Rescuing Elizabeth Bennet: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Beauford, Kate

  “Sleep beside me,” he said. “It is as comfortable as you will get here.”

  Elizabeth felt her cheeks flush. It was one thing to sleep in Darcy’s arms when they were both asleep. It was another to lie against him with another person in the room. But there was little point in being nice now after all they had been through. Besides, she wanted to.

  Darcy held out his arm, and Elizabeth nestled against his chest. He wrapped his arm around her and rested his chin on her head, then pulled the rug around both of them.

  “Comfortable?” he asked.

  “Very.”

  She felt Darcy smile against her head. “There is a lot to be said for this method of sleeping.”

  Though Elizabeth agreed heartily, she was too embarrassed to reply. She snuggled closer and lulled to the beat of Darcy’s heart and breathing, she soon fell asleep, feeling Darcy stroke her hair as she drifted away.

  23

  “Well, is this not a touching sight?”

  Elizabeth blinked, her body still heavy with sleep. The faint light of dawn filtered through the cottage window. Darcy’s arms were still around her, cradling her.

  “Good to see you awake, Lawson. I take it from the sarcastic tone that you are feeling much better?”

  Elizabeth stirred and opened her eyes, but she made no move to move away from Darcy.

  “Lawson,” she said sleepily. He stood before them, gingerly testing his arm. There was colour in his cheeks, or at least there seemed to be in the faint light. “How are you feeling?”

  “Much better. I suppose I should thank my two physicians.” He smirked down at them, once again looking devil may care. But his eyes lingered on them, noting the way Darcy held her and the way Elizabeth leaned into him, and just for a moment, a flicker of sadness went through them, only to be forced away by his broadening grin. “It will hurt for a while, but I am sure it will recover. And my old friend will regret his actions once I catch up with him.”

  “Murder? Is that what you want?”

  “You wound, my lady. Who said anything about murdering him?”

  Elizabeth sighed with relief until Lawson flashed her a wink. “There are worse punishments than death.”

  “What will you do now?” Darcy asked.

  “I still feel not quite together, so I will search for something to eat first and maybe spend the night here again. I will leave tomorrow.”

  “You need to eat,” said Elizabeth. “You lost a lot of blood. You will need to recover your strength.”

  “My congratulations, Darcy,” said Lawson. “You could not have a better wife.”

  “I know.”

  For a moment, Elizabeth wondered if word would ever reach Lawson that they had never married and never intended to. She shook the thought away and disentangled herself from Darcy.

  “What food do you have?” she asked. “We still have some provisions, so we can all share what we have.”

  Darcy and Lawson did not look inclined to break bread together, but Elizabeth did not intend to give them a choice. She and Darcy were both hungry, and she did not mean to have Lawson on her conscience once she left. She needed to know he would be alright.

  “I have some dried meats,” he said begrudgingly. “And hard biscuits. Things that will last. What do you have?”

  “Bread, some ham and cheese, eggs…”

  Lawson’s eyes brightened.

  “That will do.”

  If Darcy thought their bread and cheese was too good an exchange for some hard biscuits and leathery meats, he did not say so. Soon, the three odd companions were seated on the floor with the food between them. Both Darcy and Lawson seemed to compete with one another for who could tend to Elizabeth the best. Who found the choicest piece of ham or the biggest slice of bread to offer her. Elizabeth considered telling them off but decided against it. After all, it was far more civilised than a duel or a fight.

  After they had eaten, Elizabeth checked Lawson’s wound and applied a fresh dressing.

  “You will need to wash it again this evening,” she told him. “Keep it clean. Maybe do not sleep on any dirty mattresses.”

  Lawson’s eyes did not move from her face the entire time she worked.

  “You are leaving soon,” he said quietly, so only she could hear him.

  “We must. But you will be alright, will you not? I see no sign of infection, and as long as you keep it clean and covered, it should heal quickly.”

  “Oh yes, I will be alright. Physically, at least.” His eyes travelled over Elizabeth’s face as if committing every detail to memory. “I wish we had met in another way,” he said in a soft voice. “I wish I was something other than what I am. If we had met in different circumstances—“

  “They would have to be extremely different,” said Elizabeth with a smile.

  “And I would have to be extremely different.”

  Elizabeth did not agree, though, of course, he was right. He took her silence for agreement and sighed.

  “I have always told myself I would leave this line of work and live an honest life. But I have told myself that for years now, and nothing has changed. Perhaps it is too late to change.”

  “You cannot be more than five and twenty. Even if you were twenty or thirty years older, it would not be too late.”

  “If I had motivation. A woman like you to change for —“He smiled. “I suppose you will say I should do it because it is the right thing to do, not because I would hope to be rewarded by a woman.”

  “You suppose right.” Elizabeth carefully tightened the bandage.

  “It would be too late for such a reward, anyway. You have already met the man you will marry.”

  Elizabeth bent her head to her work and did not respond. Lawson looked towards the cottage door where Darcy had gone.

  “If he ever makes you unhappy,” he said quietly. “Even if you are married for years. You must tell me. I will come for you.”

  Elizabeth smiled. “You are very kind, but I do not think he will make me unhappy.” How could he when they would never see one another?

  Lawson sighed. “No, I do not believe he will, though I hate to admit it. Even I can see that the man loves you to distraction. He would do anything for you. And I will be generous enough to say I hope for your sake he always makes you happy, even if that is my loss. Do you see? I am becoming a saint already.”

  “I tremble before such an example of goodness,” said Elizabeth.

  How odd that Lawson should think Darcy loved her. If he did, surely he would jump at the chance to marry her. Their delicate situation would give him the excuse he would need to throw society’s expectations to one side, follow his heart, and even gain society’s approval in doing so. The fact that he did not told her he might have feelings for her, but he did not love her enough to pursue those feelings.

  “There. You are all done.” She tied the last part of the bandage and stood back to admire her handiwork. Lawson reached forward and grabbed her hand.

  “I am sorry for everything I did to you,” he said. “If I could undo it all, I would. I do not ask that you forgive me, but I hope you will not remember me too harshly.”

  Elizabeth searched his eyes. They seemed sincere and vulnerable, almost pleading.

  “I cannot say I forgive you just yet,” she said. “I shall have to see how I feel once I have had a bath and changed into clean clothes.”

  Lawson’s face had fallen at the first part of Elizabeth’s sentence, but by the end, he was smiling.

  “Thank you,” he said. He pressed her hand to his lips.

  A movement at the door called their attention to Darcy had returned. He looked to where Lawson held Elizabeth’s hand to his lips. His eyebrows quirked slightly, but he said nothing.

  “Are you happy to leave?” he asked.

  Elizabeth looked down at Lawson. She felt bereft to part with this man when only days before, all she could think about was how to get away from him.

  “You should leave,” he told her as i
f sensing her reluctance. “I will return to the inn soon. No one will bother you on your way. I give you my word.”

  “Thank you,” said Elizabeth. Even Darcy, who would once have scorned at the idea of Lawson’s word, added a gruff thanks. There was an odd sympathy in his eyes as he looked at Lawson still holding Elizabeth’s hand.

  Lawson shuffled painfully to the door to see them out.

  “There is a path through the woods you can take,” he said. “It is not wide enough for wagons or coaches, but because it is narrow, it can cut through most of the distance. It will take at least six hours off your journey.”

  He pointed it out and gave them instructions on how to follow it. When he finished, he dropped the hand he had used to point and looked at Elizabeth helplessly. On impulse, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his cheek. Lawson briefly closed his eyes, and when he opened them, they had a shuttered look to them. To Elizabeth’s surprise, Darcy offered him his hand. As the two men shook hands and wished one another well, Elizabeth reminded him of his desire to change. Lawson flashed his old grin.

  “We shall see,” he said. “Be off with you. I want to smoke, and I have become too much of a gentleman to do it when a lady is present.”

  Elizabeth and Darcy followed the trail he had shown them as it led up a hill further into the woods. She stopped before they turned a corner to look back one last time. Lawson leaned against a rock outside the cottage, watching them. He gave her a smile and a wink. Elizabeth nodded to him, then followed Darcy around the corner that took them out of sight.

  “He is a peculiar man,” said Darcy. “If he had chosen a different path, I think he could have been a very fine man.”

  “It is not too late,” said Elizabeth. “He may still choose another path.”

  Darcy gave her a long look, but he said nothing.

  The path they followed was a rough one carved from generations of feet. It was rougher than the main trail, but Darcy said he suspected Lawson was right, that it would take time from their journey as it could follow a more direct route that a road needed for wagons could not.

  “And so, tomorrow we will be home,” said Elizabeth.

  “Yes.” Darcy looked down at her. “You must be happy about that.”

  “Of course, I will be happy to see my family again.”

  “But you will be sorry the adventure is over?”

  Elizabeth sighed. “I suspect the real adventure will start when I am home and have to discover what the consequences of all this will be. I cannot imagine what people will say when they see me.”

  “You do not think your family will blame you?” Darcy looked concerned. “I cannot imagine your parents would be the type to punish you for what happened. They do not seem… well, that is to say…”

  Elizabeth smiled at his awkwardness. “You mean my parents do not seem concerned with their daughters’ doings?”

  Darcy cleared his throat. “I do not mean to offend you.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “I hope I am honest enough to own the truth about my family’s behaviour, even if I would rather not. But now, I do not speak of them. I am speaking of the people in the town. Not much happens there. The close we get to home, the more I worry about gossip. I hope it will not be serious.”

  Darcy nodded. “I hope so too, for your sake.”

  They spoke little as they walked. Now that the end of their journey loomed closer, they found it hard to talk. Elizabeth felt as if a large lump blocked her throat, preventing her from speaking. Darcy was also subdued.

  “You are very quiet,” Elizabeth observed after a while.

  Darcy smiled softly. “As are you. We have not exchanged a word in a few hours now.”

  “I suppose you are thinking of your sister?”

  Darcy hesitated. “Of course. She must be very worried by now. I shall be eager to put her mind to rest. And you? I suppose you are thinking of your own sister? Miss Bennet must be out of her mind with grief and worry.”

  Elizabeth realised with a guilty start that she had hardly given any thought to Jane in the past few days. Darcy had been the person to dominate her mind.

  “Yes, of course. I look forward to seeing the relief in her eyes when she sees me.”

  “Your father will also be the most affected, I think,” said Darcy. “I have often observed how close you are. He takes great pride in you.”

  Elizabeth smiled. Her father’s pride in her had always been something she cherished. It meant a lot to her that he singled her out for affectionate treatment when he was not inclined to such behaviour.

  “Yes, I suppose he does. He sees a lot of him in me.”

  “And you have other qualities I think he does not have, which he admires,” said Darcy. He looked down at Elizabeth, his eyes warm, though another emotion flickered there that Elizabeth could not place. “He is right to be proud of you. There is much to take pride in.”

  Elizabeth’s cheeks flushed. She thanked Darcy, though she looked about in confusion, not knowing where to rest her eyes. Darcy’s eyes lingered on her a while longer before he withdrew his gaze.

  24

  Elizabeth looked at the sky and sighed as the sun sank lower.

  “Our last night out here,” she said. “Tomorrow, I will be home. And you and I will return to our lives.”

  Darcy gave Elizabeth a long look, then nodded.

  “I suppose that is the way it will be,” he said.

  “It is the best way,” said Elizabeth.

  Darcy sighed and rubbed his bearded jaw.

  “I will remain away for two more days and return to London. If it is that important to you that no one knows we were together, I will think of a different story to explain my absence. Perhaps an issue with my family.” He levelled Elizabeth with a direct look. “People will still have their suspicions, you know. Both of us disappearing at the same time and then reappearing not long after one another. I am sure there will be talk.”

  Elizabeth rearranged the rug over her legs, avoiding Darcy’s eyes.

  “I do not doubt it,” she said. “But they will lose interest after a while. Some other topic will capture their attention, and people will all but forget we ever disappeared together.”

  “I do not think I will forget it.” Darcy’s voice was low and soft. Elizabeth swallowed a sudden lump in her throat.

  “Nor I,” she whispered. It was foolish that being at the end of their adventure should make her feel so emotional. Elizabeth could only suppose it was the effect of trying to stay calm for so long. Now, at the idea that it was almost over and she and Darcy would part company, she had a sudden urge to cry. She should be happy they would return to their normal lives apart from one another, yet she could not help feeling sad.

  “It will be strange to get used to not seeing you all the time,” Darcy added with an attempt at a smile. “I have grown so accustomed to your presence.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “I suppose it will not take long for us to forget those feelings. They are only natural, but they will pass.” Her voice trembled. She would miss Darcy. Parting from him would feel like losing something essential. And yet were such feelings not natural? After such an experience, of course, it was painful to separate from him. It meant nothing.

  “Yes, I suppose you are right.” Darcy plucked a small stone from the ground and tossed it between his hands, his eyes lost in thought. Elizabeth longed to ask him what he felt, but she could not. Her eyes stung with hot tears, and she discreetly wiped them away with the heel of her hands before Darcy could notice. What on earth was wrong with her? They should be rejoicing that this ordeal was almost over. And yet, she could take no pleasure in it.

  I will feel better once I am home, she told herself. Once I am with my family and have bathed and eaten a proper meal and slept in a bed, I will feel myself again. Darcy will too.

  “We should sleep,” said Darcy abruptly. “We will have a long day tomorrow.”

  Elizabeth nodded. Darcy moved the blankets to cover them both, and El
izabeth settled with her back to his chest as his arm went around her, holding her protectively. She would miss this. He had grown so familiar to her that it pained her to know this was the last time they would ever be together like this. Yet, she was sure Darcy would be horrified if she knew she would regret it. He had no desire to marry her. He might feel sad now, but he would be relieved once he was back in London and had escaped being forced to marry her. The thought made her sigh.

  “What is the matter?” Darcy’s voice was low.

  “Nothing,” said Elizabeth. Again, those hot tears pricked her eyes. “I do not know.” She wiped them away.

  Darcy withdrew his arm to lean upon his elbow and look down at her. When she tried to avert her face, he gently turned her, so she was looking at him. He used his thumb to wipe away her tears, his eyes softening. Then he pulled her against him as he lay back down, stroking her hair as she lay on his chest. He sighed as well.

  “Tomorrow will be difficult,” he said. “I am dreading it as well. But it shall pass for both of us.” His finger traced her cheek as Elizabeth’s tears subsided.

  “I know,” she said quietly. “We shall be as we were before. I suppose it is normal to miss someone one has shared such an experience with.”

  She heard the smile in Darcy’s voice. “I have little experience with this sort of thing, but I would imagine so. Neither of us wishes to be forced to marry the other, but of course, we are sad to part.”

  Elizabeth felt something brush the top of her hair, and she was sure it was his lips. She nestled closer to him, and he wrapped his arms tighter around her. She soon drifted off to sleep, not knowing that Darcy stayed awake for a long time, looking at the dying fire as he listened to her breathing.

  Elizabeth did not know how to feel about her emotional state when she woke the following day. She lifted her head to see Darcy was still asleep. He had quite long eyelashes for a man, and his beard suited him. If he were her husband, she might have persuaded him to keep the beard, no matter how dreadfully unfashionable it was. Darcy was handsome enough that it might lead to a new fashion among gentlemen. Elizabeth smiled at the thought, but it faded when she recollected that Darcy would never be her husband. He had made it clear he had no desire to be forced to marry her. How was it possible that a man who had cheated another in such a manner could prove so kind, so brave and thoughtful? Never would she have suspected him of having those qualities. She knew her heart should not be drawn to him, and yet it was.