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Part 44

Posted on Monday, 16 October 2000, at 6 : 02 a.m.

Rawdon looked in askance at a closed door. He straightened his cravat and practised what he was going to say to his father.

"Now father, I am a young man, and I'm sure you remember what it was like being a young man....hmmmm sounds like I'm insulting his age....because it wasn't all that long ago that you were a young man....better....now I'm sure your remember being somewhat pressed for ready cash at certain points in your life. Now unfortunately I have come to the same grief......hmmm implying my father was addicted to gambling; not the best solution.....unfortunately I have come to grief in the financial area, as I am sure you never did...sounds like I'm sucking up....hmmm .... Unfortunately I like many young men am placed in the unhappy situation where I may have to ask for some assistance, I come here as a remorseful man...yes yes good its honest, I am dashed remorseful, never going to drink brandy again in my life and I am definitely never going to fall in love again, thats for sure, ...yes I come here to stand before you a much humbler man, I know that many promises of staying on the straight and narrow come to nothing, but honestly I intend to do all I can to stay out of the river tick...and I feel that you do not know how to assess this situation as I'm sure your Father, my esteemed late grandfather, never had to deal with this situation and therefore could not give you advice on how to handle this matter. Sounds like I'm insulting his intelligence...oh dear. Maybe I should start over again...."

Rawdon stopped to think, as he did the door flew open. Lord Marcross towered over him.

"Yes I'd damned well think of starting over, are you DRUNK boy, standing outside the door blabbering away, and I never went to my father about financial problems, I solved them myself, I suggest you try and do the same. "

The door slammed shut and then in a split second opened a much less ferocious Lord Marcross appeared.

"If you can't son, I will help you. But I will rake you over the coals." He said in much softer tones.

Rawdon was left frowning at the door.

Solve my own Financial problems...thought Rawdon...what a novel proposal...now who could help me?

Apparently both Andrew and Rawdon had the same idea. There was a mighty storm of distracted young men through the Stapleton home that day.

Harry was just on his way to the Dukes and was thus not in a mood or a mind to pay much attention to either Andrew or Rawdon. This was not quite what either of these gentlemen had in mind.

However no much cajoling or yelling or waving of arms was going to get Harry out of his stupor. He was not worried about finances, we was worried about fiancé's or well the lack of them. Harry was suddenly determined, he was not going to let Bonnie slip through his fingers, he figured he had a little while to plan, but Miss suddenly -hoity-toity Fitzwilliam was going to be Mrs Harry Stapleton whether she liked it or not. Well Harry hoped that she did like it, and was just confused at this present point in time.

This however did not help his friends.

Harry and Andrew found themselves outside Harry's house looking at his retreating figure, towards a hackney.

"Debt?"

"Lots"

"Solution"

"Walking away...."

"Damn him...:

"Not him Brunstein..."

"Yeah..."

"There is always Sir Christian..."

"Yeah....."

So they formulated Plan Two....

Chesney was acting like a chicken with it's head cut off, he was running around in circles. He had been through the house twice, no sign of the missing documents, no sign of false entry, no sign of a paper eating marsupial, no sign of anything really!

Chesney closed his eyes as he sunk into a chair.

Who could have taken them? Well many people could have taken them, but the point is that chaps who come to his home, don't come and randomly filch bits of paper. It made absolutely no sense. Chesney thought some more, the only people who those papers meant anything to were himself and the Comtese. The Comtese he reasoned had no need of the papers at least not yet and she would hardly enrage him by taking them, when she appeared so certain that he would pay up.

No matter which way Chesney looked at it, it made no sense. He had been informed by his servants that many people had called for him that day, most leaving notes, that they had written in his library. There had been a particularly sensitive issue about to be raised in the House of Lords, that every man and his dog appeared to want his opinion on. Consequently Chesney had on one hand many people with the opportunity and on the other, very few people with a motive.

It took about an hour but finally he gave up and consigned the whole lot to fate. He went to bed happy, especially about the little box that sat on his dresser. Chesney was a bit worried about leaving it there, just in case some person unknown came and filched it.

Georgiana sat arrayed in a pale blue creation, she looked a dream. Georgie in fact wanted to be dreaming. Unfortunately the Bingley sisters had decided to pay a call and were today being extremely boring and unwitty.

Thankfully Georgiana had a music lesson scheduled and thus could escape out of the room. She closed the door behind her, not before she looked through the crack and smirked at Lizzy.

Georgiana sat down at the instrument and played for some time awaiting Mr Petershom. The door opened, Georgie didn't look to see who it was, as Mr Petershom was right on time.

"Hello Mr Petershom, I have been practising those minuets and sonatas, I think I have improved greatly since you last saw me. I was hoping that my brother would take me to that new recital you mentioned, but I wanted to know who you enjoyed it, you were going last Fr-"

Georgiana stopped, there were hands on her arms, sliding down her arms and covering her hands on the keys.

"Mr Petershom, Please!" Georgie spun round and gasped.

"Chesney??!!!??" Georgie quickly looked around the room, no Mr Petershom, just Lord Chesney, who had now got to his knees.

"I - sir - I - had - sir - honour - improper - I - Sir - " Georgie was devoid of breath, she looked towards the door, unsure of whether she wished someone to come through the door or not.

"Miss Darcy..." Chesney took his hands in hers and by sheer force of will made her look him directly in the eye.

"Miss Darcy....Georgiana...please let me say what I came to say...you will hear me will you not?"

"Of course...I will hear anything you have to tell me..." Georgie whispered.

"I love you."

"You love me..." Georgie repeated, feeling overwhelmed and scared and excited all at the one time.

"I wish so very much for you to do me the greatest honour in the world, would you be my wife? I would worship you, I do worship you, ever since I set eyes upon you, I knew that you were the only person for me. Please say yes, I won't force anything upon you, I shall try and understand if you say ...."

Georgie very hesitantly put one finger on his lips to stop him speaking.

"Yes...there is nothing more that I would love than to marry you, I knew from the first moment I saw you.."

Georgie blushed and bit her lip. Chesney raised one hand to her cheek and stretched his neck upwards, and she hers down and it was sealed with a kiss.

They parted, and Chesney brought out the little box and showed her a ring he had picked out.

"I didn't know if you would like it..."

"I love it. Even if it was hideous I would love it because you picked it out." replied Georgie letting him slip it on her finger.

He joined her on the piano stool, and comfortably put his arm around her.

"If I am to be your wife, Chesney..."

"Randolph. Or Dolph...or Chesie...call me whatever you want."

"Dolph, I like that...but if I am to become your wife there is something I must tell you."

Chesney looked seriously at her and asked "What is it?"

"If I give you my hand and everything that goes with it, please don't abuse it, like someone else did before you..." Georgie bowed her head quickly, but Chesney brought it back up quickly with one hand under her chin.

"Who hurt you? Tell me Georgiana..."

"I was 15, I was at Ramsgate, in the care of a Mrs Younge. A family acquantence, a Mr Wickham was there. He ....He..." Georgie stopped quickly took a breath and battled on with her tale. "He persuaded me that I was in love with him. He asked me to marry him, not as prettily as you have, and with far less sentiment behind it. He said we should elope, he told me it was romantic that way and much less fuss, he told me it would be like all the books. But he was erratic in temper, I heard him shouting with Mrs Younge, he hit her once...But yet he was so nice and kind to me, and I wanted so much to be in love. But William came and I told him everything. He only wanted my money, my £30 000, he never loved me, he would have ruined me."

Georgie looked at Chesney, hoping that this tale would not give him a disgust of her. She saw anger in his eyes and suddenly felt scared.

"Oh please do not be angry with me. "

"Angry with you??" Chesney exclaimed. "I would never be angry with you, it was not your fault you were imposed upon, by a scoundrel." Chesney put his arms around her and kissed her until she felt entirely better.

Georgie breathed soundly into his shoulder, suddenly feeling that everything was falling into place, life was decidedly looking better.

"It;s your family I am angry at."

Georgie frowned and pulled away from Chesney looking at him in surprise.

"My Family?"

Chesney got up and started pacing the room.

"Yes, what were they doing not looking after you. You were 15, and an heiress any sensible man would have protected you from scoundrels."

"It was hardly William's fault, or the Colonels or any of my family, they left me with Mrs Younge."

"Obviously a disreputable person, did they check her past throughly obviously not."

"They were deceived..." Georgie started to feel alarmed.

"Deceived! They had no right to be, it was your reputation and life at stake!"

Georgie stood up quickly and tried to tell Chesney that it wasn't there fault. But he took her by the shoulders, gently.

"Let's marry quickly darling, I can't bear to see you with people who don't have your interests at heart, you could have been lost forever, I would have lost you forever. I would have never met you."

"They do have my interests at heart Chesie, they do, they are my family they love me."

"The Darcy's and The Fitzwilliam's are so plagued with scandal that only their previous good standing in society has saved them from ruin. Marrying a lot of nobodies was the least of their problems."

"Are you calling Lizzy and Kitty problems?"

"Not problems, but you must see Georgie, that it is no good for you, you are an angel, you should be looked after protected. I cannot believe even your own brother could not look after you properly. Leaving you in Ramsgate - I never believed him capable of such folly."

"It may have been a mistake, but it doesn't mean he doesn't have my best interests at heart...Look I love you with all my heart but my family - "

"Are of no importance to me, they are all very well and good on their own, but collectively they are a disaster, I do not pretend that I am scandal free I am not, but they had made an art of it!"

"An art? What are you saying."

"You are too good for them Georgie, you are an angel you are my angel. I want to take you away from them so you never have to see them again I - " He got no further, a rather inexpertly curled fist met his nose.

"How dare you sir!" Georgie wrenched off the ring and threw it at him. "You insult my family, you put me up on a pedestal, and say I am your angel, yet you cannot accept my family? Since when has my family been any less than yours sir? You blame my brother, my family, in short you blame everybody but me for the affair at Ramsgate. I was silly enough to believe Wickham and his lies, I should at least have some blame. I have worked through the guilt I have at that time, I no longer feel guilty, but for you to absolve me of all blame, it is not your place sir. How dare you come here, say that you love me and then tell me you never wish for me to see my family again? You are arrogant sir, and presumptuous, I am not your little dog to be paraded around and kept on a short leash. You shall not decide my future sir. I love my family and I will not marry a man, who does not see in them the good qualities as well as the bad. Are you so concerned with self interest and appearance, that you dread the connection that society will place between you and my family if we marry, that you are willing to forcibly part me from them? Is that what you are implying. You sir, are nothing but insulting. I am sorry to have ever said that I loved you. Please leave."

There was nothing for it, a rather sore and battered Ego in the shape of Lord Chesney left the house quietly, just as Mr Petershom, bribed to stay out of the room, came in to offer his congratulations.

"Miss Darcy, Lord Chesney told me his errand and may I be the first to - " he got no further, a cushion was thrown at him.

Part 45

Posted on Saturday, 28 October 2000, at 9 : 06 p.m.

Lizzy sat looking at her deserted sitting room, she was quite thankful all her morning callers had left, however now she had little to do. She was therefore surprised when she heard a door slam and a high pitch whine start up.

"I do declare Miss Darcy, I will not tolerate such behaviour, I am a first rate music master! I do not have to teach you to play the piano! Indeed I shall not do so any longer I have been insulted!!"

There was another slam of a door, presumably Mr Petershom leaving the house. Lizzy slowly stood up looking very curious. She inclined her head to catch any more disturbance outside. There was no noise. It was quite curious. Lizzy took several steps towards the door, she needn't have bothered. The door flung open and a teary Georgiana was seen.

"Oh Lizzy!" she cried casting herself on her sister-in-law's shoulder and burst into noisy tears.

It was several minutes before Lizzy could drag any sense out of Georgie. They sat down upon on of the sofas.

"Now Georgie, what happened? Why is Mr Petershom so upset?"

"I threw a cushion at him?" said Georgie almost questioningly

"Why.....??" said Lizzy rather shocked.

Georgie abruptly stood up and started pacing around the room.

"Lord Chesney asked me to marry him."

"What! Oh Georgie!" shrieked Lizzy, ecstatically, then realised that Georgie did not appear to be ecstatic.

"You....refused him.??" Said Lizzy, quietly, wondering why this didn't seem to add up in her head. Anyone who had seen Georgie the last little while could not have failed to see that she was very much in love.

"Of course I didn't!! I'm madly in love with Chesie!" cried Georgie, who quite to Lizzy surprise, started to cry again.

"You didn't refuse him?"

"No...well not at first....oh Lizzy it is such a mess. Oh he is a hateful man, I can never speak to him again. I will never speak to him again!"

Lizzy felt a headache coming on.

"You accepted him? Then refused him? And never want to see him again??" she said blankly.

Georgie knelt down before Lizzy, taking her hands in her own and looked up at her.

"Yes. How well you understand me Lizzy, you must be sure never to let him step foot inside this house." Georgie stood up just as quickly and quit the room.

She left Lizzy, dazed and confused. What exactly had happened? Suddenly she groaned. No let it not be that.....Lord Chesney could not have chucked a Darcy could he?

Lord Chesney, at this point in time was walking home. He every so often tenderly touched his face. She had such a killer right hook, he thought to himself.

Why had she done it? Oh that was a stupid question!

Chesney had descended to the point where he was holding a conversation in his head. He had by arguing with himself, managed to work out that he had acted like a complete and utter nonce. Basically if there were awards for idiotic behaviour he would get all of them.

How would he have liked someone telling him that Gilbert, or his step-mamma where unsuitable persons. He would have told whoever dared say such a thing where to go.

Chesney ran his hand threw his now very disordered hair. Then he saw something he did not need to see. The very angular and vulgar looks of the Comtese.

Now the Comtese embodied every reason why Chesney shouldn't think badly of anyone else. Chesney walked slowly towards her, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him, this was really the last thing he needed.

"My dear Randolph"

"Madam."

"Oh so formal." She said offering him her hand to kiss, when he did not take it, instead thrusting his hands into his pockets, she dropped her hand to her side with a little flourish.

"C'est la vie!"

"Do you want something?"

"No...I don't. I actually came looking for you to give you some good news."

"Good news?"

"Yes I think that I may have been a little bit hasty asking you for so much money. Perhaps we should get to know each other a bit more?"

"No. Is this a threat?"

"A threat! It's a reprieve! Don't you understand Randolph, I'm giving you a bit more time to acquire my money. This way you can find it without causing a stir. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"Yes, I don't want a stir. But I'm not paying you a cent. I'm sure you have been amply provided for, why you need my money I don't know."

"Oh but I quite count your money as my money. Now I warn you, you will pay up. I will make sure that every one of your friends and associates knows the truth. I know its hardly a first-rate scandal but this season has been so shockingly lacking in good scandals that I'm sure this one will be turned into a first-rate one. How should you like to hear whispers about you behind your back Randolph? I assure you it isn't pleasant."

She watched as Chesney brushed past her and stalked off. She snapped open her reticule and looked at the dwindling money inside. The truth was, she was shockingly extravagant and was so far in debt that even the next quarter was not likely to relieve her cumbersome debts. She needed Chesney's money, even more so now that Brunstein was being un-filial and refusing to give her any money. Where was a son's love for his mother these days. The only reason she was giving Chesney more time was the fact she was quite desperate, Gilbert had also overset her, she had counted upon Chesney being so shocked at her appearance that he would just pay her without thinking of the true cost. Gilbert looked like he might convince his half-brother to ride out the storm.

Now to put the icing on the cake.........

Anne impetuously stomped her way to Georgiana's chambers.

"I heard the news" She announced to her cousin who was sitting staring into a mirror.

"What do I do?"

"Revenge! Flirt! Make him pay!" cried Anne.

"But I love him!"

"Lizzy told me you said that! What nonsense! Now tell me what he did!"

"He insulted all my family!"

"THE SWINE!" roared Anne. She was in high dudgeon she had worn a very fine new dress to take a turn around Hyde Park in, and she had had every man at her feet - except one. The horrible Colonel Fitzwilliam had not even deigned to give her a second look. So Anne was quite willing to indulge in a little man-hating.

Georgie gave a little laugh. "He isn't swine! He is just stupid! Horrible! Cruel! Insensitive! Proud! -"

"A Man" pronounced Anne Gloomily. She sat next to Georgie at the mirror and put her chin on her hands.

"Why was he so insensitive Anne? I do love him, but I can't marry someone who thinks so little of my family? How will I ever know he has changed his mind about them? Will he ever change his mind about them?"

"I don't know......"

"You know....men are so frustrating."

"Georgie? " said Anne surprised.

"Yes well they are Anne..." said Georgiana decisively.

"Oh I'm not arguing with you, I just was surprised it took you this long to find out!"

Both girls started to laugh. Then stopped and looked at each other and sighed. Being in love was not an easy thing.

Sir Christian sighed as he took the stairs two at a time, he jumped the last stair and jogged into his study.

"You rang?" he said jovially. When he saw the looks on the faces of the occupants of the room he stopped.

"Okay - who died...."

"No one died!" exclaimed Rawdon crossly.

"Well why are you so Friday-faced!"

"Well we are kind of in a bit of a scrape." Said Andrew Sheepishly.

"What kind of scrape..." said Sir Christian warily.

"Debt."

"Debt!"

"Debt"

"Debt?"

"Yes Debt! Now stop repeating that word over and over again you two!" exclaimed Rawdon throwing himself into a chair.

"How much debt are we talking?"

"£1000 between us?"

"You say that as a question, is that all you owe?" said Sir Christian (he wasn't a bit of a noted gambler/rake without becoming versed with the signs of a dissembling gambler.)

"Well - " said Andrew nervously looking at Rawdon.

"Are we talking higher? Or obscenely higher?"

"What's obscenely higher?" said Rawdon.

"More than two hundred pounds more."

"Well - " said Andrew.

"Oh dear lord." Said Sir Christian putting his head in his hands.

"How?"

"How - well it's like this - you put money on the table then you pick up cards." Replied Rawdon trying to recapture some joviality. The death stare he was sent from Sir Christian and Andrew made him relapse into depression.

"WE were drunk. Brunstein fleeced us. Look we aren't asking you to lend us the full amount. Just a little to give to him to prove we will pay our debts."

"Have you heard the expression "Don't play if you can't pay"?? I suggest you stick to it in the future."

Both boys in the room hung their heads. "Now look I will try and drag you out of this successfully, but you did pick the wrong man to play with! Now what is the full amount?"

"£1,543" said Andrew.

"Right. Well don't worry about it, I'll see what I can do - if you promise me one thing."

"Anything." Chorused Andrew and Rawdon.

"You will never play higher than tuppence stakes - for the rest of your life....and I do mean forever."

They nodded and shook on it.

Sir Christian decided to go to the club.

The Club held little good news for Sir Christian. He talked to a few old friends and discovered to his shock that Brunstein held a grudge against Andrew & Rawdon. Why was a complete mystery. He had taken a dislike to them and was quite happy to destroy them.

It was quite an insult not to be able to pay back a debt, and it would be humiliating if the news spread. From what Sir Christian could gather, Brunstein would be quite happy to spread the news.

However Sir Christian had never liked Lord Ernst Brunstein and he was determined that he would bring the boys off safely.

He mused all the way home. Where could he get such a sum fast, really fast? It was late. Suddenly an idea struck him.

For the second time that day he took the stairs two at a time. He crept into Mary's dressing room. She was fast asleep. He opened her jewellery box and found a suitable item. He knew Mary would not mind, especially when she knew what cause it was for. Plus Brunstein would never actually take it. IT would be just a show of wealth. Sir Christian felt very pleased with himself. He would be the boys agent, show Brunstein the necklace tonight, say he would sell it the next day and return with the cash, and he would snooker Lord I'm-so-clever-I -could -cut-myself Brunstein thoroughly. There would be no reason to try and humiliate anyone if the debt was paid promptly.

Sir Christian smiled.

It was coming on dusk. Anne and Georgiana had given up working out the men in their lives. They decided a promenade around the park would give them ample opportunity to prove to the world that they hadn't a care in the world.

They had already convinced half the ton of London that this was so, and although the crowds were thinning and the smart footman they had brought with them was tiring they plunged on. They spoke loudly as the sun set.

"Perhaps we should go home Anne?"

"Ne-vah!"

"It is getting quite dark!"

"Yes miss it is. We should return home. " said the footman (named Ralph) who was quite nervous of these obviously high-strung young ladies.

"Oh Georgie you are such a wimp. I assure you that this is the most beautiful time of day. Oh lets savour it. We don't need men, or anything, we just need ourselves."

Anne started to twirl around, desperately trying not to think how well a handsome Colonel would look against this picturesque backdrop.

Georgie was tired. The day had been most horrendous. She trudged towards a bench and collapsed on it. Anne was right it was beautiful. She looked at the setting sun and wondered where a certain Lord was.

Georgie sighed and looked up. There was no sign of Anne, and no sign of the footman. Alarmed she stood up and practically ran out of the little enclose that the bench had been situated in. She could see no one. And it was getting darker by the minute.

"Oh you are pretty my dear...." Came a voice. It sounded pleasant enough, but when Georgie turned round she saw it came from a older woman. Georgie took a step towards her and then hesitated perhaps it was the light but she looked menacing, even fierce.

"My Randolph always had such good taste.........."

The woman stepped closer, reaching out with one hand, which to Georgie looked more like a talon. Georgie desperately wished she had never read all those horrible gothic stories, for the woman looked quite like a vampire to her.

She tried to speak but couldn't, She tried to move but couldn't. The hand grasped her arm, and she was held in a vice like grip by a deceptively frail hand.

"Now my dear......"

Part 46

Posted on Saturday, 4 November 2000, at 12 : 11 a.m.

It was now pitch dark. The night had descended quite rapidly. The park was still and silent. The only sound that could be heard was footsteps, running footsteps.

A figure, without bonnet or reticule was racing as fast as her legs could take her through the park. She appeared oblivious to the scratches the bushes she was running through were making on her legs. The bottom of her dress was torn into shreds and her arms were also covered in scratches.

It seemed immaterial, all she wanted to do was put as much time and space between her and that...that thing....

Her breath was ragged, she had not been much prone to running lately and it was now taking its toll upon her. She looked over her shoulder to see if anything was following her. It was rather a stupid thing to do, that woman would have hardly followed her, she looked even less fit than Georgiana.

Georgie knew this but still couldn't help looking over her shoulder. She suddenly ran into something large and unmoveable. It grasped her arms.

Georgie Shrieked and clawed at the thing, she dug her feet into the ground. Georgie screamed and screamed and screamed trying to break free. It did not occur to her that this object could hardly be connected with that woman.

Suddenly the object lifted her off her feet, to bring her face to face with it.

"Georgiana, what in the Lord's name is wrong with you. It's me. It's me. You are safe nothing is going to happen..."

The clouds obscuring the moon shifted and Georgiana saw the face of her captor.

"Oh Ash Ash Ash!" she threw her arms around him and started to sob.

Ash was to say the least, slightly confused. Something had obviously happened, but what??

Georgiana looked up and saw things that she was quite surprised she hadn't seen before. There were lanterns of light practically all over the park, a search party that she hadn't even seen.

She was carried back to Ashbourne house, on Park Lane, where the search party had set themselves up. She found Kitty pacing up and down with Lizzy, actually they were alternatively pacing and being told to sit down by the other.

"Georgie!" said Lizzy with relief. Then she noticed her arms and legs. "Oh my god!!"

Ash deposited Georgie on the sofa and went to arrange a doctor. Darcy one of the last of the search party to have returned raced into the room, he threw his arms around his little sister.

"Don't you ever, ever, ever do that to me again, do you understand??"

He released her. "Now what happened?"

Georgie looked at the room of worried family and thought about what she should say. Now that she knew she was safe she knew that she couldn't tell them what really happened. She couldn't do that to Lord Chesney. No matter how much she despised him for being such a.....she still loved him. How funny did that sound....Georgie sighed.

"I - I got lost - Then there - there - was this - sound - sound - and I was scared..." she finished lamely.

Bonnie sat in the Dowager town house, playing with a piece of fringing. She sat thinking about Georgiana. Bonnie hoped she was all right. Father had gone off to help them look in the Park for her.

It was a rather stupid thing to do thought Bonnie, get separated from your party and then get lost, but it was dark....

She tried to read an improving novel, and was almost succeeding when the door was pushed open. Bonnie looked up quickly but dropped her head almost immediately when she saw it was Harry.

"Mr Stapleton." She said coldly.

"Bon - Miss Fitzwilliam. Your father bade me to come over and tell you that they found Georgiana, she is fine."

"That is very good news Mr Stapleton what happened?"

"She just got separated from Anne and then well got lost and scared."

"Oh. Well I am glad Georgie is all right!" said Bonnie happily. She looked through her lashes at Harry. "Was that all?"

"Yes." said Harry rather sadly. He turned to leave, then paused. "No that wasn't it. Why are you being like this Bonnie? I thought I was your friend? I thought that you..........liked me as much as I like you? Why is it that every time I see you treat me as though I was some cur you found on the street."

Bonnie dropped her book and looked up, slightly apprehensive and slightly angry.

"Don't talk to me like that Mr Stapleton. I wish you would leave." Bonnie, hadn't quite seen this side of Harry before and she was finding it interesting. Would he obey her command?

"Of course, Miss Fitzwilliam. I shall never bother you again. The Duke thinks I may be in public service before too long, and that means we will move in widely different circles....." Harry opened the door and moved out of the room. He looked over his shoulder directly at Bonnie and seemed to sadly shake his head. The door closed.

Bonnie picked up the book and tried to tell herself she didn't' care. Didn't Sophy tell her that she could have any man she wanted. Didn't Spencer tell her he looked on her as quite his own niece, no matter the legality of it all. Wasn't she an heiress, wasn't she a Fitzwilliam of Fitzwilliam.

He was nothing, and ...........proud of it. She remembered meeting Harry in the park, she thought he was so handsome, and he was so kind. He'd do anything for anyone!

Bonnie played with the fringing again and remembered what had happened in the morning. The maid had come in and helped her change her dress, after riding in the park, and as per usual had gossiped.

"Miss, you will never guess! Miss Darcy has turned down Lord Chesney. My ....gentlemen friend is a footman there, and he was standing outside one of the doors of the music room and he heard it all! He insulted the family, that's you miss! He said that Miss Darcy was an angel and needed to be taken away from her family. Can you believe it! My Ralph says he never would have believed it. He thought Miss Darcy and Lord Chesney were the happiest of couples. But she refused him.....well I never."

Bonnie couldn't believe it. Everyone thought that Georgie was madly in love with Lord Chesney. She probably was in love, but she had refused to marry the man she loved on principle!! Because he couldn't accept her family.

Bonnie felt better, no matter how she might think she felt about Mr Stapleton, she was right to refuse him on principles....

And it would be so much the better if Harry did stay away from her so much the better....

Bonnie sighed and picked up her book.

No it wouldn't........... her brain screamed at her.

Bonnie dropped the book, flew across the room and wrenched open the door.

"HARRRY!"

Anne paced in the hall, outside's the spare bedroom at Ashbourne house. The Doctor was inside treating Georgie's scratches. Anne desperately wanted to know what happened, all she knew was that she had walked on through the park, with the footman, thinking all the time that Georgie was a few steps behind them. Darkness had fallen suddenly and Anne had realised Georgie was no longer with them. Anne had panicked and raced to sound the alarm and luckily Ash had been at home.

It hadn't taken very long for half the family to assemble and comb the park, it hadn't helped that Georgie appeared to have been running through the park, instead of staying still.

Why had she run? Georgie enjoyed looking at stars, she knew Hyde Park, why get scared. It made absolutely no sense to Anne, and she intended to find out why.

Anne turned at the sound of footsteps. It was the Colonel, he walked up and stood right in front of her, she had to look up to see his face.

"Colonel."

"Anne."

"Are you all right Anne?"

"I'm fine. Thank you for asking."

"What were you and Georgie doing in the park so late?"

"Walking."

"Alone?"

"The footman was with us."

"Hardly complete protection against...."

"Against what Colonel?"

"Well something scared Georgie..."

"Yes I agree."

"You don't know what it was?"

"No."

"Oh."

"Umm."

"Yes..."

"Well."

Anne didn't quite know what to say. Neither did the Colonel. Then, Something seemed to prompt the pair, perhaps a sign from the heavens. For the next second saw Anne against the wall being utterly and ruthlessly kissed. Of course, Anne was reciprocating this action back, quite utterly and Ruthlessly herself.

There was a creak on the stair (and a groan from the peanut gallery). The Pair sprung apart. It was Lady Catherine De Bourgh, she looked in askance at the pair.

The Colonel straighten his coat. "I'm not in love with Anne." and then hurried down the passage.

Anne's jaw dropped as she looked after him. "well I NEV-AH"

"Anne, where is my necklace?"

"Your necklace??" Anne's head was swimming, she looked confusedly at her mother.

"The Necklace I lent you."

"Oh .....Mary has it."

Lady Catherine nodded. "Oh well as long as you know where it is."

Anne watched her mother start to go down the stairs. "Oh and Anne."

"Yes Mother."

"If I would you, I'd be getting him against a wall - that way he can't escape."

Anne started. "Yes Mother....I'll remember that..."

Chesney was indulging in a large brandy. He was feeling excessively sorry for himself. Especially since a note had come for him. It was unsigned and only had two words but it's meaning was obvious.

Gilbert walked in on this scene, having heard about the horrible proposal from the Under-cook and about Georgie's escapade in the park from the Night Watchman.

He looked at the two words on the piece of paper.

She Knows...

"I can't even apologise now.....Gilbert I've stuffed everything up."

"Well Fix it Chesie Fix it!"

Down at the club. Sir Christian was waiting around for Brunstein, finally Brunstein arrived, leisurely making his way to the card tables. Sir Christian intercepted him.

"A Word."

"Of course."

They stepped into a more private room.

Sir Christian brusquely explained that he was operating on behalf of Andrew and Rawdon.

"We have not got the money quite yet, but we are selling this." He showed Brunstein the necklace.

"Tomorrow we will sell it. "

"Give it to me now and you can consider the matter closed." Said Brunstein eyeing the necklace.

"You wouldn't be able to sell it. It is too recognisable. The owner would have to sell it."

"Oh I have ways." Said Brunstein languidly. "Plus I don't want this hanging over your heads. I don't wish to cause trouble."

Sir Christian frowned as Brunstein slipped the necklace from his hand. Why was he being so helpful?

"It's an interesting Necklace."

"Yes it is."

"The woman who owned this gave it to you?"

"Of course...." Said Sir Christian. Well it was almost the truth he was sure Mary would give it to him if he had asked.

Brunstein looked around, the private room was not so private, a few of his companions and some other men had come into the room.

"Tell me Sir Christian, are you intimate with the woman who owns this necklace."

"What a stupid question, highly improper! Of course I am."

Sir Christian suddenly thought that Brunstein had probably had a little too much to drink and decided to leave quickly. He had done what he came to do.

"Good night my lord."

"Good night my good sir."

Sir Christian left and Brunstein looked at the necklace in his hand and laughed.

Part 47

Posted on Saturday, 11 November 2000, at 7 : 12 a.m.

Brunstein sat down in a comfortable arm chair, and looked at the necklace - he waited.

One of the gentlemen, a known gossip, sidled over to him and sat down in a nearby chair.

"Couldn't help overhearing, Brunstein, but did Sir Christian say he was intimate with the owner of that necklace."

"Sir Ralph, I'm sure you already know that is so, otherwise you would not have come over here with your big ears." Said Brunstein lazily.

Sir Ralph would have become offended at this insult, except he was never one to pass up a good on-dit.

"And Brunstein do you know who owns that necklace...."

"Yes I do."

By this time, several other men, who lived for nothing else but gossip, sidled over.

"By George! Did you hear that! Sir Christian has been intriguing with Lady Catherine De Bourgh!"

Brunstein started to chuckle. But his laughing was overlooked in the spate of dialogue that finished.

"Oh I can't believe that! Lady Catherine De Bourgh....i mean you'd want to be put in her will for.......that..."

"Well we heard him didn't we. He said...quite categorically that he had been intimate with the owner of this necklace!!!"

"Oh come on. An elaborate joke!"

"Who joke about being a cisebo of The Lady Cat?"

"Well in all my born days, I knew he was a rake, I didn't think he was insane!!"

The conversation buzzed like this for several minutes, until Brunstein raised his lazy voice over the chatter.

"I for one, will stake my reputation that Sir Christian has never been intimate with Lady Catherine De Bourgh."

"But you heard him Brunstein!"

"Yes I heard him."

Sir Ralph looked at Brunstein who appeared to be trying to convey some message with his eyes.

"Good God! Anne De Bourgh! Oh that makes much more sense."

"Anne De Bourgh!" exclaimed Brunstein feigning surprise. "Why ever do you think he meant her?"

"Because it makes a dashed sight more sense than saying he was trysting with Lady Catherine!"

Brunstein shrugged his shoulders, pocketed the necklace and walked out of the club. It was starting to rain, he ducked into the nearest hackney.

But there was something nagging at him, perhaps it had been nagging at him for a while, but it started to rear its ugly head about now. Something had been pressing at him ever since his mother had turned up and revealed something quite important to him.

Why should he have just started a scandal about Anne De Bourgh and Sir Christian, did he have anything against either of them? Why couldn't he just leave things alone. Why did he feel he had to destroy perfectly happy lives. Sometimes he just didn't understand himself.

It started to rain heavily as Bonnie ran down the road. She couldn't see Harry anymore.

"Harry!!'

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYY!!"

There was no response. The Butler who had been much alarmed at the young Miss Fitzwilliam racing out into the night had ran after her, and was much soaked.

"Miss Fitzwilliam, come back inside."

Bonnie took no notice of him and looked around some more, all she could see were some linkboys bobbing around with their lighted torches (which were being extinguished by the torrents as Bonnie watched.)

She sneezed loudly and suddenly felt cold, numbly she allowed the Butler to lead her back inside.

"There Miss, you will catch your death of cold!"

Bonnie watched the door close. Surely Harry hadn't meant he would never bother her again......never was a long time.

Anne walked slowly down Bond Street. She was in a foul temper. Georgiana was pretending to be some heroine from a romance novel, languishing on a couch, saying "She could under no circumstances reveal what had happened in the park" Anne glared so violently at a passing man that he almost leap into the road in fright.

Why right did Georgie have to suddenly play Mrs Siddons???

Why did the Colonel have to be so....sooo.....stupidly stubborn?

Anne almost ran into Mary.

"Mary!"

"Hello Anne." said Mary placidly, book in hand.

They started to walk up Bond Street together.

"Oh Mary, you remember my necklace with the faulty clasp? I left it at your house? Could I retrieve it? My mother had suddenly remembered that she lent it to me conditionally and wants it back."

"The necklace is Lady Catherine's? Somehow I couldn't imagine her wearing it. You are welcome to walk back to our place now and get it if you like."

"Yes please! I am in such need of a walk!"

"Really? Why?"

"MEN!"

"Oh yes, I wouldn't waste your anger on men, they really aren't worth it!"

"But Mary! You're married!"

"That's why I'm telling you!"

Anne lowered her voice. "Mary, are you telling me you don't love Sir Christian??"

Mary looked up. "Good heavens I didn't say that!!"

Anne laughed. The two then steered their conversations away from men and towards a much better subject...clothes!

The conversation lasted right until Mary opened her jewellery box, and frowned.

Anne's eyebrow's went up as Mary started to rifle through the jewellery case and then through some draws.

"Mary?"

Mary took no noticed and continued rummaging.

"I'm sure it was here Anne, I put it in my jewellery box, you saw me!"

"Isn't it there now?"

Mary shook her head. It was puzzling, a necklace just couldn't up and walk away....

Sir Christian walked into the room, and was almost decapitated by a particularly sharp cushion.

"What are you doing Mary?....oh Hello Anne." Sir Christian looked at the havoc that the women appeared to be creating.

"Looking for Anne's Necklace it has gone missing..." said Mary.

"Anne's necklace??" said Sir Christian slowly.

"Yes she left it here ages ago because of the faulty clasp and it has gone missing."

Sir Christian turned an interesting shade of white. "Really, what does it look like?"

"A conglomerate of different stones." Said Anne worriedly. "It's my mothers, but she lent it to me"

Sir Christian turned red, and managed to illicit a squeaked "Oh."

Mary narrowed her eyes at her husband and said "What do you know..."

"Know? Very little in fact, you know me....Mr Idiot.......in fact I might just pop down to the library...........be back soon." Sir Christian retreated down the stairs at light speed and raced to the club.

Upstairs Mary looked at Anne.

"You know I think something is going on."

Lord Chesney was holding his head. It did not help that he was due in parliament later that day, even if he wasn't he still would have had to get up, one could not sleep what sounded like the entire military band playing in your head.

So it was a very fragile man that stumbled down stairs, he was not sure what day it was, he was not sure what year it was, the only thing he could remember with clarity was that Georgiana Darcy, the love of his life, hated him. And with some due cause.

Why did he have to tell her his reservations about her family? He hadn't intended to, he hadn't really intended to try and separate Georgiana from her family, but when she had told him about Wickham it had just made him so mad.

Now he had entirely screwed everything up.

He looked through bleary eyes at Gilbert who had walked in frowning at him. Why did it seem that Gilbert was more grownup than he was?

"Chesie? You DO know that Miss Darcy was attacked in the park yesterday..."

"Attacked?" Chesney yelped, shaking Gilbert by the shoulders.

"Perhaps not attacked...the reports are a bit confused, but I do know she ended up in a horrible state."

Gilbert paused to reveal more to his brother but ended up trying to talk to a quickly vanishing back.

Chesney raced around to the Darcy's. (he actually broke some sort of running record while doing so and almost collided with a Duchess who was talking quite ardently to the sky. But these are insignificant facts)

Darcy groaned. His back would never be the same again. Exhausted after worrying about Georgiana he had collapsed into a chair in his library. His spine felt as thought it had moulded itself into the shape of the chair and would never straighten again. He was so tired he could hardly think.

Darcy stumbled towards the door, which was being hammered on with an alarming force. The porter had been given the day off (due to being Excessively worried about Miss Darcy).

Thus Darcy was forced to open the door. He did not think about the consequences of opening the door in his present state - he did not think of the impression it would give to love struck young lords.

Chesney gasped. "She's dead!"

Darcy looked blankly at him. "Dead..."

"Oh my god. What have I done!" Chesney, in a Byronic fashion clutched this hair. (the lamentable influence of Byron on society)

It filtered through to Darcy that Chesney was very hung-over and still probably very drunk. But it still didn't' explain who was dead.

"Dead? Dead?" Darcy repeated.

"Georgiana" Chesney moaned. "Why! Why! I'm such a fool."

"Georgie's Dead??" Darcy was struck dumb. Why hadn't anyone told him?

Chesney looked alarmingly like he was going to prostrate himself upon the steps of the townhouse, and Darcy wasn't sure whether he wanted a prostrate member of parliament on his doorstep. Darcy shook his head. No wait his sister had just died....he shouldn't be thinking about such trivial things.

"What happened??" said Darcy anxiously.

Chesney looked up with bloodshot eyes.

"I don't know. I wasn't there. Shouldn't you know?"

"What do you mean I should know? You are the one who told me she was dead!"

"What? Isn't' she dead? You look so horrible.....Isn't' she dead?"

"I don't know if she is dead! She wasn't last night! Just a few scratches...what are you talking about man?" Darcy was more than a little annoyed. First the man comes to his house in such a state, then he tells him Georgiana is dead, and now he is a raving lunatic.

"So she isn't dead?"

"Not to my knowledge...."

"Then where is she....I must see her."

Darcy stared at Chesney. "She is at Ashbourne House but you .......can't.....see....her."

Darcy very much doubted that Chesney had heard those words he had already sprinted down the road. Darcy hung onto the door frame. What a strange man. But then again Darcy had always noticed that Lords were an odd set....just witness Ash ...

Darcy shook his head. What was the man going on about Georgie being dead for? Darcy sent a footman over to Ashbourne House just to make sure nothing had happened to Georgie.

Sir Christian, paced quickly from room to room. There was no sign of Brunstein but there was an awful lot of whispering. Sir Christian could have kicked himself.

Sir Christian looked in the final room and saw Colonel Fitzwilliam reading a paper. Sir Christian looked furtively around and slipped into the room and into a nearby chair. Sir Christian picked up a paper and also pretended to read.

"Pssst. Colonel."

Colonel Fitzwilliam lay down his newspaper and looked around the room. There was no one else in the room.

"Psssst Colonel."

The Colonel put down his newspaper and looked to his right, there was somebody else in the room, hiding behind a newspaper hissing at him.

"Yesssssssssssssssssss?"

"It's me, Sir Christian.........I've done something very stupid."

Colonel Fitzwilliam got up surreptitiously and moved to a closer chair. The newspaper still did not move.

"Ah are you going to talk to me?"

"Put up your newspaper." Colonel Fitzwilliam obliged him. But he felt incredibly stupid.

Sir Christian moved his newspaper so he was no longer hidden from Colonel Fitzwilliam but to anyone who entered the room all they would see was newspaper.

"Is this necessary?" said The Colonel.

"YES!" almost yelled Sir Christian.

"Why?" said The Colonel wondering if Sir Christian could be suffering from shattered nerves, if Mary sang at him all day it was quite possible.

"I gave Lord Brunstein Anne's necklace which she was lent from Lady Catherine, to pay Andrew and Rawdon's debts, and I told Lord Brunstein that I was intimate with the owner of the necklace, I thought it was Mary's"

The Colonel listened to this very condensed speech and paused. It took some time to sink in and then he started to laugh.

The Colonel's newspaper shook violently as he tried to regain his self-composure.

"You said you were intimate with Lady Catherine! You poor, poor man."

"No with Anne."

The Colonel froze. "With who?"

"I've been eavesdropping on the whispering....they think I meant ANNE."

"Anne as in Anne De Bourgh???" said the Colonel Aghast.

"Yes, you see the problem..... what do we do?"

The Colonel looked blankly at the newspaper print in front of him.

"Tell me the WHOLE story...."

Once Sir Christian had managed to impart the whole story coherently to the Colonel, the Colonel was about ready to murder Lord Brunstein.

"The swine....what does he like destroying people's reputations??" said the Colonel.

"Probably," said Sir Christian gloomily. "What do we do now?"

"Get the necklace back and make the man confess he made it all up."

Sir Christian sighed. "But it wasn't all made up! ...I mean I did say those things."

"Because he made you say them! He asked you, knowing that you thought the necklace was Mary's...."

Sir Christian and Colonel Fitzwilliam plotted.

Georgiana looked despairingly at Lizzy.

"Did I do right? Refusing to see him?"

"Well my dear he was in a disgraceful state. He was making no sense whatsoever. I wouldn't think seeing him in this state would make things any better."

"You Did tell him that I'd be very happy to see him tomorrow...didn't you."

"Of course I would Georgie....are you sure that you want to see him? He did upset you last time he saw you...." Lizzy paused, not wanting to refer to the horrible proposal.

Georgie turned such wide eyes on Lizzy and said in a quiet voice. "But I think I understand where he was coming from.........now."

"Why?" said Lizzy. "What has happened?"

"Nothing." Lied Georgie. "It's just that I think I know why he is so against family and scandalous families at that."

Gilbert looked up towards the threatening night sky. Why was it looking like raining? Why was he walking home? He struggled with the umbrella.

Gilbert shook his head. He had always had horrible timing with rain. Whenever he decided to walk it would rain. (hence why he always brought an umbrella.

He focused on the ground until he heard a shout from behind him.

"Gilbert!"

Gilbert turned around to see Ash rapidly approaching.

"Horrible weather!" said Ash ducking under the umbrella..

"What are you doing out, thought you would be at home?"

"No No Kitty and Lizzy have decided they want to play torture & interrogation on Georgiana"

"Torture & interrogation??"

"Oh no silly me I think it is more commonly called 'girls talk'."

Gilbert smirked, as a droplet hit his head, somehow illogically coming through the umbrella.

"Bah! Have I ever said how much I hate rain?"

"Frequently" smiled Ash. Thinking about how much rain occurred in Weymouth and the endless card games to keep Gilbert amused.

"What are you doing out at this time of night anyway?"

"Ordering a berth on a ship bound for the Continent."

"you thinking of taking a trip Gilbert."

"Oh no....the Comtese is taking one."

"Really? She know this yet? Does Chesney know this yet?"

Gilbert smiled. "Oh no....but I think she will be. I was planning on going and getting myself an ally."

"Lord Brunstein?"

"How ever did you guess?" said Gilbert wickedly.

"Oh I was always good at Maths. You just add a mother like the Comtese and a Son like Lord Brunstein and get the sum of distance. I think Brunstein would love it if his mother was far far away somewhere."

"6 feet deep probably."

Ash nodded. "Probably."

"Strange how, you can turn out like your parents and hate in them what is in you."

"It's the reason for the hate Gilbert."

"What do you mean?"

"You can't help but feel they put it there. I mean parents make you what you are, 9 times out of ten."

"I never thought of it that way. You think Lord Brunstein hates himself?"

"Probably. Villains often do."

Gilbert nodded. "Well could you come to Lord Brunstein's house with me?"

"At this time?" said Ash. Looking at his watch suddenly realising that it was past midnight.

"Certainly! Why should we allow him sleep!"

"Right-o then! Lead on MacDuff."

Sir Christian and The Colonel peered at Lord Brunstien's house. They had waited until it was late and well the rain was helping obscure them from everything.

"So that's the house."

"Yep."

"Right so we find away in. Steal the necklace back and then somehow make Brunstein contradict the rumour."

"Well I think if we get the necklace back, it will be a start. I mean if it gets back to Lady Catherine, and SHE starts wearing it about....well no body will believe you meant HER!"

"Right."

Sir Christian and The Colonel crept closer to the house. There were no lights on in the house. But some way up the wall there was a window open.

"Here give me a leg up."

The Colonel obliged and Sir Christian clung to some vines and managed to make it to the open window.

Wheezing he pulled himself inside, landing with a *Clooomph* inside the house.

"Should have done more exercise."

The more athletically inclined Colonel Fitzwilliam had no problem scaling the wall, but he too had problems negotiating the movement from the windowsill to the ground and had to grab a chair near the window to stop himself falling back out the window.

The Chair rocked on it's legs for a few seconds, after the Colonel released it and then crashed to the floor,.

The Colonel winced. He hissed at Sir Christian. "I think we would make Terrible burglars.

"Well there isn't anyone home....."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Well there are no lights....."

The two men holding on to each other's shoulders, moved through the inky darkness of the room into the hallway, equally as dark.

"Where would he hide a necklace?"

"I don't know....where would you hide a necklace..."

"I don't know."

"Well I don't know either.

"Stop saying that!"

"Well..."

The two men stopped suddenly perceiving the unwisdom of starting an argument in a house that you had just Entered (it wasn't Breaking and Entering because they hadn't broken anything, unless you counted the chair and Sir Christian's backside.)

Colonel Fitzwilliam pointed towards the stairs and mouthed 'Study'

Sir Christian peered at him and mouthed 'What??'

Colonel Fitzwilliam groaned. And whispered. "The study...his safe."

Sir Christian nodded. Colonel Fitzwilliam moved towards the stairs. Before he could reach it a shot rang out and Colonel Fitzwilliam crumpled before Sir Christian's eyes.

Part 48

Posted on Wednesday, 22 November 2000, at 4 : 28 p.m.

Sir Christian gave a yell and dived towards the Colonel, putting his foot down on some excessively polished floor and slipping, falling headlong into the banister.

"Ommmmmppfffh."

"Stop where you are - thieves." Yelled a man coming out of the shadows. A younger man behind him started to light the hall up.

Sir Christian clasping his head saw that it was an elderly butler with a very frightened footman behind him.

"We aren't thieves." Came the Colonel's voice from his prostrate posistion on the floor.

"Oh no what do you call vile desperate men who enter brave noble Lord's houses in the middle of the night."

"Fair go I wouldn't call your master noble, or brave.." snorted Sir Christian.

There was a sound of running footsteps and up the stairs came the Lord of the house.

"What the devil is happening up here? Colonel Fitzwilliam! Sir Christian!" Exclaimed Lord Chesney in surprise. "What are you doing in my house."

"Your House???!!!???" chorused the would-be -thieves.

"You want me to send for a constable my lord?" asked the Butler still holding his pistol level.

"No No! Put that thing down. " said Chesney, moving to help Colonel Fitzwilliam.

"My god, Colonel you are bleeding."

"It's only slight."

"Slight?? You have a bullet embedded in your arm!"

"No you have a bullet embedded in your banister."

Chesney looked at the fatally wounded banister. "Oh."

"It only took a chunk out of my arm, rather slight comparatively to other injuries I have received. But I think I've twisted my ankle..."

Sir Christian managed to haul himself upright. "Yes, good god Chesney do you have to polish your floors so well?"

Chesney looked as confused as a man could be, having been awoken from a less than peaceful nap to hear gunshots in your house and to find two of your acquaintance cursing your housekeeping. Between Chesney and Sir Christian they managed to move the Colonel to a sofa in one of the bedrooms. The Colonel tied a handkerchief around his wound, which didn't look so slight to Chesney and then pulled off his boot.

The Colonel tenderly touched his swollen ankle and winced.

"Something cold?" said Chesney.

"Yes that will help." Said the Colonel.

The men sat down around the Colonel. "Now if you don't mind, could you explain what you are doing in my house??"

"Not a problem, Chesney! You see there was this necklace...." Sir Christian proceeded to pour out the convoluted tale into Chesney's ears.

Chesney sat in silence once the tale had finished.

"you would do all this for a family member, even if the relationship is slight?"

"Of course we would." scoffed the Colonel.

"Yes, anyone who is family counts with me." said Sir Christian.

"You would help people out of debt? Try and break into someone's house, and proceed by some method you have not made clear to make Brunstein retract his rumours?"

"Yes....wouldn't you?" said Sir Christian curiously.

"I don't know.....for Gilbert yes, anyone else I don't know. .....I say would you do it for me? I mean if I were to become...."

"Of course we would, family pride and all. But it doesn't sound as though you are going to become part of our family, though you should be, disastrous love affairs and proposals are the Fitzwilliam trait. .......that and staring out of windows! Do you stare out of windows?"

Chesney stared at this speech of the Colonel's and wondered if perhaps he had suffered some extreme blood loss that they had no noticed.

"No I'm not insane!" said The Colonel aptly reading Chesney's mind. "So Christian what are we going to do about that necklace?"

"I don't know..."

"Oh don't start that again!"

"Well I guess we could..."

The voices trailed off to Chesney he was thinking in his own little universe. This family loyalty that he had started to note the Fitzwilliams displayed? He had always condemned them for their foibles and scandals, but perhaps the only reason they all descended into scandal was because they all refused to abandon one another. Chesney had no real family pride or duty, he had some of course, to his name and his current relations, but there was a dark stain on his progenitors that he could not erase from his mind. He had no loyalty to her....Could he have loyalty to others, to Georgiana and her family??

"I'm in." he said.

The Colonel and Sir Christian looked at him blankly. "You're what?"

"In...I know how to get into Brunstien's house, I will help you."

"You want to help us?? You do realise that if you are found in his house, your career could be over in seconds. I don't think his majesties government feels very highly of breaking and entering.

"I realise. I want to help."

The Colonel inclined his head at Sir Christian who nodded.

"Well then how do we get in?" said the Colonel.

"We don't Colonel, you are in no condition to be breaking and entering anything." Said Chesney as he got up and walked to the window. Sliding up the sash he leaned out.

"Come and look here."

Sir Christian joined him at the window. Chesney pointed to a window directly opposite in Brunstien's house, it was just out of arm's reach.

"Well?"

"If we get a plank of wood, and lean it on that window-sill over there, we can crawl over, open that window and be inside in under a minute. Also this space cannot be seen with ease from the street."

"Good plan." Said the Colonel who had hobbled over to join them at the window.

"Right then we need a plank." Said Sir Christian.

"The attic."

"The Attic."

Mary sat and wondered where exactly her husband was. He had acted extraordinarily strangely over the necklace incident. Mary had been unable to find the necklace and Anne had had to leave to go face the wrath of Lady Catherine. However something kept telling Mary that her husband had known something about the whole incident....but what?? Mary determined to find out. The answer, quite literally walked through the door.

"Oh...Lady Montgomery. I do apologise, I had not known that you were still up, I came to call upon Sir Christian." Rawdon looked apprehensive.

"Sir Christian I am afraid has been called out for a little while. But never fear I shall sit with you and we can have a nice little chat until he returns home, since we are really cousins, are we not? And Cousins should tell everything to each other."

Mary spoke in quiet dulcet tones, as she changed her seat, so she was sitting right next to Rawdon. She surreptitiously picked up two glasses behind her and brought them round into Rawdon's view.

"A drink?"

Rawdon was quiet disturbed. His fears of being hunted down for debts of honour had dissipated since Sir Christian had contacted him, but his fears for his safety had just risen.

Mary was being uncommonly friendly. Rawdon was very on his guard about married women these days....he was not going to flirt/look at/think about them ever again, and he was certainly not going to fall in love with another one. However Mary was being excessively friendly, she had plied him with drinks and talked very seriously about the joys of Mary Wollonstonecraft. He was starting to feel a little light headed. What did she want?

"So dear cousin Rawdon, you are going to tell me about this necklace....aren't you??"

So That is what she wanted? And why did those last two words seem so threatening?

Anne smiled at her mother.

"Well Mama, the clasp is faulty, and well Mary knows a simply excellent jeweller who will fix it for me...you...for a pittance."

"Nonsense, I know a jeweller, who is I say far better than a jeweller recommended by a Bennet."

"Mother...I thought you had gotten over this peculiar hatred for Bennets."

"I said...if you may recall 'I don't see the point in arguing any longer as everyone I see is a Bennet.' I didn't say I had gotten over it."

"Mother! Please!"

"Don't Mother Please me....if you want to please me...get married." Lady Catherine sniffed.

"I'm Trying! He doesn't want to marry me!"

"Nonsense...who wouldn't want to marry Rosings??"

"Rosings?? He isn't marrying Rosings...he is marrying ME...and he isn't!" Anne almost stamped her foot.

"He isn't marrying you? Oh I wouldn't be so sure about that."

"Mother, what planet have you been living on? He refuses to admit he is in love with me! Refuses, he needs a wake up call!"

"Well then that is what he will get."

Lady Catherine seemed to go back into her little world, as Anne struggled to grasp a hold of her anger. Why was her mother so obtuse?

"Now about my necklace being in the hands of the Bennets..."

Anne almost shrieked. I'm marrying the next man who walks through that door. Even if it Is just to get away from Mama!

"Oh Anne, this package came for you." said Lady Catherine imperiously... "It's from a man."

"Georgie.....please.....Tell us what happened." Whined Lizzy, sitting on Kitty's bed sounding extraordinarily like her mother.

Lizzy stopped. If there was one thing she had promised herself it was never to sound like her mother.

"I mean Georgie, please, explain to Kitty and I what happened in the park, if you wouldn't mind."

"Well I do mind. It's something that I wish Chesney had told me some time ago, it would explain all his little follies and stupidities."

"Even his stupidity in proposing in such a horrible way?" asked Lizzy.

"Yes, even that. Though I don't know if he will ever realise how wrong what he said was. I love him, and I can't help it."

Lizzy, left the bed and went to sit next to Georgie on the sofa at the end of the bed. Lizzy put her arms around Georgie..

"I know how it is to love so much that you couldn't' stop even if you tried. Georgie I am very happy for you. I just hope that Lord Chesney comes to see that even if you join his family, you will still be as much a part of this one. "

"Thankyou Lizzy. Having you for a sister has made these last 2 years something special."

"So you will Marry Lord Chesney?"

"Of course I will."

The two women smiled happily at each other, and the third woman in the room screamed.

"Kitty??!!? I'm sure Georgie Marrying Lord Chesney won't be a disaster!" cried Lizzy looking at her sister.

"Yes I mean I'm not going to let him dominate me!" said Georgie, worried that her dear friend should disapprove her choice.

"No....No....not....that....pain....pain." cried Kitty screwing up her face.

"Oh my god." Said Lizzy rushing to her sister's side.

"The doctor!" exclaimed Georgie rushing out of the bedroom in haste.

"Ash?" said Kitty

"Oh where is he? I'm sure he will be back soon." said Lizzy in a panicky voice, before changing to a more soothing voice.

This soothing voice went in the next second when Kitty gave a pained shriek. Lizzy didn't quite know what to do, she ran to the door.

"Don't worry, Kitty I'll find him for you."

"And ....When...you.....do.....tell....him.....I'm.....going.....to.....wring.....his.....neck." panted Kitty before screaming a scream that to Lizzy was equally brought from pain and murderous intent.

Harry was slowly walking along alone in the rain. It didn't' matter to him that it was raining. What did anything matter anymore?

Harry thought Rawdon had been overreacting when he lamented his life was over when he realised Married women tended to want to stay married to their husbands, now Harry felt his life was over. Why are girls so changeable....??

Harry looked to the heavens to provide his answer. Which was a very good thing. If he hadn't looked to the heavens at that precise moment, he wouldn't have seen the sight of a plank being precariously placed between windowsills.

What on earth??

Colonel Fitzwilliam watched as Chesney and Sir Christian wrestled with the plank of wood, they had appropriated by ripping it up from the attic.

He felt kind of woozy and his arm was hurting him a lot more than he would like to admit. If the other gentlemen had not been assured of his well being, they might have looked closely at the Colonels clammy and pallid face.

However the Colonel wasn't a Colonel for nothing, he was going to stick it out with fortitude. To his inner self he admitted that right about now he needed a big hug.....from.....Anne....did he say Anne? Yes he said Anne. There was really no use denying it. When you felt ill, just had someone take off a piece of your arm, had fallen over some highly polished floor and were wondering about the sanity of breaking into a noble's house, there was no one you'd like better around you than...Anne.

The Door started to open, the Colonel looked up hopefully....Anne? No it was Harry. Harry was a poor substitute for someone like Anne. The Colonel was sure Harry would not look half as nice in a Military style dress as Anne did.

Chesney turned his head to see Harry.

"What are you doing? I saw the plank from the street."

"Damn! You saw it from the street? We are going to have to hurry."

"Hurry? What are you doing?" said Harry with confusion marked in his voice.

"Getting that necklace back and probably threatening Brunstein....here you stay with the Colonel he doesn't look too well." Said Chesney sharply, pulling off his boots and coat.

Harry looked towards the Colonel. "What's wrong with him?"

"Got shot." Said Sir Christian rather bluntly trying to secure the plank.

"Got Shot!??!" exclaimed Harry "How? Why? When? Where? Who?"

"Never mind, just stay here and hold this blasted plank." Said Sir Christian his nerves starting to fray.

Chesney climbed onto the plank and started to edge out into the rain. He reached the other side of the plank (he didn't look down) and pushed on the opposite window, the sash slid easily up and Chesney slid inside.

Sir Christian mounted the plank and very carefully walked across it, he made the mistake of looking down and said a very nasty four letter word before rushing through the open window.

They were in a darkened room, and Sir Christian felt some deja vu.

"Don't get shot Chesney." He hissed at the darkened figure on the opposite side of the window.

"Not intending to" came the reply "Split up. you go those rooms, I go these."

Sir Christian nodded and started to move off into another room.

It was hard to search through a darkened room for a necklace, but Sir Christian tried. He still couldn't believe how stupid he had been and he was astounded at the turn around by Chesney. But Love could do strange things to you. If someone had told him a year ago that he would be married to a girl, who was very determined and expecting a child, in a year, he would have laughed in their faces.

He rifled through a dresser, finding nothing, then something caught his attention. Swinging around he saw that outside this room had suddenly become illuminated.

Chesney....

Sir Christian crept to the door and peered around it, and was almost taken out by a vase crashing over his head.

Chesney froze when he saw Brunstien's puzzled face appear at the door. Chesney had his hands in a drawer full of paper. It did not look good. No matter what he said.

So Chesney didn't' say anything.

"What are you doing here Chesney?" said Brunstein. A frightened footman appeared in the hall behind him. Chesney watched as Sir Christian started to creep out of the opposite room, only to be clobbered by the footman.

"Right if that's the way you want to play it." said Chesney. He swung a fist at Brunstein, who fell to the ground for a brief second before leaping back to his feet.

Chesney pulled a chair into Brunstien's way. Brunstein tried to grapple him to the ground, but a well aimed punch stopped that. Out of the corner of his eye Chesney saw Sir Christian fighting with the footman.

"Chesney stop it." cried Brunstein ducking a punch and in return trying to tackle Chesney to the ground.

Chesney ignored him.

"Where is that necklace?"

"How dare you try and destroy a ladies reputation on a whim!"

Brunstein didn't reply, he was more concerned with trying to duck the blows that were coming his way. The room was a mess. The footman was using whatever he could lay his hands on to throw at Sir Christian who was fairly much out of action, being penned into a corner by the rabid footman. The main fight was systematically destroying pieces of furniture as Brunstein at every opportunity appeared to be trying to tackle Chesney to the ground.

Brunstein was now on the other side of a table from Chesney, with a look of horror on his face. Chesney turned his face slightly to see another footman, in defence of his master with a pistol, raised and aimed. There was no time. The gun went off and Chesney hit the ground, falling into the footman.

Brunstein had tackled him to the ground, receiving for his pain a glancing wound across his back . The footman had flailed backwards dropping the pistol which skidded across the floor. Chesney lunged across the floor for it. And aimed it back at Brunstien who froze in the middle of picking himself off from the ground.

Everyone froze.

Except the door. It flew open. A bedraggled Gilbert flew in, assessed the situation and said.

"Don't do it Chesie....he's your BROTHER."

Chapter 49, 50, and Epilogue

Posted on Saturday, 25 November 2000, at 6 : 10 a.m.

Ash reached the doorway a bare second after Gilbert, he too took in the scene and quickly stepping around Gilbert, promptly disarmed Chesney.

Chesney's mouth had dropped several inches and was hanging there suspended in shock. The rest of the room was similarly in shock, even Gilbert. Somehow saying what he had known all along out loud had produced a revelatory effect on him.

The only two people in the room not frozen by this announcement were Ash and Brunstein. Brunstein finished standing up.

"Out." he said sharply to the two servants, who had both ceased to attack Sir Christian and Chesney. They obeyed him unhesitatingly. Brunstein looked out the open window to see Harry, perched precariously on the plank. He had been coming to Chesney and Sir Christian's rescue, and had been in the middle of the space when the shock came.

"Here give me your hand." Brunstein leant out the window and pulled Harry inside. No sooner had he done this than he saw the Colonel partly on the plank. Once he had helped him inside, he closed the sash and turned around.

There was no change. The room still appeared to be in a freeze. The only moving character who wasn't just looking dumbly at Chesney was Ash. Who calmly picked up an easy chair, restored it to it's right position took a seat and crossed his legs.

Chesney was thinking. Brunstein was his brother? That would explain why that woman had gone into his house. But how? How? How? How could his mother....that women...be this man's mother too. How did Gilbert know? How? How? How? How could he have not known about Brunstein and that women being connected. Was he entirely stupid. No he was distracted by Georgiana....Georgiana...oh god how much had that woman told Georgiana.

Then Chesney thought about Georgiana, and what he had said to her about her family.

Ash looked up at Chesney wondering what sort of reaction was about to spill forth. He got it. Chesney started to laugh. And Laugh.Chesney reached for something to lean on and finding nothing tried to collapse into the large sofa in the centre of the room which had been the only thing not destroyed by the fight. He missed, narrowly missing hitting his head on the side of the sofa he slumped down convulsed with laughter.

Ash raised an eyebrow at him.

"I.........* snort - chuckle -intake of breath* Told......Georgiana *snirt - smile - insane laugh* That ......HER family was.....*intake of breath, struggle for and losing of countenance* scandalous."

This dialogue seemed not to make an impact on anyone in the room except Ash and Brunstein. Ash couldn't help himself and dissolved into a fit of laughter. It was really too funny. There was a faint glimmer of a smile across Brunstien's face, but he contented himself on sitting on the sofa with a look of bored interest but soon he could not help giving a snort of laughter.

Gilbert was the next one to break out of the cone of silence, he too succumbed to the infectious laughter, then Sir Christian, Harry and the Colonel. Why exactly they were laughing was a little beyond them, but all they knew was they had to laugh.

"Oh god." Said Chesney putting his hands through his hair. He looked up at his elder brother "How?"

"Father died. Married yours. Ran away from yours, hadn't heard from her since. I didn't even know she did marry again until she came to see me weeks ago. Not a happy reunion I fear."

"She ask you to plan Chesney's down fall??" Said Ash with some interest.

"Of course."

"But you prefer to plot the downfall's of other people."

"Who aren't my blood...to put it quite simply. Yes."

Chesney looked puzzled again. There it was, that loyalty to family. Even Brunstein had it.

"Blood is thicker than water."

Ash shook his head.

"One thing - why is destroying people's lives your hobby?"

"I don't know. Happier people than me, they don't deserve to be, boredom, quite a number of things actually. " said Brunstein playing with a signet ring.

The Colonel who was now wearing a much better bandage (courtesy of Harry) and was feeling a lot better, no longer seeing Anne everywhere, lurched forward towards Brunstein.

"Where is that necklace you rogue. You had to ruin an innocent girl's reputation???"

"Richard calm down, he hasn't got the necklace." Said Ash.

Everyone looked at Ash, including Brunstein.

"Excuse me?" said the Colonel.

"He hasn't got the necklace."

"Yes he does. I gave it to him. " said Sir Christian.

"No I am afraid Lord Ashbourne is correct. How he knows I do not know. But for some reason perhaps I am taken over by a philanthropic spectre but I sent the necklace back to Miss De Bourgh and I fully intend to laugh heartily at all those taken in by my...I mean our...funny little joke. "

Everyone stared.

Gilbert turned to his old friend. "How did you know."

"I think I am learning too much from the Duke of Avon." Said Ash with a devilish little smile.

Gilbert gave a snort. It turned out to be a mistake, it set everyone off again.

Chesney breathed in trying to regain some semblance of composure. It was really too amusing. To think that he had told Georgiana that her family was ......

At least Ash had appeared to understand the joke. Brunstein had not. Chesney put his head in his hands. Now what to do? It appeared that Brunstein had even returned Anne's necklace.

Even to him, the idea of family had meant something. Chesney had been abandoned by his mother, but he had had a father and soon a step-mother and half-brother to console him, and rear him in the proper style. Who had looked after Brunstein, some derelict and out of the way uncles and aunts? Some toadeating fellows at school. It was no wonder he had turned out like he had.

Their mother.... it was a common word now. That woman was at once his mother and Brunstien's. It was too weird.

He had felt overwhelming shock, then amusement when he had heard Gilbert say those words. "He's your BROTHER." .... Gilbert how exactly had Gilbert known about it??

Chesney had always felt that Gilbert would never apply himself to anything, yet it had been Gilbert who had discovered this truth? Chesney had been too worried about society finding out that that woman...the Comtese was his mother, and of Georgiana to even contemplate that there could be more to the story. That must have been what she was hinting at releasing on society. To have such a connection made known to the world, would have been a fair scandal.

All those papers, that Chesney had, relating to the particulars of his father's marriage, divorce and remarriage....it would have looked as though Chesney knew all along what his mother's antecedents were. Then those papers went, ....Gilbert must have taken them...but where? Those papers that Chesney had not brought himself to read thoroughly, he had always assumed his mother had died, until a fatal meeting on the Continent had brought himself into his mother's path. It was she who had told him of the existence of the papers at some obscure lawyers office in York.

Chesney had duly collected them, he could not handle someone else holding such papers about his family. The shame of having such a scandal in his family. A scandal that his father had done so well at hiding, at least from all but those who had long, long memories.

He had been a fool. You could not help your family. And it was much worse to abandon your family. It was your duty to stick by them and help in times of crisis. His mother had run away, but he never would. He had promised himself that, yet he had judged others badly for doing to the maximum of their abilities what he said he must do.

"Chesney??" said Ash.

"Yes????" he replied snapping out of his reverie.

"Well?"

"What am I to say. I have been a great fool. I should have thought myself honoured to join your family."

Ash looked sharply up at Brunstein who was fiddling with a snuff box.

"Yes, Yes, that wasn't entirely the question."

"Wasn't it?" said Chesney looking over towards Gilbert and Sir Christian with a blank look.

"No it wasn't." Ash looked back towards Brunstein and noticed the spreading stain on the couch.

"Good God. You are bleeding."

Brunstein nodded abstractly.

"I suppose I am."

"Stupid man." said Ash. Ash called Harry over to help Dress Brunstien's wound. It was only slight, but it was nevertheless, a long ugly slash of a wound across the entire of his back.

It could be considered his just deserts, but Ash did not feel that this was worth it so he made Harry rescue some liquor and to make Brunstein swallow some, then liberally offer it to the rest of the party.

Chesney examined the gash, and Brunstein tried to stop the group subjecting him to such a humiliating position, as lying on a sofa with everyone peering at you.

"It is nothing. I am sure it is nothing. I feel nothing."

"You must have a damn high pain threshold, it looks rather nasty." said Sir Christian watching as strips of cloth started to cover the wound, applied by Ash's expert hand.

"Nasty!" said Harry looking a bit pale. "I am glad i want to go into politics not the Army."

"Looks worse than mine, because you can hardly not use your back." said The Colonel musingly.

"Yes. Though strictly speaking, this wound should be mine." said Chesney. Looking at the wound in front of him, he realised he had not even thought about the fact that when that servant had pointed that pistol at him Brunstein had saved his life.

"Thank you." he said gruffly.

"Thank you?" said Ash.

Chesney sighed. He should have known that Ash would not let him get off lightly.

"Brunstein. Thank you for saving my life."

There was a muffled snort from at least two quarters of the room at this point. Brunstein, in his undignified position stretched across the sofa made a sort of choking sound into a pillow. Ash was less *ahem* discreet and only barely concealed his mirth by ducking his head.

"What???" exclaimed Chesney with some confusion.

Gilbert who was still admiring Ash's binding, looked at his brother incredulously.

"You do realise how silly that sounds don't you."

Chesney still looked blank. "You'd rather i didn't thank him for saving my life??"

The Colonel, still feeling slightly light headed, had assumed a seat, in the easy chair Ash had vacated.

"Oh please brother mine, let me humbly thank you for so nobly saving my life....oh please." he said in a very Chesney-esque voice.

The mirth seemed to break loose again.

Gilbert had to sit down on the floor to stop himself from actually falling over in convulsive throes.

Sir Christian holding his side laughed very hard at a picture on the wall.

Ash finished binding Brunstien's back up, his hand shaking out of amusement. Brunstein sat back up, Chesney sat down on the other side of the sofa.

"Really. I think you are all insane."

"Not insane.... relieved. You have no idea how this has weighed on my mind, Chesie....to tell you....not to tell you." said Gilbert.

"That is the question. Whether it is nobler in the mind..............and so forth." said Brunstein with a smirk on his face.

Harry who had been silently watching affairs, snorted and almost slipped over (the incredibly slippery floors - don't you know) and sent a bust of a incredibly unattractive forebear of Brunstien's to the floor.

It crashed to the floor and splintered marble flew everywhere. Harry looked alarmed at his.............well..... host

His Host, Brunstein, knelt down on to the floor, by the remnants of the nose and looked up at Ash.

"ALAS! Poor Yorick! - I knew him well Horatio, a fellow of infite jest , of most excellent fancy, he hath borne me on his back a thousand times -"

Brunstein was stopped mid-rant by a cushion.

"Oh Shut up." said Chesney.

"Excuse me this is my house."

"And you are.....are.....are....so right. Damn." said Chesney.

Mary looked at Rawdon with a smile.

"So Christian was so nice as to pay your debts for you?"

"Yes. A loan of course, i will pay it back. I intend to finish at university and to enter politics? Or the Army, or something. I will pay him back Lady Montgomery, i assure you."

"Oh no no, that wasn't at all what i was alluding to. I merely am interested in how he paid for them?"

"I believe it was a necklace...."

"Really, a necklace???"

Rawdon gulped. Ten to one it had been Mary's necklace, he should excuse himself before he made even more trouble.

"Uh - Lady Montgomery?"

"Yes Rawdon??"

"I have to go now...."

"Oh well it was so nice having you over! I cannot think what has become of Christian shall i tell him that you popped by?"

"Yes...i mean no...i mean i shall probably see him soon anyway...."

Rawdon hurried himself out of the room, wondering whether he had, like he normally did, made things worse.

Mary smiled ever so sweetly at the closed door and then called for her carriage.

"At this time my Lady?" asked a shocked Footman.

"Yes at this time...." almost snapped Mary.

Mary thought of a passage in The Vindication of Women's rights, about how given a chance women, could stop the simple rut they fell into.

"Virtue is not to be acquired even by speculation, much less by the negative supiness that wealth naturally generates."

Lizzy did not know what to do. The doctor had been called, in fact, several doctors had been called. Apparently to Ash, Kitty's health had been paramount. It was a pity his concern did not reach to the limits of him actually letting people know where he was to be found.

Lizzy had summoned Darcy and Andrew to her rescue. But they were hardly helpful. Darcy was just as panicky as Lizzy, he was foreseeing a day when Lizzy would be screaming and yelping like Kitty was now. And Andrew was so shocked that anything of this nature could actually be occurring...and to his well cousin, who was after all only his age.

"Oh William! What shall we do??"

"Well where is Georgie??!!??"

"She is in there with Kitty. I cannot leave her for too much longer....you must find Ash? Where could he be?"

Darcy soothed Lizzy as much as he was able. "We will find him. Don't worry."

Georgie was alarmed. Although the Doctor, and his esteemed partner assured her, that everything was preceding as well as they could have hoped, it didn't seem as though it was going well at all.

Especially as she overheard part of their private consultation in the far part of the room.

"Is not this confinement a little earlier than expected?"

"Yes, though not unnaturally so."

"Is not Lady Ashbourne, unusually large?"

"Yes i confess i am a little concerned at that. But we shall see."

Georgie turned back to comforting Kitty, who it can only be hoped was not listening to the doctors.

"It will be all right Kitty, just breathe."

"Yes Lady Ashbourne, just breath everything will be fine." said the first doctor moving to the bedside.

"Where - is - Ash - ....?"

"Lord Ashbourne is being fetched ma'am." said the doctor soothingly.

Kitty's hand came up and tugged on the doctors cravat, pulling him down to her face.

"Find him....Some man is going to be sitting right here, being strangled while I am in pain.........and if it isn't going to be him, it can just as easily be .....YOU." Kitty hissed at the doctor.

The Doctor attempted to nod, and almost strangled himself, he took advantage of a contraction to disengage Kitty's fingers from his neck and to jump away from the bed.

He almost jumped into Lizzy.

"Ah...Mrs Darcy....if I was you I would be finding his lordship....and now..."

His Lordship was in a male bonding session. That is what the little party at Brunstien's had turned into. Brunstein had always been noted for having a excellent cellar and it's effects had taken advantage...for no one found the situation at all odd. All were talking happily, or not so happily of childhood remembrances or adult remembrances. It is surprising how sometimes talking could resolve differences or resolve tensions.

"I don't think i shall ever forget Lady Catherine coming out of that Lake for as long as i live." said Ash.

"I don't think i will every forget tonight." laughed Gilbert.

"Speaking of tonight." said Brunstein. "I have determined to go to my estates in Ireland. I shall do better there. Stop taking out anger on other people. I dare say i will never change. I daresay no one will miss me....But Who ever is missed in Vanity Fair ??"

"No one my dear chap no one. And well Ireland is the best place for you. Out of the way from causing trouble...like making people think i was ....*ahem* you know....with Lady Catherine de Bourgh." said Sir Christian.

"You did however throw Andrew and Rawdon together....i daresay their friendship will be for life now." said Harry quietly.

"And i don't think i would have ever admitted i loved Anne, if i hadn't have thought of her reputation being slandered and being shot....and all."

"You love Anne??" said Gilbert, surprised.

"He has been in love with her for years, he is just stupid." said Ash.

"Oh shut up!" exclaimed the Colonel. Then he caught Ash's eye and laughed. "Okay i am Stupid...."

"So you are going to Ireland??" said Chesney looking at Brunstein.

"Best place for me really...." said Brunstein.

"Definitely...one down, one to go. " said Gilbert with a bit of a smile playing on his lips.

"One to go?" said Sir Christian confused.

"Yep......these person's mother....she.."

"Has got..." said Chesney.

"To go." finished Brunstein.

"Agreed!" laughed Chesney.

"Well i was thinking that....." said Brunstein.

"She should go out by the boat tomorrow night?" answered Gilbert. "I hope you think that because she has a berth booked, and well i daresay i can leave it to you two to get her there."

"Oh definitely!"

Chesney looked at his younger brother with an arched eyebrow.

"You already booked a berth for her?"

"Well no use keeping her in the country for an excessive amount of time...the peace is holding...ship her out NOW!"

"Well there Chesney all your problems gone in one stroke." said Brunstein.

"No ...still got to get Georg - Miss Darcy, i mean...to marry me. But i have a feeling my mother might have actually helped me there "

"Be the first time she has done anything for....either of us." said Brunstein.

"I cannot be truthful if i were to say to you that i am sad you have determined on Ireland....but well a man can change....i guess and blood is thicker than water....no man is a island...the bell tolls for thee....."I can't get out - I can't get out" said the starling...and you know all that." said Chesney.

Ash coughed. "I believe we have found Chesney's weakness...." he said and firmly removed a glass from Chesney's hand.

The group laughed.

"Well tonight has been a good night...i think, overall. " said Sir Christian putting his glass up in a toast.

But the toast was interrupted.

Mary was announced.

"Mary!" exclaimed Sir Christian almost spilling the world's finest brandy all over himself.

"Hello Christian...have you got Anne's necklace back yet?"

The group started at this, but Sir Christian took it in his stride.

"No need! Brunstein had already sent it back! Wasn't that nice."

"Charming." said Mary smiling at Brunstein who felt slightly alarmed. "But perhaps since it is so late, you should all go home."

"But But......" said Sir Christian, then he looked at Mary. "Love to come home with you, in fact it would be a joy darling...in fact i was just thinking...how much i would like to go home to Mary."

Mary almost betrayed a giggle at this rather artless little speech, and she could never resist Sir Christian's puppy dog eyes.

So the group slowly disbanded....

Anne looked intently at the necklace, with the enclosed short note from Lord Brunstein....

Anne did not pretend to understand what it all meant. But all she knew was the necklace was back, which was one thing crossed off her list.

She was about to go to bed, when someone was announced. Anne froze...what if it was an unmarried man? She'd be forced to marry him, she promised herself....

It was Darcy. Anne breathed a sigh of relief, She couldn't marry Darcy....well at least she couldn't unless Darcy became a bigamist and she doubted he would do that!

"Anne?" said Darcy alarmed at the way Anne was staring off into space.

"Oh sorry i was thinking of whether you would become a bigamist or not."

Darcy stopped then breathed in "I will not get sidetracked" he muttered to himself.

"I have come to fetch Aunt Harriet."

"At this time of night?" said Anne surprised.

"Yes. Kitty has started her confinement..........."

"Oh gracious...."

Anne got no further, her mother, Harriet and Edwin walked into the room.

"What is going on here Anne?" said her mother imperiously.

"Aunt Harriet. " said Darcy pulling his Aunt to one side and explaining the situation to her while Anne tried to pacify her mother.

The problem was Lady Catherine, paid more attention to what Darcy was saying.

"You will need me too Darcy." she stated as Harriet ran off up the stairs to dress herself.

Anne's eye's widened. "Oh no Mamma...i think not...you need your...sleep....yes your sleep....sleep is always good and necessary."

Anne managed to keep her mother arguing until Harriet appeared again, and then it was impressed upon Lady Catherine, that Harriet wanted to be off immediately and could not wait til Catherine dressed herself.

So Lady Catherine did not go.

She sat down on a sofa glaring at her brother Edwin.

"Well, there was a time, when i was wanted at all social occasions. Lady Metcalf practically begged me to be at her lying in. and i had to refuse....i should have gone...."

Gilbert, Ash, Chesney and Brunstein wandered down the street. It was some obscure time. It was perhaps about 3 am or was it closer to 4 or 5. They didn't know.

Chesney was practically skipping down the road. He had never felt so free in his life. It seemed odd that in a year, less than a year, he had fallen in love, had to contend with his mother trying to destroy his life and he had found out he had a another half brother who was Mr Evil. Well perhaps not Mister evil.

And he couldn't care less. He didn't know why. Perhaps there was this point in your life where you just reached over load, and after that point, nothing that you did or happened to you registered.

Chesney was at that stage. All he wanted to do was make Georgiana Darcy - Georgiana Keaton, Lady Chesney.

He fell a bit behind in the walking (read Stumbling) and looked at the group of people he was walking with. There was something about them. He loved to hate the whole of the Fitzwilliam family, he loved to hate Gilbert........always the annoying smart younger brother...and well Brunstein...perhaps there would be a time he would love to hate him....... It was too confusing. Life was too confusing. All Chesney knew was that someone had handed him these strange odd-ball characters to be friends or family with and he had to deal with it.

Everyone had family loyalty and it was about time he got some.

Anne sat down in front of the mirror. She was twenty-five. She wasn't married. Yet somewhere across town there was a nineteen year old, married for nine months about to be a mother. Was that fair?

Anne didn't begrudge Kitty anything. In fact if what she had gleamed about Child-birth was true she didn't envy Kitty a jot. But she still wanted it. She didn't' want to take it away from anyone...just for someone to give it all to her. A husband, a house, some children.

And she didn't just want A husband, or A house or just SOME children. She wanted Colonel Fitzwilliam, in HIS house, and HIS children.

And she wanted it now.

Now! Now! Now!

Anne heard some voices from downstairs, she thought everyone had gone back to bed??? She really should be in bed but she just Couldn't sleep.

Anne wandered out into the landing and almost ran into Colonel Fitzwilliam.

"Richard." she said sadly....here was the man that would never marry her...why did his arm appear thicker??

"Anne." said the Colonel.

Anne sighed it was going to be like this was it??

"Marry me."

Anne blinked. "Huh?"

"Marry me."

"Marry you?"

"Yes Marry ME."

"You?"

"Yes me!"

"Yes!" cried Anne, flinging her arms around his neck. Not wanting to know if it was all a dream.

"Yes??!!!??" cried the Colonel into Anne's hair.

"Yes!" answered Anne.

Anne felt herself being swung round. "You have no idea how stupid i have been. How jealous i have been for the last age, how....how...how."

Anne laughed. "I do know how stupid you have been. I just want to know why??"

"I always thought i would meet someone suddenly and just know that i loved them and would spend the rest of my life with them. I couldn't deal with the fact that that very person may have been under my nose for my entire life."

"You silly." said Anne slowly kissing her beloved Colonel Stud -er - Hot - er - Fitzwilliam.

"*AHEM*" said Lady Catherine some time later.

"Yes mother." said Anne innocently, and very obviously not removing her hands from around The Colonel's neck.

"Are you engaged Anne?"

"Yes i am engaged mother."

"Nonsense, you are not engaged, when you do become engaged i will inform you of the event."

"Mama??!!" said Anne nervously looking at the Colonel, who was staring at his aunt.

"Anne." said Lady Catherine Slowly.

"Yes Mama..." said Anne.

"You are engaged." Lady Catherine then walked back down the stairs. She paused before she hit the bottom of the steps and called back.

"Oh i am going to lend assistance at Ashbourne House."

"Oh no!" said Anne and the Colonel.

Ash almost fell into the hedge outside his house. He told himself very sternly to remind himself never to drink again.

In the haze that appeared in front of his eyes, it managed to filter into his brain that his house seemed strangely lit up for this time of night.

He walked over the threshold to see his porter stand up and walk anxiously over to him.

"Oh my Lord, thank goodness you have come."

"Why?" said Ash, immediately sobering up. "Is it Kitty?"

He didn't wait for the porters response, he dashed up the stairs, towards the bedchambers. There was a large enclose on the landing before the bedchambers, that was a nice waiting area. And there were people waiting there.

"oh darling." said Harriet rushing to give her son a hug.

"What? What? What?" said Ash...stopping suddenly as he realized he was sounding like the poor old King.

"You are going to be a father."

"Yes i do realize that mama......oh.!" realization dawned. "You mean NOW?"

Gilbert looked at the busy Ashbourne house, and watched as Ash stumbled inside.

"What do you think is happening in there?"

"Go in and find out." said Brunstein, sitting down in the gutter.

Gilbert looked at Chesney.

Chesney shrugged and then stopped.

"Wait a minute....Georgie will be in there."

Chesney dashed up the steps to the house.

He crept into the hallway, the porter gave him a funny look, and appeared to be about to throw him out when Georgiana flew down the stairs and into his arms.

This WAS a turn up for the books.

"Georgiana...Georgiana!" said Chesney trying to actually talk to Georgian's face, rather than a large portion of her back.

"Yes?" said Georgie breathlessly.

"I want to say I'm an idiot. A huge huge huge huge idiot. I want to say that i was an idiot. I thought your family was just this huge scandal ridden machine....and i , i well you know that i'm not blameless in that way, and all i was thinking was that i despised everyone who made scandals for themselves because one was thrust at me without my asking for it. I was wrong. Your family has something i don't, and i should have, this strong family loyalty, they will do anything for you...i was wrong...Georgie i was wrong. Forgive me."

Georgie smiled at him "Of course i will forgive you....just stop talking such nonsense! you make no sense. And i understand why you thought my family was horrid, if i had your mother and brother i would be questioning everyone else too. and i would have married you if you hadn't worked out that i love my family, too much to desert them. They have been so good to me....oh look what you have done to me. I can't stop talking."

Neither of the couple did seem to stop talking in a drunken way, whether from actual drink or from happiness...so they found another occupation for their tongues.

Bonnie sneezed as the carriage rocked from side to side. She was crushed into one side of the carriage, with Andrew and her father. On the other side was Mr and Mrs Bingley.

Jane in particular looked worried.

"Oh can't this carriage go any faster??!!"

"Don't worry" said Bingley "We will be there soon."

"It's just that we managed to convince Mama not to come up to town as Kitty neared her time, but i promised to be there...."

"You will be..." soothed Bingley.

Bonnie just felt ill, her hair was wet and she was shivering, Andrew put his arms around her to warm her up.

Ashbournes house was filling rapidly. Perhaps it was best that Kitty didn't realize just how many people were finding there way into the house. She would have become more concerned over the carpets and such like, rather than the more pressing matter concerning her.

Ash had been kicked out of the room. He was becoming a nuisance to the whole event. He had paced. He had tried to tear his hair out, he had looked worried. It was too much of a distraction, so now he was forced to do all that outside in the Kitty's dressing room.

The Doctor had long ago resigned himself to being strangled. In fact the entire labor was starting to alarm the doctor, it didn't quite seem to be progressing as it should. Such a delicate small lady too was Lady Ashbourne.

Suddenly there was a presence in this room.

"Harriet what are you doing??!!? A little cloth like that is not going to help." said Lady Catherine pushing Harriet out of the way and took the wet cloth off the top of Kitty's pale forehead.

"I - Can't" sobbed Kitty.

"Nonsense. Push. I am not going anywhere until my great nephew or niece is born. Now push."

Kitty gulped. Now that was an incentive. She could give up now and have Lady Catherine sitting there forever or she could push....

Now what would she do??

Harry looked over at Bonnie, sitting looking pale on the sofa. He had come with the Colonel and Anne and Edwin and Lady Catherine...it hadn't been a pleasant carriage ride, and now looking at Bonnie he felt even worse.

He couldn't just sit there.

Bonnie looked up. Harry was coming over to her. her!! Her heart leapt.

"Bonnie you don't look well, why don't you go lie down somewhere?" said Harry squatting down in front of her.

"I will." she replied Softly. Then Harry moved to stand up, she grasped his sleeve. "No can i say something to you?"

Harry looked down towards the ground. "You can say whatever you like to me Bonnie."

"I'm sorry. You are my friend, you always will be my friend....I'm so sorry." Bonnie felt hot tears on her face.

"Here." Harry gave her a handkerchief and then lay her head on his shoulder as she had her little cry. Life was as it should be.

Rawdon looked over at Sir Christian and Mary...and wondered whether he should leave?

He didn't know what possessed him to go back to the Montgomery house, then he didn't know what possessed him to accompany them to Ashbourne house, when they received Mrs Darcy's rather hurried note.
Rawdon could only assume it was a desire to make sure that Kit - Lady Ashbourne was all right.

Rawdon clutched the wine decanter.

The clock spun. Dawn arose. Except for the inner sanctum, people were lying stretched out on couches and chairs sleeping quietly. Arms around each other. Even Brunstein seemed to be there, curled up in a armchair.

"Hello Hello!" called an excited Ash!

The group slowly looked up and stretched. Ash was holding a tiny little bundle.

"oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" cooed the girls who weren't in the inner sanctum.

"Meet little Catherine Frances Anne."

There was a general gathering to look at the tiny little bundle who had the perfect little nose, the perfect little mouth, the perfect little closed eyes...perfect everything.

"Ash!!" came a hiss from behind him. It was Harriet. Ash looked confused. He handed little Catherine to the mid-wife hovering behind him and walked back into the room.

The family still OOOHED and AHHHED for a little while until the rather protective midwife took the baby away.

Then Ash walked out again looking dazed.

Darcy stood quickly back up again.

"What is wrong?" he said alarmed...surely Kitty...

"I ..."

"I.???" said the Colonel.

"I have a son ....too."

"Oh my god!" said Darcy.

"What are we going to call him?" said Ash "I never thought of male names!!"

"Maximilen!" said Rawdon quietly. Ash heard however and looked down at Rawdon, with a feeling of anger...which melted suddenly into something like pity.

"Geoffrey." said Edwin.

"Thomas...after father." said Jane.

"Richard...after your darling brother." said Anne. "And uncle of course"

"Charles." said Darcy looking at Bingley.

"Darcy!" retorted Charles.

"Horatio." said Mary. "After his father."

"Edwin." stated Lady Catherine appearing behind Ash. "You must name him after Edwin.

Ash started to laugh and walked back into Kitty's chamber.

She was lying quiet still, hair plastered all over her face, she smiled up at Ash and limply held her hand out at him.

"My lady." replied Ash kissing it, before kneeling beside the bed.

"Never again!" said Kitty. "Never again."

"Never again?" said Ash looking rather sad.

Kitty gave a little giggle and whispered something in Ash's ear.

"Ahh well as long as the 'Never Again' only applies to giving birth. I can probably deal with that...after all we have one of each."

"Did you decide on a name?" said Kitty.

"Well there were several suggestions."

Ash explained the long list of suggestions.

Sometime later, a second little bundle was presented to the large gathering of people.

"I would like everyone to meet my son Maximilien, Geoffrey Thomas Richard Charles Darcy Horatio Edwin."

Rawdon started at this, so did the rest of the family but for entirely different reasons.

"You can't call him that!" cried Darcy.

"Why not? Kitty said she doesn't ever want to go through that again, and well we have to use all the names up!" said Ash.

"The poor poor poor boy." said Lizzy trying not to laugh.

"But just think! If he doesn't like his first name he will have plenty to choose from!" said Andrew!

Sir Christian was by the drinks table handing out drinks to everyone, he turned back to the group.

"I would like to continue making my toast. If that is all right with you Ash."

"Go ahead." said Ash who was being forced to give up his little bundle to the over zealous mid-wife.

"I would like to propose a toast - to family!"

"The Missing Link in everyone's lives." said Ash.

"Yes! The Missing Link! Cheers."

Glasses were raised and everyone toasted, the most important thing in everyone's lives ~~ Family.

Lizzy and Darcy

Lizzy and Darcy were always an ideal couple, and they remained always an ideal couple. Darcy resigned himself to losing his sister to marriage, perhaps this resignation was softened by the arrival of a little bundle into his world - little baby Charles. Named after of course Darcy's dearest friend.

The couple split their time between Town, Pemberley and other family members. Another little boy was born to them named Ashley. Then later a little girl for Darcy to spoil rotten, named Rose, after the roses that grew outside Lizzy's chamber window. They were blessed lastly with another girl, named Charlotte after Lizzy's great friend.

Reveled in grandparent-hood. There was nothing they enjoyed more than spoiling little Cat and Max. Then when Harriet was born to Anne, they had even more fun. (then the rest of the grandchildren)

The fun was to last another 11 years. Edwin was struck down by a stroke that left him paralyzed, he did not long survive it. But everything he had ever wanted in life had happened to him. He saw his children well married and settled. He saw the rest of his relations similarly blessed. He even saw his darling Grace's daughter, Bonnie settled, even if it was for such a short period.

There was much sadness at his passing of course, but it was not a life cut short, it was life long lived.

Bonnie caught cold from going out in the rain that night, it was hardly serious, but Bonnie was always delicate, she always easily caught cold.

Bonnie from that night onwards knew she never wanted Harry to leave...ever. The day she was 17 she married him, so that he could never leave her. When she was 19, she gave birth to twins, Grace and Matthew.

Meanwhile Harry was a promising person in public spheres. He was appointed to a influential government post in London. His life was nearing perfection at only 23 his prowess was recognized in public service and at home he had a wife he adored and children he doted on.

He never left Bonnie, she left him.

Much weakened from delivering the twins, some months later she caught a cold, that developed into something more serious. There was nothing to be done, except watch her slip away.

So Harry at 24 was a widow. It took 15 years for him to remarry. To Lady Phoebe Berkett. By her he had another son and daughter, Henry and Susan.

Despite Mr Bennet's predictions this couple did resolve upon things, where never cheated and did not run out of money. They had five children. Jane, Laura, Darcy, Thomas and Caroline.

There life was not however untouched by tragedy. Thomas was drowned at the age of fifteen off the coast of Kent, when at a family gathering. It must be said that for the temperaments of Jane and Bingley this was a double tragedy.

Georgiana and Chesney

Despite a bumpy start, a prosperous future beamed for both. Chesney packed his mother off to the continent only to hear several years later that she was dying.

Chesney did visit her and he forgave her everything. The abandonment, the lying, the extortion...everything.

Brunstein went to Ireland, married an Irishwoman and never came back again. Chesney however did visit his older brother every so often and gradually become not ashamed to admit he did have a brother answering to the name of Ernst.

Georgiana bore 5 children. Justin, Sarah, Fitzwilliam Nicholas and Gilbert. Only four survived infancy, little Nicholas became nothing more than a statistic to infant mortality rates.

But life went on. Georgiana became a much sought after society hostess, who used her position in society to wrangle money for charities. Chesney became a cabinet minister, closely involved in the reform bills, also a much admired man.

Rawdon

Rawdon funnily enough never stopped loving Kitty. He of course knew that she was off-limits, but he always stood her friend and would do anything for her..

He married quite early, when he was 25 to a young lady by the name of Helen. It is supposed he loved her too, but in a much different way, she bore him three children.

Mary and Sir Christian.

Mary and Sir Christian...what to say, Mary still read and moralized, she realized she liked control and what she really wanted to be was a matriarch. With her four children she could do that. Anne, William, Edward and Marie were all at her beck and call.

Sir Christian reformed his wicked, wicked ways and never tried to pay anyone's debts again....it was just too much trouble.

Mary loved Sir Christian's estate in Surrey (the garden of England) and tried to spend as much time there as possible, until the death of her second son at the age of 16. Edward was thrown off his horse when he tried to jump a gate, from thence onwards the little nestled home in Surrey was no longer a place of joy or peace.....at least for some time following.

Anne finally got her husband, House and Children. She got 3 children in fact, Harriet, Bonnie and Julian. They were more than she could have asked for.

Life was exquisite. Her mother reveled in being a grandmother. Lady Catherine was in fact born to be a grandmother. The rich blend of spoiling and bossing suited her to a tea.

Anne still liked to flirt, but since it was only with the Colonel that was satisfactory.

The Colonel was still much the ladies man...but the ladies he was charming were limited to Anne, his daughters and nieces/nephews/cousins/second cousins.....this was also satisfactory.

Kitty and Ash.

Kitty gave up on her 'never again' about 3 years later. Apart from Cat and Max, there was Laurence, Oliver, Sophia, Arabella and Cassandra.

Arabella was quite her father's daughter, and her death at six, was a crushing blow to Ash. Not perhaps as crushing as his father's death which came first.

Ash, despite the normal idea that eldest sons never getting along with their fathers, had much respected and loved his father. His death, caused a huge hole in his life, which was only partially filled by his children.

A more happy couple than Kitty and Ash I defy you to find. Almost a quarter of a century later they were still giggling insanely to private jokes, stealing kisses, avoiding getting up in the morning, and dancing wildly around in the drawing room.