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“Thank you. Mama will send the carriage for you shortly, but I need to go to Town.”
“London? Why? Is everyone well?”
“Our family is well, yes, but I need to go today. I will stay with Aunt Ida. Can you tell Mama I am needed there and I will write to her as soon as I can?”
“Yes, of course. Did Aunt send a letter? Is something wrong?”
“Aunt Ida is well as far as I know, but I must go to Town. I cannot explain more, I am sorry.”
“Of course. I will not ask you to break a confidence.”
Jane had assumed wrongly, but I would not correct her.
“How will you travel?”
“Mr. Darcy will be leaving for Town today and I thought to ask if I might ride with him.”
“Shall I ask Mr. Bingley if he will ask him? That might be less awkward than if you asked yourself.”
“I confess I was hoping you would do just that. Thank you, Jane. You are the best of sisters.”
She pressed my arm and rushed off to find Mr. Bingley. I made quick work of putting together what few items I had at Netherfield, then packed Jane’s as well. Just as I finished, she came back into the room, a triumphant smile on her face.
“Mr. Bingley is asking Mr. Darcy right now. He said he cannot imagine him saying no, but he will let us know as soon as he has an answer.”
“Wonderful!”
Before I could finish thanking her, there was a knock on the door. We stepped into the corridor to speak to Mr. Bingley.
“Darcy says he is happy to take you, but he is in a terrible rush. I took the liberty of sending a boy to Longbourn to tell them to send your trunk to the lane crossing. It will save at least half an hour.”
“That was very thoughtful of you, Mr. Bingley. Thank you.”
“It is no trouble, Miss Elizabeth. I hope whatever calls you to Town is resolved swiftly.”
“So do I.”
There was a great deal of commotion coming from down the hall in Mr. Darcy’s room. Looking that way, Mr. Bingley said, “We should take your things downstairs. Darcy wishes to be on the road as soon as possible.”
I agreed and in short order, my small bag was loaded, Jane was kissing my cheek, and I was standing on the steps at Netherfield, waiting for Mr. Darcy.
He stormed out of the house like a bear rushing its prey, barking orders to his coachman and the grooms. Finally, he turned to me.
“Miss Elizabeth, there was no time to secure a chaperone and I must make haste. Are you comfortable riding with me and my valet?”
Jane’s eyes widened at the impropriety, but I had no such precious notions. “It does not bother me at all, sir.”
He nodded curtly. “Then let us be on our way.”
We said quick goodbyes and climbed into the carriage. I took the forward-facing seat and Darcy and his valet sat on the rear-facing one. I felt bad that they would likely be nauseated because of me, but then decided I would wait for them to fall asleep and reach out with my foot. I had done it dozens of times with my sisters.
As we pulled up to the crossroads, Mr. Darcy pursed his lips at having to wait for my luggage. I was just about to apologize when I saw a wagon coming up the road from Longbourn. Darcy sighed in relief and my small trunk was lashed to the carriage.
We only stopped once and maintained a fast clip the entire way. By the time the carriage rolled over the cobblestones of London, we had hardly spoken three words between us, such was the tension.
“I forgot to ask your aunt’s address, Miss Bennet,” he finally said.
“It is number twelve. Your house is nearby, is it not? Miss Bingley mentioned it.”
