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“I have a great deal to think about,” her husband replied. “She is our patroness. She has preferred me to this valuable living.”

“And what will that profit you if you lose your own soul, William? Who will you answer to for allowing your flock to be ravaged by that—that she-wolf?”

Charlotte noted that her husband seemed to be changing before her eyes.

The stupid, childish expression was completely gone now, and he looked like a grown man, a deeply troubled, thoughtful man.

His voice had lost its obsequious sing-song quality and had deepened in timbre almost as she listened to it.

“Charlotte, my dear, you are right. We must do whatever is necessary to ensure the safety of Miss de Bourgh and the others in that house. There will be time enough for me to think on my own sins later. It appears that I have been a fool, and I hope you can forgive me.”

Charlotte was quiet for a long moment. The stakes were high.

She knew that William Collins was not vile or vicious.

Up to now he had been fatuous more than anything else.

Silly and simpering and obsequious. Had these revelations changed him, brought out his better, more mature nature?

She had little choice but to trust him, and so trust him she would.

“I forgive you, William. I believe these terrible occurrences have opened your eyes and that I can trust you, so I will tell you. Miss de Bourgh has begged me to help her reach the protection of her uncle, Lord Matlock. Since he is in Derbyshire, a long and dangerous journey, I can best achieve that by taking her to London to her cousin, Mr. Darcy. Under his protection, and with his assistance, she can contact the earl. I plan to leave here with her tomorrow morning at seven. Ned will drive us in the gig to Bromley, and we will board the London mail coach at midmorning. The trip to London is short.”

“You will require money.”

“I have my quarterly housekeeping allowance and my pin money,” she replied.

“You may need more. I will see that you have it.”

“Thank you, Mr. Collins. Miss de Bourgh will be relieved to hear that she can depend upon you. As for the unfortunate servants in that house, you must be vigilant. Get a note to Timmons, the butler, and tell him to come to you if anything is amiss.”

“I must lock this in my study, and then I will join you for supper. I will prepare the note for Timmons this evening, and we shall open the strongbox and provide you with such funds as are immediately available.”

Brook Street, London - Sunday, August 9, 18__

Sunday morning in London found the newlyweds deeply asleep, entwined as was becoming their custom, and unwilling to awaken, A discreet knock at a somewhat early hour revealed Darcy’s valet, Larkin, with the information that it was Sunday and time for them to get up if they wished to attend church.

Elizabeth heard Darcy order breakfast brought to her room.

He then closed the door, located his shirt, and brought it over to the bed.

“Would you rather take dog’s leave, my darling? No one would fault you for a moment.” He pulled the shirt over her head.

Elizabeth yawned and stretched. “No. I cannot hide forever, much as I would like to. I am sure there will be plenty of good people amongst the gawkers, and if you are with me, I will not be facing them alone.”

“Still my bold Elizabeth.” Darcy kissed her gently, then more ardently, until Larkin’s knock sounded again at the door. “Now I had better feed you, Mrs. Darcy. You seem to require food and love at frequent, regular intervals. I must say, it is a pleasure to supply you with both.”

They settled down to a comfortable breakfast laid out on the table in Elizabeth’s room. She poured their coffee and handed a cup to her husband. “Will Colonel Fitzwilliam be joining us for church?”

“I suspect he would not miss it for the world.” Darcy sipped his coffee.

A little less than an hour later, Elizabeth and Darcy were strolling arm in arm towards the large church where they had just been married.

Fitzwilliam, resplendent in his regimentals, accompanied them, and they spent the walk chatting about the houses and who lived in each one.

As they entered and began the long walk toward the Darcy family pew, there was a slight but pronounced lull in the buzz of conversation, but as they took their seats, people began to talk again.

They almost instantly achieved an entirely satisfactory division of labor.

Elizabeth attended to the prayers and the sermon.

Darcy attended to Elizabeth. Colonel Fitzwilliam attended to the other members of the congregation.

The lengthy sermon flew by, and Elizabeth heard every word but could not have repeated a single one.

When the service was over, they left the pew and Darcy offered Elizabeth his arm.

They were approached by any number of people, and Darcy presented them to her.

All seemed to have kind words of welcome and felicitation, and very few seemed inclined to scrutinize her too harshly.

Others, who were too far away to approach, smiled and nodded.

Darcy had been concerned about rudeness or unkindness to his wife, but there was none .

“My, what a lot of people,” said Elizabeth as she took off her bonnet and pelisse in the front hallway. “And I do not remember a thing about the service.”

“I would say you were an unqualified success, Mrs. Darcy,” observed Colonel Fitzwilliam.

“Could you not call me Elizabeth, or at least Cousin Elizabeth?”

“With pleasure, if you will call me Richard.”

Darcy looked on with an air of quiet satisfaction, and in a few minutes, dinner, always served at midday on Sundays, was announced.

Fitzwilliam spoke up after they were served.

“You are a trooper, Elizabeth. Having gotten through today, you may now relax with your husband. No one will call or otherwise bother you for at least a week. After that, it is anybody’s guess.

But if you are in town, they will allow you a week for your honeymoon. ”

“What are your plans for this week, Fitzwilliam?” asked Darcy.

“Tomorrow I will get my kit over to my father’s house and await his arrival at midday. After that, it will be a matter of placing myself at his disposal. If necessary, I can write and get leave. This appears to be a rather extensive family emergency.”

Elizabeth looked over at her husband. “We would be honored if you and your father would join us for dinner tomorrow evening.” Darcy nodded, pleased.

“I think I can speak for my father and say we would be delighted. He will want to meet you if he has not gotten himself over here earlier in the day.”

They had just risen from dinner and retired to the library when Parker was announced.

He spoke without preamble. “I have troubling news from Longbourn.” He held up a hand.

“First of all, everyone is well. Your mother continues to improve, Mrs. Darcy, and they have received news of your wedding. Here is a letter for you from your mother and sisters.” Parker appeared to be searching for the right words.

“Wickham emerged from hiding. He made his way to Longbourn and hid himself on the grounds. Yesterday, your sisters left the house to take the air in the garden under the protection of one of the Hills. Wickham used a moment of distraction to attempt an assault on your sister, Miss Mary Bennet, at knifepoint.”

Elizabeth’s gasp was horrified, and Darcy reached for her hand.

“No, no, Mrs. Darcy. He did not succeed. The successful person was Miss Mary. She took the knife away from him and dealt him a deep wound to the heart. She was joined by the elder Hill son, Jem, who dealt Wickham a killing blow with one of his hedging tools. Wickham is deceased. Your sister, though deeply distressed, is completely unhurt, and I am told your mother is not aware of what has happened. Your father and your other sisters are providing all comfort to Miss Mary, and it is hoped that she will recover from the shock and anguish. It should help that Jem Hill so ably defended her.”

“Mary,” breathed Elizabeth. “What have my family and I ever done to deserve all of this?” Darcy squeezed her hand more tightly, and she could feel her wedding ring. It comforted her. “What next?”

“Mrs. Darcy.” Parker’s eyes were still deeply troubled.

“You have done nothing. You are innocent people who have attracted the notice of a woman who wields great power but who is not rational. It is not just your family she has attacked. She has succeeded in ruining many innocent lives. You already know of her injuries to the Olivers. We know of many more, but we may never know the full extent of her wickedness and depravity.”

He paused and glanced sharply at Darcy, who nodded for him to continue, “In fact, it appears that she has also plotted to harm her closest family members. Although it is impossible to fathom her reasons for doing so, we have uncovered solid evidence that she was behind the attempted abduction of Miss Georgiana Darcy.”

Elizabeth gasped and looked at Darcy, whose face was grim. “But why?”

“My sister’s fortune,” replied Darcy. “Thirty thousand pounds is a large sum to leave lying about. And in the event of Georgiana’s death, I would inherit that money.

Therefore, it would eventually go to improve her daughter’s station.

She reckoned without the fact that I would have done anything to recover Georgiana, just as I would have done for you. ”

“Her efforts to injure Mr. Darcy through his friends and family members have all failed. She has been thwarted at every turn, and this is driving her to behave in ways that are ever more reckless. With the demise of George Wickham, we have temporarily broken her power. He has functioned as her right-hand man in committing these crimes. We must move quickly to ensure that she never regains that power. I am sure Colonel Fitzwilliam, here, would say we must bring the fight to her. I believe we can defeat her and secure justice for all whom she has wronged.”

Elizabeth managed a smile. “Well said, Sergeant Parker. I am a faithful soldier in your army, and I await your orders.”

Darcy pressed her hand again. “That’s my brave Elizabeth.”