Elizabeth gave him a shaky smile. “Mr. Darcy, thank heavens you have come upon us. He is badly hurt.”
Darcy crouched low and examined the child’s leg. A lady’s handkerchief, clearly Elizabeth’s, covered a gash that was deeper than he would have liked. His breeches were soaked with blood. He spoke gently to the hurt boy. “Can you walk at all?”
The boy barely managed to shake his head.
“He is scarcely conscious,” Elizabeth said quietly.
“You know the way to their home?” he asked.
“Yes, it is not too far. I found him only a few minutes ago and was attempting to make him comfortable. I was just leaving to get help.”
“Can you help me keep him steady on the horse?”
Elizabeth nodded, and Darcy lifted Nate from her arms. Once both boys settled on the horse, young Tommy helping to hold Nate steady, they walked the short distance to the tenant farm in silence. The boys’ mother greeted them in near hysterics. She was heavy with child and with a toddler on her hip. It was clear that although she had been worried at their long absence, she was in no position to search for them. The boys likely would have been at the mercy of the elements until their father came in for a meal.
“Miss Lizzy! Thank God for you, Miss Lizzy!” she cried over and over again into Elizabeth’s arms.
“Shh. Everything will be fine now. Let us get Nate cleaned and in bed while Mr. Darcy goes for the surgeon.”
The woman finally calmed and set to work. Elizabeth followed Darcy outside.
“I hope you do not mind me sending you on the errand.”
“No, of course not. I had determined to go when we found him.”
“His shop is three down from the book store, past the square. Thank you for your assistance. These boys are precious. It is fortunate that I planned to call on Mrs. Harrison this morning anyway.”
Elizabeth’s lip trembled, and Darcy realised she felt quite attached to this family. He squeezed her hand, noticing both of their gloves were stained with blood. “The boy is strong. I will return as quickly as possible.”
It took an hour to journey to Meryton and return with the surgeon. The sun was climbing high in the sky by the time Darcy re-entered the small farmhouse. Mr. Harrison had been retrieved from work by Elizabeth. The surgeon set to work, and it was advised that the apothecary visit on the morrow as a precaution against infection.
“He should be arriving any time,” Darcy said. “I took the liberty of sending a message to request his aid here this afternoon.”
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison quickly thanked him, but he was most gratified by Elizabeth’s look of approval. A knock on the door soon proved to be Mr. Jones, and Elizabeth and Darcy set about to occupy the other children, who were growing restless. At last, Nate was reported to be doing better than could be expected. Mr. Jones believed he had not lost as much blood as had been feared. Instead, the child must have grown faint from the mere sight of it. Having no further usefulness, Darcy and Elizabeth left on foot, leading his horse behind them.
After walking in silence for several minutes, Elizabeth spoke. “Thank you again for your assistance,” she said. “Few gentlemen would have been as quick-thinking as you.”
He smiled at her praise. “You were the impressive one! Your father’s tenants are blessed to have you.”
She blushed but murmured a thank you before stumbling and reaching for a tree for support.
“Elizabeth!” He reached her side in a step. She looked terribly pale. “Are you well?”
“I am sorry,” she said and attempted to smile. “I left before breakfast and fear the events of the day have exhausted me.”
“You have not eaten all day; no wonder you feel faint!” He took her gently by the arm and led her to a clearer spot with fewer leaves and sticks for her to sit. “I have something in my saddle bag.” He retrieved bread and a few apples from the sack on his horse and brought them over. In due time, the colour returned to her cheeks.
“Are you feeling better?” he asked as they sat next to each other.
“Yes, thank you.” She smiled at him. “Forgive my impertinence, but I was very proud to call you a friend today.” Her eyes met his for just a moment before she looked away.
He focused on where their hands nearly touched; they had removed their gloves to eat. He summoned all of his courage. “I would not have you call me friend.”
Her breath caught. “What would you have me call you?”
He looked at her face then. She also studied where their hands were, but her cheeks were bright red. His eyes never leaving her face, he stretched his little finger to gently caress the length of her smooth hand. She took in a startled breath and then closed her eyes, clearly enjoying the sensation. He leaned his head closer to her ear and stroked her hand again, forming a heart.
“I despise gloves.”
Her lips turned up at the corners, and she finally met his eye. “You did not answer my question.” She raised an eyebrow in half tease, half challenge.
He stared at her for a long moment. They were at a precipice, and she was asking if he would jump first. He would lay down his life for this woman; of course, he was willing to jump. “You should call me,” he said slowly and watched as her eyes dropped to his mouth, “William.”
“Will—”
His body replied to her silent request by instinct. At last, he tasted her sweet lips. Holding firmly to his last vestiges of control, he pulled back to examine her reaction. She slowly opened her eyes, touched her fingers to her lips, and then beamed.
Lust slammed into him, and a part of him desired to lay her down in the forest and show her his passion until she cried out his name in ecstasy for the world to hear. A greater part of him cautioned to protect her from himself, recalling that she had just felt faint and they were still very near a road. Rejecting his previous thoughts, he stood and held out his hand. When she put her hand in his, he was tempted to pull her into his arms. Instead, he spoke.
“It is growing late. Allow me to escort you home, and then I will speak with your father about today.”
She snatched her hand away. “Speak with him?”
“I would hardly consider myself a gentleman if I did not talk to him about my actions with his tenants.”
Elizabeth sighed in clear relief. “Oh. Do not worry about that.” She chewed the bottom of her lip. “He seems to be feeling unwell lately. He has a sudden dislike for estate matters or serious subjects. I will mention it to the steward, and we shall settle everything with Mr. Jones and Mr. Hobson.”
He began to argue again, but she waved off his concerns. “Georgie will worry about you being gone so long without word. Return to Netherfield. Longbourn is only a quarter of a mile from here.” She pointed, and he could see the house in the distance.
“If you are certain you are well?”
“I am very well,” she said as she began to walk at a brisk pace. “Pass my greetings to everyone for me.”
Darcy stood rooted in place. He had just kissed her, feeling as though fire consumed his heart, and now she was leaving his side without saying a thing at all about it?
“Tomorrow!” he called out, and she stopped. She turned and looked at him. “Tomorrow, I would like to call on you.”
“You call almost every day,” she said softly.
He walked to her and took one hand in his. “Would you allow me to call on you?”
She bit her lip and then grinned as she nodded. “I would like that.”
“As would I.” He bowed over her hand and kissed it before meeting her eyes. They stared at each other for a moment before she collected her senses, curtsied, and turned towards her home.
Darcy walked back to his horse, thankful that he finally had an answer about what to do about Wickham. Nothing. He need not do a thing. Elizabeth’s smile and sweet kiss were all the encouragement he needed to believe she would soon be his. He would even let her call him Will. He rather liked that no one else had ever called him that. It
was an informal name, but with her it was fitting; he was just a man in love.
*****
Elizabeth awoke the next day and hummed a happy tune. The maid, Sarah, was surprised when she asked for assistance with her hair. Darcy, or William, as he had asked her to call him, had not asked for a courtship, but she had every hope he would. He was still enigmatic, but he had shown he was a truly caring person, and she thought better of him now than she ever had before. She realised now that he was a complex character. She laughed at her folly. How could she have imagined it perfectly sketched before their first introduction?
As she sat in the sitting room awaiting calling hours, she smiled at Mr. Bingley and Jane in a corner. Their courtship was blossoming quickly, and Elizabeth expected an announcement of their engagement by Christmas.
She was thankful Bingley had returned, and she more than suspected William had a hand in that. She frowned as she considered how the Netherfield party quickly followed after him. If she was truly honest with herself, Caroline’s interference with Jane’s happiness wounded her pride. The Bennets were gently born, and no matter her mother’s relations, she was of superior consequence to the Bingleys. She had little doubt that Caroline did her best to avoid dwelling on such a thought, but Darcy was too rational to avoid it. Had he thought Jane too low for Bingley? And if so, how fragile was his willingness to explore their friendship?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Charlotte Lucas. Fortunately, Mrs. Bennet was not in the room, and Elizabeth could speak with her friend without the backhanded compliments and glares of her mother. Their friendship had taken a blow when Charlotte accepted Mr. Collins’s proposal, but loyalty to what once was made Elizabeth greet Charlotte with affection.
Mr. Collins had arrived at Longbourn two days previously. They had barely seen him as he had spent all of his time at Lucas Lodge thus far, but it seemed today Charlotte was to visit with him here. The circumstances were not ideal for William’s call. As it was another mild day, Elizabeth decided a walk to Meryton would serve everyone best. Currently, Mr. Collins was in the library, and it was clear Charlotte was not eager to send for him.
“I saw your look of disappointment when I was announced, Eliza,” Charlotte said as she sat next to her. “Are you still so very displeased with me?”
Elizabeth grasped Charlotte’s hand. “Please forgive me for my first reaction to your news. You are my friend, and I owe you my support. I merely expected someone else.”
“You mean Lord Arlington,” Kitty said in a teasing voice.
Lydia laughed. “Mr. Darcy is the one trying to woo her!”
“You only say that because you think Lord Arlington fancies you!”
The younger two bickered back and forth, first over Lord Arlington and then over pieces of ribbon. Charlotte and Elizabeth tuned them out. “Is this true?” Charlotte asked Elizabeth.
“Lord Arlington is a very amiable gentleman.” She hoped evasiveness would work, but it did not.
“I mean Mr. Darcy!”
Elizabeth blushed and looked at her hands. “He asked yesterday if he could call on me.”
“Elizabeth Bennet, tell me you said yes!”
She met Charlotte’s eye. “I did.”
“I knew you would think him more amiable if you saw he admired you! Now, how shall you secure him?”
“Secure him! My dear Charlotte, my opinion of Mr. Darcy has been slowly transforming since my stay at Netherfield. He has many good qualities—”
“He has ten thousand good qualities,” Charlotte interrupted, causing Elizabeth to frown.
“I could not care less about his income or his estate. He is a man of honour and character, and I would never receive a call from a gentleman for anything less than esteem.” Heat rushed to her cheeks as she scolded her friend. How had Charlotte been so mercenary, and she had never seen it?
Charlotte dropped her gaze to her hands and spoke quietly. “Do not think so badly of me, Eliza. Consider how Jane nearly lost her chance with Mr. Bingley. Young people in love are so fickle. I know from personal experience it is best to encourage it before the embers cool.”
Elizabeth gasped at the confession. “I never knew. I apologise.”
“It is of little consequence now; it happened a very long time ago. My story is not unique. Young ladies are beholden to many things from which gentlemen are free.”
“But what happened?”
“It was really a chance acquaintance. I visited a relation while he was in the same area, but we were both very young. The time came for us both to part, and his admiration did not outlive the separation. I returned the next year with hopes of seeing him once more, as he had vowed, but he did not come. Two years later, I learned he had married.” She shrugged. “I have tried to hate him but cannot. He was a good gentleman, and had chance not separated us, we could have been happy together, but I cannot blame him for his passion waning when I was not present.”
“Then I wish you very happy with Mr. Collins,” Elizabeth said while squeezing her friend’s hands. She genuinely meant it.
“Thank you.” She returned the squeeze. “I only hope you will learn from my story with Mr. Darcy. He can hardly remain at Netherfield forever, especially if Mr. Bingley and Jane marry.”
They were interrupted then by the arrival of Mr. Darcy and the others. Elizabeth quickly suggested a walk into Meryton, and Mr. Collins was retrieved, at last, from the library. Their large party set out, Elizabeth on the arm of Mr. Darcy, Jane with Bingley, and Lord Arlington escorting Caroline and Georgiana. Kitty and Lydia, failing to gain the attention of Lord Arlington, ran ahead. Charlotte, who could not entirely slow Mr. Collins enough from his attempts to interject himself next to Darcy, was quickly joined by Mary asking a doctrinal question.
They reached the outskirts of Meryton before they were afforded a private moment. “I hope you do not mind the walk, Mr. Darcy, but I thought you would appreciate not being trapped in a drawing room with my cousin.”
“Indeed. But I believe you agreed to call me Will.” He squeezed the hand that covered hers.
“I thought you asked to be called William…” She trailed off as she remembered that she only uttered the first half of his name before he kissed her. Blushing, she whispered, “You are very wicked, sir.”
He grinned. “Is formal address to be my punishment, or is it seeing your blush?”
Her blush deepened, but she managed to reply, “If you keep it up, then I shall call you Will, even if a man of your stature must find it undignified.”
He pulled her closer to his side. “I like it coming from you.”
Her heart skipped a beat. How did she have such a man in her power? “You may call me Lizzy,” she said, but he shook his head.
“No, I want a name only I may call you. Your family calls you Lizzy, do they not?”
“Yes, and others such as the Lucas family call me Eliza.”
“Does anyone call you Elizabeth?”
Before she was able to answer, she felt Will tighten his hold on her arm. His expression became shuttered.
“Miss Elizabeth,” she heard Mr. Wickham say, finally drawing her notice away from Will.
“Good morning, Mr. Wickham.” She looked between the two men. All along she had felt as though their friendship was not what either of them pretended.
“Wickham,” Will said with a cordial nod.
“I can see that you are pleasantly occupied. I will leave you to your day.” He bowed and made to leave when Lydia and Kitty reached his side.
“Mr. Wickham! We have not seen you in ages! You simply must call on us soon!” Kitty exclaimed, but he did not look away from Elizabeth.
Lydia added, “I asked Mama specifically to invite you to dinner tomorrow. Mr. Denny was to give you the invitation.”
“I am delighted. Of course, I will be there,” Wickham said.
Elizabeth began to blush under his gaze, but it was not the pleasant feeling she had with Will’s attention.
&
nbsp; “Kitty, Lydia! We are going in the—” Georgiana called as she walked back towards them and then stopped dead in her tracks, her expression frozen.
Elizabeth watched Lord Arlington, who followed behind and met Will’s eyes before turning a charming smile on her sisters. “Ladies, I believe I saw the perfect ribbons to complement your complexions.” He held out an arm, and Lydia immediately went to his side and Kitty to the other.
He began to walk off, with Georgiana following close beside them, when he looked over his shoulder. “Good to see you, Wickham.”
Wickham nodded to his lordship then bowed to Will and Elizabeth and quickly walked away.
“So strange,” Elizabeth murmured, but Will did not seem to hear.
He led them to the others. Once inside the shop, Elizabeth browsed but watched Will out of the corner of her eye. Lord Arlington approached him, and she could not hear their words. They seemed to be having a disagreement, with his lordship finally turning his back on Darcy while shaking his head before returning to the ladies. Will hung back. He glanced around the store, and his eyes fell to Georgiana for a moment. Lydia and Kitty were attempting to persuade her to buy a pair of ribbons. A small smile formed on his lips, and then his eyes scanned the room again, landing on her. The quiet content she saw in his blue eyes as he watched his sister with hers transformed to pain. Her heart went out to him, and within a second her feet followed suit.
“Was that about Mr. Wickham?”
“Yes.”
She had hoped he would be more forthcoming. “You and I are more than friends, are we not? Will you not confide in me?”
He looked around the crowded store. “We had not planned on calling tomorrow, and Friday is Sir William Lucas’s dinner. Walk with me on Saturday?”
She smiled brightly. “Of course! Speaking of Sir William’s dinner, I need new ribbons.”
Will feigned a groan.
“Oh, come. You have a younger sister; surely you understand that a gentleman must assist ladies on shopping trips.” She walked over to the table of ribbons and smiled as he followed. “Red or green?” She held them up to her hair and was pleased when he selected the red ones.
Sufficient Encouragement: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (When Love Blooms Book 1) Page 16