A Royal Bennet (10 page)

With Caspen run through, Fred quickly
surrendered and was bound with rope which had
been brought forward by Franklin. Richard ordered
one of the men to collect Elizabeth from the floor, and
another one to collect Lucy from the room. After
lifting Darcy from the floor, Richard directed
everyone out of the school and up to the wagons
waiting for them. Everyone was loaded on the
wagons, including Jenny and Ruby. The driver was
urged to return to the Rose and Crown as quickly as
possible, while the men who had come on horseback
rode ahead, while one went in search of a physician to
bring to the inn.

~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~

 

Chapter 7

Hearing the commotion in the lobby, Mr Bennet
and the Gardiners saw the men coming inside the inn,
carrying some people, and escorting a pair of Negro
girls who appeared to be younger than Mr Bennet’s
“twin” daughters.

Suddenly, Mrs Gardiner recognized Darcy being
carried by his cousin. “Mr Darcy, oh, Mr Darcy. Has
he been injured?” She pleaded with the colonel.

“He was shot. We have sent someone for a
physician.” Richard stated, looking at the trio who had
come from the dining room. “How do you know
Darcy?”

“I am Mrs Gardiner. I am the aunt of Miss
Elizabeth Bennet.”

 

A frail voice was heard from behind Richard.
“Aunt Helen.”

Richard turned to allow Elizabeth’s family to see
her, being carried inside the inn by one of the men.
Seeing the amount of blood on her clothing struck
terror in the hearts of her family.

Mrs Gardiner moved towards the man carrying
Elizabeth. “How badly was she injured?”

“A cut on her shoulder. We did not take much
time to inspect it, as we wished to remove everyone
from the location we was at. She has lost blood and I
think that be why she is weak.”

“Lizzy, we are here for you. Your uncle and your
father are here. We will see you recovered soon
enough. Let us take you to our rooms.” Mrs Gardiner
led the way for the man to carry Elizabeth up the
stairs. Richard carried Darcy to the room down the
hall, which Darcy had been using since their arrival in
Liverpool.

Mr Bennet and Mr Gardiner went to the Gardiner’s
rooms, leaving Mrs Gardiner to assist her niece. Lucy
and the sisters were taken to another guest room, and
tea was requested for them. The innkeeper and his
wife were kept busy over the next few hours, as
requests were made of hot water, toweling, bedding,
rooms, food, drinks, and more were requested for
many of the guests of their establishment. Knowing
the importance of the Darcy name, the innkeeper was
willing to do whatever was needed to be of assistance
to the guests. No request was denied, and the inn was
soon filled to capacity with Darcy’s party and the
Bennet/Gardiner party.

The physician arrived and was shown to Darcy’s
room first. The wound Darcy received was not nearly
as bad as it had first appeared, having passed clear
through Darcy’s shoulder. Once cleaned up, and
stitched closed, the physician gave the Master of
Pemberley a dose of laudanum and insisted rest was
the best treatment for the young man. If Darcy did
not take a fever, he would be able to travel within a
fortnight.

Entering the room which had been for Mr Bennet,
the physician inspected Elizabeth’s wound. “Well, it is
somewhat deep, but not too deep. You have done a
good job cleaning it up. And you used some spirits on
the wound itself. Good, good. It will help against
infection. From what I was told, I doubt the knife was
very clean. I will stitch the wound and give you some
herbs to assist with keeping down a fever. When she
wakes, we will need to see if there is any damage to
her nerves or muscles. Otherwise, the greatest
concern is for infection. She has lost much blood, so
she will be weak for a while. A fever could be
dangerous.”

When his patients were both tended and fast
asleep, the physician left the inn, stating he would
return the following day to check on them.

~~ ** ~~

Elizabeth woke late in the night. She was in pain,
and very sleepy, yet she was attempting to discover
where she was.

“Lizzy, my dearest girl, go back to sleep.” Elizabeth
heard her father say.

 

“Papa, I have had the strangest nightmare. Did I
cry out and disturb you?”

Mr Bennet shook his head as he knelt beside the
bed where his daughter lay. “No, my dearest, we are
in Liverpool. You were injured tonight, and the
physician has tended your wounds. We can speak
more in the morning, for you need to sleep.”

“Liverpool? What are we doing in Liverpool?”

Elizabeth’s eyes grew round as she looked about the
room. “Are you telling me that it was not a
nightmare?”

“If you mean you were truly kidnapped and
escaped the villains, you were living a nightmare
rather than sleeping through one.”

“But, in my dream, Mr Darcy was there.”

“He is in his room, down the hall.” Mr Bennet said
as his hand brushed his daughter’s hair back from her
face.

Elizabeth was wide awake. “Mr Darcy, the
gentleman from Derbyshire, the one who visited with
Mr Bingley at Netherfield. You are telling me Mr
Darcy is, in fact, here?”

“Yes, Lizzy. Mr Darcy learned of your being
kidnapped and had come after you. It is due to him
and his cousin that you were rescued tonight. They
discovered where you were and arrived in time to
keep you from the hands of the scoundrels who were
attempting to recapture you.”

“But why? Why would Mr Darcy go to so much
trouble? He does not even like me. Did he feel he
owed me after I assisted him in Hyde Park?”

“I do not know of what you are speaking.” Mr

Bennet was frowning. “All I know is Mr Darcy came to
your uncle’s home and spoke with your aunt. He then
left London and arrived in Derbyshire, at his estate.
When he learned from your aunt’s friend of the
robbery and kidnapping from the post carriage, Mr
Darcy and his cousin, who is a colonel in the regulars,
set out to find you.”

“Mr Darcy has never looked upon me without
showing his dislike of me. Why would he go to such
trouble?”

“Your aunt does not believe he dislikes you, even
after I told her of his saying you were not handsome
enough to tempt him. Helen is certain that you are
mistaken by his words. But we have plenty of time to
discuss the matter tomorrow. You need to sleep, so
you can heal.”

Elizabeth’s eyes were beginning to sag and she
was having a difficult time keeping a clear thought in
her mind. She fell asleep, holding her father’s hand,
with a smile on her face.

~~ ** ~~

“We will need to stay here tonight, Mrs Bennet.
The carriage wheel needs to be repaired and they said
it would take some time before it is ready. At least
this is a comfortable inn.” Mr Leland stated. He was
beginning to think the trip was more than he had
bargained for. The only reason he had gone to such
extremes was the fact that Elizabeth Bennet was one
of the prettiest young ladies he had ever met, and he
wished to have her decorate his arm.

“Well, if there is nothing which can be done, I
guess we will have to stay here. Are there rooms
enough for all of us? Lydia and Jane can share a room
if necessary.”

Mr Leland was aware that Mrs Bennet expected
him to pay for their lodgings, as she had with their
meals and all the other expenses which had been
incurred. He continued to remind himself that the
reward for having to endure the likes of Fanny Bennet
was the delicious morsel her daughter was. He had
gone to sleep many a night, with visions of what he
would do to Elizabeth Bennet, after she was his wife.

“There are only two rooms available, Mrs Bennet.
You will be required to share with your daughters.”

“Well, that is not to be tolerated. An important
man, such as yourself, should be treated better. You
should complain.”

“I have, Mrs Bennet, and they told me there is
nothing they can do about the situation. The only
alternative is if you wish to sleep in the stables, with
the horses.”

“Mr Leland, how unkind of you to even jest in such
a manner.” Mrs Bennet became irritated. “Well, if
there is no alternative, then we will have to make due.
We will require extra bedding, for Jane to sleep on the
floor.”

He turned away from Mrs Bennet as he rolled his
eyes.
Once Elizabeth and I are married, I will insist she
have nothing to do with her mother. I will not have
that hag in my home. Nor will I have that youngest
daughter, she is just like her mother.

~~ ** ~~

 

As sunlight began to pour into his room, Darcy
woke with a start. “Elizabeth. Where is she?”
“Wills, calm yourself.
Miss
Elizabeth is in her
father’s room, down the hall.”

 

“Was she injured? Is she well?”

Richard knew his cousin to be much like a dog
with a bone when he put his mind to it. “She was
injured, but the physician has been here to tend both
of you. I spoke with her father only a few moments
ago. Mr Bennet stated his daughter woke a few times
during the night, though she slept most of the time.
And she has taken some broth and tea this morning.”
“How severe is her wound?”

“She was cut, at the top of her shoulder. The main
worry is the blade was most likely filthy and could
lead to infection. The other concern is if there was
damage to the muscles and nerves. The physician will
be here soon to see how you are both doing, and he
will know more than I do.”

“If necessary, send to Town for the best surgeon
for her. I insist she have the best care possible.” Darcy
was still agitated.

“If there is a need, the physician will tell us. And if
he does, I will do as you command. We will see that
Miss Elizabeth has all the care she needs. Now, I will
send for a tray to be brought up for you. Do you wish
broth, or some eggs and bread?”

“Eggs and bread would be preferable. And a cup
of coffee, if possible.”

“It is possible, as I have already enjoyed a cup this
morning.” Richard smiled. “I will send an express to
Pemberley today, informing Georgiana that we have
recovered Miss Elizabeth to her family, and that we
will need to remain here for a short duration for her
to recover. It will do no good for your sister to fret
and worry over your injury, so I will leave it for you to
tell her when you return to Pemberley.”

Darcy nodded his head. “Georgiana would be
distraught if she learned of my injury. I do not wish to
cause her trouble for such a minor inconvenience.”

“A minor inconvenience? You were shot, and you
call it a minor inconvenience? Thank the heavens it
was a clean wound, which went clear through your
shoulder.”

“It is minor, in comparison. The bullet did not
strike any vital portion of my body, so that is a
blessing.” Darcy huffed. He did not like to be the
center of attention, no matter with whom he was.

“I am grateful for the miracle we were granted.”
Richard stated, picking up his coffee cup and taking a
sip of the cooling liquid. “I believe I need another cup
of coffee, as this cup is in need of freshening.”

“Then go and order the tray and your coffee.”
Darcy ordered his cousin.

“That will not be necessary. I do not plan on
leaving you alone, for I know you too well. You will
attempt to leave your bed, which will only lead to
your opening your wound and bleeding all over the
place. No, you will remain in bed and I will step into
the hall, where one of your men is waiting for me to
assign him a task.”

Darcy was mildly disappointed. He knew his
cousin was correct, his wound required his resting.
Re-opening the wound could cause more problems
with which he did not wish to contend.

~~ ** ~~

Leaving his daughter in the care of his sister in
law, Mr Bennet stepped down the hall to check on Mr
Darcy’s condition. Richard answered the door, and, as
his cousin was awake, Mr Bennet was invited inside.

“Well, Mr Darcy, I never expected to see you again,
and yet, I am beholding to you for all that you have
done.”

Darcy shook his head. “You owe me nothing, Mr
Bennet.”

“But you have gone out of your way to search for
my daughter, endangering your own welfare to
recover her. To be honest, I am confused as to why
you would go to such lengths to do so much,
especially after you declared my daughter to be
tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt you into
dancing at the assembly last autumn.”

Turning a crimson red, Darcy was embarrassed.
“You know of my foolish words? Does Miss Elizabeth
know of what I said?”

“It was Lizzy who heard you.” Mr Bennet was
surprised to see the young man blush. “Why would it
matter to you what was heard? You made no attempt
to enjoy our neighborhood, and it was clear to see you
disliked those who live there. My daughter is shocked
at your behavior, for she believes you have never
looked upon her without finding fault.”

“Mr Bennet, I have never looked at your daughter
to find fault. On the contrary, I could not help but
admire her. She is unlike any young lady I have ever
met.” Darcy looked away for a moment. “Bingley was
provoking me to dance, when I was in a foul mood. I
had received a letter from my sister and I would have
preferred to have remained at Netherfield rather than
attend the assembly.”

Richard smiled. “Mr Bennet, did my cousin seem
proud and arrogant? Did he keep his distance from
everyone, attempting to blend in with the walls?”

Mr Bennet chuckled. “That would be a fitting
description.”

“Then allow me to set the record straight. My
cousin is extremely shy. His sister and I tease him
that he wears a mask of indifference when he is
forced into situations which make him
uncomfortable.” Richard said with a smile. “He has
been like that since he was a child, and we have never
been able to change him.”