They would have to tell her. Somehow. Unfortunately, that meant Darcy would not be able to leave her for any length of time until he found the right moment to reveal this shocking news and comfort her.
“I have two weeks leave, and I will stay here. Between the two of us, we will support our Georgie.”
With that, Darcy’s dream of escaping to London was fully crushed, trampled to dust. He could not leave while Richard stayed. Georgiana would not understand. He stood and began pacing, the clock chimingevery quarter of an hour. Only three weeks remained until he had promised his sister that they would return to Pemberley, and now he could not move for two of them. How on earth would he find the painting in time? How could he heap disappointment on her when he must also break her heart with this terrible news? How could he ever face Georgiana again? Hehadto find the painting!
The door rattled and swung open. Archie walked into the room and then turned back to the doorway with a whimper. Bingley followed closely behind him, wiping sleepily at his eyes. “I do not know what he wants. He is driving me mad, whimpering and moaning.” Bingley yawned. “He brought me his ball and his lead and would not leave me alone until I left my comfortable bed, but it is pouring rain. Caroline would have my head on a silver platter if I played ball with him inside the house.” He saw the tray and went straight for the urn. “Is there any coffee in here? How you keep these early hours is beyond me.” He poured himself a cup.
Darcy looked through the glass. Rain poured down in sheets. “Where is Miss Elizabeth? And Remy?”
Bingley drank from his cup and grimaced. “I assumed they were sleeping like the rest of the decent people.”
Dread crept up Darcy’s spine. “Archie misses his friend. Miss Elizabeth took Remy out of doors.” Charging out of the room to the entrance hall, he asked the doorman if she had returned. Mrs. Nichols had notseen her, nor had any of the maids or the cook. Miss Elizabeth had not returned.
He clenched his teeth and cursed himself for his oversight. He had seen her leave but had been too caught up in his own worries to check on her welfare. Even when he had mentioned her to Richard, it had not occurred to him that she might not be safe.
“She might be out in the stables. Nobody in their right mind would attempt to brave this weather,” Bingley suggested.
Or some accident might have befallen her.Why had Darcy allowed her to leave with only that foolishly friendly dog for company? Angry at himself for his negligence, he spoke forcefully to Bingley. “Stay here in case she returns. Do not alert the household.” To the colonel, he said, “My horse is still ready in the stables. We ride.”
Despite his complaints about the aches in his bones, Richard stood, always ready to assist when needed. “I will search in the direction of the village.”
“And I toward Longbourn. That is her family’s estate. Perhaps she took shelter there or somewhere along the way.” To Archie, Darcy whistled. “Come, Archie. Help us find our friend.”
CHAPTER 16
Plop!A trail of water streamed down the back of Elizabeth’s head, soaking into her collar and sending a shiver down her back. Her stomach groaned in protest, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten. She blinked, no longer in the bright, sunlit fields of Longbourn right before an ample harvest that shone on her easel. She was in the cold, gray hunting lodge. Rain fell in sheets from heavy clouds.
Moving quickly, she placed her easel against a wall where the floor was dry. There were shockingly few safe places for her work. Fewer than last winter. Would the lodge make it through another winter? Where would she paint when the lodge was no longer suitable?
Remy slept soundly on the carpet beside her easel. “Some watchman you are!” At this, the dog sat up and sneezed. “Why did you not tell me it was raining?”Elizabeth plopped her hands on her hips exaggeratedly. At this, he stood and barked. “Fine, you tell menow,for all the good that does us.” She ruffled his ears, began cleaning her brushes, and tried not to worry about how much time might have passed. Perhaps the worst of the rain might pass by the time she finished.
It did not. She could hardly see ten paces in front of her face, so thick was the rain and fog. How was she going to slip back inside Netherfield Park unnoticed? And with a muddy dog! What a sight they would be, and what a ruckus they would cause! Wrapping her coat tightly around her and holding her skirts up, she took off at a run with Remy loping along beside her.
Within five minutes, her clothing was clinging to her in heavy folds of fabric that wrapped around her calves and made it difficult to walk without tripping. The ground, already soaked from the recent rains, became soggy where there was grass and slippery where there was nothing to protect her half boots from the mud. After another few minutes, the leather of her shoes began to stretch. They grew so loose around her feet that she feared she would have to return to Netherfield Park barefoot. Oh, if only she had not lost track of time!
Just when she thought her situation could not become more desperate, Remy took off at a run, barking into the dense midst and leaving her alone. “Remy! Remy!” she called after him, her frustration mounting. It was not like him to run off and ignore her calls. “Remy!” she tried again.
She heard his bark through the fog and what sounded like a higher-pitched echo. Echo… or another dog. Archie? What washedoing out of doors in this weather? A large shadow emerged from the gloom. Her heart leapt out of her throat, stifling her instinct to scream.
All for the better, for in the next gasp of breath, she saw it was Mr. Darcy atop a dark horse. He said nothing. One minute, Elizabeth was standing on the ground, and the next, she was flying up onto the horse. And then she was warm and safe in Mr. Darcy’s arms.
The horse rocked under her, carrying her at a brisk pace toward the only place they could go—Netherfield Park. It did not, however, outpace her wits which, as scattered and disoriented as they were, finally caught up with her. She was sitting on Mr. Darcy’s lap! Every bump and sway brought their bodies together in what would most certainly be frowned upon by polite society. Not even her own mother would approve!
Elizabeth was wrapped inside his greatcoat, the thick wool draped over her shoulders, his arm holding it snug around her and pressing her against his chest. She tilted her chin, her nose close to his neck. He smelled like shaving soap and spices. His side whiskers tickled her cheek. They were softer than she would have thought. The intimacy of the moment made her ignore the cold of the rain, though her chin shook and her teeth clattered.
Relief at being found and relief that he did not demand an explanation overcame her embarrassment.She relaxed against him, burrowing into his warmth. She could not remember the last time she had felt so protected. Not since she was a small girl. For the short time it took them to arrive at Netherfield Park, she gave no thought to her concerns. She was safe with Mr. Darcy.
He rode to the back of the house by the kitchens. His groom was already there to assist them. Mr. Darcy held her close, and she did not know how he dismounted without dumping her on the ground, but he managed expertly. To his groom, he said, “Thank you, Craig. You know what to do.”
Mr. Craig nodded. “Aye.” With a low whistle, he summoned both dogs to follow him and Mr. Darcy’s horse. For once, Remy obeyed and did not attempt to run to her side.
Elizabeth did not know what to do. She should walk herself into the kitchen, but she was in no hurry to leave Mr. Darcy’s arms. She would be perfectly content to hide there all day. Sense won. She pushed against his chest, trying to straighten herself. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy, but I am perfectly capable of walking.”
“Not until we are inside.” His voice sounded gruff, like he was coming down with a cold.
The door opened. When the cook called over two maids and proceeded to make such a fuss as would soon alarm the entire household, Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to bury her shamed face in Mr. Darcy’s neck cloth.
“Miss Elizabeth requires the expertise of yourcare. She will need a hot bath and a dry change of clothing,” her rescuer instructed in a low tone. She felt his voice vibrate in his chest. He still had not put her down.
