Chapter Ten #2
He assisted in finding her discarded clothing and quietly aided her in restoring her dress. “Turn,” he ordered as Elizabeth worked to secure the bodice of her dress. As he laced up the last of the eyelets, he kissed the nape of her neck. “I nearly lost you today.”
“I was so happy to see you.” Impulsively, she turned in his arms, and the passion began anew.
Lost in the kiss, neither of them heard the intruders surreptitiously making their way up the stairs until a voice came from behind Darcy. “Mr. Darcy, kindly remove your hands from my daughter.”
Elizabeth froze, but she did not release the hold she had on Darcy’s jacket. “Papa, let me explain.” Her voice held a resolve that startled both Darcy and her father.
Mr. Bennet turned to hustle his servants from the room before he answered her. “There is little to explain.” He closed the door. “It appears you and Mr. Darcy are more intimate than any of us suspected. How long has this clandestine affair been going on?” His voice was unaccustomedly grave.
Darcy did not turn around. He permitted Elizabeth the lead. When he returned to save her, he committed himself to this moment.
Elizabeth took a half step to the side, but she left her right hand resting on Darcy’s chest. “Papa, this is not what it appears,” she began.
“I went out to give Ceres an apple in the barn. When I left, I spotted someone along the far hedgerow. I should not have—I know that now—but I followed him. At first, I simply wanted to know why he watched the house, but the closer I got, the farther away he moved. My curiosity and my anger won the best of me, and I followed the man deeper into the woods.”
“Who was it, child?”
Elizabeth shot Darcy a warning glance. “I do not know, Papa. He was dressed as a gentleman. Before I could turn around, he grabbed me from behind and hit me in the face.” She touched her bruised lip for effect. “He brought me here and tied me up.”
“Tied you to the bed?”
“Yes, Papa.” She raised her arm for him to see her wrist.
Mr. Bennet’s gaze focused on the obvious abrasion. “How did Mr. Darcy come to be here with you?”
“I rode back to Netherfield because I forgot something important.” Darcy’s voice held a calmness he did not feel. Elizabeth’s hand rested over his heart, and she likely knew it raced violently.
Elizabeth explained, “Mr. Darcy saw the strange horse tied before the manor house and came to investigate. That is when he found me. He and the man fought, but my attacker escaped.”
“Could you recognize the man again, if we found him?” Mr. Bennet asked as he surveyed the damage to the room.
Darcy did his best to follow Elizabeth’s tale. “I do not think so, Sir. It all happened so quickly, and the man wore a mask. My only concern at the time was your daughter.”
“Mr. Darcy saved me, Papa.”
“It seems Mr. Darcy does a great deal of saving where you are involved, Elizabeth.” Mr. Bennet cleared his throat. As her father moved away towards the window, he casually inquired, “May I ask, Mr. Darcy, why did you return to this area? What did you forget, Sir?”
“Me,” Elizabeth blurted out before Darcy could respond. “Mr. Darcy came back for me, Papa. He asked me to marry him.”
“Elizabeth?” Darcy whispered. “How can we?”
“William,” she whispered, “we hold no choice. Wickham knows who I am. I remain in danger. He will not rest until I am dead. He will do anything to destroy you. I am safe only in your arms.”
“I never meant to bring you into this,” he said sotto voce.
“I am in it, nevertheless. It is your choice to protect me.”
Darcy caressed her chin. “I would give you anything, Elizabeth.”
“Then we will find a means. Only when we are together does this madness wane.”
Darcy nodded his agreement. “Mr. Bennet, may I speak with you?” he asked.
Darcy and her father stepped into the hallway as Elizabeth righted her appearance.
Mr. Bennet kept his voice low, but his anger was evident.
“Mr. Darcy, you placed Elizabeth in a most awkward position. Although I am eternally grateful for your interference today, I am also appalled by your behavior. I am not eager to have Lizzy paraded around Hertfordshire as your betrothed while my servants gossip about what they observed.”
“I assure you, Sir, such is not how I would conduct a courtship. Your daughter and I judged poorly and allowed our emotions to control our response, but please know I hold genuine regard for Miss Elizabeth. In light of that fact, I will procure an ordinary license, and Elizabeth and I can marry immediately in London. We will leave for there tomorrow. Does not Miss Elizabeth have an aunt and uncle in London?”
“In Cheapside.”
“Cheapside?” Darcy hid his surprise. “I am confident they will be happy to aid your daughter. We will explain to all that ours is a love match. With my withdrawal from Netherfield, I did not wish to leave Elizabeth behind.”
“Yours appears to be the only logical solution. I appreciate your discretion. Let us return to Longbourn to tell Mrs. Bennet the happy news.”
The reappearance of Mr. Darcy sent the residents of Longbourn into a tizzy.
When Darcy and Elizabeth repeated their parts of the story to the rest of her family, there were gasps of disbelief—first at Elizabeth’s foolishness for following the stranger and then at Darcy’s proposal.
When Mrs. Bennet protested the plan for an immediate marriage, Darcy assured, “I must return to Derbyshire, Mrs. Bennet,” he explained, “and I will not be returning to Hertfordshire for a year or more. I returned on this day to plead with your daughter to accept me. Such a long suspense would bring both of us anguish.”
“I understand the urgency, Mr. Darcy,” Mrs. Bennet acquiesced. “But do you not wish for a large wedding?”
“No, Mrs. Bennet, I am a very private man. I understand your reluctance to part with your daughter. However, you may take comfort in knowing that despite the speed with which I make Miss Elizabeth my wife, your daughter will be the mistress of one of the largest estates in England. Moreover, she will have a house in Town.”
Mrs. Bennet drew in a deep breath. “I comprehend, Sir, but I wish Jane to travel to London with Elizabeth. My eldest can return with the Gardiners for Christmastide.”
Darcy nodded in agreement. “Miss Bennet’s presence is most welcome.”
“Come, Lizzy.” Mrs. Bennet stood suddenly. “Let us see to your packing.”
Darcy reached for Elizabeth’s hand. “If you would hold no objections, Mrs. Bennet, might I ask for a moment of privacy with Elizabeth? Perhaps in the garden?”
“Certainly, Mr. Darcy.”
Once outside, their pretense of an engagement ended. “Elizabeth, what have you done?”
“I committed myself to you. Would you have me do otherwise?” Suddenly, his hesitation angered her.
“What if I cannot protect you from Wickham?” He voiced his worries.
“Perhaps you are correct. I am safer without you! How could I have thought you cared? Consider the matter at an end, Mr. Darcy!” She meant to jerk her hand free of his, but Darcy would have none of it.