A Father's Sins: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (18 page)

Please accept my best wishes for a pleasant future for you, your
family, and your friends.

With sincere regards,

Miss Elizabeth Bennet

Taking
another sheet of paper, she worried about what to write to her newest friend.
Putting the end of the quill to her chin, she realized that she wanted to
convey how privileged she felt that Georgiana had reached out to her and how
proud she was of the young girl’s actions. It was but a moment before the words
came to mind and she began to write.

She
folded the notes, sealed them, addressed them, and left the letters on the
table next to her bed. Quickly, she packed her valise and apothecary case.
Locking the bedroom door, Elizabeth went through the sitting room to the door
that provided access to the servants. She had decided to go down the back
stairs that the servants used so that she would be unobserved by her father and
Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth was startled when Sarah came through the door just as she
was reaching to open it.

“Miss,
are you leaving?” Sarah blurted out, stunned to see Elizabeth dressed in her
traveling clothes.

“Sarah,
please do not be alarmed. I leave to avoid my father.” She thought it best not
to explain about Mr. Darcy. “I would ask you a special favor, Sarah. It would
be much safer for me if I were to travel as a maid. Please, would you be
willing to trade clothing and provide me with your cloak and bonnet?”

“Miss
Elizabeth, my clothing is nothing compared to yours. Yours is much finer. However,
if it will make it easier for you, then certainly, I will.”

It
took a short period of time for Sarah to retrieve her outer clothes. Sarah
handed them to Elizabeth and they each helped the other to change. Elizabeth
tucked her luggage under the billowing cloak, gave the maid a quick hug,
instructed her to keep her absence hidden as long as was possible, said
goodbye, and left down the stairs to the kitchen. None of the servants paid
attention to the maid that left the premises.

Elizabeth
went to the stables and, after telling the groom that she had an errand for the
family in town, requested a cart and driver to take her into Meryton. She had
to be cautious, as Mr. Darcy’s coachman, John, would recognize her. Taking on the
countenance of a young woman in service, she kept her head bowed and spoke with
deference. It took but a brief few minutes and she was on her way. As they went
down the lane, away from Netherfield Park, she refused to look back, knowing it
would be the last time she would ever likely be in Hertfordshire.

At
the Inn in Meryton, she found two coaches. The post coach was headed southeast
to Dover. It was several days journey with few stops for comfort and was more
expensive to travel by that means. The post coach was much quicker and cleaner than
the stagecoach, which was heading south to London. The stagecoach was often
over-crowded but stopped much more often and for longer periods of time. Trans-Atlantic
crossings could be accessed from several ports in England, but Elizabeth had longed
to see the white cliffs at Dover. They may be her last sight of her homeland;
not knowing when, or if, she would ever return. Elizabeth could not, at this
point, begin to imagine when she might have opportunity to see them again. London
or Dover; it was an easy decision to make.

Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire

Mr.
Bennet had been waiting and pacing and his patience was at an end. He knew from
the valise and case that Elizabeth had brought to Longbourn, on the brief
occasion that she was on the property, that her luggage was limited and it
would take little time to pack to make only a three mile journey home. Finally,
unable and unwilling to wait any longer for his recalcitrant daughter, he
demanded that the footman standing just outside the drawing room door go
upstairs and get Elizabeth.

The
footman, though he could sense the anger of Mr. Bennet, did as asked. However,
out of respect for Miss Elizabeth, he lingered in fulfilling that assignment.
Tapping on her door, he received no answer. He tapped again a bit louder this
time; still no response. He wondered what he should do. Observing Miss Bingley
coming down the hallway, accompanied by her sister, he asked their assistance.
Miss Bingley immediately and boldly tried the door handle, which failed to
budge. “The silly chit has locked herself inside.” To the footman she ordered,
“Go tell Mr. Bennet that his daughter has hidden herself away in her room. When
she comes out, we shall send her to Longbourn.” She turned to chuckle to her
sister, rubbing her hands together as if she were brushing off unwanted crumbs.
“There, that should take care of that problem.” Miss Caroline Bingley could not
have been more delighted.

Mr.
Philips had to calm his brother-in-law when the footman returned with Miss
Bingley’s message. While at first Mr. Bennet’s anger did not allow him to
listen to reason, it eventually sank in that he did not need Elizabeth’s
presence in London. The two men would go to the Gardiner home, retrieve the
letter and destroy it, travel to Mr. Haggerston’s office for directions to the
bank, and transfer whatever monies were in the account to Mr. Thomas Bennet.
The deed would be done. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Philips left Netherfield Park for
their separate homes to pack and ready for their journey at first light.

Meryton, Hertfordshire

The
groomsman waited for the maid to finish her business at the Inn. It was not for
him to wonder at what might have brought her to such a place in behalf of the
master. When she came out of the building, she carried a ticket stub in her
hand as well as the case and valise that she had removed from under her cloak.
The young miss looked up at him to direct him to return to Netherfield Park
without her and he recognized her as the lady that had been in the Darcy
carriage. He did not question her. He merely went on his way. After arriving at
the stables and caring for the cart and horse, he pondered on what the lady was
up to. However, it truly was not his place to question his betters, so he said
nothing and thought on it no more.

Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire

Georgiana
could not help but be concerned for her friend. Several times over the
afternoon she tapped lightly on Elizabeth’s door. Once, Miss Bingley happened
upon her and informed her that she had tried the door and found it locked. Miss
Elizabeth apparently did not want to be disturbed by anyone. Georgiana returned
to her room, dissatisfied. Late in the afternoon, Georgiana finally sought out
Sarah in the kitchen, taking tea with the rest of the upstairs servants.

“Sarah,
I am concerned about Miss Elizabeth. Have you been to her room to check on her
welfare recently?”

Sarah
knew that she could not be dishonest with the young girl, or to anyone for that
matter. She also knew that there was a note upstairs for Miss Darcy that most
likely would explain Miss Elizabeth’s decision to leave Netherfield Park.
Sarah, in her service to Elizabeth while Elizabeth tended her sister and then
Mr. Darcy, had grown to respect her deeply. But, she had also grown to respect
the tender care that this young girl had given to her brother, stepping outside
her role as a gently-bred female to perform tasks that assisted Sarah with her
routine duties. Sarah clearly observed Miss Darcy’s distress over Miss
Elizabeth’s condition.

“Miss,
I believe that Miss Elizabeth has a note for you alongside her bed. If you
would wait but a moment, I will return with it.” She gave a short curtsey and
turned to leave.

“No,
Sarah, I will accompany you.” They both quickly moved up the servants stairs to
the sitting room. Georgiana was shocked to find that Elizabeth was not in her
bed chamber. After reading the note, she knew exactly what to do. “Thank you,
Sarah. That will be all.” Picking up the missive for Mr. Bingley from the
bedside table, she turned the key in the lock and ran to her brother’s room,
pounding urgently on the door.

Mr.
Darcy had heard the light footsteps running in the hallway. He never would have
imagined it was his sister. He did not wait for Parker to open the door. When
he heard the pounding, he pulled it open rapidly and his sister almost fell
inside.

“William,”
her speech was rushed and breathless. “Elizabeth is gone.”

“What?”
Nothing she could have said would have stunned him more. Without thought, he
pushed passed her and rushed to Elizabeth’s room. He opened the door to
emptiness; there was no evidence that Elizabeth had ever been in the room.
Hurrying back to his room, he grabbed both of his sister’s arms, seeing for the
first time her tears and the letters she was holding in her hands. “You have a
note?”

She
thrust the note into her brother’s hands. He quickly read it, and grasping her
hand, pulled her out into the hallway, down the stairs, and into the billiard
room where Richard, Henry and Bingley were occupied. “Bingley, Elizabeth is
gone. She left a note for you. I beg that you share the information that it
contains.”

Charles
Bingley was astonished at the news and the lack of composure his friend was
showing. Earlier, during the confrontation with Mr. Bennet, he was amazed at
Darcy’s stern countenance as he endeavored to reason with Elizabeth’s irate
father. Now, he was seeing a man undone. He broke the seal and read, handing
off the letter to Darcy.

Fitzwilliam
Darcy collapsed into the closest chair. Seconds later he jumped back up, his
face filled with determination. “Gentlemen, we need to ride.” Before he could
get a response from the men or even his sister, he was in the hallway getting
his greatcoat, hat, and gloves. Within moments, they heard the front door slam
as Darcy made his way to the stables.

Bingley,
Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Viscount Stanley hurried behind him, leaving Georgiana
and Mr. Hurst standing alone in the room. Mr. Hurst was not much of a horseman
and Georgiana did not want to slow them down by going upstairs to change. She
decided to seek out her Aunt Elaine to advise her as to the current situation
as she knew it. Mr. Hurst just grabbed his cue stick, determined to get as much
practice in as possible before the men returned.

The
stable was bustling with activity. Darcy was frustrated that his wounded arm
did not allow him to saddle his own horse. His cousin, Henry, questioned
whether he should even ride at all. Darcy chose not to respond with words, however,
the glare he gave the Viscount told him all he needed to know. As Darcy waited,
he was approached by one of the groomsmen.

“Beggin’
your pardon, sir,” the man grasped his worn hat in his hands, head bowed, and
voice quiet. “Be you looking for the young miss that came with you when you was
wounded?”

Darcy
yelled for quiet. “I am.” He longed for any news of Elizabeth, more than he
longed for his next breath. He desperately wanted to make the situation right
with her and needed her presence to do so.

“The
lady, who was dressed in servant’s clothes, had me take her to the Inn in
Meryton. There she returned to me with a ticket in her hand, telling me to come
back to Netherfield Park. There be two coaches taking on passengers, the post
coach to Dover and the stage to London. Forgive me, sir, I did not wait to see
which one she boarded.” His head hung even lower with the telling.

“Do
not be concerned. We shall find the lady. Thank you for the information.” By
then, his horse was equipped and he mounted. The others were already in the
saddle, so at his command, they galloped to Meryton, pushing their horses hard.
Hooves pounded and kicked up mud from the recent rains, but went unnoticed by
the riders. They had a mission and it was to find Elizabeth Bennet.

The
coaching Inn was empty except for the innkeeper serving ale to a lone patron.
They both looked up as Darcy, the Colonel, the Viscount, and Mr. Bingley
entered. The four men were an impressive sight; wearing their wealth and influence
like most men wore their clothing.

Darcy
approached the man behind the bar. “We understand that Miss Elizabeth Bennet,
formerly of Longbourn, purchased a ticket on a coach that left but a few hours
past. Would you, please, tell us which coach she boarded?” The innkeeper had
lost one of his sons in the smallpox epidemic of 1806. He knew the struggles
that Elizabeth had had with her own family. Fortunately, the innkeeper was
blessed with a hard-working, loving wife who sacrificed herself to care for
their children. Elizabeth had been on her own in the tending of her family. He
had known Elizabeth since her birth, and, since Mrs. Bennet and her sister,
Mrs. Philips, were the town’s most prolific gossips, the events that took
Elizabeth away from the area were known as well.

“And
what do ye be wanting with Miss Lizzy?” The innkeeper inquired. He was aware
that the girl had had to pay consequences that were not of her own making five
years before. She had been kind and attentive to the needs of the tenants and
of the residents in and around Meryton, helping out where a young girl could,
and sometimes where she should not.

Darcy
walked towards the innkeeper while the three remaining men stood just inside
the door, poised for action. He understood from the innkeeper’s address of
Elizabeth that this man not only knew her; he valued her. Bowing slightly,
giving the man honor that typically was not shown him, Darcy spoke. “Miss
Elizabeth had a bitter confrontation with her father earlier and made the
decision to leave the area, undoubtedly in the pursuit of peace. I owe her my
life, sir. I will not rest thinking that she might be unprotected and come to
harm. My cousins, my friend, and I would pursue her to the ends of the earth to
make sure that she arrives safely to her destination.” Darcy, paused, anguish
at not knowing where Elizabeth might be. Pain squeezed at his chest. Unaware,
he placed his right hand over his heart and started rubbing.

The
innkeeper had been owner of the rest stop for decades. His father had owned it
before him and he had grown up seeing travelers of all classes, shapes, and
sizes come and go. He recognized sincerity in the man in front of him who had
humbled himself to acquire the desired information. He, too, had been concerned
about Elizabeth traveling unaccompanied, even with her servant’s garb. It was
providential that an elderly woman of his acquaintance was headed in the same
direction and could serve as a proper chaperone. The woman was in company with
her youngest son, who was a grown man, able to protect both women, if needed.

“Thank
ye, sir, for reassuring me.” He looked Darcy in the eye. “Ye are correct, sir.
There be two coaches here when Miss Lizzy came in; one for Dover and the other
to London. I could see in Miss Lizzy’s eyes that she longed for Dover, as she
spoke about traveling the ocean to America. But, our sweet girl could not be
leaving without a goodbye to the family what took her in. She procured a ticket
on the London stage. Most likely, they have already stopped at the half point
to change horses and refresh themselves and are back on the road. They be in London
just at dark, but the lights of the city will show them the way. Aren’t no
danger in that.”

The
relief that Darcy felt was staggering. After giving the innkeeper his sincere
thanks, he turned to his companions and charged, “Let’s head out!”

Usually
practical, Darcy was so driven in his pursuit of Elizabeth, he failed to note
the darkening conditions of the sky. It appeared that they were in for a
torrential rainstorm and night was settling in. Frustrated at Richard pointing
out the potential travel conditions, he silently turned his horse to
Netherfield Park. He knew that Georgiana had the directions to Elizabeth’s aunt
and uncle in the Cheapside area of town, as she had written to Elizabeth
requesting her to come care for her sister, Miss Jane Bennet. Darcy gave one
last glance up at the sky, secretly in hopes that conditions might change, but
it was to no avail. It was a somber group that returned to the stables.