Like the proverb says:
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions!"

I am also speculating along the same line as Lili! For all his good but arrogant intentions, they are sure coming back to haunt Darcy now!

I also agreed that Darcy is quite dense! With a gun missing and Wickham's sudden appearance, did it not occur to D that W is back for revenge since D did not "fulfill" his promise to W? Argh!!!

Hope Lizzy will still pop by to check on Fan out of habit anyway. The angst meter is going up by the looks of this chapter! Thanks for this fabulous story, Jan!

Maggie's man is Wickham isn't he? If so--good twist! Fan must seem awful to Darcy but if he had raised her from birth he would appreciate her more. The "terrible twos" are called that for a good reason."

Elizabeth is really starting very small trying to get used to her husband's affections. I hope they will make a little progress!

Thanks for the wonderful chapter, Jan. Love Wickham at large and armed!

Thank you, everyone, for your interesting comments! I can't believe the weekend is already here. Sorry to be so late in replying. I've had one of those yucky weeks in RL, as we all experience from time to time.

Also sorry for the cliffhanger. I'm afraid they're inevitable for awhile, but I'm trying to keep them at a minimum.

Argh! I fear that that response means that we will have to wait longer than expected for the next chapter

Chapter 13 is up, my dears. Enjoy!

Oh! I know that dastardly Wickham has kidnapped the child. Like that the Darcy's are warming up to each other very nicely though. Another terrific chapter Jan!!

They are growing closer but will the truth ripe them apart?

Irene
GRC

Oh Jan...there are just so many things that I enjoyed...Loved Darcy’s response to Lizzy about what married people do to begin their day

I really don’t think that’s what he had in mind!!

Of course she is you idiot! Proper young gentlewomen weren’t allowed to have the ‘experience’ you obviously have! Boy...he is too used to running with the Caroline Bingley crowd...who will throw themselves at a man in a heartbeat! Yikes...sometimes I just want to smack him with that 2 x 4! Lizzy is very innocent and they certainly didn’t have a courtship. Plus, she still believes him to be in love with someone else...Darcy really is thick!

And in my opinion, Caroline Bingley continues to act worse than Lydia! She flirts with and expects to be seen with a now married man! And she has the gall to talk about the Bennets? And her shameless sister still encourages her! Can’t Bingley control these two hussies!!

OMG…LOL! This was priceless. I could see Caroline with her mouth hanging open and suddenly losing her appetite! Thank you for this...it was such a break in the tension that seems to be ever present!

If he did that...he would be an even bigger fool than I think him already! I suspect she is wanting to get an invitation from Elizabeth since Darcy won’t extend one. She really is a slut!!

OK...granted Elizabeth neglected to check on Fan but she already knew that she would be out walking early and therefore she did ask Darcy to check on her. Let’s face it...Darcy didn’t want to be bothered! He doesn’t like Fan and doesn’t want her around anyway! He still sees her as Wickham’s child and can’t see past that.

Oh Good Grief Bingley! Are these two really the type of aunts you would want around any of your children? Kick these two out, now! I’m always so angry with Bingley...he really is such a twit!

So...because he lured Wickham to Longbourn with the promise of lots of money and now Fan is missing, Darcy gets to hold Elizabeth in bed! I hope he’s happy...I’m not and I don’t think Elizabeth will be either when she finds out what he has done. However, she was the one who wanted to keep Maggie against Darcy’s urgings to get rid of her. But then again, none of this would have taken place if Darcy hadn’t brought Wickham into the picture. He didn’t even know he had a child until then. Nope...still can’t let Darcy off the hook.

Is it possible that Fan will be found and Wickham killed before he can relate to Elizabeth that Darcy is the reason he came back? Then Darcy will just have to live with his guilt for the rest of his life instead of living without Elizabeth.
I still say Darcy deserves the likes of Caroline Bingley...She really is worse than Lydia! At least Lydia thought she would be married when she ran off with Wickham...Caroline is chasing after a man already married and could be nothing better than his mistress, if he would have her, that is! What a slut!

I can’t believe that Darcy is thinking how innocent and naïve Elizabeth is, yet he is the one who
1. told Wickham about his daughter and promised him money if he would take her away, and
2. knows that Wickham is back in the area and he has a gun.
Can he really be that dense to not put things together?
So everyone is frantically searching for Fan! Wickham wants money! When will the ransom note be delivered and what will it say?
And what about Mr Bennet and his illness. I can't imagine what will happen to Elizabeth if her father gets worse or dies. None of this would have happened in the first place if Darcy had just let Bingley know about Jane being in London years ago...and then, if he hadn't brought Wickham back to Longbourn. Darcy really does have a lot to answer for!

Oh Jan...this past week was maddening, just knowing that Fan was going to be missing…and now...well...it’s just going to be so hard to have to wait until next Sunday for more! Maybe we need another post...uh...today!!!

I’m really enjoying this story told from Darcy’s POV. It’s easy to read and I have no problem following the scenes. As a matter of fact, many of the scenes I can picture happening like they are on a movie screen and I’m watching them unfold. Thank you so much for another wonderful gem! I'll try to hold onto this limb I'm out on but my arms are getting very, very tired!

Yes, it looks as if Wickham in cahoots with the maid Maggie snatched Fan. Will the increasingly friendly relationship between William and Elizabeth face a sudden freeze when she realizes the role William played -- he paid Wickie to come back into their lives, after all. Now the Wickster probably feels entitled because he did not get all the money he expected -- I'm pretty sure that if he took his daughter, it was not that he was driven by filial love.

I am still willing to get Darcy a pass because he was really trying -- and he's still pretty fogged in with his obsession with Elizabeth, so he's not at full mental capacity. He should have realized by now that this is all W's doings. (I'm assuming so although this has not been absolutely determined in the story yet.) I still blame Elizabeth more. How did she hire Maggie in the first place? Perhaps, though, in the end, William and Elizabeth will agree they are equals in this fiasco.

Jan, thanks for the new chapter. I truly love the story and I can't wait for the next chaper. Love the way how Elisabeth and Darcy grow towards each other. But I fear the moment when Elisabeth will discover the truth about Darcy's role in bringin back Wickham into their lives.

Oh my, when Elizabeth finds that Darcy brought Wickham to the country she is going to be furious.
I do hope that Fan is ok and she is being at least fed and kept warm. I think Wickham would not care a bit if she wasn't.

I cannot believe that Elizabeth would be so naive as to not know what goes on in the marital be at times, especially after Lydia's downfall and the babe.

Waiting a whole week to read more I hope it goes by quick.

Another chapter executed with great writing!

I love this story, a I do all of Jan H's stories. What I want to know is, why part of chapter 3, is encrypted. I am no good at solving problems on my PC, can some one, please, help.

So I know that I've been MIA for a while now (RL has been quite...interesting ), so imagine my surprise and delight when I found a new story by Jan H! Jan, you are by far one of my favorite authors, and I can't help but fall in love with whatever you decide to share with us. This story is no different. I'm loving everything I've read so far, and I can't wait to see what else you have in store for us! Thank you so much for sharing!

Thank you Renee, for posting her stories at your site.

If Elizabeth does not find out that Darcy brought Wickham into the scene, then Darcy will have to tell her, no matter the consequences. The marriage cannot survive otherwise.

How will Elizabeth react with such a shock? Idk but I'm really worried. This is going to be Hunsford all over again.

I'm not worried for Fan since I know you would not let anything happen to her, right Jan?

Cannot wait for next chapter. I want to see how Wickham will address the ransom note (I'm assuming it's W behind the abduction and he wants $ in exchange for Fan). OMG, I know this will blow up on Darcy's face!

I think I've solved the problem, Maria.

A big thank you to Christina, Irene, Sandy, Lacy, Pausiniken, teb, Maria, Sammy, and Lili! Every one of you leave great comments, and I love reading them because it tells me if you're getting what I'm trying to say.

Welcome back Sammy! I'm glad to see your name on the board again. Lili, I agree with you that the marriage cannot survive without truth between E&D, so you know there are some dark times ahead. Lacy, you're one of the few who puts some of the blame on Elizabeth. She's not perfect, that's for sure. And dear Sandy, I hope you found a strong limb to hang on!

Renee, thank you so much for fixing the encryption mix-up in Chapter Three, and thanks, Maria, for alerting us to the problem.

Hi Jan! Thanks again for another lovely chapter. Cant wait to read what happens next. I heart your writing!!!

Maggie should have been fired long ago! Now Wickham her & Fan, right? Very good cliffhanger, Jan. Does Maggie know how bad Wicky is? I am not sure about that. She is probably an unwilling accomplice but she should never be trusted again.

Very exciting!

This story has been superb thus far! I am exceedingly anxious for Fan to return, or at least for a ransom note to be delivered. That blasted Wickham! I'm glad to see the evolution of Darcy's character, as far as Fan is concerned. Thanks for sharing your beautiful work with us! It's lovely.

Jump to say thank you.

Thank you, KayakChick, Lucy, Helene, and Vesna for your lovely comments! These chapters are hard to post just one at a time because they end in such anxious moments. Sorry about that.

It will be interesting when/if a ransom note turned up. Darcy will most certainly have to reveal the truth to Elizabeth, and that is not going to be pretty. Argh! Oh Darcy, what have you done?!!

Thanks for the chapter, Jan! We are so hooked! Look forward to more

Today IS Sunday, is it not? Where is my share of Jan's story? Mondays are not the same without it!

Wickham, Wickham, Wickham!

Darcy is also in big trouble, yes he told about the ransom but not how he is involved.

Lizzy will widdle it out and then what?

Irene
GRC

This story will be fun to re-read for many reasons -- watching the budding relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth one of them and Darcy's slow dawning of care for Fan another. But reading it the first time is a singular pleasure, as one tries to figure out what is happening.

For example, since Maggie asked her employers not to look in on the child on their return from the Lucases' gathering, does that mean she was taking the child that night? But if that is so, then why was Wickham looking in the window at the Lucases, as if trying to make sure Darcy was not at Netherfield? Did Wickham arrive at Netherfield to find Maggie and the child already gone, but did he decide to hit Darcy up for a ransom anyway? Has Maggie taken Fan to Cutter's Wood to hide? But if she was going to do that, then why not just disclose her conspiracy with Wickham and say she now thought better of it --she did not want to go along with him? Or, did Maggie and Fan somehow leave for London ahead of Wickham, since he was seen leaving alone? I think the theft of a jug of milk, bread and ham suggests that Maggie is somewhere still in the vicinity and she may have her own reasons for trying to avoid Wickham. I just don't get, if I am right about that part, why she felt unwilling to confess it to Elizabeth? Is Maggie afraid of losing her job but thinks that if she brings Fan back unharmed, no ransom needed, she will earn Darcy's regard finally -- after all, it was he who hired someone to work over her.

None of this wild speculation may be anywhere close to the target, but you inspired it in me and I thought I would offer it for your amusement. It's the least I can do since your story provides so much entertainment!

I myself was thinking along the same lines as Lacy. The ham, bread, and milk were stole my Maggie so the child would not go hungry, the till money on the other hand is all Wickahm. And if Wickham didn't have the woman and child with him when he left it would be good to check Cutter's Wood anyway - I hope he does if nothing else to rule it out.

And sheesh, why did not Darcy come forward with the truth again. He should have told Elizabeth the full truth this time.
Such a great chapter. I hope the Bingley women do not start any rumours on their own.
trez

Wickham left alone, food was stolen, somebody really needs to check Cutter's Wood.
Darcy, you have an open door so admit the truth. Yes, she will be angry, probably she will kill you with tongue-lashing but remember her little smile when she found out that you are not married and closeness you two have now. Telling the truth is your last train to happiness.
Jan you are wonderful.

I so much want to run to that Wood.
Maybe with google maps?
Great story! Thank you

Jan-as with all your stories-this one is excellent-you are one of my fav authors-wish I was more eloquent in my praise! Mary

What have I brought to pass?

Indeed!!! Darcy made his bed, now he has to lay in it. Unfortunately, he is not the only one that has to pay for his f@ck up; Fan, Elizabeth, the Bennets, just to name a few. But I also blame Elizabeth; she trusted Maggie blindly even thou she was not competent or responsible w/ Fan, Darcy had reservations about her and for once, he was right. And Darcy..he needs to man up and come clean, not only w/ Elizabeth but w/ everyone around him. He has a tendency to avoid speaking of certain subjects thinking they will go away. Sweeping the dirt under the rug so you can't see it does not mean it is not there. When will he ever learn? It will be a mess once this is over.

So many posibilities...of what really happened.

Oh I want to shake your darcy get it over with confess the whole truth now.
Oh dear more soon please

Come on, Darcy! This is a good time to man up and confess to Lizzy what you have done!

Sorry it's taken so long for me to reply. Had some medical problems and ended up sleeping about 24 hours!

Anyway...I'm thinking the same as Lacy and Trez that Maggie has Fan and she is hiding in Cutter's Wood. And, I'm wondering if Wickham has somehow threatened either to harm Fan or the Darcys or all of them and that is why Maggie ran off with Fan.

Darcy really has made a mess of things and now he is planning to head to London? Oh Dear.

Maybe Maggie was supposed to meet Wickham in London and when he gets there and doesn't find her, then what?

Cutter's Wood is important, I'm sure of it. Maybe Lizzy will go there, herself since no one else will.

Oh Jan...I'm now on pins and needles waiting to find out just what is happening with Fan and...how Lizzy will react when she finds out that Wickham only knows about Fan because of Darcy. His not coming forth with the truth is going to make it harder and harder to own up to 'what' and 'why' he did it!

More Jan, more! I love, love, love this story!

Great Story...........YP4 n


Caught up with reading this story over the past weekend and found it to be a great story. I love Fan and hope she is going to be alright in wickham's clutches until her "real" poppa gets her back and I know he will!

Bravo

Thanks, everyone! I'm sorry for the angst, but glad to see you're hanging in there with me. I love reading all your speculations. Some are much better than mine. Darcy truly has made a mess of things.

Mary, you need not worry about making more eloquent comments. I love any and all kind words. They provide such encouragement. And Sandy, I'm sorry you're having medical problems and hope they're cleared up soon. Elaine, I regret you had trouble finding where to post, but thank you for persevering.

I'll be gone over Easter, so look for an early post of Chapter Fifteen. Happy holiday weekend!

Early post...we can handle that definitely! It will feel like the Easter Bunny came by!

Happy Easter to you too, Jan!

Chapter 15 has just been posted, my dears. Enjoy!

I am so glad that Darcy confessed. It's something he needed to do. Faith is the other end of doubt.

Glad he got Fan back. Now what of Wickham? Did he go back to Meryton? Did he go back to the cottage only to fall in one of the holes and die?

I know Elizabeth will be full of joy to get Fan back, but how will she feel about Darcy? Does she have any hint of what he did? Did Wickham come back and tell her? Will Darcy spill and let it all out?

So many questions.

Great chapter Jan. I am so glad Darcy is learning something from all of this.

Confession is the best way to ease the soul, realize your mistakes and learn something about yourself. Now he has to confess everything to E.

Did Wickham somehow tell his "story" to Elizabeth so she did not write?

Fan said "Papa" and he melts down

Great chapter

Oh Darcy….you have certainly made such a mess of things, haven’t you?


What? Louisa is staying to help take care of Elizabeth? I can’t believe it! Maybe this is good that Darcy is seeing a side of others that he never thought to look for! I always love a good and sensible Hurst who won’t take any guff from Caroline!

I just knew that Darcy would end up talking to the elder curate Mr. Wynne. Darcy is at last feeling all of his pretensions and superiority crashing down around him?

Wow…he called her Fan…and he actually thought of her as an ‘innocent babe’ and not Wickham’s child! This gave me such hope that he may be able to redeem himself, yet!

And that is all he can hope for, isn’t it? He and Elizabeth were beginning to become more comfortable with each other but he has had this dark secret hanging over them and he continued to blame an innocent child for being born. Oh how the mighty will fall!

Well…I hope you know that I had to stop reading because I couldn’t see the words from all the tears!


He didn’t correct her! Now I’m really crying!!!!

OK…that’s it! I might as well just spend the rest of the day sniffling and sobbing!

Oh Jan this was such an emotional chapter. Full of the promise of redemption and forgiveness and the love of an innocent child!

But, but, but…where is Wickham? Did he think he could hurt Darcy worse by turning Elizabeth against him? I’m really hoping he is face down in the gutter somewhere or fallen in one of the pits in the woods, never to bother anyone again!

I can imagine all sorts of reasons why Elizabeth would move back to Longbourn, to get away from the Bingley sisters for one thing, but I can’t come up with any reason for her to 'not' write to Darcy…except Wickham!

I’m so glad you posted again before Easter…at least we can all rejoice that Fan is alive and well…I just dread what is waiting at the end of the journey.

This continues to be one of my favorite stories and I delight in each new chapter. Please post again soon, Jan!
Happy Easter!

Is the reason Wickham not been in touch with Darcy yet regarding the ransom that he has hightailed it back to Longbourn for a confab with Elizabeth? Could it be that he believes that if he discloses Darcy's original plan--namely, have Wickham take Fan off their hands to clean up the Bennet family reputation -- that Elizabeth will be so incensed that she will now leave Darcy for Wickham? It may seem crazy to us readers that Wickham would be so deluded as to think he could pull that off, but then again -- she considered marrying Wickham for Fan's sake. Wickham may imagine she would be so upset with Darcy for trying to get rid of Fan that she would partner up with him to take the ransom money and the child? Wickham could hit her weak spot by telling her she cannot trust Fan’s interests to Darcy. If Wickham could pull this off, it would be the ultimate sting of Darcy.

I would feel confident about the failure of such scheming except that Elizabeth has not written to Darcy. He has written her such sweet letters everyday. And it seemed that they had been getting along quite nicely. And, why has Elizabeth moved back to Longbourn? Is she is trying to put distance between her and Darcy? Will Wickham tell her the truth that Darcy should already have spilled? Will it make Elizabeth think Darcy is just waiting for a chance to ship Fan off to school? I think we saw Elizabeth starting to have deep feelings for Darcy, but if Wickham sets it up as a Sophie’s Choice, I think she’ll choose to protect her child first over sticking with a man she does not think loves her.

I really needed my tissues, what with Darcy's confession to the Vicar and Fan teling him she 'loves Papa too'.

But where, oh where is Wickham? Has he hi-tailed it back to Meryton to tell Lizzy the truth?

Enjoy your seaside adventure!

Irene
GRC

Oh, thank Providence! I was so worried when Darcy thought on Maggie's incompetence and wondered if Fan could've actually been dead. Ugh, it gives me stones in my stomach just thinking about it! Of course, we can always count on Wickham to ruin everything. I know he's a bad guy, but to kill, even indirectly, a child- his own child, nonetheless- is just beyond disgusting and vile. I hope he is drawn and quartered, or perhaps just maimed and forced to live in destitute for his longevity. Thanks for updating! I'm so relieved she's been found!

Finally Fan was found! :) Love the last bit when she called Darcy Papa and he melted. I melted too :)

So glad that Darcy finally relieve his burden to the old curate ... now he has all the encouragement to confess to Lizzy. Her not returning his letters..hmm..i hope Wickham didn't return to Hertfordshire and told her what Darcy had done.

Look forward to the family reunion! And of course, Darcy's confession
Happy Easter!

Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I know it is just a story, so why am I crying all over the room????????

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful..........

Thank you!

HOw heart breaking was Darcy crushing confession. Totally surprised by the how Fanny was found. Now why do I think that Wicky has been working on Lizzy during her lack of correspondance.

Jan I'm loving your story.
Geri

Two new chapters since I've last read! Jan, you are amazingly quick with your updates.

I absolutely agree with many of the other posters that Darcy needs to be honest with Elizabeth. Although, after reading that she didn't return any of his letters, I'm wondering if it's too late and she already knows. I guess time will tell! I am thrilled, though, that Darcy was able to find Fan unharmed. It's also nice to see him lose his heart a second time around.

Jan, you said there are dark times ahead, and until D & E are honest with each other, I have no doubt of that. However, I'm just extremely content that Fan is well, and am looking forward to the journey of patching their marriage! Thanks for another two wonderful chapters, and thanks also for the kind comments! It's wonderful to be back.

Hi Jan
Enjoying your story so much that I had to comment.

But..but.. I am so worried about Elizabeth. Why won't she respond to Darcy's letters? Surely she must be anxious in hearing any news about Fan. This is speculation on my part but what if Wickham has now kidnapped Elizabeth? What if this was his plan all along - to get Darcy away from Elizabeth by distracting him with finding the child?

Wickham may think that Darcy will pay a higher ransom for Elizabeth rather than Fan. Wickham could have tricked Elizabeth into going with him with the promise of handing Fan over.

I hope this is only my overactive imagination and nothing more. Can't wait till your next post!

I agree with this comment completely, Ophelia. Jan, your stories are always filled with strong undertones of forgiveness, and I believe that is one of the major things that makes your stories so beautiful! I think forgiveness is too often overlooked or forgotten about - both in life and in stories. It's nice to see it take such a prominent role!