Chapter 36

36

E lizabeth was walking back to Longbourn with Charlotte as dusk approached. She could hardly believe what she had heard, and knew that Papa would have to keep her more closely confined than she would have wished.

She felt rather forlorn — she knew that it was much better this way if there was any risk of her being compromised — but she knew it was likely that her music would be severely restricted. She might prevail upon her father to go back to town, but it could not be until after Jane's wedding, of course.

Not only was Stephens with them, but so was Sir William, in order to walk back to Lucas Lodge with Charlotte. They had not journeyed more than a few hundred yards when they heard a horse approaching, and once it was closer, she saw Mr. Darcy, who slowed and dismounted.

She knew a moment of irritation; had he thought she might try to evade protection? But then he was speaking.

"Good afternoon, Sir William, Miss Lucas, Miss Elizabeth. I have come with the permission of Mr. Bennet to ensure you are escorted with more than just Stephens, given what we have heard." He smiled, "But I am happy to see you too were concerned, Sir William."

Elizabeth moved closer to Charlotte and tucked her arm into that of her friend. "Now he cannot really offer me his arm," she whispered.

Charlotte shook her head. "You will have to accept a formal offer of assistance sometimes, Eliza." Her voice was equally quiet, and they heard Mr. Darcy beginning a low-voiced conversation with Sir William.

Elizabeth kept her voice down to talk in privacy with her friend. "I was hoping to ask if we could go to the cottage tomorrow, but I doubt that will be permitted now — at least until Papa and your father are convinced of our safety."

Charlotte huffed a laugh. "Certainly it is going to be at least a week until we can know for certain, and maybe longer, depending on what we find these troops are known to have done."

Elizabeth was sunk in gloom. "I know you are right. But it will be very difficult."

Her friend nudged her. "You managed when you were at Netherfield with Jane. I am sure you can cope now, especially with all the wedding planning excitement."

"True." Elizabeth looked around her. "I will ask Papa to send you and your father home in the coach. It's getting much too dark to be walking so far."

"I will accept that, Eliza." Charlotte seemed less enthusiastic for the walk today, and Elizabeth looked at her carefully, before glancing behind to check no one could hear them.

"You must send me notes of the verses you're thinking of for the song about following the drum, and then I can begin the adaptations to fit it."

Charlotte looked rather more animated than before. "That will help give me something to do. Thank you." She, too, glanced round. "I have also commenced writing a few little books of stories. I am hoping your uncle will be able to introduce me to someone who might publish them for me."

"How exciting!" Elizabeth leaned closer. "You may experiment on me with them. You know how much I love reading."

"Very well, although you know I'll wish to keep it secret, as you do for …" Charlotte looked up and raised her voice. "And here we are, safe and sound."

Elizabeth glanced round at the gentlemen walking behind them. Mr. Darcy's gaze was on her until he saw her turn, and then he hastily looked away. He looked stern and unyielding as he listened to Sir William, who was gesticulating as he spoke rapidly.

Did Mr. Darcy think she ought to have walked with him? Ire rose within her. Why ought she not have the opportunity to speak with Charlotte? Why, she might not have much opportunity to speak to her friend in private again for some time.

But she would be polite and show him he could not fluster her. She turned back to them.

"Please come into Longbourn, gentlemen. I thank you, Mr. Darcy, for escorting us safely here. And, Sir William, I will ask Papa to order the coach to take you and Charlotte home. It is getting quite dark." She looked at the footman.

"Thank you, Stephens," then she turned and led them into the house.

"Papa," she said as soon as he bade her enter the library, "May I order the coach to take Charlotte and Sir William home? It is too much to ask them to walk another mile home in this light, given that they wished to ensure I was safe walking home."

He nodded, "Of course you may." He looked a bit curious. "Did Mr. Darcy not escort you, so they could turn around and go home rather than continue here?"

She looked at him. "That thought never occurred to me, Papa." She huffed a laugh. "No wonder he looked so stern and cross!"

"Did he?" Papa's eyebrow went up. "Well, you run along and get the coach. I will talk to you later when all the callers have gone."

Elizabeth saw the Lucases off in the coach and then returned to the sitting room. Her mother was presiding over everyone, although the colonel had escaped her attention. He was conversing quietly with Mr. Darcy by the window, both men grave and unsmiling.

Mr. Bingley was talking quietly to Jane, although he, too, looked serious.

Elizabeth took up her needlework and sat beside Mary. "Have you heard anything more of what has happened? And where are my sisters?"

Mary leaned closer. "It is all about the sudden arrival of a militia troop, Lizzy. Something has the gentlemen concerned, and Papa has sent Lydia and Kitty upstairs." Her eyes were round and shocked. "He said they were being returned to the schoolroom at least until the militia move on!"

"My goodness!" Elizabeth almost wished she had been here to see it. "That was probably quite … noisy."

"Certainly." Mary nodded portentously. "I am glad that the gentlemen were not yet here to experience it."

A few minutes later, the callers took their leave to return to Netherfield, and would take the half-dozen extra footmen assigned to Longbourn with them until the morning. Elizabeth's heart warmed at Mr. Bingley's solicitousness as he took his farewell of Jane.

Mr. Darcy crossed the room to speak to Elizabeth, and she wished he would not single her out in front of Mama. She raised her chin.

"Miss Elizabeth, I thank you again for your kindness to my sister this morning, and I hope you had the opportunity to speak freely to your friend this afternoon." He still did not look pleased to be talking to her, and she didn't know why he would if he was unhappy with her.

But she wouldn't smile at him, either. "Mr. Darcy, when I told your sister I was not available for being called upon tomorrow, it was in order to take a long walk. Since that is unlikely to be permitted now, I am not otherwise engaged tomorrow — although, when your cousin is playing chess with my father, I would dearly love to be free to observe the match!"

He did smile then, a smile that reached his eyes, which crinkled at the corners. "It will be quite the battle, Miss Elizabeth." He hesitated. "If I ask Mrs. Hurst, as our hostess, then perhaps you would like to call on Georgiana at Netherfield one day. I will send a coach for you, with extra protection."

Elizabeth nodded. "I will ask Papa." She wished she had not responded to Georgiana's request that she sing this morning. It must have reminded him that he wanted her for her voice, so he was not attempting to win her good opinion.

His expression did not alter at the lack of any emotion in her response, and he bowed and joined the other gentlemen.

A few minutes later, Elizabeth tapped on the door of the library.

"Come in, Elizabeth." Papa knew who it was, and Elizabeth smiled. She trusted him absolutely.

"They have all gone now, Papa, and I am here for your accounting of the day. Although there is something I must say to you which is concerning me."

Papa's eyebrows were getting a lot of use today, she thought.

He indicated the chair beside his desk. "Do not be concerned, my little Lizzy. We are doing all we can to ensure your safety."

"I am sorry to cause you more worry, Papa, but Mary told me that you have told Lydia and Kitty to stay upstairs for now." She worried her hand in the folds of her skirts. "Did you explain exactly why they needed to stay indoors — to stay safe?"

Papa straightened in his chair. "What are you trying to tell me?"

Elizabeth fidgeted a little. "Only that if Lydia does not know why she must stay in, she will see it as a challenge that she knows better."

"You worry too much, Lizzy," her father reproved. "There is no way for her to go out without at least one person preventing her."

Elizabeth nodded. "I know. And she is older now, so she may not consider it, but for a long time, she has been a very strong tree climber."

Her father's eyes widened. "You mean she goes out of her window?"

She nodded unhappily. "I hate to be a tale teller, but I do not want her to place herself unwittingly in danger."

Her father was already on his feet, ringing the bell continuously.

Hill hurried in. "Yes, sir?"

"Call Miss Lydia down here at once, please. And then summon my steward."

He turned and nodded at Elizabeth. "You slip out, my dear. I don't want Lydia blaming you." Elizabeth returned to the sitting room, praying that Lydia hadn't already escaped. She would love the challenge.

Back with her sisters, she listened to what she could from beyond the door, and was relieved to hear Lydia's complaining tones.

It was one less thing to worry about.