by Abbey North
Darcy shook his head. “I find that fantastical to believe. What offspring cannot be influenced by their mother, no matter how short or long a time they graced their lives?”
Lizzy’s lips twitched in spite of herself as he used the word grace. That was not a descriptor she would’ve attributed to her mother. “Jane is upset because of an implication she heard this evening.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “What might that be?”
Lizzy debated for a moment whether to reveal anything. She did not want to seem like a gossip, and if Mr. Darcy was as perceptive as he seemed, he had no doubt picked up on the acrimony between herself and Caroline Bingley. Would it sound like she was telling tales? She straightened her shoulders, reminding herself she was uncaring what his opinion was of her as long as she could defend Jane. “It was implied to her this evening that a betrothal is imminent.”
Darcy’s expression revealed nothing. “Really?”
“How do you feel about Mr. Bingley being part of your family, Mr. Darcy? Miss Bingley said…”
He stiffened. “I shall not discuss that topic with you, Miss Bennet. Bingley is a fine fellow, and I would be proud to call him a brother through many means.” His expression tightened, and he looked like he was on the verge of running away.
Just to be contrary, Lizzy set aside her punch glass as the music came to an end. “I do believe you have asked for a dance, Mr. Darcy?” She glared at him with challenge.
“I believe it was your mother who suggested that, but I would be pleased to dance with you.” He sounded stiff and unconvincing.
Lizzy was quite gratified in vexing him, so she took the arm he extended, struggling to ignore the flare of warmth it caused to shoot through her body. She joined him in formation for the quadrille, hoping to make him further uncomfortable. “If there is to be a wedding, I do not know why you did not just say so. It would have been kinder to Jane.”
He stiffened. “I fail to see how that affects Miss Jane, but Miss Bingley imagines something that does not exist. How did we come to talk about this topic when we were conversing about Mr. Bingley and Miss Jane?” He still sounded stilted, meaning he was dreadfully uncomfortable.
Lizzy grinned at that. “I am uncertain how this is incompatible with the topic of conversation. If there is to be a joining of your families, why are you delaying it? Is it because of Georgiana’s age?”
Darcy looked confused. “I would hardly allow Georgiana’s age to influence my decision to marry Miss Bingley.”
Lizzy stiffened, suddenly realizing they were talking about two distinct things. With that realization came the even worse one that Mr. Darcy was about to become engaged to Caroline Bingley. It sent a chill through her, and she couldn’t explain why she was so upset by the thought.
Darcy sounded concerned suddenly. “Miss Bennet, are you all right? You have gone quite pale.”
“I feel dizzy.” She walked away from him, not waiting to finish the dance. Instead, she went to lean against the wall and took in several deep breaths. She was only moderately surprised when Darcy followed her. He was a cold, condescending man, but he had good manners. Naturally, he would ensure the health of his dance partner.
“May I get you a drink?”
“I would like a direct answer instead.” She looked up at him.” Is Mr. Bingley about to become engaged to Miss Georgiana?”
Darcy looked shocked. “Not to my knowledge. They are quite friendly, but I would be surprised if anything further develops.” He frowned, still looking confused. “Is that what you meant when you implied I was going to have Charles as a brother?”
“It was the implication given to myself and Jane earlier this evening by Miss Bingley.”
He let out a shaky sigh. “As much as it pains me to clear the path for Miss Jane in that way, I must confess I have no idea where Miss Caroline would have gotten such an impression.”
Lizzy knew all too well, certain Caroline had invented it, or at least amplified the connection between her sibling and Mr. Darcy’s to cause Jane pain and doubt. There was no point in telling Darcy that. He would be unlikely to think ill of Miss Bingley, especially since he seemed to be on the verge of marrying her.
She was still uneasy with that thought, mainly because of how it made her feel. She had no right to react so negatively. After all, they would be a perfect match. Two perfect Incomparables, producing beautiful, arrogant children. What was there not to like about the idea?
She straightened her spine and stood up from the wall. “I feel much better now. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Darcy, but I need to speak with my sister.”
Without glancing back at him, she rushed to Jane, taking a seat beside her. She took her hand in hers and said, “I have confirmed with Mr. Darcy that there is no engagement pending between Mr. Bingley and Miss Darcy.”
Jane’s expression lit up with hope, going from deep despondency to radiance in seconds. “Truly?”
“Completely true. Mr. Darcy himself verified it, with great reluctance, because he understands it removes an impediment Miss Bingley tried to put between you and Charles.”
Jane frowned. “I do not think she did it deliberately. Perhaps she has misunderstood the situation between Miss Darcy and Mr. Bingley.”
Lizzy managed not to roll her eyes at Jane’s naivete as she urged her sister to stand up. “I suspect if you find Mr. Bingley and indicate you have changed your mind about dancing, you shall find a willing partner.”
Jane looked slightly embarrassed. “I reacted so poorly. Surely, he must not wish to spend time with me now.”
Lizzy shook her head. “I find that very unlikely. You must put yourself in his vicinity. No doubt, he will approach you.”
Jane looked uncertain for a moment, but she finally nodded and stood up. “Perhaps I will get a glass of punch.”
Lizzy glanced over and saw Mr. Bingley would have a good view of the refreshment table from where he stood. “You must be parched.”
As Jane departed, she turned to Mary, bridging the distance between them. “Is there anyone here you would like to dance with?”
Mary sniffed. “He is hardly likely to move in these circles...” She trailed off as her face paled, and she cleared her throat. “I mean, there is no one.”
“Of course not,” said Lizzy, feeling benevolent. She would never tease Mary about her crush, though she longed to ask if it was Edward Harrison, the law clerk at Uncle Phillips’s office.
She also wanted to distract herself from her own unease and inexplicable irritation that Mr. Darcy was prepared to marry Caroline Bingley. What an appalling thought. Surely, he would be bored with someone like her? She might meet all his exacting standards as an accomplished woman, but she did not seem overly bright. She couldn’t carry on a conversation that would stimulate his mind, and she certainly wasn’t the type to make any sort of unexpected connections that might lead to solving a mystery.
Realizing Lizzy was contrasting herself with Caroline brought her sharply back to reality. She had no interest in Darcy, and she shouldn’t care if he was bored senseless with the woman he chose to marry. That was his business and had nothing to do with her.
She was determined to enjoy the evening yet, so she looked around for someone with whom to speak, missing Charlotte, but she did not have a chance. There was a sudden commotion as a footman burst into the room, gazing around frantically.
“What is the meaning of this?” snapped Caroline in a cold tone. “You know better than to behave in such a fashion.”
The young man paled before turning red, and he nodded respectfully to Miss Bingley. “I am sorry, miss, but I have an urgent message for Mr. Darcy.”
“You still do not burst in here in that manner, young man,” said Caroline. “I shall expect Mr. Fellows to take you to task.”
Darcy had walked forward, and he brushed past Caroline now, saying in a voice loud enough to reach Lizzy, “Let it be, Miss Caroline.” He took the letter, and Lizzy realized there was somet
hing awful in it by the way he paled, and his fingers started to tremble. She was already on her feet before she realized it, rushing across the room to join him. She hadn’t quite reached him when he said, “Wickham has abducted my sister.”
8
Fitzwilliam stared down at the note, rage and fear warring for supremacy. Wickham was demanding thirty-thousand pounds, clearly alluding to the fact Fitzwilliam had denied him the opportunity to get it before by stymieing the elopement.
He was surprised to feel a hand on his wrist, and he looked up to see Miss Bennet standing in front of him. Her presence sent a wave of calm through him that he couldn’t explain, but he quickly took a step back and folded the letter, needing to focus. “He assures me he will be in contact with further information, but I cannot wait that long. I am asking for anyone who is willing to do so to help me search for her. They cannot have gone far, for he had insufficient funds to escape.”
Though he was generally only tolerated by the people, and Fitzwilliam could freely admit that was his own fault due to his behavior at the Assembly ball, he was gratified by the number of volunteers who stepped forward. Several men appeared eager to help, and he had a moment of discomfort for how he had so unfairly judged the people of Meryton. They owed him nothing, but they were rallying around him now to assist.
They started to break themselves into groups and decide who would be searching where as Darcy stripped off his tail coat and handed it to Caroline Bingley. “I can hardly search with that.” He moved forward, only realizing after a moment that Lizzy was keeping pace with them. He turned to look at her. “I do not have time to speak right now.”
“I think I know where he is camping.”
Darcy stiffened at the words, turning to face her and giving her his full attention. “What?”
“I found it earlier today. Colonel Forster was gone to London, and Walters refused to listen to me, but I might have an idea of where he was camping, at least as of this morning.”
“You must tell me at once.” His mouth dropped open in shock when she shook her head. “You would deny me this knowledge because of acrimony?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I would not. I could hate you more than anyone in the world and would still help you find your sister. I cannot simply tell you where it is. I must show you, for I discovered it by accident myself.”
He realized it was improper, but when weighed against Georgiana’s safety, he had little concern for how it might look to grasp Miss Bennet’s hand and rush from the Netherfield ballroom. He did his best to slow his pace enough for her to keep up comfortably, but he was anxious to find Goliath and start riding.
He almost considered sweeping her into his arms and carrying her, thinking he might still move them at a faster pace, but he could well imagine her reaction to that. Even if he tried to set aside consideration of the shocked outrage that would circulate through the crowd at his high-handed tactics, he knew it was a terrible idea.
He forced himself to exhibit some restraint until they reached the stables. The young groom was quick to comply with his orders to prepare Goliath, and when he looked up as Lizzy moved away, he realized she was retrieving a lantern. It was a smart idea, though it wasn’t completely dark yet.
They were likely to need it at some point though, and when she returned to his side, he lifted her by the hips and placed her on the horse astride, not bothering with the uncomfortable position of sidesaddle that was incompatible with the saddle anyway. She gasped at the sensation, and she gasped again when he mounted the horse behind her, her body plastered to his. He put his arm firmly around her waist to hold her against him while using his other hand to control the reins, and he spurred Goliath to bolt forward.
Lizzy turned slightly in his arms, craning her head up so he could hear her as she gave him rough directions. He set Goliath on the path toward Meryton, allowing the horse to run as freely as he wanted until Lizzy tapped on his arm several minutes later. She was looking up at him again, and he slowed Goliath to be sure to hear her.
“I need to get down and walk from here. There was a particular rock, you see.”
He did not see, and for a moment, he wondered if she was simply leading him on a blind venture, either to seem useful when she had no valuable information, or perhaps even to assist Wickham. The thought sat uneasily with him, and he couldn’t be certain she’d truly given up any interest in the man.
He considered dropping her by the side of the road and continuing on, but when she got down, she had such confidence as she slowly moved forward, eyeing the ground with the lantern aloft, that he found it impossible to believe she would play games when Georgiana’s safety was at stake. For all her faults, she appeared to genuinely like his sister, and she had been sympathetic to the situation between Georgiana and Wickham.
Feeling bad for misjudging her, he followed along quietly behind her, his impatience growing by the moment though. He was about to say her method wasn’t working when she lowered the lantern to the ground a little more and made a soft sound of delight. “Here it is.”
To his absolute shock, Lizzy got on her hands and knees on the road, and he realized she was looking down the hill. She pointed that way, telling him as she looked up, “That is where I saw the spot earlier. I do not see a fire, but maybe he wouldn’t have one if he is keeping Georgiana prisoner to obscure their presence.”
“Lead the way,” he said with slight discomfort at the idea of Miss Bennet putting herself in danger, but he had no choice. He had to rescue Georgiana before Wickham injured her or compromised her.
If the man had already done so, there would be no hasty wedding if that was Wickham’s aim. Instead, he would find himself dead and disposed of in some unremarkable location, as Fitzwilliam would never force his sister to marry a man who had violated her, and he would never allow Wickham to get away with such a course of action without punishment.
9
Lizzy led him down the hill, trying to move as quietly she could. She wished she could extinguish the lantern, but they would be completely blind without it, since darkness had come upon them now, and the quarter moon was barely sufficient to light a few feet in front of them.
Already, she could see there was no campfire, and she was afraid Wickham had entirely abandoned the location, but it was the best lead they had. When they reached the bottom of the hill, she held the lantern aloft to look around and immediately saw a ribbon on a branch. She moved closer and lifted it, handing it to Darcy. “Does that belong to Georgiana?”
“I think it might.”
Lizzy lifted the lantern again, looking for some other evidence of where they’d gone, issuing a pleased sound when she saw the line of footprints moving away from the riverbed. The entire forest floor wasn’t wet enough to retain footprints, since the rain they’d had wasn’t that extensive, but it gave them a clue as to which way to go.
Darcy took the lead this time, and Lizzy stayed beside him, surprised he hadn’t insisted she remain behind, though she would have refused. In a few feet, they found another ribbon, this one looking like it had been haphazardly wrapped around a leaf hanging from the tree in front of them. It matched the one Lizzy had found while ago, and Darcy put it in his pocket in an absent-minded fashion. “I believe she might be leaving us a trail,” said Darcy.
“I thought that as well,” said Lizzy. She wondered when Georgiana had had a chance to think of the plan, and she admired her forethought in doing so.
They continued on, and at first, Lizzy thought Darcy had gone the wrong way, but then they came across a scrap of lace that looked like it’d been torn on a bramble. Lizzy wasn’t certain if it were an accidental clue Georgiana had left behind, or if she’d managed to deliberately snag her clothes on the plant.
A bit later, they saw a trail of blood that started with another bramble bush, and there were smears of the red substance every few feet. Lizzy wondered if Georgiana, unable to remove any other pieces of clothing, had made the brave decision to deliberately slash her
self and then leaned against the foliage to provide markers. If so, the young woman was even stronger than she had seemed.
They ran out of the blood trail, but it was sufficient to lead them to where they needed, because they both froze at the sound of voices ahead of them. Mostly, it was one voice, though there were muffled grunts from another. Lizzy was certain the grunting voice was feminine and likely belonged to Georgiana.
“There is no point in trying to escape, Georgie,” said Wickham as they drew closer, moving as quietly as possible so he would be unaware of their arrival until the last, “And deliberately cutting yourself on the bramble was just childish. Did you think it would move me to pity and make me release you? As I told you when I took you from your room at Netherfield, once I have the money, Darcy can have you back. I have no interest in harming you more than I must, so you may calm down.”
There was a flurry of grunting and unintelligible words following his, and Lizzy was proud of Georgiana for standing up to the man, though clearly her mouth was restricted in some form. Lizzy put a hand on Darcy’s shoulder, planning to work out a strategy with him, but he was clearly beyond logical thinking. With a roar of outrage, he rushed forward, giving Wickham too much notice that he was there, and allowed the other man time to gain his feet.
Lizzy winced at the ill-conceived tactic, but she could hardly fault him for being moved by the need to rescue his sister, though she thought there would’ve been a better way. While Darcy was busy with Wickham, she rushed to Georgiana and removed the gag from her mouth. “Are you all right?”
“I am for now. I have a small slash from a bramble, but it has stopped bleeding.”
“Did you do it deliberately to leave a trail?” Lizzy tugged at the knots on the rope binding her wrists, reluctantly impressed by Wickham’s skills at tying them.
“Yes. It was the only thing I could think of after running out of hair ribbons. If he had not allowed me a moment to see to personal needs, I would not have had the opportunity to wrap the ribbons. I had to do it mostly with my teeth.” She sounded pained by that, but there was also a note of pride in her tone.
