Darcy, Knight Errant (Elizabeth and Darcy True Love Multiverse)

20. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Darcy hurried out to the garden. He and Bingley received information about an issue and someone needing help. With the meeting with the steward swiftly wrapped up, they wasted no time in embarking on their quest to uncover the source of the issue. He felt a sinking sensation in his heart, and he prayed his sister was alright. He attempted to convince himself that Georgianna was unharmed, but still there was an odd stuttering in his chest.

As he came outside with Bingley at his heals, he saw his sister and Mrs. Annesley huddled around someone sitting on the bench. As he approached, Mrs. Annesley broke away and, coming towards him, said, “It is Miss Elizabeth. She came all the way by foot. It seems she has fled Longbourn.”

Fled? What could have happened that would have caused Miss Elizabeth to flee her home? Darcy knew that her mother had been encouraging a match with that foul Mr. Collins, but beyond that, he knew of no danger she might be facing. Putting his questions out of his mind, Darcy rushed past Mrs. Annesley, only to halt as he took in Miss Elizabeth’s disheveled appearance.

The sight of Miss Elizabeth, with her usually impeccable brown curls now in disheveled strands, falling around her pale face, only emphasized the haunted look in her green eyes. She wore a delicate morning dress that offered little protection against the chilly autumn wind. The worst part was the visible bruise on her cheekbone, its dark hue contrasting with her pale skin.

Dropping to his knees, Darcy’s anguished voice filled the air as he cried, “My God, Miss Elizabeth, what on earth could have occurred to leave you in such a state?”

From beside Miss Elizabeth, Georgianna spoke up, her voice thick with tears. “She said her parents had something to do with it.”

Sighing, Miss Elizabeth said, “My mother was unhappy when I refused Mr. Collins. My father is supporting her attempt to dissuade me from my refusal.”

There was a hollow quality in Miss Elizabeth’s voice that made Darcy ache. Miss Elizabeth was light and enthusiasm. She was a gift to everyone around her, and the fact that her family had brought her so low was so horrendous. It pierced his heart in a way that hurt him and enraged him. He might not know the details of what had happened, but he knew in that moment that someone was going to regret hurting Miss Elizabeth, he would see to it.

He could not look away from the tears in Miss Elizabeth’s eyes, but Mrs. Annesley put her hand on his shoulder. “Mr. Darcy, we must get her inside and away from prying eyes. We certainly cannot help her out here.”

Nodding, he said, “You are right, Mrs. Annesley, we must get her inside.”

Standing, Darcy began to offer his arm when Georgianna said, “She wore her slippers walking here and has hurt her feet, William.”

Looking at his sister, Miss Elizabeth murmured, “Georgie, my feet do not hurt that badly. I am sure I am well enough to make it into the building.”

Shaking her head, Georgianna said, “But you do not have to.” Turning to Darcy she said, “Carry her, William. She should not be walking.”

Without hesitation, he obliged his sister’s command. His muscular arms encircled Miss Elizabeth, lifting her effortlessly and cradling her against his chest. When he heard Miss Elizabeth release a small gasp, he had to strengthen his knees and force himself to walk with purpose.

He had almost forgotten that Bingley was there until he saw his concerned expression as he hovered next to him. Realizing that it was important to prevent gossip, he said, “Bingley, clear the path so that the servants see nothing.”

He strode silently through Netherfield, Georgianna and Mrs. Annesley trailing after him. As he stopped at the top of the stairs trying to decide where he should bring Miss Elizabeth, Georgianna said, “Take her to my sitting room, William. My maid will not say a word. Lizzie will be safe there.”

Once again, following his younger sister’s instructions, he walked and if anything had been able to make him smile at that juncture; it was at that moment when he realized how much his sister had grown. She was giving orders like the grand lady she would someday be and all because she had been strengthened by her friendship with the wounded woman in his arms. Together, they would see her returned to her previous effervescent nature.

In no time at all, he was putting Miss Elizabeth down in his sister’s sitting room. When she hobbled the last few steps and sunk down onto a chair with a sigh, Darcy frowned, realizing just how injured she truly was. After everyone was in the room and Georgianna’s maid had been sent off to bring back tea, he sat down.

As he glanced at Elizabeth set in the chair across from him, Darcy couldn’t help but notice her carefully blank expression, prompting him to conclude that something had shifted in her world. A shift had occurred in his world as well. Carrying her changed everything, and in his heart and mind, she was no longer just Miss Elizabeth. She meant more than that to him now. He did not know what that meant yet, but he was not about to let it go without finding out.

The silence stretched out like an expectant pause before them all. Darcy wanted to know what had happened. He wanted to know all the details and wanted to identify every person responsible for the bruise on Elizabeth’s cheek. And yet it hurt him to think of her being so injured and so he held back, afraid to ask what had happened. But then into the silence, Elizabeth spoke.

“I suppose I have known for some time that things would come to a head, but in my foolishness, I hoped that if I ignored it or rather tried to circumvent the coming proposal, things would be well. I was wrong.” With a sigh, Elizabeth ran a hand down her face and winced as her fingers grazed the tender bruise on her cheek.

Around the room, four pairs of eyes watched her in obvious concern, but no one spoke. Elizabeth knew that they all wanted to know why she had shown up so out of sorts and bedraggled. So, gathering her fortitude, Elizabeth took a breath and continued, “After my walk this morning, I found myself stuck at the table with my cousin and my parents. Unable to bear witness to his horrendous table manners any longer, I excused myself, only to have Mr. Collins say that he wished to speak with me. With a firm voice, I told him I was certain he would not wish to hear my response to anything he had to say, and without waiting for a reply, I swiftly left the room.”

Georgianna, who had taken a seat beside her on the settee, took her hand in her own and squeezed it reassuringly. Elizabeth smiled gratefully at Georgianna before saying, “My mother stopped me in the hall and command me to return and agree to his proposal. When I refused, she dragged me back into the room and practically threw me at Mr. Collins’s feet. After a few sentences of his inept attempt at a proposal, I interrupted him. I told him in no uncertain terms that I would never marry him under any circumstances. Needless to say, my mother was not happy, though my father thought it humorous. They escorted me to my father’s study where I learned that my mother believed she would remain mistress over Longbourn until her death if I married Mr. Collins. I quickly dispelled her misconception, sternly warning her that if she dared manipulate me into such a vile predicament, I would ensure she was thrown into the very hedgerows she dreaded the moment my father died.”

The memory of her mother’s shock at the news was, now that the moment had passed, quite comical. Elizabeth pressed a hand to her lips to stop herself from bursting into unaccountable laughter. It was just all so ridiculous. Looking over at Georgianna, who still held her hand, Elizabeth saw sorrow while Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley’s expressions were harder, as if they wore twin masks of granite. Mrs. Annesley’s gaze held a gentle understanding, mirroring the comforting kindness Elizabeth saw when confiding in her aunt Madeline.

Determined to complete her story, Elizabeth pushed through the pain in her heart and disclosed the remaining details. By no means was she going to leave her father out of the tale. “My father dismissed my mother and revealed that my marrying his heir had long been part of his plan. He knew that Mr. Collins was foolish and incapable of taking possession of Longbourn without destroying it. He taught me and allowed me to manage things with the thought in mind that I could run Longbourn or at least mitigate the damage done by Mr. Collins. I’ve effectively run Longbourn for three years, reinforcing his perception that sacrificing me would be the best solution to the problem at hand. In the end, he pointed out that if I fled to my family in London, he would only have me brought back as I am not of age. He was looking forward to watching the struggle between myself and my mother as she would have free rein to force the issue in the ensuing months. He said that if I choose to forsake my family, at least he had allowed me to learn enough to take a position that was at least remotely respectable.”

“So I left. I took the money that I saved and left everything behind. I was afraid that if I staid any longer than necessary, I would be locked in my room.” Turning to Georgianna, she squeezed her hand and said, “I promised that I would see you today, so I came here. I do not know where I will go from here, but I wanted to at least say goodbye to you all and ask that you let my sisters somehow know what has happened. Otherwise, they will be terrified that I have gone missing.”

Gripping both Elizabeth’s hands in her own, Georgianna said, “Nonsense. You are in no shape to travel somewhere, nor are you prepared for it.” Looking across the small sitting room, Georgianna looked at the gentlemen and declared, “Elizabeth shall stay here with me, and we will do what we must to see her through. If that is not something you are prepared to do, I shall take her with me, and we will either go to Darcy House or Pemberley.”

Standing, Mr. Bingley exclaimed, “Of course Miss Elizabeth shall stay. Though we shall have to be careful that word does not spread that she is here, else her father may insist upon her return.”

Mr. Darcy also stood but instead of saying anything, he stalked closer to Elizabeth than kneeling before her, said, “I think that you have left something out of your tale.”

Confused, Elizabeth’s eyebrows drew together, and she shook her forehead ever so slightly, asking, “What do you mean, Mr. Darcy? I explained everything important.” Elizabeth could feel his gaze shift and focus on her sore cheek, the warmth of his attention causing her to blush. Self-consciously, Elizabeth reached up, hovering near the bruise that had so much of Mr. Darcy’s attention.

Mr. Darcy’s voice turned soft and yet somehow urgent when he inquired, “Who hit you?”

Wide eyed, Elizabeth licked her lips at the power of Mr. Darcy’s presence before she could say, “My mother hit me, Mr. Darcy, and my father laughed.”

As Darcy paced around Bingley’s study, an image came to him of a panther that he had once seen caged in a menagerie in London. Its pacing had intrigued him, its steps measured and filled with a sense of danger. Its motions had mesmerized him. They were calculated and controlled, exuding an air of menace. It was not until that moment that Darcy understood the animal’s predicament. The panther wanted to get out of its confinement and hunt and tear and rend, but it was imposable, so it paced.

Making another circuit of the room, Darcy looked back at Bingley, who sat at his desk, though he was certainly not calm. Turning to face Bingley, Darcy barked, “I cannot allow this to stand. Something must be done about Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.”

Darcy recognized the hardened expression on Bingley’s face, similar to the one he wore during their fencing sessions. He was planning a strategy of attack. Tapping on the table with his forefinger in a rapid beat, Bingley said, “I agree. Miss Elizabeth’s parents’ actions have been repugnant, and we must, of course, protect her however we can. Though now that I am thinking about the matter, I am worried about Miss Bennet and her other sisters. What is to say when they realize that Miss Elizabeth is well and truly beyond their control that they don’t just turn their focus on one of their other daughters?”

The sound of Darcy’s footsteps echoed through the room as he returned to his angry pacing. The moment that Darcy had seen Elizabeth’s condition, he had known that he would have to see to it that her parents regretted their actions. Realizing that he had to protect Elizabeth’s sisters as well only moved up the timeline. The fact that Mr. Collins hadn’t touched Elizabeth again was the only reason he wasn’t on his way to Longbourn to confront him.

The Bennets would find that he was not the sort of man to make an enemy of. Though he rarely used his connections, he had them in abundance. His uncle was an earl who was prominent in the house of lords, and that was only the beginning. Darcy had connections to various members of the upper gentry through blood and friendship. His cousin Richard was a colonel, facing off against Napoleon. Through Richard, Darcy had connections all over England with various retired military men. As far as Mr. Collins, well, he would quake at the knowledge that Darcy’s godfather was the archbishop of Canterbury.

“Darcy, I am going to go over to Longbourn. I know Jane will be worried about her sister, and who knows what her parents might be up to?”

Sitting down across from Bingley, Darcy said, “I know you are concerned for your lady love. You should make your way to Longbourn and see her for yourself. We want to make it clear that we are fully committed to taking care of her sister, and perhaps extend an invitation for her to join us for tea tomorrow with Miss Mary.” Eyes narrowing, Darcy smiled, “While you are there see if you can observe anything that might help us protect Miss Bennet and her sisters. I am going to get to writing a few letters that I want to send by express. I have a few ideas about how we might handle things, but I will need to consult with a few people.”

With a nod both gentlemen stood and left the room, Bingley to get ready to leave and Darcy to seek his room and his desk so that he could write his letters. As he made his way up the stairs and to his room, Darcy saw Mrs. Annesley coming out of the sitting room that she shared with Georgianna. Hurrying to her side, he asked, “How is Elizabeth?”

Frowning, the woman said in a low voice, “I put a little laudanum in some wine and encouraged her to drink it. She was in quite a bit of pain from her poor feet.”

“Her feet?” asked Mr. Darcy.

“Walking here wearing her slippers did not do her any favors and severely blistered and bruised the soles of her feet. She also has bruising on both of her arms, probably from such rough handling.” Sighing, Mrs. Annesley continued, “Really, all of this morning was too much of a shock for her, and I hope that a good rest will help her regain her equanimity.”

Pausing, she looked back at the door that she had just left before adding, “Though I fear such a betrayal will be difficult to overcome.”

Darcy could well imagine what Mrs. Annesley had said was true. Hadn’t he suffered when his father failed to hear him, when he warned him about Wickham’s duplicity? Still, how much worse was it to have a cherished parent want to sacrifice you because they were too lazy to see to others care themselves? Knowing Mrs. Annesley was waiting for a response, Darcy said, “I am going to my room to write a series of letters. I have an idea or two about how when might rectify the situation and protect Elizabeth and her sisters. Please summon me if there is any need at all.”

As he turned to go, Mrs. Annesley stopped him, saying, “Mr. Darcy, I know you are a man used to ordering everything in your life at your own will, but I would hate you to do something to hurt Miss Elizabeth unknowingly. Keep in mind that beneath the shock she has had, she is an intelligent woman, and she most likely has her own ideas about how things might be best handled. How would you like it if someone directed your life without your consultation? Whatever you do, do not move forward with any plans without consulting her.”

Running a hand down his face, Darcy let out a weary sigh. He wished he could take away the pain that Elizabeth was sure to feel when she woke, both physical and emotional, but he knew that would not be possible. He had only ever felt this way when he had seen Georgianna’s tears, the raw pain and betrayal etched on her face. It made him want to do something, anything, to help, but Mrs. Annesley was right. He needed to consult with Elizabeth before he acted.

It was odd realizing that he felt so strongly about a woman he had only recently met. Georgianna had talked of Elizabeth for some time before they had met. Until that point in his life, Darcy’s two closet friends were Richard and Bingley, and he had not even felt this strongly when either of them had needed his help. Was the experience of being friends with a woman significantly different from that of being friends with a man?