Page 10 of Obligation and Redemption

The footmen were dismissed to the porch for the time being, while the occupants made their final words.

“Mr. Darcy, I thank you for your willingness to go to such lengths to avoid marriage to my daughter. That was very, uh, generous of you. However, I must tell you, that if word of this leaks, I still expect you to do your duty. I will not have my daughter ruined as a result of her attempting to help you.”

Mr. Darcy despised the fact that he was vulnerable to the impending events.

He was used to money and power paving his way.

“There will be no reason for talk of settlements as long as you uphold your end of the bargain, sir. And as an added incentive, I would like to offer you compensation for your discretion.” At Mr. Bennet’s raised brows, he continued, “I would like to add one thousand pounds to your daughter’s dowry as a good faith offering.

I want to see this end here and now, and I am certain that you can see the benefit in accepting this financial offer of benevolence. ”

Elizabeth quickly glanced to her father.

As she and her father often communicated with looks and gestures, she was familiar enough with his expressions to observe the anger that the others may have failed to notice.

However, this time he chose not to cover his indignation with witticism.

“Sir, you offend me. While you may have mercenary reasons to avoid a connection with my family, I can assure you money has no bearing on my choices for my daughter. You do not have enough money to affect my decisions regarding Elizabeth’s happiness.

And certainly there is no price that I could put on her happiness and wellbeing, which would be in jeopardy if married to you.

She is worth more to me than your overflowing coffers.

I would ask that you retract your financial offer post-haste before I send you out of my cabin and into the cold rain, despite your wounds. ”

Darcy preferred being in a position of authority.

He had always effectively controlled his life and those around him with finesse and proficiency, and this man before him was attempting to thwart his purpose.

Mr. Bennet would not take his money, which left him with no other avenue to influence him while in his weakened state.

“Have it your way,” is all Darcy said as he closed his eyes without a word to the woman who had been his caregiver for the day.

He was anxious to return to Netherfield and to put this whole scene behind him.

In awkward haste, Mr. Bingley thanked Elizabeth for taking such prodigious care of his friend, wished them safe journeys on their way home, and promised to visit when the weather cleared. At that, Mr. Bennet and Elizabeth left the cabin.

MR. BENNET INSISTED that his daughter ride with him back to Longbourn on horseback.

Elizabeth preferred walking to riding, but in this instance, she was in agreement.

She trusted her father to keep her safe, despite her trepidation of sitting on a mount.

She found herself too tired to attempt to walk, and despite the initial apprehension at being found by her father, alone with Mr. Darcy, she was relieved that she would not face the more than two-mile walk back home in the rain.

Even she knew that little journey would have been too much for her.

Elizabeth and her father spoke little on the way home, which suited her well, for in her weakened state, she could not bear to hear her father’s reproach, which was sure to come.

However, prior to reaching Longbourn, he did broach the subject that they needed to discuss before entering the manor.

“Lizzy, my dear. I know you have had a busy day, what with saving a great man, but we must make certain your mother and sisters learn nothing of your adventures. You got caught in the rain and remained until I found you. You chose not to come home, due to waiting out the storm.”

“And where was I exactly while waiting for the rain to stop?”

“Let’s say the stone folly on the south side of the estate, the one my grandfather built for his wife. ”

“A bit of romantic scenery; how ironic. The folly it is then.” After a pause, Elizabeth continued, “Thank you, Papa. You have been very generous with me. I am desperately sorry to have put you in such a difficult situation, having to lie in order to protect me from my own bit of folly.”

“You always have been talented at getting into a mess, but you do not deserve to be tied to a man who could not respect you, who would always look down on your origins. You were meant for better prospects, and I promise that I will do all in my power to keep you from a life of misery. But, if the events of today spread, … Well, we will not talk of that. You just take care of yourself; you have had a stressful day and by your appearance, you are becoming ill, a rarity indeed.”

As they entered Longbourn, Elizabeth could hear her mother in the sitting room exclaiming, “Is that her; is that Lizzy? She will be the death of me; I am sure. Lizzy, come in this room at once!”

Elizabeth sighed and started towards the sound that was her mother.

Her father stayed her, though. “Lizzy, my dear, go on upstairs, and I will explain everything to your mother. Hill, make sure you add wood to Lizzy’s fire in her chamber and have hot water sent up.

Sarah needs to be available to assist her.

” A relieved Elizabeth headed upstairs and was surprised to find herself winded with the effort.

Jane came up behind, hugging her tightly, “Lizzy, I was so worried. Are you well?”

“I am fine, just a little tired.” Jane opened the door to their shared room and joined Elizabeth, who sat on the bed, leaning on the bedpost. Jane waited patiently for Elizabeth to elaborate.

They were as close as two sisters could be and knew if there was anything to relate, that Elizabeth would in her own time.

Shortly after the young ladies entered the room, Hill, the family’s faithful housekeeper, brought in some wood for the fire, followed by Sarah, the maid, bringing hot water for washing. “Miss Elizabeth, I will bring up some hot tea momentarily. Would you like anything else to go with that?“

“Some broth, cheese and bread would be lovely. Thank you, Hill.” Once the servants had departed, Elizabeth turned to Jane. “I will share the events of the day, but first, I need to clean and change my clothes.”

Jane Bennet, the closest to Elizabeth in age and understanding, held a special place in the life of her sister.

They were confidantes and friends, despite being so different in personalities.

Where Elizabeth was lively, witty and vivacious, Jane was soft-spoken, introspective and serene; nonetheless, there could be no two sisters as close.

Elizabeth could trust Jane with any secret, but the question at hand in her mind was whether she should burden her with the events of the day.

Elizabeth worried that Jane, as was her tendency, would agonise over something that could not be changed.

Jane assisted Elizabeth in removing her wet clothes and donning a warm dressing gown, after Elizabeth used the warm water to clean off the remnants of her day’s activities.

Following the arrival of the tea and small meal, she took out a brush and released Elizabeth’s hair from the remaining pins.

Elizabeth sat by the fire with her hot tea and attempted to find the warmth she had missed throughout the day.

“Lizzy, you do look dreadful. Why do you not stay in your room for the remainder of the evening? I am certain Mama would understand.”

“That does sound lovely, Jane, but I am afraid that you may be wrong about Mama. She will want me to join the family for supper. I’ll just get a little rest in my room before coming downstairs.

” After a few minutes of Jane’s ministrations with the brush, Elizabeth decided to tell Jane all.

She selfishly needed someone to share her burden, and Jane was the one to take on that role.

“Jane, this morning I decided to take a walk on the far side of the estate. You know that Mama has not let me out of the house since Mr. Collins’s arrival, unless he was with me.

Well, I was determined to get in some exercise before the storm hit, but I was lost in my thoughts before noticing that I had gone some distance.

When I realised that the sky remained dark, despite the sunrise, I was nearly three miles from home.

I turned and picked up my pace to run home.

” At Jane’s raised brow, Elizabeth confirmed with a laugh, “Yes, I know, Jane. Ladies do not run across the countryside. And had I taken your advice today, I would have been well served, but as it was, in my haste, I did not notice a horse and rider bearing down upon me until it was too late. The curve in the path did not help either.”

“Lizzy, you were unharmed? Who could have been riding at that time of day?”

“I am well, Jane. Please do not worry about that; I am just a little tired. My problems began when Mr. Darcy’s horse threw him.”

“Mr. Darcy? Poor man! Was he seriously harmed?”

“I believe he sustained a concussion, which can be dangerous, but mostly quite uncomfortable; if you will remember, I have had my own share. Also, his foot got stuck in the stirrup for a few moments when his horse bolted. I do not think that he broke any bones, but his ankle was sorely bruised, and probably sprained. At any rate, he could not walk.”

“So what did you do?”

“I removed him from the path and pulled him nearly two hundred yards through thickets and brambles and across ditches and into the comforts of Papa’s hunting cabin.”

“Do be serious, Lizzy.”