Posted on: 2012-07-29

"My word Richard - whatever possessed you to say such a thing?"

"Well, we were discussing Bingley and I though that it showed you to be rescuing Charles so…"

"You idiot! The lady was Miss Elizabeth's most beloved sister! Now I have been subjected to unparalleled humiliation!"

Here Darcy turned from his cousin and took up his customary stance by the window, staring helplessly across towards the Parsonage. Richard looked on, struggling to put the seemingly unconnected strands together.

"Did Miss Elizabeth give you a dressing down then?"

"Rich… she rejected me."

Two hours later, Richard Fitzwilliam still sat with his head in his hands. He had fought on the fiercest battlefields of Europe but never had he felt so responsible for someone's pain.

"I cannot keep doing this" he cried desperately to the empty room.

'No better than Miss Bingley' was what Will had said. That was the second worst insult he had ever had flung at him (the worst was hurled by Wickham just after Ramsgate and was truly unrepeatable - even for a hardened soldier such as he) and he felt it keenly.

"I must repair the damage I have caused - but how? She has left Kent and I cannot bear to see what I have wrought in his expression. I must prove that I have changed my ways before I can set things to rights."

Then, resolute, the Colonel strode across to Lady Catherine's sitting room.

"Fitzwilliam, I expect you have news for me."

"None madam."

"None?"

"None."

"But Fitzwilliam, I demand news of my servants and tenants!"

"I really cannot tell you anything aunt."

Darcy raised his eyes from the floor to stare at his usually loquacious cousin. It never required any prodding for Richard to provide Lady Catherine with gossip from the village and below stairs - often, he did not even have to be asked! Any later attempt to question his cousin on the matter found him to be equally tight-lipped as he was about the concerns of their aunt's tenants, leaving Darcy none the wiser.

Darcy was in Town. Unhappy still, but at least he was mending fences with Bingley. Richard had intended to stay with him but, upon hearing of the other reason for Miss Elizabeth's refusal, had gone to Hertfordshire under cover of darkness to carry out his annual mission of spying on Wickham and keeping an eye on the scoundrel. As he snuck past the officers' mess, he caught strands of a conversation floating out.

"But Carter, you can't imagine Miss Elizabeth's trip to the Lakes will gain you any ground with Miss Catherine."

"You are quite mistaken Chamberlayne. Whilst she is away with the London relations, the Gardiners, Miss Catherine will be quite jealous.

"Aye. I suppose that is true."

"And with Miss Lydia distracted by you and Denny, I shall be able to court her properly."

Though he longed, nay, yearned to stay and listen more, Richard turned back the way he had come and stole out of the camp, his initial plan forgotten. He would change the destination of this trip. What was it Miss Bingley had been crowing about the Bennets? Ah yes, relations in trade, residing in Cheapside. And the best way to detain a businessman was with business.

"But sir! I am due to travel that very week - can it not wait a month?"

"No indeed I am afraid it cannot."

"Then what am I to tell my wife and niece? We are supposed to be touring the Lakes."

"Why do you not tour Derbyshire instead? I have relations near Lambton and it is the most picturesque place in the whole of England."

"Amazing! Lambton is where my wife hails from - she would be very content with visiting there. I am indebted to you for the idea sir."

Richard merely smiled and nodded at the older man. It was all going to plan.

"You will never guess what I heard about Captain Whelps!"

Richard halted in his progress across the ballroom. He had chosen not to gossip again but listening to gossip did not count did it? Even so, no one outside Brighton would know if he lapsed into old habits. Hovering nearby in hope of hearing more, his attention was caught by the ladies in question rather than their gossip. Maybe just this once he would secure an introduction and a dance - the two girls were pretty enough, even if one looked somewhat young to be fully out.

"Ladies. Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam at your service."

"I am Mrs Harriet Forster and this is my particular friend Miss Lydia Bennet."

Richard's practiced smile faltered for a moment. A Bennet? He hadn't counted on that. Maybe… but no, he knew from Darcy's letters that there was a Forster at the head of Wickham's militia regiment. This had to be one of Miss Elizabeth's sisters.

"A pleasure. Miss Lydia, if you are not engaged for the next, I should be honoured if you would grace my arm."

"Colonel Fitzwilliam," Lydia giggled, simultaneously stepping closer to whisper conspiratorially, "I am engaged but only to the dullest man - not even a redcoat. So I am sure I could conveniently 'forget' our agreement."

As Richard led Lydia Bennet out to join the other couples, a figure lurking in the shadows recoiled in horror. That little wanton trollop was his last chance to exact revenge and claim his rightful inheritance in the process. But once again that blasted man had come and spoilt it. He was in earnest conversation with her about something - probably about lace and ribbons if he knew Lydia Bennet. What was the man even doing in Brighton?

"Miss Lydia, I must say you are a very charming companion. Do you have any free dances tonight?"

"I do not but…"

"I cannot allow you to disappoint another gentleman tonight. When is your next ball to be?"

"Thursday week at the Assembly Rooms."

"Then I shall be in attendance if you will promise me the first and last sets."

"Lydia, hurry! Mr Wickham is to visit this morning - he is so very handsome that we absolutely must be ready for him!"

"Mr Wickham? What do I care for him? He is nothing but a poor lieutenant, handsome though he is. Why would I think of him when I have a charming Colonel who is no less than the son of an Earl paying me attentions?"

Lydia mused on her latest, unexpected suitor. Perhaps surprisingly, given the large amount of male attention she received, he was the first man to take an interest in her conversation. Equally surprising was the fact that Lydia much preferred it to the usual interest paid solely to her person. He truly was the best man she had ever known and the fact that he was rather plain no longer mattered.

Richard looked up from his letter abruptly. He could swear he'd heard a scream. But that was impossible surely?

"Let me in you buffoon! I need to see Colonel Fitzwilliam!"

He glanced again at the door. Maybe it had been a scream after all.

"Colonel - you must come and take him away!"

Richard stood quickly - immediately and correctly surmising who 'he' was.

"What did he do?"

"He…he tried to convince me to elope. And when I refused… he tried to…to…"

"Miss Lydia - he will be dealt with. Please write immediately to Colonel and Mrs Forster. Jones here will bring you some refreshments whilst you all await my return."

Richard stormed from the house in hot pursuit of the rogue lieutenant. He had meant what he said - this time there was no Darcy to stop him shipping Wickham out of the country; providing he wasn't provoked into killing the man first.

"Richard Fitzwilliam, we meet again."

"Wickham."

"So you heard about your little woman and I did you?"

"Careful Wickham. I am prepared to be reasonable but you must cease your insinuations."

"Is the lady under your protection? You take an eager interest in her concerns."

" I intend to marry her so yes, she is under my protection. Now, my offer is as follows. You take the next ship to the Americas and we never hear from you again. In return you get an annuity of £100."

"Make it £5,000."

"Seven hundred."

"I'll take it."

"The boat sails in two days. I will arrange your discharge and an escort to the docks."

Richard turned with a haughty glare more reminiscent of his elder cousin than himself. Come to think of it, he probably ought to apprise Darcy of the situation, although he was worried that he might interrupt any progress between Darcy and Miss Elizabeth.

Richard needn't have worried for at that very moment a letter announcing the couple's engagement was travelling from Hertfordshire to Brighton. Darcy had proposed again at Pemberley and was gladly accepted by Miss Elizabeth immediately. Then they had travelled to Longbourn as soon as possible to gain Mr Bennet's consent. Now that formality was over, they had the lengthy task of informing their friends and family whilst listening to Mrs Bennet's effusions on the matter.

Had Richard known of his cousin's situation, he would have been green with envy. He had not met Mrs Bennet of course, but he had always imagined Darcy to be exaggerating - after all, he had called the delightful Miss Lydia improper! Miss Lydia had perhaps been a little too exuberant at first but she had recently shown great maturity and Richard felt he could be quite happy with her as his wife - he would certainly never be without news again! If only he did not need to marry money. Perhaps his father could be applied to and persuaded of his need for one of his small, inconsequential estates…

The Earl of Matlock was surprised to say the least upon the receipt of his son's letter. Richard had always been the one child he doubted would ever marry. It was not that he was one of Byron's ilk - far from it! He merely seemed to value his independence and had never shown any serious interest in one particular lady, preferring to flatter and flirt with a multitude.

Yet now he spoke of marrying a woman unknown to and wholly unconnected with his family, resigning his post and settling at the unoccupied family manor in Yorkshire. He did not disapprove outright, but he had to ensure his son's happiness. There was only one thing to do - the Matlocks would travel to Brighton to see what their youngest member was about.

Richard was astonished when his family arrived on the doorstep of his lodgings. It was obvious why they had come but the fact that they had felt it necessary meant that he could not have communicated his situation properly. He loved Miss Lydia but they needed an estate as her dowry was not large. Was that not clear enough?

The Earl was satisfied after only one meeting with the lady in question. There was no objection to the match besides the difference in station, but if it made Richard happy, what did that matter? After all, Darcy was betrothed to her sister.

Lady Isabella was less satisfied with such a short acquaintance and insisted they stay longer to get to know the wonderful, if slightly over confident, Miss Lydia Bennet. In any case, she had been trying to persuade her husband to take her sea-bathing for many years and she was not going to leave without a fight now that she was finally here.

Two weeks later, the Matlocks, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Lydia Bennet were required in Hertfordshire to attend the weddings of Jane and Elizabeth Bennet to Charles Bingley and Fitzwilliam Darcy. The brides were as radiant as was to be expected, the grooms were equally handsome and Mrs Bennet was suffering from a particularly bad case of nerves. Mr Bennet's only consolation upon losing his sensible daughters was that Lydia seemed to be quite improved since her stay in Brighton. Despite having predicted such an outcome, he had not truly believed it could happen and had rather expected Lydia to return more like her mother than before.

After the sumptuous wedding breakfast, the couples left for Town and Richard began a pensive walk around the Park. Upon seeing this, Lydia Bennet stole out of the house and walked hastily along the path he had taken.

"Miss Lydia. I beg your pardon - I did not think anyone would require me at the house so soon - I shall return at once."

He turned to walk back the way he had come but found that Lydia still obstructed the path, so he looked at her quizzically.

"No one needs you at present sir. I merely observed your unusually serious disposition and believed that you might wish for someone to talk to. What is it that bothers you?"

"I…I delayed this day."

"The weddings?"

"Yes. I unknowingly gave your sister some information that hindered my cousin's courtship of her. They could have married weeks ago had it not been for my folly."

"Do not be so hard on yourself - my sister had many grievances with Mr Darcy once. He called her 'tolerable but not handsome enough' when they first met! And heaven knows he was as dull and rude as anything when he was at Netherfield! Say, let us do as Elizabeth does and think only of the past as it gives us pleasure. Or, let us think to the future."

"The future?"

Richard thought for a moment. His father had consented to give him the estate and his blessing. He had secured privacy with Lydia. The perfect moment had been right under his nose and his own self-loathing had blinded him to it.

"Miss Lydia. I have thought long and hard about this and I cannot imagine any life of mine being happy without you. I love you so dearly. Will you please consent to make my future into our future and become my wife?"

Lydia blinked rapidly, trying to assure herself she was awake - she had not expected this when she had followed him so boldly. But how she loved him! She could not refuse, even if a pistol was being held to her head.

"Yes. Yes, I would like nothing more than to marry you."

Needless to say, both were very pleased with this outcome and reacted accordingly.

It was customary for the Bingleys, Darcys and Fitzwilliams to spend each summer at Pemberley, for its grounds certainly were the largest and finest. This year however, they were all to meet at the Fitzwilliams' estate near Harrogate. Lydia Fitzwilliam was increasing again (as was Elizabeth Darcy, but that was only known to the lady and her husband) and Richard felt that the long journey to Derbyshire might endanger her health. Thus in mid July, three carriages, filled with the Darcy and Bingley families, travelled slowly and steadily into Yorkshire.

Their arrival was not the grand, formal event that others of their circle might have expected. Instead it was that the hostess waited inside in a large armchair, her feet resting on a stool as her sisters' families rushed in and embraced her as fiercely as they had her husband, despite her advanced condition.

It was two weeks later, the Darcys penultimate week at Brimham, when Lydia gave birth to a second son. All were overjoyed at the addition to the already large yet still close-knit family; an emotion that increased further still when Catherine Carter and her husband joined the party the following day.

So it was that they all lived:

Happily
Ever
After