The Heir and Spare (Jane Austen Adaptations)

23. Arthur

Chapter 23

Arthur

T hey arrived at the vicarage, and things were much worse than he expected. Everyone was in good spirits, more or less, but they were overtaking the vicarage with nowhere else to rest. And more kept coming. Families were sitting about on the lawn. And the night air had grown more chill.

Miss Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears. “This is so much. These poor people.”

“Yes, we must bring them to the great house.”

“You are so good, so generous.”

He lifted her hand to his mouth, heart in his throat to see her so affected by the plight of others. “We must. We will help them be safe and comfortable. And then we must work to repair the roads.”

“Oh dear. How shall all of them make their way? Do we have carts enough?”

“I don’t know if carts are the best solution. But I suppose we can shuttle back and forth with the carts.”

“The carriage would be stuck in all this mud, and the narrowness of the roads now that they have been flooded.”

He studied them a moment. She was correct. And it was an excellent observation. “Thank you for that.”

He helped her down and turned to ask her to assess the needs of the families with him, but she had already headed away toward the first group on the lawn.

Nodding, he went the opposite direction in search of the vicar, knowing instinctually that she had things well in hand.

The vicar agreed with him and the need to move many of them to Pemberley. “I will keep as many as I can here at the vicarage. It will be closer for them to their homes. But the others need a place to stay. We could also use the schoolroom in town and the main hall.”

“Yes, but I think they will do well in our great hall. We shall petition others to help our cook, and it shall be well.” He gripped the good vicar’s shoulder. “Thank you. You are an excellent shepherd for our flock here. And I know they are always in good hands.”

“I am but a servant of the one good shepherd, and we are all doing our best.” A maid approached, and he answered a question about linens then turned back to Arthur. “Shall we begin with the carts?”

“We should. We have the one. And it has supplies for you.”

“Bless you. Your father is proud every day smiling down on you from heaven. I know he is.”

“Thank you. I often wonder what he would do.” He stepped nearer and lowered his voice. “You know Fitz has returned and is working to free more who are trapped. I see a change in him. I think he’s ready.”

“I can only hope. He will be a huge blessing when he’s ready. I saw it in him as a lad. Such a good heart and a brilliant leader. He has an edge you don’t have. Your softness serves you well, but his sharpness will also have a purpose.”

Arthur didn’t overanalyze the dear man’s assessment. He’d known him since he and Fitz were young lads, and he’d been telling them what to do for just as many years. He was good to the core, and Arthur trusted him.

They unloaded the wagon and sent the first family back to the house before he saw Miss Elizabeth again. And when he did, his heart warmed all over again. She had planted herself on the earth with a group of children all around her playing some game with rocks and sticks. He could only guess its purpose, but the children were enthralled. What was more intriguing to Darcy was the organization. The earlier chaos of arriving families was replaced by organized groups, everyone managing their belongings, looking ready to travel.

He shook his head in wonder. She was magnificent.

But Fitz had chosen her. His brother didn’t love her. He didn’t even know her. But he was a smart Darcy and had chosen her. He’d promised his brother a chance to win her over. He said they would talk this evening even if it was ridiculously late at night; he and Fitz would talk about what had transpired between him and Miss Elizabeth.

She obviously preferred Arthur. Didn’t she? But she had agreed to come to dinner. She had been sitting at his side. They had a familiarity, a comfort that he wasn’t certain he had ever attained with her.

What they had now was anything but comfortable. More like a rolling anthem about ready to crescendo in a great burst of noise over and over again. It was glorious. And anticipatory and beautiful.

But wasn’t she just what his glorious childhood estate needed? Wasn’t she the perfect woman to be Pemberley’s mistress? Would she not mold Fitz into the man he could become?

His old friend, Duty, commenced a battle in his mind over what he needed and what the estate—what Fitz—needed. He was certain with Miss Elizabeth as Fitz’s wife, Pemberley would thrive, blossom and grow. It would be protected for a multitude of generations to come.

But he, too, had an estate, a legacy to build, and a heart. He had a heart. And it just might break in two were he to give up Miss Elizabeth to the estate. He didn’t know if he could ever do such a thing.

She would have to choose. It would certainly rest in her heart to decide. It wasn’t as if he was going to tell her who to love, was he? But he could express her options in a way that she saw the full and accurate picture. The wealth and opportunity from Pemberley far outweighed his own. They would be comfortable and it would grow, but it wasn’t much compared to Pemberley.

What would his father say?

He had no idea. Would his father wish the heir to have the first pick of women?

Miss Elizabeth came to him then, cheeks flushed, eyes glowing, and as he reached for her hand in welcome, he knew right then he didn’t care. He didn’t care one whit what his father would have done or if she’d be better for Pemberley. He would do everything he could to win her no matter what it took.

“And how are things?” Her voice was bright and happy.

“We have begun the process of carting everyone back.”

“So we are not as needed here?”

“I guess not, though there is always more to be done.”

“I thought we might walk the roads a bit to make sure there aren’t some who haven’t made it?”

He hesitated but a moment, thinking of the danger, discomfort, and growing chill, and then nodded. “Of course. I’ll ask for two lanterns.”

They could be walking for a long time in the dark, and the two of them couldn’t do much to help anyone they found. But they would be able to go back for help. And perhaps they could bring some others.

Miss Elizabeth beckoned to someone and in a moment, three larger boys stood at his side. “These three would like to help anyone we find get back to here. I think with some extra muscle, we should be fine.”

He could only nod, once again amazed at her ingenuity and planning. “I agree. Thank you to you three. Tell me your names.”

They told him in turn. Brothers. Elijah, Malachi, and Isaiah. “Those are excellent, strong names.”

“Our mama found them in the Bible, listening to our good vicar on Sundays.” Elijah grinned. “She’s real proud of that.”

“As she should be.” Miss Elizabeth reached for the lantern that someone had brought from the house. Darcy hefted the other. “Now let us be off. I heard of a particular street that might not have been cleared of everyone.”

Everyone followed Miss Elizabeth who stepped away with determined strong steps out into the darkness. The light lit her face, and once again Darcy was enchanted. She was a beacon. The warm glow brought out the beauty in her features. He could have stared all evening.

They kept their voices down and listened as they walked. Every now and then Miss Elizabeth called out, “Hello! Is anybody there?”

House after house appeared empty. Miss Elizabeth walked slower and slower. With any luck, everyone had been cleared out and all were safe. She rubbed her arms under her coat.

“Are you taking a chill, Miss Elizabeth? I cannot forgive myself if you become ill. Perhaps we should return? We can ask the servants to do one more pass-through this evening?”

But then they heard scratching.

“Hello?” Miss Elizabeth hurried toward the sound. But after a few steps, she screamed and disappeared.

He ran forward, tripping on root branches and sliding on newer mud, bringing him to the edge of a hole of some sort. One of the boys behind him reached out to grab him by the collar.

He placed a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you.” Then he yelled, “Miss Elizabeth!”

She moaned down below.

He lowered his lantern, trying to assess what he was seeing.

The other three approached carefully. “She’s down there. I see her.” Elijah pointed.

“Mama always said he could see in the dark.” Malachi nudged him.

“Elizabeth.” He pleaded with her in his mind to be well.

She didn’t respond.

“I have to get down there.” He turned to the boys. “Help lower me. Then you can run for help. But someone needs to be with her.” He turned to lower his legs backward, reaching for their hands.

“Forgive me, Mr. Darcy, but you don’t know where you’re landing.”

“Just make sure I don’t land on her.” He gritted his teeth as roots scratched at him through his shirt. He lowered himself as far as he could go, then grasping their hands, he was lowered a bit more before he said, “Let me drop. Then go for help.”

They did, and the ground came sooner than he was expecting. “Oof.”

“You alright, Mr. Darcy?”

“I am. Can you toss me the lantern?”

They did, and he caught the glowing object out of the darkness. It was an interesting experience to see only light coming toward you when all else was dark. He held it up. They were in a hole, with wet, slippery mud at his feet. “Elizabeth.” He stepped carefully to the other side of the space.

She did not respond, and his heart nearly stopped. “Elizabeth. Can you hear me?”

He lifted her body in his arms just to hold her close. Her heart beat. She felt warm, though wet. “Let’s get you dry. I’ll hold you, darling. You are going to be well.” He prayed his words would somehow come true simply by being spoken. He moved her to the least wet part of their hole and leaned her up against the wall of dirt. Then he shined the light on her, looking for cuts or bleeding or anything broken. She seemed to be free of anything obviously wrong. He cleared the hair from her face and placed the palm of his hand on her cheek. “Elizabeth, can you hear me?” He gave her shoulders a gentle shake. “Elizabeth, wake up. Come back. We have more work to do, don’t you know?” His voice caught. The longer she remained unresponsive, the more his heart pounded. “Please.” His throat tightened. He wiped some moisture from his eyes.

Then he ran hands down her arms, trying to keep her warm. He lifted her again and sat with her on his lap. “There. At least you’ll be warm.”

He cradled her close to his chest and rested his chin on the top of her head. It wouldn’t be long. Then they could get her to safety and get her warm and the doctor would come and she would be fine. He hoped.

But time passed. More time than he thought should have.

Then drips of water started falling onto him. He held out a hand. “Rain?” He leaned his head back against the dirt wall. “No.” He swallowed.

Elizabeth shifted against him. “Did you just say no?”

His mouth twitched. “Are you well? Elizabeth, are you awake?”

She nodded. “Barely.” She shifted. “Am I… Am I sitting on your lap?” She lifted her head off his chest and then groaned and lay it back against him. “I’m sorry. I can’t move. Not yet.”

“Stay still as long as you need. If I wasn’t so frantically worried about you waking up, I would have enjoyed this situation above any other in my life.”

She chuckled against him and then groaned again.

“What hurts?”

“My head. My…my side.”

That didn’t sound good. But at least she was speaking. “You fell. I think the ground just opened up?”

“It did. It felt like the ground just moved beneath me.” She went still.

“Elizabeth?”

She didn’t respond. “Elizabeth. Stay with me. Help is coming. Elizabeth. Keep talking.”

She took a deep breath. “All right.” She rubbed her nose. “I think there’s someone else.”

He lifted the lantern, looking around their space as best he could. “I don’t see…wait. There is something.”

“I heard scratching. I think I landed on him.”

Darcy did not want to move, but he held up his lantern to try and get a better look. “Looks like perhaps there is something over there. When help comes, we will take a look.”

The raindrops became larger and more frequent. Somewhere in the pit the sound of actual falling water became a stream, pouring in.

“That doesn’t bode well.” He squinted up into the darkness. Their heads and upper bodies were somewhat shielded by a clump of dirt above them. But he was not unaware of the precarious situation. The pit could fill. A clump of dirt fell from the ledge above, landing on their feet. The whole thing could cave in on them, covering them.

“I knew you would come.” Her soft voice warmed him to his toes. “I fell, but I knew it would be all right. You would come. You would find a way. You’re like that.”

He hugged her tighter against him. “I would do anything to keep you safe.”

She snuggled in closer. “I know.”

Her soft words, her confidence in him, the tenderness between them was the sweetest thing he’d ever experienced. It was as if a circle of love enveloped them, holding them close and warm even with the wet and cold all around them.

In that moment, he didn’t think he could ever lose her. Here was the woman of his life, the mother of his children, the mistress of his estate, his partner and love. He swallowed. If he didn’t love her yet, he knew it would be very easy to do so. He’d never met anyone of her caliber. The sincerity alone was enough to make him want to pursue her. She’d openly disliked and disapproved of him. His fingers cradled around her arms, gently holding her as best as he could. He hoped she was truly well. He would do all in his power to help her be so.