Into the Woods (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Frosty morning air filled Elizabeth’s lungs as she hurried down the stony lane.

Hugging her cloak around her body, she glanced over her shoulder at Longbourn, thankful that she had not encountered a curious servant.

The hour was early, too early for a respectable woman to be walking out alone, but Elizabeth chose to ignore the voice inside her that warned against her folly.

She shivered and quickened her step. A feeble sun peered over the brow of a nearby hill, and the dew-soaked fields were awash with a delicate light.

She clambered over the stile and into the woods, down a narrow but well-trodden path, one that she and her sisters were long familiar with.

What a pity that Frederick Lucas is so conceited! Elizabeth’s chest tightened as she thought back to the previous afternoon. Despite all her efforts to avoid Mr Lucas, he had followed her as she left Lucas Lodge, seized her hand into his sweaty palm, and solemnly requested a private meeting.

‘Meet me at sunrise tomorrow by the fallen oak.’ The words had escaped from her lips before she knew what she was about.

Whatever shall I say to make him understand that I am not who he thinks I am?

If only he were a man she could come to admire.

They had known each other since childhood and never once had she encouraged his affections.

How many times had she caught him pinching his younger sisters or blaming another to evade punishment?

He does not love me. It is only the lure of my godfather’s fortune that renders me appealing.

Elizabeth drew courage from the thought.

Any upset at her rejection would surely lessen once he accepted how mistaken he had been in that quarter.

The path grew muddier, the shadows deeper, and Elizabeth’s feet stung with the cold.

She cursed her impulsive nature. She should never have suggested meeting him in this secluded spot, but panic had ruled her tongue.

They all used to play here as children, and it was the first place that had entered her mind.

He is Charlotte’s brother, and so must I spare him the humiliation of a public rejection.

I do not wish to offend the family of my oldest friend.

And what if Mama should hear of his intentions?

She would collude with Lady Lucas to force me to accept his proposal, with no regard whatsoever to my own feelings.

It was her mother’s dearest wish that she should live to see at least one of her daughters well-settled.

Ever since the handsome, affable Mr Bingley had taken up residence in Netherfield Park just over a month ago, Mrs Bennet could talk of nothing else.

“Not all of us are as fortunate as Jane,” Elizabeth muttered, recalling how besotted Mr Bingley appeared every time he was in her elder sister’s company.

At least Mr Bingley’s manner was friendly and courteous; it would have been far worse if Mr Bingley’s disagreeable friend Mr Darcy had come to admire her beloved sister.

Elizabeth had nursed Jane for several days when she fell ill at Netherfield Park, and Mr Darcy had made no inquiry after Jane’s health during her stay.

It was astonishing that a man of impressive fortune and handsome bearing should have reached adulthood without the rudiments of basic civility.

A chestnut tree cast a long shadow, and the world around Elizabeth was thrown momentarily into darkness.

Her foot struck a root, and she fell heavily.

And that was for allowing your thoughts to become distracted by that pompous man.

Covered in mud, she pushed herself up from the wet ground, resting back on her heels.

The hem of her petticoat tangled underneath her and a ripping sound filled the air, compounding her morning from terrible to disastrous.

She groaned softly, unsure whether she should laugh or cry at her sorry state.

“What is the meaning of this?” It was a man’s voice, raised in anger. Glancing about, Elizabeth saw only trees and bushes. Was that Mr Lucas? Hesitation caught in her throat. This voice was deeper, more commanding.

“Tell me your true purpose for this meeting!” the voice snapped again.

There had to be at least two people now, embroiled in an argument.

Elizabeth held her breath. Should she reveal her presence?

Could these strangers present a threat? Her pulse quickened.

Poachers were known to roam these woods.

She did not rise from the ground, instead she remained low and quietly concealed herself behind the thick trunk of a tree.

In doing so, she heard the next part with greater clarity.

“What is it to me if you have debts?”

The blood drained from her face. Mr Darcy. That clipped, vexed tone; it was unmistakably him. She dug her fingers into the bark, pressing herself flatter against the tree, not wishing to intrude on this obviously private meeting.

The other man replied, his tone just as heated. “It should mean a great deal to you. I have in my possession a series of letters that would ruin Georg—”

Whatever this other man was about to say was lost, for suddenly there was a snarl of anger and the snapping of wood.

A flash of scarlet burst through the undergrowth.

Elizabeth craned her neck. The stranger had been shoved to the ground.

Her heart pounded. Was there to be a duel? Would she be a witness?

The man in red—it was a soldier’s uniform—stood quickly, his attention on Mr Darcy, who was still out of Elizabeth’s line of sight. “You will be sorry for that. I have it in my power to make your life a misery—”

“Leave, Wickham, while you are still in possession of all your extremities.” Elizabeth heard Mr Darcy take a step towards the soldier, who muttered something indistinct, before pushing past the bushes and stalking away along the path Elizabeth had just walked upon.

She watched the soldier depart; his back was to her. Mercifully, she remained undetected.

“Keep walking, you coward,” Mr Darcy called after him. “I am confident you may yet find a stone to crawl under.”

“Better to be under a stone than atop your sister.” The man did not even glance backwards as he made his riposte, swiftly vanishing from view.

There was silence and Elizabeth froze, her cheeks burning.

An impressive torrent of insults, mostly comparing this Mr Wickham to various animals, echoed around the woods before ending abruptly with the sound of a violent kick against a tree.

Mr Darcy uttered another curse, this time of pain.

The grass rustled. He is returning this way!

Elizabeth glanced around frantically. The footsteps drew closer.

There was nothing to be done but reveal her presence.

She stood quickly. Unfortunately, it was just at this moment that Mr Darcy strode decisively back onto the path, and almost on top of her.

The beginnings of another oath nearly passed from his lips, but he caught himself; his words dying into an explosive splutter of annoyance.