Rescuing Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Beauford, Kate

  A burst of laughter interrupted them. Darcy reluctantly drew back, then turned to scowl at the intruders.

  “Do you mind?” he snapped. “Be on your way.”

  The two men grinned and held up their hands, making exaggerated efforts to back away.

  “Beg your pardon, beg your pardon,” said one. “Far be it from us to interrupt a man while he is about his business. We’ll go now.”

  The second man eyed Elizabeth with interest. Elizabeth had pressed her face against Darcy’s chest, partly from embarrassment and a desire to hide her face. But she could not resist the chance to look. Her heart jumped. She was sure she recognised this man from the inn. If he recognised either of them, he did not show it. He seemed more interested in looking Elizabeth up and down with a naked hunger that made her shudder and press closer to Darcy. Darcy’s hands had moved to cup her face as he kissed her, and they still rested behind her head where his strong fingers caressed her hair, though his attention seemed fixed on the two men.

  The men backed away, laughing and jeering. They moved slowly, still looking back.

  “Why do they keep looking at us?” Elizabeth whispered.

  “I can only think of one reason,” said Darcy.

  “What’s that?”

  “They are not convinced.”

  “What will we do?”

  “Convince them.”

  His mouth closed on hers again, making Elizabeth’s heart pound so loudly she was sure everyone could hear it. She had never been kissed before, but her arms wound up and around Darcy’s neck, allowing him to pull her tighter. Elizabeth did not know how long they kissed, but the men were long gone when Darcy drew back. His eyes were dark, and he looked just as dazed as she felt. She bit her lip, and his eyes followed the movement.

  “I beg your pardon,” he said. His voice was hoarse. “I could think of nothing else.”

  “I do not mind.” Elizabeth did not know what she would do when he released her. Her legs did not feel strong enough to support her. “Do you think we convinced them?”

  “I think that would have convinced anyone.” He slowly dropped his arms so they no longer held her and took a step back. He did not look quite steady himself.

  “We should carry on.”

  “I agree.”

  They made their way to the path. There was no sign of the intruders. They walked on, not speaking. Elizabeth did not think she could talk. Her mind was filled with the memory of Darcy holding her and kissing her as if she was the most precious thing in the world. She could still feel the taste of his lips on hers. Every time she recalled how it felt, her heart gave another painful lurch.

  As they neared the inn, Elizabeth heard more voices approaching. It was not the same men as before, but she still felt nervous.

  “Should we—“ she began.

  Darcy had anticipated her. He grabbed her hand in his and pulled her behind a tree.

  “Can you think of another way to convince them to leave us alone?” he whispered as he bent his head towards her. Elizabeth’s heart pounded.

  “Nothing at all. I am all out of ideas.”

  “As am I.”

  This time, Elizabeth returned his kiss just as eagerly. She was vaguely aware of the voices passing them by, pausing to jeer and shout suggestions at Darcy. She was even vaguely aware that one of them called that he should be allowed a chance with her, but she was so lost in Darcy’s kiss that it was nothing more than an irritating fly.

  By the time the voices had passed, and Darcy released her again, sometime later, Elizabeth’s legs trembled. Her lips felt full and swollen. Darcy stared down at her as if she was some rare jewel, and he was almost afraid to let her go.

  “Come,” he said gruffly. “We must go.”

  They had not gone very far when two figures stepped around a bend in the path before Darcy and Elizabeth had time to realise they were there. Elizabeth recognised one as the man who had stared at her the first time she and Darcy had kissed.

  The other was a face Elizabeth had hoped never to see again.

  Lawson’s smile broadened. “Good afternoon Miss Bennet. Mr Darcy. What an unexpected pleasure.”

  Darcy’s voice was a low growl. “Do not take a step towards her, or it will be your last.”

  Lawson smiled and jerked his head at his companion. “Cooper, why don’t you return to the inn and invite Farlow to join us?”

  Cooper laughed. “This is the couple you told me about? Well, I call this a piece of fine luck.” He looked Elizabeth up and down. “Why don’t I invite the lady to join me at the inn instead?” He took a step towards Elizabeth. Before he could lay a hand on her, Darcy released his fist, sending Cooper plummeting back. Lawson pulled out his pistol and aimed it at him. Elizabeth cried out and tried to grab Darcy’s arm, attempting to place herself between the two men, but Darcy held her back.

  “Still as in love as ever, I see. I am glad to hear it.” Though he smirked, the look he levelled at Elizabeth was long, almost sad.

  “Just let us go,” Elizabeth pleaded. “Please, Lawson.”

  Lawson gave her another long look, then his expression softened. “I will let you go,” he said finally.

  Darcy nodded at once while Elizabeth looked at him in horror.

  “Yes, let Elizabeth go.”

  “No, I am not leaving.”

  “Yes, you are. Elizabeth, you need to return home. Lawson, I need your assurance that Elizabeth will reach Meryton in safety.”

  “You have my word.”

  “Not good enough. I want to see for myself you will return her home. You can take me wherever you like after that.”

  “I am not leaving you.”

  “Elizabeth—“

  Lawson took a step towards Elizabeth to stop her as she clung to Darcy’s arm. Elizabeth turned at once and hit him in the face. More from surprise than pain, Lawson staggered backwards, dropping his pistol. But before Darcy could grab it, Cooper lunged for it and rose to his feet, aiming it at them.

  “I have a better idea,” he told Lawson. “I will take her, and you can have him.”

  “You will not take her,” Darcy snarled even as Lawson snapped, “Out of the question.”

  Cooper shrugged. “Then she is not much use to either of us. Let’s just get rid of her now, and I have a feeling just dealing with him alone will be much less trouble.”

  He raised the pistol and aimed it at Elizabeth, his finger squeezing. Darcy immediately moved in front of Elizabeth, just as the shot fired. Elizabeth screamed, but it was Lawson who fell to the ground as he jumped forward to take the gun from his accomplice. Cooper was momentarily frozen with confusion, but that moment was long enough for Darcy to lunge forward and tear the gun from his hand. Before he could lay his hands on Cooper, the other man took off, running deeper into the forest.

  Elizabeth dropped to her knees and placed her hand on Lawson’s arm. He rolled over with a groan. The pellet had gone through his shoulder. Elizabeth trembled with relief.

  “Elizabeth,” he murmured.

  “How is he?” Darcy dropped to his heels beside them.

  “Alive. And awake.”

  Lawson tried to rise to his feet. Elizabeth backed away from him, prepared for him to reach for her. He doubled over, panting to catch his breath, while Elizabeth and Darcy watched him warily. He held up his good hand as a peace offering.

  “I will not try anything,” he said, his voice weak.

  “You will forgive our lack of trust,” said Darcy dryly.

  Lawson gave a quick grin. “Elizabeth — you are alright?”

  “I am. Why did you jump in front of me like that?”

  Lawson gave her a long look, his eyes glassy in his pale face.

  “I am sure Darcy can answer that question,” he murmured. He drew his hand from his shoulder. Elizabeth gasped. There was a lot of blood.

  “We need to help him,” she said.

  Darcy’s expression was grim, but to her relief, he nodded. “I suppose we must.�
��

  “Do not put yourself out on my account,” said Lawson.

  “What should we do with you? Where should we take you?”

  “I don’t suppose I could persuade you to take me to the inn?” Lawson asked with a tired smile. Sweat gleamed on his face. Elizabeth bit her lip with worry. At Darcy’s cold-faced response, he relented.

  “There is a cottage near here. I keep supplies there sometimes. If you can assist me in getting there, you can be on your way. I will not trouble you anymore.”

  Darcy did not look thrilled at the new plan, but he nodded and pulled Lawson’s good arm around his neck. Elizabeth led the way as Lawson called out directions.

  22

  After about half an hour, they reached a small cottage, tucked back among the trees. Elizabeth hesitated as she drew near it.

  “No one knows of it but me,” Lawson called. “No one else will be here. The door is open.”

  Elizabeth looked behind at the two men. Lawson’s face was a shade of green, and his hair was matted on his damp forehead. He would need help fast, or he would not survive. Elizabeth went into the cottage, and Darcy and Lawson followed.

  “Do you have medical equipment?” Elizabeth demanded as she looked around. It was more like a cabin where one could easily live, with cupboards built into the walls.

  “Over there,” Lawson pointed as Darcy lowered him to a mattress on the floor. Elizabeth hurried and found bandages and alcohol and pliers.

  “You have been shot before I gather?” she said dryly as she carried the equipment over.

  Lawson’s smile was tired. “Of course. One cannot be too careful in my line of work.”

  “Good. Then you will know what to do. I have no experience in extracting pellets.”

  “A lady’s accomplishments are lacking in very important areas.”

  “And yet you will be grateful when years of needlework allows me to close this up.”

  Darcy put alcohol on the wound as Lawson hissed and swore. When the pain subsided, he shot an apologetic look at Elizabeth. If the situation had not been so dreadful, Elizabeth would have been amused at the inconsistency of a man who kidnapped her and threatened her, drawing the line at swearing before her. She lifted the pliers, but she found she could not do it as she drew it near his flesh. Darcy took it from her. To her surprise, he suggested she hold Lawson’s hand while he worked. Lawson immediately wrapped his fingers around Elizabeth’s.

  “This will hurt,” Darcy warned.

  “I am aware,” said Lawson. Yet he still hissed and arched as Darcy worked, stopping every so often as he struggled to master the pain. At such times, he would turn and fix his eyes on Elizabeth’s face as if the sight of her comforted him. Though Elizabeth wanted to look away, she found it impossible. She reached out her hand to caress Lawson’s forehead, brushing his untidy hair from his face. Lawson gritted his teeth as Darcy carefully plunged deeper.

  “I almost have it,” he said. “I can see it.”

  “Not too much longer now,” said Elizabeth in a soothing voice.

  Lawson’s smile was weak. “I would remark on the comfort it brings me to have such a nurse, but it would not be wise to do while your young man is rooting around in my flesh.”

  “Not wise at all,” said Darcy bluntly.

  “As long as you can still flirt and make inappropriate jokes, I am convinced there is not much wrong with you at all,” said Elizabeth.

  “Then I will not say it was almost worth the pellet.”

  Darcy and Elizabeth’s eyes met over his head. Darcy shook his head and returned to his work. His white shirt was covered in blood now. Anyone who saw him would believe him a murderer.

  “I have it,” he said tightly. “Hold on because this will be painful.”

  Lawson shifted and moved his hand, so Elizabeth’s rested inside his. He drew a deep breath. At that moment, he looked so vulnerable and so far from the man who had threatened them that Elizabeth reached out again to brush the hair from his damp forehead to comfort him. She wrapped her other hand around his, and his mouth quirked in a grateful smile, though his eyes betrayed his nerves.

  “Ready?” Darcy asked. Elizabeth glanced across. His eyes were fixed on Lawson’s face. His grimness had subsided, and his eyes softened with concern.

  “I’m ready,” said Lawson tightly. He jerked his head in a nod, keeping his eyes on Elizabeth. She gave him a comforting smile.

  Darcy pulled sharply. Lawson arched his back, a hiss escaping between his teeth.

  “Got it,” said Darcy. He held up the pellet between the pliers.

  “Thank you,” said Lawson faintly. Elizabeth looked at him with concern. His face was green, and a damp sheen gleamed on his skin. She tried to pull her hand free so she could tend to the wound, but Lawson would not release her. Darcy applied alcohol and cleaned the wound as best he could then looked at Elizabeth.

  “Lawson, you must let me go,” she said softly. “I need to close the wound.”

  Lawson’s eyes fluttered open. He looked so helpless, Elizabeth’s heart lurched. He looked like a small boy.

  “How about I hold your head on my lap while I work?” she offered. “It will make it easier for me to see what I am doing, anyway.”

  Lawson smiled and released her hand. Elizabeth moved around so that Lawson’s head was cushioned on her lap, and she carefully set to work on sewing the wound. It was unpleasant work, and she frequently had to turn her head to one side and draw a breath to control her nausea. Darcy, whose face was set and grim again at the sight of Lawson’s head on Elizabeth’s lap, observed her with concern, but she shook her head at him to show him she was well.

  “I think I have done it as well as I can,” she said as she peered forward to examine her work. “I am no nurse, but that should hold until it is healed.”

  “He is asleep,” said Darcy. “Or unconscious.”

  Elizabeth leaned forward to look. His face was still pale, but his breathing was easier, and his skin was dry.

  “Sleep might be the best thing for him,” she observed. She looked up at Darcy. “What are we going to do? We cannot leave him here.”

  Darcy sighed. “I know. He would deserve it if we did, but I know we cannot. Let us see how he is when he wakes up, and we will know what to do.”

  Elizabeth gently eased Lawson’s head onto the mattress. He murmured in his sleep and reached for her, but she stood back.

  “It is odd that he saved me,” she said. “I never would have thought him capable of chivalry.”

  Darcy released a soft bark of laughter. Elizabeth looked up indignantly.

  “What are you laughing at?”

  “You enjoy studying characters, and you are one of the most intelligent women I know. But you are utterly oblivious to the signs that a man is in love with you.” He shook his head, not looking at her. “Completely oblivious,” he added in a quieter tone.

  Elizabeth blinked, then frowned. “In love with me? He cannot be. What man kidnaps and holds captive a woman he loves?”

  “A man who did not consider the possibility that he would fall in love,” said Darcy. “It is not something one can plan for.” He sat on an upturned crate and leaned his back against the rocky wall. “One can have all sorts of ideas about their life and who they will be with, and, before they know what has happened, they find themselves in love with someone they thought they would never look at.”

  That was true. If anyone had told Elizabeth she could fall in love with the proud, disagreeable Darcy, she should have laughed at them and declared them quite mad. And now look at her.

  “If he is in love with me, then I feel for him,” she said. “I hope the impact will be of short duration.”

  Darcy shrugged. “I hope so too, but I think it unlikely. But do not feel too sorry for him. Many before have experienced hopeless love, and many will after us. And there is nothing one can do but to manage it as best one can.”

  Elizabeth did not know what to say to that. She sat on another crat
e and rested her chin on her hand as she watched their patient.

  “I suppose this means we must forgive him,” she said.

  “You can forgive him if you like. I would say protecting you when he is the reason you were endangered in the first place was the least he could do.”

  “You are ungracious.”

  “I do not know how to feel. On the one hand, how can I be anything other than grateful to the man who saved your life? On the other, how can I not feel rage that he put you in this situation?”

  “You sound tormented, sir. You shall have to write a poem to resolve your conflicted feelings.”

  Darcy smiled. “I recall you once saying a good sonnet could starve a blossoming love.”

  “Yes, I did. And I stand by it.” She glanced at Lawson. “Perhaps that will help him. I will write him a terrible poem, and he will be so horrified that any feelings he thinks he has for me will fade away into nothingness.”

  “I think it will take more than that.”

  Darcy and Elizabeth watched Lawson sleep, Elizabeth anxiously assessing the rise and fall of his breath. She touched his cheek with the back of her hand. His skin felt cooler. Elizabeth could only hope that was a good sign. When she returned to Longbourn, she was resolved to spend much more time in the stillroom and learn what she could about various ailments.

  “Sleep is what he needs,” said Darcy as he watched her. “It will do him much more good than being awake and moving around.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I do not suppose we will leave here tonight.”

  “It is late anyway. We would have made it only a little further before we needed to sleep. You should lie down for a while. I will stay awake.”

  “You still do not trust him?”

  “It was not too many hours ago when he tried to take me away and led to you almost being shot. No, I do not trust him. I never will.”

  Elizabeth looked around the cottage. There was only one mattress and nothing else comfortable to sleep on. Darcy settled on the floor with his back to the wall.