by Bella Breen
“What are you apologizing for? It is Lady Catherine that is behind this. You only had the misfortune to fall in front of others.” Charlotte let go of Elizabeth and handed her a handkerchief to dry her face.
“I cannot thank you enough, Charlotte. I must pack now before Lady Catherine decides it is time to leave even if I am not ready.”
Elizabeth walked up the steps to pack her things for an abrupt departure. She wondered if Mr. Darcy knew what was happening. From what she knew of him, he was a man that followed propriety. He would not have allowed her to be thrown out like this. She was sure he had no idea, but of course there was nothing she could do.
Chapter 7
Mr. Darcy now had a special license. He was tired from his long ride and still had a headache. He was sure things would be fine at Rosings if he spent the night in the Darcy townhouse and then headed back on the morrow. He would then inform Miss Elizabeth of the special license and they would be married. Unfortunately, they would be married by Mr. Collins.
Darcy could not stand that man but it was important for them to be married as quickly as possible. He did not want his aunt to have the time to do anything to stop the proceedings. He could not imagine what she would do but he knew his aunt—she was determined he marry his cousin, Anne de Bourgh.
Elizabeth Bennet rode quietly in the carriage. She hoped that her mother did not treat her poorly now that she was coming home early after having been thrown out by Lady Catherine. No, she was sure that her mother would actually be happy to know her daughter was forced to marry. She had been quite angry with Elizabeth ever since she had turned down Mr. Collins. As if she would ever have married that man. She still could not believe her good friend had, but Charlotte did have an interesting view on marriage.
It was Jane that she worried about. Could she even tell Jane what she knew? That Mr. Darcy had admitted that he had told Mr. Bingley that Jane did not care for him? That they had convinced Mr. Bingley to leave Netherfield? Elizabeth did not look forward to that conversation. If she ever told her. She should not tell Jane because if Mr. Bingley never came back to Netherfield, it would hurt even more.
The carriage slowed and then pulled into the posting inn. She was sure that Lady Catherine had misspoke and that the carriage would continue on to Meryton or to the Gardiners house in London. However, when Elizabeth descended from the carriage, she found the footman setting her suitcase on the ground.
“You are not leaving me here? You cannot! Lady Catherine said—”
“We got our orders from Lady Catherine and she told us to leave you here. Good day.” The footman climbed back up on the carriage.
Elizabeth was stunned. She would be required to take public transportation the rest of the way. However, she had no maid with her. People would wonder why a young woman of quality would be traveling on public transportation without a chaperone. Even if Lady Catherine had indeed stopped the news of her being compromised by Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth would no doubt be compromised by the fact she was traveling alone.
Elizabeth rubbed her arms and looked around at the other travelers. She swallowed and then turned to the inn. She might as well find out if there were any tickets available for the post to London. She would not cry. She would not show that she could not handle this.
Col. Fitzwilliam came back from his walk and saw Lady Catherine stop in the stable yard in her phaeton. “Good afternoon, Aunt. I thought I heard the carriage leave earlier as well?”
Lady Catherine stepped out of the phaeton. “You did. It is currently taking that Elizabeth Bennet away from here.”
“You sent her away? Miss Bennet has been compromised. She has to marry Mr. Darcy.” He then saw his aunt’s smug smile.
“Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Miss Elizabeth is not my concern.” His aunt walked into Rosings Park.
Col. Fitzwilliam turned to the stable hands. “Do you know what orders Lady Catherine gave for the carriage earlier today?”
“They were to take her to the nearest posting inn and leave her.” Leave her. He could not imagine his aunt being so cruel as that.
“Are you sure she ordered Miss Bennet to be left?”
The stable hand nodded while he worked to unhitch the horse from the phaeton.
“But surely she gave her money to hire a carriage? Or even ride on the post?”
“Not according to her ladyship. She wanted her left and stranded.”
Col. Fitzwilliam was struck by the sheer audacity and cruelty of what his aunt had done. “Did she leave a servant or anyone else?”
“No. She told them just to drop her luggage and take off. She said that this Elizabeth Bennet was already ruined, so it did not even matter.”
Col. Fitzwilliam clenched his fists and vowed he would have some serious words with his aunt when he got back. “Stop what you are doing there. Do you have another carriage? Something to take me to that inn? That young woman cannot be left alone like that!”
“That was the only carriage.”
“Fine. Saddle my horse. I will be back quickly so have him ready.” Col. Fitzwilliam ran into the house.
He penned a very quick note and left it in Mr. Darcy’s bedchamber. If Lady Catherine did not destroy it, he would be surprised. He then packed some things and ran back out to the stable yard. His horse was saddled and waiting. He leapt on and urged the horse into a gallop. He could waste no time. Miss Bennet would be left alone at a posting inn with ruffians hanging about. He would be lucky if she was still whole and in one piece by the time he got there.
Elizabeth had moved her luggage out of the way of the traffic of people. She had purchased a ticket but not on the next post. No tickets had been available until several hours from now. She had no choice. She had tea and settled in to wait.
She could not believe she was sitting at a posting inn waiting to travel on the public post. She knew as the day got darker things could get quite awful. She would leave on the six o’clock, unless there was no room. Just because she had a ticket did not mean she would get on. Elizabeth had paid extra for a seat inside the carriage, but there were only so many seats. She dug her fingers in her gloves and prayed something would happen that was actually good.
She hoped that no man sat at her table or bothered her. So far she had been left alone, but she was sure the longer she sat in the dining room that would not be the case. She should have been cared for and safe at this moment. How would anyone have foreseen that Elizabeth would accidentally get compromised? And that Lady Catherine would throw her out?
Chapter 8
Col. Fitzwilliam arrived at the first post inn he encountered and hoped it was the correct one. He dismounted and paid a stable hand to water his horse and walk him to cool him off. Col. Fitzwilliam walked around the yard but did not see Miss Bennet or her luggage. He was scared but assured himself she was probably waiting inside.
Col. Fitzwilliam walked into the inn, looked at the inhabitants of all the tables, but still did not see Miss Bennet. He approached the innkeeper. “Have you seen a young woman with luggage? A Miss Bennet? She would have arrived in a grand carriage.”
“Oh yes. She has been here for hours. My wife took pity on her with the way the men were bothering her, and put her in our little room back off the kitchen.”
Col. Fitzwilliam let out a deep breath in relief. He followed the innkeeper to find it was indeed a little room, though he believed it was a closet.
Elizabeth had been looking down at her hands when the innkeeper and Col. Fitzwilliam entered. When she realized who stood in the kitchen happiness flooded her features. “Col. Fitzwilliam! Please tell me you are here for me?”
“Yes, I am indeed here for you. I did not realize what my aunt had planned until she had already left. I came as quickly as I could.”
Elizabeth blinked several times but managed to contain her tears. She stood and took Col. Fitzwilliam’s hands in hers. “How did you know I was here?”
“I questioned the stable hands. I had hoped this was the
right posting inn. You are well?” Col. Fitzwilliam eyed her closely.
“I am quite well. I passed time in the dining room until I felt a more private room would be better.” Elizabeth smiled and pretended everything was completely fine.
“Come, I will take you to London. I believe you said you had relatives there?”
“Yes, I do. The Gardiners, my aunt and uncle. They will not be expecting me though. I am arriving weeks early.” Elizabeth swallowed and then spoke again. “You said you did not know what your aunt had planned? Did Mr. Darcy know?”
Col. Fitzwilliam held Elizabeth’s hands. “He left me a note that he was going to London to get a special license. He planned to marry you immediately before news could get outside the village. Believe me, he did not know at all. He would never have allowed our aunt to do something as horrid as this.” Col. Fitzwilliam squeezed her hands and let go.
Elizabeth felt such relief at hearing that Mr. Darcy did not have any part of it that she surprised herself. Some part of her must care about Mr. Darcy’s good opinion. She squeezed out of the little room while Col. Fitzwilliam paid the innkeeper for keeping her safe. “Do you know if there is a carriage that I could hire for a trip to London?”
“You would have to check with the stable yard, but I do believe the private carriage has not been hired.”
Col. Fitzwilliam had not come in a carriage? Elizabeth could not imagine riding so long and fast on horseback. He truly came as quickly as he could. Elizabeth felt even more warmth towards him.
Col. Fitzwilliam carried her trunk out. Elizabeth stayed near the front of the inn as he made the arrangements. “I have hired a carriage to take us to London.”
“Us? You are coming too?”
“Yes I am. I need to find my cousin, anyway. He needs to hear what his aunt did.”
“Thank you ever so much, Col. Fitzwilliam. I do not know how I can repay you. What will happen to your horse?”
“He will stay here and I will get him when I come back for my things. You owe me no thanks. I do this gladly, for we are friends. Also you are the intended of my cousin.”
Elizabeth flushed at the mention that she was engaged to Mr. Darcy. She smiled at Col. Fitzwilliam and wished she could instead have gotten compromised by him instead. He was so easy to talk to, but her heart did not jump, nor did her skin tingle as they did when she was around Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth sat next to the governess that the Col. Fitzwilliam found at the posting inn. She had been waiting to ride to London and accepted the offer of riding in a private carriage so Elizabeth would have a chaperone. Even though she had been compromised, the public did not know. It was still important to observe the rules of society, especially when she was traveling with a man who was not a relative.
Elizabeth looked out the window and wished she had something to pass the time. The only thing she could do was stare at Col. Fitzwilliam, look out the window, or think about how awkward it was going to be to tell the Gardiners how she managed to leave Rosings Park early and without Maria Lucas. She was not looking forward to that conversation.
She was also not looking forward to marrying Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth knew she had been well and truly compromised after Mr. Collins, two village women, and Col. Fitzwilliam witnessed the scene. However, Lady Catherine de Bourgh said that the village woman would not remember the scene and that Mr. Darcy did not have to marry Elizabeth. Obviously, Mr. Darcy did not agree if he went to London to procure a special license. But once Col. Fitzwilliam told him that the village women would not speak of what they had seen, would Mr. Darcy still marry her?
Elizabeth glanced at Col. Fitzwilliam. Did he think the same thing? That it was going to be swept under the rug? That Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy did not have to get married? If Elizabeth was sure nothing bad would happen, that she and her sisters would not be shunned, she would gladly forgo marrying Mr. Darcy. She was still angry at his first horrible proposal. Both proposals were rather awful, actually. But even though she did not want to marry Mr. Darcy, she knew if word got out she had been compromised and did not marry him, her reputation would be ruined and that of her sisters by association.
Elizabeth looked down at her gloved hands. She would not be the one who brought ruin to the family. They would never find good husbands if that happened. No, even though she wanted very much to pretend it did not occur and she did not have to marry Mr. Darcy, she knew she had to. The only problem was, did Mr. Darcy still feel the same?
Chapter 9
The carriage stopped at the Gardiners’ house first. To say that they were shocked to see her was an understatement. Elizabeth pretended everything was fine. She introduced Col. Fitzwilliam and the governess to show that proprieties had been observed. Col. Fitzwilliam was in a hurry to leave, probably to drop off the governess and then find Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth was glad he left immediately. She had done all she could to hold it together until he was gone.
Mr. Gardiner broached the unspoken topic first. “Elizabeth, it is not that we are not happy to see you, but you are several weeks early.”
Jane rushed to Elizabeth and wrapped her in a hug. “I am so glad to see you.”
Jane stepped back and Elizabeth finally had to answer Mr. Gardiner’s question, as both her aunt and uncle were waiting for an answer. “Well, many strange things happened.”
By the time Elizabeth told of what occurred on the grounds of Rosings Park, the proposal, then Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s arrival at the parsonage and being thrown out, Mr. Gardiner had paced a path in the floor. Both Jane and Mrs. Gardiner were shocked but did not interrupt until Elizabeth had told the whole story.
Mr. Gardiner however was not so circumspect. “How dare that Mr. Darcy do something like this! By Jove, if I were younger I would call him out.”
Elizabeth was gratified that somebody at least was angry for what had happened to her. “His cousin, Col. Fitzwilliam, assured me that Mr. Darcy did not know what his aunt had planned. He had left early this morning to London to procure a special license.”
“I know Mr. Darcy has a townhouse in London. He will most probably spend the night there.” Mr. Gardiner continued to pace.
“Yes. Col. Fitzwilliam said he would go to Mr. Darcy’s townhouse to hopefully catch him there if he has not already left to ride back to Rosings Park.”
Elizabeth did not know where the townhouse was located, but she was sure her uncle did. As a man of business, and with the Darcy wealth, anything about the Darcys would be common knowledge. Elizabeth just hoped that her uncle did not call upon him and demand satisfaction. She did not want Mr. Gardiner to get injured for her sake. He had a wife and young children!
The two Bennet sisters went upstairs to help Elizabeth unpack. Jane shared her sad visits to the Bingleys where she only saw the sisters and how her letters were misdirected. Elizabeth hugged Jane. Her heart was hurting for her sister as she knew why Mr. Bingley was avoiding Jane. It was all due to the man she was forced to marry.
A loud knocking at the front of the Gardiners’ house interrupted their talking. Elizabeth turned to the clock and frowned as it was far past the time for social visits. “Do the Gardiners normally get visitors this late?”
Jane shook her head. “No. Not at all.”
Elizabeth was curious but not enough to leave her room until she heard her uncle roar. “Mr. Darcy? How dare you treat my niece in such fashion!”
Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other, then rushed down the stairs.
The Gardiner children rushed out of their rooms in their nightclothes. Jane stopped them on the stairs. “Stay upstairs. Do not come down.”
Elizabeth continued to rush down. She was astonished to find Col. Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy on the outside steps, not permitted in the house. Mr. Gardiner stood in front of the door almost completely blocking the view. But Elizabeth could see Mr. Darcy.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Mr. Gardiner was still furious.
“You must be Mr. Gardiner, the uncle of Miss Bennet?
I am Fitzwilliam Darcy. I am engaged to your niece, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. May I please come in?”
“If you are engaged to my niece, why did you abandon her, then have her thrown out several weeks before the end of her stay?” Mr. Gardiner had not moved one centimeter to let Mr. Darcy in.
“I will be pleased to answer any and all questions, but I believe it would be better if we did not discuss this where everyone could hear.” Mr. Darcy continued to stand on the step. He did not push forward, but it was obvious he was not leaving.
Mr. Gardiner looked back at his wife and Elizabeth, then back at Mr. Darcy. “You do not deny that you are engaged to my niece, Elizabeth?”
“I do not deny it at all. I left this morning for London to get a special license. I left a note detailing my plans with Col. Fitzwilliam, my cousin. I had nothing to do with what my aunt did and am in fact quite angry and alarmed. Which is why I am here to reassure my intended.”
“You speak pretty words, though I do not know whether I should believe you.”
Mr. Darcy straightened his coat, reached down in a pocket, and pulled out a piece of paper. He unfolded it then handed it over to Mr. Gardiner. Elizabeth’s uncle studied it, then handed it back. He stepped out of the entryway and motioned with his arm that Mr. Darcy could finally enter.
Mr. Darcy walked into the small house with Col. Fitzwilliam. Elizabeth looked down and covered her face with a hand. Could this get any worse? First Darcy hated her for turning down his marriage proposal, then he hated her for being forced to marry her, and now he had been questioned on the steps of her uncle’s house. Elizabeth wanted to hide. Surely if she ran away to Bath to become a governess, her life could not be as bad as this, could it?
“I believe you can understand my feelings, as Elizabeth is my niece. For all intents and purposes it looked as if you were reneging on your word and threw her out.”
