Follies and Vices

by Emily Russell

  “What is that you are saying, Shaw?” came another voice. Elizabeth looked to see a tall, portly man standing in the doorway. His face was red, and his eyes sharp. He looked over Elizabeth and Darcy and nodded. “You will be sure you fetch enough to cover my bill.” It was not a request.

  Jerry nodded. “We are still working out the finer points. Jameson has reminded me of what an opportunity we have here. I do not intend to squander it.”

  The innkeeper’s eyes narrowed. “One night,” he said. “That is the agreement.”

  Elizabeth and Darcy glanced at one another.

  “One night?” Jerry’s tone was plaintive. “Come now, Robbins, be reasonable. It will take much longer than that to arrange everything. We need to decide on how much to ask for, and it is better if we are close to London when the old man sends the money, and —“

  Elizabeth and Darcy stiffened at that and glanced at one another. So, they were close to London. That was good to know.

  Robbins shook his head, his arms folded.

  “One night,” he said. “That’s the rule. You need to move them on somewhere else.”

  “But I thought you could make an exception considering what a trout we’ve landed.”

  “I don’t know why you would think that. The wealthier they are, the bigger the risk if anyone finds them here. I expect you to have moved them on by nightfall.”

  Elizabeth glanced at Darcy in dismay. Where would they be moved to next? It might be somewhere much further where they had no hope of escaping. Darcy shifted, and until then, Elizabeth had not realised he still held her hand. It was too comforting for her to pull away, so she pretended she had not noticed.

  Two more men appeared at the door.

  “Well, Shaw, we heard you were back. Jameson mentioned you had some interesting goods,” said one.

  Jerry grimaced and moved to block Elizabeth and Darcy, but the men were already craning their necks over him to see them. Darcy pulled Elizabeth behind him, and the men smirked.

  “A handsome pair and expensively dressed. A good day’s work, I should say. Who are they?” asked the second.

  “None of your concern, Smith,” said Jerry in an irritated voice. We will move them along before the day is finished.”

  The first man pulled a face.

  “I wish I had been with you after all. I would not have minded a share in it. It is not too late? I could do with a nice payment.”

  “Not a chance, Platt. The fewer involved, the better. Now, be off with you. I have too much to do today.”

  The two men left, though not without a few select curses being aimed at Jerry. Robbins raised an eyebrow.

  “Now you have done it,” he said. “Those two will plot and scheme to take the trout for themselves. You need to tell that man of yours to keep his mouth shut.”

  “This will not end well for you,” said Darcy. Elizabeth looked at him in surprise. He had spoken little so far. “There will be many people searching for Miss Bennet and me. They have probably started already. If they catch you, you know what will happen to you. Let us go, and I will see you are pardoned for the crimes you have committed. Or if you will not, at least allow Miss Bennet to go. You know it will be worse for you if they catch you with a gentlewoman.”

  Jerry and Robbins exchanged an amused look.

  “Oh, aye, we should just let you go,” said Jerry. “We should allow all the trouble we have already gone to be for nothing? No, Mr Darcy. Our whole lives are a risk, and it is rarely for a prize such as you.”

  He turned to leave the room. “Eat your food. I do not know when you shall eat again. We shall leave here by dusk.”

  The door closed behind them. Darcy went to the door at once and pressed his ear to it. He turned back in frustration.

  “They are outside,” he said.

  “Perhaps when they move us, we can see our chance to run then?”

  Darcy nodded. “I hope so. There will be a moment when they are drunk or asleep or merely distracted. That shall be our opportunity to escape.”

  Chapter 10

  Light snow had started to fall when Elizabeth and Darcy were taken out into the courtyard. Elizabeth shivered under Darcy’s coat. It was much too large for her, but it made her feel less exposed in her flimsy gown, and it had Darcy’s scent — a clean, musky scent she realised made her feel comforted. She glanced at Darcy uneasily. In his shirt-sleeves, he would surely freeze, but he had been insistent when she tried to refuse his coat.

  If he was cold, he gave no sign of it. His hands were bound before him as hers were, but his posture was proud. He held his head high as the thieves hurried about him, removing some goods from a cart. It was larger than the one that had brought them to the inn the previous night. Elizabeth watched with apprehension as they removed boxes and other goods. Was this to be their means of transportation? Though they were less likely to come across anyone who could help them at night, surely they might be able to signal to someone as they passed?

  “Do not worry, Miss Bennet,” Darcy whispered. “One way or another, we will find our way out of this situation.”

  Elizabeth gave him a long look, then nodded. Something about his complete self-assurance comforted her. If he believed they would escape, she would trust him. It was better than the alternative.

  “I think I understand what you mean about Wickham being unable to keep friends,” she said dryly as she spotted the man standing at the other side of the courtyard. “I wonder he does not speak to us.”

  Darcy followed her gaze. Wickham stood with his arms folded. When he noticed them looking at him, he glanced away at once.

  “Shame,” said Darcy.

  Elizabeth snorted. “I cannot believe he feels any shame.”

  “Nevertheless, he does. Of course, it will make no difference to his actions. Wickham has always had a remarkable propensity for managing his guilt and shame very well. I have never known him to allow them to influence him.”

  Elizabeth shot Wickham a look of loathing.

  “I cannot believe I was so deceived in him.”

  “You are not the first.”

  “What is all this whispering?” Jameson demanded. He came toward them, pointing his pistol. Darcy immediately moved in front of Elizabeth. Another man, who Elizabeth had heard called Kenneth stepped forward, but Jerry spoke up.

  “Jameson,” he said. “Calm down. They are going nowhere. I hardly think we can prevent them from talking amongst themselves.”

  “We could if we kept them separate,” said Jameson.

  Elizabeth stiffened at that and Darcy also tensed, his hands curling into fists in their binds.

  “True, but we do not have the luxury of space. It is better to allow the lovers to anticipate their marriage vows. Now, bring them.”

  Jameson moved Darcy and Elizabeth toward the cart. Though Darcy’s hands were tied, he sprang up in one leap. Elizabeth and Jameson looked at him in surprise. It was rare for a man of wealth to be in such good shape. Jameson moved toward Elizabeth with his hands outstretched to lift her into the cart. Before he could touch her, Darcy leaned down with his bound hands. Though hers were also tied, she allowed him to catch her and lift her into the cart in one smooth motion as though she weighed nothing. Elizabeth stumbled against him, and he steadied her as best he could.

  “Are you all right?” he murmured. Elizabeth felt an unexpected flush and could only nod.

  “Lie down,” said Jerry. “Aye, that’s right, side by side.”

  Elizabeth was reluctant to obey. Only when Darcy lay down did she sink down by his side and lay as close to him as she could. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew she should flush with shame at being so close to a man, but the rules of society were far behind them now. Besides, Darcy was warm and solid and strong. Being as close to him as possible was the safest she had felt since the moment she saw Wickham at Netherfield.

  The men piled boxes all around them.

  “What are they doing?” Elizabeth whispered to Darc
y.

  “Hiding us,” said Darcy.

  The men pulled pallets of wood over the boxes, covering the place where Darcy and Elizabeth lay.

  “Remember, we are right here, and we have pistols,” said Jerry in a pleasant voice as he placed the final one over them. Elizabeth heard scraping and thumping and knew they piled more goods on top of the pallets. They were completely concealed.

  “I am tempted to play a game to see how many times they remind us they have pistols,” she said. Darcy shifted so he was looking at her though she could not see him in the dark.

  “Perhaps we should take a wager.”

  Elizabeth smiled.

  “Give me your hands,” he continued.

  Elizabeth blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

  “I wish to see if I can release your ties.”

  “But what if they notice you have opened them when they release us? Have you forgotten they have pistols?”

  There was a faint smile in Darcy’s voice when he replied. “Once we have them opened, we can retie them loosely. We never know when we might pass through a town and can find a way to be free.”

  Elizabeth could not argue with him. She placed her wrists on his chest and felt that same curious flush of warmth when his strong fingers brushed the skin of her wrist. Darcy continued to work on them as the cart moved away, taking them to who knew where.

  Though Darcy and Elizabeth took it in turns to work at one another’s knots, it did no good. They were bound too well, and it was almost impossible to see how they had been knotted with such weak light. Elizabeth gave up after a few hours, but Darcy continued to try to free them. She declined to protest as his fingers on hers comforted her more than she could let on.

  They stopped briefly after a few hours. They blinked in the weak sunlight when their coverings were removed just long enough to be given some bread and water before they were covered again.

  “Where do you think we are?” Elizabeth whispered.

  “Nothing looked familiar. I tried to judge which direction we moved in, but I lost track of the twists and turns after a while,” said Darcy. His voice was tight with frustration. He continued to work on their ties, but his movements were clumsier now. Pressed against him as she was, Elizabeth felt him shiver. She could not blame him. Though she wore his coat, she could feel the frosty air seeping through cracks in the wood. And Darcy wore nothing but his shirt.

  “You are freezing,” she whispered.

  “Do not worry about me.”

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Though you are very impressive, sir, even you cannot fight the cold. The frost does not care that you are master of Pemberley.”

  “Working at these knots will keep me warm,” said Darcy. Elizabeth knew that was not true. She swallowed nervously and edged closer to him. He stilled at once.

  “We have a little room to move,” she said. She leaned up on one elbow as best she could. Through a chink in the wood, she could see Darcy’s curious expression. “I am afraid the cold does not care about the rules of proprietary,” she said. “We will have to keep one another warm as best we can if we are to come out of this situation.”

  Though she kept her words light, Elizabeth was apprehensive. Surely the proud, proper Darcy would balk at what she suggested. Any moment now, he would berate her for her forwardness…

  “That is an excellent idea,” he said in a firm voice. Before Elizabeth knew what he was about, he had looped his arms around her and pulled her to him, so she lay on his chest. Elizabeth was too astonished to move for a moment before her arms started to cause her discomfort. She wriggled about until she was in a comfortable position then nestled against him.

  “Is that better for you?” she asked.

  “Not exactly,” said Darcy. His voice was so strained, Elizabeth raised her head. “No, no,” he said. “Lie there. That is better.”

  “Are you growing warmer?”

  “Very much so.”

  Something in his voice made Elizabeth blush. But Darcy’s steady heartbeat in her ear made a feeling of peace wash over her. Soon, she drifted off to sleep.

  Elizabeth did not know how many hours she slept before Darcy gently woke her.

  “We have stopped.”

  Elizabeth blinked and blushed when she realised she had slept in Darcy’s arms.

  “How long have we travelled?” she asked.

  “Many hours. They stopped to change the horse at one point, but I could not catch any indication of where we were.”

  A scraping sound above them interrupted Darcy. The pallets were swept away, and three faces stared down at them. Jerry and Jameson grinned while Wickham’s face tightened and he turned away.

  “Do you not look very cosy together? If we had known you were enjoying the journey so much, we should not have disturbed you,” said Jerry.

  Darcy gently took his arms from around Elizabeth and sat up. Elizabeth joined him, feeling stiff. The sky was dark.

  “Where are we?” she asked.

  Jerry winked.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  “Yes, actually.”

  Jerry burst out laughing. “Oh, I am sure you would. Now, if you want to food, shift yourselves. We shall not spoon-feed you.”

  Darcy and Elizabeth were pushed down before the fire. They were in a forest clearing, but Elizabeth could see nothing that might indicate where they were. The men unpacked some rough bread and cheese and broke it up. They begrudgingly gave some to Elizabeth and Darcy who took it eagerly. The bread was almost stale. Elizabeth made a face as she chewed and Shaw frowned.

  “You should not insult your hosts by showing displeasure for their food,” he said in a chiding tone. “We only barely have enough for ourselves. I suppose it is not good enough for the great Mr and Mrs Darcy of Pemberley?”

  “I daresay most of this situation is not good enough for anyone,” said Elizabeth. She threw a look at Wickham. “Apart from some, maybe.”

  Shaw pointed his heel of bread at Darcy. His teeth gleamed in the firelight. “I like her,” he said. “She will keep you on your toes.”

  Jameson and Kenneth burst into bawdy laughter. Elizabeth shuddered and shrank further into Darcy’s coat. Darcy noticed her movements. He started to move, and the three men tensed at once. Shaw made to put his hand inside his coat pocket, but Darcy paused.

  “I wish to sit close to my betrothed to keep her warm,” he said coldly.

  Shaw hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

  “Don’t think of trying anything,” he said. “Remember what we will do.”

  “How could I forget,” said Darcy, dryly. He sat beside Elizabeth and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, so she leaned against him. She looked at him in surprise, and her lips moved in a silent thanks.

  “Aren’t you a gentleman,” said Jameson. “Will you not tell us all about your proposal? I am sure it must have been a shock. Wickham here cannot get his mind around it. I think he was rather sweet on the lady.”

  Wickham shot him an offended look. “I am sweet on many ladies. Miss Bennet just happened to be the most interesting one in the area.”

  Elizabeth stared at him. He briefly met her eye then turned away and poked at the fire with a long stick.

  “Go on. Tell us about this proposal,” said Shaw in a mocking voice. “I am sure by Miss Bennet’s expression, it was the most wonderful moment of her life.”

  “I should at least call it the highlight of the evening,” said Elizabeth.

  Jameson smirked.

  “But if you had just gotten engaged, why were you not together? I would have thought you might have celebrated with family and friends. It is strange, is it not, that Miss Bennet was hiding in a different room in the house and Mr Darcy was walking about the grounds.”

  Darcy raised his head and fixed the men with that haughty stare of his.

  “I proposed to Miss Bennet in private,” he said. “We only told her immediate family and Bingley. We did not wish it to be generally known because �
�� because Bingley planned to propose to Miss Jane Bennet, Elizabeth’s sister. He had planned it all along. I did not wish to take from his moment.”

  “A double wedding!” Shaw clapped his hands and affected a swoon as though he were a young maid. “How delightful. Your parents must be thrilled, Miss Bennet. Two daughters married to wealthy men in one night. But you did not say why you were not together.”

  Elizabeth and Darcy exchanged a look. Elizabeth’s eyes were wide though there was a resolve in them that lifted Darcy’s spirits.

  “It was because I had proposed in secret and we could not celebrate publicly,” he said with more than a touch of impatience. “Come, I do not wish to embarrass the lady, but I should not need to spell it out for you. Miss Bennet was waiting for me. I had requested some time alone with her. I was on my way to find her when I saw you through the windows and gave chase.”

  Except for Wickham, the other men laughed uproariously.

  “Meeting alone in the dark, eh? And she looks so proper and demure,” said Jameson. There was an insinuating glint in his eye. Darcy threw Elizabeth an apologetic look. She glared at him a moment before turning back to the men, her head raised high with defiance.

  “And why should I not? We are to be married. We intend to marry as soon as possible. My family have accepted it. Besides, we just wished to be alone together. It is not unheard of.”

  “No, it is not. We are the last to say so. Well, I can only beg your pardon, sir, for keeping you from the delights I am sure were in store for you,” said Shaw with an insinuating grin that turned Darcy’s stomach. “But your lady here kept us from gaining what Wickham owed us. There were objects in that house that could have provided us for years. I am sure you can agree that fair is fair.”

  “I hope you will write to my uncle, the Earl of Matlock, at once to explain the situation,” said Darcy. “The sooner we can finish this unpleasant situation, the better. Or, perhaps, I can write if you cannot. It will be better if he recognises my handwriting, anyway.”

  Shaw, Kenneth and Jameson grew sullen at that.