Mrs Goose smiled at the recollection. "She laughed and said there was no need for such nonsense. 'My husband will catch us in London soon enough,' she told me. She seemed perfectly easy about it."
The words settled upon Darcy with crushing weight. Even now, after all she had endured, Elizabeth had been thinking first of preserving appearances. She had spared Mrs Goose every uncomfortable question, spared the Frosts every awkward explanation and spared Darcy the embarrassment of having to account for their separate departures. She had continued the fiction to its very last moment, believing, no doubt, that once they reached London it would quietly come to an end.
Mrs Goose, entirely unaware of the thoughts passing through his mind, continued cheerfully, "Mr Frost said they meant to travel at a comfortable pace, so I daresay you'll overtake them before very long."
Darcy inclined his head, though he scarcely knew whether he had answered her at all. Then, without another word, he turned and strode from the kitchen.
"Burke!"
Before the echo had died away he was calling for Thomas, for the coachman, for anyone who could hasten their departure.Somewhere above a door opened and footsteps answered him, whilst Thomas came hurrying from the yard, wiping his hands upon his coat. Darcy was already issuing orders for the carriage before either man reached him. There was not a moment to lose.
Much had been left unsaid, much misunderstood and much, he feared, needlessly suffered. Elizabeth was on her way to London believing herself forever altered in his estimation. He would not permit her to believe it. He would not permit this violation against her to go unanswered. There was much to set right, and, by Heaven, set it right he would.
???
The familiar Bennet carriage creaked steadily along the London road, its wheels protesting at every rut left by the receding floodwaters. Mr Frost sat upon the box with the reins comfortably in hand, humming to himself as the horses settled into an easy pace. Within, Mrs Frost occupied one seat whilst Elizabeth sat opposite, warm in her pelisse and watching the countryside slip quietly past the window.
Although it had been days since she had occupied this very seat, it felt like much longer. She felt so altered that it was impossible to recollect the Elizabeth Bennet of that earlierjourney. So much had happened and her feelings were a jumble of emotions that she had not yet had time to sort through.
"My dear, I cannot tell you what a relief it was to find you safe. Frost was beside himself when we realised we could not return for you. But for you to come upon Mr Darcy on the road and for you to be seen safe and warm and protected. It was what I have prayed for. I am sorry I could not thank him in person."
The mark on Mrs Frost’s head was still livid, but her colour was normal and she looked hale and well.
"I am sorry to have caused such anxiety, I am only glad that you and the babe are safe. And Mr Darcy was very kind but I did not see much of him once he had seen to my care and left me in the capable hands of Mrs Goose." It was a lie, but what else could she say? That she had shared a room and bed with the man, lost her heart to him—only for it all to come crashing down?
"Well all is well that ends well I suppose. It is a shame I could not speak to Mrs Goose further, she seemed a sensible sort."
Elizabeth lowered her eyes to the gloves resting in her lap, her cheeks warm. The truth is that she had rushed the Frosts out as soon as they arrived, not wanting them to discover the ruse that she and Darcy had lived during that odd bubble of time. It felt dream-like now, a wonderful, strange and terrible dream.
Elizabeth could not trust herself with another word.
She had been careful before they left the inn. Mrs Goose had accepted without question that Mr Darcy had business to conclude before following them to London. There had been no awkward enquiries, no explanations to invent beyond the simple fiction she had already established. She had hurried the departure as much as good manners allowed, anxious only that they should be upon the road before Darcy came downstairs and the deception unravelled before everyone concerned.
He would thank her for it, she imagined. Not that she would ever have another conversation with him. Like her, he would leave behind the strange events at The Golden Goose and resume his life. He would continue to move in circles she had no right to aspire to, eventually meeting a young lady just as elevated as the great Mr Darcy of Pemberley. Her heart squeezed at the thought and she stared determinedly through the window, keeping her mind blank.
The remainder of the journey passed peacefully. Mrs Frost slept for much of the afternoon, her bonnet slipping gently to one side as the steady rocking of the carriage lulled her into comfortable slumber, whilst Mr Frost occasionally called some cheerful observation from the box whenever they passed an inn he recognised or encountered some small curiosity upon the road. Elizabeth answered when spoken to and even foundherself smiling once or twice, though every smile seemed to belong to somebody else.
Towards evening the countryside gradually gave way to the first scattered houses of London. Before long they were swallowed by its familiar bustle, carts and wagons jostling for space whilst small, barefooted children darted between horses with terrifying confidence. Hawkers proclaimed the excellence of their wares from every corner and the endless clamour of wheels upon cobbles filled the air. Elizabeth had never imagined that the noise of London would one day seem so welcoming.
When at last the carriage turned into Gracechurch Street and rolled to a halt before her uncle's comfortable brick house, the front door was already opening. Somebody within must have heard the wheels, for three small figures burst out together and came flying down the steps. "Cousin Lizzy! You are here!"
They reached her almost before Mr Frost had lowered the steps. Edward, now old enough to imagine himself nearly grown, nevertheless seized both her hands with undisguised delight, whilst George attached himself firmly to her side as though fearful she might disappear again if he let go. Little Lucy, arrived only a moment later with both arms raised expectantly, "You must pick me up."
Elizabeth laughed—a real laugh, warm and unguarded, the sound surprising even herself—and gathered the little girl into her arms.
"My goodness," she said, kissing her forehead. "I believe you have grown at least two inches whilst I have been away."
"I have," Lucy replied with complete conviction.
"No, you haven't," Edward informed her with the serious conviction of an elder brother. "Papa measured you on Tuesday."
"We thought you were lost," George said, looking up at Elizabeth with anxious earnestness.
"Hush," said Edward at once. "Mama said Cousin Lizzy was only delayed."
"I prayed for you," Lucy announced, wrapping both arms about Elizabeth's neck. "Every night."
Elizabeth held her a little closer. "Then I owe you a great many thanks."
