Main page: It Only Stands to Reason

Chapter 38

Mr. Darcy, atop a huge black horse, pulled up beside her. His hair was disheveled, cravat untied and one end flapped over his shoulder. Leaves and broken twigs clung to his coat amidst the fine coating of dust.

“What are you doing here?” They demanded simultaneously.

“Looking for my—”

“…brothers.”

“…sons.”

They stared at each other a long moment, hardly blinking.

“Where are you going?” Darcy asked.

“I should think it obvious—the cave—I am certain that is where Wickham has taken the boys. Where are—”

“Piper and your father have gone to Wickham’s cottage and a few other similar spots. Fitzwilliam went into town to check the inns Wickham frequents. I had gone with Fitzwilliam, but detoured here halfway out.”

“Our servants are searching Alston’s grounds. I do not think he could get very far.”

“Yet you left your sister to supervise them whilst you are out here?”

“She is fully capable. I—”

“Had to follow your—”

“Yes.”

“You can return to Alston now. I will—”

“No! Those are my brothers and I will—

“What exactly do you expect to do if you find Wickham?”

Oh maddening man! He had that irritating, all-knowing look that Papa was apt to take on just before he said something very, very stupid.

She drew a deep breath and gritted her teeth. “Keep watch. Jane knows where I have gone and to send Papa if I do not return by evening. If he moves them, I can leave trail markers to follow.  If the situation proves too dangerous, I can draw him away from the boys as I have the advantage of a horse and an able body. I may not be able to challenge him as you would, but—”

“You are not without a well-considered plan.” Darcy tipped his head.

“I am glad you approve.”  She urged her horse into motion. This was not time for debate and he may as well learn of her determination now whilst he still had the chance to change his mind.

He followed. “Do not mistake my admiration for approval.”

“Well forgive my error.” She could not look at him. If his look of disapproval was anything like Papa’s, her resolve might weaken.

“Neither your father not Piper will approve.”

“You do not think I am aware of that? I have lived with him long enough to know what will and will not be approved. I will deal with what comes after the boys are safe.  That is the only thing that matters.”  Enough conversation! The last thing she needed was another meddlesome, all-knowing man lording his superiority over her. She leaned forward in the saddle. As soon as the terrain permitted, she would pick up the pace.

“Elizabeth!”

She looked over her shoulder. “Have you further orders for me?”

Darcy growled and maneuvered his horse next to hers. A narrow branch slapped his face. “I am not your father! I do not issue commands, you know that. Why are you so angry with me?”

“I am not angry.”

“Yes you are.”

“Very well then, I am angry, but at Wickham—” She ducked under a low hanging branch.

Darcy swatted it away from his face. “And at me for promoting Wickham to your family.”

She said nothing. The path widened and cleared and she pressed her heels into her horse’s side. The dear creature wanted to move as much as she did and quickened the pace.

Darcy matched her pace and pulled half a step ahead. He craned his neck to look at her. His brow was drawn low over eyes that flashed with an intensity she had only seen once before, the day he came across her after she had met Wickham in the woods.

She wanted to argue, to deny it, but she could not argue with that look. Her shoulders sagged. “Yes, I am angry over that too.”

“Thank you. It is time for you to be honest with me.”  The path narrowed again and the horses slowed and moved very close together.

She peeked at him.

“I was wrong not to see through his façade sooner. But you do understand, I hope, I promoted him in good faith. I am sorry for my error. Please forgive me.”

She met his gaze. Tight lines drew furrows beside his eyes and lips.

“I should have been more attentive to your concerns. I brushed them aside and in doing so dismissed you. I was wrong and it is not a mistake I will make again—if you will give me the opportunity.” He winced as he spoke the words.

Her eyes and throat burned. What more could she ask of anyone?

“Will you forgive me?” His voice wavered.

The words caught in her throat and had to be forced out. “I—I will.” Part of her wished she could leave it at that, but if he was courageous enough to confess his flaws, could she do less? She swallowed hard. “You are very gracious sir. In all good conscience, though, I must offer that perhaps you were not so unwise to ignore my warnings. I have come to believe that some of my opinions have been rather tainted by my experiences in London—perhaps I am too quick to willfully misunderstand the motives and intentions of others.” Would he hate her for not owning her faults sooner?

He exhaled hard and the corners of his lips crept up. “Perhaps we can be of mutual aid to one another as our shortcomings are most complimentary.”

“I find that prospect quite appealing.”

He smiled and extended his hand. She offered hers.  He took it and squeezed it.

“I am still going with you.”

He chuckled. “I had no doubt of it. Would you do me a kindness and promise to allow me to handle any necessary confrontation of Wickham.”

“And I will manage the boys—agreed.”  She nodded.

“Thank you.” He released her hand. “You father will have my hide for this.”

“No, he will know where the blame lies. He and Piper know me well enough to know you could not stop me.”

Darcy snorted and he flipped his reins. The horses continued along the overgrown path along the ravine. The hills rose in front of them.

“Is that it?” She pointed to a pile of rocks half way up the third hill.

“Yes, yes that is it.”  Darcy shaded his yes and squinted into the afternoon sun. “I cannot make it out for certain, I am not sure if there is anyone there.”

“I cannot tell either.”  She chewed her lower lip. “I should have brought Papa’s spy glass.”

“We must remember that in the future.”  He rubbed sweat from his forehead. “If he is there, it would not do for him to see us approach. We should approach from the other side.”

“I agree.”

He guided his horse along the left fork of the path.  The way narrowed until only one horse could fit through at a time, and barely that. Their paced slowed further as the incline grew sharper and the horses fought for purchase on the rocky ground.

“As ill as he appeared when we saw him in town, I do not know how Wickham could manage all four boys if they did not go with him willingly,” she said.

“I had the same thought. I did not warn the boys strenuously enough to stay away from him. We were so certain it was you ladies who were are risk, we never considered the boys could be a target.”

“But he is an opportunist.”

“Too true. Direct aggression is far more work than he prefers and runs the risk of dirtying his hands.”

“The boys are the kinds of helpless, easy victim a man like him prefers.”

Darcy shuddered and urged his horse faster.

“I do not believe Papa saw the possibilities…I am not sure I did either. After my encounter with him in the woods, it seemed very clear that I was his target.”

The path opened up before them into a sandy clearing. He stopped his horse, dismounted, and tied the reins to a small tree.

“Let me help you dismount.” He stepped toward her.

“No, turn back around.”

“What are you taking about?”

“I must dismount—it is an indelicate sight at best. You cannot—”

“You cannot possibly be serious.” He slapped his forehead.

“I am entirely serious.”

“I have been riding, alone in the forest, with you in a most indelicate seat for well-nigh an hour and you choose now to become missish about it? I cannot believe it.”  He reached for her waist.

“No, you cannot—”

“My dearest, loveliest, Elizabeth, I have been staring at the exquisite turn of your ankle and calf for all these miles and not once allowed you to realize the loveliness you present me with. You will reward me by allowing me to help you dismount.”  He took her waist firmly in his hands.

“But my Father—”

“Too late for that.  He is already unhappy with me. What more can he do? Make us marry?  Since I have already asked for that privilege, I do not see I have anything to fear in that. I have the license I promised I would acquire in my desk at home, so he cannot stop us either.” He helped her down and steadied her on her feet.

She shook out her skirts. With a little huff, she looked up at him.  He was right, but she did not have to like it.

He cupped her cheek in his palm. “If our errand were any less urgent, I would kiss you now.”

She blinked and bit her lip. “We must go.”

He took her hand and led her to the edge of the clearing. He peeked around a large oak. The entrance to the cave lay just behind a sunbeam, bathed in grey shadows and dust.  Her heart fell, the dirt at the mouth seemed undisturbed. She pressed her fingers to her lips. Silence. They grimaced at each other. Four young boys could hardly manage silence for a moment. Certainly this was too long.

He pointed to himself then to the cave. She nodded.  He crept toward the dark entrance. She held her breath. Three more steps and he would be at the telltale pile of rocks.  He pressed himself back to the hillside, scowling.  He shook his head and advanced further, pausing again at the edge of the opening.

Her heart jumped into her throat.  Her fingertips tingled and feet itched to move. Why did he stand so stupidly?

He slipped inside. She did not breathe. Why did he not come out? She needed some sign. Surely they would appear soon. They had to! Please let them appear soon!

Just as her lungs were ready to burst, he reappeared, alone.

No! No! No! This could not be. She burst from the trees and ran to him. He caught her just as she was about to enter the cave.

“They are not here.”

“But, you might have missed—”

“I could not have missed them.  Four young boys would leave at least footprints. There were none, save those of foxes and rats.”

“But they have to be here.” Her throat constricted painfully. Now was not the time to cry. She could indulge that later, when the boys were safely back. She had to remain useful now. “Where else might they be?”

Darcy drew her close and breathed heavily. “Perhaps your father or Fitzwilliam have found them, or they might be still on Alston.” He rubbed the back of his hand under his chin.

“But if they are not, is there anywhere else?”

He sucked in a deep breath and held it a moment. “There is one place.”

“Where?”

“A ramshackle cottage on Alston, not too far from here. Fitzwilliam, Wickham and I built it with the two boys who lived at Alston. We called it our ‘hunting lodge’. The path there is easy, he might have been able to get there with the boys.”

“Then let us go!”

“Wait, I should be able to see it form the top of the hill. Come.”

They dashed up the stony, steep path. Half a dozen steps up, the rocks underneath her foot slipped. He caught her elbow and waist and steadied her.

In the eternity they climbed, a thousand terrible images flashed through her mind, nearly blinding her with burning tears. She gasped for breath, her lungs demanded air, but her throat did not deign to allow it to pass.

He pulled ahead and climbed the last few yards over the rise.  She clutched his hands and allowed him to drag her over the edge. She gasped. The hilltop was broad and flat, dropping off steeply in front of her. The ravine gaped below, a hungry maw threatening any who ventured too close.

She panted so hard she could not see. Finally sated, her lungs gave way to her eyes. She shaded her eyes and peered in the direction he pointed.

“I cannot see!” He growled.

Scuffling and gruntings rose from the opposite side of the hill. The voices were too low to be the boys, the footfalls too heavy. Darcy pressed her back with his arm and he rushed toward the interlopers. Papa and Piper appeared over the hill. Piper’s eyes immediately locked on hers.

“Damn it all, Miss Lizzy! What—”

“—the bloody hell—” Papa glowered.

“—be ye doing here?”

Piper and Papa ran past Darcy and skidded to a stop beside her.

Darcy rushed up. “The boys were not at the cave.”

Piper hurled invectives into the ravine.

“But he has another idea!” Elizabeth said. “Have you your spy glass?”

“Of course.” Papa reached for it.

She snatched it from him and pressed it into Darcy’s hands. He strode to the edge and peered through the glass. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

Bennet and Piper whipped their heads around and peered over their shoulders.

“I think I see someone. The brush is too dense, I cannot tell if the boys are there, but I believe that is Wickham!”

Papa extended his hand for the glass. “What the devil is he—”

“What be that sound?” Piper searched the horizon.

“Thunder?” She looked around, but there were no storm clouds.

Darcy grabbed the spy glass from Papa and turned north. “Flood! A flash flood! Away from the ravine.”  He dragged Elizabeth back. Papa and Piper followed.

Below a wall of debris barreled through the ravine followed by raging torrents that tore away small trees and dislodged boulders along the crest of the wave.  The roiling waters climbed higher and higher until she was certain they would soon be licking at their feet.  But they stopped not a foot below the edge of the ravine.

“Bloody hell and damnation!” Piper slammed his fist into his hand.

“Is there any way to the other side?” Bennet demanded.

Darcy peered through the glass again. He nodded and handed it to Papa and pointed.

“Half a mile from here, a bridge Fitzwilliam and I built. He meant to show off the skills he had learned in the army. To my eye, it is well above the flood level.”

“We must hurry.” Elizabeth turned toward the path.

“Not so fast, Missy.” Piper grabbed her arm.

“Take her back to Pemberley and send word to Alston—” Papa glanced at Darcy.

“Send Fitzwilliam to the Alston hunting lodge, I think that is where they have gone.”

Darcy and Papa turned to Elizabeth. “Go with Piper.”

“But—” she sputtered.

“No!” All three men shouted over the raging flood.

Piper grabbed her elbow. Papa and Darcy hurried past with a backward glance. She might have  been able to persuade one of them, but all three, that was not possible.

“Do ya truly think he would let you go with them? Do you now? I always gave ya credit for more smarts than that.” He extended his hand to help her down the narrow path.

She took it. The familiar callused fingers gripped hers painfully tightly. But she did not mind, it was a secure, reassuring feeling, a solid reassurance that all might yet be right with the world. Piper was like that, not a fraction of smoothness or polish, but no surer port in a storm. “No, but I am surprised he left you here with me. I should have though he would want your company.”

“He’ll have it yet. I will see you to the main way, then trust you to get to Pemberley under your own power.  Understood, Missy?” He leveled a menacing glare at her.

It was not an expressions to be meddled with. “Yes sir,” she peeped.

“I need to find Colonel Fitz and get him to Alston. Get your horse.”

She looked for something to mount with.

Piper sighed and bent down to boost her into the saddle. “Ya know your papa will have my hide for teaching you to ride this way.”

“Then he will have less ire to direct at me.” She settled into the saddle and headed toward Pemberley. “Do you think they will be able to manage together?”

“If not now, not ever, Missy.” Piper mounted and followed her down the hill.

chapter 39 coming soon…