by APRIL FLOYD
Elizabeth sat across from Jane, her eyes fixed on her dear sister’s face. She did not think for a moment Jane was tired from their journey, for they had stopped often and truly the trip had been an easy one.
After tea arrived and Jane’s color improved, Lizzy’s face fell at the recollection of her visit to Longbourn.
“Did you enjoy your walk?” Jane asked.
It was Lizzy’s turn to inspire sisterly concern and Jane hurried to her side as her tears began. “My dear, what could have happened to upset you so?”
Lizzy took her own handkerchief from her skirt pocket and lowered her head. “If only I had remained in the gardens, Jane, I suppose I might have saved myself a day’s grief. Father and Mother have declared that I must marry our cousin, Mr. Collins.” Lizzy sobbed as Jane embraced her.
“How can that be? You certainly told them of your refusal. Father can only be in agreement.”
Elizabeth shook her head, her tears slowing as she spoke. “Father has left the decision to Mother and she only wishes me to accept Mr. Collins so that she might remain at Longbourn should the estate pass to our cousin.”
Jane sought to ease Elizabeth’s mind. “Perhaps they will reconsider. Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne might speak on your behalf. I cannot imagine Mr. Darcy would see you married to someone else did he know of it.”
Elizabeth twisted the handkerchief in her hands. She knew Jane spoke the truth, but she could not impose upon the Darcys to help her while they were in London.
Lady Anne had finally gotten free of Pemberley and her grief was certainly eased by the presence of her family. She did not wish to lay her troubles at the mistress of Pemberley’s feet.
“Mother has told me I must not return to Longbourn if I continue to refuse Mr. Collins and I would not wish to burden Lady Anne with the matter. She has spent many a dark day and night grieving and her time now is to be spent among those who would help ease her pain. Besides, I will not marry our cousin. What may he do about it?”
* * *
Lady Anne sat before her desk at Darcy House and wrote to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. As pleased as she was to be in London with her son and the Matlocks, she found herself wishing for the young woman’s company. She finished her letter and left it to dry as footsteps sounded in the hallway.
Mr. Darcy entered the room and crossed the distance between them. “I must be out all day, mother. Perhaps we should dine with cousin Richard and his family this evening?”
Lady Anne took his hand and nodded. “I sent our acceptance by the footman earlier, for I knew you would agree.”
She turned to her desk and folded the letter. “I must have this letter to Miss Bennet posted today. I hope it finds her well and happy with her situation. I dare say her father is pleased to have her company again.”
Mr. Darcy smiled at his mother’s words. She longed for Elizabeth’s presence almost as much as he. “I imagine all is well, though I am pleased you have written to her. I hope you included my regards.”
Lady Anne stood and walked to the entry of Darcy House with her son. She handed her letter to the butler and placed a light kiss upon her son’s cheek before he left for the day.
She asked for their carriage to be brought around. She wished to stroll the shopping district and gather gifts for Jane and Elizabeth to put in her trunks for their visit to Netherfield.
* * *
Elizabeth read for several days, keeping to her room and remaining silent during meals before venturing outside once more on her routine paths. She worried at her sister’s pale complexion more than once during her sulk brought on by the disastrous return to Longbourn. Jane seemed ill at times and yet perfectly well at others.
Elizabeth came upon her in the parlor during a distressing spell and demanded the apothecary, Mr. Jones, come to Netherfield Park.
“Lizzy, tis nothing of concern. I believe I am increasing and it makes me quite ill throughout the day.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened and she sat gently beside her sister. “I could have the maid bring us peppermint tea to provide relief. Aunt Madeline uses it faithfully.”
Jane nodded and Elizabeth stepped away to find a maid.
Charles Bingley entered the parlor then, his eye upon his wife. He was aware of her condition, though he would not mention it until she began the conversation. He was quite pleased if she was indeed increasing and found it more difficult each day to pretend he did not know.
Jane took his hand as he sat beside her and smiled weakly. Elizabeth returned with the maid and poured Jane’s cup herself. She nodded at Charles and watched Jane sip her tea. After the first cup, Jane relaxed and her color improved.
“The maid recommends two cups a day unless your symptoms worsen. She will have several pots ready for you if you require them.”
Charles turned to Elizabeth and smiled in his amiable manner. “What has the maid said regarding Mrs. Bingley’s health?”
Elizabeth glanced to Jane and lowered her lashes. “I believe that is a conversation best held between the two of you.”
She left the parlor quickly and went through the French doors of the ballroom to stand upon the terrace.
The sun and fresh air revived her spirits and Elizabeth determined she would walk about the gardens and not set foot towards Longbourn. They had received but one letter from her father and Elizabeth refused to read it. Jane made her sit in the parlor and listen as she read and Elizabeth regretted it still.
He wished for her to come home and secure Longbourn for her mother and sisters. Jane had repeated the pleas that made up three of the four pages and sat with Elizabeth as she sobbed once more at her father’s refusal to turn her cousin away. The most alarming part was the news of her cousin’s return to Longbourn within the week.
Jane wished to plan the ball they spoke of before their return to Brambling Hall and Elizabeth found she did not care one bit for such a trivial event though it would be a benefit to her sisters, perhaps. An aid to her parents in their pursuit to have the younger girls matched as soon as they might.
Elizabeth thought of it with great anger and swore she would not help Jane in such a task. But she knew she would, for Jane was ill, not in a horrible way, but enough that it tore at Elizabeth’s heart to see her suffer so.
So it was in the coming days the sisters planned the summer ball for their family. Jane hoped the event might serve to soften the feelings between Elizabeth and their parents or at least find the younger girls well matched.
She told Mr. Bingley of their coming babe the afternoon Elizabeth left them in the parlor. Charles was the happiest she had seen him and with his constant attention, and the peppermint tea supplied by the maid, Jane found herself well once more.
She and Elizabeth were in the ballroom the day of the ball, placing flowers and making certain all was ready. Jane commanded the footmen to place tables and chairs upon the terrace as she wished to keep the doors open during the dance. It was warm enough to have the ball without the great fireplace being pressed into service and so she and Elizabeth filled the large space with lovely bouquets and stands of flowers from the gardens and the surrounding woods.
Cook bustled upstairs and down again to be certain all was as Jane had ordered. The house fairly hummed with the work of many hands. Elizabeth paused and stepped onto the terrace, taking the letter from Lady Anne Darcy from her pocket. She had told no one of its arrival and wished to be alone so that she might read it.
Jane’s sweet voice drifted through the doors as she continued her efforts in the ballroom with the servants, guiding them here and there to be sure the room was impeccably styled.
As Elizabeth carefully opened the finely milled paper, the scent of Lady Anne’s soft perfume surrounded her in the shade of the terrace. It was as if the great woman was there beside her. She swiped at a wayward tear and read the missive slowly, savoring each word.
She and Mr. Darcy were happy in London, surrounded by family and comforted by the time spent together at Darcy House. The
next line pierced Elizabeth’s heart and she pressed the letter to her chest.
“William is attentive, as always, but something is missing from our lives. I knew the moment we arrived you ought to have accompanied us. I do hope this thought does not surprise you, Miss Bennet. You have become a favorite friend of myself and my son. Soon we shall have to leave Town or perish in our own sadness at your absence.”
8
The night of the ball arrived and with it, the odious Mr. Collins. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had come with her sisters as Jane could not exclude them from the event. Elizabeth was introduced to the man once more by her father and she found his gaze upon her person unsettling. The man stared at her in a manner most disturbing.
She remained silent while he spoke, for it proved an easy task with the man chattering endlessly with much nonsense about Rosings and his patroness in Kent. Her mind wandered as his voice droned on and on. She must remove herself from his overbearing presence at once.
How her father had come to agree that she marry the man puzzled her still, save his explanation that day in his study pinning it to his unwillingness to refuse his wife’s wishes, but Elizabeth decided she would enjoy the ball and dance with the soldiers Lydia and Kitty persuaded to attend. There would be time come the morrow to make her cousin understand she was not to be his wife.
Elizabeth gave a small curtsy to her father and cousin, all the while ignoring her mother, before moving quickly away. To her consternation, Mr. Collins followed her doggedly about the ballroom. Elizabeth turned to him, ready to shatter his certainty regarding their situation.
Before she might deliver her set down, Charlotte Lucas appeared and Elizabeth smiled warmly at her friend. She was forced to introduce Mr. Collins and he turned from her to stand quite close to Miss Lucas.
Charlotte seemed pleased at his attention, easily engaging in pleasant conversation with the man and Elizabeth recoiled in disgust. He was no more a suitable match for her friend than herself, but Charlotte was as yet unmarried and did not share Elizabeth’s conviction to marry for love.
Charlotte curtsied to Mr. Collins as a young soldier asked her to dance. Thankfully, her cousin’s eyes remained upon Charlotte as she was led away to her place on the floor for the next set.
Elizabeth seized her chance to wander away through the French doors for a breath of air when her cousin’s hand found hers. Blasted man! Would she spend the entirety of the evening in his presence?
His company was most unwelcome, and his words doubly so. “Come, walk with me in the gardens dear, sweet Elizabeth.”
She shuddered at his intimate use of her name and resisted his efforts. He paid no heed, easily dragging her down the stone steps and out into the shadowy grounds of Netherfield.
“Mr. Collins, I believe you misunderstand what has happened since you were last at Longbourn.”
He held up a hand to quiet her. “I am aware of your fit of temper, my dear, but it worries me not.”
He led her through the gardens as though he had a destination in mind. Soon they were standing before a carriage and Elizabeth pulled away, attempting to release herself from the heavy grasp of his hand. “I must return to the ball. Jane will be worried.”
Mr. Collins laughed heartily. “She will not be concerned. Your mother and father have likely told her of your fate by now.”
Elizabeth ought to have run, his manner and the way he dragged her through the garden to the carriage should have alerted her to his coming assault on her person.
Mr. Collins placed a hand over her mouth and wrapped a strong arm about her before she could defend herself. With the help of the footman, he threw her inside the carriage and when she began to scream, he delivered a clout to her head that sent her reeling. The inside of the carriage tilted in her vision and she grasped at the bench before darkness took her.
And so it was, some hours later, Elizabeth Bennet came round with a terrible headache, her body aching upon the floor of the carriage. The night air chilled her and she trembled. Mr. Collins pulled her up to sit beside him, his face a mask of indifference.
“Take this handkerchief and clean your face. I will not have people imagining I have kidnapped a poor girl from her home in the middle of the night.”
Elizabeth glared at him, her anger rising. “But that is just what you have done!”
Mr. Collins raised his hand again and Elizabeth hurried to a corner of the carriage. Her parents had given her to a cruel man in a most shocking manner. She bit back the furious tears burning in her eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat.
She would bide her time and find a way to escape him. Wandering alone at night along the roads frightened her a good bit but not as much as continuing with this wicked man.
* * *
Jane searched the ballroom and the terrace for her sister several times, growing more fearful with each pass. She sought her mother and asked after Elizabeth.
Mrs. Bennet smiled and turned her attention from Lydia and Kitty and their dance partners. “Lizzy left some time ago with Mr. Collins. I believe they are on the road to Hunsford now.”
Jane stared angrily at her mother and stomped a foot. “Elizabeth held no desire to marry the man. Why would she leave with him without a farewell to anyone?”
Mrs. Bennet shrugged her shoulders and turned to speak to the lady seated next to her. Jane hurried across the room to Mr. Bennet. His story was the same. Lizzy had accepted her cousin’s proposal and gone to Hunsford with him. Jane knew it to be a lie and searched the room for Charles.
She took his arm and pulled him gently away from a small group of men. “Lizzy is gone and my parents have conspired with Mr. Collins to remove her from Hertfordshire.”
Charles Bingley held Jane in his embrace. “I saw Lizzy leave with him, she did not seem to be under duress. Surely you may write to her and have an answer in a week’s time.”
It was then the ball ended abruptly. Mr. Bennet fell from his chair clutching at his shirt front. Mr. Bingley cleared the room while the apothecary from Meryton tended the ailing man.
A wall of soldiers formed a line to lend privacy and Jane led her sisters to the terrace with their mother. Mrs. Bennet wailed and complained while Lydia and Kitty cried as though they were disconsolate children. Mary was the only one to remain calm in the ensuing madness, much to Jane’s relief.
* * *
The carriage stopped before an inn and Elizabeth moved to the door, eager to escape the deplorable company of her cousin. He caught her hand and pushed her roughly back against the bench. “You will wait here, young lady. We are only changing horses and I would advise against any display that would displease me.”
Elizabeth held back the tears and the angry words burning in her throat. There was little time to indulge in piteous thoughts as her escape would require all her effort and concentration.
She moved carefully about the inside of the carriage after Mr. Collins stepped down, intent on the inn and his plan. Elizabeth glanced out the window finding the driver and footman busy with the horses. She crept slowly to the other side of the carriage and eased the door open.
Because of her years spent wandering the fields and wood around Longbourn, she was able to jump lightly from the carriage and ease her way to the back end of the conveyance.
She glanced about and listened for the voices of the men complicit in her abduction, but they continued with the horses. She spied a shed beside the inn and decided to use it as a hiding place before rushing into the woods beyond.
Elizabeth waited until another carriage passed in front of the inn and set out at a brisk pace with her head down, her heart pounding in her ears. She hurried along and was nearly beside the shed when strong arms caught her from behind.
Mr. Collins had seen her from a window and hurried out to halt her progress. His fingers dug into her arms as he turned her around. His face was red with the effort and Elizabeth stomped his foot.
He pulled her along to the shed and glancing about, dragged her b
ehind the building and into the shadows. He brought his face within inches of her own and hissed menacingly. “Did I not instruct you to remain in the carriage?”
Elizabeth cringed as the spittle from his lips landed upon her face. He loosened his grip for a moment and she bolted away, running blindly for the woods behind the inn.
Moments later, she was caught by the footman and dragged back to the carriage. She saw Mr. Collins speaking with the innkeeper and began shouting for assistance.
The footman warned her to cease her ranting and struggled to place her inside the carriage. Mr. Collins nodded to the innkeeper who appeared most sorry for the good man’s troubles. Her cousin’s bold lie drifted across the yard of the inn and Elizabeth buried her face in her hands.
“She is not well, you see. My poor sister could not provide for her nor keep her at home any longer. I am taking her to live with me, for my dear wife has said we must care for her.”
Elizabeth sobbed bitter tears as Mr. Collins strode back to the carriage, his face tight but his pace even as the innkeeper remained at the door of his establishment.
Mr. Collins climbed into the carriage and seated himself with not a glance spared in Elizabeth’s direction. He held his arm out the window and waved to the innkeeper, his ruse intact and Elizabeth’s hopes of escape cruelly dashed.
She was safe while they remained in sight of the inn, but once the carriage was back upon the road her cousin’s abuse began anew. His anger terrified Elizabeth and she huddled as far from him as the small space allowed. Her father and mother could not have known the horrid man he was, for they would not have allowed him a moment alone with her if they had.
Elizabeth clung to the thought and prayed she might send a letter to Jane begging for her assistance before Mr. Collins forced her hand in marriage.
Her mind wandered to thoughts of Mr. Darcy and his mother. Jane would surely send word of her situation once the truth was known. Her only hope lay with her sister and in the memories of her happiness at Brambling Hall and Pemberley.