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Wickham was growing restless, but thankfully his self-imposed moratorium on observing his prey was mercifully coming to an end.

Another day or two and the waifs would be deployed with more than double the number so that they could be rotated regularly and make sure that they would be unobtrusive.

He could not afford another mistake like the one where that stupid rascal had almost been caught by one of the Bennet guards.

He was mindful of the deadline that álvarez had imposed, but, was confident that he would achieve his aims before the end of April.

He felt no remorse for the plan that he had in place to double cross Mrs. Younge.

He tolerated her because he had no other options, and it was expedient.

He did not give her any thanks, but he was well aware that had he not been expelled from the militia when he was, then he would have been in the little backwater town when Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived the next day and he was not at all sure that he would have survived that meeting.

Until he could rid himself of Karen Younge, he had to play the role of her lover.

The service put a roof over his head, gave him warm meals, and she provided coin for him to patronise the local tavern.

What she did not know is that her blunt was also funding his visits to a brothel, one with young prostitutes as he preferred.

Soon he would have wealth beyond his dreams. He was only sorry that there was no way to slip away before he paid the Spaniard .

His desire to live overrode his desire to double cross álvarez.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Darcy could not hide it anymore, nor did he desire to, he was head over heels in love. His tender feelings had been enhanced for Lady Elizabeth when he had been one of the parties that visited Haven House between the two engagement balls. He remembered the day with pleasure and admiration.

All three Darcys had met the Countess of Matlock at Bennet House just after ten in the morning. Ladies Elizabeth, Kitty, Mary, and Loretta had been ready, and the party departed with guards, companions, and attendants on schedule.

Upon arrival at Haven House, Darcy could not but be impressed.

There were two structures on the property of which the larger one housed the inhabitants of the Haven.

The second, smaller building housed the clinic and hospital where the babes were birthed.

The house was six stories, four above the ground level and one below.

Below was the kitchens, pantry, cold room, and the offices for the housekeeper and her two under-housekeepers.

The ground level was where the music room, administrative offices, classroom, dining parlours, and the public room were located.

The first, second, and third floors had the chambers for the inhabitants.

On each floor there was two suites of rooms, each with two bedchambers for an inhabitant and a ‘big sister’ so there was always a person nearby who could help the girls if needed.

The fourth floor was where the female staff’s chambers were.

The men that were employed at Haven House had chambers above the hospital so that way they were close by but did not sleep in the same house as the young ladies who had already been traumatised by men.

There were always at least six guards on duty patrolling the outside grounds, and four footmen on the ground level at all times.

When they arrived, they were met by the administrator, Miss Ethel Cookson, and Mrs. Gardiner, who was the chairwoman of the facility.

As always, when Elizabeth Bennet visited Haven House, the two girls that had inspired her, Clara and Ellie Steele were on hand to welcome her.

Clara had been just shy of her fifteenth birthday when she gave birth to a stillborn son.

Ellie was her younger sister, and as they could not return to the father that had abused them after their mother passed, they had been accepted for positions at the Haven.

Clara was one of the senior maids and was in training to be an under-housekeeper while nineteen-year-old Ellie was one of the big sisters that live among the girls to help and guide them.

Both were aware that ‘Miss Lizzy’ and her family had been instrumental in finding them a place at the Haven, but neither knew the truth of the depth of the family’s involvement.

As they were guided on a tour by Miss Cookson, Darcy could not fathom how someone would abuse a girl as young as twelve.

The administrator explained that they gave sanctuary to any girls in need, not just those with child.

They had girls who had been abandoned for lack of family resources, physical and, or sexual abuse, and then there were those who had been seduced by manipulative liars who promised marriage and disappeared as soon as they took that which they wanted.

The administrator was dumbfounded when Lady Elizabeth disclosed her and the Bennet’s role in creating and the continuing support of Haven House.

The Steele sisters cried many tears of appreciation to think that their plight had been the genesis for the remarkable lady’s drive to make a difference.

While the ladies were talking to the Steele sisters, Darcy approached Miss Cookson.

“Miss Cookson, I find that I am very much impressed with the work that is done at Haven House, and I would like to be a benefactor on an on-going basis,” he quietly spoke with the administrator.

He did not do it to impress the lady that he loved, he just wanted to make a positive difference.

He did not then know that Lady Elizabeth Bennet had a very keen sense of hearing and had heard what he said.

“We have been thinking about a second house as we currently have to turn girls away. The need is so great,” the lady explained sadly. “I have not presented the plan to Maddie, Mrs. Gardiner, for the board’s consideration yet.”

“Do not request the funds from the board.” Darcy requested, nodding when she looked at him with obvious question.

“I will fund the purchase of the property and any construction or renovation that is required. In addition, I will pledge an annual amount of four thousand pounds for the costs of maintaining the new house.”

“Mr. Darcy, I appreciate your offer, but that amount of money, are you sure, sir? I would not want you to do something that is beyond your means,” she stated bluntly.

“I intend no insult, it is such a generous donation, and if that is your desire, Mr. Darcy, then we will gratefully accept your beneficence.”

“I will tell you a little secret Miss Cookson, my reported income if far below the reality. I appreciate your candour, but this will not hurt me or any of my other commitments.” He wrote his information for her and told her to contact him as soon as she found an appropriate location for ‘New Haven House’, as the two dubbed it.

Darcy could not know it, but he had just shot very high up in the estimation of one Lady Elizabeth Bennet. In one of the classrooms, Miss Darcy heard one girl talking to another, and her blood froze when she heard what was being said.

“‘E tolds me that if I really lov’s ‘im, I would lie wif ‘im before the wedding.” The girl explained.

“That is exactly what he told me, Jenney, and I, a gentleman’s daughter, fell for his lies just like you did.” The other girl admitted to her friend.

A timid and shaking Georgiana, holding her mother’s hand and with Elizabeth’s arm around her, approached the girls who became silent and gave a curtsy to the highborn visitors. “D-do y-you s-peak of a George Wickham?” she asked timidly, sure that she knew the answer.

“Yes, Miss, how would you know that?” The one who identified that she was gently bread asked incredulously.

With her mother and Elizabeth’s support, Georgie shared her own history with George Wickham.

One was heavy with child while the other, Jenny, had given birth some months back.

Both had been rejected and cast out by their families.

Georgiana’s story brought to light that although what the girls had done was wrong, they had been lied to by a practiced manipulating seducer, the very worst kind of man.

After that day, Miss Darcy would occasionally visit the girls with whom she could talk about what no one else could understand, and she maintained a correspondence with both women, and with her brother and mother’s hearty approval.

They belonged to the same club, even though she had been fortunate enough to be saved by her brother before she had allowed the blackguard to take her virtue.

Once word was disseminated that the lady that founded and worked so hard to create the Haven was at the house, Lady Elizabeth was swamped with gratitude from the girls that had a chance at a good life rather than in the brothels or begging then dying on the streets.

Elizabeth requested, on behalf of her family, that their contributions not be transmitted beyond the Haven’s walls which she received a solemn promise that her request would be honoured.