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Darcy strained against the soldiers’ hold, but their grip was unbreakable, holding him harder the more he resisted. He could do nothing but watch in anguish. Elizabeth spoke to the officer, but then she experienced another coughing fit, one that left her pale and gasping for breath. Andre was practically holding her up. Now Darcy was positive she was exhibiting symptoms of pneumonia, but how could she return to England alone? When she recovered sufficiently, she stumbled to Darcy’s trunk and showed the officer something from it – a piece of paper. Darcy was puzzled about what she was displaying. Most of his papers were routine correspondence he had received in Paris.
Now she was speaking pleadingly to the officer and Andre nodded in support of her words. Suddenly, her voice started to falter and she almost crumpled to the ground, rescued only by Andre’s quick hands under her arms. Even the officer radiated concern as he helped Andre carry her to a nearby bench. Darcy attempted to lunge for her, but his captors only tightened their grip. Once at the bench, Elizabeth seemed to recover some and managed a seated position. But she was so weak and haggard that it was clear her recovery had been set back. She will never make it back to England alone!
Focusing on Elizabeth, Darcy had not noticed the commanding officer, but suddenly the man was standing directly in before him. “I will release you Monsieur Darcy. But you must leave French soil immediately.” The man sounded resigned, as if he had no choice in the matter.
Darcy could not fathom what had triggered this change of heart, but had no desire to question it. “I will. Merci.” The soldiers released Darcy’s arms and he rushed over to Elizabeth, who was still slumped on the bench. He seated himself next to her and placed an arm around her back to support her. “My love—”
She waved him off, appearing a little stronger than a moment ago. “Please, let us go to the boat.”
Realizing they had no choice, Darcy quashed his reservations about her health. The officer wanted him out of the country. Even if Elizabeth had contracted pneumonia, they must leave. He wondered if he could pay the fisherman extra to get them there faster, but realized they would be limited by the capabilities of his vessel. The boat did not even have an indoor room where he could shelter her from the fierce wind. Elizabeth leaned heavily on Darcy as they made their way slowly along the pier. The coughs decreased in frequency, but her steps were less steady.
He helped Elizabeth over the boat’s gangplank as Andre and Jean-Paul loaded their trunks. While Elizabeth settled herself on a hard wooden bench, Darcy gave the two footmen his profoundest thanks and a generous gratuity. Watching them depart, Darcy noticed the French officer and his men standing on the dock, observing their progress. Obviously, they felt the need to ensure that he left immediately.
The fisherman and his crew raised the sails and the boat glided away from the pier, causing Darcy to heave a sigh of relief. The sun was shining brightly, but the wind was cold and cutting; Darcy wished for a blanket to wrap around his wife. Sitting next to her, he took her hand, regarding her with concern, “Elizabeth….”
She gave him a relieved smile. “I am well. Truly I am. My fainting fit was for the benefit of the soldiers.” Relief washed over Darcy.
Darcy glanced back at the French soldiers, who were dwindling into black specks as the boat sailed into the Channel. “I admit to being quite bewildered by their change of heart. What did you tell them?”
“I showed them the wedding certificate and explained that we had only been married four days. Then I explained how ill I was and that the doctor thought I was unlikely to live,” she winked at him. “I said I did not believe I could make it back to England without my new husband – who had never even met my family and who had married me despite my deadly illness.” She leaned back against the boat’s wheelhouse, looking satisfied with herself.
Darcy shook his head in admiration. “I did not realize I married such a talented actress! How did you devise such a story so rapidly?”
“Some of the story occurred to me back at Whitmore’s estate. The French are very romantic – even the men. I thought they would dislike separating a newly married couple.”
“Is that why you wanted to get married right away?” Darcy arched an eyebrow at her.
She tilted her head winsomely as she regarded him. “One of the reasons. I thought it would increase the odds of escaping France together. I also realized I have a very authentic-sounding cough, which I can trigger by breathing deeply. I thought I might use that to our advantage.”
He drew her close to him, trying to warm her with his body. “I am full of admiration for your quick thinking. And even more pleased that you are not truly having a relapse! I was close to panic.”
“I am sorry.” She took his hand and held it warmly in hers. “I should have explained my plans – although some of it was the inspiration of the moment.”
“All is forgiven, Mrs. Darcy. And soon we will be safely returned to England.” He pressed an intense and relieved kiss on her lips.
Hours later Darcy was gazing out at the water of the English Channel; Elizabeth’s head was in his lap as she slept soundly. She had been napping for more than an hour, he estimated, was so beautiful he did not want to look away. It was good she had taken the opportunity to rest. Although she was not nearly as ill as she had pretended in Dunkirk, he could tell the traveling was fatiguing her. Her eyes had dark circles under them and she had not regained any of the weight she had lost to the illness.
Darcy and Elizabeth formed an island of quiet amidst
the activity on the ship. Around them the boat’s crew hurried about, climbing up and down the rigging, and shouting at each other.
He stroked her hair, wishing that he could free it from the hair pins and feel each silken curl, but the fishing boat’s crew was all around. Although they were not paying him much attention, Elizabeth would not appreciate if he took such liberties in public. Still, maybe if he removed two pins, he could liberate a few curls….
Elizabeth opened her eyes and studied his face, no doubt seeing him grinning like a fool at her. “Sleep well?”
“Yes. I am better now.” As she sat up, she straightened her clothing, wrinkled from traveling.
“I think we are about an hour away from Dover. I was concerned we might be stopped by the English navy since they are blockading the French coast. The boat’s captain expressed some reservations about the trip for that reason. Fortunately a couple more coins persuaded him.”
“Perhaps the navy pays no heed to boats this small.”
“I hope you are right,” Darcy said. They sat for a moment, holding hands and enjoying the sight of sun on the water. Then Darcy broached a subject he knew they must discuss. “Elizabeth, we must determine what we will say to our families – and how.”
She sighed. “I know. It has been so pleasant, just the two of us.”
“Pleasant?” He said in amazement. “Fleeing Paris, fighting off brigands, contracting a nearly fatal fever, and tangling with the French army?”
She laughed. “But the other parts have been wonderful. I cannot even wish the dangers away because they helped to bring us together.”
