Chapter 18 Caught In A Storm
No shelter offered itself but the tower rising above the woods. She broke into a run as a burst of rain, driven by gusting wind, descended upon her. By the time she reached it, her thin pelisse clung to her, soaked through.
She entered the tower and found the roof was sound, though the arched openings allowed the wind to sweep through unchecked.
A stair rose along the wall in deep darkness.
She ascended and found the first landing afforded better protection.
There she seated herself upon the uppermost step and leaned against the stone, resolved to wait out the storm, her thoughts still consumed by the loss of Mr. Darcy.
After some time, she roused. She descended and looked out from the base of the tower. Rain fell in steady sheets, and dark clouds stretched without end. In the glooming light, she consulted her timepiece. It marked only half past two, though the heavy clouds lent the day the aspect of evening.
Fear stirred. Should the rain not abate, she must either return through the driving storm or remain the night in that cold, drafty refuge.
Sir Gareth took Anne’s hand and bowed over it. He lifted his gaze to hers and asked if he might call upon her on Sunday after church. She accepted with pleasure. Her two cousins stood beside her as Beaumont mounted his horse and rode away.
“I hope he receives a thorough soaking,” Richard said. “He has at least five miles to travel before he reaches his father’s estate.”
His cousins turned their gaze toward the horizon. Low, dark clouds gathered, and in the distance a sheet of rain advanced.
“He has a good hour before that downpour reaches this far,” Darcy said. “He should arrive home before it is upon us.”
They reentered the house, and Georgiana peeked down from the landing. “Fitzwilliam, may I come down now?”
“Yes, my dear. Anne’s guest has departed.”
They entered the drawing room and found only Lady Catherine within. Darcy noticed his book upon the couch where he and Elizabeth had sat. He took it up and placed it upon the table.
“Aunt Catherine, do you know where Lizzy has gone?” Georgiana asked.
“It is not my concern to keep account of a companion’s movements.”
Seeing Georgiana start at Lady Catherine’s angry reply, Darcy said, “Drake will know my dear. I shall ask him.”
He found the butler in the pantry. “Drake, has Miss Bennet gone up to her bedchamber?”
Drake hesitated and cleared his throat.
“What do you know? Speak plainly.”
“Sir, I overheard Lady Catherine reprimanding Miss Bennet.”
“My aunt reprimanded her?”
“Yes, sir.”
“On what subject?”
The man’s color deepened, and he faltered.
“I must know what you heard. I shall not report you to Lady Catherine, but if you refuse me, I will go to her at once and learn it myself.”
“Very well, sir. Lady Catherine believed Miss Bennet had sought to entrap you with her arts and allurements.”
“When did this occur?”
“Just after you three stepped out with Sir Gareth, sir.”
“And then?”
“I heard Miss Bennet say she required air. She must have gone by the servants’ stair, for she did not pass this way. She and your cousin often use the back stair when they go out.”
“Thank you, Drake.”
He returned to the drawing room.
“Anne, Miss Bennet had words with my aunt and felt the need to walk. Have you any notion where she might have gone?”
Anne and Georgiana rose.
“She favors the path along Hosey Brook, or the path along the bluffs.”
“Hosey Brook? That is a secluded stretch of country, is it not?”
“Yes, it eventually ends at the tower off Hosey Hill.”
“I do not know the tower. Would Miss Bennet be acquainted with it?”
“I doubt she has ever gone so far, but she prefers that path, and if her exchange with my mother proved severe enough to send her out, she may have continued that distance. It is nearly four miles.”
“Richard, will you ride the bluffs while I take the brook path?”
It was agreed, and the two gentlemen went up to change while their mounts were brought round.
Anne questioned her mother, and when Darcy returned, she accompanied him outside. Georgiana followed, her face marked with tears.
“Cousin, my mother reproved Lizzy severely. She accused her of using her arts and allurements to attach you, declared her far beneath your sphere, and insisted you and I stand engaged. Then she charged her with ingratitude for the privilege of serving as my companion, and censured her for presuming to raise her eyes to a nephew of this house.”
“Engaged to Darcy?” Richard said.
Anne lifted a brow. “You know my mother. The engagement is imagined, as is Lizzy’s post as my companion.”
Darcy looked to her. “Is not Miss Bennet your companion?”
“No, she is not. She is my friend, not a paid companion. She helped me care for Maria through her final days. I entreated her to stay with me while Maria lay dying. Poor Lizzy, and this is her reward.”
A gust of wind struck them.
“We must go and find her before that cloudburst reaches us.”
“Take care,” Anne said. “The water drains into the meadow, and the brook overflows with heavy rain.”
Darcy drew his hat low, secured his coat, and departed. Anne turned to Richard as he prepared to follow.
“And you, Richard, take care along the bluffs. Branches fall in such winds,” she cautioned.
“I shall,” he said, and then he too left in the face of the storm.
Anger at his aunt’s treatment of Elizabeth drove Darcy forward at too great a pace, and he missed the brook path.
He doubled back, and by the time he found it, the wind had risen and rain began to fall.
The path kept close to the brook, which had already risen to its banks and threatened to spill into the meadow.
The ground turned sodden beneath his horse’s hooves.
After nearly two miles, the tower appeared in the distance. He left the path and cut across the meadow. Pools had already formed, and mud splattered his legs. When he reached the tower and passed beneath the wide archway, he was relieved to escape the sheets of rain pouring down around him.
He dismounted, removed the saddle, and tethered his horse to a thick growth of ivy that climbed the ruin. Movement stirred in the shadows to his right.
Elizabeth.
She wore no pelisse and held her arms tight about herself.
“Miss Bennet.”
“Mr. Darcy, how did you find me?”
“Anne said you favored the brook path, and I judged that if the rain overtook you, I might find you here. Where is your wrap, ma’am?”
“My pelisse is soaked through, sir. I could not outrun the storm, for I ran into it to reach the tower. The landing offers better shelter.”
He removed his hat and set it upon a bare branch of the ivy, then followed her up the stair. With each step, the wind lessened.
“What lies above, ma’am?”
“I have not gone higher, sir. It is dark, and I confess I feared to proceed.”
“Remain here. I shall go up and see whether there is a more secure room.”
He returned after some minutes. “There is a chamber in the upper level. The walls and ceiling hold sound, and with no window, it affords good shelter. There is space enough for you to lie down, should we be obliged to remain the night.”
“Sir, we must not remain under any circumstances. I would be ruined, and you…”
She broke off.
“There can be no question of leaving at present. The rain is falling in sheets. The brook is flooding its banks, and Ares might come to harm, for the ground has turned to mire.”
A shiver passed through Elizabeth, whether from the cold or from dread of what such a situation might imply.
“Come, Miss Bennet. Your lips are blue. Let us go up before it grows darker. The wind cuts too sharply here.” He extended his hand, and she took it. He drew her arm within his. Together they ascended with care, each keeping a hand upon the wall.
The chamber above lay in darkness, yet it offered greater comfort. He unfastened his heavy coat and opened it.
“Sit beside me, Miss Elizabeth, and I shall wrap my coat about us both. We shall keep warmer if we remain close.”
She settled beside him without hesitation while he drew the coat about her.
“I believe we should lie down, with your back up against me. Between the warmth offered by my greatcoat and the heat of our bodies, you will soon warm up.”
She rose while he lowered himself and opened the coat. She lay beside him, and he warned, “I shall bring you nearer, ma’am.”
“Yes, sir, I understand.”
Her teeth were chattering. “Sir, my gown is damp. It will wet your clothes.”
“Do not concern yourself, Miss Bennet. Our warmth will soon dry it.”
His arm encircled her waist and drew her against him. The warmth of his body eventually drove away her chill, and the trembling ceased.
They remained silent for a time.
“Are you well, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Yes, sir. I am warm and at ease, but I regret that you came in search of me. In the morning, I shall be ruined, and you will stand compromised.”
“Let us not think beyond this moment. You are safe. Tomorrow may answer for itself.”
“Yes, sir.”
After a long silence, he asked, “Miss Elizabeth, would you consider telling me about yourself?”
“Of myself, sir?”
“Yes, ma’am. As you said, we will be compromised; there is no way around that fact. Since we are to marry, we ought to know one another.”
She shifted and turned her head, though the darkness concealed him, and she settled again. “Mr. Darcy, perhaps it will not come to that. You may return to Rosings at first light and offer some excuse. Change into dry clothes, then come in search of me. I shall await your return, sir.”
“That account may serve, especially if Richard has also been caught in the storm and has taken shelter somewhere. There are caves along the bluffs, as I recall.”
He was silent for quite some time and finally said, “Yes, I believe that explanation may serve.”
Elizabeth settled against him. “Then I am glad for you, sir. I would not have you lose your choice of wife. Lady Catherine said…”
“Pay no heed to what Lady Catherine has said. My cousin and I never intended to marry, though I foresee that Anne and Richard will marry and be well-suited. Give my aunt’s words no further thought.”
“And you, sir? Had you fixed your regard upon any lady before this?”
“No, ma’am. I had not given marriage a thought until recently.
I approach eight and twenty, and it is my duty to marry and secure an heir, yet I have not begun to seek a wife.
My aunt Helen arranged a dinner and drew me to several balls and assemblies this past month, but I found no one who was suitable. ”
“No one, sir? You must possess a very high standard.”
“I do. I desire a wife who is intelligent and kind, and one who does not indulge too freely in strong drink.”
“You refer to the lady who can rival a gentleman at the table, the one the colonel teased you about that night when we watched the stars.”
“Yes, ma’am. My experience with that lady convinced me that it is far more difficult than I had supposed to find a woman I could both admire and respect. As for a match of affection, I had thought it beyond reach.” He shifted a little and then asked, “And you, Miss Bennet, have you a suitor?”
“No, sir. My days pass in long hours with Homer or Cicero or some other beloved volume. I take the air in the early morning. The remaining hours are occupied with mundane tasks.”
They were both silent when Elizabeth added, “I fear for Mr. Collins’s position, sir. He may lose it after this. Your aunt will not take this lightly.”
“Be at ease, Miss Bennet. My aunt believes she holds the power to remove a rector, but she does not, and neither my cousin nor I will permit it.”
Elizabeth yawned.
“Do you feel tired, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Yes, sir. I imagine it is quite early yet, but the long walk and the cold have left me weary.”
“I shall trouble you no further. You must rest.”