13. Chapter 13

Chapter 13

T he two men fell asleep as soon as the carriage began moving. Elizabeth shifted to the far side of the seat next to the window and put Darcy's head in her lap, trying to make him as comfortable as possible, considering the jolting of the carriage. They were about an hour away from Bromley, where they were supposed to stop at an inn for refreshments, so she hoped he would sleep for a while.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth looked towards Mr. Bingley, wondering if she should say something about Jane. She wanted to help them both out, but she had to consider Jane's wishes. How would she feel if she discovered Elizabeth had talked about her with Bingley?

She knew the answer. Jane was reserved, and did not like to wear her heart on her sleeve. If she had not addressed the issue with Mr. Bingley, what right did Elizabeth have to do so?

So Elizabeth smiled at Mr. Bingley, made some general remarks about the weather and the landscape, then fell into a companionable silence.

"I think I shall follow in the footsteps of the other gentlemen and take the opportunity to sleep," said Bingley. "That way, when we encounter the young ladies at the inn tonight, I will be more animated."

He settled back into the squabs and closed his eyes. Elizabeth was proud of herself for resisting the temptation to ask Bingley which young lady in particular he was thinking of.

A few minutes later, he started to snore softly.

It was past noon when Darcy awoke with a jolt. The carriage had stopped. It took a moment to orient himself, but when he looked out, he recognized the familiar sign. They had arrived at the Royal Bell in Bromley.

"Feeling better?" Elizabeth asked him with a smile as he yawned and stretched.

"Much better." He had a headache, but that was only to be expected. And he was ravenous enough that he was even prepared to eat the vegetables on the seat. Fortunately, there was no need for that. He had been many times to the Royal Bell, and knew they would receive more than adequate refreshments to send them on their way.

When they went inside, Darcy mentioned Lady Catherine de Bourgh to the innkeeper, and immediately several servants appeared as if by magic to assist them.

Following a hearty meal, Darcy felt much better. Elizabeth needed fresh air, and she proposed going outside for a short walk before continuing their journey.

"Why did you smile when you mentioned your aunt to the innkeeper?" she asked.

"Because each time I visited my aunt, she would say the same thing. She would recommend that I change horses at Bromley. ‘If you mention my name at the Bell,' she said, every time ‘you will be attended to'." Darcy's voice changed in imitation of his aunt's arrogant manner.

"Well, it certainly seemed to work," remarked Elizabeth with a laugh. "She sounds even more arrogant than you."

He looked down his nose at her. "You find me arrogant?"

Elizabeth put a hand on her chin and pretended to think about it. "Let me put it this way: when I first met you, I thought you the most arrogant, conceited gentleman I had ever encountered."

"And now?" he purred.

"Now, I think you are more conceited than ever."

He raised his eyebrow at her.

"Very well. I will acknowledge that you are not the most arrogant and conceited gentleman I have ever met. There are worse."

Darcy stepped forward and leaned his forehead against hers. "Perhaps you have come to like it, just a little?" he coaxed.

"Mmm. Perhaps." She leaned forward and touched his lips with hers. "Yes, I think—"

"Stop thinking so much," he said, deepening the kiss.

A sound alerted them to the fact that they were exposed to anyone passing by, and Darcy reluctantly stepped away from her.

"I suppose we had better return to the carriage," she said. "We have already been delayed enough."

"Not until you have assured me that you no longer find me arrogant."

She was happy to oblige.

After a brief interval, they walked slowly back, side by side, their shoulders rubbing, their fingertips touching as they moved. Elizabeth soon returned to the subject of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She was curious to learn what Darcy's relationship with his aunt was like. He had never once mentioned her, or said he wanted to go to see her.

"So does your aunt live close by?"

"Not at all. Rosings Park is about three hours away, near Westerham, but the inn at Bromley was a regular stop every time we traveled."

"Are you close to your aunt?"

Darcy snorted. "My aunt is not the kind of person you can be close to. Mostly, she barks out orders and expects everyone to obey them."

"She sounds terrifying."

"As long as you don't let her intimidate you, you'll be fine. She likes to manage everyone around her. She interferes in every detail of their lives. I have even heard her give one of the tenants instructions about how to arrange her shelves."

"Goodness! I would not like that. How did you put up with it?"

"She was kind to me when I was orphaned. She could have sent me to an Academy straight after my parents died. Instead, she trained me herself. Perhaps she had reasons of her own for doing it, but at the time, I was grieving the loss of my parents, and I was grateful that my mother's sister took me in. If I had gone straight to an Academy, I might have likely been bullied by my fellow apprentices who did not understand what I was facing."

"Very probably." No matter how hard it was to imagine Darcy as a tearful young boy at the mercy of the other children, she could see why his aunt's intervention had been important.

"When did you last see her?"

He looked uncomfortable. "Just before our wedding. We— had a falling-out."

Elizabeth vaguely remembered Lord Matlock saying something about Darcy and his cousin. At the time, she had not paid much attention to it, but now she remembered something about marriage expectations.

"Was it because she hoped you would marry your cousin?"

Darcy winced. "It was more than that. When you and I met, Anne and I were engaged." Darcy's tone was clipped.

Elizabeth felt as though a large stone had lodged in her stomach. Why had he not mentioned it before? She had never considered that he might have been attached to someone else. No wonder he was so hostile when they were first introduced.

Her mind spun with the implications. Breaking an engagement was a very serious matter, particularly for a well-bred young lady. What impact did it all have on Miss de Bourgh? Young ladies who were jilted were often ostracized by society.

"So they made you break the engagement?" She could not keep the outrage out of her voice.

"There was no need to. It was never made official. There was no announcement." He looked down at his hands and sighed. "I am sorry I never told you. I have not thought about Anne for a very long time. It did not seem important."

A heavy silence hung between them.

She hesitated, then decided to ask the question that was on her mind. "Did you care for her?"

"I cared for her, of course. We spent two years together as children. It was a good match. It was planned by our mothers in the cradle. We grew up with the expectation that it would happen one day. My aunt was bitterly disappointed when the Council decreed otherwise." He paused. "We are none of us the masters of our fate. But if you are asking whether it broke my heart to be separated from Anne, it did not."

His answer mollified her, but not completely. "Do you wish it could have been otherwise?"

She held her breath. She knew Darcy well enough that he would answer honestly. Did she really want to hear his answer?

He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. "And miss the opportunity to fall in love with such a Talented and beautiful young lady?" He pulled her against him and kissed her deeply, the passion in his kiss leaving no doubt in her mind. Then, as he drew back, he added. "If only we had our freedom, you would quickly learn how fortunate I consider myself to have found such a wonderful bride."

Several hours later, they finally arrived at Sevenoaks, where they were to meet the young ladies. Mr. Bingley was the first to alight. He immediately asked the ostler if a carriage with three young ladies had arrived.

Elizabeth was pleased to see this display of his interest in Jane. She would tell her sister about it, she decided. In any case, it would not hurt his cause.

Any pleasure she may have felt disappeared a moment later when Mr. Bingley turned back to their carriage in alarm.

"The young ladies' carriage has not arrived yet. I hope nothing untoward has happened."

Mr. Bennet was quick to dismiss any fears. "The road they have taken is longer than ours, and passes through some narrow country lanes. It was the safer option to travel straight from Richmond without going through London, but it is less sign-posted. They may have taken a wrong turn and been forced to retrace their steps."

Elizabeth acknowledged that it was very possible. At any rate, it was still light outside, and as long as they were not forced to navigate country lanes in the dark, it was not yet time to start worrying.

"Or they may have encountered a similar situation to ours," said Darcy. "The storm may have blown some obstacles onto the road and they may have been held back." He jumped down from the carriage and put a hand on Bingley's shoulder. "It's still too early to start worrying, Bingley."

However, Bingley could not be convinced so easily. "These are both possibilities. But what if they have been attacked by French mages? What then?"

"There is nothing to worry about. Miss King and Miss Bingley are powerful mages," said Mr. Bennet. "Jane is in good hands."

It was tactless of her father to mention Jane's name, but everyone here knew about Mr. Bingley's infatuation, so no harm was done.

"And Redmond is a Janus mage. I am sure his Wards will keep them safe," said Elizabeth, trying to reassure him further.

"But what if an accident has happened, and they are lying in a ditch somewhere? No one can guard against that."

"The Royal Mages have some of the best coachmen in the kingdom. They will know what to do," said Darcy. "Now come, let us go to our bedchambers and refresh ourselves, and we can meet again in half an hour downstairs to have dinner."

When they went down, however, there was no sign of the second carriage. Darcy thought it wise to ask for dinner to be delayed. They had requested dinner for around six o'clock, a compromise between the later dinners in London and dinners in the countryside, but they asked if it could be served at seven instead.

Seven o'clock came and went, and still the young ladies had not arrived.

"Could you ask Cook to delay another half hour?" said Mr. Bennet, when the innkeeper came to ask permission to serve food.

The man did not look very pleased. "The cook has already warmed up the venison stew twice, and the bottom of the pot is beginning to burn. I know fine gentlefolk like you are particular. I do not think you will take well to food that tastes burned. I will not have it said that this inn serves poor food."

"It cannot be helped," said Darcy, sternly. "We are more concerned about our missing party than about the state of the dinner."

The innkeeper, realizing he had offended the young gentleman, tried to make amends.

"We can always serve your group the dinner, sir, and offer cold pie and meats when the others arrive." he said.

"I ask for just fifteen minutes more, and then you can serve dinner."

"Excellent. I will inform the cook, then."

Elizabeth curled her lips at Darcy as the innkeeper left. "Poor man. He is very eager to impress us and spread a good reputation."

"It is good to see someone so dedicated to his profession."

Fifteen minutes later, as the clock chimed a quarter past the hour of seven, the serving men entered carrying the food and began to set it on the table.

Bingley began to eat, but then tossed down his fork and jumped up.

"I cannot sit and eat while the others may be injured. We will have to make up a search party."

"If you will grant me a few minutes to do justice to this excellent fare," said Mr. Bennet, "and I will certainly join you. If you cannot eat, why don't you give the order for horses to be saddled?"

"Count me in," said Darcy, "though I still think it is too early to worry."

"I would rather be wrong than fail the young ladies when they are in distress," said Bingley. "I am going to ask for the horses to be saddled." Moments later, he returned. "The horses will be ready in five minutes."

"You may as well eat something," said Mr. Bennet.

"I have no appetite at all. I will eat when everyone has returned safely."

Mr. Bennet rose, wiping his mouth with his napkin. "Tell them to keep the food on the table, Lizzy. We will be back sooner than the blink of an eye with the young ladies in tow. We will probably encounter them at the end of the lane."

But by now, night was approaching, and Elizabeth was also growing alarmed.

"If there has been an accident, we will need a carriage. Could you ask the coachman to see to it please before you go, Darcy? You and Bingley ride ahead of us, and I will follow with Papa."

"I see," said Mr. Bennet. "So I am to be coddled like an old man, then?"

"No, that is not what I meant. I would feel better if you came with me, Papa. Two heads are better than one if there is danger."