When evening fell at Longbourn, Elizabeth found herself in her father's study. Mr. Darcy was seated in the chair where she usually sat and Elizabeth wondered why he remained. Colonel Forster had long since gone.
“We will leave in an hour's time, Lizzy. Colonel Forster has said we must take Captain Denny along for if we find Wickham, he will be returned to the regiment for punishment.”
“I will go and have a small trunk packed for the journey, Papa.” Elizabeth turned to quit the study.
Mr. Bennet stood and called to her. “You must stay and tend your mother, Lizzy. Mr. Darcy will come along as he persuaded me to allow him to assuage his guilt.”
Elizabeth did not know which part of her father's declaration to address first. Kitty could tend their mother and Mr. Darcy should feel no guilt for Lydia's foolish behavior.
Mr. Darcy had stood with her father and looked to Elizabeth before speaking. “Mr. Bennet, if I may, Miss Elizabeth must accompany us on this terrible errand. I do not believe Mrs. Bennet might travel so far with her affliction. Miss Lydia will need the advice and comfort of her sister when she is found.”
Elizabeth was pleased by the man's quick thinking but went to her father's side in order to beg his permission. “Mr. Darcy has said all that was on my heart, Papa. I could not think that Lydia would wish to travel home without one of her sisters to give her aid.”
Mr. Bennet nodded but his demeanor was one of regret. “Go and pack a trunk Lizzy. Mr. Darcy will return after gathering his things and we will make our way toward Scotland.”
Elizabeth worried the Bingley sisters would question Mr. Darcy without ceasing when he returned to Netherfield Park. She supposed he was quite capable of fooling them with some plausible excuse. But their tongues likely wagged already with gossip over how she had nearly dragged her mother and sisters from their parlor.
True to her father's word, the party that would travel to Scotland was gathered before Longbourn an hour later.
Mr. Darcy and Captain Denny were on horseback and Elizabeth wished Mr. Darcy would ride in the carriage instead. She knew he rode his horse for a number of reasons, not the least of which was to allow privacy for her family on the return home to Hertfordshire.
She gave him a small smile before climbing into the carriage and he nodded in reply. Once seated, she thought of Lydia again. Her letter had been most infuriating. Jane's wedding was mentioned as her impetus for eloping with Mr. Wickham.
Elizabeth regretted that her youngest sister held such little sense in her pretty head. Mrs. Bennet had encouraged Lydia to flirt with the soldiers as she found the practice quite harmless. Mr. Bennet was to blame as well for he rarely checked the younger girls. For blame, there was plenty, but to their good fortune, Colonel Forster and Mr.Darcy had been a godsend.
When her father seated himself across from her on his bench, Elizabeth thought of the mention he had made in his study of Mr. Darcy's guilt.
"Papa, why would Mr. Darcy hold any remorse over Lydia or Lieutenant Wickham?"
Her father sighed and Elizabeth saw he was weary from the trouble her sister had caused. Her heart ached for his pain. She so often thought he did consider the futures of his younger daughters. Now she could see perhaps he did and it vexed him greatly.
"Mr. Darcy and I spoke at length of the knowledge he held regarding Wickham's past history of poaching young ladies from prominent families in order to seek a fortune. I was convinced that he regrets keeping quiet when he ought to have at least warned Colonel Forster," Mr. Bennet ceased his explanation of a sudden and placed a hand to his head as if in pain.
Elizabeth moved to his side quickly, her brow furrowed. “Papa, are you well?”
Mr. Bennet drew in a shaky breath and reached for the handkerchief in his coat pocket. “’Tis only a headache my dear. Once we rest for the night, I shall be fine.”
She was not convinced by his words for his face had gone quite pale. Had Lydia thought her plan might cause harm to her family? Elizabeth did not think she had for Lydia only ever thought of herself.
Pulling a small, stoppered bottle from her reticule, Elizabeth took her father's hand. “Here, have but a small draught. 'Tis only mother's tonic. I worried you might need it to rest easy tonight.”
Mr. Bennet chuckled and the sound reassured Elizabeth. “You are indeed the one daughter I might depend upon, my dear Lizzy. I am grateful Mr. Darcy persuaded me to bring you along.”
After a half hour, Elizabeth moved closer to her father. His snore and the nodding of his head made her supply her shoulder for his brief rest.
A sigh of relief she had been holding escaped her lips But the anger she had held in check since finding Lydia's treacherous letter plucked at her heart.
Her sister’s foolish choices would affect them all and their chance for good matches, but she feared their father might not survive the arduous journey or the agitation of the circumstances.