And I heard Mr. Darcy say his cousin is a colonel and will be meeting us, along with Colonel Forster!

You shall wear your red coat and there will be so many high-ranking officers there that everyone will hear about it!

What a party we shall have! Perhaps Colonel Forster will bring Mrs. Forster to London so she can come shopping with me! ”

Unfortunately for Lydia, Mr. Wickham was feeling hung-over, ill tempered, and achy from the beating he had taken the night before.

A jab of his arm shoved the girl away, and his mean sneer was like no expression she had seen him wear before.

“Hell and damnation… stop pawing at me, you stupid little cow! You were good enough for a bit of fun, but Lord—you, madam, are truly the last woman in the world whom I could ever be prevailed upon to marry!”

There was no way to pretend that he was anything but serious.

Lydia stood very straight and very still for several moments as her sisters moved to stand beside her.

Bingley and Darcy had entered the room just in time to hear Wickham’s harsh words and see three Bennet females standing shoulder to shoulder, eyes sparking with fury.

As the other men in the room stared, George struggled to stand, still bleary but vaguely aware that something might be wrong.

Lydia blinked a few times, but then squared her shoulders and stepped up to Wickham.

“Humph!” she said, just before her right hand flew and slapped him so hard that he staggered.

She turned away and swept from the room without a word, just as Elizabeth stepped up to take her place and repeat the action before following her younger sister out the door.

George took longer to stand upright this time and when he did, he found himself faced with the eldest Bennet sister.

Like many, he had always considered Miss Jane Bennet to be a sweet, pliable thing with little in the way of strong emotions.

Neglecting the sparks flying from her icy blue eyes, he attempted a conciliatory smile even though his jaw ached.

It was his misfortune that Jane Bennet, unlike her sisters, was left-handed.

This final slap left his ears ringing and, as he attempted to sit down on his chair, he missed and ended up on the floor, groaning.

While Darcy and Bingley stood gaping, Mr. Bennet stepped out of the doorway. “And that, lads, is what you get when you cross a Bennet lady.” He followed his daughters out of the inn, chuckling quietly to himself.

After organizing a now cursing Mr. Wickham and his guards into one carriage, Darcy and Bingley ventured up to the other, fearing to find the sisters in tears. Instead, they found three silent ladies sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, dry-eyed and fierce in attitude.

“Mr. Darcy, are we ready to depart?”

“Yes, of course, Miss Bennet.” Darcy assured Jane, feeling as if he were eight years old.

The two young men moved to mount their horses while Thomas Bennet climbed up to sit opposite his daughters, still chuckling a little. Only their father could see that Jane and Elizabeth each had one of Lydia’s hands held in a tight grip.