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“Would you be so kind as to bring the strips over? I would like to situate this break better before we move Miss Elizabeth,” Theodore explained.

“Miss Elizabeth, in a moment, I’m going to get Darcy here to help you sit up so we can strap your arm to your body.

That way, it doesn’t move around as much on the horse. It should help with some of the pain.”

“You sound like you have done this before, Colonel.”

Theodore liked the lady’s spunk, that was for sure.

“Yes, I have. You do not get through as many battles as I have without having to learn field medicine firsthand. You are definitely prettier than the soldiers I helped patch up, though.” He grinned, then nodded at Darcy to signal his need for help.

Once she was in her seat, Theodore carefully positioned her arm so that her palm was resting above her heart. They wrapped it around her so that her damaged arm stayed put. When done, they lowered her back to the ground so that she could recover her breath.

“Miss Elizabeth, are you all right? I was so very worried. That soldier was drunker than a wheelbarrow and when he hit you, I did not know what to do,” Kiernan quavered.

His courage had left him now that Elizabeth was within reach.

Crawling over to her, he put his head on her good shoulder and wept.

“I will be fine, Kiernan, back to myself in no time. You have been so brave. I just need a few minutes to catch my breath before we head back to Netherfield,” Elizabeth reassured him.

Over his sobbing form, she could see Colonel Fitzwilliam gesture to Mr. Darcy and the two of them moved to converse out of her hearing.

“The woman is yours, Darcy. I will not poach.” Theodore chuckled at his cousin’s jealousy. He had never seen him so smitten, and yet he knew Will would not admit to it.

“I do not know what you are talking about. I am merely concerned with Elizabeth’s welfare.

We ought to bring her back to Netherfield, and hopefully the doctor can see her shortly thereafter.

” Darcy knew he had feelings he did not understand, but he was unwilling to analyze them right now in this setting.

“Right.” Theodore quirked his eyebrow at his befuddled cousin.

“Anyway, Miss Elizabeth has a knot on her head, but I do not see any evidence to imply it is more serious than that. The fall broke her arm in at least one place near the elbow, if I am not mistaken. She has a multitude of cuts, scrapes, and bruises, and I think she will be sore for some time. I can detect nothing more than that, though. I had the apothecary summoned before we left, so he should be waiting when we get there.”

Darcy sighed and said, “It is as good as it could be.” He reassured himself by looking over to see that she was still safe. Bingley and Jonah were talking quietly off to the side, presumably about Netherfield.

“I think I have been fairly patient, but what happened?” Theodore asked. There was certainly a reason he had felt the need to strap on his pistols.

“It was Wickham, and he was more than a little bosky. What is more, Miss Elizabeth and young Kiernan came upon Wickham trying to shoot me in the back. She stopped him but paid the price for her valor.” Darcy’s forlorn tone of voice told almost more than his words did.

“That bounder! Can I assume he slunk away like the mangy cur he is?” Theodore fumed.

“You are correct, of course. I was too concerned about Elizabeth to give him any notice. Though I think Kiernan kicked him in the shin.” Darcy smiled despite himself.

“He is a tough little mite. Would you believe Caroline Bingley struck him and threw him out of the house after she called him a disgusting urchin? I informed Bingley, and he says he will deal with Caroline. Mrs. Ansley is in charge at the moment, as Mrs. Hurst is ill.”

“I want to say I am surprised, but I am not. At least Mrs. Ansley has a good head on her shoulders and will help care for Elizabeth. We should probably head back. I would like to get her seen by the apothecary.” Wearily, he turned and walked back to Miss Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth, are you rested enough? I think we should head to Netherfield.”

“Normally I would not hesitate, but I know this next hurdle will not be pleasant,” Elizabeth grimaced.

She had never felt this cowardly in her life.

The pain was overwhelming, and she just wanted it to stop.

Here she was, wrapped up like one of the mummies she had read about, but she was not foolish enough to think there would not still be pain riding a horse.

Being brought up the cliff had been quick but incredibly painful, and she knew it would take much longer to get to Netherfield.

“We will be as gentle as possible, but I fear you are correct. Darcy, if you get on Cadmus, I will hand her up to you. You can ride with me again, Kiernan.” Theodore waited for Darcy to get situated on Cadmus before carefully lifting Elizabeth and placing her in his arms.

Holding Elizabeth on his horse before him affected Darcy more than he thought it would.

He could tell she was in pain by the way she gripped at his clothing with her good hand, clutching so tightly her knuckles were a stark white.

Somehow her head had settled into the curve of his neck, and he found he never wanted her to leave his arms. Glancing around, he noticed everyone had mounted, and they were ready to head back.

“We are going to move now, Elizabeth. You must tell me if I can do anything to help you endure this.” Darcy signaled Cadmus to go with a gentle tap of his heels and was thankful for the horse’s perfect obedience. Cadmus seemed to recognize his precious cargo and was moving with care.

“I rather find myself in need of a distraction, Mr. Darcy. Would you mind at all talking to me?” Elizabeth struggled to take the slow breaths she knew would help. She needed to move her thoughts away from the stabbing pain that flared every time she shifted.

“Is there anything you want me to talk about?” Darcy queried.

“Tell me about you, about your home. I have heard that Derbyshire is lovely,” she responded, hoping for something to focus her mind on.

“All right. Pemberley has been home to the Darcy family since Owain D’Arcy came over with William the Conqueror.

They granted him most of Derbyshire for his service…

” Gathering Elizabeth close, he continued speaking of his people and the land that he called home.

It felt right somehow, holding her close and feeling her soft puffs of breath on his neck while he spoke of the place he held dear.