“Tell me, Elizabeth, how you knew to perform that move on Wickham,” Darcy asked, curious. “My cousin was rather impressed at how quickly you acted, and I confess that I was no less so.”
Elizabeth grinned. “I think it will be of no surprise to you that I often played with the boys in the neighbourhood. When I was ten or eleven I was playing cricket with several of them. Robert Lucas, Charlotte’s brother, was the batsman, and I lobbed the ball to him. It hit him the fall of his breeches. I was rather surprised when he fell over, howling in pain. When I approached to offer my assistance, I tried to determine what was wrong with him, but could find no obvious evidence of injury. He kept putting me off, telling me he needed to catch his breath, and the other boys were not very useful in providing an explanation.”
She laughed. “Having only sisters, I had no idea the pain that hitting a man there would cause and Robert was unwilling to explain matters to me. At that point, the game was over, as none of the other boys were willing to let me bowl any more, despite my being better than any of them. Eventually, I convinced Robert to explain what had happened, and we were both bright red by the time he had finished. Despite my age, I knew enough to realise this was something that was not typically discussed between boys and girls.
“However, since Robert was something of an older brother to me as well, he did explain that if I were ever in a position to need toget away from a man who was attempting to … importune me, lifting my knee between his legs, hard, would incapacitate him at least long enough so I could get away. Obviously, I have never had to put this into practice until now, but it was a lesson I never forgot.” She shrugged, and Darcy barked a laugh.
“I do not believe I have encountered Mr. Lucas, but if I do, I will be sure to thank him for teaching you this. Yes, it is a rather sensitive spot on a man’s anatomy, and the mention of it is enough to cause most men to experience discomfort. I assure you, it is an unpleasant sensation, but I am pleased that you used it to good effect yesterday.”
Elizabeth grinned wickedly at Darcy, but her attention soon shifted. “I know you said Mr. Wickham was in the stocks, but tell me, will he be prosecuted for his actions? Will my reputation be in danger as a result of his attempt to assault me?”
“Colonel Forster agreed to keep the matter silent and allow him to be prosecuted through the military courts for conduct unbecoming. Once he is stripped of his rank and dismissed, he will be conveyed to London and debtors’ prison or the docks for transportation. If he is transported, he will never return to England. I will go to London on Monday to help arrange for his punishment. I do not want to be parted from you, but for the moment, I see little else I can do,” Darcy said. “Do you think you will still be able to get away each morning until I depart?”
She nodded willingly. She also didn’t want to be parted from him and would defy her father’s decree in secret.
Too soon, it was time to separate, and Elizabeth slipped him a note before whispering that she looked forward to seeing him again in the morning.
Chapter Fourteen
Once again, Elizabeth slipped out of the house before anyone else was awake . Soon, she was away from Longbourn’s land and headed toward Oakham Mount. When she reached the summit, she was greeted by the sight of her handsome intended waiting, his back turned to her. She began walking a little more quickly, succeeding in sneaking up on Darcy.
He started when she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. He laid his hands on hers before spinning around to wrap his arms around her waist. “Dearest Elizabeth,” he breathed before bending down to capture her lips. It was a far more passionate kiss than they had shared thus far, and when he finally withdrew, they were both breathless. It took several moments for her to regain her wits, and her eyes sparkled with a teasing glint when she did.
“Was that your attempt to persuade me to depart with you straight away for Scotland?” Her arms were still tightly wrapped around his waist as she spoke, and her face was buried in his chest, making her voice a bit muffled.
He groaned as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. “It is a tempting idea, dearest, though perhaps not advisable. Were your birthday longer than six months away, I might be tempted to find a way around needing your father’s permission for us to wed, even if it meant stealing you away to my estate in Scotland. I would have expected to wait several months to wed you had your father granted his permission, though perhaps not quite so long. I only wish for the chance to see you daily and court you openly in front of your friends and neighbours.”
She sighed as she caressed his hair. “I know, William, I cannot understand Papa’s reasoning in this case. I refused to speak to him again yesterday; I was too angry. I hope my aunt and uncle might be persuaded to pass messages since I doubt my father will be diligent in ensuring his edicts are followed. I know your honour will prevent you from replying, although I will not tell anyone if you find other ways to circumvent him. He has forbidden Mr. Bingley from passing messages but said nothing about anyone else doing so.”
Darcy lifted his head to look at her. “Other than meeting with you these few mornings, I do not intend to defy his orders any more than I have already done. I will, however, present myself at Longbourn on October seventh with a licence in hand. I will perhaps ask your Uncle Gardiner to sign the settlement on your behalf, although you will have reached your majority on that day. Regardless of who signs the settlement, I will ensure you are well provided for, my love.”
“I hate that you must depart tomorrow, but you will still meet me in the morning, will you not?”
“I will be here waiting for you. If I write to your father while we are apart, do you believe that will have any impact on hisdecision? Do you think he can be worked on to change his mind?”
“Papa is an indifferent correspondent at best. Most letters sit on his desk for at least a week before being opened, and it usually takes another fortnight before he bothers to reply.” She groaned as she leaned her head against his chest. “I cannot understand his reasoning against our engagement. As much as I want to continue ignoring him, I must speak to him to learn his objection to your suit. As he has always claimed I am his favourite, why would he not want me to be happy?”
“What did you speak to him about before we arrived yesterday?” he asked.
“As soon as I entered the house after speaking with you, I heard the officers were already there visiting. So I went to see him and told him what you told me regarding Mr. Wickham. I begged him to speak to my sisters or restrict their ability to flirt with the officers. I asked him to be a parent to his daughters rather than to laugh at them as he is prone to do. I had just left him when I encountered Mr. Wickham in the hallway, and well, you know how that turned out.”
He made a noise in his throat that sounded almost like a growl. He started to speak but pulled her into his arms instead. “I hate to be parted from you, Elizabeth. I … I struggled against returning due to my feelings for you. I was convinced your sister did not truly care for my friend, but the dream … well, we have spoken of my dream, of our dreams. I did not want to live through the heartache I would have suffered, had already begun to suffer, at the thought of being away from you any longer than we have already done. It will be easier knowing that in just a few months, you will be mine, but still, I dread what might happenduring these months. Bingley will remain and court your sister—officially this time, judging from our conversation last night.”
Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his waist when he embraced her. She snuggled into his chest as he spoke.
“It is strange, is it not, that you and I had nearly identical dreams of the future,” he wondered out loud. “I was an arrogant prig and said things that were most ungentlemanly. Elizabeth, I … I know you said you love me yesterday, but … since we are unable to court, will you truly wish to marry me when I return on your birthday? Would you prefer me to… simply not return?” He released her to step away and ran his fingers through his hair.
“I am certain there is no one else more suited to me,” she told him earnestly. “Papa may have forbidden you to court me openly and from visiting Longbourn, but he cannot require you to depart from Hertfordshire. You could return, and we could continue to meet as we are now and at public functions.”
He stared at her in surprise for a moment. “I… I had hoped to bring Georgiana here once we had dealt with Wickham. I wanted you to meet and begin to know each other. I honestly believed it would have taken longer to convince you to accept my suit.” He paused for a moment. “I am committed to returning to London on Monday with my cousin once he has matters settled here. I will speak to Bingley about his plans, but perhaps I could return to the area soon.”
“My aunt and uncle intend to travel to the Lakes this summer. Originally, they planned to invite me, but, thinking that you and I would marry before they left, they decided to ask Mary instead. However, I will write and ask my aunt to invite me to accompany them since my father is being unreasonable. Do you think you could join us? That is, if my father permits me to go.”
“That is one reason it may be best for me to remain away for at least a time,” Darcy suggested. “It is possible without us flaunting our relationship in front of him, your father will forget his strictures and allow you to accompany your relations on their journey.”
Elizabeth considered this. “Perhaps. Think the matter over today, and we will discuss it further in the morning. I know you are reluctant to ignore my father’s demand that you not contact me, but I would like to see you again before you go, even if it is only for a few minutes.”
At her words, he drew her close again. “I love you, Elizabeth, more than I ever thought possible. I am gratified that you have come to love me in return and desire my presence. You are certain that you desire to wed on your birthday?”
