by Ola Wegner
“Do you realize what you have done?” she questioned him. “You kidnapped the wife of the magistrate. You will be hanged, as well as the rest of your accomplices.”
“Oh, no, Mrs Darcy. I will receive what I have always deserved to have. I will take Darcy’s gold and live comfortably in some faraway part of the world.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “You are utterly insane.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Watch your tongue.”
She lifted her chin high. “Will you leave me alone?”
“As is your wish,” he said. “I have every intention to take good care of you.”
Both men left the room. They locked the door. Elizabeth dropped onto the narrow bed. Mr Wickham stood behind this? What a shocking revelation it was! If he was friends with Joe, then perhaps he was also responsible for the stolen horse?
She looked at the tray. She took a slice of bread and began to eat. It was fresh and tasty. She had no intention to starve herself. She had to think of her child. She drank some milk then she tended to her necessities behind the screen. As she lay down on the bed, she felt her baby kicking.
“Shush, little one. Your papa shall find us soon.”
As she lay down on the bed, she stared at the water-stained ceiling. Fitzwilliam was surely going crazy worrying about her. Poor man.
***
Mary Drew walked through the halls of Pemberley. The house was unusually quiet. There were no pianoforte sounds coming from the music room. Her mistress’s laughter was not heard from the library. Her master’s baritone did not carry out throughout the rooms.
Mary also felt out of her usual place. Her lady was gone and there was not much for her to do. The reason behind this unusual mood at Pemberley was truly horrifying. Mrs Darcy had been taken away by some outlaws who demanded gold from Mr Darcy in exchange for her safe return.
Many times Mary had heard stories of highwaymen whose sole occupation was robbery, especially halting the vehicles and taking money and jewellery from the travellers. Never before had she heard about kidnapping of wealthy people. Perhaps it was possible in London, but not here, not in Derbyshire. The world could be a very scary place.
Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam were gone for most of the day. Miss Georgiana was hidden in her room. Below the stairs there was only one subject discussed. Mary could not listen calmly to all the nonsense. The staff could invent the most ridiculous stories. Some of them believed that Mrs Darcy was taken by French troops; others thought that those were highwaymen from Scotland. Only the presence of Mrs Reynolds could stop them from gossiping.
Mary stepped out of the house and into the courtyard. It was a cloudy day, but it was not raining. She closed her eyes and inhaled fresh air.
She heard the heavy footsteps on the cobblestones. She did not turn to see who it was. She did not wish to talk to anyone.
“Mrs Drew.”
Hearing the man’s voice, she instantly knew who it was. As she opened her eyes, she could see Mr Harrison coming to stand in front of her.
“Mr Harrison, welcome,” she greeted him.
“I came with my men to offer my help. We heard of what happened.”
Mary shook her head, her sad eyes looking up to rest on the man’s face. “I cannot believe it. Poor Mrs Darcy.”
“All will be well,” he attempted to reassure her. “They will find her.”
Mary nodded her head. “Mr Darcy is away, but you can speak with the steward, Mr Pierson, who is in the study. He will tell you how you can help.”
He nodded. “Thank you, Mary.”
She watched as he entered the house. The way he spoke her name moved something deeply within her. She sighed. She wished to forget about him and his proposal. It was rather difficult to do it when she saw him every few weeks.
Chapter Twenty- Two
During her short imprisonment, Elizabeth disliked the most being enclosed in the small space. As she woke up after the first night spent on the farm, she felt deeply upset at the thought that she would not be able to leave even for a short moment to enjoy some fresh air. When Joe brought her a modest breakfast, she demanded books. A few hours later she was delivered an old newspaper. She had read it twice by the evening.
Elizabeth listened carefully to the sounds coming from the main room of the cottage. She was certain that for most of the day she was alone with Joe. Closer to evening, Wickham returned. She was able to hear his voice quite clearly, but she could not make out the exact words.
She prayed to be found soon. Even though she did not wish to admit it to herself, she was becoming more and more afraid, her spirits falling rapidly. Were she not discovered in time, would she be forced to give birth here?
She could not fall asleep. She prayed to God to allow her to leave this place safely.
Somewhere in the middle of the night she heard the sounds of a commotion. She sat wide-eyed in the darkness, listening. After a longer while she heard someone opening the door. She rose from the bed and ran behind the screen to hide there.
Someone entered the room. Elizabeth curled herself in her corner as much as her enlarged midsection could allow her.
“Mrs Darcy?” the somehow familiar voice whispered. “Mrs Darcy? Are you there? It is I, George Percy.”
Elizabeth stepped from behind the curtain.
Indeed there he was. The Earl of Northumberland stood right there in front of her, holding a small candle in his hand.
“I came for you, Mrs Darcy.”
“Is it truly you?” she questioned. Was she dreaming? Was it truly him?
“We must hurry, Mrs Darcy,” he insisted. “There is no time to lose. Wickham might have accomplices.”
They left the small room which had been her prison for the last two days. The main chamber was dimly lit by several candles and a dying fireplace. Wickham and Joe were lying on the floor, their hands and legs tied up with a rope.
“What happened to them?” Elizabeth asked.
“It helped that they were already drunk,” the earl explained. “My coachman and I knocked them down. They should not be able to free themselves unless someone helps them. Come, Mrs Darcy. We should not hinder here.”
They walked outside. Elizabeth inhaled the fresh night air. She looked up. There was a full moon. They should have little trouble reaching Pemberley.
“Let us go, Mrs Darcy,” he hurried her.
The carriage was awaiting them only a few yards away from the cottage. The earl helped her inside the box. Elizabeth settled herself comfortably on the velvet seat and they were already moving.
“How did you find me?” she questioned him.
“I have known Wickham for a long time,” he revealed. “I am not certain if Darcy mentioned this to you, but he and I went to school together with Wickham as well as Darcy.”
Elizabeth nodded. “I am aware that my later father-in-law financed Wickham’s education, hoping for him to begin a career in a church.”
The Earl of Northumberland chuckled his merriment. “Wickham as a clergyman? That would be a pure aberration.”
“Were you in contact with Wickham all those years after finishing your education?” she asked.
The earl cleared his throat. Elizabeth could barely see his face in the darkness, but she thought that he was embarrassed.
“When we were very young, Wickham appeared quite a good companion. He lacked the inhibitions your husband had. We spent many nights entertaining ourselves in London. However, as the years passed, I grew rather tired of those kinds of social gatherings. Moreover, my family demanded my attention at home.”
“I see,” Elizabeth said diplomatically. She had no intention of lecturing the man who had just rescued her.
“On my way from Scotland, I stopped in Matlock. There I heard the news about what happened at Pemberley. It upset me greatly, as I remembered you very fondly. I decided to change my plans and go to Pemberley to offer my help. I saw Wickham drinking at the inn where I took residence. I wanted to ignore his pr
esence, but something told me to join him. We drank for a few hours, or rather he drank and I listened.”
“I cannot believe that he simply revealed to you that it was him who took me!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“He did not. However, he did say something which made me realize that he might have something to do with this nasty affair. He mentioned to me how unfair fate was for making him the son of a lowly steward while Darcy was the heir to Pemberley. He added that the time had come for him to change it and reclaim what should be rightfully his.”
Elizabeth listened, utterly enthralled by his tale. “What happened later?”
“I told him that I needed to retire early because I had to continue my journey the next day. I did not retire, though—I watched him from afar. When he left, I followed him to the cottage where I found you. I was not certain that you were there, but I decided to return with the carriage and my man.”
“I am so very thankful that you did,” Elizabeth spoke with feeling. “I abhorred being closed in that place.”
“I am most pleased that I could help you, Mrs Darcy,” he said.
“And I will be forever grateful to you,” she assured him. “You have a friend in me. I know that it is not much, but I will always help you in the future if you need my assistance in anything, anything at all.”
“Anyone would do what I did, Mrs Darcy,” the earl said modestly.
It was dawn when they reached Pemberley. When Elizabeth saw the house glowing in the first rays of sunlight, she began to cry. All the emotions which she hid within herself for the last days emerged to the surface.
The Earl of Northumberland attempted to reassure her by offering her his handkerchief and gently patting her back.
As their carriage stopped in front of the front entrance, Elizabeth could barely stand on her own feet. She was very tired.
The door was closed. The earl had to bang on it for quite a while before it was opened. Despite her exhaustion, Elizabeth vividly remembered Darcy’s arms around her, keeping her closely to him. She was at home. She was safe.
***
Elizabeth opened her eyes to the sight of a high ceiling, beautifully embellished with an intricate design of Italian stucco.
She breathed out in relief. She was home. The memories of the last night was slowly returning to her.
She threw the covers away and shifted off the bed. She was in dire need of a bath and breakfast. As she whiffed the smell coming from her, she decided that a bath should come first.
“Drew!” she called out, her voice raspy. “Drew!” she repeated.
“My lady!” The maid ran into the room. “You have awakened. We all have been so very worried about you.”
Elizabeth smiled at her. “Good morning, Drew.”
“Good morning, Mrs Darcy,” the woman answered, tears brimming her eyes as she looked at her employer.
Elizabeth found herself truly touched by Drew’s concern over her person. “I wish to take a bath,” she announced.
“The maids are keeping the water hot, thus it should be ready in no time. I expected that you should be waking up soon.”
Elizabeth scratched her tangled hair in a rather undignified manner. “What time is it?”
“Four in the afternoon.”
“So late. I cannot believe that I slept for the entire day.”
“Master ordered not to wake you,” Drew said.
“Where is Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked.
“As soon as he knew that you were well and resting, he travelled to Matlock together with Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
He went to get Wickham, Elizabeth thought. “What about the Earl of Northumberland?”
“He joined Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
“I see,” Elizabeth said. She imagined how tired the earl had to be after the sleepless night. It was understandable that he had gone. Only he and she could lead the way to Wickham’s cottage.
A short while later, Elizabeth was taking her bath. Drew washed her hair, massaging her scalp, which Elizabeth enjoyed very much. She listened to Drew, who told everything which had happened at Pemberley for the last two days. It appeared that everyone was very much concerned about her disappearance.
As Elizabeth was enjoying her breakfast, Georgiana entered the sitting room.
“Lizzy!” The girl ran to her, embracing her. “I have been so very worried,” she revealed.
“I am well, Georgie, I am truly well,” Elizabeth assured her. “I will remember it as an adventure of sorts.” Elizabeth attempted to give her voice a light tone, but she still remembered vividly how scared she had been last night before she found out that it had been Earl of Northumberland and not someone else entering the room.
“Brother was very anxious over your disappearance. I have never seen him acting as such.”
Elizabeth smiled encouragingly. “It is all in the past.”
Georgiana hesitated for a little while before asking, “Lizzy, it is true that it was Mr Wickham who stood behind all this?”
“Yes, it is.”
“He is such a horrible man,” the girl said quietly.
“He certainly is,” Elizabeth agreed. She reached to touch Georgiana’s hand. “We shall not see him anymore. He will pay for all the wrongs he has ever done.”
Georgiana looked up at her, her blue eyes filled with emotion. “I know that Brother shall make him pay.” Her gaze rested on the variety of food on the table. “You should eat, Lizzy. My nephew or niece requires much nourishment, I believe.”
“Only if you join me,” Elizabeth said, reaching for another croissant.
It was truly marvellous to enjoy a meal with Georgiana in the privacy of their home.
***
Darcy did not return that day. Elizabeth waited for him, but at eleven in the evening she found herself fast asleep. She was still exhausted even though she had slept for most of the day.
The following morning, she woke at the usual hour. After breakfast, she went downstairs. She wished to resume her usual routine. On her way to the library, she encountered Mrs Reynolds, who at her sight began to cry. Elizabeth attempted to comfort the housekeeper, assuring her that she was well, but it was nearly impossible. Mrs Reynolds had to excuse herself, as she could not contain her emotions.
Elizabeth entered the library. As she gazed at the floor-to-ceiling bookcases, a feeling of peace and security overpowered her. She walked to her desk, where as usual a sizeable pile of correspondence was awaiting her. She took the first letter, smiling at her name written on top of it. Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley, Derbyshire. It was her place in life, her home. She did not wish to be anywhere else.
“Elizabeth!”
She dropped the letter and turned her head. There was her husband, standing in the doorway. He was unshaved and dirty, his attire wrinkled, his boots muddy. She had never seen him in a state of such disarray.
She welcomed with him with a bright smile. “Fitzwilliam!” she exclaimed.
As he took her into his arms, she viewed with concern his face. There were grey hairs in his thick, dark mane of curls which had not been there before.
“Are you well?” he asked, staring into her eyes, his hands seemingly examining every piece of her.
“I am well.”
He frowned. “Did he harm you?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “He did not even touch me. I talked with him only once and very shortly. It was Joe who brought me food and communicated with me.”
He pulled her close, keeping her to him tightly, murmuring something which she could not understand.
“I failed you,” he said as they separated. “I did not protect you.”
She put her hands on both of his cheeks. “I refuse to listen to such nonsense, Fitzwilliam Darcy. You could have not prevented it.”
“It will be difficult for me to forgive myself,” he confessed.
She smiled. “I will help you.”
His hands rested on her belly. “How is the babe?”
“In perfect condition, judging by the way it is kicking.”
He drew her back into his arms, acting as if he had no intention to ever let her go.
“Have you returned alone?” she asked, pulling away from him after a while. “Where is Colonel Fitzwilliam?”
“Richard is escorting the scoundrel to London.”
“London?”
Darcy nodded. “Wickham will be judged there. In order to involve both the army and militia into the search, we had to inform the Lord Chancellor about what had transpired. He was greatly upset by the entire affair. I do believe that they want to judge Wickham in London to make an example of him. It is not acceptable in England to kidnap a noblewoman from her home, demanding ransom for her.”
“What will happen to him?”
“He will be hanged.”
She frowned. “I thought that he would,” she said quietly, her expression troubled.
“You do not regret that, do you?”
“I do not wish for anyone to die because of me. I thought that perhaps he could be sent to a penal colony in Australia, for instance.”
“Only Wickham is to be blamed over the life path which he has chosen.”
“What about the Earl of Northumberland?” she asked, changing the topic.
“He returned with me. I do believe that Georgiana is keeping him company in the drawing room.”
An impish smile came onto Elizabeth’s face. “You left him alone with your sister? What about your many objections to his person?”
“I will be in Percy’s debt for the rest of my life,” Darcy said, his voice serious. “I will never repay him. I invited him to stay with us for some time. I hope that you do not mind.”
“Of course that I do not mind.”
“I do admit that I misjudged him.”
“What a change, Mr Darcy,” she teased.
“He rescued you. I am nothing without you, Elizabeth Darcy, nothing.”
Elizabeth closed her eyes, placing her head on his chest. She was safe. She knew that it would take her a while to forget completely about this unfortunate affair. Nevertheless, it helped her appreciate even more what she had.
