Action Lizzy and the Four Thieves Chapter 24

Chapter 24

The next day the Bennet household waited expectantly for Bingley to call upon them. They had read the letter, and Mrs Bennet had made a great fuss about the fact that Bingley would lend them his carriage for the journey North, and for many there was a general excitement to travel, as none of them had been that far North before.

A guest was announced and they were surprised at it being Mrs Philips and not Mr Bingley. She sat down to give the news that Mr Bingley was returned, however was disappointed that they had already discovered the news by the man himself, though she was placated that she should see him herself if she stayed long enough.

Mr Bingley’s return was not the only news she had. “Sister, Mr Philip’s received an express from Colonel Forster yesterday with the most shocking news. Lieutenant Wickham has absconded from the militia, running away, and leaving many debts behind him.”

Mrs Bennet put her tea down with a thump. “Oh, is that so?”

“Colonel Forster had asked Mr Philips to gather all of the Meryton debts together. So far, Mr Wickham has amassed 200 pounds of debt from Meryton’s shop keepers. And they have no hope at all of recovery.”

“200 pounds!” exclaimed Mrs Bennet in a shrill voice. “How in good heavens can he spend so much! To think of those poor shop keepers taken in by him.”

Mrs Philips leaned in conspiratorially. “And that is not the least of his sins! I've heard it said that he fooled around with a number of the town’s daughters. I've heard they have had to send away one of Mr Long’s servants as she is with his child!”

“No, is that so!” For all the shock, Mrs Bennet loved nothing better than good gossip. “How he fooled us all. But I for one never trusted that man, far too smooth by far. I would not have the man at Longbourn again.” She turned to Lydia. “Lydia, you have just left Brighton, did you see Mr Wickham’s disgraceful behaviour?”

Lydia looked up in surprise. Her eyes widened and she bit her lip. Luckily for her, a servant entered to announce the arrival of Lady Lucas, saving her the need to reply.

Lade Lucas was updated with the gossip. “I'm not in the least surprised. My Charlotte wrote to tell me that Lady Catherine had told her that Mr Darcy had to continually bail Mr Wickham out of trouble and was continually paying off his debts so that his father did not learn how profligate his godson was.”

Mrs Bennet tsk, tsked. Considering that Mr Darcy was now helping out her Lizzy and brother, all previous grievances against the man had been conveniently forgot. “Mr Darcy has been ill treated by Mr Wickham. No wonder he did not give such a man a living.”

Whilst the women gossiped about how they had always known Mr Wickham to be a scoundrel, Mary had become aware of Lydia’s distressed, sullen look. Lydia was studiously staring into her lap, but clearly listening to all that was said.

Lady Lucas interrupted the conversation regarding Mr Wickham. “Mrs Bennet, have you had a chance to read yesterday's paper?”

“We've not looked at the paper for days, not since we heard the terribly news.”

“I came to bring you a new article. It's about Lizzy.”

“Well, hand it over to Mary, read the article out loud for all of us.”

Mary took the newspaper clipping from Lady Lucas, adjusted her glasses, cleared her throat and began to read.


On the 31st of July, a carriage was accosted on the road to Matlock by four highwaymen. The carriage driver was fatally shot, with the carriage occupants, one wife and mother of four, killed in the resulting carriage accident. The male occupant, her husband, suffered serious injuries whilst their niece from Hertfordshire, was thrown from the carriage and chased into the woods. The young lady was located by a search party on August 1, suffering serious injuries.

The sheriff, Sir Riley, commended the bravery and resilience of the woman. It is reported she travelled some ten miles over the two days whilst hiding from the highwaymen. This woman has provided important information to the investigation.

It is assumed that these same highwaymen are responsible for the robbery of the Earl of Matlock’s daughter, Lady Victoria Montgomery, which occurred the previous week.

The men have been chased from the area and were last identified travelling South, towards Belper.

“The rest of the report provides details on what the men look like and the horses they are riding.”

There was a general discussion on how terrible the events were when Mr Bingley was finally announced.

“It was so good of you to come so far and to deliver our Mr Bennet’s letter to us personally. So much has changed since we last saw you! As you know we are in mourning for the loss of my dear sister.”

Mr Bingley gave his condolences.

“She was a good sister and a wonderful wife to my brother. Her poor children! She was such a wonderful mother to them. I don't know how my brother will raise them alone. I suppose he'll need to get a governess, but that is not the same as a mother.”

“Mama, remember from Papa’s note, that Mary and I are to go to London when they return, to help him over the next few months,” said Jane.

“Oh yes, you are so very good with your cousins. They do quite look up to you. Jane is very good with children, and I'm sure will make an excellent mother one day,” gushed Mrs Bennet.

Jane blushed at the obvious implied hint. Mr Bingley’s eyes were constantly turning to watch Jane.

Mr Bingley told the company how he had offered to travel with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy to help find the highwaymen after the attack on the Colonel’s sister, his role in the search party and Miss Elizabeth’s exact condition when she was found, though he was less descriptive about her state to not unduly worry the ladies.
Mr Bingley downplayed his role in the search after Mrs Bennet made a fuss about his help. “Really, Colonel Fitzwilliam was the one who provided the most help by leading the search party and predicting your daughter’s location. Also, Darcy, he was most concerned about Miss Elizabeth’s welfare. He was the first to her side and he carried her out of the forest.”

Now Mrs Bennet may have a mean understanding of the world, but she was considerably more astute than Lizzy when it came to eligible suitors showing interest in her daughters. It took only a moment from hearing this, to recall that Lizzy danced with Mr Darcy at the Netherfield Ball, to considering Mr Darcy a guaranteed future son-in-law....of course provided that Lizzy didn't mess up another proposal. So in the space of half an hour, Mr Darcy and Mr Wickham had traded places, with the former now being the best of men and the later the worst.

Mrs Bennet was so stunned by this revelation that she was quiet whilst Bingley spoke of Lizzy and Mr Gardiner’s condition, and his search for the highwaymen, leading to the arrest of the man in Derby. He answered everyone's questions patiently, and after there were no more questions, he rose to leave. Mrs Bennet commanded Jane to show him out.

As Jane and Bingley walked out, Bingley heard rustling. He had had the feeling that someone else had been listening to his conversation with the ladies, and the eavesdropper soon revealed himself to be a boy of eight or nine. Bingley stopped Jane with a light touch on the arm, then turned around to talk to the boy. “Now who have we here?” asked Bingley.

“Mr Bingley, meet young Master Henry Gardiner. Henry, this is our friend, Mr Bingley. He was in Matlock and saw your father.”

Henry’s lip quivered, though he tried to look brave and matter-of-fact. “How is my father, Sir?”

Bingley bent down to look the boy in the eye. “He was badly injured, and is in a great deal of pain, though he should live and recover fully. He is getting the best possible care whilst staying with the Fitzwilliam family.”

“I overheard you say that you might have found one of the men that killed my mother?”

“I might have. He did match your cousin’s description of one of the men who attacked them. I presume, though, the Sheriff will want your cousin to confirm that first.”

“I hope it is and they hang him!” exclaimed young Henry.

“Henry Gardiner!” exclaimed Jane.

Bingley put up his hand. “You don't want an innocent man convicted of a crime someone else did, do you?”

Henry bit his lip and held his arms behind his back, whilst not meeting Bingley’s eyes. “No, but I want the men who killed my mum to get what they deserve.“ His voice started to become higher pitched. “I want to kill them myself.” Henry then ran off, crying.

Jane made to follow him, but Bingley stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Let him go. Losing his mother and then not having his father here and being away from home... it's scary for the boy. He has no control over anything that will happen and that is frightening, which makes him angry. I was only a few years older when I lost my mother. She was sick so the only one I could be angry with was God.”

“Should I go talk to him?”

Bingley shook his head. “I think he needs to be on his own to grieve. Give him some time on his own to get control of his emotions.”

The stable hand came out with his horse. He mounted and looked down at Jane. “Miss Bennet,” he said then paused, looking uncertain with how to proceed. “I know now is not the right time, but I wish to let you know that I only discovered your presence in London over the winter a couple of days earlier. I... did not.. do not wish you to think I neglected you or to have given you offence by my absence. If I'd known, I ... I'm sorry.”

With that he turned and rode off, leaving behind a very confused Jane. She turned and walked slowly inside. Did his return mean he still cared, or had he returned to Netherfield because his summer plans to stay at Pemberley had fallen through? And though his lack of knowledge of her being in London explained why he had not visited whilst she was in London, it didn't explain why he didn't return to Meryton. He looked at her in the same way, but she could not let herself hope.

On returning to the parlour, she passed Lady Lucas who was leaving to continue her errands, and Mrs Philips had left the parlour to spend the morning with her young Gardiner nieces and nephews.

Lydia got up to leave after Lady Lucas departed. Mary rose and followed, calling out to Lydia, “wait, Lydia. Are you upset by the news on Wickham?”

Lydia’s was no longer able to contain her tears. “I'm supposed to be married to Wickham by now. We were engaged, and we were to run off together to elope. But he went without me!”

“Did he come to get permission from Papa?” asked Mary.

“No, that's why we were eloping and going to Gretna Green! Mr Wickham said that Papa wouldn't give us his permission.”

Mrs Bennet, who had got up to talk with Mrs Hill, had overheard the conversation. “Of course he would not! If you have no permission, you were never engaged, do you hear! You are never to mention that again, do you understand!” exclaimed Mrs Bennet with a shrill voice. “Don't you understand, child? You've no brother and we've nearly nothing if your father dies. You can't afford to marry a man that we have to support, especially one that has debts that need to be paid. Your father doesn't have money for that. Not a word of this gets out into town or we’ll be outcasts, do you understand Lydia! We’ll be shunned by everyone!”

Lydia sniffled, stunned. Her mother was the one person she thought she'd get sympathy and support from, not the one who would get angry. “Yes Mama. But I love him!”

“You don't know about love, child. Forget him, there are plenty of better men. If people find out, you'll be ruined and never get a husband. And we don't want Mr Darcy finding out, or he won't marry your sister, not after the way Mr Wickham treated poor Mr Darcy.”

“Mr Darcy won't marry Lizzy! He called her ’tolerable’,” exclaimed Lydia.

“A man who finds a woman only tolerable doesn't exclusively ask her to dance at a ball. He asked noone else. If he wasn't in love with Lizzy, he wouldn't have carried her out of the forest. He would have let any of the other men in the search party do it. Mark my words, Mr Darcy is in love with Lizzy!”

“But Lizzy hates the man!” exclaimed Lydia in disbelief.

“Jane, you know Lizzy’s thoughts best. Does she still dislike Mr Darcy?” asked Mrs Bennet.

Jane replied slowly, thinking about what she could say without breaking her confidence with Lizzy. “She did get to know Mr Darcy better at Rosings. I believe Mr Darcy explained his past dealings with Mr Wickham, and she held no more grievances against him. I don't believe she dislikes him as she once did, but nor do I think that she likes him either.”

“Well, he has saved her life and she would be ungrateful to refuse him,” declared Mrs Bennet. “There's nothing quite so romantic as being saved by a handsome man. She will change her mind. So very rich, and tall. What beautiful grandchildren.” Mrs Bennet hurried off muttering to herself, her mind already planning how grand a wedding for Mr Darcy would be, leaving behind three stunned daughters.

Of course, that was nothing compared to the commotion caused by Mrs Bennet the next day when Mrs Philips hurried to Longbourn with the London newspaper. “Sister, you must see the society gossip.”

The paper was passed across and Mrs Bennet eagerly read the gossip column aloud.


“Reports from Matlock where the recent attacks from highwaymen have occurred suggest that Miss B of Hertfordshire may have had an ulterior motive to travel North, which was to meet with her lover, none other than Mr D of Derbyshire. It is said they are secretly engaged and were both travelling North to wed each other. Lending further truth to the rumour is that Miss B is convalescing at Mr D’s uncles’ home, the Earl of ___. Events have taken a turn for the worse, but if this rumour is true, we expect to hear the sound of wedding bells soon for Mr D.“

“Oh, my Lizzy engaged to Mr Darcy, worth ten thousand a year! The jewels, the carriages. But it is in the paper! I must write to Mr Bennet to ascertain it is all organised.”

Jane, alarmed by the distress such a rumour would cause Lizzy, interrupted her mother. “Mama, Lizzy would have told me if she had an arrangement with Mr Darcy. She told me of their interactions and I can assure you there was no secret engagement.“

“Well that is even worse! A rumour like this could ruin your sister. Mr Darcy needs to be made to marry Lizzy.”

Mary piped up, her logic kicking in. “There can be no merit in the rumour. Everyone knows Mr Darcy lives in Derbyshire and it is logical that he would travel to his estate in summer, taking that road. And Lizzy had no control over the events of her trip. The Gardiners delayed the trip and changed it from the Lakes to Derbyshire. Lizzy could not have planned to meet up with Mr Darcy. I think people are trying to find gossip for the sake of it.”

“Yes, Mama,” agreed Jane. “The rumour will pass, especially as there is no truth behind it.”

Mrs Bennet was not satisfied as she was not ready to give up the possibility of having a very rich son-in-law.