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M r. Darcy continued his efforts in London. He hired some Bow Street runners and gave them Lydia’s name and as much of a description as he could. He wished he had drawings of the girl to aid the search, but he did not.

He had not heard from his friend Bingley for some time.

How were the Bennets? How was Miss Elizabeth?

How was she bearing up? Did she wish to see him?

Did he have a chance with her? At Pemberley, he had felt that she approved of him, that she liked him!

He cursed, for the hundredth time, the dreadful timing of her sister’s letters!

Had the letters come just a few days later, he might have secured Miss Elizabeth’s hand.

How very much he wished he could be in Meryton with her; if only he could somehow duplicate himself! One Darcy could be in London, searching for Lydia; the other Darcy could be in Meryton, supporting Miss Elizabeth in her trials and attempting to win her hand.

And then an idea came to him.

Richard,

I need you on an urgent family matter. Are you able to get leave?

Darcy

***

“You took me from my regiment to chase after some lightskirt??” Colonel Fitzwilliam actually put a hand on his sword.

“Are you planning to run me through, Richard?” Darcy asked, brows raised.

“My God, I have every reason to do so! I save my leave for actual family matters, not – not this nonsense!” The Colonel was incensed.

“It is not nonsense to me, Richard.” Darcy spoke quietly.

The Colonel stood for another minute, staring at his cousin. Finally, he sat down with a huff. “Very well, tell me why this is so very urgent. Convince me, if you can, before I get back on my horse and return to my regiment.”

“Do you recall our time together at Rosings?”

“Of course; you dragged me away from our visit rather abruptly, as I recall, with no explanation. I take it that I am finally to hear that explanation?”

“Yes; I proposed to Elizabeth Bennet, and she – quite rightly – refused me. After that, I could not stay.”

The Colonel was shocked speechless for a long minute. Then a look of amusement crossed his face. “She refused you!”

“She did.”

“And rightly, you said?”

“It was a rather insulting proposal.”

“Tell me, Darcy, how does one issue an insulting proposal?”

“By dwelling on the social disparity between yourself and the young lady, as well as the many reasons why a marriage between the two of you is a dreadful idea, so dreadful, in fact, that you fought against your inclination as long as possible.”

“You are joking, surely. Even you could not –“

“I am not joking, no. She also accused me of having separated Bingley from her sister.”

“Her sister?” The Colonel winced. “Ouch! It was I who told her of your role in that situation, Darcy; I did not realise that the woman in question was her sister.”

“Ah, I wondered how she had learnt it. Then you owe me, Richard, as your words certainly did not help my cause. In any case, she also accused me of harming Wickham.”

“So he had told her his old tale about having been cheated of his inheritance?”

“Precisely. I wrote her a letter explaining the situation with Wickham, and I apologised for my role in separating her sister from Bingley.”

“Hold on; did you tell her about Georgiana?”

“I did, but I believe entirely in her ability to keep that to herself.”

The Colonel scowled at that, but asked, “Have you some reason to hope that her feelings about you have changed?”

Mr. Darcy told his cousin about finding Miss Elizabeth at Pemberley, and how she had seemed everything friendly.

“I was on the verge of asking her for a courtship when the letter arrived from Miss Bennet bearing the news of Miss Lydia’s elopement; Miss Elizabeth and the Gardiners left at once.

Richard, I should have told everyone in Meryton about Wickham, but I did not. This is as much my fault as anyone’s.”

The Colonel considered this. “If it becomes known that Miss Lydia ran away and is not married, your Miss Elizabeth is ruined.”

“That is true. I would marry her anyway, but it…” Mr. Darcy hesitated. “Well, it would complicate things if her family’s reputation was in question.”

“Complicate things? Yes, I should think so!” The Colonel was incredulous. “I cannot imagine what my parents would have to say about it, and it would do Georgiana’s reputation no good at all. Have you considered that?!”

“Which is why it is an urgent family matter, just as I wrote you.”

“Damn it, Darcy!”

“I am sorry, Richard, but I truly do need your help. Miss Lydia must be found. Her family has put it about that she is ill in Brighton, but that story cannot hold for long. Also, I recently learnt from Bingley – who is now at Netherfield hoping to win back his beloved Miss Bennet – that Mrs. Bennet passed away while we were all together at Pemberley.”

“Another tragedy visited upon this poor family! Well, Darcy, I will help if I can, though I must say that it sounds futile. What have you done so far?”

Mr. Darcy described his efforts in speaking with innkeepers and hiring Bow Street Runners. “My man of business is attempting to find Mrs. Younge’s boarding house, but I have received no word from him as yet. It is difficult, as I have no pictures of her, just a name.”

“Difficult? Impossible, I should say. Can you not have drawings of her made by someone who knows her? That would help, I do not doubt.”

Mr. Darcy’s face froze for an instant and then he muttered a curse under his breath.

“What is it?”

“Her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners, live here in Town. I should have visited them long ago. Perhaps Mrs. Gardiner can draw pictures of Miss Lydia for us to pass about.”

“She has relatives in Town and you have not seen them? You are an idiot, Darcy. For all you know, this Lydia has landed safe and sound in her relatives’ home.”

“I would surely have heard of it from Bingley, but in any case, I owe the Gardiners a condolence call. Mrs. Bennet was Mr. Gardiner’s sister.”

“And they live…?”

“On Gracechurch Street.”

“Not a fashionable address, Darcy. My mother would not approve of the connection.”

“I am not asking your mother to make the connection, Richard; it is my connection, not hers.”