A Life Apart
Page 1
A Life Apart
Darcy may have been forced to marry Elizabeth Bennet — but nobody could force him to live with her
Enraged at the Bennet family's manipulation, Darcy takes his new wife to Pemberley and leaves her there. He returns to London, with every intention of making his life apart from her.
But as time goes on, he cannot avoid the feeling that he has left something very special in Derbyshire. Perhaps it is not just Pemberley he misses?
Estranged from her family, and now trapped in a marriage she never wanted, Elizabeth must make her new life alone. With her husband's family against her, she needs to take drastic measures if she is to find a way through this.
The only question is, does she want to escape from Mr. Darcy, or to him?
Can a family's betrayal ever be forgiven? And when a marriage starts without love, can love ever be found?
A Life Apart
Harriet Knowles
Copyright © 2018 by Harriet Knowles
All rights reserved.
This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental.
This book is set in Regency England. It is written by an English author, using British English words and spelling.
Edited by JW Services
Proofreading by Mystique Editing
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Harriet Knowles
Chapter 1
Darcy reined the animal to his left and galloped for the woods. He leaned forward along its neck and spurred it faster.
Hertfordshire was nothing to the wild beauty of his beloved Derbyshire, of course, but it was quite pleasant having some new rides to explore and this horse of Bingley’s was a responsive and pleasant mount.
It slowed as they reached the woods and he turned up the path leading higher. Soon the path narrowed more, and he dropped to a walk as they pushed along the track.
He stopped at the brow of the hill before moving on down towards the next valley. He had time to try this side of the slope before working round the roads to be back at Netherfield in time for dinner.
The track widened enough to begin to canter along, and Darcy had to keep a good lookout for tree roots, wheel ruts and large stones. He smiled, he enjoyed having to concentrate on things and being able to forget all his troubles.
He smiled wryly. Most people would think he could have no troubles at all, but he would swap some of his in a heartbeat. Georgiana, Lady Catherine — even Bingley’s infernal sister.
Women! He spurred the horse on. He wanted to forget it all.
Then he did. Every other thought left his head as he saw something move from the corner of his eye. His horse reared up and leaped sideways into the bushes at the side of the road, snorting with fear, and he was hard-pressed to stay in the saddle.
That would have been a fine to-do! To have to walk home ignominiously without his horse. Darcy scowled and looked round to see what had startled the grey.
A young woman was clinging to a tree for support, the skirt of her gown flapping round her legs. Dark hair, chalk-white face, her eyes wide with apprehension. He saw that her gown was torn round the hem — he could see her ankles and part of a shapely calf. He swallowed and looked away hastily.
“I am sorry, sir. Sorry that I startled your horse.” Her voice was light and educated.
He frowned. A quick glance back down showed him what he hadn’t seen before. A crude bandage made of the torn fabric from her gown bound her ankle. And she was still leaning against the tree.
He sighed, and looked further. There seemed to be no one else nearby. He dismounted, and checked the horse had calmed enough to leave it.
Then he looked at the young woman. “You seem to be injured, madam. Are you alone?” Perhaps she had sent her servant to get help. Then he could continue, get away and back to his life.
She put out a hand to keep him away. “I am all right, sir. Please go. I am making my way to the village and then I will send to my family.”
He had stopped when she put out her hand. “So no one knows you are here?”
She shook her head and winced. “I will be all right, sir. I am just taking it very slowly and all will be well.”
“Did you fall?” He looked down at her foot. Her shoe was missing and beneath the strips of rag he could see an extensive area of dark bruising.
She tried to laugh, but it seemed to him more of a whimper. “It was foolish of me. I climbed into the fork of a tree to read and I jumped down too carelessly.”
He looked more closely. “How did you get your shoe off? Your foot is very swollen.” He glanced at her face. “It must be very painful.”
She lifted her head, proudly. “It is nothing I cannot manage, sir. I thank you for your concern, but I will be all right.”
He nodded absently. The pallor of her face belied her words. She had a reasonably healthy colour — she must be out walking a lot, but underlying that she was white with pain.
He was surprised at himself, he didn’t normally notice small things about people.
“I see you have bound it up. Can you assure me that the bone is not broken? You must not put weight on it if that is the case.” He saw again her shapely calf below the torn gown and his heart lurched.
“I believe it might only be a bad bruise, sir. I refuse to be like my mother, who suffers much from every imagined pain.” The young lady tried to laugh off her discomfort, but he could see her breath catch.
“Would it be less painful for you if you sat down while you are resting?” He looked round, perhaps there’d be a fallen log, rather than the hard ground.
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, sir, but I have tried that. Getting up again negates all benefit from a rest, I have found.”
He had to smile wryly at her comment. She might be in pain, but he could see she had a lively spirit, even under these circumstances.
“I can see, however, that it is impossible for you to get further without putting weight on your injured foot, madam. That could be very dangerous. You must be aware of the risk.”
The expression on her face told him she knew of it. But her jaw snapped shut. “I will get back down, sir. I will. You must leave me now.”
As stubborn as she was enticing. He sighed. “I cannot leave you like this. You must know that, too.”
And she must know that if news of their meeting became public, it would be dangerous for both of them.
He approached her reluctantly. “Let me see if there is something I can do.”
Chapter 2
Obstinate man! She glared at him. “I am able to manage, sir! You must not become involved. You will be obliged and I would not do that to you!”
His eyes were dark and expressionless. “Then you’d be the first young lady who’d be concerned about that.” His frown showed he was determined and she sighed, leaning back against the rough bark. If he was determined, she wasn’t in any position to stop him.
She bit her lip as he knelt beside her to examine her foot more closely. A sudden and unexpected urge to tangle her hands in his hair made her clench her fists. Where had that thought come from?
He’d noticed her hands clench. “It must be very painful, madam. I cannot think but that walking further will cause perhaps permanent damage to your foot.”
Her heart sank. She had known it, of course. But his words seemed to underline the serious consequences she might suffer from all her life if she damaged her foot any more.
Perhaps it was already too late and she had taken her last long walk without pain. She blinked, she must not weep with him here.
“You said you would send to your family from the village. Where do they live, madam?” He rose to his feet and stepped back.
She glanced at him. “Longbourn. It is a small village just outside Meryton, sir. But I think it is too far. I will make my way to Shenley and the hack driver will take me home, or someone will go to my father and ask him to send the coach for me.” She watched him as he took in her words.
“You are a long way from home. How do you come to be so far?”
She smiled. “I like to take long walks. It is nothing to me to walk many miles each day. I love the countryside and know it all very well.”
He didn’t smile. “But you should at the very least have a servant with you, Miss … er …”
“Bennet,” she said, wondering if he’d introduce himself. He did not.
“Well, it cannot be helped. I will take you to Shenley and ensure you are driven home.”
She didn’t move. “I do not agree, sir! You must go. Leave me now and allow me the time to get there before dark. I will not have you be obliged to me for being gentlemanly.” She glanced at the horse. It seemed calm, but she’d seen it jump away into the trees when it saw her.
He saw her gaze. “You are shocked and shaken as well as injured, Miss Bennet. You should be at home as soon as possible.”
She bit her lip. The horse was very big. It was stupid, still being afraid of riding after that childhood fall. But she could not overcome it. “I have already told you I do not wish you to be obliged to me. This is a very small town, sir. If anyone sees you assisting me, we would both be in trouble.”
His jaw tightened, she knew he was well aware of the risk. “Well, then, I will assist you to the edge of the woods and leave you much closer to Shenley. Does that sound a suitable arrangement to solve our dilemma, Miss Bennet?”
She found herself smiling rather foolishly. She might be happy with that if it were not for the horse. It looked at her down its nose and she shuddered.
The gentleman glanced at it and then back at her. “If you do not want to ride, then I will have to carry you. But it will take longer.” He must have divined that she was fearful.
She clenched her jaw. “Riding will do very well, sir. But you must not be seen assisting me. I will not permit it.”
His reluctant smile startled her, sending a swooping feeling within her. “Then we are both agreed.”
He went to the horse and took the reins. He patted the animal and checked the girth before leading it over towards her.
He stopped a few feet away and looked at her carefully. “It is a good-natured animal, and I will lead him so you will be quite safe.”
She felt embarrassment heat her face. He had guessed she was afraid. “Thank you. I am sorry to be so silly, but — something happened when I was a child and …”
“Think nothing of it, Miss Bennet.” His voice was uncommonly gentle and she felt even more shaky than she had before. She had not the first idea how she was going to climb up onto the horse.
“I’m sorry the saddle is not really suitable.” The gentleman frowned in thought. “Your left foot, hmmm.” He turned the horse round, then before she could ask him why it was important, he was beside her.
“Excuse me, Miss Bennet.” His hands were on her waist before she could even think to prepare herself and he’d lifted her easily high into the saddle.
She gasped and grabbed at the pommel.
“There, Miss Bennet. I thought you would be better not thinking too much of it before I lifted you.” He looked at her appraisingly.
“If you can lift your right knee up over the pommel of the saddle there. Look, you can hold his mane.” He was close to her as he helped settle her into a safer position, and if her foot had not been sending waves of pain up her leg, she might have felt just as faint from his closeness.
“Thank you, sir.” She could not quite believe she was here, but she did feel quite secure, although she was sure it wouldn’t last once the horse moved.
“Do you feel faint?” he looked concerned. “You have gone very pale, Miss Bennet.”
She held herself together. “I am well, sir. We had better go. I am so sorry to have interrupted your ride.”
He shrugged at that, his face as impassive as it had been all along. “It cannot be helped. Now, hold on where I showed you.” He shook the rein and the horse began to walk, and he walked close alongside her.
He glanced up. “Not too bad?”
She smiled tensely. “I am all right, sir.” There was a burning heat where he’d lifted her, held her. She hoped he didn’t know the reaction she’d had to him, however observant he had appeared in other matters.
“You must not forget to leave me before we get to the village,” she said anxiously.
He was looking ahead now, satisfied she was securely seated. “Is this the best path to get you as close to the village as possible without being seen?”
She didn’t stop to think, she most certainly didn’t want to be on this horse a moment longer than she had to be. “Yes, sir. And I will not have to go too far before there is a house I might call at for assistance.”
He nodded without looking up at her. Already there seemed more distance between them, and she almost wanted to cry with missing their closeness. She shook her head. Such a foolish notion!
Chapter 3
He walked on, his face set. He didn’t see how he could have acted differently, but he was acutely aware of the risks inherent in his actions.
Dispassionately, he wondered how long she would be able to keep up the pretence of having made her own way home.
He would have to be careful to leave her further in the woods than he would really have wished. But he must not be seen with her. All his previous troubles would pale in comparison to this, if he should suffer the misfortune of discovery.
By now,
he was walking at the horse’s head, picking the best path for it not to jolt her too much.
He glanced back. Her face was set, determined. She had some courage, he would accord her that compliment, at least. The swelling and bruises he had seen were evidence of a very severe sprain, even if there was no broken bone.
He remembered back to the time his horse had fallen on him. His foot had looked just like that and he had found the pain excruciating. There was no way he could’ve borne any weight on it.
He shrugged. He hadn’t had to. Servants had been there and his wealth had protected him from any unnecessary pain until he’d been gently deposited at home under the care of the best physician who could be procured.
Miss Bennet, in contrast, had quite obviously had to effect her own bandaging and had begun to make her way down to obtain help. He had noticed the bandages were dirty on the bottom of her foot, so she had hobbled and limped some way.