Darcy was visibly perturbed as they walked slowly back to Longbourn. Janes usual pale complexion flushed as she explained in her soft voice to Lizzie what had happened in more detail. As Jane spoke, her sister's features went through a whole array of emotions, her deep feelings of affection and protection towards her sister were obvious. As he quietly observed her face from his place at the other side of Jane, Darcy's own expression became ever more grim. The hand holding his horse's reins tightened its grip, and he had to consciously prevent the arm he had offered Jane from pulling her along more quickly .

"I should never have left you alone!" Elizabeth finally said, full of self reproach. With tears forming in her eyes she stopped short and looked intensely at her sister, and then at Mr Darcy. "Mr Darcy, How grateful I am that you came along when you did. We are indebted to you, sir."

Darcy shook his head slightly, and averted his eyes.

"I fear I must accept responsibility for what happened, rather than praise."

"Responsibility? Come now, Mr Darcy! That man may have been, what was it you said, the son of your fathers steward? That hardly makes him your responsibility!"

"My fathers Steward, the late Mr Wickham was a respectable man. His son," Mr Darcy almost spat out the words « is about as far from respectable as you can get. But I knew of his vicious propensities. He has many previous crimes to answer for... and I did not make him answer for them. I had my reasons. Reasons I thought very important at the time, but now I see my thinking was flawed. I can not let it happen again! This time he must be stopped. Once and for all! As soon as I have spoken with your father I will do everything in my power to have the scoundrel locked away."

Elizabeth was taken aback by the strength of the emotions displayed by the usually stoic face. She decided Mr Wickhams previous sins had obviously affected Mr Darcy in a very personal way and she decided not to probe any further for the present. It was more pressing to deal with the present situation. Protecting Jane.

It was as though Darcy could read her mind, for after a pause he continued,

"I think, however that it would be best that the fewest possible people be aware of what has transpired. Mr Bennet will have to be informed, but otherwise do you both agree that the events of this morning should go no further?"

Nothing had occurred that could compromise Jane, she herself was blameless, but the two sisters were very aware of how fragile a maiden's reputation could be, and how things could very easily be twisted, and taken out of context.

"I think that would be wise" Elizabeth answered immediatly, "I am convinced we could not count on the discretion of Mama, or Lydia and Kitty. We must not show any sign that anything untoward has occured when we arrive home." As she spoke, Elizabeth looked over to her sister with eyebrows raised. "Except perhaps you might say that you over exerted yourself, and need to rest your ankle?"

"Yes, you are both right. And it is true, I do need to rest my ankle" Jane sighed, trying to carry on bravely. After the struggle with Mr Wickham her ankle was again causing her pain. She was grateful to have the support of her sister and Mr Darcy for the walk back home.

They walked on in silence until they arrived in the gardens at the front of Longbourn house and approached a wooden bench happily situated under a willow tree, then Jane spoke again. "I would like to sit here for a while, if I may. I need to compose myself and rest my ankle before having to face mama and the others."

"Of course!" nodded Mr Darcy as he released her arm.

"I will call for Joe to come and see to your horse... if you are to speak with my father?" Elizabeth offered, and after Mr Darcy nodded again, she turned towards the buildings near by.

As he watched her walk briskly towards the stables to call for the stable hand, Darcy absently stroked the neck of his handsome black horse, deep in thought. then suddenly he turned to Jane.

"I wish to reassure you Miss Bennet, I have already enough bought-up debts and other such proof, to have Wickham dealt with, without having to mention your name, or anyone else's. Your reputations will not be tarnished... I have only now to offer you my sincerest apologies, that I ever allowed the man to roam free long enough to have the chance to hurt you."

"Mr Darcy, you have been nothing but kindness. I cannot thank you enough for your help, but I should not have waited alone for my sister, we should have stayed together." Jane flushed again, trying not to allow her mind to think of what may have happened, "Please do not place the blame on yourself, you could not know this would happen!"

"You are very generous, but please allow me to reassure you Miss Bennet, I have the ressources and men to track him down, and he will be stopped!"

As he was speaking Elizabeth came back towards them. The stable hand was not far behind her. He soon took the reins, respectfully listened to Mr Darcy's instructions about the needs of his horse, and led the animal away.

When he was ou of earshot Elizabeth turned to Mr Darcy "It will perhaps seem less suspicious, and mama will be less curious if you alone speak to our father to explain what has happened. Please tell him, if he would like to talk with Jane or I , we will go to him later."

"I will convey your message to your father" As he spoke Darcy could not help but feel a surge of affection, and desire, for this bright eyed, beautiful creature that stood before him, her dark curls blowing in the wind, her eyes full of determination. Certainly Miss Jane Bennet was a classic beauty and a gentle soul, but the feelings he had for her sister, despite his efforts to supress them, were becoming more and more difficult to control. Yet control them he must.

After a few minutes rest, Jane stood, Mr Darcy again offered his arm, and supported by her sister on the other side, and they made their way to the door.

Mrs Bennet herself was a having a very busy day. When guests were invited to dine at Longbourn, she always prided herself on her excellent table, she was well known in the neighbourhood for her hospitality. For this particular evening however, she was even more determined to impress. After all, the way to a mans heart, was it not through an excellent meal in the company of her beautiful girls. Lizzie had already attracted the attention of Mr Bingley, and as for Jane and Mr Darcy, all they needed was a little nudge in the right direction! She had spent a good part of the morning hounding the cook, and making changes to the menu. After declaring her usual decorations unsuitable, she scurried out the side door to cut a few more late blooms for her table. Humming cheerily, she snipped a few flowers, and then glancing across the garden, she saw to her delight, her dearest beautiful Jane, sitting on the far bench, her face flushed pink, and none other than the handsome...and rich Mr Darcy, speaking very earnestly to her. She was no where near enough to even hear the voices, but she did not need to... Jane's face spoke it all. With a triumphant grin, she hurried back into the house.

A few minutes later, Jane and Elizabeth came through the front door with Mr Darcy. As they did Mrs Bennet burst through the parlour door, ready to welcome them with great effusions.

" My dear Mr Darcy, what a pleasure to see you here this morning! Even If you are to come again this evening! But we do not stand on ceremony! Come, you must take tea with us in the parlour. Come Jane, come to the parlour... and you Lizzy! Oh Jane, I knew you could not be so beautiful for nothing!"

Elizabeth, surprised at the last statement, opened her mouth to speak, but Jane lightly touched her arm, and shook her head discretely.

"Dear Mama," Jane spoke gently, but looked perplexed. "I am afraid my walk has rather tired me out and my ankle is paining me considerably, I must excuse myself and go to my room to rest..."

Mrs Bennet looked very put out until Jane added, "...and I believe Mr Darcy has not the time to stop and take tea, he has come specifically to speak with papa."

"You would speak with Mr Bennet?" her pang of disappointment lasted only a fraction of a second, and then a delighted smile dawned on Mrs Bennet's face. "Well indeed you must, Mr Darcy, if that is what you have determined to do! I am sure he will be very happy to hear whatever it is you wish to speak to him about... Hill! Please tell Mr Bennet that Mr Darcy is here to speak with him, tell him it is a very important matter... I am sure it must be a very important matter... is it not Mr Darcy?"

"It is a matter of some importance," he carefully replied, and after making a bow, followed Mrs Hill to the door of the book room.

"Yes! Yes! And we will all be together this evening!" she shouted after him. "Oh dear Jane, I knew as much that you should not have gone for such a long walk, but I suppose the air did you good, how lucky you met with Mr Darcy! You must be very happy are you not?" Mrs Bennet looked at her daughter with a knowing smile, her eyes encouraging Jane to speak.

All Jane did was to lower her eyes and remain quiet while Mrs Bennet continued, in a slightly more irritated voice, "Well, if you have nothing to tell your own mother and need to rest then rest you must! Besides, you need to look your best for this evening. Lizzy help your sister up the stairs!"

Mrs Bennet was determined to wait for the conversation between Mr Bennet and Mr Darcy to conclude, and so she hovered for a while at the other end of the hall. After several long minutes waiting and straining to hear the sound of the voices coming from the book room, she let out a sigh and decided that it would be wiser to carry on with the evening's preparations. Despite her regular glances towards her husbands bookroom door as she went about her affairs, somehow she managed to miss the moment Mr Darcy left the house. It was too late when she heard the crunch of gravel and saw through the dining room window the man gallop away at great speed.

Mr Bennet had listened in shock as Darcy explained to him the events of that morning, he had needed several reassurances that Jane was indeed unharmed. He heard with compassion the dealings Mr Wickham had had with Mr Darcys own sister and the dilemma Darcy faced to protect his sister's reputation.

He shuddered to think of his two younger daughters, and how they would be vulnerable to such a man.

The two men united in the common goal of preventing this vile being from harming another innocent young girl. As it happened, the connections, money and determination of Mr Darcy combined with the sharp mind and local knowledge held by Mr Bennet were quickly combined, and after they had laid plans for catching Mr Wickham, both were satisfied that it would not take long to bring him to justice. Mr Bennet especially pleased that it would all come about with no particular effort on his part.

Darcy wrote Several letters that were sent by express, and two of his trusted men were dispatched to make inquiries in Meryton. Word was also sent to Colonel Forster, the man in charge of the regiment stationed near Meryton, to ask his assistance in apprehending the man, should he actually show his face in town.

When Darcy left to put most of the plan into motion, all Mr Bennet had left to do was to inform his wife and daughters that for the time being nobody was to leave the grounds of Longbourn unless accompanied by a servant. He performed this duty later in the afternoon by calling his wife and daughters together and announcing the new retriction in his usual nonchalant way, offering no explanations. Despite Mrs Bennet's questions, Lydia's pleading and Kitty's outcry, he refused to say any more and headed back to his room stopping only a moment to gently put his hand on Janes shoulder as he walked by.

Elizabeth noticed this, and also noticed her sister a few moments later discretely leave the parlour in the direction of her fathers room. She wished she could follow them, but thought it safer to remain where she was and put up with the whining, and complaining. Fortuneatly the commotion in the parlour soon died away, however, as Mrs Bennet declared it was time that they must all prepare for dinner. The maid was instructed to make sure Jane and Elizabeth looked their very best. The other three girls were to manage between themselves. For Mrs Bennet of Longbourn, this was the most importnt evening of her life. If everything went to plan, her fears of being thrown into the hedgerows would soon be a distant memory.

I am determined to finish this story, and I am sorry for leaving such a long wait between chapters. When inspiration (and enough time) hit me I just type and post, so sorry again for any mistakes.

So what do you think? Should Jane and Bingly meet at last, or should something happen to keep them apart a little longer?