Chapter Axle #2
Jane studied her companion. “Are you well, Ellen?”
“Yes, Miss Bennet.”
They seated themselves on the log and watched the two men circle the coach to examine it.
Had Jane been capable of greater surprise, she would have been shocked when Mr Darcy turned, seized the axle with both hands, and slid beneath it.
Mr Chamberlain did likewise from the side, and they inspected the undercarriage for a few minutes before emerging.
The men conversed quietly; the coachman saw to the horses tied to a tree, and Mr Darcy returned to the ladies.
“Miss Bennet. Miss Taylor. A spring broke on your uncle’s carriage. It is not Chamberlain’s fault, nor anybody’s. Such things happen. It does however mean it will not leave this spot for at least a day.”
Jane stared at the offending coach for a moment.
“Have no concern, sir. We are less than ten miles from Meryton. My three younger sisters are a bit silly and ridiculous, but Lizzy and I are not. We know every tenant and shopkeeper within miles. Someone will be along presently who can deliver us safely.”
Darcy was shocked that someone would be willing to sit by the roadside waiting for a good Samaritan merely to avoid his company. He realised he had dug his own hole, and it was time to dig himself out.
“Miss Bennet, pray forgive my interference in your affairs, but it would be most ungentlemanly for me to leave you here. May I suggest an alternative?”
Elizabeth would have been unable to resist the temptation to comment on his presence or lack of gentlemanly behaviour; but she was not Lizzy. She would be polite.
“You need not trouble yourself, sir. Go about your business. All shall be well.”
Was she being kind or spiteful? She could not say, but the man unsettled her, and his company had little appeal, even aside from his part in Elizabeth’s disappearance.
“Miss Bennet, I know… well… I know that you distrust me… probably dislike me as well… for very good reasons; but will you allow me to assist you? I ask nothing else.”
“Do not trouble yourself, sir.”
“Would you at least allow me to offer some alternatives before you dismiss me out of hand?”
Jane realised she was being unreasonable; where Lizzy might have clung to her obstinacy, Jane was not so practised.
“What do you suggest?”
“My carriage is but an hour behind. If you are willing to stay here, I shall be happy to deliver you to Longbourn, and I shall also deliver Miss Taylor to your uncle at her convenience, after seeing to her injuries and a night or two of rest, of course.”
Jane stared, wondering whether he was in earnest. Her ability to read him was not auspicious, and she had no idea how to react.
Finally, she said, “No, Mr Darcy. Forgive my candour, but I cannot appear at Longbourn in your coach. I would trade months of speculation, gossip, and haranguing from my mother for an hour or two of waiting for a farmer.” She looked embarrassed, staring at the ground for a moment, then continued resolutely.
“I have had enough of that for one lifetime these past few months.”
With that dollop of truthfulness, which cut very much against the grain, she simply stared at the ground, wishing he would leave her in peace.
Mr Darcy spoke with surprising gentleness. “I understand. Would it help to know that my cousin Anne is in the coach, and you would be riding with her, not me?”
Forgetting Ellen was beside her, Jane lost her temper. “That makes it worse. I—”
She could not say she had been deceived, nor could she be certain whether she was being fair to Anne, but she was in no mood to resolve such matters on the side of the road, ten miles from home.
Mr Darcy looked chagrined. “Might Mr Chamberlain take my horse into Meryton and bring back a hired coach? Failing that, I would be happy to go and hire one myself.”
Jane shook her head wearily. “I cannot—”
What was she to do? She had no intention of remaining by the roadside with him, nor was she inclined to force Ellen to walk ten miles with her injury or sit for hours awaiting a Good Samaritan.
However, permitting the gentleman to do anything whatsoever was anathema, even though the only thing she knew for certain was that he helped separate Mr Bingley from her.
Indeed, she was half-convinced the gentleman had done her a favour, since he clearly lacked resolution.
However, she knew perfectly well he had not done so for her benefit, nor did he care for her thoughts or feelings on the matter.
They might at least have taken their leave after six weeks of behaviour any reasonable person would call courting.
Four months of despondency were easily turned into a few minutes of white-hot anger.
She did not quite realise she was biting her lip much like Elizabeth, or that her fists were clenched.
Mr Chamberlain was out of hearing, taking grain and water to the horses, but Ellen sat beside her. Jane felt constrained in what she could say and looked about for a place she might ask Ellen to go that was not entirely rude, but nothing came to mind.
Mr Darcy spoke surprisingly. “Miss Taylor, may I ask you a question?”
Ellen gasped and, at a loss, simply nodded.
“I am unwilling to ask you to separate from us, as that would be unaccountably rude, and I remain concerned for your health, as is your friend. However, I would like to speak with Miss Bennet candidly, if she will allow it. Would you be willing to listen for a few minutes, and keep our confidence… if Miss Bennet agrees to the scheme?”
Regaining her dignity, Ellen snapped, “What do you take me for, Mr Darcy?”
He smiled. Jane admitted he was devilishly handsome, but it was such a rare occurrence it was of little practical value.
“I believe you to be a decent and honourable woman! It is my duty to ask rather than assume. I am imposing on you by requesting you keep a confidence, and I realise there is a price for that, so I am giving you the courtesy of asking your permission.”
Jane stared at him, wondering what he was about, but then both women shook their heads, realising they would probably never understand him—or any man, for that matter.
“I will say nothing. I appreciate the trust… and—”
“And—”
“And… well, sir… No gentleman has ever trusted me with a… a… confidence. It is a… what is the word?”
Jane found the exchange interesting. “Privilege?”
“Yes, ma’am. A privilege.”
Darcy handed Ellen a card from his waistcoat pocket. “I am in your debt. Present this at any of my properties at any time and allow me the privilege of repaying it in some way.”
Ellen had no idea what to say, so Darcy simply placed the card in the hand she poked from the front of his greatcoat, and turned to Jane.
“I know you do not trust me, but I pray we find a way through this impasse. I assure you that my cousin is devastated that you might believe her culpable in my errors, and I beg you to speak with her for a few minutes. You need not forgive me, but I would beg you to give her a chance.”
Jane could not really work out whether he was being honourable or stubborn.
She imagined a man like him must have a reputation to maintain.
Appearing at his club after leaving two women stranded by the side of the road, miles from the nearest village, would earn him ridicule he would not care for.
He was as honour-bound to help them as she was stubbornness-bound to prevent it.
Confusion reigned for a few moments before Mr Darcy tried another tack.
“Miss Bennet, may I tell you something that may be of use to you in resolving this impasse?”
She eventually sighed. “I suppose.”
“My cousin suffered ill health most of her life. She nearly died as a child, and never quite recovered. To add to her misery, she has a mother whose overbearing nature knows no equal—Mrs Bennet is all affability by comparison. Anne, finally at five and twenty, summoned enough courage to escape Rosings. To my knowledge, there has only been one thing she well and truly desired in her entire life. Can you hazard a guess as to what it is?”
“No, you speak in riddles.”
“I imagine I do, so allow me to speak plainly. My cousin wants one true friend. That is all she really wants in life. She wants one true friend to help her through a Season and find a husband. She wants just one person she can count on to trust her and accept her trust. She found one, and I ruined it. She probably told you about the handprint I bore for a day, but that was the least of it. She is livid with me, and with good cause. I beg you to forget I exist and give her a chance. I ask nothing for myself, but I beseech you with all my heart to reconsider a friendship with Anne.”
He waited earnestly before continuing his campaign.
“Allow me to help you and my cousin. I ask nothing in return and offer any service you demand.”
Jane and Ellen stared at him apprehensively. Finally, Jane asked, “Any service? That is a very open-ended offer.”
He smiled faintly, and in that moment, he reminded her strongly of Elizabeth. She had no idea why Elizabeth came to mind then, but she did, as if she were standing right before her with her impertinence in full effect.
Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Just hold your nose and get on with it. Most of the time you must be polite and ladylike, and most of the time good manners and propriety will serve you well—but once in a great while—you just have to push Billy Lucas into the mill pond.
Following Elizabeth’s advice had never led Jane astray—save for the few times they had ended in trouble as girls, and her advice to be agreeable to Mr Bingley, and…
and… this was getting her nowhere! Elizabeth was absent while Jane was present.
Ultimately, Elizabeth was the person she trusted most. She would take counsel from Elizabeth’s ghost over almost any living soul.
“Ellen, are you certain you wish to hear this? It may be embarrassing.”
Ellen squared her shoulders. She would earn her respect the hard way, without qualms. “If you can stand my company, it’d be my privilege.”
“Here is my price, Mr Darcy. I will talk to your cousin, and I will ride in your carriage, but in return you will answer three questions with absolute honesty—no prevarication, no softening the blow, no politeness, certainly no propriety. If that is too much, you may fetch my shawl from the coach for Ellen and leave now. You may salve your pride and uphold your duty as a gentleman by engaging the Meryton farrier to return for us, provided you do so quietly.”
She wanted to blush and stare at her shoes. She wanted it so much she could taste it, but instead she simply pretended she was Lizzy and stared at the man, hoping to pierce his stoic countenance. She did not get very far though, however, for he replied at once.
“I accept your terms,” he said with a bow.
Jane saw she had painted herself into a corner and had no choice but to honour her own bargain. Mr Chamberlain stood near enough to ensure her safety should the questions anger the gentleman, but too distant to overhear. This would be between the three of them.
Lizzy would have to endure the dissatisfaction of not being present to witness the ‘someday’ when Jane Bennet finally lost her temper.
“Very well Mr Darcy, here are my three questions.
“First: Why do you hate my family so much?
“Second: What have we ever done to deserve that?
“And last but not least: What in the world have you done with my sister?”
She straightened her spine, awaiting whatever assault the man might deliver, however unpleasant. Nothing prepared her for what she actually received; the result was unprecedented and quite alarming.
Mr Darcy stared hard at her for half a minute, shook his head several times, buried his head in his hands, sat on the log, and started to cry.