by Linda Wells
A group of soldiers were just leaving the house and approached rapidly. Hurst stopped his mount and looked back at the others, then remained still as they caught up. Colonel Forster was leading the group and reined in. “Mr. Darcy, I see that you have recovered Miss Darcy. I had heard of the difficulties in the village. I was told that some of my men participated, and I wished to tender my apologies. Mr. Bennet told us of your sister’s flight and we were just on our way to be of aid. I can not express the relief we felt when you all emerged from the trees.” He saw the bruises to Elizabeth’s face and Darcy’s. “It seems that more has occurred here, however.”
Nodding, Darcy looked down at Elizabeth. “Miss Elizabeth followed my sister and when she found her, they were accosted by Wickham. Our search party came upon them in time.” Elizabeth met his steady gaze.
Colonel Forster listened with growing anger. “Where is Wickham now?”
Darcy lifted his jaw towards the woods. “He ran off and my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam gave chase. Lucas can show you the path they took; hopefully you will find them quickly.” John nodded and turning his horse, waited for the colonel to finish his conversation.
“It seems he did some damage before he fled.”
They each touched the other’s face. “He did but Elizabeth and I left our own marks upon him, and I can well imagine that if my cousin catches up to him, he will no longer be in a pristine condition.”
Colonel Forster’s brows rose. “Indeed? Miss Elizabeth, you defended yourself against the scourge?”
Before she could answer, Darcy smiled at her and said proudly, “She kept him talking and distracted him until help arrived. She struck him with a tree branch and resisted his advances, she duelled him with her wit as sharply as you could do with your blade.” His eyes were shining with his admiration and love.
Not to be outdone Elizabeth turned to the colonel. “I did those things, I admit, but Mr. Darcy leapt upon him when his cousin was clearly holding him back. He easily could have killed him, but acted as a gentleman, struck his opponent and when he was down, turned to care for me. I am exceedingly proud of him.”
Colonel Forster smiled at the two. “Well, I imagine he received his due from you both. You will make quite a fearsome couple.”
Darcy breathed deeply and nodded. “That we will.”
The colonel’s brow rose and he was glad to see such a good result come for the family. He turned to John. “Lead on Lucas.” They departed and were soon in the woods.
“I wish I could take you to Netherfield. I wish for us to be alone.” Darcy kissed her cheek and watched for her reaction.
“William, I would like nothing better than to be alone with you, not just now, but forever … but we have family anxiously waiting for our return … I fear we have no choice but to go to Longbourn.” Elizabeth stroked his cheek when he closed his eyes in denial.
“All I want to do is take you home to Pemberley, and never let you go again.”
Elizabeth smiled at his obvious unhappiness. “I think that should be something we speak to my father about. I want to go, too. I have had enough of waiting.” Darcy nodded and resigned, kicked the horse back into motion.
Mr. Bennet stood watching the slow progress of the two riders with increasing agitation that was only exacerbated by the endless cries and questions from his wife and daughters, and exclamations by Mr. Collins. “Why do they move so slowly?” Jane asked her father worriedly.
Mr. Bennet patted her hand. “I fear it indicates that Lizzy is injured. Do you see how Mr. Darcy holds her? Miss Darcy seems unwell, too.”
Darcy felt his chest tightening the closer they came to the house. It just brought him closer to the moment when Elizabeth would be whisked away from him. She could feel his tension. “Will, I … please do not leave me.”
“How did you know what I was thinking?” He leaned and stroked her lips gently. “I will do everything I can to remain with you.”
She embraced him and buried her face against his waistcoat. “I am being selfish. Georgiana will need you.” His only response was to increase his grip. He could feel that he was soon to be pulled in many directions, and regretted more fiercely than ever not taking her to Netherfield.
Hurst arrived first, and dismounted awkwardly. Between him and Mr. Bennet, they helped Georgiana down, and Mary came forward to take charge of her with Mrs. Bennet. Kitty and Lydia stood back, their questions silenced by first seeing her swollen eyes, then upon spotting Elizabeth and Darcy’s bruised faces.
“Lizzy!” Jane ran up to the horses and gasped at her sister’s appearance. Bingley quickly jumped down and hovered by her side. Darcy carefully dismounted and Elizabeth slipped into his waiting arms. He used his last seconds of privacy to tell her his feelings with one intense look. She nodded, returning his silent declaration. He slowly turned to face the family. Silence reigned until Mr. Bennet spoke. “Lizzy, Mr. Darcy, what happened?”
“Sir, perhaps it would be best to take Elizabeth inside, she requires care.”
“Of course, of course, it appears you do as well, sir.” He stepped aside and Darcy walked past him and followed Jane upstairs. Behind him he could hear Mrs. Bennet calling for bath water to be prepared. Entering Elizabeth’s bedchamber Darcy paused; and his mouth turned up slightly, seeing all of the feminine touches in his beloved’s room. Amongst the ribbons and combs and bottles of scented water belonging to a woman, were scattered the treasures of her childhood. Well-loved dolls and oddly shaped rocks, a sea shell, and bottles made of coloured glass. Elizabeth felt him relax the moment he entered her little sanctuary. The essence of lavender gently permeated the air and Darcy drank it in. “William?” Elizabeth was watching him. He gazed at her and his smile grew. He shook his head, it was something he could not explain, seeing her room made him realize how well-matched they were, and he could not wait to have the barren rooms of Pemberley filled with the evidence of her life.
Gently, he set her down on the bed. He knew he could no longer kiss her lips, no matter how much he wished for it. To distract himself he turned to Jane. “Miss Bennet; where is my sister?”
“She is with Mary in the guest room. I will see to her as soon as we have Lizzy settled.” Darcy nodded.
Elizabeth noticed Jane’s desire to care for her, and William’s unwillingness to leave. “William, perhaps my father’s valet can help you to clean up while I change. When I am finished, you can come and keep me company, we have much to discuss.” She squeezed the hand that had remained tightly gripping hers.
“Yes … I … forgive me. I am in your way …” He still would not let go. Elizabeth brought her free hand up to stroke the one that held hers. “You know that is not true. I do not wish to be parted from you either.” He smiled gratefully at her.
Mr. Bennet appeared. “Sir, Mr. Hurst has left for Netherfield. He anticipates you staying here tonight and will return with a change of clothes for you and Miss Darcy. You are welcome to use my chambers.”
Darcy received another squeeze from Elizabeth and bent to kiss her cheek. “I will return soon.” He walked back out of the door and Jane closed it behind him. Mr. Bennet stopped him when he entered the hall. “When you are comfortable, I would like to hear just what happened today.”
Darcy met his eyes and bowed his head. “Yes sir.”
COLONEL FORSTER and Colonel Fitzwilliam sat in the tent that served as headquarters and sipped the whiskey that was poured out for them. “I suppose that the churchyard will take his body … unless you know of some relatives?”
“He was an only child, and his parents are gone. As far as I know, nobody would want him. Perhaps the local surgeon would like him for some practice.” Colonel Forster smiled then shook his head.
“Unbelievable. You know, I heard some of the gossip that was going around about Darcy, but I gave it no credence. I met the man, admittedly, he is not the most open person to know, but he is polite, and when I saw his sister, why she seemed shy, and perhaps nervous in company, but beate
n? No. I have seen what an abused child looks like. This girl seemed as if she would have gratefully hid in her brother’s tailcoat if he would let her.”
Richard laughed without a sound. “She has suffered a great deal.”
“So Wickham was the man who compromised her.”
Richard nodded. “Ran away with her. We found them in time.”
“Well, I see nothing to require any charges against you, sir. You were clearly pursuing the man who assaulted two of your cousins and his betrothed; you have witnesses in three prominent residents of the district, not to mention Mr. Darcy himself and Miss Elizabeth. I do not believe that any details concerning the attack upon Miss Elizabeth or Miss Darcy need to be given, nor of your cousin’s retribution upon Wickham. I will speak to the magistrate with my report, and that should be the end of it.” He met Richard’s eye. “It will be the end of it. I should have locked him up after you last visited.”
“You had to conduct your investigation; I can not fault you for following protocol.” He drained his glass and lifted the bottle to refill it, filling Colonel Forster’s in the process. He sat back and sighed. “My concern now lies with the destruction left behind. You say that you heard the rumours. May I ask how and when?”
Colonel Forster put his feet up on his desk and crossed his arms over his stomach. “I believe it was my wife who told me.” He nodded. “Yes, she had been invited to some tea or other in one of the local’s houses. Apparently it was all over Meryton on Sunday … Philips! Yes, Mrs. Philips was the woman.” He looked back at Richard who was frowning.
“Well, I suppose Mrs. Philips heard it all in town and was just repeating and likely embellishing what she learned. That does not help. I am sure that it all leads back to Wickham. He mentioned that he had help though. I wish that I knew who, and even what that meant.”
He watched Richard thinking. “Did he say why he acted as he did? Was it purely for revenge? Somehow I do not see Wickham as being a man to exert himself without a clear profit in mind.”
“Ah, I disagree with you there, sir. Revenge is very profitable if the goal is to see as much pain as possible inflicted.” Richard remembered months ago, Darcy’s agitated reaction to his beating Wickham, and how he was sure that he would find a way to hurt them terribly. Darcy was absolutely correct, Wickham found his way, and even admitted to it. The question was how long he would reach from beyond the grave to continue his plans. “Sir, if you could speak with your wife, and see if she knows where the rumours began … I just want to be sure this ends with Wickham’s death.” He stood and finished his drink. The colonel joined him and they shook hands.
“I will be happy to do what I can.”
LOUISA AND CAROLINE watched as Mrs. Annesley boarded the carriage to Longbourn. She was going to spend the night sitting with Georgiana. “Do you see Louisa? This is what comes of Mr. Darcy mixing with such people! He should have stayed with his own circle!”
“Caroline, when are you going to let this drop? Mr. Darcy is engaged to Miss Elizabeth and that is not going to change, and even if it did, he certainly would never offer for you.”
Caroline glared at her. “Who says that I want him?”
“Oh come off it, you can not fool me. His rejection of your advances has done nothing to cool your determination. I have watched you watching him. You only seem to have retreated, but I can tell you have an unending stream of ideas running through your mind. Leave the poor man be. Return to London and find some man to marry.”
“In the middle of winter? Nobody is there! And what is for me in London? I have no money until this spring! What would I do; sit in the parlour and drink tea?”
“I imagine that is what you will do wherever you are.” Their argument was interrupted by Bingley’s return. They watched as he mounted the steps, and heard him in the foyer, speaking to Hurst and removing his coat. Bingley’s voice rose in anger as he questioned the butler; and the sound of apologies was heard. He then appeared in the doorway and looked straight at Caroline. Her eyes darted around, searching his face.
“Charles, where is Mr. Darcy, and Miss Darcy, will they not be coming back?” Her distraction did not work. He was obviously angry, and it was directed at her.
“No, Caroline, they will remain at Longbourn, at least overnight. Miss Darcy is sleeping after taking a draught, and Darcy wishes to remain near Miss Elizabeth.”
Louisa glanced at her brother’s unusually angry eyes that were boring into Caroline’s. “How is Miss Elizabeth, Charles?”
His gaze did not change. “She is injured, but thankfully the physical damage should heal in time. But what she experienced will likely scar her forever. I know that what I saw will never leave me.”
Caroline could stand no more. “Charles, why do you stare at me so?”
He walked further into the room and stood directly in front of her with his arms crossed. “A letter for Mr. Darcy from Miss Elizabeth was delivered here yesterday. It was given to our butler. He tells me that you took it and promised to give it to Darcy. It was very important. Where is it, Caroline?”
She looked from his eyes to Hurst’s who was standing behind him, looking just as angry. “I … I gave it to his valet, he must have lost it.”
“Hurst spoke to Roberts, who said that he did not receive any letters for Darcy yesterday. Try again.” Bingley’s hands were balled into fists. She glanced at Louisa who was looking at her incredulously.
“I … I might have dropped it.” She looked down at her hands and twisted them together.
“Where, Caroline?”
“In the fire in the drawing room.” She whispered.
“Pardon me? You dropped a personal letter into the fire? Did you read it first?” Bingley was bellowing.
“No, I … I thought it was a love letter from that Miss Eliza, and … he did not need to read that sort of … I … how could it be that important?” She looked at him defiantly.
“I will tell you how it is important. Miss Elizabeth was asking Darcy if he felt it was safe for her to take Miss Darcy into town this morning. When he did not express an opinion not to go, she decided that he felt all would be well. This entire episode, the loss of a man’s life, the behaviour of Miss Darcy, the abuse I did witness of Miss Elizabeth, could all have been avoided if you had simply given Mr. Darcy his letter.” Bingley’s face was red, it was the angriest anyone had ever seen him. “I have had enough of you Caroline. You are no longer welcome in my home. You will go to London. You may stay at the townhouse until I can meet with the attorneys. You will receive your dowry, and then I will wash my hands of you.”
Caroline’s eyes opened in panic. “Charles, what are you saying?”
“I am saying that you will have to establish your own house. Perhaps one of our relatives will want you. I can no longer stand the sight of you.” He bowed to Louisa. “I am sorry that you had to witness this. If you and Hurst choose to take her in, that is your prerogative. I will not be visiting when she is in residence.” He turned on his heel and left the room to begin writing letters to the attorneys. Caroline watched him go in stunned silence, then spun to face her sister.
“Louisa, he can not do that! He is obligated to care for me!”
Hurst answered from the doorway. “He is, but it does not have to be under his roof. I imagine that his attorney will tell him that an establishment must be formed for you, and that your own apartments must be found, but once that is addressed, I am afraid you are on your own. You should settle in London, perhaps you will find a husband there, but at least you will be in walking distance to whatever you may need, since I doubt you will have a carriage at your disposal anymore.” Hurst nodded to Louisa. “And no dear, we will not be hosting your sister.” He turned and walked down the hall to join Bingley in his study.
“Louisa!” Caroline took her hands, but Louisa pulled away in disgust.
“Why, Caroline, why did you need to interfere in Mr. Darcy’s business?”
She sank onto a sofa and held her f
ace in her hands. “I was humiliated after his rejection. I hated knowing that he was in love. As long as he did not feel love, I thought I had a chance, that is why I tried to convince Mr. Lucas to compromise Miss Eliza, but that failed as well.”
Louisa sat down. “What do you mean about Mr. Lucas?”
“I approached him at the dinner at Lucas Lodge. I said that I was hoping to win Mr. Darcy, and it was fine until Miss Eliza stole him away. I knew that he wanted Miss Eliza, and suggested that if he compromised her …” She shook her head. “He must not have tried. I heard nothing of it, but I did notice he had a bruised jaw … but Mr. Darcy would never strike anyone.”
“Until today, it seems.”
“Because of me.” Caroline said morosely. She stood. “I should probably start packing for London.” Louisa made no move to go and help her, but sat and wondered about Mr. Lucas and his bruised jaw.
DARCY QUIETLY closed the door to the bedroom where Georgiana lay in peaceful slumber. He sat with her in Mary’s silent company until his thoughts of guilt and helplessness overcame him and he was driven to rise and seek out Elizabeth. He walked down the hallway and knocked lightly on the door. It opened to reveal Jane. “Miss Bennet, I …” He looked over her to see Elizabeth sitting by the fire drying her hair. He let out a small sigh and swallowed.
“Mr. Darcy, her bath took some time to accomplish, with her ankle, but as soon as her hair is dried, I will send someone to fetch you.” She smiled and patted his arm. “Do not fear sir, she is just as impatient to see you.” Darcy nodded and looking once more into the room, turned away.
Jane shut the door and sighed. “Lizzy, your Mr. Darcy has the most soulful eyes of any man I have ever seen.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Everything is in his eyes, I learned that very quickly.” She looked at the door. “Was that him?” Jane nodded. “Well why did you send him away? Call him back!”
“Lizzy! You are not dressed!” Jane admonished.
“Well it is not as if he has never …” Elizabeth saw Jane’s eyes widen and dart to Susie who was picking up the discarded clothes from the floor. Elizabeth blushed and beckoned her over. “Jane, Mr. Darcy will be staying tonight.” She met her eyes and stared at her meaningfully.
