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Chapter 1

October 1811, On the Road to Meryton

Fitzwilliam Darcy dropped the newspaper into his lap. It had been full of the usual news, gossip and fashion reports. He had read one story with particular interest. A band of highwaymen, whom the authorities believed to be local men, due to their intimate knowledge of the countryside, had been robbing carriages and other travelers in Hertfordshire for the past six months. Stories about crime and criminals had always interested Darcy, ever since his boyhood. But his careful reading of the Hertfordshire highwaymen story had not only been due to his boyhood fascination, but the fact that he was in Charles Bingley's carriage, on his way to Hertfordshire at that very moment.

Darcy looked up from the newspaper that still lay in his lap and quickly glanced at his traveling companions. Bingley sat next to him, but he had fallen asleep almost as soon as they left London. His head leaned against the side of the carriage as he quietly napped. At least he doesn't snore like Hurst! Darcy thought as he recalled the sounds of Mr. Hurst's snoring with a shudder. Across from Bingley was Darcy's cousin, Lord James Fitzwilliam. Darcy took a quick look at the book his cousin was intently studying and shook his head. James always had been the scholar in the family, but Darcy considered that anyone who read Plato in Greek for fun was taking things a bit too far. Colonel Robert Fitzwilliam sat next to his elder brother, watching the scenery as it passed the window.

Darcy had been on the verge of offering the Colonel the newspaper when the sharp crack of a pistol shot and the abrupt halt of the carriage caused everyone to jerk their head up in alarm. The phrase Darcy had been dreading ever since their departure from London was clearly heard,

"Stand and Deliver!"

While the four gentlemen were less than excited about being robbed, the fact that the voice had not been a gruff male voice but that of an educated female caused them to look at each other in confusion.

The four men were not confused for long. A figure appeared in the window of the carriage and all four of them looked at it. The head was covered by a hood and the face by a mask, but the shotgun that was visible made any effort at resistance futile. The door was abruptly jerked open and the figure snapped, "Everybody out!" The four men exited the carriage and the woman herded them into line.

She then stepped back and waved three of her colleagues forward. Each of the women held a bag and they systematically made the gentlemen empty their pockets and remove their jewelry. The robbers even forced Colonel Fitzwilliam to relinquish his sword.

Darcy dumped his valuables into the bag of the woman who appeared to be the youngest and looked around. In addition to the four women he had already seen, a fifth, toting another shotgun guarded the driver and the footmen. Across the road, he could see two other women holding the reins of horses.

At that point a slight commotion to his left brought Darcy's attention back to the matter at hand. Two of the women appeared to be looking rather intently at Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam. The woman who had taken Darcy's valuables gave her companions a nudge and they completed their task and started to turn away. After taking two or three steps towards the woman who appeared to be their leader, one of the women spun around, hurried to Colonel Fitzwilliam, grabbed him, and after kissing him passionately, ran for her horse. Soon the sounds of galloping horses faded into the distance.

The four men stood in stunned silence for several minutes. Darcy turned to look at his cousins. Colonel Fitzwilliam was grinning from ear to ear. Lord James stood beside him, shaking his head, his grin only slightly less wide than his brother's. Bingley appeared to be trying not to laugh. He soon lost the struggle and burst into laughter, followed by the Fitzwilliam brothers. Darcy, his anger at least temporarily forgotten, soon joined them. Gasping for air, he managed to blurt out "Well Robert, Aunt Catherine always said you were her most handsome nephew. I think we have just had conclusive proof of that. Being kissed by a complete stranger who has just robbed you!"

Several more minutes passed before the recent victims had recovered enough to continue their journey. The remainder of the journey to Netherfield was spent in conference, deciding how to break the news to Mr. Hurst and Bingley's two sisters, who were to join them in three days time.

A Hertfordshire Forest, One Hour Later

Once they were safely inside the thicket, Lizzy jumped from her horse, pulled off her mask and hood and turned to face the rest of her gang. "Charlotte!" she called, "What in God's name were you thinking? And Jane! You weren't much better! We're supposed to rob these men, not make eyes at them!" The targets of her outburst blushed and Charlotte Lucas shrugged her shoulders as she replied "Sorry Lizzy. Couldn't help myself." Behind Charlotte and Jane, Kitty and Lydia Bennet and Maria Lucas burst into laughter. Slightly off to one side, Mary Bennet pursed her lips as she shook her head; her opinion on the matter was obvious. No man was going to make her act stupidly.

Lizzy glared at her band's members. When she had assembled the group, she had chosen Charlotte and Jane because they were always rational. Neither of them, particularly Charlotte, ever did anything rash. Now Charlotte, on the spur of the moment, had gone off and kissed one of their victims and rather passionately at that. Jane hadn't been much better, staring at the blond man, who had been only a little less handsome than the officer who stood beside him. Mary had been chosen because she was best shot amongst the tomboy Bennet sisters. Lizzy had picked Kitty somewhat reluctantly, but she realized that they would need someone to hold their horses.

Lydia and Maria had been more or less forced on her. Lydia had heard that Kitty was in the band and had threatened to tell their father unless she and Maria were admitted. Lizzy had allowed them in, but had made them the horse holders, giving them the role that kept them as far out of the way as possible.

Miraculously, they had been robbing travelers that passed near Meryton for six months, while the authorities had been unable to catch them. But in her heart, Lizzy knew that with Lydia in the group, their secret would be revealed sooner or later. She hoped the fact that they had not harmed anyone would save them from the hangman's rope.

The Netherfield Ball, November 26, 1811

Elizabeth Bennet sat quietly watching people in the Netherfield ballroom. As soon as they arrived, Kitty and Lydia had joined Maria in flirting with the militia officers. Jane's hand had been quickly claimed by Charles Bingley and Charlotte's by Colonel Fitzwilliam. If they only knew, Lizzy smiled to herself. Her reverie was broken by a voice behind her; "May I have the next dance Miss Elizabeth?"

She turned to see the loathsome Mr. Darcy standing behind her chair. "No," she snorted, "I do not feel like dancing this evening".

She began to turn around when Darcy spoke again, "May I have a private word then?" Lizzy was about to refuse him again, but there was something about the look in his eye that made her accept, albeit somewhat reluctantly.

They stood in the corner, which allowed them some privacy, but still gave them a view of the ballroom. "I have come into some information;" Darcy began, "As to the identity of the notorious 'Hertfordshire Highwaymen.'"

Lizzy managed to hide the panic that began to rise within her. Instead she pasted a smile on her face and said, "Yes?" trying to sound interested.

"Yes I have," Darcy continued, "Two of the robbers are there." He nodded towards the dance floor, indicating Jane and Charlotte.

"Another is there." Darcy motioned towards a sofa on the far side of the room where Mary Bennet seemed to be engaged in earnest conversation with Lord James Fitzwilliam. Darcy turned again and gestured to where Lizzy's younger sisters and Maria Lucas were dancing with some militia officers, "The final three members, of course are those three young ladies. Your group's members seem to have found that romance is a much safer pursuit than highway robbery."

Lizzy had watched in silence as he pointed out every member of her band. Visions of the hangman or transportation to Australia danced before her eyes. After what seemed like an eternity she croaked out, "What do you want?"

"Oh my demands are quite simple," he grinned.

"Yes?" she prompted. "All that I demand of you is a dance. A single dance will buy my silence forever."

She looked at him, the astonishment clearly written on her face. "A dance? That is all you want?" She had expected him to demand a sizable portion of their earnings.

"Yes Miss Elizabeth, that is all." Darcy offered her his arm and led her to the dance floor.

Chapter 2

Author's Note: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Andrea, who suggested that I make what was intended to be a one-post story something longer. Andrea, Teg and Kathlyn have my deepest appreciation, not only for whipping my mangled drafts into shape, but also for their willingness to answer my innumerable "How About . . . ?" questions. Here's to you ladies!

Longbourn, November 27, 1811

Elizabeth Bennet yawned as she made her way to the breakfast room in Longbourn. She had not slept well the previous night. The conversation with Mr. Darcy in the corner of the Netherfield ballroom troubled her greatly. That brief interview had created many difficulties. The knowledge that someone knew the secret of the "Hertfordshire Highwaymen" as the newspapers had dubbed the group was perhaps the most serious. The law would hardly look favorably on such activity if it got word of it.

But the hangman or fears of transportation to Australia was not what had kept her up most of the night. It was the knowledge that she had put the happiness of her sisters and best friend in great peril. If Mr. Bingley or the Fitzwilliam brothers learned that the ladies who had charmed them in the ballroom were the same women who had robbed them the previous month, they would lose interest in Jane, Mary and Charlotte. The idea that she could be responsible for not one broken heart, but six, had caused Elizabeth a great deal of restlessness.

Her thoughts then returned to the cause of all her distress. Mr. Darcy. "Ugh!" Elizabeth mumbled. "Why does that man continue to plague my every moment?" Even when she had dropped off to sleep, he had been in her dreams. Two dreams stood out in particular. In one, he had her arrested and, as she was lead away in chains, he stood nearby, laughing. The other featured her as Mrs. Darcy, a happily married woman. Elizabeth shivered. To her way of thinking, both dreams were nightmares. Yet she could not deny that she had thought him a handsome man, although such a thought bothered her.

Elizabeth paused for a moment on the stairway. I should think him to be the most detestable man in England. Yet I sat up half the night thinking about a dance with a man who holds my life and those of my sisters in the palm of his hand! She narrowed her eyebrows and pursed her lips. "I shall not think of that blackmailing villain again today!" She whispered with a good deal more resolve than she actually felt.

When Elizabeth reached the dining room she was greeted by Kitty and Lydia who smirked, "Good Morning Sleepy Head!" She glared at her younger sisters and apologized to her parents as she sat down. Her mother seemed to have been telling Mr. Bennet about the ball the previous evening. Elizabeth did not seem to have missed much of the conversation, because after a few words about the decor at Netherfield Hall and the refreshments that were offered, Mrs. Bennet moved onto what was obviously the most important part of the evening--who seemed to have made an attachment to whom.

Elizabeth watched her mother as she recounted the dancing to Mr. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet had her hands clasped tightly together and she fairly glowed with excitement. She was full of praise for Mr. Bingley and thought that it was very fortunate indeed for Jane to have "caught him". Elizabeth took a quick look at Jane who had colored slightly in embarrassment, but looked pleased nevertheless. They would make a very fine couple; Elizabeth mused as she ate her breakfast. Very fine indeed. As long as he never finds out about her past!

After regaling her husband and daughters for ten minutes on how wonderful life for Jane would be as Mrs. Bingley, Mrs. Bennet moved onto the subject which appeared to give her even greater joy, Lord James Fitzwilliam's interest in Mary. As she listened to her mother tell her father the goings on between Lord James and Mary in minute detail, Elizabeth marveled at her mother's opinions on the subject. While overjoyed that her daughter had attracted the attention of such a worthy gentleman, Mrs. Bennet was criticizing the way in which she went about it!

Elizabeth shifted her gaze from her mother to her sister as she listened to Mrs. Bennet tell her husband about the actions of his middle daughter. "Just imagine, Mr. Bennet," she heard her mother say. "While Kitty and Lydia danced every dance, Mary danced only two dances the whole evening!"

"But Mama," Mary began, "Lord James prefers to sit and talk quietly rather than to dance."

"TALK!!" Mrs. Bennet snorted. "That is all they did, Mr. Bennet. For two hours! And what was that strange tongue in which you spent half the evening speaking, in Mary?"

"Greek, Mama. Lord James has a fine intellect." Elizabeth quickly raised her napkin to cover the grin on her face as she looked at Mary who had a rather dreamy look on her face. My, my. Elizabeth thought. She does have it bad!

Further contemplation on Elizabeth's part was interrupted by a question from her father. "Mary, you spent an hour talking to a man in Greek?" Elizabeth shot a quick glance at her father. She wasn't sure if he was bewildered or impressed. Probably a little of each.

"Yes, Papa. Lord James is an Oxford man." Mr. Bennet looked pleased.

The mood of the moment was spoiled by Mrs. Bennet injecting another opinion into the conversation. "But Lizzy seems to have made the catch of the night in Mr. Darcy. Ten thousand pounds a year and such a handsome man too!"

Clang!

Everyone swiveled to look at Lizzy who had dropped her fork. She flushed scarlet with embarrassment. But the embarrassment, she told herself, was due more to her own clumsiness than her mother's mention of the man she had just determined to stop thinking about. Elizabeth took a quick look across the table at Mary, who studied her with one eyebrow slightly raised. She then followed Mary's gaze as her sister turned to look at their father. Elizabeth observed that he had an expression similar to Mary's. I know what they are thinking. Elizabeth mused. They think I am upset because I admire the man and Mama mentioned him. But I am not. I despise the man! But once again, Elizabeth noticed that these statements were made with a great deal more vehemence than she actually felt.

She did not have time to ponder the Darcy enigma for long. The sound of giggling from the other end of the table brought Elizabeth back to the present. She turned in her chair and glared at Kitty and Lydia who were tittering quietly. The glare soon brought their laughter to a stop, but as she returned her attention to her breakfast she could hear Lydia's stage whisper:

"Oh Mr. Darcy, Mr. Darcy. What a fine man you are!"

Kitty lost her composure immediately and joined an already cackling Lydia. Elizabeth flushed again, a condition not made any better by the sight of Mary and Jane raising their napkins to their mouths and turning slightly pink as they sought to keep from giggling. What truly infuriated her was the brief chuckle she heard emanate from her father. Throwing down her napkin, Elizabeth turned to her father (after glaring again at Lydia) and asked, "May I be excused Papa?" Mr. Bennet, after a moment's hesitation, granted his permission and Elizabeth hurried from the room, leaving her confused family behind.

Lucas Lodge, One Hour Earlier

Charlotte Lucas could not remember when she had enjoyed an evening so much. She had nearly fallen over in shock when the dashing Colonel Fitzwilliam had asked her to dance. How she had kept that startled look of recognition off her face she did not know, but she had gladly accepted when he had asked her for the first two dances.

As she and the Colonel made their way around the dance floor, Charlotte reveled in many things. Having the man she had kissed the previous month close to her again (a scene that Charlotte had recalled so often that she had memorized every detail!); the looks that Lydia Bennet and her sister Maria gave her as she and the Colonel passed. Charlotte could not help smiling when she remembered the look on Maria's face. Maria, who had always been regarded as "the pretty one," who never saw an officer she did not like, had been jealous! While Charlotte was not the sort of person to take advantage of such jealousy, she was nevertheless quietly pleased.

That night, Charlotte had the most wonderful dreams. Dreams where she and the Colonel danced every dance. While she could see that there were other people in the ballroom, they appeared almost as spirits, with no physical substance at all.

Charlotte had fairly floated down to the dining room the next morning, her head still in the clouds. The thought that the Colonel might find out about her life as a highwayman had been briefly considered and just as quickly dismissed. The previous night had been perfect, and she was not going to let anything ruin it.

After cheerfully wishing her family a "Good Morning," Charlotte sat down to breakfast. Her mother was the first to notice that her eldest daughter was sounding unusually cheerful that morning. Lady Lucas's inquiries as to why Charlotte was feeling so happy met with a blush from Charlotte herself, a jealous look from Maria and a sniggering from Charlotte's two brothers.

A sharp look from Lady Lucas quieted Thomas and Paul, who nevertheless continued to grin and look at Charlotte with a knowing expression. Since Sir William had spent much of the evening playing chess with Mr. Bennet, he had not been privy to all that had occurred in the ballroom. Turning to Maria, he asked her what had transpired.

With a decidedly plaintive tone in her voice, Maria recounted how the handsome Colonel Fitzwilliam had asked Charlotte for the first two dances and how he had paid a good deal of attention to her for the rest of the evening. Charlotte added her own observations, ignoring her brothers, who had once again begun to giggle. Sir William did not appear to be greatly surprised that Jane Bennet had a new admirer, but he was surprised to hear about Mary Bennet and Lord James Fitzwilliam.

Once Charlotte's news of the ball was completed, Sir William questioned his daughter about Colonel Fitzwilliam. (While not a particularly bright man, Sir William could see the obvious.) Charlotte, in a quiet voice, getting slightly redder with each question, answered her father's questions, despite the annoying sounds coming from her brothers.

When the meal was over, Charlotte gathered her bonnet and cloak and set out at a leisurely pace for Oakham Mount.

Chapter 3

Author's note: For Andrea, who reminded me it was time to write another chapter. My thanks as always to her and Teg for their never ending stream of advice and support!

Fitzwilliam Darcy was rather subdued as he made his way to breakfast room. He was greatly troubled by recent events, particularly those that had occurred at the ball the previous evening. Four of the ladies that had attended the dance had captured the hearts of the gentlemen who resided at Netherfield. But the ladies had a secret, and Darcy knew what it was. This knowledge tore at him and he was unsure what to do about it. My best friend and my cousins have met the women of their dreams and these women are common criminals!

Darcy paused in the doorway of the breakfast room for a moment and looked at the three men who were already dining. If they knew, Darcy thought, what would their reactions be? He glanced first at Bingley, who was sharing a joke with Darcy's cousin James. Bingley would not mind much at all, Darcy told himself. Even if he believed me, he would readily forgive her and invent some excuse for her actions.

Turning slightly to look at James, he tried to guess what his older cousin's response would be. James had always been a bit unconventional, Darcy mused. His primary interest in a wife would not be beauty so much as intellectual companionship. If he wanted a beautiful wife without a brain, he'd have been married years ago! Darcy mumbled. James's interest in Mary Bennet might well have surprised the locals who had attended the ball, but not Darcy. Mary Bennet was not handsome, but James would not care. If last night was anything to go by, James had found what he was looking for. He might well make an offer for her in the near future. But would knowledge of her activities change that? Darcy doubted it. Once James makes up his mind, it's impossible to dissuade him. The Fitzwilliams have always been stubborn, and James has it worse than most. James would fight for her and not care who he offended.

Darcy reached his seat and greeted his cousins and Bingley. He filled his plate and began to eat. Since Robert sat across the table from him, his thoughts naturally drifted to examining how Robert would react to the knowledge that the woman he had danced with the night before was a thief. Robert will not take it well, Darcy reflected. He has always been an honest man, scrupulously so. He may well throw her away. But what else would he do? Especially if he discovered the identities of the rest of the band? He presents a real danger to the women if he discovers the truth!

At that point the man who occupied his thoughts interrupted them. "You feeling well, old man?"

Darcy glanced up from his plate to find the Colonel studying him, a curious expression on his face. Darcy could feel himself blushing. "Sorry" he said, "I must have been lost in thought."

The Colonel grinned. "I thought so. Who is the lucky lady who distracts you in such a manner?"

Darcy laid his fork on his plate and, resting his elbows on the table, leaned forward and spoke to his cousin. "Oh, no one in particular. I was just thinking about the ball last night."

He nodded towards Bingley and James who were still engaged in a spirited conversation. "They seem quite pleased with the evening."

Upon hearing this, the Colonel laughed. "If I hear James expound at length again at what a fine mind Miss Mary has, I shall be forced to take drastic measures! Of course, Bingley has not been much better. At least now he is using the word "angel" in every third sentence instead of every sentence like he was earlier."

"But what about you?" Darcy teased. "You certainly seem to have enjoyed yourself last night."

Robert chuckled. "Yes I did. She is a very pleasant young lady."

The two cousins continued to discuss the previous evening's events, with Darcy growing increasingly thankful that Robert did not mention Miss Elizabeth. After perhaps fifteen minutes, Robert excused himself, stating that he had some correspondence that he must deal with. Darcy was left to finish his breakfast and ruminate about the young lady he had spent most of the night contemplating.

Among the first things that Darcy revisited were his tactics of the night before. He smiled weakly. If he had been standing near a wall, he would have begun beating his head against the surface in frustration at his own stupidity. You've waited your whole life for someone like her. You finally meet her and instead of asking her to dance in a normal fashion you coerce her. She no doubt thinks that you are a blackmailing villain now. Every thing you ask of her will be viewed in that light. YOU FOOL!"

Darcy's thoughts continued along similar lines for several more minutes until he noticed, to his chagrin, that his breakfast had gotten cold as he had reviewed the night before.

What do I do now? All my life I have tried to do what is right. If I had any sense of what is proper under the law, I would alert the authorities immediately. But I cannot! Could I bear to see James and Bingley and perhaps even Robert miserable, knowing I am to blame? After all, Bingley and James, even if they knew, would not care. I would only have to see that Robert never finds out.

But that's the problem, his anger at discovering the truth about Miss Lucas would be nothing compared to what it would be if we hid the truth from him. I must get away by myself, to think this through with none of them watching me.

He signaled for a footman to remove his plate and finding that the tea at least was still warm he poured himself another cup before he retired to his chamber to read his latest letter from Georgiana.

The Grounds of Netherfield Estate, One Hour Later

Mr. Bingley and Lord James Fitzwilliam mounted their horses and moved out of the stable yard. "Where shall we go today my Lord?" Bingley asked.

"Perhaps that trail which leads toward Oakham Mount?" his lordship answered. Bingley nodded and turned his horse in the proper direction.

"A pity that Darcy could not join us." Lord James said.

"Yes," Bingley agreed, "He always enjoys a ride. I wonder why he did not join us today?" Lord James thought for a moment before answering. "Did he look troubled to you at breakfast?"

Bingley reflected for a moment and ventured "Perhaps he has something or someone on his mind?"

His companion laughed and exclaimed, "That must be it! Miss Elizabeth certainly seems to have affected him!" The two gentlemen continued on their way to Oakham Mount, reviewing the events at the ball and trying to determine what effect Miss Elizabeth had had on Mr. Darcy.

A short time later they reached the top of a knoll near Oakham Mount. Gazing towards the terrain feature that was their destination, Bingley spied a young lady approaching the hill on foot from the general direction of Longbourn. He called to his companion and pointed to the figure and Lord James pointed out a second female walker who was climbing the tree-covered slope via another trail. Curious as to whom the two young ladies might be, the two gentlemen spurred their horses forwards.

Elizabeth Bennet and Charlotte Lucas had just greeted each other and seated themselves on a pair of convenient stumps when the sound of approaching horses caught their attention. They turned to see who it was and were surprised to see Lord James' horse emerge from the brush, followed by Mr. Bingley's. The two friends scrambled to their feet and curtseyed as the gentlemen dismounted and led their horses.

After everyone had exchanged greetings, the party naturally seemed to break up into two pairs, as Mr. Bingley spoke with Elizabeth and Lord James with Charlotte.

Elizabeth was not greatly shocked when an embarrassed Bingley asked "Umm, and how is your family this morning Miss Elizabeth?"

She tried very hard not to grin. "They are very well, thank you sir. Especially my sister".

Elizabeth and Bingley carried on in a similar vein for several minutes, speaking mostly about the previous evening's festivities. A short distance behind them, Charlotte and Lord James also talked about the ball.

"Did you enjoy yourself Miss Lucas?"

"I did my Lord, I had a most pleasant evening. I did not see you dancing much, but you appeared to delight in your conversation with Miss Mary". As she said this, Charlotte glanced at her companion and saw him color slightly.

It took the gentleman a moment to collect himself and he replied "Err, yes. Funny is it not, to go to a ball and find that one enjoys himself while not dancing?"

Charlotte was quick to answer "Oh, not at all my lord. I have learned that I can find pleasure merely by watching the other participants, even if I do not dance myself. You watch a couple and wonder are they enjoying themselves? What are they talking about?" She nodded towards Elizabeth and asked, "Did you see Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy for example? He appeared to be very pleased that she would dance with him. She on the other hand alternated between being flattered that he would ask her and angry about something else. Perhaps what he said while they danced?"

Lord James reflected for a moment before adding "No, she had that look on her face before they began dancing. Perhaps she was forced into dancing with him?"

Charlotte laughed " I would not put it past her mother to order her daughters to dance with a man she felt was worthy of them, regardless of what her daughter's opinion was." She saw James flinch and hastened to add, "But Mary has always been the most stubborn at resisting her mother's none too subtle hints."

Her fellow walker felt his heart begin to beat again and his feet resumed their steady tramp upon the trail that Elizabeth and Bingley had chosen. He felt a touch of mischievousness come over him and he slyly commented "You on the other hand appear to have made more than one of the young ladies in attendance a bit jealous last night."

Charlotte stopped and gaped at him. She too had noticed that and as she prepared for bed had even taken pleasure in it. It was a most un-Christian thing to do, and yet the jealous stares of Maria and Lydia Bennet had made her carry her head a bit higher the remainder of the night.

He had expected a reaction, but the one he saw succeeded his expectations. She stood there, mouth opening and closing like a freshly caught fish as she flushed a bright scarlet. Lord James silently made a note of it and then he laughed, breaking the tension of the moment.

He offered her his arm as he saw Bingley and Elizabeth turn and begin to head towards them. James and Charlotte fell in a few steps behind as they retraced their steps to Oakham Mount. They soon parted, with each member of the group mulling over the intelligence they had gained from their conversation.

Chapter 4

Netherfield, January 8, 1812

What a muddle! Fitzwilliam Darcy groaned as he sat in his favorite armchair near the fire in the library. He reflected on the romantic state of affairs between his cousins, his best friend and the members of the notorious band of highwaymen that plagued the county. Pausing for a moment to smile wryly, he corrected himself. Make that highwaywomen! His thoughts drifted to their leader, the witty brunette with the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.

Lamenting again at the cruel trick that Cupid had played on him and his circle, Darcy covered his face with his hands. Lowering his hands after a few seconds, Darcy shifted in the chair, resting his left elbow on the armrest so that it could prop up his head, which was slowly beginning to ache. It was not until he heard a discreet cough behind him and stopped drumming his fingers on the chair's other armrest that his headache lessened slightly.

Darcy asked the butler who had suddenly appeared beside him for a whiskey and subconsciously resumed the finger drumming. He stopped seconds later, recognizing the tune he had been "playing". The song she performed last night! Damn the woman! His own vehemence surprised him. The more I learn of love, the less I understand it.

Sipping his whiskey and staring into the fire, he recounted the events of the past few days . . . .

Lucas Lodge, December 31, 1811

Based on previous encounters with Sir William Lucas, Darcy was loath to spend much time in the man's company. But the other three single men residing at Netherfield were looking forward to the party. After a brief trip to London for Christmas, they had returned to Hertfordshire. The Fitzwilliam brothers and Bingley had done little throughout the month of December that did not involve a Bennet or Lucas. When they were not calling on the families they would sit in the library and talk about them. Several shooting trips had been organized, and Mr. Bennet and Sir William invited to participate.

In time, Darcy came to realize that some in the area, Mrs. Bennet in particular had come to hold a rather poor view of him. If only you knew what I know dear lady. That your beautiful and charming daughters are the most wanted criminals in the county. Perhaps his efforts to hide his emotions and discomfort whenever he was in the presence of the Bennet sisters, in particular their leader had not been as successful as he had hoped.

Proof of just how convoluted his emotions had become came to light during Darcy's lengthy conversation with one of the local Justices of the Peace, Sir Terrance Fields. Sir Terrance was a friendly man and Darcy enjoyed his company, as long as one did not mention the local crime problem. Both gentlemen had avoided the subject until Mr. Phillips joined the conversation and clapped the JP on the back exclaiming, "When are you going to hang those villains Fields?" Darcy instinctively shot a quick glance at the back of Elizabeth Bennet, who stood nearby with Charlotte Lucas and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Saying a quick prayer that Fields had not noticed his gazing at Elizabeth, he rejoined the conversation, in time to hear the local magistrate sum up the unsuccessful efforts underway to catch the criminals.

"Have you considered that the criminals might possess some sort of special information Sir Terrance?" Darcy asked. "Perhaps they are members of the local society, or servants at one of the large estates near here? Servants do overhear things." Fields raised an eyebrow and it was clear that he was giving the matter some thought. Darcy only hoped that his emphasis on the servant angle would suffice to keep the magistrate's attentions away from the Bennet sisters.

The three gentlemen went their separate ways after a few moments and Darcy made a slow circuit of the room. Making an effort to keep track of all of the members of the Bennet Gang as he had come to call them whenever he thought of them, Darcy succeeded in locating them all but Miss Elizabeth. Lord James and Mary were whispering on the couch, in Greek, which seemed to give them a measure of privacy since Mrs. Bennet was nearby. Having overheard one of Lord James comments, Darcy thought it was a good thing that the young lady's mother did not understand what was being said. Colonel Fitzwilliam, Charlotte Lucas, Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet formed another group. Maria Lucas and Lydia Bennet were dancing, while Kitty Bennet was talking in a corner with the notorious rake Captain Lord Ronald Gerard of "The Blues". Darcy made a mental note to keep an eye on Kitty and Lord Ronald for the rest of the evening.

After much searching, Darcy found Miss Elizabeth sitting quietly watching her sisters. Summoning his courage and casting his doubts aside (at least for the moment) he approached her. "Might I have the next dance Miss Elizabeth?"

Judging by the expression on her face, Elizabeth had not forgotten their previous encounter at Netherfield. Her eyes seemed to say "And what will you threaten me with if I refuse?" Recognizing that twinkle in her eye, Darcy tried to answer her with his own eyes. "Nothing at all."

For a long moment, he was unsure that she had understood the message. But she gave him a slight smile and rose from her chair. "I would be honored sir."

They danced in silence. Darcy would have preferred to have some conversation, but her silence allowed him to study her. As the dance ended, he noticed a curious look on her face, one that remained for several seconds. It seemed as though the young lady was in the midst of some sort of inner struggle.

Darcy quietly led Elizabeth to the corner where he had found her. As he turned to go, she spoke in a hoarse whisper. "Might I have a word with you Mr. Darcy?" He turned back to face her and one look at her face showed him that it was not that type of word. Her eyes were narrowed and her jaws were clenched. She fairly spat out her accusation. "Are you trying to get me hung sir?"

He stood transfixed for a moment and then realized what she was referring to. He smiled (not too smugly he hoped) and replied:

"You should have paid more attention to the second part of the conversation, where I suggested that the highwaymen might be servants. If you had been watching the conversation instead of merely listening to it, you would have noticed that Sir Terrance seemed much more ready to believe that it was servants as opposed to other members of the local population."

The crimson flush of anger that had suffused Elizabeth's cheeks drained away, replaced by an even more crimson flush of embarrassment as she realized that Darcy had deliberately misled Fields. She stammered incoherently, trying to form some sort of apology. He again thanked her for the dance and wished her a good night and then slipped away, leaving a bewildered Elizabeth standing in the corner.

Darcy spent the rest of the evening quietly observing Bingley, his cousins and the Bennet sisters. Lord Ronald Gerard, who seemed to be uncomfortable with someone watching him soon left Kitty alone, evidently preferring a young lady who was not quite so well protected.

Netherfield, January 3, 1812

Darcy had groaned when he had heard the carriage approaching the previous afternoon. His opinion of Mr. Hurst was hardly high, and a visit from Mr. Hurst meant that the carriage also contained Miss Caroline Bingley, who had been a persistent thorn in his side ever since he had met her. While he did consider her to be a pretty young woman, he was also equally firm in his belief that she just was not his type. Entertaining such thoughts, Darcy had prepared himself for her excessive flattery and her persistent need to always be in his company.

These preparations went for naught when upon arrival, she greeted him with little more than what mere politeness dictated before being asked to be shown to her room where she remained for the rest of the day. The expression on her face puzzled Darcy who could not quite identify it. Was she happy about something? Worried? Trying to come to some sort of decision?

He had little time to talk with Bingley about it, since Bingley and the Fitzwilliam brothers had decided that the next morning was going to be The Day. Bingley would ask for Miss Jane Bennet's hand, Lord James would ask for Miss Mary's and Robert would ride to Lucas Lodge to ask for Charlotte's.

Netherfield, January 4, 1812.

If I ever told anyone all that happened this day, they'd throw me into Bedlam . . .

The day had started off well enough. After an early breakfast, the gentlemen walked to the stables. After mounting his horse, Darcy wished the suitors good luck and then turned his mount down a path that would allow him to further explore the estate. He also hoped to avoid Mr. Collins, his aunt's odious toad-like clergyman, who hearing that no less than his distinguished patron's nephews were residing in the neighborhood, had paid not one, but two visits to Netherfield in as many days.

After a brisk ride that took him to the farthest reaches of the estate, Darcy retired to his room, to attend to his correspondence, leaving word with the servants to call him as soon as Mr. Bingley or his cousins returned. He had just sealed a letter to Georgiana when a discreet taping on the door alerted him to the return of Lord James and Mr. Bingley.

Joining the obviously happy suitors in the drawing room, Darcy had just accepted a glass of brandy from Lord James when the door crashed open and the startled party turned to see a furious Colonel Robert Fitzwilliam who cried, "Why didn't you tell me?" before turning to dash up the stairs.

Letting out a long groan, Darcy sank onto the couch.

"Tell him what?" Lord James and Bingley asked, almost simultaneously.

"He knows." Darcy grunted.

"Knows what?" repeated a still confused Lord James.

"Those highwaymen who robbed us the first time we came here were not men, but women. I think Robert has just learned that. The gang consisted of the Bennet and Lucas sisters."

"Nonsense man!" Bingley snorted. "My Jane is an angel. She would never stoop to such activity!"

Darcy's head was beginning to throb, but he turned to Lord James to see what his reaction was. His cousin shrugged his shoulders and replied, "As long as she doesn't steal the silver, I could care less."

The three gentlemen sat down, trying to decide what to do as Robert's bellows for the servants reverberated throughout the house. They were still at it when they heard another raised voice, this one female, followed by a heavy thud. Lord James leaped to his feet and raced for the door, wrenching it open just in time to see Caroline hurrying up the stairs.

A moment or two later, the library door opened and an amused Hurst made his way across the hallway. Lord James turned to the side to let him enter, as the other two gentlemen watched curiously.

Still shaking his head, Hurst remarked, "You should have told me Caroline was such an excellent boxer, Bingley. That's the best right I have ever seen!" Darcy turned to look at an astonished Bingley, who had apparently never associated the words "Caroline" and "boxer". Since Bingley appeared to be momentarily speechless, it was Darcy that asked the obvious question "What the devil happened?"

Hurst grinned and began the story.

"You know that Collins chap, your aunt's rector?" The gentlemen nodded. "Came calling again today. Butler told him you were out, but then he saw Caroline and must have decided that she would be much more interesting company. He must have followed her into the library where I was dozing. I woke to see Caroline backed into a corner saying something about "Mr. Collins! I am an engaged woman!" Darcy could not help but glance at Bingley, whose expression had changed from incredulity to fury and back to incredulity in a matter of seconds.

"Well, he evidently could not take a hint, because the next thing I know, she knees him in the midsection and then staggers him with a left before knocking him out with a good right. Lord James whistled and Bingley and Darcy just stood there mouths open.

"Sadly, I had to pour two glasses of wine over him to revive him, before showing him the door." Hurst said, as the finished his tale, a rather smug look on his face.

The room was quiet for a long moment before Bingley asked, "How is she?" Hurst grinned again. "Complaining about the rector's hard skull, but otherwise she's fine!"

Bingley excused himself and hurried up to his sister's room. Hurst left in search of a maid to tend to the carpet in the library. Darcy and Lord James resumed their seats, Darcy cradling his aching head in his hands. They had barely become comfortable when a very rattled footman announced "Miss Elizabeth Bennet".

Lord James and Darcy got to their feet, Darcy expecting to see an enraged, shotgun-toting Elizabeth, judging the footman's state when he announced her. Instead, it was a distraught Elizabeth, who cried "Is she here? Is my sister here?"

A concerned Lord James went to her side and guided her to a chair. Darcy cursed himself for being too stunned to aid her, but as soon as she was seated, he and Lord James asked almost simultaneously "What is wrong?"

Elizabeth sniffed. "It is Lydia! She has run off to join the Army! And what is more she has . . . "

Chapter 5

Longbourn, January 9, 1812

A weary Elizabeth Bennet sat before her mirror as Jane combed her hair. She could not help but notice how five sleepless nights had taken their toll not only on her spirit but on her appearance as well. A weak smile crossed her face as she thought of the tall Derbyshire man who had returned from London the previous night with news of his cousin, Colonel Robert Fitzwilliam, who had fled there from Netherfield after receiving some shocking news.

What would Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy think of me now?

The moment of levity lasted no more than a few seconds, as she contemplated the problems that had reduced her to long nights spent tossing and turning in bed.

"This is all my fault."

Elizabeth did not realize that she had actually spoken this belief until Jane replied "What?" in a rather confused tone.

"Never mind!" Elizabeth hastened to add.

But she could not get the fact that so many of the recent events had been brought about by her rather foolish dreams of adventure. Elizabeth silently counted off the recent catastrophes, that more than balanced the good fortune of two of her sisters. Her best friend Charlotte had spent the previous four days in her bedchamber, broken hearted. Lydia had run off to join the Army. Her mother had retired to her rooms, constantly calling for Hill or Mary to minister to her. Kitty looked frightened, and her father had aged ten years in five days.

Observing that her sister had no wish to discuss her problems, Jane slipped quietly away. Hearing the door close, Elizabeth remained in front of the mirror, trying to decide what to do. But as much as she wanted to sit and find solutions to the problems that her career as a highwayman had brought about, she found her mind drifting back to earlier, less stressful events . . .

Lucas Lodge, December 31, 1811

She had attended the ball that night somewhat reluctantly. In the end, the desire to avoid trouble with her mother and to lend comfort to her sisters had outweighed the equally strong wish to avoid Mr. Darcy. That enigmatic gentleman had caused her a great deal of difficulty. No matter how hard she tried to avoid him, he always seemed to be near. Of course, a good deal of this was brought about by the campaign that his cousin and his friend were waging for the hands of her sisters. Circumstances would naturally draw them together, regardless of how Elizabeth prayed that they might not.

Elizabeth had been facing away from the door when Mr. Darcy entered the room. The first inkling of his presence had been when she heard him speaking with Sir Terrance Fields, the local Justice of the Peace. She had listened with bated breath, trying to pay attention to Charlotte while simultaneously straining to hear whatever conversations passed between the two men. Believing that they would not discuss a certain topic, Elizabeth had nearly decided that she could stop eavesdropping when a new voice
entered the exchange, broaching the very subject that she had hoped they would avoid.

Too startled to catch the unusual look that quickly passed over Charlotte's face, Elizabeth did her best not to betray her own emotions. "Perhaps they are members of the local society . . . " she heard Mr. Darcy remark. Instinctively, her fists clenched and her jaws tightened for a few seconds before she replaced the look of anger with a smile as she resumed her conversation with Charlotte and Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had evidently not noticed the fury brought on by his cousin's comment.

Wishing to avoid a conversation with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth slipped quietly away, looking for a place where she might view the evening's festivities while not being observed herself. Believing that she had found just the spot, a secluded corner protected by several of Lady Lucas' prized plants, Elizabeth slipped into it. Once in position, she carefully examined her surroundings. Charlotte and Jane stood talking with their admirers. Mary was obviously enjoying whatever Lord James was whispering to her, to judge by her laughter. It is so good to see her happy. Elizabeth groaned as she saw the figure that passed behind the sofa Mary was seated on. If Mary was amused by whatever Lord James had said, Mr. Darcy seemed more than a little shocked by it.

Pressing herself farther back into her hidden chair, Elizabeth completed her survey of the room. It did not surprise her to see that Lydia and Maria Lucas were at the center of the dance floor and not behaving at all ladylike. Not recognizing the gentleman who had attracted Kitty's attention, Elizabeth moved to examine him more closely. Leaning forward out of her chair, she found herself only a yard or two from a scowling Mr. Darcy. Evidently seeing her suddenly appear from behind the plants, he turned to look at her, the glare that had been directed at the young cavalry officer on the far side of the room being replaced by a smile.

He crossed the few feet that separated them quickly, as Elizabeth silently cursed her bad luck. "Might I have the next dance Miss Elizabeth?"

If looks could have killed, the gentleman standing before her would no doubt have burst into flame. But instead, his smile broadened, and went all the way to his eyes, which momentarily disconcerted her. Then Elizabeth was startled to hear her own voice reply "I would be honored sir."

They made their way to the dance floor and Elizabeth's troubled emotions had once again shifted. Normally, she spoke with her dance partner, but now she remained silent, all the while thoughts whirling about her head. Is this man toying with me? Giving signs of enjoying my company to lull me into a false sense of security before he springs the trap? Or is he trying to protect me?

Elizabeth not decided which course Mr. Darcy was pursuing when the music ended. He escorted her back to her seat, and just as they arrived, she remembered his conversation with Sir Terrance Fields. Whirling about, she whispered at his back in a rather hoarse voice "Might I have a word with you Mr. Darcy?" Darcy turned and as soon as he faced her, Elizabeth fairly spat out her accusation. "Are you trying to get me hung sir?"

The charge clearly startled him. But instead of becoming angry himself, he began to smile, much to Elizabeth's annoyance.

"You should have paid more attention to the second part of the conversation, where I suggested that the highwaymen might be servants. If you had been watching the conversation instead of merely listening to it, you would have noticed that Sir Terrance seemed much more ready to believe that it was servants as opposed to other members of the local population."

The crimson flush of anger that had suffused Elizabeth's cheeks drained away, replaced by an even more crimson flush of embarrassment as she realized that Darcy had deliberately misled Fields. She stammered incoherently, trying to form some sort of apology. He again thanked her for the dance and wished her a good night and then slipped away, leaving a bewildered Elizabeth standing in the corner.

She spent the rest of the evening watching her sisters, pondering the enigma that was Fitzwilliam Darcy. It was not until the last dance of the evening that she remembered a conversation between her parents that she had overheard many years before. Evidently, Sir Terrance's grandfather had once lost a great deal of his wealth to a pair of unscrupulous servants, who, after removing much of the family's riches had fled to America, where they had used their ill-gotten gains to open a store that was now one of the largest in that country. Elizabeth frowned, wondering how Darcy had learned of the Fields' ingrained mistrust of servants. The more I know of him, the less I understand him she mused.

Longbourn, January 4, 1812

Elizabeth stood next to her sisters as Jane and Mary accepted their father's congratulations on their successful engagements. Their suitors were just disappearing down the lane.

She was on the verge of speaking with Mary when she felt someone nudging her. She turned to see a clearly distraught Kitty, who soon pulled her aside. "She's gone Lizzy." Kitty remarked, the fear evident in her voice. "Gone where?" was all that a confused Elizabeth could manage in reply. "Here" Kitty responded, as she held out a letter. As Elizabeth read it, Kitty added. "She's pilfered the cache too. Everything of value that could go in one saddlebag is gone." Her eyes widened in shock, but Elizabeth was soon in control of herself again.

"Show the note to Papa." Elizabeth commanded, "but do not mention the cache!" Kitty nodded, her instructions clear, but in a rather puzzled tone she added. "Where are you going?" But the question went unanswered, as the door banged shut and Elizabeth hurried down the lane.

In hindsight, Elizabeth had no idea why she was drawn to Netherfield. It was probably the last place that Lydia would have gone if she had indeed run away. But the three gentlemen that were in the drawing room when she arrived were gracious and obviously wanted to assist her in some way. The news provided by Mr. Darcy and Lord James that Colonel Fitzwilliam had returned from Lucas Lodge in a rage surprised her. Elizabeth's heart sank as the information sank in. Poor Charlotte! But her attention was soon pulled back to the conversation taking place on the other side of the table.

In the few minutes Elizabeth had thought about Charlotte's probable broken heart, the three gentlemen had concocted a plan. When Elizabeth was fully aware of the strategy that was being formulated, Mr. Darcy was discussing matters with his cousin.

"I am to blame for this. I should never have kept the information from him. He was always the one that I feared would react like this."

"Shouldn't I be the one to go after my brother?" Lord James inquired.

"No, I created this problem. I am the only one who can solve it." Darcy stated in a tone that made it clear his mind would not be changed.

"Then I shall be tracking down Miss Lydia?" Lord James asked, his opinion that Darcy's plan had a few flaws evident.

"Yes, but see what sort of information you can get from her sisters. Surely Mary and Miss Elizabeth can tell you something useful."

Elizabeth started at the mention of her name. "Yes" she stammered, "I'm sure that we could provide you with some intelligence."

A grinning Mr. Hurst, who had spent much of the conversation with his feet propped up on the table, spoke up at this point. "And what are my orders General?"

Darcy's response was immediate, and realizing Hurst's attempt to lighten the situation, perhaps even humorous. "You stay here as the link with the Bennets. Just don't give Caroline any more excuses to practice her pugilism."

Elizabeth could not resist letting her mouth fall open in astonishment. She had seen her cousin leaving the house as she arrived, the evidence of some sort of physical conflict obvious. She had assumed that it had been Darcy or one of the Fitzwilliam brothers who had struck him and she had fully intended to ask those gentlemen what had happened. But her plan to ask about her cousin's bleeding lip and swelling eye had been forgotten when she heard the strategy to find Lydia being developed. Elizabeth shook her head in a newfound admiration for Caroline.

To be continued . . . .