344Chapter 34
Darcy hummed to himself as he rode along, the flora along the road swaying in time to his tune. Although he knew Miss Elizabeth and the Gardiners would be joining them for dinner, he was too impatient to wait until this evening to see her. Georgiana had been unwilling to share details of the visit from the day before prior to his joining them, but had hinted that his attentions to Miss Elizabeth were most welcome from that quarter. After that discussion in his sitting room, he had gone to bed with a smile on his face and dreamt of whispered words of love by their spring.
Upon awaking that morning, he had decided that it was time to approach her and request a courtship at the very least. If Miss Elizabeth could love him without her memories, then being in a courtship would allow him to spend more time with her and perhaps help him discover the means to recovering his own lost memory. It had the added benefit of giving him a better opportunity to protect her should she awaken before then. Whether she accepted his offer or not, he was determined to spend the morning with his beloved.
Escaping Pemberley unaccompanied, however, had never been as much of a challenge as it had been that morning. Despite the set down she had received the day before, Miss Bingley had shown that she was not willing to give up easily. At supper, she had dominated the conversation - which in and of itself was not unusual - yet she had been more combative than normal in her attempt to appear debatable. Rather than agreeing with Darcy in everything he said, she tried throwing out opinions that countered his own as she had seen Miss Elizabeth do. Not only had this tactic not borne fruit for the Viper, but it had the opposite effect of what she was going for. Her attempts at such discourse often led her to unknowingly contradict herself much to the amusement of the rest of the party. Then rather than sleeping late as was her wont, Darcy had been surprised to see her awaiting him in the breakfast room shortly after dawn. Had it not been for Bingley and Georgiana's realization that he wished to visit Miss Elizabeth, he was certain he would still be sitting at the table listening to her praise his every movement.
Thinking of Bingley, Darcy was unable to contain a grin of hope. The man had masterfully demanded his sister resist in her attempts to delay Darcy's departure. She had begun to whine and try to manipulate him, but Bingley held firm and and escorted her to her room where he was certain an argument had taken place. Knowing that Bingley was no longer blinded by his sisters professed esteem for him, Darcy was certain that it would not be long before Bingley was ready to return to Netherfield and woo Miss Bennet without the Viper and her assistant at his side.
It was with these pleasant thoughts that Darcy drew close to the inn. He decided then that he would inform Miss Elizabeth of his own impending return to Hertfordshire in the hopes that it would be yet more proof of his consistency. That she had already shown a warming regard for him buoyed his spirits to the point that if he was not careful, he would be spouting another proposal before he was assured of her acceptance. Although he was certain such a proposal would be better received than the previous one, it was an action he did not feel she was ready for.
As he swung from his horse, he felt a wave of magic rush past him into the inn. Senses suddenly heightened, he glanced around before sending his own tendril inside while handing the reins to a stable boy. As his tendril reached the Gardiner's rooms, he came upon an impenetrable magical wall preventing him from reaching his beloved. Fear coursed through his veins as he donned a calm facade in an attempt to regulate his suddenly sporadic breathing. It would not do to let the inn's patrons see him discomposed before he had even begun his visit. A thousand possible reasons for his father's sudden interference flew through his mind, and it took every ounce of his mental strength to put on a smile and walk calmly inside.
"Ah, Mr. Darcy! 'Tis a pleasure to see ya agin, sir," the innkeeper called out as he quickly left his counter to greet his newest guest.
"Mr. Fletcher," Darcy acknowledged with a small bow.
"Might I be askin' if ye were hopin' to meet wit' yer friends?" Unable to trust himself to speak and yet remain calm, Darcy merely nodded with a small smile. "Well, sir, I'm sorry ta say that the Gardiners have just left ta go on a walk. 'Owever Miss Bennet stayed upstairs. She received sum letters and I gather she wished ta read them b'fore they left fer their next outin'."
Knowing that Miss Elizabeth was alone only increased his anxiety, and Darcy wanted nothing more than to rush upstairs to see what was wrong. However, he knew that he must not allow his emotions to get the best of him in such a public place, so forcing a small smile he spoke. "If you do not believe I would be interrupting her, I would appreciate the chance to still call upon Miss Bennet."
Fletcher waved his hand in the air as if to brush aside his concerns, "think nothin' of it, sir! My Hannah 'eard them talkin' bout how kind ye and yer sister were. I'm sure the Miss would be more than 'appy ta see ya."
"I thank you, Mr. Fletcher," Darcy spoke as the young maid from before quickly rushed over and with a curtsey indicated he should follow her upstairs.
As they reached the landing, the feeling of caution coming from his father's barrier only grew, further increasing his own alarm. However, the moment the maid reached out to open the door to the sitting room rented by the Gardiner's, all traces of magic disappeared leaving Darcy feeling slightly bereft and hesitant to see what was inside.
"If ya please, ma'am, Mr. Darcy is 'ere ta see ya," Hannah spoke quickly before stepping aside to let him in then swiftly left them alone.
Eyes full of concern sought hers the moment she was within his view and he saw tears falling steadily from her hazel eyes before she gasped and seemed to trip in her attempt to curtsey. Full of concern, he began to rush forward to assist her before she quickly regained her balance and shook her head at him. Stopping himself he gave a short bow as he watched her nearly crush the letter in her hands. Wondering what kind of news she might have received to put her in such a state, he opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off.
"I beg your pardon, but I must leave you. I must find Mr. Gardiner this moment, on business that cannot be delayed; I have not an instant to lose."
She spoke to the ground, refusing to look up and meet his gaze, and he found he was no longer able to contain himself. "What is the matter?" He cried, knowing that he sounded far from polite with the feelings of fear and despair welling up in his chest. "I will not detain you a minute; but let me, or let the servant go after Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. You are not well enough; you cannot go yourself."
He watched as she started to lift her head, but quickly lowered it again in hesitation. Seeing she was barely able to hold herself up with her knees trembling he walked back to the door calling out for a servant. A nearby manservant quickly came running at the panic in his voice, and after gaining directions from Elizabeth, went running back down the hallway. Swiftly Darcy closed the door no longer able to care about propriety and watched as his beloved sank into a chair. She looked so ill that Darcy was beginning to worry about her. Quietly, he drew near and, pulling another chair closer to hers, gingerly sat down. Her hand still clutched the letter in her hands, and it was hard for him to not reach out and pry it away from her so that he could offer his hand in comfort. Instead, he leaned forward hoping to catch her eyes, but she studiously avoided his gaze.
With a soft sigh of extreme worry, he began gently to speak, "Let me call your maid." She shook her head. "Is there nothing you could take to give you present relief?" She shook her head harder and whispered a tearful no. The sadness in her voice caused his own voice to tremble as he continued on, "A glass of wine; shall I get you one?" Another no sounded and he felt his heart stop. "You are very ill," he spoke pleadingly letting his love for her sound in his voice.
He was finally rewarded as she looked up in exasperation and he saw her bright green eyes meet his own.
Gasping, his voice broke as he reached for her crying, "Ilia..."
"NO!"
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Smiling, Elizabeth watched her aunt and uncle as they left her alone in their rented sitting room. They had all been preparing to walk out when two letters from Jane were delivered. It had been some time since she had last heard from her sister and she was beginning to be concerned. Having seen her excitement, the Gardiners felt they should let her read in peace.
Tossing the bonnet she had been about to don onto a nearby table, she grasped the letters and wandered over to the same window seat she had seen Mr. Darcy bow to her from and plopped down in a most unladylike manner. Unable to hold back a giggle, she thought back to that moment and wondered why those moments when time stood still used to bother her so much. Over the past three days, Mr. Darcy had made it quite obvious that he had quite forgiven her for her refusal at Hunsford and the thought that he might still have feelings for her caused her to shiver. Not wishing to dwell on her own feelings in the matter, she turned her attention back to the letters in her hand wondering what Jane would say if she knew how much time she had spend in Mr. Darcy's company since arriving in Derbyshire.
Her smile faded when she noticed that the older of the two letters was marked as having been missent elsewhere due to a remarkably ill written direction, while the other was dated only a day letter. Ignoring the rising concern in her breast, she opened the first and began to eagerly read.
The first half was an account of the many goings on in the neighborhood. The Bennet's had attended several dinner parties and other engagements which Jane shared in much detail. There was also an accounting of the many antics of her young cousins who had been placed in Jane's care while their parents were traveling. Elizabeth smiled as she read and was grateful for the news from home, even if it there was little to share.
Suddenly, the tone of the letter changed - as did the date - and Elizabeth could not help but gasp in fear as she read on:
"Since writing the above, dearest Lizzy, something has occurred of a most unexpected and serious nature; but I am afraid of alarming you - be assured that those of us at Longbourn are all well. What I have to say relates to Lydia. An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed, from Colonel Forster, to inform us that she had been abducted by an officer; to own the truth, by Wickham! Imagine our surprise. I am very, very sorry. So imprudent an action on his part! But I am willing to hope that his character has been misunderstood. Thoughtless and indiscreet I could easily believe him, but this step marks everything bad at heart. His choice is disinterested at least, for he must know my father can give him nothing. Our poor mother is sadly grieved. My father bears it little better. They were off Saturday night about twelve, as is conjectured, but were not missed till yesterday morning at eight. The express was sent off directly. Colonel Forster gives us reason to expect him here soon. I must conclude, for I cannot be long from my poor mother. I am afraid you will not be able to make it out, but I hardly know what I have written."
With her breathing shallow, Elizabeth refused to allow herself to consider what she had read before instantly reaching for the second letter and tearing it open impatiently. It had been written a day later than the conclusion of the first and read as follows:
"By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried letter; I wish this may be more intelligible, but though not confined for time, my head is so bewildered that I cannot answer for being coherent. Dearest Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for you, and it cannot be delayed. Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton the day before, not many hours after the express. Lydia left a few lines for his wife, informing her that she was willingly running away to marry Wickham. This gave us some hope, but it was quickly dashed. Imprudent as the marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia would be, there is too much reason to fear they are not gone to Scotland. Though Lydia's short letter to Mrs. F. gave them to understand that they were going to Gretna Green, Wickham left his own note expressing he was taking her as a hostage. Colonel F. - having seen that a great amount of money was also missing from this desk where Wickham's note was found - instantly taking the alarm, set off from B. intending to trace their route. He did trace them easily to Clapham, but no further; for on entering that place they removed into a hackney coach, and dismissed the chaise that brought them from Epsom. All that is known after this is, that they were seen to continue the London road. I know not what to think. After making every possible inquiry on that side London, Colonel F. came on into Hertfordshire, anxiously renewing them at all the turnpikes, and at the inns in Barnet and Hatfield but without any success - no such people had been seen to pass through. With the kindest concern, he came on to Longbourn, and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart. I am sincerely grieved for him and Mrs. F., but no one can throw any blame on them. Our distress, my dear Lizzy, is very great. My father and mother believe the worst but I cannot give up hope that perhaps we have all misjudged him and he truly loves her. I grieve to find, however, that Colonel F. is not disposed to depend upon their marriage; he shook his head when I expressed my hopes, and said he knew W. was not a man to be trusted which is why he had been transferred to another unit. My poor mother is really ill, and keeps her room. Could she exert herself, it would be better; but this is not to be expected. And as to my father, I never in my life saw him so affected. I am truly glad, dearest Lizzy, that you have been spared something of these distressing scenes; but now, as the first shock is over, shall I own that I long for your return? I am not so selfish, however, as to press for it, if inconvenient. Adieu!
"I take up my pen again to do what I have just told you I would not; but circumstances are such that I cannot help earnestly begging you all to come here as soon as possible. I know my dear uncle and aunt so well, that I am not afraid of requesting it, though I have still something more to ask of the former. My father is going to London with Colonel Forster instantly, to try to discover her. What he means to do I am sure I know not; but his excessive distress will not allow him to pursue any measure in the best and safest way, and Colonel Forster is obliged to be at Brighton again tomorrow evening. In such an exigence, my uncle's advice and assistance would be everything in the world; he will immediately comprehend what I must feel, and I rely upon his goodness."
As she finished reading Elizabeth was torn between anger at her sister and worry. Although Jane had not said it expressly, it was obvious to her that Lydia was just a pawn in Wickham's latest scheme: desertion. Fear at the thought of what he had done and said to convince her youngest sister to think he was willing to elope with her caused tears to flow. Yet she realized it mattered not. Whether Lydia had been kidnapped or run away, she was ruined and had brought ruin upon all four of her sisters in her wake.
She was ruined! Unable to breath, the ramifications of that thought entered into her mind. Because they were now ruined, none of them would be able to find good husbands. Bingley would never again seek out her sister, and as a family they must immediately withdraw from all society, including that of Mr. Darcy.
Thinking of Mr. Darcy caused her to break down in wracking sobs. He loved her still, she knew that. But she must leave and return to her family as soon as her aunt and uncle returned. Admitting to herself that she would never be able to see him again to keep him from partaking of her ruin, she broke down further and felt as though her heart was being torn in half. It was then that she realized the truth: she was in love with Mr. Darcy!
"Iliana!"
The voice startled her and she jumped up from her seat looking around, only to find herself alone and confused. She recognized the voice, and it was a name she had heard before. Mr. Darcy had called her that once before and the thought of him saying it brought a warmth to her heart. Allowing a small smile to grace her lips, she closed her eyes and tried to picture Mr. Darcy as he had been when he called her by that name. But it was not Mr. Darcy whose image she pictured. In his place stood the tall blonde stranger with Mr. Darcy's blue eyes watching her.
"Iliana!"
Gasping Elizabeth opened her eyes, tears continuing to stream unabated down her cheeks. Mr. Darcy had never called her that. He had instead always called her "Ellette." No, it was the blonde stranger who had called her Iliana. He was the one who had named the flower residing in Pemberley's gallery... he had named it after her... She let out a yelp as images flooded her mind. Dozens of men reached out to her, all calling her "Iliana", yet it was the images of Mr. Darcy and the blonde stranger she focused on.
"Mr. Darcy, help me!" She silently cried. "Please my love, help me! Oh, Eavan!"
Suddenly the room was filled with a power similar to what she felt whenever Mr. Darcy froze time, but this power was much stronger and she fell to her knees as though in pain.
"Please, Elizabeth! Do not give in!" A voice nearly shouted in the room. "It is not time! You must not remember!"
She covered her ears and squinted her eyes as though that would help her block out the onslaught of what she was beginning to recognize as memories. "I cannot do it," she cried out.
"You must, my dear! He is so close to saving you both. You must give him more time. I cannot protect you any longer."
She recognized the voice as being the same as the one who had spoken to her many times over her acquaintance with Mr. Darcy, beginning in the library at Netherfield. Although she knew not why, she was still certain it was one she could trust implicitly, yet she was helpless against the visions flooding her mind. Women began to join the men she saw, each one felt familiar, as if she knew them from another life.
"NO! Please, my lady! You must be strong, do not remember, I beg you!"
"Sir..." she whispered feeling that her address was wrong. It was suddenly hard to breath as though there was a great weight crushing her. Trying to stand, she swayed and nearly fell back down. "The ship...the mast. I cannot breathe!" She gasped.
"It was a dream, Elizabeth," the voice spoke with a touch of harshness. No, not just any voice she thought, but that of the Fairy King.
Eyes opening wide, she began to remember. "It was not a dream, Sire. Eavan...where..." she wheezed as she clutched at her chest.
"He comes, My Lady," Adair spoke with resignation. "Mr. Darcy comes. But please, you must forget again."
"I cannot," she cried again. "I do not want to. Darcy is Eavan. I love him!" Smiling, she began to welcome the memories as they came, but they had begun to slow, as though they were coming through a small funnel.
"Please," was the whispered plea. "What of your family, Miss Elizabeth? Shall you abandon them now in their time of need? Shall they mourn you while Lydia's fate remains unknown? How shall Jane survive if you leave her?"
A new wave of tears began to run down her face as she was forced to face reality. She visualized Eavan, the one she now knew was the blonde stranger and imagined him turning away from her. As she did, the memories began to fade, and she began to wonder why she was so upset. She felt a mixture of relief and loss as she focused once more on the letters still in her hand.
Jane! Lydia! The last vestiges of her memories fading as she thought of her sisters, the power in the room disappearing as suddenly as it had come. Looking down she cried out, "Oh! where, where is my uncle?"
She began to dart towards the door when it suddenly opened and Hannah was introducing none other than Mr. Darcy. She took one look at his blue eyes, and the memories that she had almost finished suppressing forced themselves to the surface with such force that it felt as though she had been blasted by a cannonball again. So strong was their sudden return, she nearly stumbled as she attempted a curtsey.
"No!" Adair's whispered voice was full of defeat. "Please, try to keep yourself from him, Iliana. He must not know you have awakened. You must do everything to keep the curse from collecting. Please."
Fighting a fresh wave of tears in silent acknowledgement, she then shook her head at Darcy's attempt to help her and spoke quickly looking down. "I beg your pardon, but I must leave you. I must find Mr. Gardiner this moment, on business that cannot be delayed; I have not an instant to lose."
She could hear the quivering in her voice as she spoke, and was heartened to hear his passionate outburst of concern for her. She was grateful he took charge of the situation, and somehow managed to give her uncle's direction when he prompted her as she felt her knees trembling. As she gingerly sank into a chair, she heard Darcy shut the door and squeezed her eyes shut against another onslaught of tears. She wanted to look up at him, but dared not as she knew the moment he saw her eyes he would know she had awakened.
Trying to gather her thoughts, she could not understand why the fairy king was so against her awakening. She knew that now she was awake, they were no longer protected from death, but surely that was no reason to keep her from her memories. Then she realized he had said something about Darcy being so close to saving them. Was there something she did not know about the curse that he had figured out? Frustrated, she clenched her hands into a fist, nearly forgetting the letters she still held.
Pain ripped through her heart as she realized that in order to be with Darcy she would most likely have to abandon her family whom for the first time she genuinely loved. To choose her family, however, would mean turning Eavan away for the first time since their first lifetime. It was not a decision she took lightly, but it was suddenly obvious which choice Adair wanted her to make. She had to trust the fairy king, and prayed he knew how difficult this choice was for her.
She listened as Darcy began to ask after her welfare with such tenderness she had not heard from him in many years. She wanted to reach out to him for the comfort she craved, but merely shook her head no. When he asked after her relief, she forced herself to say no hoping he would take the hint and leave. Yet he continued to press her, breaking her heart even more with each negative reply. Finally, she heard his pleading voice say "You are very ill," and could not resist looking up at him with a touch of exasperation that he was still pressing her.
At hearing his gasp, she knew looking up was a mistake as he gazed deeply into her eyes. As he began to say her name, she felt a well of panic rise in her and a loud "NO!" Sounded in the room. She watched as his face clouded over in hurt confusion as she wondered whether it was her voice or Adair's that had stopped him from speaking. Not wishing to dwell on it, she quickly continued on.
"No," she spoke much softer, once again looking down and refusing to meet his eyes. "I thank you, Mr. Darcy. There is nothing the matter with me. I am quite well. I am only distressed by some dreadful news which I have just received from Longbourn." Having finished speaking, she burst into a fresh wave of tears.
For several minutes, she struggled to compose herself. She was still debating which of her two situations was the more distressing. Darcy, meanwhile, uttered soft platitudes meant to show his concern, but he was unsuccessful in hiding his confusion and hurt from her. This unfortunately had the opposite effect on her from what he had intended, and she wished him silent. At length she felt in control of her emotions again and hesitantly spoke.
"I have just had a letter from Jane, with such dreadful news. It cannot be concealed from any one. My youngest sister has been taken from all her friends - has believed herself to have eloped; - has been thrown into the power of - of Mr. Wickham." Finally daring to look up, she watched as his face registered first shock, then anger. "They are gone off from Brighton," she hurried on. "You know him too well to doubt the rest. We have no money, no connections, nothing that can tempt him to - she is lost forever."
Darcy jumped up from his seat and began to pace the room, his hand running through his hair in agitation. Despite her despair, she could not help but let loose a sad smile at this familiar habit of his. When he paused, she composed her face into one of grief again and spoke on. "When I consider that I might have prevented it! - I , who knew not only what he was but that my father had not shared. Had I but explained some part of it only - some part of what I learnt - to my own sisters! Had his character been known to her, this could not have happened. But it is all, all too late now."
"I am grieved indeed," cried Darcy; "grieved - shocked. But is it certain, absolutely certain?"
"Oh yes! - He took her from Brighton on Sunday night, and were traced almost to London, but not beyond; they are certainly not gone to Scotland as she believed."
"And what has been done, what has been attempted, to recover her?"
Elizabeth looked up in shock. He was staring at her with an intensity she could not remember seeing before. With a bit of hesitation she said, "My father is gone to London, and Jane has written to beg my uncle's immediate assistance, and we shall be off, I hope, in half an hour." She did not miss the panic in his eyes as she said those words, and had to choke down more tears before continuing on. "But nothing can be done; I know very well that nothing can be done. How is such a man to be worked on? How are they even to be discovered? I have not the smallest hope. It is every way horrible!"
Had she not known Darcy to be her beloved Eavan, she would have grown concerned at his sudden cold and distant manner as he continued to pace the floor in earnest meditation. As Iliana, she knew he would never abandon her as Elizabeth would have thought Mr. Darcy would. However, the thought brought her little comfort. She must still leave him, and with yet more tears beginning to flow, she pulled out her handkerchief and covered her face with it.
"Ellette," Darcy spoke in a whisper. She felt his hands on hers, and she allowed him to pull them away from her face. He was kneeling on the floor in front of her, concern evident in his eyes. Choking back a sob, she met his gaze and tenderly reached a hand up to brush his cheek.
"Oh Eavan," she cried giving in, "I know not how I shall leave you. I am scared."
"Then do not leave. Stay here with me," he pleaded while she shook her head. "Please my love, I cannot lose you now. Stay with me at Pemberley, help me remember our last day so that we can finally be free."
Confusion quickly took over all her thoughts. "Remember?" she spat out, "what is there to remember? We died!"
"No, my love. We did not. Something happened to us that day, but according to my father, we did not die."
Shaking her head, she pulled her hand away from his face ignoring the look of loss that overcame his features, "this is not possible. We died and have continued to die over and over again ever since that day! And before I die again, I must return to my family. They need me!"
Darcy stood up and looked down on her with a mixture of hurt and anger. "What about me? I need you, too! I have been waiting six years for this moment, and now you tell me you wish to leave me!"
Not wishing to give in to her own anger, she took a deep breath before speaking. "No matter what happens, we shall always be bound together. However, I could never again live with a clear conscious if I abandon them in their time of need. They may be flawed, Mr. Darcy, but they are my family and I do love them."
She watched concerned as he staggered backwards, a distant look of shock on his face. His eyes closed tight as he shook his head back and forth quickly. When he opened them again to look in her eyes, there was a sad resignation there. He looked away from her and spoke with great solemnity. "I am afraid you have been long desiring my absence, nor have I any thing to plead in excuse of my stay, but real, though unavailing, concern. Would to heaven that any thing could be either said or done on my part, that might offer consolation to such distress. But I will not torment you with vain wishes, which may seem purposely to ask for your thanks. This unfortunate affair will, I fear, prevent my sister's having the pleasure of seeing you at Pemberley today."
Confused by his sudden formality, she knew she should be grateful that he had taken her hint of using his mortal name to accede to her wishes, but all she felt was lost. Drawing upon her own mortal experiences, she somehow managed to respond, though what she said she was unsure of as she watched him continue to edge away from her towards the door, without once looking at her. He replied once more, assuring her of his secrecy, expressed his sorrow and then hope for a happier outcome than what she currently expected, then with a final compliment for her relations he was gone.
So sudden was his departure that she knew not if she could have stopped him. "Eavan," she whispered knowing he could hear it and half hoping he would turn around and ignore her words. But he did not. She was both grateful and furious with him, but she realized she was mostly heartbroken. It had been centuries since she had last turned him away. She wanted to run after him, throw herself in his arms and comfort him while being comforted in turn. Instead she satisfied herself by simply watching him depart from the window hoping she would be reunited with him before the curse came to collect again. She knew not what would happen if they were not together when they died, and the thought of being alone scared her.
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"I could never again live with a clear conscious if I abandon them in their time of need. They may be flawed, Mr. Darcy, but they are my family and I do love them."
Darcy took a step back as her words hit him. An echo from the past brushed his memories and he closed his eyes to try and catch it. "Eavan, they need me! I cannot do do what you ask as that would condemn them all to a fate worse than death."
Looking back in her eyes, he had the distinct impression that she had said those words to him and he had ignored her plea, although he had no remembrance of the occasion. He wanted to ignore her words now, scoop her up in his arms and kiss every tear and thought of the Bennet's away, but something inside him screamed no at the thought. She had never before denied him after awakening, and despite his despair, it felt right.
Forcing his own emotions aside, he looked away and nodded solemnly. "I am afraid you have been long desiring my absence," he began. Shutting away all parts of him that were immortal, he continued on, only half aware of what he was saying and her own reply. Once all that could be said was done, he bowed stiffly and without so much as a glance at her, turned and walked out the door. He was determined not to look at her, for he knew if he did, his resolve to let her go once again would forever disappear.
Halfway down the stairs, he heard her whisper his name. The heartbreak in her voice caused him to nearly stumble, and he had to pause and take a moment to collect himself before entering the public rooms. Once he felt he had his emotions under regulation, he arranged his face into a blank facade and carried on. Making sure to bid the innkeeper farewell, he rushed outside and mounted his horse. He was about to take off, when he felt her gaze on him from the window. Closing his own eyes, he took a deep breath to keep his tears at bay, then without looking up at her, he rode off.
As he rode, he felt a fear creep over him. Every little movement in his periphery made him jump, causing his horse to become skittish. He knew that he was vulnerable for the first time in this lifetime to the curse, and it was already affecting him. Seeking to calm himself and the horse, he spoke to it in the ancient language of the magical folk, while placing a spell of security around them both. Having accomplished that, he began to focus on the problem at hand.
Elizabeth had made it clear that she was unwilling to renew their relationship until the situation with her family was resolved. He knew there was no one else who knew Wickham as well as he did, so he determined that he needed to join the search. While he was uncertain as to whether or not Miss Lydia was a willing accomplice or not, he knew that her reputation must be saved in order to save the family. If Wickham had merely kidnapped her, it should be as simple as seeing the man arrested for the many debts Darcy owned, and finding a willing husband for the girl who would not be opposed to some financial assistance from him. If, however, she had gone with him willingly thinking they were to be married, that would certainly make things more complicated. Sighing to himself, he knew that he needed to gather everything he had on Wickham in order to have the upper hand. Forcing himself to keep his focus on Wickham as he rode to distract from his heartbreak, he was quite pleased to have developed several plans for dealing with the blackguard by the time he arrived home.
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Georgiana paced in the hallway outside her brother's room. She could hear the low rumble of his voice as he directed his valet in his packing. Try as she might, she was unable to understand what was happening. When Darcy had left that morning for Lambton, she was certain he would be returning with the news that he and Miss Elizabeth were courting if not engaged. Indeed she, Mrs. Annesley, and Mr. Bingley had spent much time discussing their hopes for such an outcome. Instead, he had returned to Pemberley in a dark mood, barely greeting anyone as he called for his steward to be brought to his study immediately.
Concerned, Bingley had gone to try and talk to him, but had been uncharacteristically dismissed. About an hour after Bingley's attempt, a note arrived from Mrs. Gardiner saying that they had been called home on urgent business and would be unable to join them for dinner that evening. Disappointed, Georgiana had struggled to keep a pleasant demeanor as she listened to the Viper preen over their "good fortune" at having escaped such tedious company.
Much to her relief, and Miss Bingley's consternation, Darcy had entered the room as a particularly nasty comment escaped that woman's mouth. Never had Georgiana been so frightened of her brother as he gave a scathing set down before announcing that he had urgent business in town and would be departing at first light. His announcement caused no small amount of concern as all except a stupefied Miss Bingley burst out with questions. Darcy, however, gave no answers, and instead asked Bingley to accompany him to his study.
When Bingley rejoined the rest of the party, alone, he was quite subdued and seemed as though the weight of the world was on his shoulders. When questioned by his sisters, he merely stated that they would remain and await Darcy's return, but only if Georgiana was amenable to the idea. If not, then an express would be sent on to their cousins in Scarborough asking if they could move up the date of their arrival. Disappointed that Darcy had not asked her opinion directly, Georgiana gave her assent in the hopes that having his closest friend remain at Pemberley, would induce her brother to return sooner than Bingley seemed to expect.
The rest of the evening passed interminably, as Darcy seemed as though he was not fully present. Whatever had happened in Lambton was obviously bothering him, but any attempt to draw him out was met with a dark, forlorn look. It was no surprise when he excused himself early stating the need to rest before his journey thus breaking up their group for the evening. She had watched her brother leave the room, with shoulder's slumped and his eyes void of any color.
Although everyone else had retired as well, Georgiana found she could not sleep. She knew that whatever was wrong with her brother had something to do with Miss Elizabeth. She instead had sat at her writing desk, scratching out notes from her observations of the last several days. While Darcy's mood was similar to what it was during the winter and after his return from Rosings, there was something different she could not quite figure out. She wanted to help her brother, but was beginning to wonder how she possibly could.
As she sat there staring at her notes, she felt a warm breeze pass by her and a soft voice whisper, "flower." Looking around and not seeing anyone, she shrugged it off as though it was simply her imagination. However, when she heard it again, she sat up straight and once again perused her notes. Suddenly, she noticed something Miss Elizabeth had said the previous day before her brother joined the ladies and her heart leapt. While she may not understand what it meant, she felt that she must absolutely ask her brother about it.
So thus she found herself outside his rooms, but she had yet to gather enough courage to raise her hand and knock. When she heard the valet's dismay at one of her brother's requests, as well as his following demand, her curiosity won out and she finally knocked.
Hearing steps, she was disappointed to see the valet open the door instead of her brother. Nevertheless, she straightened her shoulders and demanded to speak to her brother.
"I am busy right now, Georgiana. But if you are awake at dawn I will bid you farewell then before I leave," he called from the opposite side of the room without looking at her.
Swallowing her disappointment, and ignoring the valet's look of pity, she stated that she would not leave until he granted her an audience. He finally turned to look at her with a brow raised at the term she had chosen before shrugging his approval and returning to his tasks. With a sigh of relief, she stepped inside and waited until the door was closed to address the valet.
"Thank you, Anderson, that will be all for now."
"Georgiana!" Darcy cried suddenly giving her his full attention, "you have no right to dismiss my valet!"
Taking a deep breath, she refused to give in to his anger and with her best Miss Bingley impression asked, "Am I not currently acting as mistress of this estate?"
"Yes..." was the hesitant reply.
"And does not the mistress reserve the right to dismiss any servant for any reason per her discretion?"
Anderson looked between the master and his sister with just a little hesitation. That this was quite unorthodox had not escaped either mans notice. Cautiously Darcy looked at him before answering, "That may be true of the household staff in general, but as master of this estate, my personal servant remains under my own purview and is not answerable to an acting mistress. Only my wife would have that authority."
Seeing Darcy's hesitation with her mode of questioning bolstered her resolve. Therefore, with a cocked head showing her determination she continued on. "I will agree that what you say is true. However, when matters of personal importance that affect the entirety of the estate arise, I believe even an acting mistress has complete authority over everyone on the staff, including your valet."
Eyes narrowed, Darcy considered her for a brief moment before shaking his head and turning away from her. "Georgiana, I do not have time for this!" He spat out impatiently. "If I wish to leave at first light then I must finish packing now. So get on with it. Whatever you have to say can be said in front of Anderson."
Hiding a grin of triumph, she said, "Very well if you insist. Tell me more about Eavan."
Darcy dropped the book he had been about to place in a trunk, and slowly turned to look at her. So shocked at the name he heard from her lips, he could only stare at her smug expression. "More?" He managed to blurt out.
"Yes," was her cheerful reply. "I fear the last bit of information you shared about him was rather vague in details. If I am correct in my assumptions, this sudden business of yours has much to do with him, so I wish to know more. After all, I am being left behind to take care of your guests while you attend to this Eavan friend of yours. Therefore, as heir and current mistress of Pemberley, I believe you owe me some satisfaction."
She watched as her brother regarded her as though trying to determine if she was serious. When his eyes met hers, she stilled her shaking hands and raised a brow in challenge. She was amazed to see his black eyes soften as the blue color began to return. With a sigh, he turned away from her again, his head hung forward in defeat.
"Thank you, Anderson. I can finish up for the night. Rest well and I will see you in the morning."
Georgiana and Anderson both shared shocked expressions before the latter bid goodnight to them both and hastened from the room. Once he was gone, Georgiana walked towards the sitting room attached to Darcy's bedroom aware of his narrowed gaze following her every movement. Despite her nervousness, she was determined to not leave without an answer. Sitting on the chaise in front of the fireplace, she clasped her hands tightly together in an attempt to hide their shaking, only to gasp when Darcy unexpectedly reached out to still them himself.
"Where did you hear that name?"
His voice was so quiet she was unsure he had actually spoken until she looked up and saw him watching her. There was a desperation in his eyes she had never seen, and she knew that she no longer needed to be so assertive.
"Miss Elizabeth," was her relieved reply.
"How is that possible?" He exclaimed loudly startling her. Yet he hurried on. "Did you see her today? I thought they were to leave immediately! Did her note mention it?"
"Calm down, William! You know very well that I did not have the pleasure of seeing her today. And as the note came from Mrs. Gardiner, it was not there either."
With a look of confusion clearly written on his face, he implored her for more. "Then how? I thought she did not remember before today..." he trailed off, suddenly lost in thought.
Shaking her head at her brother's unusual behavior she said, "I am not sure what you mean by remember, but she mentioned the name yesterday during her visit."
"I do not understand..."
She could hear the plea in his voice, and her heart nearly broke at the sound. He had always been the one with the answers, and it felt strange to be on the opposite end of the discussion. Taking compassion on him, she kept her answer simple. "'Iliana's Kiss'. Or, as she called it, 'Eavan's Dawn'"
"The flower?"
"Yes."
"You talked about the flower with her?" He asked incredulously,
"Oh yes!" She beamed clearly happy with the memory of the visit. "I found it was quite an enlightening conversation. I had asked her opinion on the house tour Mrs. Reynolds had given, and of the many objects she could have praised, she asked me how I had acquired such a unique flower. Apparently she had been enthralled with it."
"Yes, Mrs. Reynolds said much the same," he replied with a soft smile.
"Indeed. Well, I told her about the old man, and shared the story he told me. While the other ladies admired the store, Miss Elizabeth looked concerned much as you had when I first told you. She then began to ask questions and, before I knew it, I was sharing your version. As she listened, it appeared as if she was lost in a dream. She listened quietly and nodded blindly along. Sometimes she laughed but often fought back tears. But when it came to how the flowers were formed, she broke out of her trance and demanded that the flowers were called 'Eavan's Dawn'. I tried to correct her but she was adamant. I told her you had insisted they were called 'Iliana's Kiss' but that only seemed to annoy her."
Darcy shook his head, and looked at her with an indulgent smile. "Is it any surprise that another person would have heard the story different and therefore would have a different name for the flower?"
Angry that he was attempting to dismiss her, Georgiana pulled her hands from his. "Do not insult my intelligence, William! After you took the flower from me, Mrs. Annesley and I sent drawings of it to several well known horticulturists across all of England. Several of them reached out to many of their peers from all over the world. Richard was even helping us in our research, but suddenly stopped after your Rosings trip and tried to dissuade us from continuing. He said you had your reasons for keeping the flower to yourself. Despite all our efforts, no one, not one single person, has seen anything close to your flower. Yet, Miss Elizabeth knows, and is almost as obsessed with it as you are. And she just so happens to be the woman you have fallen in love with? William, this is no coincidence."
"Elizabeth has probably never actually seen that flower. However, she is a great lover of reading. She must have read the same story elsewhere..."
"No, William!" Georgiana was quickly losing her patience. "I may be young, but I hope I am no longer that naive. I have searched every fairy tale book I can find and have asked so many others about it. No one has heard the story before! I had long figured out that Iliana must be the elf princesses name as it was her kiss under which the flowers first bloomed. But when Miss Elizabeth demanded they were called 'Eavan's Dawn', a new piece of the puzzle fell into place, and I knew that that must be the name of the fairy prince. Now, based off of your earlier reaction, I am correct, and there is much more to the store that you have not told me."
Bested, Darcy shook his head. "Yes, Eavan and Iliana are their names. But does that truly matter? It is just a story! Nothing more than a fairy tale..."
She could see he was beginning to become angry, but she was unwilling to ease up on him, determined to find out the truth. "If that were true, then why did her eyes change color when listening to the story? Why are they hazel until the flower is discussed, and then they turn almost full green? Why are her eyes the only ones that I have seen change just like yours?"
"Georgiana..." Darcy growled in warning.
"No! William, I need to hear the truth for once, and not after the damage has already been done." She began to feel her own anger grow as he turned away from her.
"I cannot."
"Yes, you can! You told Richard, so why not tell me? Have I not proved myself trustworthy?"
"You have, dearest."
"Then tell me about Eavan. How do you know so much about him?"
"The truth...Georgiana, I am not sure I can...I do not want to hurt you."
"You can only hurt me by not telling me."
Darcy looked up into her eyes, wide with a mixture of concern, curiosity and fear. But there, behind everything else, was love. He knew then that she would accept any answer he gave if she believed he was being truthful. Releasing a sigh, he reached for her hands again and was grateful when she allowed him to hold them.
"Last time we talked of this, you asked me a question and I gave a vague answer. I will not be vague now. I not only believe in magic, but wield it."
Georgiana looked at her brother with a bit of alarm. She tried to pull away, but he held on tight, a pleading look in his eyes.
"Dearest, do you trust me?" Nodding her head hesitantly, she saw him relax. "Very well. There is so much I could tell you, but I believe it will be best if I can show you."
"And what do you wish to show me?" She asked her nervousness returning. "Does it have to do with Eavan and Iliana?"
Chuckling he replied, "it has everything to do with them."
She considered him for several moments, holding his gaze and saw the silver specks she loved best appear in his eyes. Letting out the breath she did not realize she had been holding, she nodded her head in agreement and was pleased to see him break out in a large grin.
"Thank you!" He whispered leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "I promise you will not be disappointed. Now, go grab the flower from the gallery, and meet me in the ballroom in ten minutes. I will meet you there and will show you the full truth."
With a nod, she rose from the chaise and walked towards the door. Before she left, she turned and saw him with his knees spread apart, elbows resting on them while his hands cradled his head. Although she did not fully understand what he had meant when he said he wielded magic, she knew that to do anything other than trust him would cause him even more pain than what he currently felt. It was a strange feeling seeing him so vulnerable, and she prayed that whatever had happened earlier with Miss Elizabeth could easily be resolved.
When she arrived in the ballroom, the flower's vase securely held in her hands, she entered to find only two candles lit near the entrance leaving the majority of the room in darkness. Hesitantly she entered, and closed the door behind her, but refused to wander further into the dark.
"William?" She called out, but received no answer. Frustrated and unsure, she turned to leave but found that she could not touch the door.
Fear began to creep over her until she heard music being played. It was unlike anything she had ever heard before. Glancing down at the flower in her hands, she was surprised to see it swaying in time to the music. Turning away from the door once again, the flower leaned forward as if pointing like a compass towards the source of the music. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she began to walk in the direction the flower indicated. As she walked, the candles near the door faded without flickering while a soft orb began to shine above her. With a startled gasp, she saw what looked like the moon floating near the ceiling. Awe filled her at the sight and she nearly forgot the music until the laughter started. Looking down, she saw four...people?...playing some sort of flutes, a string instrument and a type of drum while a fifth personage danced around them while laughing. All five were unlike any people she had ever seen before. Drawing closer, she saw that they looked like creatures out of one of her fairy tale books. With wide eyes she turned to run only to stop and gasp.
The ballroom seemed to have disappeared and she found herself in what looked like a large meadow. In front of her, some ways from the meadow, stood an enormous tree with a large cavity in the center of its trunk. Out of this cavity flew hundreds of butterflies with translucent jewel like wings. However, as they drew closer to the meadow, she realized they were not butterflies, but human like creatures who grew in size until they were slightly taller than her brother - the tallest man she knew - as they landed in the meadow. Ignoring her, they turned to the tree line and beckoned. Suddenly, the meadow was full of fairy tale creatures dancing and laughing along with the music.
There was a joy and happiness in all she saw, and she wandered unseen to the revelers while the flower continued to dance in her hands. She saw many creatures she had thought were only known in stories and was amazed at the variety. She saw satyrs, centaurs, gnomes, brownies, nymphs, sprites, and so many more that she began to lose track of them all. But her favorite were the jewel winged fairies as they flittered among the crowd, their wings showering everyone in a rainbow of colors as they reflected the light of the moon. Reaching out, she tried to touch a fairies wing, only to watch as her hand passed through it causing only a slight shimmer in the image. Looking around again, she realized everything was just a beautiful illusion. She sighed in amazement as she watched it all.
As the song ended and another began, there was a change in the atmosphere. While it was obvious all those around here were still as loud and boisterous as before, they had grown silent to her ears. The edges of the meadow grew dark while the moon shone brighter in the center. Following its beam, she saw a couple dancing together, both completely lost in each other's eyes.
The woman was a few inches shorter than herself, with wavy auburn hair tucked behind two pointed ears. Her emerald green eyes sparkled with an intensity Georgiana had never seen before.
Her partner was a tall fairy with blonde hair so fair it almost appeared white in the moonlight. His sapphire blue wings fluttered as he turned the woman in his arms. But when Georgiana saw his eyes, she almost dropped the flower as her hand flew to her mouth in recognition.
"This was the night of the summer solstice; his birthday. It was the day he had finally told her that he loved her and received her declaration of love in return as their flowers, her gift to him, grew. This was their first dance together as acknowledged lovers."
Darcy's voice next to her had startled her when he first began having not seen nor heard his approach. But as he had continued, she saw the longing in his face as he watched the couple dance.
"William, how is this possible? Is that...is that...them?"
Chuckling he looked down at her, and she saw that his eyes were indeed the same as the fairy's. "Yes, Dearest. Before you dance Eavan and Iliana. The reason I know their story is because Eavan's story is my story. I am the fairy prince."
"And Miss Elizabeth is...her?"
"Yes. Elizabeth is the Lady Iliana."
"Oh." Georgiana knew not what to say. It all seemed so implausible, but the look in her brother's eyes held absolute truth and, for the first time in a long time, she felt as though there was nothing he hid from her. So she continued to watch the couple gaze adoringly at each other as they danced, the flower in her hands swaying along with them. Looking down at it, she saw in amazement that it seemed to have grown bigger with brighter colors since her entrance into the ballroom meadow. Shaking her head at the absurdity of it all, she looked around again and gasped in shock.
Gone were all the other creatures that had been dancing in the meadow leaving Eavan and Iliana alone. Looking up at Darcy with a question in her eyes, he merely offered her a small smile before nodding his head towards the tree line. Turning towards the direction he indicated she watched wide eyed as new couples emerged to join the dancing. However, unlike the ones before, these new couples were all human.
Each couple was vastly different from the others, and all of varying ages. She had to blink twice when she saw a very young boy lead a slightly older girl out to dance. As she watched, each couple danced in sync with the magical one, gazing at each other in pure adoration. Upon closer examination, she noticed that each couple had the exact same eyes as the originals. Looking to Darcy with a quizzical brow, she saw his sad smile.
"My father, the fairy king, is the most powerful of all the magical beings. I am his only heir. We had many enemies who desired my father's powers, and despite our best efforts, they discovered what Iliana and I tried to keep hidden; our love. She was taken hostage, and I was too late to save her from those who wanted to use her against me and my father. But she did not die, nor did I. Not truly anyways. Instead, we were cursed and our souls were ripped from our bodies. Over and over we have been born again, given a new chance to break the curse, only to fail each time. These," he said lifting a flat palm to indicate the couples surrounding them, "are our past lives."
"So many?" She whispered amazed by the sheer number as much as by the information.
"Indeed," was the sad reply. "We have lived thirteen hundred years worth of lives. Every time we fail to break the curse, we die, and are born again in new bodies to new families with different experiences."
Looking around in amazement, she suddenly stopped with a gasp. "Is that...?"
Seeing the direction of her gaze, Darcy let out a dark chuckle. "In a way, yes that is."
"How?"
"You are aware that our aunt once had a twin sister."
"Are you telling me that is Emily? Aunt's sister?"
"No, that is the real Eleanor. She ran away upon her engagement to find me and her sister, Emily, took her name and thus has lived what should have been Eleanor's life." She let out a whimper of surprise and sadness for her uncle whom she knew was not loved by his wife. "Richard knows the truth, but our uncle is unaware that we know. I would like to keep it that way."
Nodding her head in eager agreement, she turned to study her aunt's sister's companion. "So, was that you? You look so much older than her. And is that a farmer's hat?"
"Yes," he laughed. "I was more than twice her age, and had grown up as a tenant farmer. This life I live now is one of the very few I have lived as part of the landed gentry. Most often I have found myself living the life of a servant or tradesman." As he spoke, he indicated several "Eavan's" who wore servants livery and one in a blacksmith's apron.
"I see," she said as she let her gaze wander back to the couple in the middle. "Tell me, William, how were you cursed?"
She heard him suck in air through his mouth and when she looked up at him, there was pain written across his features as he continued to watch Iliana. "That, dearest," he finally spoke quietly, "is the issue. I cannot remember. I first awoke the night our father died and regained all of my memories but one. I have never been able to remember most of our last day as our true selves. I have been trying to, but I am now out of time. You see, as long as one of us remains unaware of our true identity, we are safe from the curse. However, as soon as we both remember, our lives are in danger. Elizabeth awoke today. If I do not break this curse, and soon, I could die at any moment."
"William, no!" She yelled as her hands flew to her mouth in shock, and the vase holding the flower crashed to the floor. Darcy, however, moved with a speed she had not thought possible, as he snatched the flower from the vase before it shattered on the ground, reminding her that she was still in the ballroom and everything she saw was mere illusion. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she watched him gently clasp the flower in one hand, and cradle her cheek in the other.
"I am sorry to distress you, Dearest, but you wished to know the truth. I will no longer hide it from you. My life is at risk, and I know not if I will survive the day. Anything could happen to me, and you must be prepared. I do not wish to die and leave you, but I must face the reality that after three and fifty attempts to save mine and Iliana's lives, my chances are slim. Now, while I may not remember all, I fear in my attempt to save her the first time, I prevented her from saving her people. Now the Bennet's are facing ruin and she wishes to save them before we die. I must do all I can to help her this time. It is why I must leave. They need my help."
"But if you fail..." she choked out but was quickly interrupted.
"To let a family suffer in order to save my own life is selfishness of the highest order. You and Pemberley will always be protected. The Bennet's have no such assurance. If they are ruined, then all is lost for them. Despite everything, Elizabeth loves them; I cannot ask her to sacrifice them for me."
His voice had faded at the last as he slowly turned to look once more at the image of Iliana. Georgiana watched as a look of pure horror crossed his features.
"No..." was his anguished plea.
"William?" She asked as she hesitantly reached out for his arm, but he pulled away from her as he took a step closer to the dancing couple, the flower gripped tightly in his hand and showing signs of wilting.
"I did ask her to sacrifice them...I tried to stop her...I was going to force her to abandon them because I did not want to lose her..."
Confused, she watched him with growing concern. "William? What are you saying? You just said that you let her go so that she would not have to abandon them."
He turned to look at her, his eyes lifeless and pitch black. She wanted to take a step back in fear but concern held her in place. With dread filling his voice he shook his head and said, "No, not Elizabeth."
"Then who?" She asked.
"Her," he said pointing to Iliana. Suddenly, the room emptied of all illusions except the Iliana who stood glowing in the middle of the ballroom. However, gone was the smile on her face and she looked upon him with a mix of horror and anger.
"Do not do this, Eavan!" Iliana cried. "I beg of you, let me go!"
"No," Darcy whispered, "I cannot lose you."
"You have already lost me. If you force this upon me now, they will all die!"
"I will not let that happen. I can save you and them."
"No, Eavan. You cannot stop me!"
"Yes I can."
Suddenly, Iliana let out a horrified scream as her body seized up and began to twist in odd angles. Georgiana let out a shriek herself and called out to her brother to stop the illusion. But he was not paying any attention to her, his focus on the tortured figure of Iliana, the flower drooping in his hand and beginning to lose all color.
"Eavan," a new disembodied voice rang out, "let her go! It is too late!"
"No, I can do this! I will not lose her," Darcy whispered as the phantom Eavan once again appeared, arms outstretched yelling the words in tandem with Darcy.
With a final scream, Iliana collapsed on the ground in a lifeless heap as Eavan yelled no. The both disappeared and Darcy fell to his knees in a now darkened and empty ballroom.
Grateful for the light of the candles near the room's entrance, a very shaken Georgiana hesitantly stepped forward and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. That he did not react to her touch worried her more than anything, and she gasped when she saw the lifeless flower in his hand.
"William, what just happened?"
As he looked up, she saw tears streaming steadily down his face. "I remembered..." he sobbed. "I am the one who cursed us."
AN: 23.4.19 Of the many plot points in my story, this is the only one that has remained consistent from day 1, never changing! Now that it has finally arrived, I no longer need to keep silent and hope that I have not disappointed! As for Georgiana's finding out the truth, the manner in which it was done is a somewhat new yet I hope fun addition to the story.
In hindsight, as I've reread several of the past chapters, I realized many should be broken up into smaller chapters (including this one) and perhaps some day I will go back and do so, especially if I decide to ever publish. In the meantime, I'm trying to keep my focus on my chapter outline as I have it written so that I can finish this before June 4. I meant it when I said I do not want to see this reach 8 years unfinished. At this point, there are only 5 planned chapters left, although one might very well turn into 2 if I'm not careful, plus the ready-to-go epilogue. So we are getting close! I hope to have the next one up next week before I leave on vacation, and if you cannot guess what it is about, then "I shall think you a simpleton" ;) haha I'm just joking...Lydia is the only simpleton here!
Until next time, Happy Reading!
Allahteeah