Chapter 12 Time Runs Out #2
Sarah sat at a table with her back towards me, which was just as well, for I had no time to spare for her or anyone else.
Twenty yards ahead of me, Elizabeth and Darcy ambled arm-in-arm, greeting and conversing with their guests.
A hum of cheerful chatter created a soft symphony of sound in the crisp, autumn air.
To my annoyance, a congregation surrounded the couple, obscuring my vision of them for a while.
As time went on, I consulted my watch with increasing frequency. Darcy had less than ten minutes left.
I stopped to lean against a small tree and wiped my temples with a handkerchief.
With furtive movements, I attempted to keep Elizabeth’s sisters in my sights as well.
They would be of most comfort to her when the event happened.
My chest tightened. Why did this blasted party have to be today of all days?
I hated that Darcy’s death would occur with the grounds full of guests, but I could not delay the inevitable any longer.
I reached for my watch yet again and flinched when a hand grabbed my arm.
“Hallo, Brother.”
Confound it! Clive could not have picked a worse time to impose upon me! I gave him a ferocious glare. “Pardon me, but I have no time to spare just now. I shall be available in a couple of hours.”
His grip on me tightened. “As a matter of fact, what I have to tell you cannot wait.”
Where had the Darcys gone? My brief perusal of the grounds revealed no sign of them, and my heart raced. “But you do not understand—I am busy now!” I hissed the words.
My brother, though, stood firm. With a rough pull on my arm, he leaned close to me. “We need to talk alone. I must insist on this, so do not make a scene.”
Blast! Several guests looked our way with curious expressions.
“Very well, but we must make haste.” I gestured for Clive to follow me and strode to the house.
I directed him to the front sitting room and shut the set of double doors after us.
A quick look at my watch filled me with dread—a mere five minutes remained!
“You have two minutes, and then I must go.”
Clive sat upon the sofa. “What I have to say will please you, at least I hope so. When I watched you earlier, you appeared to be distressed. I was relieved to see that, since I suspected you wanted Mr. Darcy to die so you could step into his life.”
I paced in front of my brother, shaking my head. My hands formed fists. I did not have time for a lecture! “What is so important that cannot wait?”
“You made an error. Seven days ago, when you interfered with Mr. Darcy’s fall from his horse, you believed you had saved his life—an understandable mistake.
Afterwards, you spent many hours seeking the perfect body with which to arrive here and invade the man’s life, but you never confirmed what would have happened had you not interfered. ”
My steps floundered to a stop. Did he mean to imply that Darcy would have saved himself without my assistance?
Surely not! I landed in the armchair facing Clive with a jounce.
“You are correct. I did not take the step of reviewing what would have occurred. I had no desire to see Darcy’s body broken and bloodied.
I have more than enough images in my head of the victims of violent death.
I recall the scene well enough. The barren path lacked any rocks or shrubs that he could have seized to prevent his fall, and he would have hit the hard, rocky ground down below.
If I had not acted, he would have died!”
Clive gestured around him. “All that encompasses this estate is quite impressive. You have witnessed for yourself that Mr. Darcy has inspired an uncommon measure of respect and loyalty in his servants and tenants. It should not be a surprise to learn that he also formed an extraordinary bond with his horse.”
I rubbed my hand over my eyes. “Extraordinary bond? What are you rambling about?”
“Mr. Darcy would not have perished. The black stallion would have grabbed the man’s greatcoat by his teeth and saved his master from falling off the precipice.”
“That steed of his? It does not seem possible. Darcy is a tall, robust man. He is too heavy for a horse to have done anything of the sort!”
Clive shrugged. “Horses have been known to lift heavier objects with their teeth. When Darcy fell, the stallion would have grabbed him and moved him back over the path. The manoeuvre would have required the animal’s quick response and swift movement.
The most impressive aspect is that the steed acted because of his deep attachment to Mr. Darcy. ”
I gaped at him. At length, a guffaw burst from me, and I continued laughing until mirthful tears saturated my eyes.
“This is such a relief! Despite my affection for Elizabeth, I have been plagued with doubts for the prospect of a future with her—she may have never viewed me as anything more than a friend.” I glanced at my watch.
The time for Darcy’s death had passed. If that tragic event had occurred, there would be pandemonium on the grounds that could be heard from here.
Clive rubbed his hands together. “Well, I expect you will return home soon.”
My mouth twisted downward at his statement, though I could not deny its verity.
Elizabeth would not need me after all. Nevertheless, a strange sort of melancholy took root within me at the notion of my holiday coming to an end.
Of course, maybe I should be leaving just in time, for I had grown too comfortable in this world where I did not belong.
“Yes, I shall leave here today. This visit has been a rewarding experience. I have a deeper understanding and respect for mortals, at least for certain individuals. I must speak to Darcy, for I suspect he believes his death is imminent.”
An image of Sarah came to mind, along with a discomfiting tension in my breast. “I cannot reflect upon my behaviour with Mrs. Mead without regret. Despite having been honest with my intentions, I took advantage of her vulnerability. She remains anguished by her husband’s death five years ago.”
My hands clenched upon my lap as I elucidated the novel and rather complicated idea that I had devised earlier that morning. Would my brother assist me in this endeavour? I braced for him to scoff at me, yet he remained staid for the entirety of my speech.
The silence wore on for interminable seconds, and I could not resist filling it. “You ought to be able to obtain Father’s cooperation for this enterprise. After all, he will be pleased that I am ready to return.”
Clive’s hand brushed over his chin. “Very well. Your request is irregular, to be sure, but not impossible. I shall see to the details myself to minimise any complications.”
I leapt to my feet and shook his hand. “Thank you. I appreciate your cooperation!”
He patted my upper arm. “Nonsense. What are brothers for?”
Darcy
In the midst of our game of bowls, Graham emerged from the crowd of onlookers and raised his hand to me. My stomach twisted. Had my remaining time elapsed? It seemed the logical conclusion—a full seven days had passed since the accident that ought to have taken my life. I approached him.
Graham inclined near my ear. “I need to speak to you alone as soon as may be.”
My throat constricted. His urgency appeared to confirm my suspicion. With affected calmness, I called out for Bingley to complete the game in my place. My friend readily agreed.
Although Graham had already set out in the direction of the house, I lingered as Elizabeth stepped up to roll her ball.
Would this be my last glimpse of her? She swung her head in my direction, catching my gaze with a dazzling smile.
I attempted to return a look that expressed my love for her.
With a great force of will, I turned and walked towards Graham’s retreating figure.
He led me to the front sitting room where I sat opposite him. A constriction in my chest forced me to take shallow breaths. A thought came to me: at this moment, Bennet would be upstairs in the nursery. Would Graham allow me to see him one last time?
“In light of what you must be thinking at this moment, I am awed by your bravery. But more to the point, I owe you an apology.” He offered a crooked smile.
“When I declared to have saved your life, I understood that to be true, and I maintained the belief until today. An incontrovertible rule applies when I intercede with a mortal’s death—I can extend someone’s life for up to seven days and no longer. However, I made a mistake.”
I swallowed hard. “What sort of mistake?”
“In my defence, anyone watching your fall a week ago would have assumed that you would have perished without my interference. Today, I discovered I had not, in fact, saved you.”
My hands trembled as his extraordinary narrative continued. Could this be true? The desire to believe Graham overwhelmed me.
“In effect, your bond with your horse saved you, for that black steed refused to let you go.”
I pressed my palms to my eyes. “Regal has always been clever, but this is incredible.” A ragged breath squeezed from me. “Then I am not at the end of my life.”
“No, you are not. In fact, I am delighted to affirm that you, Elizabeth, Bennet, your daughter, and the second son that will follow will have long and contented lives.”
My hand raised to my chest. I had a lifetime with Elizabeth and our children—three children—ahead of me! Tears fell on my coat while I fumbled in my pocket for my handkerchief.
Graham retrieved a decanter of brandy and two glasses. He filled the glasses and gave one to me. “I believe you can use a drink.”
I took a gulp of the liquor. The burning liquid penetrated me, and my equanimity made a slow return. “I am gratified to hear your assurances, but what prevented you from telling me this yesterday?”