Follies and Vices

by Emily Russell

  “I will be perfectly comfortable here. I have grown accustomed to hard surfaces,” he said.

  Elizabeth climbed into bed and turned her back to him, too embarrassed to look at him. There was a gap in the thin curtain that allowed her to see the clear night sky. The moon was high, and a thousand stars sparkled. Her breath steamed before her. It would be another cold night. Behind her, she heard the creaks as Darcy settled down on the floor. How strange it was not to have him near her. She had grown used to having him beside her. It was freezing tonight…

  Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth rolled over to peer over the edge of the bed. Darcy lay on his back, his hand behind his head. In the sliver of moonlight, she could see his eyes bright as they looked at the ceiling.

  “The frost will grow heavier during the night.”

  “Undoubtedly. I can feel it already.”

  “We shall have quite a way to walk tomorrow. In the cold, it will be even more tiring.”

  “At least we will eat before we leave. That will make it easier.”

  Elizabeth agreed, but her mind worked as she considered what to say next.

  “A good night’s sleep will help even more.”

  She saw Darcy’s lips curve into a smile. “Perhaps we should do that then.”

  Elizabeth stifled an irritated exclamation.

  “It will be hard for you to sleep on such a hard floor. You will ache in the morning. It is not conducive to hard walking.”

  “Is it not? I had not thought of it.”

  Elizabeth felt her annoyance increase. She cast about for something else to say when she noticed Darcy’s smile widen. He knew what she was doing! He deliberately pretended innocence to amuse himself with her embarrassment. What a beast he was!

  Elizabeth flung herself back on the bed and rolled away from him. Let him freeze then.

  After a moment’s silence, she said, “So, will you sleep here or not?”

  As she felt Darcy’s warmth behind her back and the familiarity of his arms around her, she smiled to herself as she drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 23

  The next morning, Elizabeth woke to find herself alone. She felt a little stab of disappointment, but she rolled out of bed and broke the film of ice in the water jug to wash as best she could, shivering as the icy drops splashed over her. She looked at her unkempt hair in the chipped mirror and tried to arrange it as best she could. If it were much longer before they reached London, she would forget what she looked like when she was clean and dressed well.

  Martha was leaning over the fire when Elizabeth came in. She turned away with some eggs and warm bread.

  “You’ll need these for your journey, dear.”

  Elizabeth’s stomach growled with enthusiasm when the smell reached her.

  “Where is my husband?” she asked.

  Martha nodded toward the window. “Out with Daniel. Daniel is not as strong as he used to be, but he’d die before he’d admit it. Your man insisted on cutting up the wood for the fire as repayment for taking you in. He’s already drawn enough water to keep us going for a while.” She gestured for Elizabeth to sit down, but Elizabeth went to help her instead. “He is a fine man of yours. You are a fortunate girl.”

  Martha looked at her expectedly. Elizabeth smiled. She felt a fierce rush of pride to think she had the kind of man who would get up without being asked and pull his weight to make things easier for others, for all he’d had such a comfortable life.

  “I am fortunate.”

  “I will say he is fortunate too.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “I shall tell him you said that.”

  “I’ll tell him myself. Can you carry the plates? Thank you, dear.”

  Elizabeth went to the door to call the men for breakfast. She paused for a moment as she watched Darcy with his sleeves rolled up despite the cold, wielding an axe while Daniel arranged the wood into piles. A large mound already cut up sat in a shelter near the door. There was enough there to last Daniel several weeks at least. While they worked, Darcy and Daniel spoke together in low voices. Whatever Darcy said made Daniel laugh. Elizabeth’s heart swelled. To think, she had once considered Darcy devoid of every good feeling. Yet here he was, talking and laughing to this man like they were equals and enjoying himself to boot.

  As if sensing her looking at him, Darcy turned to her. His eyes warmed as he smiled at her.

  “Good morning, wife,” he said cheerfully. “You find me being useful.”

  “I do, indeed. And you find me likewise. I am bidden to tell you breakfast is ready. And I must warn you, it smells good enough for me to eat your share as well as my own.”

  Daniel burst out laughing, and Darcy grinned.

  After breakfast, Martha summoned Elizabeth to her room. She had opened a parcel. Elizabeth looked at it with curiosity. As Martha drew them out, Elizabeth stepped back.

  “I cannot take them. You will need them.”

  “What for?” Martha picked up the tidy pair of boots and tried to hand them to Elizabeth. “Come, lass. I saw the state of your feet last night. Those old things you have are no use to you, and these are no use to me. I don’t walk as far as I used to. They are wasted here. The pair I have now will do me just fine.”

  As Elizabeth continued to shake her head, Martha made a face and came toward her. She pushed the boots into Elizabeth’s hand.

  “If you don’t take them, I will be insulted,” she threatened.

  Elizabeth accepted them with a laugh. “That is unfair. How can I argue when you put it like that?”

  “You cannot. You can only accept. And you’ll do me a kindness. I will worry sick about you if I think you don’t have enough to get you to London.”

  Elizabeth sat on the end of the bed and laced them up. She beamed.

  “Almost a perfect fit.”

  “Aye. You are slightly smaller than I was when I got them but not by much. And I put your coats before the fire and made up a little parcel of food to take with you. It is not much, but it should see you on your way.”

  Elizabeth was so overcome with the woman’s kindness that she pretended to fiddle with the laces to avoid looking at her.

  “That is very kind of you,” she said, her voice thick.

  Martha smiled. “Your man has provided us with enough wood to get us through the worst few weeks. It’s taken a load off my mind. And you provided us with a new topic of conversation. We will spend many a night talking of you and wondering where you are now.”

  “We will write and tell you.”

  “It wouldn’t do any good. We can’t read. But if you can send us some way of knowing you made it safely home, we will be grateful.”

  Elizabeth and Darcy walked until the cottage was out of sight.

  “How fortunate we were to meet such people,” said Elizabeth.

  “Fortunate indeed. They had every reason to turn us away. I shall not forget what they did for us.”

  Elizabeth gave him a sidelong look. “I suppose something is to be said for country manners after all?”

  Darcy stared at her in confusion for a moment then his face cleared and though he laughed, he coloured.

  “Yes, I recall. Bingley teased me for what I said when I first arrived in Hertfordshire, but I truly believed country manners were quite savage. He told you about that, did he?”

  “He did.” Elizabeth grinned then sighed. “It will be strange to return to a normal life, will it not? How does one go back to sewing and dancing and gossip after an experience like this?”

  “How does one go back to shooting and card games and nights at the club?” said Darcy. “I have always felt a little out of place around other people. I shall feel even more so now.” He looked down at Elizabeth. “Except with you.”

  Elizabeth ducked her head to hide her embarrassment. Eventually, they would have to discuss what would happen when they returned to normal life. But this time and place did not seem ideal for it.

  “I do not know about that,” she said lightly. “
I noticed Miss Bingley likes you to know you have much in common. Do you recall how she read the second edition of your book and agrees with all your opinions?”

  “I — well, I suppose I had noticed something of that sort.”

  Elizabeth grinned. “Then I am certain she will arrange for someone to abduct her so that she can share this experience with you.”

  Darcy laughed. “I cannot imagine thieves, no matter how desperate, will take her. I believe they would pay her money to leave them in peace.” He paused. “I should not have spoken so.” But a smile still hovered about his lips.

  “I will tell no one. I will not even advice Miss Bingley on the best way to be abducted, or she will haunt these woods. And we owe Daniel and Martha too much for that.”

  “I don’t know…” said Darcy thoughtfully. “If anything will rid these woods of thieves and cutthroats, it is Miss Bingley. Perhaps we shall create a safer world for them?”

  “That is very true. We should give it more thought.” Elizabeth sighed and wiggled her toes, comfortable now in her new boots. “How long will it take us to reach London?”

  “Daniel said we are almost forty miles. With good fortune, we shall be there in a few days.”

  Forty miles. That was still a long way and who knew what or who lay between them and safety.

  They did not come to another house in time for nightfall. Instead, Darcy and Elizabeth pulled at some undergrowth until they found a little cave cut into a rock. Though it was cold, it was dry and sheltered from the icy breeze. They busied themselves with gathering what little vegetation they could to form a bed. Darcy found some dry sticks and built a small fire that was hidden from anyone who might pass by.

  “We did well,” said Elizabeth as she sat before the fire and looked about their little shelter. “I cannot think of any friend or acquaintance who could have done half as well as we have done. We have constructed a palace.”

  “Superior even to Pemberley,” said Darcy.

  Elizabeth started to ask what Pemberley was like but construing how mischievously that question might be taken, she bit it back. Fortunately, Darcy was eager to talk about his home, and he was soon painting a picture of the surrounding woods and fields.

  “I am sure it has woods enough to satisfy even your enthusiasm for them,” he added. “Assuming this adventure has not dampened your desire for them.”

  “That depends. Are the woods around Pemberley a den of criminal activity?”

  “They are not. At least not since Wickham left Derbyshire.”

  “Then they sound wonderful.”

  Darcy smiled, but he grew pensive. “I wonder what my servants will think has become of me? They will worry. Not just for me, though they will do that. But for what will become of me after I am gone. Everything would go to Georgiana and by that, her husband whenever she marries. They will have no control over who will be their master. They must be worried.”

  “Think of their joy when they discover you are safe,” said Elizabeth. “I am sure there will be many celebrations.”

  “I am sure. I just hate to think of their distress in the meantime.” Darcy picked up a small stick and idly drew shapes on the ground. “I also worry about Georgiana. If word gets out that I am missing, she will be a target for fortune hunters. I worry for her before I return. Even now, who knows what sort of unscrupulous cad is lurking about her with an eye to becoming master of Pemberley.”

  “Surely you have other relatives who will keep her safe? Your Aunt Catherine, for example?”

  Darcy gave a brief laugh. “You are too quick to believe my aunt is a person I would want my sister entrusted to. My aunt will roll right over her, and my sister is too timid to defend herself. She already dominates her daughter until poor Anne is a sickly thing without an opinion of her own. I would not like that for my sister.”

  Anne de Bourgh. Something unpleasant twinged in Elizabeth’s mind.

  “I heard something about your cousin.” She gazed into the fire, blushing deeply. “That you are engaged to be married.”

  “Who told you that? Wickham, no doubt?” Darcy shook his head. “I am not engaged to marry Anne and never have been. Any assumed future between us is a figment of my aunt’s imagination. Anne and I have no desire to marry one another.”

  “Oh.” Elizabeth had to concentrate on not smiling at that welcome news. “Well, not your aunt then. But you must have other relatives who will protect Miss Darcy?”

  “Her other guardian is my cousin, Richard Fitzwilliam. He will care for her. But Richard will also be occupied with searching for me so he will not always be with her. I hope he has sent her to my Aunt and Uncle Matlock. My aunt is formidable, though in a kinder way than Aunt Catherine. She will keep her safe from another fortune hunter.”

  “Another?”

  Darcy paused. He looked directly at Elizabeth. “Wickham tried to convince my sister to elope with him only a few months ago. She is only fifteen. He thought he could get his hands on her fortune and to avenge himself on me for refusing to give him more money after I reimbursed him for the church living he had declined. My poor sister was heartbroken when she discovered he had used her.”

  Elizabeth stared at Darcy, stricken. “I cannot believe I so taken in by him. How did he deceive everyone so thoroughly? No, I know.” She shook her head. “He was all smiles and charm. He said all the right things. We were all of us fooled by a shallow performance.” She threw a small stick onto the fire. “Though he tried to release us,” she amended.

  “He did not…” Darcy paused and picked up the stick again as if deeply interested in it. “He did not — did you care for him?”

  “I hardly knew him though I liked him. But I am not the sort of lady who fancies herself in love just because she is initially drawn to a man. No, I enjoyed his company, and I enjoyed a brief infatuation that died the moment he walked out of that room with a hand full of someone else’s goods. My sisters will believe none of this. They will try to convince me poor Wickham must have been wronged in some way.”

  “Wickham will always see himself wronged,” said Darcy. “That has been his nature ever since we were boys.”

  “Well, much as I hope his journey is as safe as ours, we shall not think of him any longer.” Elizabeth leaned back on the cave floor and propped her head on her hand. She smiled at Darcy. “Now, if you please, you will tell me all about how you learned to build a shelter in a cave.”

  Chapter 24

  The next day was a little warmer. Thanks to the food Martha had given them, they could eat before setting out though they would need to find more before nightfall.

  “I wonder how many miles we have walked since we escaped?” said Elizabeth.

  “What is your estimate?”

  “At least a thousand.”

  Darcy smiled. “Close. I should say, almost fifteen. It is a shame we happen are travelling during the shortest days of the year and had to take the more difficult trails, or we might have eaten up the miles.”

  “Very true. I shall curse those men forever that they did not take us in July instead.”

  “Can you imagine? Warmth and sunshine. Soft grass for shelter. No biting winds. Fruit there for the taking and streams for fishing in. It would not have been a trial at all.”

  “People who abducted during summer do not know their good fortunes.”

  “No. They are utterly spoilt.”

  Elizabeth burst out laughing. Darcy smiled at her, looking rather pleased with himself.

  “It might be remiss for me to say considering how much it has inconvenienced you, but may I say how glad I am you are with me? I could not have endured this if I were alone.” Her eyes widened. “Or worse; if I had been abducted with Mr Collins and I had to track for miles in his company. I should think I might have joined with the highwaymen to get away from him.”

  “I am glad I bring you comfort even if it is only that I am preferable to Mr Collins,” said Darcy with a brief smile.

  “Oh, it is not on
ly that. I said it because I did not want to fill your head too much with praise. I mean what I said. I am sincerely glad you are with me. I can only apologise for what it has cost you.”

  Darcy’s teeth flashed through his thick beard.

  “It could have been much worse. Any young lady might have wandered away from the ballroom and been abducted and me along with her.”

  “That is true. Even now, you might have been carrying my sister, Lydia, through the woods.”

  Darcy winced, but he tried to recover it with an apologetic look. Elizabeth laughed.

  “Do not worry. Though she is my sister, I know how trying she can be. I only hope she grows out of it.”

  Darcy imagined trying to manage this ordeal with Elizabeth’s annoying little sister by his side. Lydia would have howled and whined the whole journey until Darcy would have been tempted to leave her behind. It struck him that difficult as their situation was, a small part of him could not help rather enjoying it. Having Elizabeth all to himself, having her by his side during the day and in his arms at night — he could not help thinking it had been worth it though he should never admit it to her. He could only hope she had changed her opinion of him. The shock of hearing Wickham reveal what she really thought of him was with him even now.

  They came upon an old, ruined cottage where they spent the night. Though it had no doors or windows, it still had a roof. Darcy lit a small fire where it would not be seen by anyone passing outside. They had not eaten since that morning, and though Elizabeth did not complain, he knew she must be ravenous. He was resolved he would do whatever he had to do to find food the next day. Exhausted from walking and lack of food, Elizabeth was soon fast asleep. Darcy lay awake a little longer, feeling her steady breathing as she lay in his arms and he thought what he would give the world to have her like this in his bed in Pemberley.

  Elizabeth was quieter the next day. Though she did not complain, Darcy could see she was exhausted. When he saw a wild grouse in the undergrowth, he told Elizabeth to stay where she was while he fashioned a small spear by carving a stick with stone. He returned in triumph with the bird swinging from his hand. The way Elizabeth smiled at him made him feel like a hero.