Reaching a clear creek running through the landscape, Darcy knelt painfully and drank his fill. The creek also provided a means to free his hands. Placing them in the chilly water, Darcy soaked the leather strap until it stretched enough to free one hand. He quickly untied the leather from the other before it dried again and shrunk tighter against his skin.
Rubbing feeling into his arms, Darcy surveyed the surrounding tree line.
“Another victory. Another challenge,” he declared to bolster his resolve.
With that, he set out again. Darcy’s trek was slower than he anticipated. Even after he discovered a sturdy branch to use as a staff, his gate remained painfully slow. He ate berries he recognized as safe, using his small penknife to cut away twigs. He rested more often than he wished, but there was no other way to go. Darcy remained weaker than he would like.
He spent the second night of his trek curled in the crack of a downed tree. Darcy wished for a flint where he might light a fire for although it was early May, the night held its chill. He tied the stiff kerchief about his head like a peasant woman to keep his head warmer and wrapped his jacket tighter about him. Closing his eyes for welcomed sleep, Darcy conjured up his favorite dream of Elizabeth–the one that started with a simple kiss and led to a heated night in his bed.
“Wait for me, Elizabeth,” he murmured as sleep claimed his bruised body. “I will come for you soon.”
And so he would for on the third day as Darcy set a more determined pace, he staggered into an open glade to discover a hound clawing at a rabbit hole under the raised roots of a mighty oak.
“Where is your master, Boy?” he demanded in a gravelly voice.
The hound turned to snarl at Darcy, but when Darcy sat heavily upon the damp earth, the dog approached warily. Only after sniffing Darcy’s hands and shoulders did the animal nuzzle Darcy’s leg.
“I shan’t harm you,” Darcy whispered.
He extended his hand slowly to scratch behind the dog’s ears.
“Can you call for your master? I am in need of a strong shoulder upon which to lean.”
As if the animal understood Darcy’s request, the hound set up a mournful howl. When Darcy praised the animal’s efforts, the hound rewarded Darcy with a wagging tail and a slobbering kiss. Within minutes, a rather rotund man called out to the dog before stepping into the opening.
“What have ye there, Chester?” the man asked in caution.
Darcy continued to stroke the animal’s head. The motion calmed his nerves.
“A man seeking your assistance, Sir,” Darcy pronounced on a breathy exhale. “Several men attacked me and left me to die. I wandered these woods for two days until your hound discovered me.”
The man’s eyebrow rose in skepticism.
“Why didnae ye walk to the road?”
Darcy thought to chuckle, but his cut lip would not curl.
“I asked myself that very question more than once. I do not seem to possess a sense of direction.”
“Kin ye walk?”
The man edged closer, but he did not lower the long gun he carried.
Darcy gave the dog a final pat on the head.
“It depends on how far, as well as the pace you set.”
Darcy planted the tree branch in the soft earth to use it as a staff to lift his weight, and the man caught Darcy’s arm to lend his support.
“My ribs,” Darcy hissed as the pain claimed his breath again.
“Me wife’ll tend them. Me name be Tearlach Rogue. I own a piece about a half mile removed.”
Darcy nodded his understanding.
“I can walk a half mile.”
He prayed that was true for Elizabeth deserved better than to be left at the altar. He owed her a very public apology.
* * *
Surprisingly, her father was sympathetic to Elizabeth’s plea.
“Time away from Longbourn might be best in this situation, but I will not have you travel by public coach unescorted. You will have my carriage.”
Elizabeth did not like the idea of providing her father a deception, but if she did not seize this opportunity, she would spend a life in quiet solitude with no opportunity for travel or for marriage.
“I would not wish to deny you the use of your carriage. I do not mind the inconvenience of a public coach.”
Her father countered, “How often do I have need of the carriage? With your mother taken to her bed, the coach is free. Moreover, how long will it take to travel to London? A few hours each way. I could be better spare the coach than a servant to accompany you.”
“If I recall,” Elizabeth said coyly, “Aunt and Uncle Gardiner mean to journey to the northern shires soon. Mayhap, I could go to London and travel with them. I am certain uncle would see his way clear to assist. Uncle Gardiner appeared quite incensed by the outcome of Mr. Darcy’s courtship.”
Mr. Bennet’s scowl deepened.
“Your uncle felt responsible for permitting Darcy his manipulations.”
Elizabeth did not wish to ask, but she needed to know the truth of Mr. Darcy’s complete abandonment in order to close that particular door.
“Then there is no word from the gentleman?” she asked through a small voice.
“Gentleman is not the proper word for the wastrel,” Mr. Bennet hissed. “And I pray you change your mind regarding my claiming a portion of Mr. Darcy’s fortune for your future. With Longbourn entailed upon Mr. Collins, you must have an allowance upon which to live.”
Elizabeth never thought of Mr. Darcy’s fortune, not in the way many women did. She knew him wealthy, but Elizabeth knew after giving the man her heart that she would accept Mr. Darcy even if he were one of the tenants upon Pemberley estate, rather than the property’s master.
“I shall consider your suggestion, but for now, I wish to hear no more of Mr. Darcy.”
“Then this is farewell.”
Mr. Bennet rose to gather Elizabeth in his embrace.
“You are my most precious Lizzy. If I could bear your pain, know that I would claim it gladly.”
* * *
Even after Darcy reached the Rogue’s cottage, it was another day before Rogue departed for Town with a message for Darcy House. With Rogue possessing no more than a donkey cart to his name, Darcy contented himself with the idea that someone from his home would come for him post haste when they received news of his recovery.
Rogue’s wife tended Darcy’s many wounds and fed him simple meals, but Darcy would not know contentment until he could offer his excuses to Elizabeth. His intended never left his mind. He thought once their engagement became known that his obsession to claim the woman would ease, but Darcy erred. Elizabeth’s essence clung to him like a second skin.
“Yer betroth be pretty?” Mrs. Rogue asked as Darcy crawled across the straw mattress to claim a bit of rest.
“Many believe Miss Elizabeth is not as fair of face as her elder sister, but I find the lady the most handsome woman of my acquaintance.”
Mrs. Rogue chuckled.
“Ye be the only one who matters to the lady, and she to you.”
* * *
Restless to reunite with his family and Elizabeth, Darcy was awake when Rogue returned to the cottage well after dark.
“Ye’ve a fine home, Mr. Darcy,” Rogue announced when Darcy joined the couple in the large room, which served as parlor and kitchen. “They come fer ye in the morning.”
“You spoke to my sister? To Miss Darcy?”
Darcy prayed Elizabeth joined Georgiana in Town, but he doubted the Bennets would think anything but the worst of him. They would not permit Elizabeth to come to London.
“Yer sister ’ent ye a message.”
Rogue handed Darcy the note, and Darcy accepted it gladly.
“I thank you for your kindness, Mr. Rogue. You own my undying loyalty.”
“Ye’ve paid me well fer me inconvenience,” Rogue protested. “Me and Mrs. Rogue hold plans fer a barn with yer gratitude.”
“I will leave
you to yer sleep,” Darcy allowed as he returned to the small storage room serving as his bedroom.
Inside the space, he relit the rush candle he snuffed out earlier so he might read Georgiana’s letter.
Settling heavily upon the thin mattress, Darcy unfolded the page to read the familiar script.
William,
Praise God you survived. I shall send for the colonel as soon as this note is on its way to you. You must know my anguish at your sudden disappearance. I could not bear your loss. Colonel Fitzwilliam knows no rest, searching for every possible lead to your whereabouts. Our dear family will know elation at your survival.
I know you wish news of Miss Elizabeth, but I fear I cannot tell you more than to speak of your betrothed’s complete desolation at your absence. Neither the colonel nor I spoke to any of the Bennets after our return to London. In truth, my thoughts remained solely upon your fate, and I doubted any at Longbourn would pray for your safety. Even Mr. Bingley appeared incensed by the slight of his sister to be.
Thankfully, you may now reclaim Miss Elizabeth’s affections and set the world aright, but first you must permit me to tend to your recovery. Until tomorrow, with all my love…
Georgiana
* * *
From the moment she departed Longbourn, Elizabeth planned how she would make her escape. Thankfully, her father did not realize the Gardiners meant to travel to Oxfordshire to visit with one of Aunt Gardiner’s nieces, who recently welcomed a son. The Gardiners would attend the child’s christening. In a letter to Elizabeth shortly after she and Jane arrived at Longbourn, their aunt confirmed the date for Elizabeth’s nuptials to avoid a conflict with her grandnephew’s naming day. Therefore, Elizabeth thought she could maneuver the appearance of visiting with her aunt and uncle. The difficulty would be to purchase a coach ticket to Brighton.
She thought to explore Tunbridge Wells, but Elizabeth had no desire to return to Kent. In addition to the possibility that Lady Catherine would learn of Elizabeth’s presence in the neighborhood and arrive on Elizabeth’s doorstep to gloat on Mr. Darcy’s snub, there was the likelihood the gentleman himself returned to Rosings Park to claim his cousin. Elizabeth thought long on it: If Mr. Darcy married Miss De Bourgh, his abandonment of her would be readily forgiven. An endogamous marriage was much preferred by the aristocracy over connections to one such as she.
The chance encounter of Mr. Darcy in London was the chief reason Elizabeth refused to take solace with the Gardiners. Elizabeth’s heart was too badly bruised to face Mr. Darcy so soon. She required time to harden her heart to the man.
And so when her father’s coachman stopped at a coaching inn on the outskirts of London, Elizabeth claimed her opportunity to purchase a ticket to the seaside resort of which she heard so many tales.
“Yes, Miss?”
The inn’s proprietor approached.
Elizabeth glanced about to make certain Mr. Lester still tended her father’s horses before responding.
“Is there a coach to Brighton later today?”
“One leaves here at five,” the man pronounced with authority.
It was near one. Elizabeth could disembark in Cheapside and be back at the inn by three at the latest.
“I hold business in my…in my late husband’s name in the neighborhood,” she said with more calm than she felt.
Elizabeth thought to say “my father,” but the idea of passing herself off as a war widow would provide her the freedom that being a gentleman’s daughter would not.
“When I complete the task of meeting with my husband’s solicitors, I must travel to Brighton to rejoin my family. Would a seat be available?”
“I cannot hold a seat in reserve, Miss. The line to Brighton be quite popular.”
“Certainly not,” Elizabeth declared. “I would not expect you to do so. I shall purchase my fare now and return later for the journey.”
And with a few coins, she took the first step into her future.
“A small victory,” Elizabeth murmured as she returned to her father’s coach. “A new challenge.”
* * *
Darcy made himself as presentable as he could in clothes he wore for nearly a week. He looked forward to a proper bath and a shave. By half past ten in the morning, the crunch of carriage wheels upon the rocky path serving as the road to the Rogues’ small farm had him lifting his weight from the chair to greet his dear family. He did not wish Georgiana to think him an invalid.
A sharp rap on the door announced that his cousin accompanied Georgiana. Within seconds, Mrs. Rogue admitted them into the large room.
“My God, Darcy,” Fitzwilliam gasped. “What did you endure?”
“Hush, Colonel,” Georgiana chastised. “My brother’s bruises will heal fast enough. I shall tolerate nothing less.”
His sister’s gaze slid over Darcy.
“I thought to claim the comfort of your embrace, Brother, but you appear too weak for such affections.”
Georgiana’s voice indicated his sister’s qualms.
Darcy raised his hand to stifle her movements.
“Mrs. Rogue kindly bound my wounds, but my movement is quite limited.
Georgiana shot a quick glance to the Rogues.
“Please forgive my lack of manners. Your Christian generosity speaks well of you. Our family is in your debt, and I speak earnestly of the gratitude I experience with the return of my brother.”
Mrs. Rogue presented Georgiana an awkward curtsy.
“We didnae often have such fine company. May I’s offer ye a cup of tea?”
Darcy did not permit Georgiana time to respond. He knew his sister would accept the woman’s offer, but after being with the Rogues for some forty hours, Darcy was well aware the Rogues owned little. Accepting tea from the woman would mean the lady would do without later.
“If you do not consider it too rude to do so, I will beg your pardon for our speedy departure. I must be to London and make arrangements to speak to my fiancée,” Darcy declared.
He leaned upon the twisted branch to support his weight.
“Colonel, if I might claim your arm,” Darcy continued, “we will leave the Rogues to their day. I brought enough chaos to their lives.”
Georgiana reached for a small bag she carried.
“The Darcy House staff asked me to present you with this. It is not much, but your effort to protect Darcy did not go unnoticed by his servants. They each added a few pence to the bag. Please accept it with their gratitude.”
Darcy knew as much surprise, as did the Rogues.
“Yer brother must be a fair master,” Rogue observed. “Makes me proud to take Mr. Darcy’s acquaintance.”
The man accepted the small sack of coins.
“Convey me thanks to yer people.”
With that, Darcy made a slow and painful journey to his waiting coach. It took both the colonel and Murray to hoist him into the carriage. What was a common movement, one performed almost daily, became a test of Darcy’s well-honed fortitude.
The colonel followed Darcy into the carriage to assist Darcy to the bench seat.
“We must summon your physician when we reach London,” Fitzwilliam hissed in disapproval. “If I knew the extent of your injuries, the man would have accompanied us at this moment.”
His cousin withdrew a small flask from an inside jacket pocket.
“A bit of brandy will ease your pain.”
The colonel lifted Darcy’s legs to the seat so Darcy could lean against the side of the coach.
Darcy uncorked the flask and took a sip of the warm blend. The heat of the drink raced through his veins, and for the first time in days, Darcy felt human. He closed his eyes to think upon Elizabeth while his cousin settled Georgiana in the carriage. The brandy and an image of Elizabeth settled Darcy’s nerves. He knew what he must confide regarding Wickham would bring Georgiana more distress, but Darcy would require the colonel’s assistance in learning more of the man called “Sloane” and what deception Wickham practic
ed.
* * *
Elizabeth avoided the Gardiners’ servants by insisting that Mr. Lester set her down near the mews. They argued when the coachman meant to carry her bags into the house. Elizabeth literally placed her foot down, tapping her toe to indicate her displeasure.
“I shall not permit one of Mr. Bennet’s most trusted servants to carry my unmentionables. You are like a trusted uncle, Mr. Lester. Your kindness to my sisters and to me is more than generous. I look upon you as an intimate, as extended family. Mr. Gardiner’s staff will execute the task.”
The words “unmentionables” and “intimate” had the coachman hemming and hawing.
“If’n you insist, Miss Elizabeth,” he pronounced with a blush.
“I do, Sir.”
Elizabeth knew a bit of anguish at her manipulations.
“Now set a course for home. If you leave now you should know Longbourn before dark.” She paused before adding, “Tell my father I am grateful for his benevolence.”
When Mr. Lester pulled away from the community mews, Elizabeth looked about her. She did not wish any of her uncle’s servants to recognize her. Although her family was away, the servants would report her presence to Uncle Gardiner if she were seen. Pulling the brim of her bonnet lower to conceal her countenance, she summoned a young groom to her aid.
“A coin for you if you locate a hackney willing to drive me to the coaching inn near the village of Meniste.”
“The driver’ll charge more fer the distance, Miss,” the lad clarified.
“I would expect nothing less,” Elizabeth retorted. “Now be about the task or I shall find another who wishes my patronage.”
When the youth rushed away to do her bidding, Elizabeth breathed easier. She edged into the shadows of the covered stall constituting the mews and waited for what felt to be an eternity, but was likely no more than ten minutes.
She looked up at the sound of a carriage to view a hack squeezing through the tight passage. The young groom clung to the side of the coach. Once things were settled between her and the driver, the boy hefted Elizabeth’s trunk into the hack before she crawled inside. She presented the boy an extra penny for his efforts, and then the carriage pulled away, returning her to the road and the coaching inn and freedom. As the coach turned toward the open road, Elizabeth sighed heavily. This was not what she wished for her life, but, at least, this adventure would be of her own making, not the design of her father or of a domineering husband.
Elizabeth Bennet's Excellent Adventure: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary Page 7