Chapter 13 #2
She did not simper or fawn over him, and she most certainly did not agree with everything he uttered.
In fact, it was quite the opposite. Between Netherfield and here at the assembly, she had shown a willingness to debate and defend her point of view, his rank be damned.
He reasoned all he had done was declare she was pretty, and she was—not made a proposal of marriage!
Although, his head whispered to him that she would be a perfect mate to share his future.
These whisperings were not wholly unwelcome, but it was far too early in their acquaintance for any of these steps that his heart might be pushing him towards.
As he sat talking to her, he admitted to himself he was starting to develop a tender regard for Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
If he were completely honest, he would see his feelings had begun the day the fiery woman had launched her apple at him.
If not for her mother’s restraining hand holding one of Caroline’s spider-leg like arms, she would have charged across the dance floor to pull the chit away from her duke, as she watched him laugh and smile with Cinder-Liza.
“If it is not taken, will you grant your much older cousin the pleasure of the last set?” Again, the Duke’s heart spoke before his head could, for he could countenance her dancing a second time with none other than himself.
“Well, Cousin Methuselah, if I had an open set, I would grant it with pleasure, but I have no others open tonight,” Elizabeth teased him into a less stern expression, surprised at the sensation of loss at not being able to dance a second set with him.
He had called her handsome, but there was no denying he was by far the most handsome man of her acquaintance. She could not imagine her cousin would be interested in her beyond cousinly affection, but she found that if he ever were, she would not object in the least.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At the end of the night, Martha pulled Louisa aside as they were waiting for the carriage. “We are going to make sure that Cinder-Liza gets her due for all the problems she has caused us. You are either with us or against us. If against, you will get the same just deserts as she!”
Louisa made a snap decision; she would have to play along and find out what her mother and sister had planned and then seek help.
“Mother, I have always been with you. I got close to Cinder-Liza so she would buy things for me. Did you not tell me once you attract more bees with honey than vinegar?” Louisa knew her mother had never said such a thing, but she also knew that her mother would want to claim credit for her daughter’s deviousness.
“I knew how it would be, Louisa; you could not be so clever for no reason. Keep her distracted in the carriage so she does not see where we are going,” Martha instructed.
“Yes Mama, I will start now,” Louisa stated. She stood next to Elizabeth as the carriage approached and only had time to say: “My mother and Caroline have planned something, and I may have to act like I am on their side. Please forgive me.” Elizabeth nodded.
In the carriage, Louisa was the dutiful daughter talking to Elizabeth and distracting her.
Elizbeth knew well they were not headed for the house.
She understood why the coachman had the attitude he did; her stepmother had somehow co-opted him to her side.
She felt disgust, as she knew the only thing the woman had to give was her body.
The carriage stopped. “Get out!” Caroline ordered.
“Where are we?” Elizabeth acted surprised they were not home. “I will not get out, take me home now!” Caroline slapped, her missing the hand in the dark with which Elizabeth punched her with all she had, catching the shrew’s mouth, and loosening some teeth.
Martha Bennet saw red and struck Elizabeth from the side, snapping her head back so it hit the wooden brace of the carriage wall.
Elizabeth slumped unconscious. The coachman opened the door and was shocked to see one lady within bleeding from her mouth and another unconscious. He had not signed up for murder.
“She lives, you halfwit!” Martha spat at him; all pretence of friendliness gone. “Carry her into the lodge. Now!” When the man hesitated Martha threatened him. “You will do what we agreed, or all of this will be laid at your door, and you will swing! Who will believe a servant over a gentlelady?”
The hapless coachman, who realised he had been played for a fool, did as he was ordered.
As soon as she was placed on the dirty floor, Caroline Bingley began to kick Elizabeth’s prone and unconscious body.
Martha joined in. “Mama, she will be useless to you dead! If she is gone, we will be kicked out as the heir will be notified! What did you want this man to do?” Louisa asked.
“He is to ruin her so we may hold it over her head,” Martha shared her disgusting plan.
“Mama you and Caroline must be seen at Longbourn. Tell Mrs. Hill that I am with her at Lucas Lodge, they will believe you. If they ask why poor Caroline is bleeding, tell them she fell when getting into the carriage at the assembly. Then, send your patsy back and I will make sure he does the deed. I have pretended to be her friend for so long, it is time for me to see her suffer.” Louisa did not know how she was able to deliver the speech with her friend in pain on the floor.
“Yes Louisa; very smart. It will be as you say,” Martha pointed at the coachman, “You will return us to the house and then return to do what you need to do!” With that, Martha and her injured daughter walked out to the carriage.
Louisa whispered to the coachman, “You will return but you will not lay a finger on my friend. I am going for help. Wait here with her. Before you leave the lodge, bring me blankets. If my mother asks why, tell her I am cold. When the time comes, I will be your witness you did nothing except follow my mother’s orders so you will not swing—but they may!
” The coachman nodded and soon returned with two thick carriage blankets and was gone.
Elizabeth started to moan. “Oh Lizzy, I am so sorry they hurt you. I am going for help! What direction is Netherfield?” It was painful, but Elizabeth pointed with her right hand as she felt searing pain from her left arms and leg.
After making sure her friend was well covered, Louisa headed for the fence between the estates and then ran for her life in the direction the sister of her heart had indicated.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When the carriage arrived at Longbourn, Mrs. Hill was worried that her dear girl or her friend were not within. Also, they were later than expected. Seeing the housekeeper’s questioning look, Martha decided to use her clever daughter’s suggestion.
“Elizabeth and Louisa were invited to Lucas Lodge, and my poor Caroline fell as she was entering the carriage. There is blood within that needs to be cleaned,” Martha told Mrs. Hill as she sailed into the house helping Caroline in with her.
The story seemed plausible, but when Mrs. Hill looked at the coachman, he looked everywhere except at her. The housekeeper had a footman wipe the interior of the carriage, and then the coachman moved the conveyance, not to the stables, but back to the hunting lodge.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The ship that the Bennets were on was almost three weeks out of Nassau when the Captain announced that they were now out of the area where there were storms like the one that caused them to be shipwrecked and stranded on their island.
With that information, all the Bennets felt the tension that had descended when they had first set sail lift. Given their experience, it had been a worry for all of them—no one more so than the new Viscountess.
“I was so worried, Jamey! The thought of something happening to stop us seeing my Papa and Lizzy again, not to mention Marie and Andrew! We may be aunts and uncles and your parents might be grandparents, and none of us would know it. As much as I want to see our home at Glenmeade, I cannot wait for the moment I see Papa and Lizzy again,” Jane stated as she lay in her husband’s arms that night.
“We were all concerned until the Captain’s announcement my love, myself included.
The only islands I want to see ever again are the ones which contain our homes!
Your feelings of wanting to see your dear sister and father again are completely just and natural.
Can you imagine how happy they will be when they receive our letters?
We should be a sennight to a fortnight behind the post.” Jamey kissed his wife, and not long after, family and England were temporarily forgotten.