“I have yet to perform. There were too many others who displayed after supper. I did not get a turn. I did not practice all those hours for nothing.”
Darcy rolled his eyes. Finally, he tasked Mrs. Hammond’s care to his valet, hurrying to Miss Elizabeth.
“Come. Mrs. Hammond is ready to leave. We will take you to Longbourn. Bingley will care for those remaining.”
After one final glance at her mother, Miss Mary, and Miss Kitty, Miss Elizabeth looked at him. Her eyes reflected her misery.
“Jane will join us.” Miss Elizabeth scanned the crowd. Turning back to him, she said, “Surely, my father is still reading in the card room. And I cannot find Lydia.”
His conscience pricked him for assuming Mr. Bennet would act. “I shall try to locate them, but we will need to leave when the carriage is in front. I shall search once I return, reuniting them with your mother,” he willingly promised just to see the relief it brought her.
Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, and Darcy joined Mrs. Hammond in time to step into his carriage. At the last moment, Mr. Collins pushed his way into the conveyance, stomping on toes and bumping knees as he squeezed alongside Miss Elizabeth.
With a flick of the reins, they were off. Clouds covered the moon, so the only lights were from the carriage lanterns, the flames flickering in the wind. Seated across from Miss Elizabeth, the lamplight reflected in a single tear that trailed down her cheek.
“Bingley will treat your family as his own.” His reassurance rang false in his ears. “I have no doubt that he will find Miss Lydia and your father.”
Jane Bennet stared at him. “You have taken our care upon you, Mr. Darcy, and I am grateful. You should know that before the announcement of the termination of the ball was barely out of Mr. Bingley’s mouth, Lydia told me that the militia was in Meryton to offer us protection, so there was no safer place for her to be in a storm than with Mr. Wickham. She must still be searching for Mr. Wickham.”
“Imbecile!” Miss Elizabeth’s hand covered her mouth as she gasped for breath.
Mr. Collins said, “The licentiousness of Miss Lydia’s behavior proceeds from a faulty degree of indulgence. That child is naturally bad. I noted it immediately upon my arrival. Her disrespect for my position and the good counsel offered by my Patroness have paved the way for the false steps she is destined by her flawed character to take. This will be injurious to thefamily as a whole. My patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who I have learned this evening is your aunt, sir, routinely expounds on the evils of young ladies who prance and preen, drawing undue attention to themselves. This is not to say that my fair cousins with us now follow the same pattern. I admit to having pride that I can call them my relatives.”
“Silence!” Darcy roared. “I do not know who you are, but to speak of a young lady in this way to her family is outlandish.”
Miss Elizabeth followed with, “Mr. Collins, how dare you! You know nothing about my sister. You know nothing of any of us. Your condemnation speaks of an arrogant ignorance unlike anything I have ever witnessed.”
“Why, Miss Elizabeth, your attitude is as unseemly as Lydia's,” said Mr. Collins.
The clergyman affronted Darcy at every level. “Enough! You will not utter one more word, or I will have this carriage stopped and put you out where you may walk or crawl back to Kent.”
“Mr. Collins! She is Miss Lydia to you.” Miss Elizabeth bit back.
Miss Bennet placed her hand on her sister’s arm. “What is of utmost importance is that she is safe.”
Before Darcy could add his support, the carriage jolted to a stop, almost tumbling him into Miss Elizabeth’s lap.
The carriage door flung open.
Colonel Fitzwilliam yelled, “Turn back! Trees have blown across the road between here and Meryton. All but two other carriages got through. You need to turn back.”
The carriage lanterns revealed that Richard was soaked to the skin. His hat was gone, and his horse quivered from exertion.
Colonel Fitzwilliam is here!
Her mind spun with the implications of the colonel’s command. Who knew how long it would take to clear the road? They would need to shelter at Netherfield Park.
Fortunately, they were still close enough to the house to take advantage of the grassy areas before the pond turned them back, or their circumstances would have been much more difficult. As it was, the movement of the equipage combined with gale-force winds rocked them precariously.
Mr. Darcy had to yell over the roaring wind and the cursing driver. “Miss Elizabeth, Miss Bennet, pray move to this side of the carriage so the four of us can wedge ourselves on the bench. Sir, there is a strap above your left shoulder that you may use to hang on.”
“But…” Mr. Collins moved to join them where they were pressed tightly together.
“Sir!” Mr. Darcy barked. “We must protect the ladies at all costs.”
“I suppose.” Mr. Collins grunted as the wind jolted their transport. “However, had this been Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s carriage, our journey would have been smooth. She would never put a lady in danger. In fact, she would have called a halt to the ball hours ago, such is her concern for my parishioners.”
“Be that as it may, we cannot go back in time.” Mr. Darcy threaded Mrs. Hammond’s arm through his. “Let us join ourselves together. Ladies, I suggest that you place your feet against the seat across from you until we arrive.”
