I actually had this written before I did the last two chapters. This is the epilogue of sorts, continuing in the cheerful tone the rest of the story did.

Elizabeth let the two letters fall from her numb hands; she could barely believe such a thing, even from her youngest sister! She felt tears well in her eyes as she picked up the two letters and handed them to her Aunt and Uncle, seated near her in the parlor reading their own correspondence.

"Pardon me," she said, her voice hollow and small as she looked at the fourth person in the room. Her new fiancé had returned with them to the parlor after breakfast so they could all see to their business together; he had not wanted to be parted from her before he needed to be. "I have to speak to Mr. Darcy. We shall be outside on the patio." The man stood with worry on his face and followed Elizabeth to the door. He tried to catch her hand, but she pulled her own away quickly. She allowed him to open the door for her, her face angled down. He followed her outside and shut the door. What was in those letters?

"Elizabeth, my dear, what is wrong?" He stood in front of her, his hands on her upper arms. They were in view of her family, but could not be heard by them.

Elizabeth's face was blotchy and he could see the tears in her eyes. "I am sorry, but I cannot marry you, sir!" She blurted this out, nearly choking on the words she could hardly bear to say.

Darcy was shocked. "What?! Whyever not? What happened?" Any anger he could have felt at her taking back her consent was dashed quickly because of her clear unhappiness. He knew she did not mean what she was saying but that she instead felt honor-bound to say it. Something had happened. Knowing but not caring that the action would be considered highly inappropriate, he folded Elizabeth into his arms. She resisted a moment, but he then felt her hands snake around his waist to hug him back. She calmed and pulled away, her eyes red. He raised her chin with one hand, peering down at her. "What news was in the letters, Elizabeth? Is it your parents, my love, is someone hurt?"

"Everyone is in health," she answered, her voice shaky. "But it is the most dreadful news," she continued, looking down and to the side. She put a hand on the balcony railing to steady herself. "Lydia has run away, thrown herself into an elopement… with Mr. Wickham!" Darcy was so shocked he took a half step backwards. Elizabeth let out an unconscious squeak in distress at his movement from her.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again. Upon seeing his fiancée looking more despondent than before, he reached for her hand, as much for his own comfort as hers. "Please, if you can, continue."

"Jane's letters were horribly misdirected, and took an extra day to arrive. I do not suppose it was made easier for the post-master by us not stopping in town first," she began. Elizabeth went on to describe the contents of the letters, thankful that he was at least listening to her before he cast her out of his Uncle's home. "My sister's reputation is ruined and to the detriment of us other four. I could not marry you and bring such a mark upon your wonderful family. How they should despise me."

Of the expressions she would have expected to show up on his face, a smile was not one of them. He was angry, of course, and truly he had never been angrier at George than he was at that very moment. Now was not the time to show his anger, but instead he wanted to be a comfort to his Elizabeth when her need was the greatest. "My dear Elizabeth," he put his hands on her cheeks, leaning his forehead on hers. "I could not stop loving you, even when you yourself despised me. I will not stop loving you for your sister's unfortunate choice either."

She clasped her hands around his wrists, and obligingly he removed his hands from her face at her slight pressure. "Sir, there is hardly any way to recover her. My Father has gone to town to find them, but he has so little hope of doing so. I cannot let you suffer for her mistakes."

He knew he would suffer more from not having Elizabeth in his life than he ever would from dealing with George, even if they both ended up married to Bennet sisters. He tried to keep his voice light. "Then it is all the better that I must go to Town to draw up a settlement and obtain the license for our marriage. It is also fortunate I was going to leave this afternoon anyway, for I have some idea of where to look for him." Elizabeth brightened slightly and then gave him a questioning look.

He waved off the last comment as business for him to deal with when the time came. "I would do anything and everything in my power for you, Elizabeth. Know that and never doubt it. We will find him." She looked vaguely worried at the word 'we,' but trusted him. "As for your reputation and that of your sisters', I do believe you have nothing to fear on that front either."

Concern flashed on her face, would he expect her to just ignore her family now that they were engaged? She would never do that, and when she spoke there was an edge to her voice. "How sir?"

"Where are we?" She gave him a dark look, which he ignored. "My dear, where are we?"

"Your Aunt and Uncle's home in Derbyshire."

"And who are they?"

"The Earl and Lady Matlock. Sir, what are you-"

"Bear with me, love. Where did you visit two days ago?"

"Your home, Pemberley, also in Derbyshire."

"Soon to be our home; I will not let you break our engagement for anything less than a complete belief in losing your love for me. I will do everything I can to help you, and I want you to feel comfortable in the knowledge that my Aunt and Uncle will do whatever is required to help you now as well. They, as they mentioned to both you and myself, approve of you. You are a guest in their home and, as of yesterday, my dear, you will be their niece. They care for you very much already and would not want to see you hurt. We none of us will let you suffer for your sister's youthful mistakes. We will help find them and everything will come to a conclusion, and no one will be worse off for it. You and your sisters especially."

"Mr. Darcy…"

"William."

"William," she allowed, a hint of a smile on her face. Darcy swelled at the knowledge his attempt to comfort her worked. "I am so glad to have earned your love and respect and that of your family as well. How am I supposed to thank you for this?"

"Oh, Lizzy," he raised her hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles. He had never called her by that name before, finding he liked it. "You never have to."