Chapter 26
As Darcy rode back to Pemberley after a day spent with two of his tenants, the snow and wind intensified, and he hurried the pace of his horse.
The first cries for help were far away —so weak that he barely heard them —but he reacted immediately, struggling to discern their location and to whom they might belong.
He followed the sounds towards the bridge with fear and disbelief as he recognised Georgiana’s voice. Alarm froze him more than the cold as he saw Georgiana and Elizabeth on the ground, holding each other and talking incoherently, their gestures erratic.
He dismounted and ran to them. As he got closer, he noticed the skates on their half boots then Elizabeth’s wet dress and feet. Her lips were purple and trembling.
“The ice broke,” Georgiana cried. “I believe Lizzy is hurt. She pushed me away, but she fell into the water…”
He quickly removed Georgiana’s remaining skate then grabbed her arms.
“Georgiana, listen to me: you must take my horse and go to Mr. Slade. Tell him to bring a carriage…something…to carry Miss Bennet. Then go home and change your clothes. Do you understand me? I will see to Miss Bennet—go now!”
The girl nodded, tears falling down her face.
Darcy nearly tossed her onto the saddle then returned to Elizabeth who looked at him abashed, a tentative smile on her shivering lips.
“I will take off your boots,” he explained as he removed his gloves and began the task. Delicately, he unlaced and pulled off the first boot.
As he feared, it had already started to freeze, and as her foot was swollen, she moaned in obvious discomfort. He then immediately removed the other boot. Her stockings were soaking wet, as was her gown.
“We should take shelter under the bridge. Do not worry; help will arrive in a few minutes.”
She nodded and attempted to rise, but her feet slipped.
“I will carry you,” he said and lifted her in his arms before she could respond; she instinctively put her hands around his neck. A minute later, he sat her on the ground under the bridge, her back against its wall of dirty snow.
“Your feet are in the greatest danger of being harmed. How long were you in the water?”
“A few minutes…it happened just before you arrived…”
He then took off his greatcoat, jacket, and waistcoat.
To Elizabeth’s astonishment, he pulled off her stockings, exposed her reddened wet feet, and began to gently massage them.
Surprisingly, he then held them in his palms to warm them a moment before wrapping them tightly in his waistcoat and jacket.
He put his thick greatcoat back on and sat next to Elizabeth. She had already thrown away her wet, dirty gloves and was rubbing her hands together.
Unceremoniously, he picked her up and placed her in his lap.
She cried out and glared at him, placing her hands between their bodies.
“Miss Bennet, you cannot stay on the ground; your gown is wet, and it will freeze. Please understand: I am doing this for your safety. We must keep you warm…”
“I know…it is just that…you are right of course…thank you…”
He put his arms around her, and she reluctantly leant against his torso.
He began to rub her back, her arms, and her feet still wrapped in his clothing.
Slowly, she started to warm, and the shivers inside and outside her body ceased.
There was nothing improper, nothing romantic in his touch —she understood that.
He only wanted to protect her from freezing until help arrived.
He opened his greatcoat, pulled her closer, and struggled —unsuccessfully —to wrap it around her. His body’s heat warmed her through the thin lawn of his shirt, and without thinking, she rested her head on the base of his neck, sliding her hands around his waist.
“Is it better now?” he asked softly, his voice barely audible above the sound of the wind.
“Yes…thank you…much better…I might fall asleep soon…”
“No, please do not fall asleep. It will only take a few moments to return home. We will have hot tea and soup very soon…”
His voice comforted her, his arms protected her, and his strength allowed her to relax under his care. She heard his heart beating and wondered why it was racing so. She moved her head, then raised her eyes to him and met his worried gaze.
“I hope Georgiana arrived safely…” she murmured.
“I am sure she did. Even you said my sister is an experienced rider. Someone should come very soon.”
“Yes…I am very sorry for my silly accident. I am giving everyone so much trouble…”
“You protected Georgiana from falling, did you not?”
“I am glad she is safe. I should have been more careful but…I have skated all my life, and such a thing has never occurred…so silly of me to fall in such shallow water.”
“You avoided my question,” he said, and her heart skipped a beat when a smile appeared on his face and his fingers gently stroked her face.
She closed her eyes to enjoy the caress, and his fingers slowly moved to her forehead.
“Your face is freezing,” he whispered.
She smiled and lifted her hand from behind him, brushing her fingers over his face.
“Your face is frozen too…”
They were inches from each other, their hot breath meeting, their lips almost touching.
“I thank you for finding us…for saving me again. I might become accustomed to your saving me. What will I do when that does not happen?”
“Most of the time, you were in danger because of me…or someone from my family…”
“Oh —that is truly nonsensical, sir. You receive gratitude poorly.”
“You are no better at it, Miss Bennet.”
“You have frozen snowflakes on your eyelids,” she replied then pressed gentle fingers over his closed eyes. He moved his head a little, and his lips touched her wrist.
Both remained still, and his lips lingered against her cold skin. She slowly withdrew her hand, and her fingers brushed his face while his lips traced a burning line towards her palm.
Gazing into each other’s eyes, their faces moved closer, their lips almost touching —their desire stronger than the danger and their tenderness more powerful than their fear.
A sound startled Darcy and brought him back to the present. Dazed, he saw Georgiana a short distance away, staring at them in bewilderment. Distressed, he gathered himself, put Elizabeth down, and rose.
“My dear, what are you doing here? You are still wet! You will freeze to death!”
“Mr. Slade is coming with a carriage…in a few minutes. I brought a blanket…for Lizzy…and some brandy to warm you —Mr. Slade said. Is Lizzy harmed?” she whispered in apparent turmoil.
Darcy took the blanket, hastily wrapped it around Elizabeth, and helped her take a swallow of brandy.
“I am not harmed, dearest,” Elizabeth said, grimacing from the strong drink. “My feet were hurt and frozen, and Mr. Darcy took my boots off. Oh, look at you, my darling…the edge of your dress and shoes are wet —”
Mr. Slade’s strong voice made his arrival known. He stepped down under the bridge and, together with Darcy, picked up Elizabeth and took her to the carriage.
“Georgiana, come,” Darcy invited his sister, but she shook her head.
“No, I will ride back home —much quicker than by carriage.” She hurried to the saddle, and in the blink of an eye, she disappeared into a curtain of snow.
Inside the carriage, Darcy arranged the blanket around Elizabeth and sat opposite her while Mr. Slade hurried the horses.
Their moment of complete intimacy was gone, and its consequences appeared.
His body ached for her closeness, and his lips were starving for the touch and taste that fate intended never to happen.
Elizabeth had looked troubled and Georgiana desolated. His worry for Elizabeth was now equalled by his concern for his sister and the questions that might arise.
“Are you well?” he inquired, and Elizabeth nodded.
“Georgiana is upset,” she whispered. “She saw us and…she will imagine that…dear Lord, she seemed so grieved. I could not bear to know she is disappointed in me…”
“I will talk to her. I shall explain and…she must know that nothing happened. It was my fault that I lost self-control in a distressing situation…”
She looked at him intently, attempting to understand his words, then averted her eyes.
“We should not have lied to her. Half truths only make her feel betrayed. I should have thought longer before I agreed to come here…”
“Miss Bennet, I—”
Their discussion was interrupted as the carriage stopped and Mr. Slade opened the door in haste. Both gentlemen took Elizabeth inside the house. Mrs. Reynolds and two maids were waiting.
“Mrs. Reynolds, how is Georgiana?”
“Miss Darcy is well attended in her apartment. She seems unharmed. Lady Hardwick and her maid are with her. Oh, dear Lord! Miss Bennet, you have no shoes or stockings! Come, make haste!”
∞∞∞
The uproar at Pemberley lasted all afternoon; as darkness fell, it continued to snow.
Darcy quickly changed his clothes and eliminated his chill with a glass of brandy; he was less successful with his distress.
What might have happened if he had been late or not heard Georgiana’s cries?
Without his horse, Georgiana would have needed half an hour to reach Pemberley in such weather.
Would Elizabeth have been found in time?
Could she have been lost because of a silly accident?
And how did it happen that they were outside alone?
Why did he not remember to warn them about skating?
He was both grateful and frightened as he considered the slight coincidence by which she was saved.
Darcy combed his fingers through his hair, shivering from the recollection of Elizabeth’s nearness; then he despised himself for having frivolous thoughts during such a serious situation.
He thanked the Lord for the fortunate outcome; yet, he knew there was still much to remedy. First, he had to speak to his sister —to explain to her something of which not even he was certain.