Chapter 8 #2
“I believe here would be a good spot,” he said to Mrs Bennet, who received his attention with enough satisfaction to put any other gush of affection aside.
Then Darcy, followed by Bingley, put two more chairs near the fireplace, but there were no more.
Therefore, they chose a few bigger logs and put them down so the other girls could sit.
Wickham and Denny did the same, and soon everyone was seated comfortably around the fire.
“I will look for some candles–there must be a few,” Elizabeth said.
“And–curiously–now that we have the fire, the candles might actually be of some use,” Mrs Bennet returned with barely hidden reproach. She was obviously angry with Wickham and Denny and blamed them for not handling the horses and for breaking Sir William’s carriage.
Elizabeth returned with four old candles. Darcy took two from her hands and lighting both, placed them around the room. There was a silent, mutual understanding between Elizabeth and Darcy that stirred them both in a strange and most pleasant way, despite their difficult circumstances.
“Oh, what a pleasure that someone saved us from freezing to death in Talbot’s old cottage. I declare there is nothing better than a good fire on a cold, rainy day,” Mrs Bennet continued. “Mr Darcy, you are simply the best man I have met in a long while.”
“You are too kind, ma’am; I surely do not deserve such praises, for doing what any other man would do. I am glad I could help. You should stay close to the fire, you look very cold. Miss Elizabeth, perhaps you could find a kettle to boil some water to make some tea? We can fill it with rainwater.”
She nodded and rose. “I have actually already found one.”
“Please sit and warm yourself. You look cold too,” Darcy said.
“I will take it out to clean it and fill it with water.”.
Bingley hurried to help him once more, following him around the room.
Darcy held the kettle and Bingley took a large jar; they exited into the storm, closing the door behind them.
“Mr Darcy did not even take his coat; he will get all wet and cold,” Jane muttered.
“Well, we should not worry too much, he never falls ill. He is too proud to allow anyone to see any weakness. So he would rather die than keep to his bed,” Wickham pronounced.
“That is a very ungenerous statement, Mr Wickham. We should all be grateful to Mr Darcy for his care, not make jokes at his expense, while he is showing us so much consideration,” Elizabeth said coldly, disturbed by Wickham’s words and even more by his impertinent manners.
“I apologise, Miss Elizabeth. I am only trying to lighten our disposition and I am only speaking the truth. I believe we all have had to put up with Darcy’s pride and his disdainful manners since we met him. Even his helpful gestures are due to the pride of showing he can do what others cannot.”
Mrs Bennet frowned and her lips twisted in a grimace of displeasure.
“It is true Mr Darcy’s manners are not as amiable as other men’s, nor is he the most pleasant company most of the time.
And I do not doubt he does loathe our company as much as we do his.
But upon my word, in times of need, he seems to be everything a man should be!
Pleasant manners, nice speeches and charming smiles are only useful in a ballroom.
When one is about to die in a runaway carriage or in a storm, one needs a real man, not the appearance of one,” Mrs Bennet said severely.
Wickham and Denny startled at such a severe reprimand but were forced to bear it silently.
Wickham obviously struggled to censure his reply and only whispered something to his friend.
Elizabeth and Jane blushed with embarrassment, attempting to calm their mother, who felt angrier with every passing moment.
It took a while until they noticed Darcy and Bingley watching them from the doorway.
They handed the kettle to Elizabeth, who tried to find a place to put it to boil.
Unexpectedly, Darcy knelt next to her again and assisted her until the kettle stood steadily.
A strange sensation that she had never felt before warmed Elizabeth’s skin more than the fire’s heat.
Although she was grateful for his help, she was becoming uncomfortable with his closeness and with her unconscious brushes against him.
They were both wet and cold, and their frozen, clumsy fingers reached each others’ as much as the kettle, while their knees touched too.
“There; I think this will work,” Darcy said when the kettle was safely placed.
He then rose and moved back to Bingley’s side, while Elizabeth sat next to Jane.
The sudden silence in the room was broken by the fire, the rain, and the wind.
As if mesmerised, they all stared at the fireplace and the kettle, waiting for the water to boil.
“Mr Darcy?” Mrs Bennet finally spoke.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Thank you for the fire, sir. Without you, we would have surely frozen to death.”
“I doubt it,” he replied with a trace of lightness in his voice. “But you are very welcome.”
Elizabeth looked at him and their glances met briefly; suddenly, she felt warm.
For the next few minutes, the ladies stayed around the fire, while Wickham and Lieutenant Denny sat on one side of the fireplace, talking mostly to Lydia and Kitty.
Elizabeth, Jane and their mother gathered together, with Bingley and Darcy on the other side.
Despite the fire, they were all becoming colder and a state of tiredness and weakness slowly enveloped them.
The tea they drank using the only three available cups, one by one, did not help much. Outside, it was getting darker.
“I am going back to Netherfield to get help,” Darcy suddenly said. “We cannot stay here any longer and surely we cannot spend the night in our present situation.”
“I am coming with you,” Bingley declared.
“But it is still raining,” Jane interjected with concern. “You cannot walk three miles in this weather, with no light!”
“And it might rain for a long while still,” Darcy replied. “Three miles is not such a long distance. And we will keep to the main path–there cannot be any danger.”
Elizabeth watched them intently, met Darcy’s gaze above all the others, and then stood up and walked to him.
“I am coming with you. Nobody knows these grounds as well as I do; in this storm you will need my knowledge of the easiest shortcuts through the woods.”
“Absolutely not! I cannot allow that!” Darcy answered hastily.
Elizabeth frowned and glared at him.
“It is not for you to allow it or not, sir. I am doing what is best for my family. If I come with you, we will save time.”
“Miss Elizabeth, this time I must agree with Darcy. You cannot go out in such weather. I am sure someone will look for us and help will come soon. It is safer to wait here, where we have fire and shelter,” Wickham interjected.
“I cannot count on what the others will do. I am going! With you or by myself. Shall we?” she spoke to Darcy and Bingley, while taking her coat and tidying her bonnet. They were all cold and wet and shivered at the unpleasant sensation.
“Lizzy, sit down! You are going nowhere,” Mrs Bennet said. She pulled the towel closer around her while her teeth were chattering from the cold.
“I am going, Mama. You look very ill and you need help as quickly as possible. My decision is made. Let us not waste precious time,” Elizabeth said, moving to the door, ignoring the opposition of her mother and sisters.
Another clap of thunder shook the cottage and the door opened, pushed by the wind and rain. In its frame, Darcy’s valet and four other men appeared, protected by raincoats.
The ladies startled and jumped to their feet, while the men all moved towards the newcomers.
“Stevens!”
“Thank God, we found you!” Stevens cried at his master.
“Thank God you did,” Darcy approved. “At a perfect time too,” he said, glancing at Elizabeth, whose eyes held his briefly.
“Your horses returned to Netherfield by themselves so I knew something had happened. We did not know you were so many … We saw the smoke coming from the chimney and we found the carriage with the wheel broken and we assumed you must be nearby.”
“How did you get here? Can you take us all from here?”
“With your carriage, sir. It is raining too heavily to ride.”
“Very well,” Darcy approved.
Cheers of joy sounded in the cottage; the saviours entered and pushed the door closed, while a tumult of voices made any understanding impossible.
“Let us speak reasonably, so we can understand each other,” Darcy commanded, raising his voice over the din. “Would you allow me to suggest how to proceed further?” he asked and Mrs Bennet readily nodded, silencing her daughters.
“First thing, the ladies should return to Longbourn immediately. Stevens, I need someone to drive them by carriage, safely.”
“Very well, sir. John will do that. Or I can.”
“Let John go; he is more accustomed to driving the carriage. Where is it?”
“Near the broken one, sir. Should I bring it here?”
“No, it would be too dangerous. Ladies, we will help you to the carriage. You will have to bear the rain again, but fortunately you will be home in a few minutes,” Darcy concluded.
“Oh, that is wonderful! Excellent!” Mrs Bennet cried with joy.
“Can we go with the ladies? Wickham asked. We can sit down on the floor if there is not enough room. A few minutes will be no problem.”
Darcy threw him a brief cutting glare, which Elizabeth did not miss.
“Oh, yes, of course you can,” Lydia cried. “We can squeeze together so there will be room for you too! Is it not so, Mama?”
“Of course! We can all fit in the carriage, for a short while,” Mrs Bennet approved.