Page 40 of Bella Darcy is on the Run

He said nothing, only swept her into his arms and held her so tightly that her slippers lifted from the ground. Bella buried her face against his chest and by the gentle shaking of her shoulders, Elizabeth knew she was weeping. When she raised a hand to her own cheeks, she found them wet too. She went to them and wrapped her arms around her husband and daughter, letting out a shuddering breath as she held them both as tightly as she could. Bella was safe. She was filthy, and there would most certainly have to be a discussion about what they had just witnessed, but she was safe and whole and they could take her home.

When the three of them finally drew apart, William's eyes were glassy. He kept one of Bella’s hands tucked firmly through his arm, as though he feared she might disappear again if he let go. "Come, sweetheart. Let us return to your aunt's house and see to you. You are limping. Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you?"

"It is only a bruise, Papa. The only person who hurt me was a door bar when we were making our escape. I truly am well. I know I must look and smell atrocious, but I promise you I am well."

William frowned as though he did not entirely believe her, but took her arm and began to lead her back in the direction of Lydia's house. Bella looked over her shoulder at Captain Harwood and Elizabeth saw the look that passed between them. It was brief, but unmistakably tender, and she feared the complications attached to their eldest daughter's flight were not over yet.

Elizabeth slowed and turned back towards the young man. He looked uncertain, but when she approached he bowed. She took his hand in hers. "Captain Harwood, we owe you a great debt for the safe return of our daughter and I thank you on behalf of my husband and all our family. Will you not return with us so that we may see to your injuries?"

Darcy made a scoffing sound from several paces away but continued walking with Bella.

"I would not wish to impose upon your family, Mrs Darcy," Captain Harwood said in a low, slightly unsteady voice.

William stopped and looked back over his shoulder, his expression grim. "You will call upon me tomorrow, young man. We have much to discuss. Now, I believe Collector Brown of the Customs Office would like a word with you."

✽✽✽

Their return to Lydia's home with Bella sparked immediate chaos. Mina flung herself at her sister and began crying so hard that nothing she said could be understood. Kate said almost nothing at all, but wrapped both arms around Bella and held on to her like a vice. Lydia reached her last, kissing her cheeks and alternating gentle scolding with effusions about her safe return.

"This is too much," Elizabeth said at last, raising her voice enough to cut through the chatter. "Bella needs quiet. We need to make certain she is well, and she needs clean clothes and rest."

"I've already requested the hot water, Mrs Darcy," Clara called from halfway up the staircase.

"Very good. Clara, please go to Bella's room and prepare a clean nightgown. I will bring her to you directly."

William would not hear of Bella walking up the stairs and swept her into his arms, cradling her head beneath his chin as he carried her. Once they reached the room he deposited her gently on the bed. "We are so very glad to have you returned to us, sweetheart," he said, kissing her tenderly on the forehead and paying no mind to the grime streaking her skin. "I shall leave you to your mother's care."

He made to exit the room, but stopped with his hand on the doorknob and turned back towards Elizabeth. A smile of such pure, unfiltered joy lit his features that she was transported back many years, to the moment she had accepted his second proposal and the dour Mr Darcy, as she had once rather unkindly thought of him, had looked at her with such complete happiness that she knew she could never willingly be parted from him. Elizabeth answered his smile with a soft one of her own before turning back to their daughter.

Bella said very little as, between them, Clara and Elizabeth helped her bathe, washed the dirt from her hair and settled her into a clean cotton nightgown. Apart from a large bruise blooming across one hip and several smaller marks on her arms, she was unharmed.

"Thank you, Clara," Elizabeth said when Bella was finally tucked beneath the counterpane. "You may leave us now."

"Very good, Mrs Darcy." Clara bobbed one of her unusual curtseys before looking towards Bella. "I'm right glad you be safe, Miss Darcy. I've never been as scared as I were in that alley, and I've been prayin' for you every day since."

"Thank you, Clara," Bella said with a small smile. "You are the only maid I should wish to have at my side when faced with a gang of smugglers." She gave a weak laugh, though it did not quite reach her eyes, and Clara bobbed again before leaving the room.

"Now, my darling." Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed and took Bella's hand between both of hers. "Would you like something for the pain? Some tea? A little food? I can have a tray brought up."

"A little food and tea would be very welcome, Mama," Bella said in a small voice that sounded nothing like her usual direct tones.

Elizabeth stood to pull the bell and then returned to her seat, squeezing her daughter’s fingers. "Will you not tell me about it, sweetheart?"

"It is all such a jumble." Bella looked down at their joined hands. "And it was my own fault. I never should have followed George, or left Aunt Lydia's house without telling anyone. I am so very sorry, Mama. I must be such a disappointment to you and Papa."

"You are nothing of the sort," Elizabeth said at once. "You have made some very unwise decisions, certainly, and I would beg of you never to put yourself in that sort of danger again or cause your poor papa quite so much worry and upset. He has been like a bear with a sore head," she added in a lighter tone designed to make Bella laugh.

Bella only cringed, and Elizabeth softened her voice. "But we have all made foolish decisions in our lives, my love. Some of us more spectacularly than others." She stroked a damp strand of hair away from Bella's face. "There is no undoing what has happened now. You are here and you are safe. That is what matters tonight."

Bella nodded, her eyes filling again.

"Now," Elizabeth continued gently, "will you tell me about your captain?"

"He is not my captain, Mama." Bella's cheeks coloured despite her exhaustion. "George was... is... He was a very good friend to me. He protected me. He did his best to fight off several men to secure my freedom and, when he could not manage it, he looked after me tirelessly. He taught me how to wield a plank as a weapon, and he is the reason we were successful in our escape."

"A plank?" Elizabeth repeated, arching one eyebrow.

"It was all we had."