Chapter 7 #2
“Mama, please stop crying. I have no time for this! We shall search until we find him! Mary, you must stay here with Mama. Hill, we shall drop you in Meryton, at Aunt Phillips’s house.
Tell her what has happened and ask for help, then return home in her carriage as soon as you can.
Jane, we shall take you on to Netherfield.
You will tell Mr Bingley and request his assistance too.
John and I shall keep driving. We shall keep the torches so you can find us. ”
Elizabeth’s voice was commanding, and everyone around her nodded. Then, Mary whispered the question that everyone had missed or simply overlooked.
“But Lizzy, where is Mr Collins?”
“Dear Lord, where is he indeed?” Mrs Bennet cried.
“If we find Papa, we shall find Mr Collins too, I suppose,” Elizabeth replied after a moment of confusion. “Let us do as we planned.”
Minutes later, Elizabeth, Jane, and Hill were ready to go, while Mrs Bennet was still sobbing and whining, holding Mary’s hands.
“What shall we do? I am sure your father is dead! If Mr Collins is not dead too, he will take over Longbourn before Mr Bennet is cold in his grave! What if he is dead too? Who will throw us out? We are all lost! Lost forever!”
“Mama, we must leave now,” Elizabeth said impatiently.
Out of doors, the cold and rain hit her face and travelled into her heart.
If her father was hurt somewhere, he had no chance of surviving the night.
Tears were burning her eyes, but she knew she had to remain strong, since there was no one else she could rely on in such circumstances.
Jane was everything kind and gentle but seemed lost in sadness and fear.
Elizabeth was lost too; in truth, she did not trust herself to succeed in her endeavour, but she was determined to do all she could for her father. She did not know what she should do and how, but she could not allow herself to admit the tragedy yet.
John brought the carriage round, and as they moved towards it, another carriage stopped in front of the house. Elizabeth did not recognise it, so she stepped closer, then stopped in disbelief when she heard her name called and saw Mr Darcy stepping down, limping slightly.
“Mr Darcy?”
“Miss Elizabeth, I—”
“Forgive me, sir, I have not an instant to lose. We have a most urgent situation and…”
She felt too weak to speak or to stand and wished he would leave her alone. To her amazement, he grasped both her arms, forcing her to calm down.
“Miss Elizabeth, please…is the situation regarding your father?”
She widened her eyes, then nodded, biting her lips to avoid sobbing.
“He is missing… He went riding…with Mr Collins. His horse returned home alone. I must find him. Mr Collins is lost too…”
“I imagine you wish to search for your father. We shall go together. I have come to escort you.”
Her amazement was now complete.
“Escort me? But how did you know?”
“Mr Collins is at Netherfield. He said he was lost and rode in the dark for a while until he saw the manor’s lights.”
“He is at Netherfield?” she cried. “And Papa?”
Elizabeth pulled her hands from his grasp, clasping them together. By this time, Jane was beside her, listening with despair.
“It seems your father fell from his horse, so Mr Collins said. The horse slipped…it was an accident.”
“And he left Papa there? Is Papa hurt?”
“He said he does not know. He could not see where your father fell, and he did not answer him when he called. Bingley has already arranged a large search party. All the servants from Netherfield are out on horseback, looking for Mr Bennet. Most of them are well acquainted with the area.”
“I want to go too,” Elizabeth whispered, finally allowing her tears to fall freely.
“I know… I came to escort you,” he repeated.
“May I come too?” Jane asked timidly.
“Of course, Miss Bennet.” Darcy looked around for a moment, then addressed John and Hill. “Will you come too?”
Elizabeth already had one foot in the carriage when she replied, “No, there is no need. Please stay with Mama. Tell her Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy are helping us with the search.”
“As you wish, miss. Should I go and tell Mr Phillips what has happened?” John asked.
Elizabeth looked at Mr Darcy, unable to reply herself.
“Sir, do we need more help?”
“From what Mr Collins described,” Mr Darcy said, “the accident must have happened less than half an hour’s slow ride from Netherfield. Twelve people are searching already. I hope we shall find him before anyone from Meryton has time to join us.”
“John, wait at home for now,” she eventually said. “We shall send word as soon as we have news.”
They entered the carriage, which began to move, increasing its pace immediately.
The sisters were sitting on one bench, holding hands, with Mr Darcy opposite them.
“Oh! I forgot…” Elizabeth gasped. “If we find Papa and he is hurt, Mr Jones should be fetched.”
“I have already sent someone for Mr Jones,” Mr Darcy said. “Your father must be closer to Netherfield than to Longbourn, and Bingley said we should take him there…if you approve, of course.”
The sisters gazed at him, nodding at every word as if they could not speak any longer.
“Mr Darcy, is Mr Collins hurt?” Jane eventually asked.
The answer came after a brief hesitation. “No. He was only wet and dirty, and he asked to clean himself and change his clothes.”
Elizabeth blinked several times, trying to understand.
“He wanted to change his clothes?” she finally asked with disbelief and increasing rage. “He is at Netherfield now?”
“Yes. It was no use to taking him with the search party. He barely remembered anything and did not seem willing to leave the house.”
A terrible headache throbbed at Elizabeth’s temples as she imagined her father lying somewhere, alone and hurt.
“He would have been useless regardless,” she replied. “Did he not remember anything of note?”
“We asked him the same thing. He recollected a stream, a large tree — an oak, perhaps — then they climbed a hill and were about to descend when the accident happened.”
Elizabeth’s heart stopped suddenly, and without thinking, she grasped Mr Darcy’s hands.
“Mr Darcy, I believe I know where he is! We should turn left at the next crossroads, ride a little along the main path, then I shall walk to the oak.”
“If you know the place, we shall call some men to go with you. They must be spread all over the place,” he assured her, and only then did she notice that his voice was gentle and his gaze affectionate. Her hands were still holding his, and she withdrew them slowly.
All of a sudden, countless lights broke through the night, proving Mr Darcy to be correct. Two of the lights approached them in a hurry, and voices were heard calling, making Elizabeth’s heart stop again in the deepest fear.
The carriage stopped, and so did the two riders.
“What has happened?”
“The master sent us to tell you that Mr Bennet has been found.”
“He has been found?” Elizabeth and Jane asked in the same voice.
“Yes, miss. We found him easily from what we were told. There is only one large oak near a stream at the bottom of a hill,” the man said.
“Where is he? Is he alive?” Elizabeth asked, barely recognising her own voice.
“Yes, miss. The master said he is alive, and they have taken him to Netherfield.”
“Let us go, please!” Elizabeth begged Mr Darcy, and the carriage moved forwards again at a swift pace.
For a few moments, there was silence, then Jane burst out in heartbreaking sobs, while Elizabeth held her tightly.
Trying to comfort her sister and temper her deepest fears, she glanced at Mr Darcy.
His gaze, dark but warm, was resting upon her, making her feel there was somebody stronger than her on whom she could rely if needed, even if he was almost a stranger.