The Trouble With Horses: A Pride & Prejudice Novella Variation (8 page)

Sliding the heavy wooden door to the library, Darcy stepped in and found his quarry in the first overstuffed armchair with a book and a snifter of brandy in hand.

“She's truly gone? You sent Elizabeth away?” he sputtered, allowing his panic to overcome his sensibilities.

“Ah, I knew you couldn't be that large of a simpleton.” Mr. Bennet smirked and put his book down.

“Pardon me, sir?”

“Darcy!” Richard entered the library with Georgiana in tow. “What do you mean by leaving Georgiana alone? We agreed I would dance and you would chaperone.”

“Yes, sorry cousin. Not now.” Darcy waved his hand, leaving Richard gobsmacked with his sister on his arm. “Mr. Bennet, why is Miss Elizabeth not in attendance this evening? Where is she?”

Mr. Bennet wiggled his fingers in front him, positively delighted to see such a violent reaction from the man he knew his daughter to be in love with. Now he just needed to find out if the reaction was of a similar loving nature or a carnal bent. Before he could attempt to wheedle it out of the young man, his plans were thwarted by a young innocent.

“Why she's in London to visit her aunt and uncle! We met her and Miss Mary at the Golden Rooster just two days ago!”

Darcy finally looked at his sister and a wave of guilt washed over him. He had indeed abandoned her at her first ever ball on a fool's errand that could have been resolved at any time if he hadn't let his blasted emotions take over his reasoning. For a moment, he once again began questioning the attraction and stirrings he felt for a woman of low-birth who wasn't even in the same county.

“Forgive me, Georgiana. Let us return to the ball,” he said with chagrin.

“Oh no, I think not Darcy. We're going to get to the bottom of this once and for all.” Richard and Mr. Bennet shared a pert nod in agreement. Mr. Bennet rose to find more to drink as the Colonel began the inquisition after finding Miss Darcy a seat on the nearest sofa.

“Tell me about Miss Elizabeth rescuing you from your accident.” The Colonel happily accepted a snifter from Mr. Bennet, noting the man did not offer the same to Darcy. This made him smile before he returned his expression to the hard lined frown of a weathered soldier.

“There's nothing to note. She found my horse and alerted her father who I assume gathered a group of men and found me in a creek bed where I had been bitten by a snake.”

Miss Darcy gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. It wasn't too often she knew more than her brother and she squirmed with the elation over such knowledge as she looked to her cousin. He smiled and nodded, which was all the prompting she needed.

“Oh Fitzwilliam, she did so much more than that! She found your horse and led him into the woods to find you. Seeing you surrounded by snakes, she fought them off herself, actually picking up and throwing the largest one! Then she rode your horse, even though she's frightfully afraid, all the way down the hill and found her father
searching for her and bade him to come help. And she was the one to medicate you when your fever was so violent after the apothecary had gone.” Georgiana caught her breath and looked to her cousin for approval. She had done her best to justly recount the speech Miss Mary had given at the inn.

Fitzwilliam covered his face with his hands and sunk into the chair closest to him. “And I was cruel!”

“Now, now, nothing is ever so broken when it's a wound by words,” said Mr. Bennet.

Reflecting on the fact that Miss Elizabeth was indeed sent to London, despite his sister's account that it was merely a visit, and the gossip he heard himself after church, Mr. Darcy had a worse confession to make.

“It might perhaps be by deed as well.”

“Oh?” Mr. Bennet replied, interested again in the young man.

“Surely you did nothing to raise expectations, you never—”

Darcy held his hand up to his cousin. “I am guilty. I inadvertently met Miss Elizabeth in the bookshop and paid, unrequested, for her selection.”

“But Brother, that was a gift!”

“Yes, I was purchasing a gift for you, actually, when the shopkeeper told me it was a favorite of Elizabeth's as well, er, Miss Elizabeth's. Without thinking, after I could not even stutter a word to her besides apologies for bumping into her person, I paid the extra for the magazine she had in her hands.”

“Don't take too much of the blame. My daughter made her own choices as well and could just as easily left the magazine behind.” Mr. Bennet was thoroughly impressed at the loyalty he saw for this young man by his own sister and cousin. He had been under the impression the man had few relations after the early death of his parents, intelligence he picked up courtesy of liberal brandy application to Mr. Bingley when Mr. Darcy was first injured.

“Well, I shall go pack my trunk I believe.” Colonel Fitzwilliam announced, rising from his seat.

Darcy stopped wrestling with his personal failings and looked at his cousin. “Whatever for? It's too late. I've ruined things with Miss Elizabeth.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed. “For being so rich, Darcy, occasionally you are the poorest man I know!”

Confused, Darcy began to speak, when the Colonel stopped him. “Poor in thought, that is all cousin. Now, since you have bungled this situation beyond repair, I humbly offer to repair with you to London to see if we can't patch up your romance with your lady.” He stressed each repair with a phony French accent and ended his pompous speech with a flourished bow.

Georgiana clapped her hands once, nodded her chin and rose
as well. “You have my assistance as well. It's the least I can do to help secure your happiness after what you've done for me, William.” Her voice became quieter and quieter as she finished the statement, but she held a strong posture to show her resolve.

“Wait, how are you two so certain Miss Elizabeth and I are a match?” Darcy was perplexed, as he had only recently realized that she held the qualities of a fierce woman that made his own heart skip a beat every moment he was in her presence. If nothing else, the woman would protect him from the claws of society's harpies, like Caroline Bingley.

Georgiana looked to Richard and left it to her cousin to explain. With that mischievous glint in his eye, the Colonel was happy to reveal a little more about the experience of meeting Miss Elizabeth Bennet at the last inn before London.

“She picked a fight in an inn and won the brawl!” Both Georgiana and Richard laughed as Darcy and Mr. Bennet both looked shocked.

Making a mental note to write a strongly-worded letter to his brother-in-law about the particulars of his daughters' travels, Mr. Bennet felt the need to step in as it appeared plans were being made less and less with spoken words among the Darcy relations than he was comfortable with.

“Might I interject that no one will be going to London with the express mission to court or romance my daughter without MY consent?”

All three of the strangers to Hertfordshire stared at the father of the most courageous woman of their acquaintance and they all wore the exact same frown of disappointment. The triple-mirrored expressions made Mr. Bennet lose his countenance in laughter and he doubled over from the ridiculousness of the situation before him.

Catching his breath, the father of five unmarried daughters took a last sip of brandy and clasped Mr. Darcy on the shoulder. Merriment aside, this was his daughter's life.

“Are you true in your intentions for my Elizabeth?”

Darcy nodded and cleared his throat. “I would be a fool to choose any other woman than your daughter. She is an amazing creature I was too slow to appreciate, and if I can win her affection, I would spend the rest of my days to assure her comfort. Sir.”

Mr. Bennet smiled and he realized that he had no need to worry that this man would only wish to bring Elizabeth into his life for the less honorable relations men of his status would expect. He reached out his hand and shook Mr. Darcy's with vigor.

“Then son, let me tell you a few ideas I have to help you get back on her good side.”

The rest of the neighborhood danced the night away and eventually Mr. Darcy, his cousin, and sister returned to the ballroom. Feeling as if nothing could impact his elation over a plan to win Miss Elizabeth, with her father's support, Mr. Darcy engaged Caroline Bingley for the supper set and listened with an ironic ear to her near-constant complaints about the family of the future Mrs. Darcy.

Mr. Bennet remained in the library, sipping his brandy, and finishing a most entertaining novel about a duke and duchess arranged to marry each other yet falling in love with one another during a masqued ball, believing they were fated to marry others.

~~~
♥~~~

CHAPTER 8

“Aunt, you must listen to me. There is something about Mr. Wickham that does not ring true.” Elizabeth tried again to talk her way out of attending the Royal Exhibit with no success.

“I am not saying I do not agree with you, but the invitation is already set. Mr. Wickham will come to call today, and both of you will be escorted. This is how it is done.” Madeline Gardiner rubbed her temples as she worked her jaw to relieve the pressure in her head. There were only a few times in her life when she endured these mind-numbing headaches.

“I humbly pray that your pain eases, Aunt. I know you were also looking forward to the antiquities.”

Mrs. Gardiner gripped the hand of Mary Bennet and gave the girl a weak smile. Patting her hand, she let it go and breathed through her nose as another wave of pain washed over her.

“The apothecary is on his way, darling.” Edward Gardiner strolled into the bedchamber he shared with his wife and took Mary's place at her side. He couldn't help smiling wistfully as, while he hated to see his wife in pain, he knew this would pass and hopefully be the beginning of great news.

Watching the window, Elizabeth knew as much about her aunt's headaches being an early sign of pregnancy as did her uncle, but she forgot that Mary was in the dark. Smoothing her skirts, she finally worked out a plan and if her aunt wasn't made aware of the particulars, then all the better.

“Mary, perhaps we should wait for Mr. Wickham in the drawing room?”

Obediently, Mary followed her older sister down the stairs and raised an eyebrow as she walked to the closet to collect both of their winter coats.

“Amy? Amy?” Elizabeth called down the hall towards the kitchens and the maid suddenly appeared. “Would you please get your things? We're going to leave in just a few moments.” Elizabeth flashed a smile to the maid to make it appear nothing was amiss.

“But, but Aunt specifically told us to wait for Mr. Wickham.” Mary protested as she simultaneously donned the coat Elizabeth proffered.

“No, she said he would call and he would escort us. Nothing says he can't meet up with us there and escort us, if he can find us.”

“But, but
—”

Stomping her foot, Elizabeth caused Mary to quiet. “Tell me, do you trust Mr. Wickham?”

Mary chewed her bottom lip and searched her heart. While she didn't have any apprehensions about Mr. Wickham like her sister held, she did judge Elizabeth's intuition more so than her own. Deciding to believe in her sister, Mary shrugged and resumed buttoning her coat.

Amy appeared in the hall with her outer coat donned, ready to go, surprised to see the two ladies of the home already dressed. Elizabeth saw her and nodded.

“Right, let's go, we'll hire a cab at the corner.”

No sooner had Elizabeth opened the front door for the ladies to exit than there stood Mr. Wickham with a bouquet of flowers.

“My, how punctual you Bennet ladies are!” he mused, handing the flowers to Miss Elizabeth with a debonair smile.

Rolling her eyes, Elizabeth accepted the flowers and dismissively handed them back to Mary, who handed them to Amy, who looked around unsure what to do with them before finally running them back to the kitchens to return with them in a vase.

Standing there waiting for the maid was unseemly, so Elizabeth had no choice but to step back and allow Mr. Wickham to enter.

Her uncle came down the stairs at the sound of visitors and greeted Mr. Wickham.

“Are you sure you do not wish to go with us Uncle Gardiner, even if just for a short while?” Elizabeth asked again, as she looked to Wickham. The man smiled at her with empty eyes and it set her teeth on edge.

“I’m sorry, ladies, with your aunt indisposed, I really must wait for the apothecary.”

“Oh, I'm sorry to her Mrs. Gardiner is ill. I hope it's nothing serious,” Wickham said.

Taking out his pocket watch, Edward Gardiner dismissed the notion that his wife was seriously ill, and then replaced it in his vest pocket.

“Perhaps we should remain here as well. To make sure all is well for Aunt Gardiner. I could hardly enjoy the ancient artwork and sculpture knowing Aunt suffers.” Elizabeth began to take her coat off and caught her uncle's frown.

Edward Gardiner had known Elizabeth Bennet since she was eight years old, in the last twelve years he had never known her to once play
missish about an adventure out in town. Clearly there was something amiss, but he wasn't sure if it was the result of a broken heart or something more sinister at work. He eyed the gentleman to escort his nieces more carefully, but didn't see anything to worry him.

“No, no girls. You go ahead, you are already dressed. Ah, here's Amy now. Please have fun and I expect a full report when you return.” Edward Gardiner smiled and watched as the young people entered the carriage hired by Mr. Wickham. Satisfied they would be safe, he closed the front door and hummed to himself, distracted again by the thought of a third pitter patter of little feet hopefully to join the family within the next year.

~~~
♥~~~♥~~~

“Are you certain they are to visit the exhibit today?” Darcy was impatient, having walked up and down the exhibition hall no less than ten times in the hour he and his cousin had been waiting. Hurrying to London on Saturday morning after the ball, his body ached from the abuse it had suffered of staying up all night and then riding all day in a saddle with but only one day of rest.

“Yes, Darcy, now will you cease your pacing? Lord man, it's a good thing you were a first born son. The army has a saying of hurry up and wait, to accompany the Navy's standby to standby.” Richard gave a hollow laugh as he tapped his rolled up program of the exhibit in his hand, keeping the steady beat of a most practiced drill master.

“Yes, but—”

“Ssssh, I see them.”

Startled, Darcy immediately turned around and his shoulders tensed. It took a moment before he realized his cousin had not done the same. “Richard,” he hissed. “Richard!”

With no answer, Darcy turned around and saw no one except a throng of people he neither recognized or of those he did, no one he wished to pay consequence to at this moment in time. By this time of year, most of the fashionable set had deserted London and all that remained were the desperately seeking status set. “Where are they, I do not see Miss Elizabeth.” He strained his neck for an extra inch on his six-foot frame and craned around to inspect the groups around him.

Managing to not laugh at Darcy's impression of a giraffe, Richard couldn't hide his smirk as he pretended he had made a mistake.

Realizing his cousin had made a sport of him, Darcy's nervousness turned into aggravation. Thanks to their squabble, Darcy was completely unprepared to see Miss Elizabeth walk into the exhibit at that very moment, with the sparkle of spirit in her eyes that he had seen that first morning waking up in her home, with her hand on the arm of no other than George Wickham.

“Wickham!” Darcy growled and Richard immediately tensed beside him. Their plan required immediate changes as the two men intended to nonchalantly run into the ladies at the exhibit, invite them for hot chocolate in the small cafe next door where they would be joined by Georgiana and her companion as they had just finished some holiday shopping.

“Darcy, go warn Georgiana off.” Richard said as Darcy began to walk towards Miss Elizabeth and their oldest foe. His words failing to register, Richard stepped in front of Darcy and while he wasn't taller, he was decidedly broader than his cousin. “You must warn Georgiana.” He punctuated each syllable to get Darcy's attention.

Finally understanding, Darcy moved to find the exit at the other end so he could double back around the block and get a message to his sister. But not before giving one last edict to his cousin.

“Watch them. Watch her.”

With Darcy on his way, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam followed at a leisurely pace to both calm his own temper and to observe the situation. He certainly didn't wish to cause a scene in such a public place, nor risk the reputations of the Bennet sisters in such mixed company.

It was Mary who noticed the Colonel first. After making eye contact with him her face immediately brightened. She began to vigorously nod her head, but he motioned for her to be still and to not let his presence be known. Quickly, she deflected her eyes to the floor, afraid to give away his position.

The Colonel chuckled in his mind at the tactical prowess of Miss Mary Bennet. He pretended to scrutinize a cracked vase with athletic etchings on the side that was missing a good half, though the missing half was turned away from the public. Near enough now to hear their discourse, his ears pricked up as he started to notice distress in Miss Elizabeth's voice.

“Please, Mr. Wickham. We are moving rather quickly through the exhibit. I'd like to read a few of the placards.”

“What are museums and ancient pottery to the thrills and delights of London? Come, let's finish up here and I'll take you to a real place of fun. You'll love it, I promise.”

Elizabeth tried to pull her arm away but Mr. Wickham held onto it tightly. The throngs of people around them began to grow thicker as the fashionable time of day was upon them and as Elizabeth looked behind her, she didn't see Mary or Amy. Still Wickham continued to pull her arm and walk with such passion, they were nearing the end of the exhibit much too quickly for Elizabeth's tastes.

Again she bucked against him and tried to stop their progress.

“Mr. Wickham, please! We've lost Mary and Amy!” Elizabeth struggled as politely as she could to avoid making a scene. The entire situation was quickly becoming a mess.

Wickham was no fool. He had seen Colonel Fitzwilliam in the crowd behind him as he was much more practiced at faking emotions that he did not actually feel. He could keep a smile in place and scan a room for marks without any person being the wiser. He had but moments to get Miss Elizabeth out of the exhibit or else his plan would be lost.

As they reached the exit, Elizabeth was now no longer angry about causing a scene and instead was most fearful for her safety. Furtively she looked over her shoulder and she could finally see Mary bobbing her head above the crowds of people behind her. But what could Mary do?

The sudden cold of London's streets in early December made Elizabeth respond by taking in a sharp breath.

“Wickham!”

“Oho, Darcy! Here to claim your mistress?” Wickham tightened his grip on Elizabeth to the point that it was hurting her arm. She naturally struggled against him which only made Wickham grip harder. He pulled Elizabeth to him and kissed her hard against the mouth as she rightly screamed in protest.

Three things happened at once as Wickham was suddenly tackled from behind, making him let go of Elizabeth and Darcy's quick reflexes caught the woman of his heart. Not seeing his attacker, Wickham flailed his arms and connected his fist to the face of no other than Mary Bennet.

“Miss Mary!” Colonel Fitzwilliam managed to just exit the exhibit to rush to Mary's side as she collapsed to the ground.

Seeing others begin to notice, Wickham tried to escape from his situation as two very burly men who had just witnessed him hit such a diminutive woman blocked his path.

“Hold him! He's a deserter of His Majesty's Army!” Darcy called out, still refusing to let go of Elizabeth in his arms.

“Come, come, you know that's not true, Darcy. I'm on an errand, I have leave.” Wickham began to plead his excuses to the two unknown men who looked very happy to inflict some pain upon the gentleman.

“From Captain Carter?”

Wickham's face fell. “How did you, how do you know that?”

Darcy smiled, finally catching Wickham in one of his own traps. “Bet he was such a great bloke he said not to worry about annoying Colonel Forster with the bothersome paperwork? That he'd vouch for you, no worries about being missed?”

Wickham's mouth flapped up and down, but no sound came out.

Colonel Fitzwilliam had managed to rouse Mary from the ground, and offered her his steady arm. Judging her injuries to be minor, still the poor woman would have a monstrous bruise on her cheek come morning.

“What do they teach you ladies in Meryton?” he asked, gently touching just below her injury. Despite her fazed appearance, the Colonel was certain her face was smarting most uncomfortably, and it would hurt doubly so if they didn't get her home for the proper attentions.

“Darcy, leave the scoundrel to me and see these ladies home!” The Colonel raised his eyebrow at his cousin until Darcy understood that Mary needed medical attention. With the assistance of the two bystanders, the Colonel began walking Wickham away from the exhibit and towards Army headquarters that lay not two blocks to the south. Regardless of whether what Darcy said was completely true or not, though he was fairly confident his cousin had finally tricked the trickster, Richard was sure there would be other charges against Wickham from debts of honor with men of lower rank. The man never could pass up a card table. And if not, he would have him held in the brig until he could find relations of any number of the women he'd ruined.

Darcy looked down at Miss Elizabeth, his Elizabeth, and realized she was still shaking in his arms. Looking back at the exit, he saw the maid that the Colonel had pointed to before he left and waved at her to come down the steps to help. Not wishing to leave the ladies so soon, he reluctantly let go of Elizabeth which seemed to jar her back to the here and now.