AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The day of Jane’s wedding dawned cold and clear; Lizzy tried to blunt the sense of loss and homesickness by making her daily tramp longer than usual. Instead of walking down to the ocean and back again, she took a more indirect route along the cliff tops.
She had been this way once before, curious to see where Sea Cliff Lodge’s property met the pathway leading down to the beach, noting its small iron gate that was barred from the other side. This morning, however, it was ajar. Could some resident of the place be strolling on the public path? Unlikely, at this hour. Perhaps a gardener had availed himself of it for some reason.
The temptation to enter suddenly struck her—a small adventure, really, perhaps to discover forbidden views of the home and its occupants. Quickly, however, she dismissed the notion as nonsense. It was far too early for the Lodge’s residents to be about, and even supposing she did catch sight of Mr Darcy, what would she say? ‘Hello, I am trespassing at this hour to catch a glimpse of you?’
The very idea of being caught standing here, staring at his gate, filled her with a sense of dismay that had her quickening her steps along the cliff path.
None of her usual solace was found in the crashing waves and majestic ocean views. It was cold and somewhat desolate, the wind screaming loudly in her ears. It matched her mood, however, and she struggled to put her thoughts into some sort of rational order. But the frustration and unfairness of her situation plagued her. Why was she, who had nothing to do with any of her parents’ troubles, somehow to blame? Cold droplets began spattering like angry tears. Return now, Lizzy, she warned herself. There was no comfort to be found in these thoughts, in this weather. She paused, looking out at the violent waves, suddenly realising that she was not alone on the bluff top.
A girl stood at the cliff’s apex, her back to Lizzy, several yards away. Too close, much too close to the edge. And as Lizzy watched, horrified, the figure leant forward, teetering upon its brink.
Lizzy did not hesitate, pitching herself towards the girl, grabbing a handful of pelisse to tug her away from the cliff’s edge. They both stumbled back.
The girl blinked up at her in surprise. “Oh!” was all she said.
Though she was young, perhaps Lydia’s age, the other girl was built upon solid lines, her figure womanly, and something about her face was vaguely familiar.
“Perhaps we should move away from this place,” Lizzy suggested.
But the girl looked away. “I do not believe I shall,” she said, her cultured accent soft but determined.
“Please!” Lizzy forced her voice to a firmness she did not feel. Yet, a certain candour seemed appropriate. “Whatever your troubles, jumping is no solution.”
“You know nothing of my troubles and are no judge of what fate I deserve,” the young lady replied softly, bitterly. “I have brought all of them upon myself.”
“Of course I do not know specifically,” Lizzy agreed. “But Trouble and I are well acquainted—he has followed me everywhere I go, since the day I was born. I am so used to coping with his tricks and tests, perhaps I can be of some use to you?”
But the girl only looked away.
Lizzy took in the expensive clothing, suddenly remembering the unbolted gate from Sea Cliff Lodge; as well, there was that haunting familiarity. It was the eyes, she decided. She was not so handsome as her brother, and her eyes were blue rather than dark, but they had the same shape, a slightly exotic uptilt.
“You are Miss Darcy, I believe?” she enquired. “I am Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Miss Darcy swivelled her head sharply back to Lizzy, gasping slightly. “How do you know who I am?” There was fear in her gaze.
“Oh, I only guess at your identity. I know your brother, you see—”
But at these words, the girl scrambled away from her, a hopeless sort of fury in her expression.
“Liar! You may stop your extortion right there! I have nothing left! I can give you nothing! You may tell George that she has taken it all and then some!” She raised her hands, then let them fall to her sides. Her head drooped, as if the small defiance had drained her. “Leave me now, if you have an ounce of pity in your soul. Allow me a bit of dignity for this, at least.”
Lizzy closed her mouth, which she realised was gaping in astonishment. “I assure you, Miss Darcy, I do not know of any George connected to you, and you have nothing to fear from me. I met Mr Darcy earlier this summer, several times, whilst he resided at Netherfield Park with Mr Bingley.”
At the mention of Mr Bingley and Netherfield, Miss Darcy met Lizzy’s eyes once more. The fear in them had only marginally receded. What to say? How to say it? She found herself babbling.
“Mr Bingley is to be wed today, as a matter of fact, to my sister Jane. How I wish I could be there for the wedding! I thought of leaving my card for you when I learnt we were neighbours…but then…I did not,” she trailed off, feeling somewhat foolish.
To her relief, however, Miss Darcy sat heavily on a nearby boulder—a few feet away from that dangerous edge.
“They would not have given me the card, had you left it,” she said bitterly.
Lizzy sat beside her, still wondering how to offer comfort. “And why is that?”
For long moments, Miss Darcy replied nothing, and Lizzy thought she might refuse to speak of her troubles. But then she did. “You may as well know…my brother is a living corpse. His brain, his mind is gone. Or so Lord and Lady Matlock assure me.”
“What…Mr Darcy? It cannot be true! This is too awful!” Lizzy could not imagine Mr Darcy in such a state. Poor, poor Miss Darcy!
“My opinion precisely. I cannot bear it! I will not bear it any longer!” She began to sob with quiet heartbreak.
