Page 26 of Sweet on Mr Darcy

Mr Bingley and his party did not arrive before Elizabeth left with Mr and Miss Darcy, though they took possession of their cottage while Elizabeth and the others were gone. By the time the sweet adventurers returned, having enjoyed tea, ices, candied ginger, and chocolate drops at the confectioner’s, the new family next door had begun to settle in somewhat.

Mr and Mrs Bennet were out in the lane when the Darcy carriage came to a stop in the crescent in front of the house. Mr Bennet had found a well-used perambulator for sale by a wealthy family who had no more need of it, and hired a goat from a local farmer to pull it while they were in Ramsgate. Charlotte was delighted by the luxury, and they were supervising a hall boy who was leading the goat up and down the lane with young Lucas Bennet inside.

“Eliza, just look at the lovely surprise your father has found for young Lucas.” Charlotte gestured to the contraption.

“You would not believe what Mr Keen was asking for it, but we came to an agreement that was mutually beneficial to both parties.” Mr Bennet was obviously proud of his accomplishment and the pleasure it brought to his wife, and hopefully, his son.

“This is not unlike the one stored in Pemberley’s attics, that my parents used for Georgiana and me.” Mr Darcy admired the construction. “And well-kept too. Congratulations on your good fortune. May it bring you and young Master Bennet much enjoyment, Mrs Bennet.”

“Did you enjoy your outing, Eliza?” Charlotte was obviously interested to know if Darcy was pursuing Elizabeth in earnest, or was only attempting to make amends for the bad behaviour on the day of his arrival.

“It was quite the lark, as Lydia would say. Where are Kitty and Lydia?” Elizabeth said in response.

“They are in the back garden. Kitty is sketching the verdure, and Lydia has decided to try her hand at sketching fashions,” Mr Bennet answered. “She found some sketching books in the library that interested her.”

“Has Bingley arrived?” Darcy inquired, looking over the hedges towards the cottage next door.

“Not ten minutes after you departed. Their servants have finished unloading their carriages and wagon, but I am certain that they have much settling in to do.” Mrs Bennet nodded.

“I promised him I would introduce him to his closest neighbours at the earliest opportunity,” Darcy informed them. “I must go and greet him. His family will expect it. I will return in only a few moments, Georgiana.”

The Bennets and Georgiana watched the charming infant gurgling happily as the hall boy led the goat about for his amusement for no more than five minutes before Darcy returned with a well-favoured young gentleman with strawberry hair and blue eyes. He was not as tall as Darcy, but not lacking in height himself. It was apparent from the moment Elizabeth laid eyes upon him that he was a good-natured person.

Elizabeth wondered if he could possibly distract Jane from Mr Lovett. While that gentleman had nothing obvious wrong with him, and Jane enjoyed his company, Elizabeth did not believe he inspired the degree of love and affection for which she hoped her sister would marry. It was clear to Elizabeth that while Jane accepted the man’s attention, she also had her doubts, but was determined to give him a chance.

Darcy conducted the introductions, and the young man was as ebullient as he seemed. He praised the cottage he had let for his family, the garden, the lane, and its proximity to the market town and Darcy Cottage.

As pleasantries were exchanged, a striking lady with auburn hair that clashed badly with the colour of her coquelicot silk gown emerged from the garden next door and approached them.

“Caroline! How good of you to come out and be introduced to our closest neighbours!” Mr Bingley exclaimed, then introduced everyone to his sister, Miss Bingley.

“Charles, you cannot mean to force us to stay so far away from everything. If we could not go to Brighton, you ought to have reserved a townhouse on the terrace. This backwater cottage is quite insufficient for our needs and station. Everybody who is anybody will have a townhouse on the terrace,” Miss Bingley complained without greeting anyone but Mr and Miss Darcy, who she obviously found well worth addressing warmly.

“The Darcys have a cottage, do you not, my friend?” Bingley asked Darcy.

“My father purchased it for my mother as a wedding present, for she loved the seaside.” Darcy nodded. “Our family has spent many happy summer holidays there. It is not quite a mile from here.”

“I am quite certain that your cottage must be all that is elegant and charming, Mr Darcy, but this place is appalling!” Miss Bingley objected. “I cannot see how I am to entertain here, even if there is anyone in this barbaric military harbour worth knowing.”

Elizabeth and Charlotte regarded Miss Bingley with uncertainty, knowing instantly that she would not make a charming neighbour at all. Georgiana seemed to be doing her best to hide behind her brother.

Suddenly, there was a calamity from the far end of the lane. The party turned to see two phaetons racing toward them at great speed, the ladies in each holding on as if their lives depended upon it, and the gentlemen whipping their horses for even more speed.

Charlotte and Georgiana were close enough to the gate to be missed entirely. Mr Bingley shoved his sister out of the way. Charlotte was screaming for the safety of her son, and Mr Bennet was already rushing with all speed to the babe in the perambulator, scooping the child out as fast as he could as the hall boy dragged the contraption and the attached goat out of the lane.

The men pulled up their horses too quickly in front of the Bennet’s cottage. The phaeton driven by Mr Painswick, and carrying Mary somehow managed to stop without turning over. The phaeton driven by Mr Lovett and carrying Jane was not so lucky, nor was Elizabeth for being directly in its path. Darcy dove in Elizabeth’s direction, pushing her out of the way, bringing them both to the ground…hard.

The force of their fall knocked the breath out of Elizabeth, and she landed so hard upon her back with Darcy atop of her that she saw stars. The carriage had missed them by inches, and for a brief instant, she had been certain that she would be run down and killed. When her vision cleared and as her breath slowly returned, she gazed up into Darcy’s eyes and saw terror and obvious relief in them.

She struggled to regain control of her panicked breathing as her heart pounded in her ears. There was a moment when the two of them could do nothing but stare into each other’s eyes as they accustomed themselves to the idea that they were both alive.

“Are you hurt?” Darcy rasped, pushing himself up and looking her over in a panic. “Elizabeth, please…tell me you are unharmed…do you need a physician?”

Blushing at his unintended familiarity, she took his hand and sat up in a daze. “I believe I am unharmed. Oh! Where is Jane?”

Spying the overturned phaeton which was twenty feet away, she struggled to her feet with Darcy’s help. “Jane! Oh, Jane…where is she? Is she all right? Mr Darcy, please help her!”

Darcy grasped both of her hands and thanked God aloud for her safety before turning away and joining the other men who were running to the overturned phaeton. They were all shouting for Jane, who had been thrown into a hedge another ten feet away. Thankfully, the hedge had broken her fall, and she seemed mostly unhurt. Jane was sobbing in terror, as was Mary, who was being comforted by the Bennet’s gate by Georgiana. Charlotte held her son, who had been thrust into her arms by Mr Bennet. As she did her best to calm Mary, Charlotte also sobbed in terror for what could have happened to Lucas, and to all of the young ladies.