Mrs Darcy's Message Forum
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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. 
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!
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!
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! 
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!
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?
That surprised me, for I knew that Caroline and her sister had planned to return to Town. Hurst had shown unexpected character throughout this ordeal, and I found my estimation of him greatly altered.
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.
She hesitated but a moment and then ran into my arms. "Up, man," she demanded, and I obliged her request, my heart offering prayers of thanksgiving as I felt her chubby little arms encircle my neck.
"Yes, we will see Mamá soon. I promise."
"Soon," I said, pulling her close to my heart.
And at that moment, I lost my heart for the second time.
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!
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!
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. 
I’m back from the beach! Hope you all had a lovely Easter holiday. Thank you so much for all the comments. It felt like I came home to find an Easter basket spilling over with kind words!
I’m pleased that some of you became a little teary about Darcy’s change, because I felt that way writing this chapter. We all love the character beyond reason, and it’s hard to write him from the first person view because it makes him vulnerable. I’ve always adored the fact that for most of P&P he didn’t seem vulnerable. He was aloof, arrogant of course, but almost mysterious because Jane Austen didn’t reveal much about his inner turmoil. It made me want to really know him, to open him up and see what made him tick. I didn’t realize how hard a task that would turn out to be.
Many of you mentioned forgiveness and/or redemption, and Ophelia, your remarks really touched me. I never set out to portray my particular world view, but I guess it cannot help but come through. Redemption stories always get to me because I know how many times I’ve needed someone to forgive me. And I, too, love Splatt’s story, A Fair Prospect, so I can appreciate the irony. Your expression that a sympathetic string binds us all together is so true. That’s just one of the things I love about JA readers. 
Janh, what a lovely chapter!
And that last sentence (he lost his heart for the second time), Oh my God, it is priceless.
Delightful story.
Can´t wait for more
Oh, how I loved this chapter, even though there was a lot of anger and anguish in it.
Fan is finally brought back to Elisabeth. She will be the one that nears the gap between Elisabeth and Darcy and she has started already. So sweet, embracing them both, while Elisabeth and Darcy feel awkward.
I’m glad everything is out in the open between Elisabeth and Darcy.
I had to laugh at the comment Elisabeth made about Darcy being the most wilful man she had ever known. She is as wilful as her husband appearing at Cutter’s Wood even though Darcy had forbidden her. But I guess we’ll be grateful she happens to be there in the wake of the last event.
Good work Jan, can’t wait for the next chapter.
I loved the dialogue between Darcy and Lizzy at Longbourn. For Darcy to admit to his selfishness and his arrogance. That had to be very hard for him to do. To admit to such deceit.
Wow…I could almost feel Darcy’s despair when he discovered Lizzy had taken everything away with her. She totally rejected him and, actually, I can’t really blame her. After all he had done and the lies and the deceit and then to find that Fan was kidnapped and by Wickham, no less….and then to realize that Wickham wouldn’t have been there or known about Fan if it hadn’t been for Darcy….What would anyone think.
Of course, who knows what all Caroline Bingley and Mrs Hurst said when they presented her with the note. Lizzy did say that "Caroline was only too eager to bring the note to my attention." I bet she was, that witch!
It’s probably a good think they left before Darcy came back. I sincerely hope that they will be cut out of the Darcy's lives completely. They deserve no recognition even if they are Bingley's sisters.
I hope Bingley finds out just how conniving and vindictive his sisters really are, too? Not much better than Wickham. They may not have kidnapped anyone, but they think nothing of ruining people for their own amusement and care for no one but themselves.
Naturally, I bent down to comply with her command. I kissed her cheek before she laid her head upon my shoulder.
Darcy’s habit of doing things his own way just gets him into more and more trouble. Lizzy had found Fan’s ribbons going toward Cutters Wood but Darcy still didn’t want to admit that Wickham had her so he chose to ignore it to cover up all the lies he had told so far.
I knew when he left that Lizzy would follow…and I’m glad she did. But Jan…my heart stopped when Wickham shot Darcy! I can only hope Wickham now lies dead at the bottom of the ravine…but what about Darcy? Maybe Bingley followed them, too?...I hope! Oh Dear….somehow I don’t think they will make it to Pemberley any time soon. I can only hope he makes it back to Netherfield and Lizzy and Fan will become his nurses!...Please?
Jan…you are giving us another excellent and well written story…but…how will we survive waiting while Darcy is bleeding in the middle of nowhere for a whole week? Noooooooo!!
I'm so glad that Lizzy finally learned the truth and she seeemed to be softening towards Darcy, esp with Fan's help. The fact that she was there at Cutter's Wood speaks volumes
Can't wait for next Sunday's update!! Thanks, Jan!
I went back to read that ransom note from Wickham, and I am a little surprised that Elizabeth became so angry merely from reading it. After all, it was Wickham and the note seemed to accuse Darcy without specifically pointing out what he had done. As Bingley surmised earlier when he saw the note, it could have meant Wickham still blamed Darcy for not receiving the living earlier and was now using the child to get it.
"Darcy, I have the child. We had a bargain, and you have failed to honour it, but now you will. If you wish to conceal the truth of what you have done from Elizabeth, and if she ever hopes to see her niece again, you will hand over the fortune we agreed upon.
Your search will turn up empty, so do not waste your time. Wait for further notice of when and where you are to deliver the funds.
G Wickham"
Elizabeth seemed to have assumed the very worst of Darcy even before he confessed. She also seemed to not have been impressed with him when he kept his promise and showed up with Fan in tow. After reading that note, I would think she would have expected to see him come back alone. To see him in the carriage with Fan in his lap -- why didn't she run to him and say how glad she was he had gotten the child from the clutches of the kidnapper -- because even if he had paid Wickham, would that not count for something?
Just fussing a bit with Elizabeth whom I have felt throughout is keeping Darcy as much at arms' length as possible. I guess it's her fear of feeling too much? Thank goodness Darcy was shot. The poor man will need to be injured and nearly helpless before Elizabeth gives him a break. 
Darcy is also fortunate to now have Fan in his corner. She's decided who her parents are and she is not a young lady to be denied.
