Beginning, Section II
Jump to new as of January 9, 2000
Jump to new as of January 11, 2000
Jump to new as of January 16, 2000
Chapter 11: The Best-Laid Schemes Of Mice And Men... Posted on Sunday, 2 January 2000
Jean-Paul De Bourg, Darcy's cousin, listened with horror to the tale of what had transpired in England. He was an old soldier of about 50 years, a brave man who had fought with Charlemagne himself. "This is, indeed, a most troubling chain of events, Fitzwilliam." He said, speaking English out of courtesy to his guest. "I shall send a group of my men to Jerusalem immediately. If your kind is there to be found, they will find him."
"You have great faith in your men, Jean." Darcy said.
"Indeed I do.", came the confident reply. "They are the best knights I have ever commanded in thirty years of combat. I am proud to call them my own."
Darcy was impressed by Jean-Paul's assurance. His cousin was an experienced commander, and not likely to bestow such praise lightly. "I am most thankful for your assistance." Darcy said as he stood.
"Must you really go so soon, cousin?" Jean-Paul asked. "I would be most happy to house you for as long as you need. It is not necessary for you to continue to live as an outlaw."
"There are people depending on me, Jean. I cannot abandon Georgiana and Eli..." Darcy stopped himself. "...and the others."
Jean-Paul nodded. "I understand. Your sense of obligation does you credit. There is something you should know before you go home, though. Wickham is in Paris."
Darcy started. "What? What does Wickham in Paris?"
"Rumor has it is it a matter of pleasure." Jean said. "I have heard it said that he is with a young lady...of questionable morals, shall we say. Her name is Lydia Bennet."
Darcy again gave way to shock. Lydia, with Wickham? Her reputation would be in shreds! "Are you certain of the young lady's identity?"
"Quite sure. This information is all from reliable sources. Do you know the girl?"
"She is the sister of...of someone dear to me."
"Oh! I am sorry, cousin!" Jean-Paul said, surprised. "I hope I did not offend."
"No, no, of course not." Darcy replied absently. His mind was already turning, attempting to develop a plan. He had to rescue Lydia somehow.
After making their farewells, Darcy and Little Charles departed the great hall. Just as the massive door shut, Darcy's face lit up. "I've got it!" he cried. "Charles, you must go to Netherfield post haste and fetch back Fitz Tuck!" Darcy pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and rapidly scribbled an address on it. "Come to this address when you return, and for Heaven's sake, return quickly!"
Darcy spent the next week tracking Wickham down and determining his habits. Darcy quickly found that Lydia was, in fact, living with Wickham as his wife. After figuring out Wickham's customary hours, Darcy waited at the address he had given Charles. Luckily, Little Charles made great haste and arrived with Fitz Tuck in only a few days. "All right." Darcy said when they returned. "Here's the plan..."
Wickham's Apartments
Little Charles was the first through the bedroom window, thumping to the ground. "Ow!"
"Shhh!" Darcy whispered as he came through, followed by Fitz. Fitz immediately drew his sword, ready for anything. The three men quickly and quietly advanced on the bed where Wickham and Lydia lay sleeping.
Little Charles was the first to act, seizing Lydia, blankets and all, from the bed. She let out a bloodcurdling scream, waking Wickham. Just as Wickham began to rise from the bed, he felt cold steel at his throat and heard Darcy's voice. "I wouldn't try that, if I were you." Darcy said.
Wickham lay very, very still. "What is the meaning of this, Darcy Hood? Do you seek to increase the price on your head by killing the Sheriff of Meryton?" he said.
"Not at all, Wickham." Darcy replied. "You have a young lady here with you, a lady of respectable reputation."
Wickham snorted. "Respectable? Hah!"
The sword moved slowly at his throat, and Wickham gulped audibly. "What about her?"
"If you do not wish to have your neck sliced," Darcy said, "I suggest you marry her and repair the damage you have done, sir."
Wickham's eyes darted nervously. "All right! All right! Consider us engaged. I'll marry her within the month!"
"Oh, no. I shall not allow you any opportunities to escape. You'll marry her tonight." Darcy said.
"You're mad! I can't marry her tonight!" Wickham said, his voice trembling.
"Oh, but you can. You see, the gentleman holding the sword to your throat is a friar." Darcy said with a smile. "He shall be more than happy to marry you two this very moment."
Fitz smiled smugly as he lifted the sword from Wickham's neck. "Rise, sir. I can't marry you while you lie here." he said.
In a few short minutes, Lydia and Wickham were pronounced man and wife. Lydia was surprisingly calm about the entire endeavor after that initial scream. Husband and wife were soon left to their chambers with the promise of a new life and position in another county, far from Netherfield.
Chapter 12: "By this leek, I will most horribly revenge!"~Shakespeare, Henry VI Posted on Monday, 3 January 2000
Satisfied with their work, Darcy, Fitz, and Little Charles had soon set forth for England. They made the trip to the channel with the swiftness of men who longed to be home, not knowing who had already boarded a boat for England. All through the ride across the channel, Darcy was searching his soul. Despite all his pride, he felt somewhat guilty about his conduct towards Charles and Jane. If he had, indeed, caused such unhappiness, he had done them both a great wrong. As their boat came ashore, Darcy decided that he must attend to the matter, no matter what Charles might think of him for it.
"Charles!" Darcy said. "Might I speak with you a moment alone?"
"Certainly, Darcy." he said, approaching Darcy. "What may I do for you?"
"It is more, my friend, what I may do for you." Darcy said gravely. "A few weeks ago, you asked me my opinion of Maid Jane's regard for you. At the time, I believed her to hold no particular sentiments for you. Since then, however, I have been given information which leads me to believe I have been wrong. If you wish to court Maid Jane, I think you would be welcome."
A look of pure pleasure and surprise came over Little Charles' face. All that he thought had been lost was not! There was still hope for gaining his lady's favor! "Darcy, you have no idea just how happy you have made me. Thank you much for relaying this!"
Darcy looked a bit confused. "You mean...you are not angry?"
"Angry?" Charles said. "Whatever for? Anyone can be mistaken, Darcy. Even you." Little Charles smiled.
Darcy returned his smile. "I suppose you're right. Thank you for your understanding, Charles. You are a good soul."
Just then, Fitz Tuck returned to them. "Are you two finished with your little conference now? I find myself most ready to return to Netherfield Forest." He said.
"Indeed!" Little Charles said. "Let us be off!" With that, the company began the long return home. After a few days ride, they reached the forest.
As soon as their faces showed in the camp, a female shriek went up. "They're home!!" Georgiana shouted at the top of her lungs. She immediately began running toward them. Darcy stood with open arms, only to find her running past him to Fitz Tuck and throwing her arms around him.
"So much for sisterly love." He muttered, watching her cling to Fitz. Darcy raised an eyebrow at Fitz over Georgiana's head. "We'll speak of this later, Fitz." He said. Darcy walked on into camp, greeting all the Merry Men on his way to his tent.
The one person he did not see, and both anticipated and dreaded seeing, was Elizabeth. Darcy looked all about the camp, but she was nowhere to be found. Soon, however, he ran into Jane. Literally, that is. He was wandering about dreamily, and collided with her.
"Jane! Are you all right?" he said, helping her to her feet.
"Yes, yes. I'm fine. I'm sorry. I must watch where I'm going better." Jane replied, brushing off her dress. This was the second time today she had connected forcefully with another person due to letting her thoughts wander.
"Oh, no! I'm the one who was dawdling about like a fool. Have you seen Elizabeth anywhere?" he said.
"I believe she went down to the stream, sir."
"Thank you, Jane. I've been looking for her. Oh, and I mean to tell you...I believe Little Charles wished to see you." Darcy said.
Jane looked like a child at Christmas. "Really?" she said. "I must be going, sir! I have...ah...laundry! Yes, laundry. Good day!" With that, Maid Jane picked up her skirt and went running in the direction of the main part of the camp.
Darcy smiled at her joy. At least he had managed to do some good. 'twas quite pleasant to be able to cause someone happiness. Now, if only he could gain some for himself. However, that didn't seem likely at the moment. No matter what he might do, it would not change Elizabeth's opinion of him.
At that moment, Darcy heard a horrible shout come from the main camp. He immediately went sprinting for the main camp. There, he found what he had most feared all along. Wickham's men were attacking! They had somehow discovered the camp's location, despite all his careful planning. Darcy quickly took up his bow and dived into battle, taking down three men in swift succession.
"Georgiana!" he called. "Get the women and children to safety!" Georgiana immediately went to obey, running one of Wickham's men through on her way. She ran quickly to the family tents and sent the women and children there to the village. They all knew people there and could get to safety. Georgiana had no intention of following them there, however. Her brother and friends were still in danger. Georgiana took her sword and went charging back to the battle.
It wasn't long before Elizabeth heard the sounds of the battle, as well. She had been bathing at the stream, and as soon as the first screams rang out, she leapt from the water and pulled on her boy's clothes. Elizabeth picked up one of Georgiana's swords, and she, too, went to join the Merry Men. She knew of Wickham's evil, and would do anything to stop him.
Georgiana continued to fight bravely until an arrow pierced her shoulder. Fitz Tuck heard her scream and immediately finished off the man he was fighting. "Georgiana!" he called. Fitz went running to her and kneeled at her side. He pulled the arrow from her shoulder and brushed her hair back from her eyes. "It will be all right." He whispered as he wrapped a piece of cloth around her shoulder to stop the bleeding.
Just as he finished, one of Wickham's men came up behind him. "You're Fitz Tuck!" the man cried. The soldier raised his sword and clonked Fitz's head with the handle, knocking him unconscious. "And Will Scarlet, too!" he said. "I'm sure to get a commendation for this. King John wants to make an example of your sort!" The soldier soon had the two warriors bound and loaded in a wagon.
Meanwhile, Darcy continued to fire arrows with speed and precision, picking off men like flies. Still, there were too many of them! How on earth did they know where to come, and to bring so many? Someone must have brought information to the Sheriff. But who? There was one who seemed likely. Could Elizabeth, in her anger, have...? No! He would not believe it! She had honor. Even in anger, she would not betray a confidence. But a confidence of one who kidnapped her? No. It could not be. These people had become Elizabeth's friends. There must be some other explanation.
Soon, Darcy had proof in Elizabeth's favor. However, it was not the form of proof he was looking for. There she was, locked in combat with a huge soldier. Darcy quickly leveled his bow and fired a shot directly to the man's heart. Then he went sprinting to Elizabeth. "What on earth do you think you're doing, woman? This is no place for you!" he said, shaking her shoulders.
"I was trying to help save your sorry hide!" she shouted back at him.
However, their argument was soon cut short by the shadow of a man on horseback falling over them. "How touching." Wickham said with a mocking tone. "A little lovers' spat. I'm almost sad to cut it short. You see, Darcy Hood, King John would like to see you in his palace."
"No!" Elizabeth shouted. "You cannot take him!"
"Oh, but I can." Wickham said, smiling in a sinister manner. "I must say, Maid Elizabeth, you have come down in the world a bit since I last saw you. Your father shall be most disappointed that his daughter has disgraced herself thus."
Elizabeth gave him a glare of unmatchable anger. "What will disappoint my father, Sir Wickham, is that his youngest daughter has disgraced herself with a dog such as yourself!"
Anger flew over Wickham's face. "Enough!" he shouted. He raised his sword and drove it through Darcy's arm. Darcy fell to the ground, crumpling with the pain. "That should slow down your shooting, Hood!" Wickham turned to his men. "Get him in the wagon with the others!" Darcy was soon lifted and taken to the wagon along with Fitz Tuck, Georgiana, and Little Charles.
Wickham's men greatly outnumbered the men of the camp. Without the element of surprise, the Merry Men were helpless. In spite of their skill and determination, they were soon defeated. Elizabeth and Jane were left to stand there in their fear and sorrow. What would happen to their friends?
"We shall return you two ladies to your father." Wickham said. "You both seem most grieved to have been kept here so long." Elizabeth and Jane both glared viciously at him as they were taken up onto the horses. "I will repay you for this, Wickham." Elizabeth said. "Doubt it not."
Wickham only scoffed at her. "So disturbed over a gutter rat? Ha! This is truly amusing. I am almost ashamed to be connected to your sort by marriage."
Elizabeth looked up at him in shock. "Marriage?"
"Indeed. Your sister Lydia and I were married only a few days ago in Paris. I know it seems not unlikely that your sister would become a man's mistress, but she is my wife." Wickham said.
Things were worse than Elizabeth had thought possible. Darcy could die, and it would be because he stopped to help her! Not only was he not the horrible person she had thought him to be, he tried to save her life. Fitz and Georgiana and Charles were taken, too, and Lord only knew what could happen to them. As the horses took them on to Longbourn, Elizabeth felt tears run down her face.
Chapter 13 Posted on Tuesday, 4 January 2000
You should never have your best trousers on when you turn out to fight for freedom and truth.
~Ibsen
Jerusalem
"Yes, Richard Plantagenet is here." the old man told Jacques de Bourg. "But you'll never get him out. I only know of one fellow who escaped, and he had the help of the head jailer's daughter. Anyone who tries it would die in the process."
"Thank you, sir." Jacques said, handing the man a silver coin. Jacques was still undiscouraged, despite the old man's dire prediction. He was the son of Jean-Paul de Bourg, and no Saracen prison would stand in his way. "Come, Pierre!" he said to his younger brother and second in command. "We have much to do."
The young soldiers spent the next week in various disguises, discovering precisely where King Richard was being held. "I am amazed Cousin Will ever managed to escape this place!" Pierre said one day as they were leaving the jail. "'tis more heavily guarded than a typical soldier's garrison!"
"What amazes me," Jacques said, "is that Darcy survived living here! Ugh. The smell is atrocious!"
Pierre laughed. "And I do not wish to even consider the women!"
The brothers continued on to their lodgings in the city, carefully planning King Richard's departure. There was plenty of bribing, sneaking, and outright fighting to be done, and there was no time to waste. Without Richard, England would surely collapse.
Meanwhile, back at Castle Longbourne, Maid Elizabeth and Maid Jane were also plotting. Or rather, trying desperately to plot.
"There must be something we can do!" Lizzy cried. "I cannot bear simply sitting and waiting any longer! Heaven only knows what may be happening to Darcy and the others while we dawdle! And simply imagine what would occur if they discover that Georgiana is a girl!"
Jane did not want to imagine it, and shuddered when she could not prevent herself from doing so. "Lizzy...I am certain everything will be all right. We must be patient. There is nothing we can do!"
"I cannot be patient while Darcy lies wounded in some jail!" Elizabeth shouted. Jane cringed from her outburst. "Oh, I am sorry, Jane. I should not have yelled so."
Jane smiled softly at her sister. "'tis all right. You love him, don't you?"
Lizzy sighed. "Yes. I suppose I do. But he shall never think of me with love again, not after the way I refused him before."
Jane gaped at her sister. "You refused him? Why?"
"At the time, I still thought him cruel and arrogant. I was not proved wrong until it was too late. Now that I know all that Wickham has done to him..."
"And that he rescued Lydia from ruination." Jane added.
"Rescued Lydia? How so?" Elizabeth asked.
"Did you not know that Darcy arranged Lydia and Wickham's marriage? Wickham planned to keep her as a mistress for a while, but Darcy and Charles and Fitz forced them to marry."
"Another way in which I have been most wrong. How do you know all this?" Elizabeth said.
Jane blushed. "Well, I...I was speaking to Charles. I think perhaps his feelings for me have returned!" she said, smiling.
Elizabeth hung her head. Darcy had surely had something to do with it. She had been so terribly wrong. "I have been so foolish!" she cried. "And now, because of me, he sits, wounded, in Prince John's prison! I cannot think of the prospect that awaits him."
Jane gasped as, for the first time, she realized what could happen. "Do you think they...they mean to...to...kill them?"
Lizzy sniffed. "I do not know. I only know this: King John is vicious, and he will make an example of them in some way."
Just then, Maid Mary stepped forward from where she had listened at the door. "Lizzy, I think I can help you."
Elizabeth was startled. "You can help? How?"
"Well," Mary said, "I've given the matter some thought, and I think I have a way to rescue them all."
Lizzy and Jane leaned forward to listen. They had their doubts about Mary's ability to engineer an escape for four people, but they were willing to listen to anything. "Go on!" Jane said.
The girls' eyes widened as Mary outlined her plan. It actually sounded as though it might work. It was highly improper, but it had definite promise! Indeed, Elizabeth was most shocked and impressed that Mary had thought of such a thing. She thought it truly brilliant! Jane was still a bit skeptical, though. "Mary, are you certain this is a good idea? If we were caught..."
"We will not be caught!" Elizabeth said firmly. "Come, let us speak with Kitty. This is exactly her area of expertise, and we shall need all the help we can get!"
Kitty was, indeed, most eager to help. The four sisters were up deep into the night, laying out the plan that would rescue their friends and true loves. Not to mention, it would allow them their revenge upon Sir Wickham!
As the girls plotted, Jacques and Pierre de Bourg tiptoed through the Saracen dungeon. One guard had been bribed to carefully drug the others. All were sound asleep when the brothers took the keys. The man on watch did not see the blunt end of Pierre's sword that clubbed him in the head and sent him to the land of dreams.
As Pierre stood watch, Jacques went to King Richard and unlocked the chains that held his arms. "Wha..?" he said, startled. "Who are you?"
"Shhh!" Jacques whispered. "You'll alert the..."
But it was too late. It had, of course, been too much to hope that they might escape the jail without being noticed. Richard's exclamation had alerted one of the guards. "Quickly!" Pierre shouted as he battled the first guard who came to the cell. "I cannot hold them for long!"
Luckily, Richard caught on to the plan, and Jacques moved more quickly than he had ever imagined moving. It was good that Pierre was such a fine swordsman, or they would never have had the time to free Richard and leap out the tower window. Jacques and Richard managed to rappel down the side of the tower, jumping the last ten feet. Pierre was behind them and made it only ten feet or so before his rope was cut. He fell to the ground below the tower with a thump.
"Pierre!" Jacques shouted. "Are you all right?"
Pierre groaned. "I'm alive. But I think my leg's broken. You must go on without me. Go quickly!"
"No!" Jacques said. "That is not acceptable!"
"You waste time arguing with me, brother! Go!"
"Your brother is right." Richard said to Pierre. "We cannot leave you here." With no further discussion, Richard lifted Pierre over his shoulder as easily as he would a small child. Richard looked to Jacques. "Let us go." The men went at a dead run for the boat, heedless of the arrows that followed.
Jacques was certain he did not resume breathing until they were far into the sea, at which point he let out a huge sigh of relief. "Praise God." He whispered.
Meanwhile, Richard was leaning over Pierre, feeling the alignment of his leg. "Hold your breath, lad. This is going to hurt like hell."
Pierre held his breath, and soon screamed in such a way that would rival one of Caro's exclamations at the sight of a mouse.
"There you go, lad." Richard said as Pierre resumed normal breathing. "I'm sorry about that, but it must be set or you might not walk again." Richard began to bind Pierre's leg to his sword. "This will have to do until I can get a straight piece of wood. Amazing the things you learn on a battle field, isn't it?"
Jacques nodded in amazement. "Indeed." Jacques began to realize just why the English were so enamored of their king. That John fellow must seem even worse in comparison to this man!
"Now how, might I ask," Richard said, "did you two know who I was and where to look for me? I thought I would spend the rest of my life in that dungeon!"
"We had the help of one of your subjects." Jacques said. Pierre lay silent on the floor of the boat, sleeping. "Our cousin, Darcy of Pemberley, came to us for help in rescuing you. He, himself, escaped from that very prison, and now lives as an outlaw under your brother's rule. No offense intended to you, sir, but your brother and his henchmen are destroying your country."
A look of pure anger passed over Richard's face. "No offense taken. I might have imagined such things would happen with John as king! Fear not, lad. There will be reward for you and your family. And retribution for my brother and his men."
Chapter 13 Posted on Friday, 7 January 2000
Who knows but the world may end tonight?
~Robert Browning
England, the Royal Dungeon
"A month!" Darcy muttered to himself. "A full month we have been here! And still they do nothing." The wound in his arm still pained him a bit, but it was well on its way to healing. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Georgiana's shoulder. It had become infected, and the fever had held her in its grip for a full day now. She was delirious, talking and crying out in her sleep. She tossed and turned as though having nightmares from which she could not wake. Darcy had been using his ration of alcohol as a disinfectant, but there was no more he could do. If the fever did not break soon, it would surely kill her.
Fitz Tuck paced frantically around the small cell, consumed with worry. Little Charles sat slumped on the single bench, leaning on the cold stone wall. The three men were well on their way to losing hope entirely. Little Charles looked up at Darcy. "It's only a matter of time now, isn't it?" Charles said. "They'll let the fever kill her, and then they'll kill us."
Darcy's eyes flew open from where he kneeled by Georgiana, praying. "What did you say?" Darcy said.
Charles sighed. Darcy must be in some state of denial. "They're just going to let her die. Then they'll take care of us."
Darcy leapt to his feet. "No, no they won't!"
"Darcy must be going mad!" Fitz thought, stopping his pacing. "Man, are you all right?" he said. There was no reason for Darcy to be excited so suddenly; he must be losing his wits.
"I am absolutely fine!" Darcy shouted. Then, Darcy ran to the cell door and began to raise a huge clamor. "Guards!!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "Guards!"
One of the knights keeping watch over their cell soon arrived. "What do you want, Hood?"
"I want you to relay a message. Go tell your king that Will Scarlet is dying." Darcy told him. "Believe me, King John will be most concerned."
The guard nodded. "All right. I'll alert the king."
Fitz pulled Darcy back from the door and slammed him against the wall. "What are you thinking, man? Now she has even less chance than before!" Fitz shouted.
"No, no, Fitz!" Darcy said. "You misunderstand. Listen a moment." Fitz sat. "John wants to make an example of us, correct?"
"Aye." Fitz said. "But what does that have to do with...?"
"Making an example means our punishment must be public. Georgiana cannot be made an example if she dies in this cell, can she?" Darcy said.
Fitz looked up at Darcy, beginning to comprehend. "So John must save her, at least for now."
"Exactly!" Darcy replied. Darcy knew the castle physician would quickly discover that Georgiana was a woman; their only hope was that he would be kind enough not to throw her to John's mercy. Here, she would surely die. Out there, she at least had a chance.
Darcy's hunch proved right. In only a few minutes, the guards removed Georgiana from the chamber. As they carried her down the hall, all three men stood at the tiny window and watched. They did not break from that spot until long after Georgiana had disappeared down the stone corridor. Then, for the first time since he was a lad of eight years, Fitz Tuck broke down and cried.
Later that night, in the castle hall
Elizabeth, Jane, Mary, and Kitty Bennet walked into the castle hall, looking as confident as they could manage. Jane's maid, Maggie, was something of a flirt, and she had been more than willing to spend the last week teaching the girls to walk and talk in the most seductive manner possible. The four of them had unlearned, for this one night, everything they had been taught about proper behavior and were prepared to be as completely common as they could. It was totally out of character for all (though Lydia would have enjoyed it a great deal), but Elizabeth and Jane would do anything to rescue the men they loved, and Kitty and Mary would do anything for their sisters. They were all dressed in items borrowed from Maggie's wardrobe and had steeled themselves for action.
Kitty was the first to put the plan to work. She walked up to the guard at the dungeon gate and batted her eyelashes masterfully. "Good evenin', sir!" she said cheerfully. "How are ye this fine eve?" Kitty shuddered inwardly as the guard gave an appreciative look down the neck of her gown.
"Just fine, now that you've arrived, lass." The guard said with a suggestive smile that showed his missing teeth.
Kitty bit back her disgust and replied. "Well, sir, me sisters and I-that's them back there, ye see-" she indicated her sisters, all of whom were smiling fetchingly, "we'd like to visit our brother. He's in the jail, there, and they haven't let us see 'im."
"Sorry, wench. There's a rule. No visitors for the prisoners."
Kitty scooted a little closer to the guard, struggling not to retch when she began to smell his breath. She smiled and placed a hand on the guard's shoulder. "It would make all four of us very, very happy if you would make just a teeny, tiny exception for us. We would all be most appreciative.
The guard grinned again. He had even fewer teeth than Kitty had originally thought. "I suppose I can make an exception for you ladies, providing you come back to visit when I get off duty in an hour."
Kitty returned the guard's smile as pleasantly as she could, throwing in a bat of her eyelashes just for good measure. "Oh, thank you ever so much, sir! Come on, sisters!"
Lizzy, Mary, and Jane all scurried in behind Kitty, thanking the guard along the way. As soon as they were out of earshot, Kitty collapsed against the wall. "Oh my merciful heavens! That was the most disgusting man I have ever encountered in my entire life! Except, perhaps, for Wickham. Oh! It was all I could do not to just turn and run!"
"You did a marvelous job, Kitty." Lizzy said. "I still can't believe this is actually working! How could that...that...odious man possibly think you would...you would...ugh!"
Jane, ever sensible, took over. "Come along, we don't have much time. If we are to make this work, we must go quickly."
"Jane is quite right." Mary said. "According to the maid, Darcy and the others are in the cell at the end of the hall on the left."
The four sisters set forth down the hall. They found the hallway guards asleep, due to the lateness of the hour. They were not so lucky, however, with the guards at the cell where Darcy, Fitz, and Charles were being kept.
Darcy started awake at the sound of a sultry female voice. "Hello there." The voice said.
"Hello, yourself." the guard replied. The guards must have hired wenches for the evening. It was clear from the sound of the guard's voice what was on his mind. Darcy turned and tried to go back to sleep.
"It looks like you've had a long night." The female said. Darcy immediately leapt up. That voice did not belong to a wench. He would know that voice if he heard it from three thousand miles away! But it couldn't be. Elizabeth was at home, asleep in her bed, not seducing guards. However, when Darcy rose to peek out the window, there was Elizabeth, standing not an inch from the guard at his cell! Their conversation became unimportant to Darcy as he took in the rest of the scene. Jane stood to Elizabeth's side, leaning up on the guard's shoulder. Just behind her, Mary and Kitty were charming the other guard in a similar fashion. And all four were dressed in the most scandalous manner! Darcy felt an anger unlike any he had ever felt rise over him. Elizabeth had never made any promises to him...but to behave like this? Seducing his jailer? A red mist began to swim over Darcy's eyes.
The guard spoke again. "Well, I suppose I can let you in to see your brother. But first, we'll have to have a little trade-off, see?"
Elizabeth smiled despite her discomfort. This guard seemed more dangerous than the others. She took a quick glance over her shoulder. Kitty and Mary still had the other one distracted. Good girls. "I suppose that's only fair." Elizabeth said. "But first, let me see my brother."
The guard's eyes narrowed with a bit of anger. "Oh, a sly one, are we? Think yer gonna get away from me without a bit o' payment? Ol' Jim don't play that way, wench!" The guard grabbed Elizabeth hard, causing her to scream piercingly. Jane leapt back in panic.
Darcy's anger was instantly dispelled by the incident taking place before him. "Let go of her!" Darcy cried. His demand was useless, though.
"Oh, big brother gonna take care of his little sis? How sweet!" The guard said mockingly. He pushed Elizabeth up against the wall and leaned forward into her face. Then, suddenly, his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed at her feet.
There, where the guard had stood, was Jane, holding the other guard's sword. "Oh dear." She whispered. "I believe I've killed him." Elizabeth rushed to her.
"It's all right!" Elizabeth said, hugging her sister tightly. As she was deeply shaken by this last encounter, she wasn't sure who she was trying to convince that it would be all right. Luckily, Mary stepped forward to set things straight again.
"We've got the keys!" she said. "Phew! He'd had so much alcohol that it took not more than a few seconds to have the keys and knock him unconscious. It only goes to show the evils of strong drink, I say!" It seemed there was still a bit of the old Moral Mary left in the new Mary of the Marvelous Plan.
Mary went to the cell and unlocked the door. She was shocked to immediately be brushed aside as Darcy rushed to Elizabeth.
"Are you all right?" he said urgently, taking her by the shoulders. Elizabeth threw her arms around him and began to sob. The night's adventure had taken a heavy toll on her. Darcy stroked her hair and tried desperately to comfort her. "Shh. 'tis all right, darling." He whispered. Elizabeth slowly calmed down. As her wits returned, she realized what she was doing. She was standing next to Darcy, with his arms around her, without a single inch of space between them. Lizzy found that she quite enjoyed it. However, she did not have time to enjoy it now. And besides, he was just trying to be nice because they had come to rescue him. He could not possibly love her anymore after the way she had treated him.
Fitz soon broke the chain of Elizabeth's thoughts, though. "Come on, Darcy! Georgiana's in the castle sickroom! We don't have time to dally about!" He immediately headed for the end of the hall, the others following after him.
Darcy muttered a curse under his breath as they ran for the sickroom. He had forgotten about Georgiana in his rush to make sure Elizabeth had survived that bastard's mauling.
Fitz and Charles had taken up the guards' swords and quickly dispatched the one man they met on the way to the sickroom. When they reached the hospital, Fitz took Georgiana in his arms as carefully as he could, handing Darcy his sword. "Now let's go!" he said. "You girls know the way out, right?"
Mary nodded in affirmation. She had studied the castle plans and knew every entrance and exit. "Follow me." she said. "We shall take the back way so we do not encounter that awful man without teeth again. Keep silent, for we have to walk past the bedrooms."
The company tiptoed behind Mary, rushing with quiet trepidation. They snuck carefully past the bedchambers of Queen Catherine and King John. Then Fitz misstepped. Georgiana was jostled violently. "Ohhh." She groaned. The group stopped almost simultaneously, praying they had not been heard.
"What was that?" cried the obnoxious whine of Lord Collins.
Darcy cursed again. "Run for it!" he whispered vehemently. "I'll take care of them!"
Fitz looked at him questioningly. "You are certain?"
"Yes, I'm certain! The girls do not have any weapons. You and Charles have to get them to safety." Darcy pushed Fitz toward the door which would lead to the outside. "I shall distract them long enough for you to get out, and then I shall meet you in Netherfield. Now go!"
Fitz did not question his commander any further. He and Charles ushered the young women out the door and began the hike home.
Elizabeth never stopped looking back over her shoulder for Darcy. At first, she was certain every movement in a branch was Darcy, following behind them. A few miles went on, and Elizabeth began to genuinely worry. Could Darcy have been defeated and returned to the cell? Or even...nay, she would not think of it. However, Elizabeth could not help but think of it. As she looked back for what seemed like the thousandth time, she looked up at Little Charles with tears in her eyes. "He is not going to escape, is he?" she said, her voice nearly breaking.
"No." Charles said. "No, he is not."
Her fears at last confirmed, tears began to run down her face. Just when she believed she would have the chance to tell Darcy how wrong she had been, the world slighted her. At last, Elizabeth cursed quietly. She had used up her tears, and now she was taken over entirely by anger. It was possible that Darcy would die for her; but if he did, someone would pay dearly for it.
Chapter 14 Posted on Tuesday, 11 January 2000
We have done with Hope and Honour. ~Kipling
Caro sauntered into the Sheriff of Meryton's study. She strutted her way to the desk where he sat and placed herself upon it, attempting to display her figure to its best advantage. "Sir Wickham, I believe it is time we discussed my reward. I led you to Darcy Hood. Now, fulfill your part of the bargain."
Wickham looked up at Caro with mocking eyes. "Yes, I believe it is time we discussed your fate. I did promise you a fitting reward for your actions, did I not?"
Caro smiled, missing the implications of the Sheriff's words. "Indeed, sir. I was thinking perhaps a house in town would be an excellent idea."
Sir Wickham put up a scornful front of surprise. "Oh!" he said. "Is that what you believed?" His manner changed to cold viciousness. "Your fate will be that of all traitors: death."
Caro's jaw dropped. "Whaaat? I helped you, you ungrateful bastard!"
Sir Wickham turned his cold eyes on her. "And Darcy Hood helped you. A traitor once shall be a traitor again. You shall die on the gibbet with him tomorrow." Wickham smiled at her. "Rather fitting, do you not think so? I thought it quite brilliant."
"You're mad!" she whispered with horror.
Wickham continued to smile. "Am I? If I am a madman, how have I managed to gain what I have? I am richer than ever and have a charming, stupid wife. I have removed the king who would have stepped in the way of my power, and I am held in high regard by the current king. My greatest enemy will die tomorrow afternoon. It seems to me that, if I am indeed mad, 'tis better to be mad than sane." Wickham rose and walked to the door. "Guards!" he called out of it. The quickly appeared. "This woman is an accomplice of Darcy Hood. She just attempted to kill me. Remove her to the dungeon."
Elizabeth sat on a rock in Netherfield Forest, staring blankly into the brook. It had been three days, and they finally had news of Darcy. Georgiana was still weak, but she had insisted on making herself useful. She disguised herself as an old woman and went spying in King John's castle. Georgiana quickly had it from a castle maid that Darcy would be hanged the next day.
Elizabeth began to toss small rocks into the brook, listening to the gentle plop as they landed. Her restlessness had grown over the days; the certainty of Darcy's fate was driving her mad. Lizzy could not stand to think that the man she loved would die without ever knowing that she loved him, that she would have to go on without ever having known a life with him. The longer she thought on her circumstances, the more miserable and determined she became. Elizabeth was ready to take action, even if it meant dire consequences.
Before she could even begin to hatch a new scheme, though, Elizabeth was startled by a rustling of branches from the woods. "Who goes there?" she said in her most threatening voice, leveling her bow in the direction the rustle had come from.
There was no answer from the trees. Elizabeth thought she heard a whisper, but she was not certain.
"Show yourselves!" Elizabeth shouted. She began to worry. If there were more than two or three, she was in serious danger. "Come out with your arms raised!" she said. Now she was certain: there were definitely whispers in the woods.
Three men stepped from behind trees and began to move forward. "Stop right there!" Elizabeth called to them, her bow aimed for the heart of the youngest of the men.
"M'lady," the young man said with a trace of a French accent, "we mean no harm. We merely need to see Fitzwilliam Darcy."
Elizabeth's hostility was still not abated, and she did not lower her bow. "Who are you?" she said. She would not volunteer any information until she knew exactly who these men were and what they wanted.
"My name is Jacques de Bourg." One of the men said. "I am one of Will's French cousins. The man whose heart your bow is aimed at is my brother, Pierre."
Then, the larger, older man stepped forward. "Richard Plantagenet, King of England." The man said.
Elizabeth had not recognized him in peasant's clothing. For a moment, she could only stare. Then Lizzy realized that she had just threatened the life of King Richard and his men. She gasped and fell into a low curtsy.
"I'm so sorry, Your Majesty!" Lizzy said. "I did not realize who you were! We all thought you dead!" Elizabeth's head was still bowed. She felt intensely foolish.
"Get up, young lady." Richard said. "I am the one who should apologize, for I have been languishing in the Holy Land while my country falls apart."
"I hardly think," Jacques said, "that being imprisoned qualifies as languishing."
Elizabeth had recovered from her initial surprise enough to chuckle a bit.
Pierre looked at Elizabeth. "M'lady, can you please lead us to Will? We must contact him."
Elizabeth's face fell. "I am sorry, sir. He is in prison. John will have him hanged tomorrow. The best I may do is take you to his second, Little Charles."
The king stepped to her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Do so, m'lady. And never fear; I shall put a stop to this hanging."
Little Charles, Jane, Fitz Tuck, and Georgiana were more than thrilled at the arrival of the king. They immediately went to making plans to free Darcy. Nothing could be done until the hanging tomorrow, though. With as large an audience as would be there, John would have no way of harming Richard or the others.
Kitty and Mary, however, were more impressed with Jacques and Pierre. Upon observing the two of them, Jane was certain that Kitty would have listened to the tale of Richard's escape at least a thousand times. "Oh, you poor thing!" Kitty cooed when she heard about Pierre's broken leg. "How terrible!" Kitty was quite taken with Pierre's bravery (and, of course, his armor.) Pierre seemed to be quite taken with Kitty, as well. He had never met so friendly and charming a girl.
Jacques was more interested in hearing about Mary's daring plan to free her friends. As they talked, Mary became just as enamored of Jacques' quick wit as he was of her intelligence and daring. More than ever before, Mary was coming out of her shell.
Elizabeth and Jane were both quite pleased to note such change in their sisters. Perhaps Kitty's obsession with knights was not such a bad thing, after all. At least, not with such fine young men. Still, Elizabeth's spirit would not be still. She hardly slept that night, thinking of all that was to happen on the morrow. Lizzy was certain that she would not rest at all until Darcy was at last safe.
Back in his cell, Darcy could not sleep, either. The guards had beaten him badly after his attempt at escape. In fact, Darcy was certain that his body would ache for the rest of his life. Of course, his life would not last much longer. Tomorrow morning, he would die. Darcy paced the cell, alternating among resignation, fear, and anger. At one of the angry moments, he kicked the wall. After shouting several choice words, Darcy sat again. But his thoughts were no longer on his impending fate. Darcy found that he could only think about a young woman with fine eyes who had risked her life to save him. "Fool," he said to himself. "She did not come to save you. She was only there to help her sister." "But what about the way she clung to you in the hall?" another part of him said. Darcy considered that for a moment. "She was just afraid." He said. "That guard had mauled her; she would have clung to a duck, had it been there." The other side of Darcy spoke again. "But you saw her looking over her shoulder for you." it said.
Darcy stood and began to pace again. Perhaps she did have some feeling for him. perhaps his letter had changed her opinion of him. He leaned up against the wall and the slowly slid down it to sit on the floor. Even if she did, it was no matter. Tomorrow afternoon, he would die.
Chapter 15 Posted on Thursday, 13 January 2000
"He is the freeman whom the truth makes free."The sun broke into Darcy's cell, waking him as it fell over his eyes. He stretched and slowly rose. He got up and began to move about. Suddenly, something caught Darcy's eye in the far corner of the cell. Apparently a new prisoner had arrived in the night. The lump of orange in the corner was in the shape of a girl. Could it be...?
~Cowper
"Caro?" Darcy said. "Is that you?"
The lump of orange in the corner shifted slightly. "Darcy?" she said.
"Yes. What on earth are you here for?" Darcy said.
"I am arrested as your accomplice." Caro said sullenly as she sat up. "I am to hang with you this afternoon."
Darcy was horrified. Caro was surely an annoyance, but he had never wished her death. Especially because of her association with him! But then, for the first time since his capture, Darcy began to think about how the camp had been discovered. Due to his worries about Elizabeth, and then about Georgiana's illness, he had not considered that someone with inside information must have spoken to the sheriff. And Caro had been terribly angry when he ousted her from the camp. She was surely one who would do anything to advance herself. All of a sudden, it became blatantly clear what had happened. With that knowledge, a rage blacker than any he had ever known gripped him. He strode purposefully to her and hauled her up by her hair.
"It was you, wasn't it?" he snarled at her. "You were the one who went to Wickham!"
Caro was almost as afraid as Darcy was angry. She had never seen him so furious. Caro started to babble incoherently. "I...I...I don't know what you're talking about! It wasn't me, I swear, really, it wasn't, IdidnotdoitpleasedonotkillmeIbegyou PLEASE!" The last was shrieked piercingly, but Darcy did not flinch. He had her by the throat, pressed against the wall.
"Do you realize what you have done?" he shouted, mere inches from her face. "Your treachery may have killed my sister and all my friends! Even if you hated me, how could you do that to them? They never harmed you!"
At that moment, Caro's frightened mouse facade collapsed. She met Darcy's fierce gaze with a frigid one of her own. "You fool." she snarled. "The rest of them never mattered to me. They are all as foolish and ridiculous as you are. Steal from the rich and give to the poor, indeed! I got you out of that prison for one reason and one reason only: so I could live a life of luxury here. You would not give that to me. I thought Wickham would." Caro snorted. "I suppose that makes me all the more of a fool, for I trusted him."
Caro's speech completely defused Darcy's anger. Her utter contempt for all he held dear shocked him to his very core. He backed away from her in disgust. Darcy had never seen such pure selfishness in any human being. That is, if she could indeed be called human. Darcy had his doubts. He slumped onto the cell's single chair. "And now you will die for trusting him. As I will die for trusting you." Darcy said. He chuckled bitterly. "Appropriate, eh?"
Caro retained her steely front. She stood tall in the corner, refusing to let her fear show. No Englishman would think her a coward. Darcy, meanwhile, retreated into himself. Despite his new cellmate, or maybe because of her, he felt more alone than ever.
Netherfield Forest
"Are these disguises really necessary?" Kitty asked as she worked her way into the boys' trousers. Elizabeth, Mary, Jane, and Georgiana were also in the tent, getting on boots, trousers, and shirts, and dirtying their faces and hands.
"Yes, they are." Elizabeth said. "We cannot very well just dance our way up to the gallows and ask them to let him go. Ladies do not go to hangings."
"There are lots of women that go to hangings!" Kitty protested.
"Yes, there are. They are not ladies." Mary replied, straightening her collar. "We run enough risk of being recognized in men's clothing. Dressed as women, it would be still more dangerous. If we are to rescue Darcy, we must go unnoticed until the crowd is assembled."
"Mary is right." Georgiana said as she laced her boots. "Fitz and His Majesty say we must go in early and blend in. Mentioning John's unfairness and King Richard's goodness in conversation where we can be heard will help a bit. And perhaps start up a few rumors that Richard still lives."
Now Jane piped up with her addition to the conversation. "And if we are to do that, we must be taken seriously. As you may have noticed, young women are seldom taken seriously."
"All right, all right." Kitty grumbled. "I still don't like it, though."
The girls were soon dressed and ready to go. The five of them set forth from the tent to meet up with their men. Fitz and Charles were accustomed to seeing ladies in men's clothing, but Jacques, Pierre, and Richard were not. The two Frenchmen stared rather blatantly, unused to such sights.
Mary put her hands on her hips. "Do you intend to stare all day, or shall we be off?"
Jacques blinked his eyes as if clearing his thoughts. "Yes...yes, I suppose we should leave." He stepped to Mary and offered his arm. "Despite your clothing, you are still a lady for the moment."
Mary smiled up at him. "Indeed." She said, taking his arm. The other women followed suit, each with their proper match. Lizzy looked at her very happy sisters, and began to feel rather disheartened. Her love was still in danger, going through Lord only knew what. But then a voice broke Lizzy's reverie.
"My lady?" King Richard said, offering her his arm. "I believe I am all that is left to you, for the moment."
Elizabeth smiled at the king. "Thank you, Your Majesty." She said, linking her arm with his. "I am most appreciative." With that, the group walked off toward the edge of Netherfield Forest. Until they left the woods, they would be most proper.
When the party reached the Meryton town square, where the gallows had been erected, they separated and joined the crowd which had assembled. Upon the large wooden platform stood Sir Wickham, King John, and Queen Catherine, looking most regal and condescending. Down in the square, the whole town was turning out to see the famed Darcy Hood meet the hangman's noose. This was not the typical type of crowd that arrived for a hanging, however. Darcy Hood had given these people hope when times were hopeless. He had showed their oppressors to be less powerful than they had thought. The people of Meryton had come to pay their last respects to the man who would sacrifice his life to save them.
Soon rumors began to fly throughout the crowd. "King Richard is alive!" it was whispered. "The true king has returned!" others said. The crowd murmured and rustled with speculation, every man, woman and child wondering if such a thing could be true. If 'twere so, the country could be rescued from the oppression and greed that now ruled it.
Suddenly, the crowd's speech came to an utter halt. The criminals were being led to the gallows. First, Caro was brought on, still in the orange dress she had worn the previous day. After the crowd's eyes followed her to one of the two nooses, they soon spotted Darcy Hood, held by a man on each side. His pride remained, despite his impending death; Darcy's head was held high, his shoulders back. His powerful gaze met the eyes of his jailers without fear. As he looked out to the crowd, one set of fine dark eyes caught his and held them.
"Why has she come here?" Darcy thought. All thoughts of her having any feeling for him were completely crushed. She had come to see him die. But then he looked at the expression on her face. Elizabeth looked at him as reassuringly as she could. It almost seemed she was trying to tell him something, but for the life of him he could not figure out what. Darcy was in a state of utter confusion. He was becoming accustomed to it. He could not recall being less than completely confused in all the months since he had met Maid Elizabeth.
Darcy's confusion was only increased when Elizabeth began to smile broadly. Lizzy then ducked into the crowd and disappeared. Almost simultaneously, a sound began to rise from the previously silent crowd. It began as merely a whisper, a hissing among the people in front of the gallows. The whisper rose, growing in volume and intensity until it was a roar. Then, a shout rang out above all the other noise. Darcy could not be sure, but he thought it sounded like Fitz Tuck. "Long live King Richard!"
Everyone's eyes were turned toward the gallows steps. There, climbing them, was the long lost King. He strode powerfully up the stairs, marching directly to where Prince John stood. "What is the meaning of this, John?" King Richard said. John could only look at him and whimper.
"Why...why, Richard! Brother! It is so good to have you home!" he babbled. "We had thought you dead! Oh, this is most marvelous!" John's fear became more apparent with every passing moment and every word he spoke. King Richard's glare made it quite clear that he did not believe a word of John's protestations.
"You did not answer my question, John." Richard growled. "Why are you attempting to hang the man who was instrumental in saving my life?"
"S-s-saving your life, brother?" John stammered. "Surely you are mistaken. This man is an outlaw, known as Darcy Hood!"
Richard's glare became still more fierce. "This man is the only one who had the presence of mind to send men to search for me in the Holy Land, rather than merely stealing my crown!"
John took a step back. "Steal your crown, brother? I..."
"Do not call me brother! You have betrayed me and my subjects! You have no right to be brother to any man!" Richard said. The crowd cheered loudly. John cowered and took another step back. "Darcy shall go free now!" Richard continued.
The guards did not waste any time in removing his shackles. Their allegiance to John disappeared the moment Richard had set foot upon the gallows. The crowd cheered again at the sight of their hero's freedom.
Richard, meanwhile, was advancing on his brother with a most vicious countenance. Queen Catherine and Sir Wickham had backed away from the scene, not wishing to risk their own hides along with John's. Just as Wickham's cowardice took full hold and sent him running from the scaffold, a wall was placed in front of him. More accurately, Jacques and Pierre de Bourg stepped in front of him. "I do not believe you are ready to leave just yet, Sir Wickham." Jacques said.
Pierre nodded. "I agree." He said. "As much as we would like to remove your odious personage from this earth, we would be most sorry to make our Cousin Lydia a widow."
"So," Jacques continued from his brother, "we shall simply have to allow His Majesty's royal justice to deal with you." Jacques turned to his brother. "Shall we?" As they tossed Wickham up onto the gallows, the soldiers immediately took hold of him. It seemed that he had done nothing to endear himself to any of them.
Meanwhile, Maid Elizabeth could hardly contain her joy. Her love was free at last, even if he no longer had feelings for her. She hated the thought that he might think ill of her, but hated it less than the thought of his death. It was all she could do not to break down and cry out her happiness. Lizzy rounded up Georgiana her sisters and snuck out of the crowd quickly. If they were seen and recognized, they would all be ruined.
"That was, by far, the most marvelous thing ever!" Kitty said. "I should never have thought to be part of something so wonderful!"
Jane merely smiled. She, too, felt superb. Elizabeth placed her arms around her sisters, feeling equally grand. In fact, she could not recall feeling more joyful or relieved in all her life. Georgiana had a similar feeling, having just saved her brother from certain death. Even Mary was excited. "Oh, that was grand!" she said. "I have never seen a more striking and fantastic occurrence in all my life!"
At the end of the event, it was King Richard who prevented the people of Meryton from hanging John and Wickham right there on the spot. Darcy was instantly proclaimed a hero, as were his companions. Darcy's estates were returned to him, and Charles was awarded Netherfield Forest as his own. Darcy was named an earl, and Charles and Fitz were both knighted. Jacques and Pierre were knighted as well. They would all have more than adequate fortunes on which to marry now. As the newly named heroes left, they were congratulated and thanked over and over. All were more than happy, each with the same thought: "She'll be so happy!" All, that is, except for one.
The one face Darcy wished to see among all the others was not there. Elizabeth had disappeared. What would she think of all this? Would she consider him still more proud? But her face had looked so different when she had looked at him on the scaffold. He was certain he had seen something of affection there. She had obviously helped to rescue him, and that spoke of some sort of regard. But perhaps...
Darcy decided to stop torturing himself. He would follow the women into the forest, and he would discover once and for all what her feelings were. Even if she rejected him, that would be better than the current uncertainty.
As she gathered her things in the forest, preparing to return to Castle Longbourne, Maid Elizabeth felt similar concern. "Could he possibly retain any affection for me?", she thought. "After all I have said to him, it would come as a great shock to me if he did continue to love me." But then her thoughts changed direction. "But I did help to rescue him. Perhaps..." There was no use. She would drive herself daft trying to speculate on Darcy's feelings. Lizzy would surely encounter him the next day. Then, she would at last be alone with him again. That would serve well enough to determine his affections.
Chapter 16 Posted on Saturday, 15 January 2000
To love another person is to see the face of God.
As it happened, Darcy and Elizabeth did not see each other that day, or even the next. Darcy was buffeted around the crowd for a long time, so by the time he returned to the forest, only Georgiana remained. She informed him that Elizabeth and her sisters had gone back to Longbourne.
~Victor Hugo
"I feel rather sorry for them." she said to him a few days later. "I surely would not want to face their parents after all this."
Darcy chuckled, remembering Lady Bennet from his days at Richard's court. "I would not want to face Lady Bennet under any circumstances."
Georgiana laughed. "Indeed." She said.
Then Fitz Tuck walked up to the brother and sister. "Darcy, may I speak to you a moment?" he said.
"Certainly." Darcy replied. "If you would excuse us, Georgiana?" Having seen Georgiana's smile as she departed, Darcy believed he knew what was coming.
As Georgiana walked away, Fitz spoke. "Darcy, I have asked your sister to marry me, and she has accepted. I...we...we would like your blessing."
Darcy glared at Fitz. "Do you honestly believe you are good enough for my sister?"
Fitz was startled. "I...ah...well...no, I suppose not."
Darcy continued to glare. He stepped forward, forcing Fitz to back up until his back met a tree. Fitz was a hardened soldier, but he had never been so afraid in all his life. A Saracen scimitar had no power next to that of a protective older brother. "Darcy, I promise I shall take care of her. I love her more than anything."
A huge smile broke over Darcy's face. "I knew it. You have my blessing, Fitz!" he said, clapping his friend on the back. "I wish you both the greatest happiness. And, of course, if you ever hurt her, I shall have to kill you."
Fitz nodded and smiled. "Certainly. I would expect no less of you." Then Fitz Tuck's eyes narrowed. "You never intended to withhold your blessing did you?"
Darcy continued to grin. "Of course not!"
"Why you-" Fitz pulled his fist back and knocked Darcy to the ground.
Darcy grunted with the force of the blow. "I suppose I rather deserved that, didn't I?"
Now it was Fitz's turn to smile smugly. "Indeed you did." He said, grabbing Darcy's hand to help him rise. "Now, I have to be going. I know a certain lady who is about to be very happy." Fitz strolled away, whistling, leaving Darcy to brush the dirt off his pants.
Despite his now rather sore face and rear end, Darcy was most pleased with the outcome of his conversation. He became still more pleased when he went to talk to Little Charles and discovered that he, too, had become engaged. Darcy was certain that Charles and Jane would be extremely happy together. "Indeed, couples seem to be springing up all about." Darcy thought, thinking of the de Bourg brothers' obvious interest in Kitty and Mary. "Now, if only my romance could turn out so well." He said wistfully to himself.
Darcy decided on a walk in the forest. Throughout his life, the forest had been a source of calm for him. No matter how troubled his thoughts became, a good walk would clear them. With that cheerful thought in mind, he set forth into the woods.
Meanwhile, at Castle Longbourne, the Bennet sisters were having trouble readjusting to normal life. After fighting for truth and freedom, stitching and spinning seemed somewhat frivolous. The girls now sat in the solar, trying to work their way back into their former existence. "I miss Jacques." Mary said with a sigh. "And Netherfield Forest. This house seems so dreadfully confining after all that freedom."
"And boring! I'd much rather be getting another sword lesson from Pierre than stitching this silly sampler!" Kitty added, tossing her needlework on a chair.
"Now, Kitty..."Jane said.
"It is silly, Jane! You cannot deny it!" Kitty said.
"Well, perhaps. But there is no sense in complaining about it. Besides, I am sure your knights will soon come to call." Jane said with a smile. Nothing could vex Jane these days, as her father had immediately agreed to her marriage to a hero and knight of the realm.
Meanwhile, Maid Lizzy sat in the window seat, staring out through the glass. She had hardly spoken in the past few days, generally just wandering about and sighing. As Lizzy heard Kitty and Mary and Jane discussing Netherfield, the moment became an occasion for another such sigh.
Hearing the forlorn sound, Jane turned to her sister. It pained her to see Elizabeth so depressed." Lizzy, why do you not go for a walk in the woods? That always seems to clear your disposition."
"You are right, Jane." She said, giving her a sad smile. "I shall."
Elizabeth headed out of the house, not entirely certain to where she was going. It did not really seem to matter. She merely ambled along, letting her heart lead her where it would. Luckily, her heart knew exactly where it was going. Before Elizabeth knew it, she found herself in Netherfield Forest, several miles from her house. Lizzy gave yet another forlorn sigh as she sat upon a large rock. She had been happy in the forest. Here, she had been free. No nagging mother, no nasty little Lord Collins, no strictures on her behavior. Elizabeth had been free to be whoever she wanted to be. In Netherfield Forest, she met her first real friends. And here she had fallen in love.
Suddenly, a voice broke into Elizabeth's musings. "Good evening." Darcy said.
"What?!" Elizabeth nearly shouted, leaping up from her seat. "What are you doing here?"
Darcy smiled at her. "Well, I was taking a bit of a walk. Refreshing my mind, you might say. But since I've run into you, I must thank you for helping to rescue me. You were most daring."
Elizabeth blushed. "It was nothing, really. I am the one who should thank you for saving my family's respectability and my sister's honor. We are all most indebted to you."
Darcy's face turned completely serious. "My lady, your family owes me nothing. I must admit that I thought only of you."
Elizabeth's blush turned still brighter and she smiled softly. He did care for her!
"Maid Elizabeth, I know you will not trifle with me. If affections are changed from when I last spoke with you..." Darcy began.
"Indeed, they are much changed!" Elizabeth said, smiling. "I would say, in fact, that they are so much changed as to be completely opposite!"
Darcy turned to Elizabeth and took her hands in his. This girl had just made him happier than he had ever hoped to be. "In that case, Maid Elizabeth, will you be willing to marry a former outlaw who has worked past his pride?"
"Oh, most certainly!" she cried, throwing her arms around his neck.
Darcy had possessed a great urge to kiss Elizabeth Bennet many times. Now, that urge attacked him again. But, for the first time, he did not fight it.
Chapter 17
The end crowns all
Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
The former outlaw Darcy Hood married Maid Elizabeth Bennet but one month after proposing to her, and only one week after Little Charles married Maid Jane Bennet. The bride was attended by her sisters, who were shortly to be married to the groom's cousins. Darcy and Elizabeth were married in a glorious ceremony, with guests no less distinguished than King Richard himself. Even Lydia arrived, having extricated herself from her less than desirable husband. (She even showed signs of reducing her silliness). Prince John, Princess Catherine, and Lord Collins were all wonderfully absent.
They left their wedding for the newly restored estate of Pemberley, where they would live happily for the remainder of their long lives. They were prosperous in both financial and spiritual terms. Darcy and Elizabeth had four children who were adored by their parents. They were visited frequently by Jane and Charles, which was counted a great blessing by both families. The Bennet parents and Lydia (who lived with them) also visited frequently, which was slightly less of a blessing. Elizabeth regularly had to smack Darcy when he spoke of "enduring" another visit from Lydia. Mary and Jacques and Kitty and Pierre came from France on holidays, and several points in between. They, too, were extremely happy. Everyone had gained a truly wonderful ending.
Well, almost everyone.
"I hate this weather!" Caro shouted, shaking her fist at the snow out the window. "And I hate these clothes!" Caro yanked on her drab woolen dress. "And this stupid, stupid country!" Caro stomped around the cell.
"Oh, shut up!" Wickham said, pulling his ugly blanket closer around his shoulders. "I am growing sicker and sicker of your blasted whining every day!"
Caro stomped over to him and kicked him in the shin. "You shut up!" she said as he cried out in pain.
"Why, you little-" he said.
Caro gasped. "How dare you?!" She called him an equally nasty name.
"Oh, shut up!" he said yet again.
Caro and Wickham would repeat this argument many times over the next years of their lives that they remained in the royal prison. They eventually escaped, though no one knows to where. The two of them were forgotten by all.
But Darcy Hood and his Merry men were never forgotten. The villagers of Meryton told their children of the bravery and kindness of the outlaws, and of the evil of Prince John and Sir Wickham. Will Darcy's simple bedtime stories for his children soon had all his nieces and nephews clamoring for tales of Darcy Hood and the fair Maid Elizabeth, and of Will Scarlet and Fitz Tuck's sword battles, and of Little Charles's great strength, and the defeat of the evil Sheriff of Meryton. Whether the children ever connected these stories of robbing the rich to give to the poor with their own respectable and loving parents is anyone's guess. But they told these stories to their own children, and so the tales were passed along. And for certain, to this very day, every child knows of the exploits of Darcy Hood and the Merry Men and their life in Netherfield Forest.