Rescuing Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Beauford, Kate

  “I think that is best,” she said. She was careful to make her tone as calm as possible.

  “What will you tell your family?”

  “I will tell the truth as far as I can. I will say I was kidnapped, and I escaped. I will stress that Lawson’s grandmother was there too, in case there are concerns about my reputation.”

  Darcy shook his head. “I do not like it,” he said. “I do not see how you will escape this without being ruined. It will affect your sisters as well. Are you sure this is what you want?”

  “What would you suggest?” Elizabeth glanced up at Darcy, holding her breath.

  “I do not like the alternative, but if it comes to it, you must send word to me at once, and I will come and marry you.”

  “You would not like that any more than I would.”

  “Of course not. Who would like to be in such a position? Nevertheless, it is what I will do.”

  “Well, let us hope it does not come to that. I do not see why I should be forced to marry you just because some rogues stole me away.”

  “I do not see it either, Elizabeth, but we both know that is how the world works. I will fulfil my duty.”

  All of Elizabeth’s earlier pain solidified to anger. How dare he speak of marrying her, as though it were a sacrifice?

  Of course, it would be a sacrifice, considering how distasteful he still found the idea. They might sleep in one another’s arms, but nothing had changed between them. He would never see her as worthy of being his wife.

  And she would certainly not make a fool of herself by having him discover she loved him. She would have her pride if nothing else. She turned to walk away.

  “Elizabeth.” There was a tinge of irritation in Darcy’s voice. “Where are you going?”

  “Home,” she said shortly. “The sooner we part, the better.”

  When Darcy did not follow, she glanced behind. He remained where he was, staring at her with a look of hurt anger. His jaw clenched, and he reluctantly followed her.

  They walked on in silence, the only sounds around them the rustling of the bare trees and their own tired and resentful footsteps.

  18

  “Even you, with all your experience of walking, must grow tired,” Darcy suggested. They had walked for more than an hour without exchanging a single word.

  “I am not tired,” said Elizabeth shortly. That was not true. Elizabeth’s legs burned, and her feet cramped. She would have given anything to sit down, but she would not admit such weakness to Darcy. “As you say, I have much experience with walking. Perhaps you think that inappropriate.”

  Darcy frowned. “I never said that, and I am sure I never suggested it.”

  “No, but you would not approve of your sister walking about the countryside alone, I suppose.”

  “Of course not.”

  Elizabeth deliberately walked faster. A childish part of her hoped to leave Darcy behind, but of course, with his height, he kept pace with her easily, scarcely out of breath. She was not so fortunate. Her own breath grew shorter, and she had to slow down.

  “Let us sit somewhere and rest,” said Darcy.

  “I do not need it. And I just want to be home.”

  “Yes, so you said,” said Darcy shortly. “Do not suppose I wish to keep you from it.” He looked behind him and stepped further out onto the path. Elizabeth saw him raise his hand. She was alarmed to see a cart coming towards them, driven by a young man.

  “What are you doing?” she demanded.

  “Returning you to Longbourn as soon as possible, as is your wish,” said Darcy abruptly. “Excuse me,” he called to the driver as he drew near them. The wagon slowed to a stop. The young man leaned back to stare down at them. “Are you going towards Donfield?”

  “I am,” said the boy. He glanced at Elizabeth, his eyes brightening in open admiration. Darcy followed his look, and his eyes narrowed.

  Elizabeth stepped forward, her legs burning with exhaustion.

  “Could we travel with you?” she asked. “We have walked for several miles, and I am a little tired.”

  The young man shot Darcy a look filled with indignation.

  “Why would you force such a pretty lady to walk so far? Can you not provide better for her?”

  Darcy swelled, his own indignation far exceeding the young man’s.

  “Now, see here —“ he began.

  Elizabeth pressed his arm, then stepped before him, placing herself between her and the boy. She gave him her most winsome smile.

  “You will have to forgive my brother,” she said sweetly. “He is tired, and he does not do well with long journeys.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “He might not look it, but he is rather delicate.”

  Elizabeth heard a slight sound from Darcy.

  “Brother?” The boy’s eyes brightened again, dimples appearing in his cheeks. “I will gladly drive you.” He shifted on his bench and patted the space beside him. “You may sit up here beside me. There is room for your brother in the back if he moves the turnips out of the way.”

  “You are very kind,” said Elizabeth. Her smile made the young man visibly swell. He helped her up, leaving Darcy to manage for himself in the back.

  “What is your name?” Elizabeth asked.

  “David.”

  “I am Lizzy, and my brother’s name is Will.”

  “I am happy to meet you, Lizzy. It is rare to see such a pretty face on the road.”

  Behind her, Elizabeth could hear Darcy huff. She turned to him with an arch look.

  “It is nice of you to say,” she said. “My brother thinks I am only tolerable.”

  Darcy stiffened. He stared at Elizabeth, his eyes searching hers. Elizabeth turned away and spoke to David instead. Soon, they sang songs, David’s voice loud and pure.

  “If you do not mind,” he said as they approached a small cottage. “I need to stop here for a moment to collect someone.”

  “Of course, I do not mind. Who are you collecting?”

  “My older sister, Sarah. She returned to us last year after her husband died. She will be comfortable back there with Will.”

  Elizabeth expressed sympathy for his sister and relaxed in her seat while waiting for her to come out. When the door opened, and David’s sister emerged, Elizabeth’s welcoming smile faltered. The young woman in the doorway was one of the prettiest women Elizabeth had ever seen. She would even outshine Jane. Her hair was golden as the sun, and her eyes were like cornflowers as they settled on Darcy. She obviously liked what she saw as a smile touched her full lips.

  “I can sit behind with Will,” said Elizabeth. “I could not sit up here while your sister sits among the turnips.”

  “Oh, I do not mind,” said Sarah in a voice as light and musical as a bell as she stepped towards Darcy with a light grace. “You stay where you are and talk to my brother. We will be comfortable back here.”

  “Yes, Lizzy,” said Darcy, putting an amused stress on her name. “We will be perfectly comfortable back here.”

  Elizabeth turned to look at him. He had gallantly offered his hand to Sarah to help her into the wagon and allowed her to sit in the space he had cleared as Sarah beamed up at him. When his eyes met Elizabeth again, the expression in them was a little too innocent. Elizabeth turned back to face the road, her back stiff. She thought she heard a soft laugh from Darcy, but that might have been in response to something the angelic Sarah had said. Perhaps she possessed a keen wit on top of all her other perfections. Elizabeth gritted her teeth.

  “Shall we continue?” she suggested. It was difficult to hide the edge in her voice. “I should like to be at Donfield as soon as possible.”

  “Take your time,” Darcy called from behind. “I am in no particular rush.”

  David beamed at Elizabeth. “I am happy to hear that,” he said softly. “We may talk and get to know one another.”

  “Wonderful,” said Elizabeth shortly.

  Of course, it was very hard to concentrate on her conversation with
David when one ear was trying to decipher what Darcy and Sarah could have to talk so much about. This was the proud Darcy who claimed he could not converse with strangers, going out of his way to make himself agreeable to a woman who was not all the beautiful now that Elizabeth considered it. She stole a glance behind her and wanted to groan at the woman’s perfection. Perhaps her — ear lobes were too rounded?

  Elizabeth caught the direction her thoughts had taken and turned back to the front with disgust. What was it to her if Darcy wanted to make himself agreeable to another woman? He would be nothing to her once they were at Longbourn. He could marry Sarah for all she cared. Not that he would. Even with all her beauty, Sarah was far too below Darcy for him to consider her for a bride. But then, men had been turned by pretty faces before and thrown over all expectations to have them. And even if they did not marry a woman, there were still ways for men to enjoy the company of a woman who took their eye. Elizabeth’s smile faded a little.

  “I do not understand why a woman as charming as you is not already married,” said David. He leaned towards Elizabeth, his shoulder brushing hers. Elizabeth heard Darcy’s words trail away, and though Sarah spoke, he did not respond as if he were distracted.

  “I have never found a man I love enough to marry,” she said. “And without love, I do not see the point of marriage. I would rather stay single.”

  David laughed. “Your brother will have you on his hands if you do not find love? I doubt it. You will find someone soon.” He stared at her, his eyes bright and hopeful. “How could you not?”

  “Are you not married, sir?” Sarah asked Darcy in a breathy voice.

  “I am not,” said Darcy.

  “Have you never seen a woman you liked well enough?”

  Darcy hesitated for a moment. Elizabeth half turned her head, then looked away so he would not see how interested she was in his response.

  “Perhaps the problem is not that I have found a woman I liked well enough. Perhaps it is that a woman has not liked me well enough to take me on.” His words were teasing. Elizabeth pulled the rug around her and raised her chin. He spoke only to flirt. Imagine Darcy could flirt. No one in Meryton would believe her if she told them. And it worked. Sarah gave an affected little cry.

  “Oh, how could a woman not like you? You cannot be serious. Any woman would be proud to call you her husband.”

  “You would think so, would you not?”

  “How much longer?” Elizabeth asked David. He looked startled at her abrupt tone and a little crestfallen.

  “About an hour. Where will you go from there?”

  “We are going to Hertfordshire,” Darcy called. Ah, so now he participated in conversation. “Perhaps you can tell us the fastest way?”

  David and Darcy swapped details about the roads. Elizabeth leaned her chin on her hand and looked at the fields and farms they passed. To think she had dreaded returning to Longbourn and saying goodbye to Darcy. Now she could not wait. The sooner they parted, the better.

  The village came into view at the end of a sloping hill. Elizabeth sighed in relief. She sat forward as they drew closer, trying to ignore the murmured conversation taking place behind her. Sarah played the tragic young widow to the hilt. What Darcy thought of it, Elizabeth could not say. His voice was so low she could not catch his words.

  “You may let us down here,” he called eventually.

  David’s face fell as he gave Elizabeth a longing look.

  “So soon? I thought we might…”

  “My sister and I have much to do,” said Darcy. “And we would not trouble you any further, would we, sister dearest?”

  “Of course not, brother mine,” said Elizabeth. She flashed a warm smile. “But I do not know how we can thank you for helping us.”

  David sighed, not taking his eyes from Elizabeth’s face.

  “If you ever come by this way again, you can ask for—“

  “My sister will not need to come this way again.” Elizabeth turned around, startled to see Darcy at her elbow. She had no idea he had come to her side. “But we extend our thanks.”

  Darcy placed his hands on Elizabeth’s waist with no preamble and lifted her down in one easy moment. Elizabeth’s breath caught as she brushed against him. He held her for just a moment as he looked down at her before she recalled they were supposed to be brother and sister. She quickly stepped away from him.

  “I am sorry you will never come this way again,” said the fragrant Sarah as she placed a bold hand on Darcy’s arm. “I shall be sorry never to see you again.”

  “Parting with old friends is a bittersweet thing,” said Darcy, smiling down at her. “Thank you for our conversation. I enjoy it. My sister can often be stern and silent.”

  “Can she? I did not find her so,” said David.

  Darcy’s face tightened. “Come along, sister,” he said firmly. He tucked Elizabeth’s hand in his elbow and led her away.

  “What amiable people,” said Elizabeth lightly as they walked to the market square. “David was delightful. I never expected to have such charming company on the road.”

  If she expected Darcy to rise to the bait, she was disappointed. He merely gave a curt nod. He did not look pleased. Elizabeth decided to see if she could provoke a response from him.

  “Sarah is lovely, is she not? I have rarely seen such a face.”

  “She is —“ Darcy released a breath. “She was not unpleasant to look upon.”

  “Is that all you can say? That she was not unpleasant to look upon?”

  “Very well. She was beautiful. I have eyes. I could not miss it.”

  “Probably the most beautiful girl anyone has ever seen.”

  “She is not of the type that is particularly pleasing to me.”

  “No?” Elizabeth knew she was provoking, but she could not seem to stop herself.

  Darcy sighed. “Elizabeth, what would you like me to say? You are angling for something, so I wish you would just be frank and tell me.”

  Elizabeth opened her mouth to make a retort, but she found she could say nothing. She did not know what was wrong with her, except that the sight of Darcy making himself pleasing to another woman irritated her. It was the proximity, she decided. She had never had such feelings for a man, and being forced to be in his presence every hour of every day, knowing it could only end, made her childish and sullen.

  “Forgive me,” she said quietly. “I think I am tired from all this walking. It makes me peevish.”

  “That is understandable. I do not think many could endure what you have done and still stay in good spirits most of the time.” His eyes softened.

  Elizabeth felt something inside her clench. Why did he have to be so wonderful? He could make this so much easier for her by being his proud, disagreeable self. Instead, everything he said or did served only to remind her of how important he was to her. And how painful it would be to lose him.

  “Thank you,” she said shortly. “Though I do not deserve your generosity.”

  Darcy pressed her hand. “We do not have too much further to go,” he reminded her. “We will be there within two days if we continue at this pace.”

  “What?” Elizabeth looked up at him in alarm. “So soon?”

  “Of course.” Darcy looked puzzled. “You must have paid no mind to our conversation. I asked David how much further we had to go.”

  Elizabeth had not taken in a word of it.

  “Of course,” she said.

  Darcy’s eyes were concerned. “Are you feeling alright?” he asked. “You seem in low spirits. I should have thought you eager to be home.”

  “Of course I am. I am just tired.”

  “I know. I wish I had money, so you were not forced to sleep on roads and in caves.”

  “It is not your fault,” said Elizabeth. “Perhaps when I am home in my own bed, I will even miss the adventure of finding somewhere to sleep on the road.”

  Instead, of prompting a smile, as she intended, Darcy was looking around with a s
peculative look on his face. A farmhouse lay a little further down the road.

  “You will not sleep on the road tonight, if I can help it,” he said. “I have an idea.”

  19

  As they approached the farmhouse, Darcy saw a man outside steadying a horse. Darcy told Elizabeth to remain where she was, then ran towards the man. Elizabeth watched as they spoke, Darcy turning to nod to her. The man followed Darcy’s gesture and raised a hand in greeting. Elizabeth watched in curiosity as the man nodded, and Darcy turned away, his face lit with a grin.

  “What was that about?” she asked when he returned to her.

  “We may spend the night here,” he said. “I will help for a few hours for a hot meal and a bed for the night.”

  Elizabeth cried out with joy. “That is wonderful. What did you tell him to persuade him?”

  Darcy’s smile faltered. To Elizabeth’s surprise, his face flushed, and he cleared his throat.

  “Well, that is the thing,” he said. “He was not agreeable at first, but once I pointed you out, he agreed at once. He assumed you were my wife. So we will have to share a room again, and we will have to pretend to be married.”

  “Oh.” Pretending to be Darcy’s wife was the last thing she wanted to do when her feelings were already so confused. But she could also not turn down the chance to have a hot meal and a clean bed. If not for her, then at least for Darcy. He had taken care of her selflessly, always giving more to her to make sure she had all she needed. She could tolerate one night pretending to be his wife for his sake. Darcy’s expression as he waited for her to respond was anxious. She smiled.

  “We have done it before. We can do it again. At least this time, we do it in exchange for something more pleasant than trying to save our lives.”

  “That is what I thought,” said Darcy with a pleased smile. His smile faded, and his nervous expression returned. “There is one more thing,” he added.

  “What?”

  “You are with child.”

  “What?”

  Darcy held up his hands. “I did not tell him that. It is a conclusion he came to when he looked at you.”