Follies and Vices

by Emily Russell

  “If we collapse, our escape will do us no good. We both need to sleep and rest. We can walk again in a few hours, and we will think more clearly for it.”

  Elizabeth could not disagree. Her head felt so heavy it was aching.

  “Do you have any idea where to sleep?”

  “I am keeping my eye open for shelter. We shall take the first one we can find if it is empty.”

  The sun was rising when Darcy gave a triumphant cry.

  “There. That should do.”

  Elizabeth looked to where he pointed at a little cottage. A small outhouse stood behind it. It was some way off the road, almost hidden by the trees.

  “You do not think they will look for us there?”

  Darcy shook his head.

  “We have passed several shelters already that would have made better stops. Besides, if they had as much laudanum as you say, they are probably still sleeping.”

  Chapter 21

  Elizabeth’s legs felt weak with relief as they stumbled toward the outhouse. If someone lived in the cottage, there was no sign of them, and Elizabeth and Darcy had agreed it might be best not to risk meeting with anyone until they were some miles further. The outhouse was clean and smelled of sweet hay and horse. Darcy helped Elizabeth climb up into the loft. Though the hay was comfortable, it was still chilly, and she could not suppress a shiver as they lay down. She tried to hide it but could not. Darcy sat up and looked down at her. Without speaking, he removed his coat. Elizabeth began to protest, but he shook his head.

  “I cannot have you fall ill.”

  “And I cannot have you fall ill. I do not know if you have noticed, but I am quite a bit smaller and lighter than you. I would have trouble throwing you over my shoulder and carrying you if anything were to happen. Besides, I already have a coat.”

  Darcy smiled. “The thought of you carrying me is rather entertaining. Perhaps I shall affect a swoon so I may see your attempts.” He nodded down at her. “Remove your coat.”

  Elizabeth shivered and shrank into the woollen depths even deeper and shook her head. “I cannot. My fingers are numb. I shall freeze if I do.”

  “You shall not freeze, I promise you. Remove it. It is only for a moment.”

  Elizabeth looked into his solemn eyes and sighed. Her numb fingers fumbled with the buttons.

  “If you will allow me…”

  Before Elizabeth knew what he intended, Darcy unbuttoned her coat. Though she wore a dress underneath, the gesture felt so intimate she almost forgot the cold for a moment. Darcy gently drew the coat off her then gestured for her to lie on the straw. He gathered the straw about her until it made a nest on one side. He hesitated for a moment.

  “We will keep far warmer if we are close together. The two coats will cover us both, and our bodies will keep the other warm. It will be the safest way to sleep.”

  Elizabeth hesitated. The thought of sleeping in Darcy’s arms was as shocking as it was appealing. It was one thing to do so when they were held captive and had no other choice — or at least Elizabeth was prepared to pretend they had not. It was quite another to lie in one another’s arms now they were free.

  But then, it was a little silly to be missish about it at this stage. Her reputation had been compromised a hundred times over already. At least this time it would be for their benefit. She nodded to Darcy though she could not look at him.

  He lay down beside her and gathered hay around them both until they were cocooned in it. Then, he pulled the two overcoats over them both and held out his arm. Elizabeth moved into it and rested her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her. Elizabeth hardly had time to register how warm and safe she felt before sleep claimed her.

  It was late afternoon when they opened their eyes. Despite the cold, Elizabeth had never felt so secure. Though she knew she should pull herself free of Darcy’s arms, it was too comfortable there.

  “We should go,” said Darcy quietly, though he made no move to release her. “We are not far enough away yet for my liking. We should put more miles between them and us before finding somewhere to rest tonight.”

  “I suppose we should,” said Elizabeth. She remained where she was for another moment, resisting the urge to nestle down further into Darcy’s arms. With a sigh, she disentangled herself. When she turned to look back at him, he smiled.

  “What?” she asked. She self-consciously put a hand to her hair, but he stopped her.

  “Nothing,” he said as he plucked straw from her hair.

  It was difficult to go out into the freezing day, but they felt revived by the long sleep. Elizabeth broke up the bread and handed him a share. He looked at it and the piece she had left in her hand and shook his head.

  “I am not hungry.”

  As if in protest, his stomach growled. Elizabeth’s lips curved into a smile.

  “Please do not starve of gallantry. I already told you I could not carry you if you faint.”

  Darcy’s lips quirked with a smile, but he still looked reluctant as he took the bread.

  “I wish I could have found some money before we left. We shall have to find food before long.”

  “We will surely come to a church or a cottage where we will find someone who will feed us. My family has never turned anyone from the door when they approached for food.”

  “I cannot imagine your mother taking kindly to people who look as disreputable as us,” said Darcy. “I do not mean any disrespect to her, but she strikes me as easily frightened, and we strike me as easily frightening.”

  Elizabeth laughed, her good humour infectious.

  “No, she tends to believe everyone who approaches the door is there specifically to rob us and murder us in our beds. The rest of the family have a silent agreement that we should never tell her about any undesirables. It would be difficult to hear her response otherwise.” Elizabeth fell silent for a moment. “My mother is not all bad,” she added. “Much as she shrieks, she would be even more distressed if she thought we had sent anyone away hungry. When she hears someone is there, between her cries that we are to be murdered, she gives orders that the finest beef should be sliced up for them to have with their bread. She is truly generous. Just — a little excitable.”

  Darcy chewed the hardening bread as he contemplated her words. One of his struggles with his attraction to Elizabeth was the thought of being connected to her trying family. Her words gave him new insights into Mrs Bennet’s character. Whether or not he liked it, he and Elizabeth would have to marry, and properly this time. And he found the idea itself very appealing. Would her family be so bad? It was not as though Mrs Bennet would be an everyday presence in their lives.

  “Who have you missed the most?” he asked. “Your oldest sister?”

  Elizabeth sighed. “Yes. Dear Jane. I know how much she will suffer in my absence. She is the most tender-hearted of all of us and feels deeply. I think she would be the most affected by this even if we were not so close.”

  Darcy stared at her in some surprise.

  “What is it?” Elizabeth asked with a bemused smile.

  He shook his head. “Forgive me. I never thought of Miss Bennet as someone who feels deeply. She always appears so serene and calm. It is hard to know her.”

  “I can assure you that you are wrong,” said Elizabeth in an offended tone. “Jane has very deep feelings. She just does not wear them on her sleeve like so many others.”

  Darcy held up his hands. “I meant no slight against Miss Bennet. I am sure she is capable of the finest feelings. But her countenance does not betray them.”

  They walked on in silence. Darcy looked lost in thought.

  “You say Miss Bennet feels more than appears?” he said finally.

  Elizabeth looked at him in confusion. “May I ask where these questions tend? Why are you so interested in my sister’s feelings?” An unfamiliar pang of fear gripped Elizabeth’s heart. Jane was the acknowledged beauty of the family. Was it possible Darcy harboured feelings for her? Perhaps that
was what made him so cold and severe, seeing the woman he loved being courted by his closest friend. Her heart squeezed at the thought, and she watched Darcy anxiously.

  He smiled at her. “I am sure you must understand why. Your quickness of mind will provide the answer in a moment.”

  Elizabeth’s mind did not feel very quick right then. Her anxiety almost choked her.

  “She and Mr Bingley have a lot to say to one another when they meet,” she said, watching him carefully, scanning his face for some sign of heartache.

  “They do. And you have struck on the very reason for my questions. Bingley is enamoured of your sister. I believe he prefers her to every other woman he has ever met. But your sister’s feelings were a mystery to me. I watched her, searching for some sign that she returned his affection and was dismayed to think she did not. I was in fear of my friend marrying a woman who did not love him.”

  “Do you think Jane is as mercenary as that?”

  “Of course not. I would not dishonour her so. But Bingley is an amiable man and will make an easy husband for a woman. If he proposed to your sister, of course she would accept him. I would think her a fool if she did not. But Bingley is a romantic. It would cause him untold misery if his wife did not return his feelings.”

  “I can assure you, Jane returns his feelings most heartily,” said Elizabeth with heat, though she felt a sweet rush of relief to know Darcy did not harbour a secret affection for her sister. “She has never felt that way about anyone before. She loves Mr Bingley.”

  Darcy looked down at her with a smile that lit up his face and caused Elizabeth’s heart to race.

  “I cannot tell you how glad I am to hear that. It has worried me.”

  Elizabeth could not stay offended. She returned his smile.

  “Mr Bingley is fortunate to have a friend so concerned for his happiness.”

  “As is your sister. I think they will do very well together.”

  They trudged on, though Elizabeth winced as the heavy boots she had taken, already much too big for her and stuffed with the sparse vegetation they could find to make them fit better, cut at her feet. She tried to hide it, but Darcy noticed.

  “We will stop somewhere soon,” he said. “I could carry you if you like…”

  Elizabeth laughingly refused. “Then we shall both be too tired to travel. No, it is not so bad. It will be better when I can remove them.

  The evening drew in early. Darcy anxiously scanned the surrounding scenery, desperate for some sign of life. They had emerged from the woods onto sparse land. He released a relieved breath when he saw the faint flickering of a candle in a window in the distance.

  “What if they are more thieves?” Elizabeth asked as they drew closer. Though she was so tired and hungry, she was sure she would have embraced them no matter who they were.

  “We will try to see them first.”

  He told Elizabeth to stay hidden as he went to peer through the window. Elizabeth shook her head.

  “You are much larger than me. You will loom as an enormous shadow and scare them witless if they should see you. I will go.”

  Before Darcy could prevent her, Elizabeth hurried to the house. She smiled as she heard Darcy’s muffled grumble of frustration.

  The cottage was a simple stone building, but it looked well kept. Elizabeth noticed some tools outside. They looked clean though they were clearly used with regularity. That was a good sign. Thieves were less likely to be so conscientious.

  She tiptoed to the small window. A thin net hung as a curtain. That suggested a woman was present. Her hopes increased.

  Elizabeth stood to one side and turned to peek through without being seen. An elderly woman sat beside a lamp, her head bent over what looked like stockings. A darning needle flashed in the dim light. Elizabeth could see no one else there. Surely the woman did not live alone in a place that had thieves passing by? She bit her lip. Longing for food and shelter warred with her desire not to frighten a lone elderly woman in the dark. Perhaps there was an outhouse where she and Darcy could shelter without the woman’s knowledge? Maybe they could…

  “What are you doing?”

  Chapter 22

  Elizabeth’s heart almost stopped at the sound of the harsh voice right behind her. She turned around, one hand already up to defend herself, to be confronted with an elderly man. His bright blue eyes glared at her. He bristled with outrage.

  “We have nothing for you to steal, and I have a gun. Do not think you can bring any trouble here.”

  Elizabeth looked to see Darcy running across the clearing toward them. She shook her head at him to stop. The man turned to see who she looked at.

  “Do not come any closer,” he snapped, his voice ragged with fright. “I will defend myself and my wife. I don’t care who I have to hurt to do it.”

  Darcy stopped at once and held up his hands to show they were empty.

  “I am so sorry,” said Elizabeth. “I did not mean to frighten you. We are not here to hurt you.”

  She spread her hands so the man could see she had nothing on her. He looked her up and down before whipping his head around to see if Darcy had moved. When he saw he had not, the man grunted.

  “What do you want? Why were you spying on my wife?”

  “I was not spying — well, perhaps I was. We are lost, and we are trying to get to a town. We wish to find somewhere we can spend the night. We saw the house, but we feared there might be thieves there, so we wanted to check before we asked for help. I am so very sorry I frightened you.”

  “What is going on?” The cottage door had opened, and the elderly woman stood there looking at them all in amazement. Her voice was melodious, and though her years were advanced, she still had a spark of youth about her. She looked at her husband. “Daniel, what is the matter?”

  Daniel gestured toward Elizabeth. “I caught someone looking through the window at you, love. I thought she was up to no good. I am still not sure she is not.”

  “I am not,” said Elizabeth. “My husband —“ she gestured toward Darcy, “and I are looking for shelter for the night. If you can provide us with a bed of straw and maybe — maybe some bread — my husband will reimburse you once we find our way to a town.”

  “Out of the question,” said Daniel. “We do not know who you are.”

  “My name is William Gardiner, and this is my wife, Elizabeth,” said Darcy. He had moved closer though he still held up his hands to show he meant no harm. He glanced at Elizabeth. “We had an accident in our carriage on our way to London. We have walked since yesterday to find our way to a town. If you cannot shelter us, can you at least tell us where we are and how we can find our way to London?”

  “Come in, both of you,” said the old woman.

  “Martha —“

  “Daniel, listen to how they speak. They do not sound like desperate thieves, do they? I will not turn them away and have them die of cold during the night. Besides, look at the size of that fine fellow. If they meant any harm, he could have knocked the two of us about by now, couldn’t you, sir?”

  “I —“ Darcy did not quite know how to answer such a question, but it was enough for Martha who stood back and gestured into the house.

  “Come along. We don’t have much, but we can get you warm and fill your stomachs before morning.”

  Elizabeth could have kissed the old lady.

  There were not enough chairs. Elizabeth took Daniel’s while Darcy and Daniel sat near their wives. Darcy and Elizabeth spooned a bowl of thick stew, dipped with hunks of bread. Elizabeth was sure nothing had ever tasted so delicious in her life. As they ate, Daniel and Martha questioned them. Darcy and Elizabeth were hesitant to give anything away that might endanger the couple.

  “We were recently married and were travelling to my house in London when our cart overturned,” said Darcy. “Fortunately, my wife and I were not injured, though we cannot say the same for our poor horse. Can you tell us where we are?”

  “Nearly forty miles west
of London.”

  Elizabeth’s heart leapt as she and Darcy looked at one another. It was not nearly as far as they had feared. They could be there in a matter of days. Unfortunately, it meant they would have to pass through lands that were a notorious haunt for highwaymen, thieves and murderers. They were not safe yet.

  “I wonder you can live here with so many dangers about,” said Elizabeth to Martha. Martha smiled.

  “We have lived here all our lives. We grew up together, Daniel in this house and me in one close to here that no longer exists. Our children were born in this house. The living ones have all gone abroad, but we could not bear to leave here. The rogues know we have nothing of value, so we are mostly left alone.”

  They spoke long into the evening. Once Daniel lost his initial reserve, he was an engaging companion who told them many stories about the woods. By unspoken agreement, the old couple asked them no more questions about their identity, to Elizabeth’s relief. Then again, they maintained their safety by making sure they had nothing of value. That would undoubtedly include information on a well-spoken young couple who could fetch a handsome ransom.

  When Elizabeth began to yawn, Martha stood up.

  “You will have our room tonight. The bed is not large, but it is comfortable.”

  “We cannot possibly…”

  “We will hear of nothing else. You are our guests. We will sleep in the boys’ beds comfortable enough,” said Daniel.

  Blushing, Elizabeth could not look at Darcy as the couple led them to the tiny little room off the main one. A small bed stood in the middle with a worn but clean patchwork blanket thrown across it. Though they had shared a bed before, having this couple treat them as husband and wife and expect them to share a bed felt far more intimate than anything else. But it would have looked strange if Elizabeth protested. They had no choice but to thank the couple until they left.

  Darcy insisted on sleeping on the floor.