A Royal Bennet (3 page)

“Another reason for you to remain here, with me.
I would not rest properly if left on my own.” Elizabeth
smiled. “I would be constantly nervous for your
safety as well as my own.”

~~ ** ~~

Darcy woke two days after being attacked in Hyde
Park. When she learned of her brother being
assaulted, Georgiana Darcy became quite hysterical
and insisted on their family physician be sent for
immediately. The cut above his eye required stitching,
and his eye was swollen from being punched. The
physician decided it would be best for Darcy to rest
for a day or two, so he left a bottle of laudanum for the
gentleman’s valet to give Darcy doses as needed.

Groggy, Darcy attempted to put the pieces of his
memory together. He was certain he had imagined
seeing Elizabeth Bennet after being assaulted in the
park, for there would be no reason for the young lady
to be in Town. He had dreamed of her so often since
leaving Netherfield Park, the estate Charles Bingley
had leased, which was next to the Bennet family’s
estate of Longbourn. The young lady had captured his
mind and heart, and it was difficult not to think of her
constantly. Every young lady he met, he compared to
her. Every conversation on books or music, reminded
him of conversations he had with her. No matter how
hard he tried, Elizabeth Bennet was always with him.

Hearing his valet, Fletcher, enter the room, Darcy
turned his head towards the man. “Fletcher, what
time is it?”

“It is just after sunrise, Sir. I must say, it is a
pleasure to see you awake and somewhat normal.”
“Somewhat normal?” Darcy gave his valet a
curious glance.

“You have had a difficult few days, Sir. The
swelling around your eye has gone down, and the
stitches above your eye will be removed in another
week, otherwise, you do not look quite as bad as you
could have.”

“I cannot recall all that happened. Would you fill
me in on what you know?”

Fletcher nodded. “You were assaulted by two men
while you were in the park. We have been told that a
young lady came to your rescue, wielding a downed
branch as you would have a sword. Once she chased
the men away, she assisted you home. Her
handkerchief has been laundered, and was given to
me. I was planning to inquire as to what you wished
to be done with it.”

“Do you know who the young lady was? Did you
hear her name?”

“Mr Jarvis spoke with her. From what he said, the
lady is known to you. She informed him she was
formerly from Hertfordshire.”

“Formerly? Fletcher, send for Jarvis immediately
and bring the handkerchief to me.” Darcy was
preparing to get out of his bed.

“Sir, I will do as you bid, if you would refrain from
standing. You had a head injury, and it is best for you
to remain in bed until the physician returns to
examine you this morning.”

Feeling dizzy, Darcy determined it was best to
heed Fletcher’s advice. “Perhaps you are correct.
While I do as you suggest, would you call for Mr Jarvis
and retrieve the handkerchief?”

“I will, Sir.” Fletcher moved towards the door
leading to the dressing chamber, pulling the cord in
the room to send for someone to get the butler.

Mr Jarvis arrived shortly after, and was shown
into Darcy’s bedchamber. “Master William, Mr
Fletcher sent word you wish to speak with me.”

“I do. The young lady who assisted me home from
the park, what was her name?”

Jarvis looked at Fletcher, both of whom were
concerned with Darcy’s agitation. “She said she was
known to you, a Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She also
stated she was formerly from Hertfordshire, but was
currently staying in Cheapside at her uncle’s home.”

“She said formerly? Why would she state
formerly? Good God, had something happened to her
father? Is she now destitute? I need to locate her,
offer her whatever aid I can.” It was obvious to his
servants he was speaking to himself rather than to
them. Finally, he looked up to Mr Jarvis. “Did she say
where in Cheapside? Or did she give you her uncle’s
name?”

“The young lady was not willing to give more
information, as she stated her uncle was in trade, and
would be beneath you to acknowledge. I made every
attempt to convince her otherwise, but she refused to
divulge any further information. As she walked away,
I noticed that she did not return to the park or make
her way to a carriage, so I sent Robert, the young
footman, to follow her. He informed me he followed
her all the way to Gracechurch Street, and the home
he saw her enter was the home of Mr Edward
Gardiner.”

Gardiner…Gardiner…yes, that name is familiar. I
believe I remember Mrs Bennet stating her maiden
name was Gardiner. And when Miss Bingley and Mrs
Hurst were speaking of the Bennet relations in
Cheapside, did they not say the uncle was an importer?

“Mr Jarvis, would you have Robert come up here?
I wish to ask him a few questions.” Darcy announced.

“Very good, Sir. He went out to visit his mother, as
she is ill and today is his day off. As soon as he
returns, I will have him come up.”

Frustrated, Darcy could only nod his head.
“Fletcher, I wish to dress. I cannot remain in bed all
day.”

“Sir, I am loathe to argue with you, but your sister
has issued threats that if I were to allow you to rise
from the bed before the physician declares it safe, she
will tack my hide to the wall.”

“Then send word to the physician to come
immediately. And have my sister come as well. I will
not have her giving my staff orders.”

Fletcher left the room, sending word as he was
directed. He then made himself scarce, hidden away
in the dressing chamber. Knowing in what mood
Darcy was, Fletcher did not wish to be anywhere near
the bedchamber when Georgiana Darcy and her
brother quarreled. The Darcy family were known to
be extremely stubborn and hard-headed when they
wished to be.

~~ ** ~~

The second day of travel for Elizabeth and Lucy
was suddenly interrupted when they heard the sound
of gun fire, and men shouting. The carriage came to
an abrupt stop, flinging the young ladies across the
interior of the carriage, into the elderly lady who was
traveling with them.

The door was yanked open, and two men were
shouting at the ladies to exit the carriage quickly.
When they did not move fast enough, one of the men
reached inside and roughly pulled Lucy out, pushing
her to the dirt of the road. Elizabeth jumped out,
moving to the young maid’s side.

“Leave her alone.” One of the men growled at her.
“Stand up next to the carriage, and hold your hands
where I can see them.”

“I am making sure this young lady is unharmed.
Robbing us is one thing, you do not wish to add
injuring a lady to your charges.” Elizabeth glared at
the man who was speaking.

“It does not matter, ‘cause she is of no matter to
us.” The man said in return. “The boss man he wants
what you have whichins worth anyting.”

One of the men held a rifle aimed at the driver,
while another man had begun to roughly search the
trunks stored on the carriage. The man who had been
talking walked over to Elizabeth, pulling her away
from Lucy. “What valuables do a lady like you have? I
believe I will take this little pretty.” He tore her garnet
cross from around her neck, breaking the chain. The
necklace had been a gift to her from her father when
she turned ten years old. He had claimed it to be a
family heirloom, though her mother stated she had
never before seen the necklace. It was Elizabeth’s
favorite piece of jewelry, and she wore it nearly every
day.

“Please, the necklace is not worth much. It is
sentimental, only paste.”

“Well, well, only paste. The fancy ones wear paste,
passin’ everthin’ as real. No wonder they have
money.”

The man who had been searching the trunks
walked over to where Elizabeth was standing.
Suddenly, Elizabeth felt the sting of the man’s hand
striking her cheek. “Keep your mouth shut. We do
not want to hear no lady’s false words. Ladies lie.”

“What you find in them trunks?” The man with the
rifle asked.

 

“Nothin. Artie was wrong. There is no pouch of
coins. Unless one of the ladies has it on her.”

Elizabeth gasped. There had been a man riding
with them until the last stop, when he stated he was
meeting someone there. He had been riding in the
carriage since Town, and would have seen Elizabeth
place the pouch of coins in her pocket. Naturally, he
would have assumed she would store it in her trunk
after spending the night at the inn.

“Ah, I believe we know who the lady be. Missy,
you had best give us the pouch. If you do not, I will
search you, by tearing off you’s pretty frock.”

“I have a few coins my uncle gave me to pay for
food and lodging during the trip. Only a few coins. I
will gladly give them to you.” Elizabeth reached into
the pocket on her gown. Pulling out the coins, she
handed them to the man who seemed to be in charge.
“This is all I have. Please, take the coins and leave us
be.”

“There is not enough here for nuffin.” The first
man said, anger in his voice. “Artie said there was
good pickins on this one. What we gonna do?”

The man with the rifle looked at the man in
charge. “We can take them two young’uns, sell them
on the coast. They be pretty enuff.”

“You’s got the right of it, Ray. That dark haired
one is feisty too. The men on the islands like feisty.
They pay extra for her.”

Lucy began crying. The elderly lady, Mrs Johnson,
leaned over and tried to soothe the young maid, but
she was slapped and forced to return to the carriage.
The men pulled Elizabeth and Lucy towards the
nearby horses, and dragged them on top. The man
with the rifle fired his weapon into the air, shouting at
the driver to drive on.

The carriage left in a rush, leaving a trail of dust in
its wake.

 

~~ ** ~~

Darcy was given approval to be out of his bed,
though the physician suggested he take his time
before resuming his regular duties. But Darcy was in
no mood to remain idle. He had not dreamed
Elizabeth Bennet at the park, and she had rescued
him. Darcy knew he needed to see her, to thank her,
and to learn why she was no longer residing at
Longbourn. As soon as Robert returned, and gave
Darcy the address of the Gardiner home, Darcy was
calling for his carriage to be readied.

Georgiana refused to allow her brother to leave on
his own, so she quickly prepared to leave with him.
Not only was she concerned with his health, she
recognized the name Elizabeth Bennet from the
letters Darcy had written her while he visited Bingley.
As her brother rarely spoke of any young lady, to have
him mention Miss Elizabeth in many of his letters told
Georgiana that the lady was important to Darcy.

During the ride to Gracechurch Street, Georgiana
paid close attention to her brother’s behavior. He
stared out the window, though she was certain he saw
nothing of the scenery. In his hand was what
appeared to be a lady’s handkerchief, which he
wrapped around his fingers. “William, are you well?”

It took Darcy a moment to be able to respond.
“Forgive me, Georgiana, I am just confused as to what
has happened. From what Miss Elizabeth told Mr
Jarvis, she no longer resides at Longbourn. But why?
Has her father perished and she has become
homeless? Her father’s estate is entailed to a distant
cousin. You met him when we were at Rosings,
visiting Aunt Catherine.”

“Oh, my. Though I do not wish to think ill of
someone, he struck me as quite…unique.”

Darcy laughed. “He is extremely unique. I believe
that is the reason he fits well with Aunt Catherine. I
am certain he would evict the Bennet ladies from
their home, if their father died. If she is in need of
assistance, I mean to ensure she receives it.”

“From what you have told me of Miss Elizabeth, I
am looking forward to meeting her. Your stories of
her interactions with Miss Bingley always made me
laugh.”

“She is an incredible young lady. I am certain you
will find her to be one of the best ladies in England,
handsome, kind, caring, intelligent, all wrapped up
with a perfect smile, sparkling eyes and dark brown
curls which bounce when she moves.”

“William, are you in love with Miss Elizabeth?”

Darcy continued to stare out the window, and was
silent for several moments before responding. “I
know I should not be, but I cannot stop myself. She is
not wealthy, nor does she have connections, so our
family will never approve of an attachment with her.
But my heart cannot forget her.”

“You should forget what others would think of her,
and act on your heart. Love is so much more
important than wealth, we have seen so many in
society who cannot tolerate their spouse for more
than a few moments at a time. I could not tolerate
your being in such a relationship.”

“If her father has died, if she is homeless and
without any means of support, her circumstances are
even worse. What would it do to your chances of
marrying well, if I was to marry someone such as
her?”

“Do you love her?” Georgiana had a stern look on
her face. When he finally nodded his head, she smiled.
“If I wish to marry for love, then it will not matter to
whom my brother is married. Any man who does not
understand what a love match is, is not the sort of
man I wish to marry.”

“How did you become so wise?” Darcy turned his
attention back to his sister. “What happened to my
baby sister?”

“I am growing up, with a loving and understanding
elder brother to watch over me.”

The carriage came to a stop, and the footman came
around to open the door. Once Darcy and Georgiana
stepped out, they made their way up the stairs to a
fairly respectable townhouse. Handing the
housekeeper his card, Darcy asked to speak with Mr
or Mrs Gardiner.