14. Gunshots at Dawn

Our Lady of Longbourn

Chapter Fourteen – Gunshots at Dawn

Doctor and Mrs. Jones returned to Meryton on the fourth day of Kitty's illness. When the newlyweds were finally able to separate themselves from Mrs. Bennet's effusions, they rode in their gig to Netherfield.

Dr. Jones was pleased to concur with his uncle's diagnosis and reassure his two sisters-in-law that Kitty would make a full recovery. He had patients to catch up on, so Mary volunteered to stay with Kitty so that Elizabeth could make her neglected rounds.

It was exhilarating to be out in the fresh air again, and Elizabeth made the most of it. She should have gone to Longbourn and had Toliver prepare her trap, but she chose to enjoy her solitude instead. After visiting her tenants on both estates, while being careful to avoid Misters Bingley and Darcy as they worked on the estate, she turned her horse toward the two mills to check on them.

She was pleased to see that Mr. Hervey and several other men had stood up the walls of the new building she had commissioned on the site. It would serve as both a meeting area and a school… when she finally found the right teacher. She didn't believe in the harsh discipline enforced as a rule in many of the schools she had heard of. She wasn't against discipline, but like all things she believed it should be done in moderation.

After meeting with the owner-operators of both mills, she rode into town and stopped in to speak with Lauretta deBossuet. Kitty was fretting about her final three designs and Elizabeth had promised to visit the modiste to reassure her. Lauretta was unconcerned about the designs but deeply concerned about Kitty. While she was pleased to hear that Kitty was recovering, she had another concern. "Lady Eli… forgive me… Miss Bennet, I must speak with you about this Monsieur Bingley."

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows in surprise but nodded for her friend to continue. "I write to Angelique about our Katerina's lover. She make investigation and write back to me. Monsieur Bingley, he likes the blonde with blue eyes, like your sisters Katerina and Jane… forgive, Contessa Archer. He like many such, he fall in love rapid, then fall out as well."

"Has he compromised any of these others?" Elizabeth asked in alarm.

"Angelique say no. He is gentleman, yes, but constant, no. He is like hummingbird flying from flower to flower."

Elizabeth smiled slightly at the image, which brought a frown to Lauretta's face. Lest her friend think that she was making light of this information, she said, "This is actually somewhat of a relief, Lauretta. You see, Kitty has expressed her concerns to me. She likes Mr. Bingley, but has no strong feelings for him. It will make things easier if he moves on easily."

Lauretta relaxed, "Naturellement! She needs good man, strong man who cherish and protect, like your Monsieur Darcy."

Elizabeth's face turned bright red and the two seamstresses, who she hadn't noticed entering, giggled. "He… he isn't my Mr. Darcy, Lauretta!"

"If he is not, I think that soon he will be, no?"

Elizabeth excused herself from this conversation, made her goodbyes, and rapidly climbed back onto Epona. Needing to cool her still-warm face and her thoughts, she rode toward Oakham Mount. As she neared the cave entrance, she slowed her mount and carefully looked over the area. Between the staggered rock faces, the overhang, and the overgrowth of several wild bushes, the entrance was completely invisible from the trail leading to the top. It's no wonder that I never saw it in all of the years I've walked or rode this trail.

She spurred her horse into motion again and soon reached the top. While she sat there regarding the valley far below, she tried not to think about Mr. Darcy… and was completely unsuccessful.

oOoOOoOo

While the patient slept soundly for her first time in several days, two people at Netherfield slept very poorly.

Elizabeth had returned to Netherfield just before dinner so that her newlywed sister could leave with her husband and enjoy their first meal together in their home. Miss Bingley had arranged the seating so that Elizabeth and Darcy sat on the same side of the table but were separated by the Mr. Hurst, thus blocking any conversation. It may have accomplished her immediate intent, but it didn't accomplish her goal of blocking their feelings.

Elizabeth was intensely aware of Mr. Darcy throughout the evening, just as he was intensely aware of her. After dinner politeness required Elizabeth to remain downstairs for at least a little while.

After dinner Mr. Darcy sat down at the writing desk to write to his sister. Elizabeth had seen him do this almost daily and was impressed with this show of devotion. Caroline never left the man alone, constantly complimenting "dear Georgiana' or offering to repair Darcy's pen. Elizabeth had to hide her amusement several times as she tried to focus on her book.

When Darcy completed his letter and began to walk towards the couch where Elizabeth was sitting, Caroline promptly requested that Elizabeth play and just as promptly volunteered to turn the pages.

Again, she succeeded in keeping the two separate but she couldn't have come farther from turning Mr. Darcy's attention away. Elizabeth distractedly complied with Caroline's request, but said, "I don't need help, but thank you. I didn't bring the sheet music, so please bear with my mistakes.

She sat down and began playing ' Moonlight Sonata, Op. 27' from memory. It had been one of the ones she learned on this very pianoforte, and one of her favorite. Now, with her emotions roiling, she let it all come out in her music. She played the first movement and everyone, even Caroline, was drawn in. Of course, Caroline knew this first movement well and could play it herself, but somehow Elizabeth was making it sound better. Then she transitioned into the lighter second movement. At this point Caroline became concerned. The third movement was much more involved. Is she truly going to make a show of herself and play the third without a score?

Suddenly Elizabeth's fingers began flying. Everyone, even Mr. Hurst, sat up. Without realizing it they were leaning forward, almost as if they were the ones sitting at the instrument. Caroline glanced over at Mr. Darcy in concern and ground her teeth at his enamored expression.

The music sped on. Elizabeth was forgetting all of her mother's insults, her estate concerns, and even… mostly… the man sitting and watching her. As the intensity increased, she was swaying unconsciously with the music. The small breaks in intensity only served to build anticipation and everyone was on the journey with Elizabeth. Without realizing it, many of the servants were clustered outside the doors. It had been a while since their lady had taken her rightful place at this instrument.

Now her hands were flying; then the last break and the final crescendo. In the silence that followed, Elizabeth suddenly became aware of her surroundings. Embarrassment heated her face and she felt the urge to flee. It was Mr. Hurst, of all people, who broke the silence. "Bravo! Beautifully done, Miss Bennet. Just beautiful!"

The others added their own praise while Caroline fumed. Shortly thereafter Elizabeth removed herself to check on her sister and go to her own room. Caroline wanted to criticize the woman, but knew that she would make no headway after that performance. Gritting her teeth, she soon went to bed as well.

oOoOOoOo

Elizabeth woke just as mortified as she had been the previous night. She had always resolved to love pianoforte for its own sake, but never to make a show of herself. In gatherings, when asked to play, she always gave her best but also chose less impressive scores. She already stood out due to her unusual activities as Master of Longbourn. She did not wish to have others say she was pushing herself forward.

Last night had not been intentional. Her emotions were so much in control that she had needed a way to release them. The ride on Epona should have been enough, but Mr. Darcy's continued presence was playing havoc on her. When she sat down, it was only to play the first movement. The rest followed without any conscious decision. She was at the end before she realized it.

After checking on Kitty, whose fever was gone and who seemed to be resting well, she put on her walking clothes, grabbed a roll and an apple from Cook, and headed out at a brisk walk. Today she needed to stretch her legs. She was glad to be alone. As much as she liked and appreciated Toliver's protection and assistance, sometimes she felt the need to escape by herself.

At a much faster pace than normal, Elizabeth took the longer route that would carry her around the sheep pastures, up onto the main road, and then up the other side of Oakham Mount. Sweat was beading on her forehead when she finally crested the top of the mount. Then she finally allowed herself to rest. As always, the view from the top captivated her, even in the early dawn.

Then her eyes caught sight of a black rider in the distance. Even though he was too far away to identify, she knew who it was. One part of her mind begged him to ride off in the other direction. Another part hoped that he would head her way. She didn't know what she truly wanted, but the horse and rider did. They took the road that would lead directly to Oakham Mount. Now all that Elizabeth could do was wait.

She did consider walking away, or perhaps even hiding, but she could not. She wanted to see him. She needed to see him… and so she remained. For long minutes she watched the galloping horse and rider as they followed the road closer and closer. In another minute the pair would be lost from sight in a grove of trees. A few more minutes and they reappeared, much closer now. Soon they would reach the sloping ground and would vanish from sight again.

Elizabeth found herself holding her breath. What would she say? Why did this moment feel so significant? She shook her head in confused frustration and looked down to watch as Mr. Darcy vanished, emerged, and vanished again through trees and up and down rises.

Then there were two puffs of smoke, separated by several trees, and a second later the reports of gunfire reached her. In fear she scanned the road. At first there was nothing, but then she saw the black horse flying on, but with his rider slumped over his neck. They disappeared in the trees again coming up the rise, but the next time she saw the horse, the rider was no longer in the saddle.

With a cry, Elizabeth was flying down the mountain trail at a run. In another minute the black horse flew past her, streaming blood, but she had no thought to spare for him. On she ran, heedless of the dangers of a twisted ankle or worse. Finally she reached the last grove where she had last seen the rider. A dark form was lying prostrate on the ground by the side of the trail.

Elizabeth ran to him, frantically turning his large figure over. She stifled a cry of alarm as her hand touched blood and she made herself examine Mr. Darcy. His face was ashen, but he was breathing. His shoulder was bleeding near where it connected to his body. Another bullet had pierced his calf. She tried to still the flow of blood and wondered what to do next.

Then she heard the men. "Where is he! Find him! He can't get away, or the Baron will kill us, Royal sanction or not!"

"Calm yourself, Wickham. I saw the horse at the top of that hill without a rider. He must be here somewhere. We'll keep looking until we find him."

Elizabeth was shocked at this proof that the shots were intentional and disturbed by the words "Royal sanction." Thinking quickly, she tried to pull him off into the bushes. When she couldn't budge him, she wrapped her arms around him and rolled using every ounce of her strength. It worked, but she hadn't counted on his superior weight. Uggh! I should have allowed the Boson to stay at Netherfield as he asked. He still wouldn't have been with me on this ride. She had to suppress an 'oomph' each time his body rolled on top of hers, but the momentum and the slight downward slope did the trick. In two more rolls they were under the overhanging bushes, scraped and bruised, but not harmed any further.

The men's voices were still off by some distance, so Elizabeth crawled back to where Darcy had been and quickly scooped loose dirt over the bloody ground. She crawled back under the bushes just in time as the voices neared. "I know my shot hit. I saw him jerk back. What were you aiming for, Wickham?"

"Don't even try it, Lowry. My shot hit him. Yours hit the horse. You might have hit his leg, but who can say. Just find the man before someone rides up here to investigate! His horse was bloody and his saddle is empty. How long do you think it will take to alert the locals?"

They continued arguing as their voices faded up the trail towards the top of Oakham Mount.

Darcy stirred and Elizabeth quickly covered his mouth. His eyes opened, showing pain and confusion. "Shhh! You've been shot. Whoever did it shot you on purpose. They're out there right now looking for your body. You have to stay still. As soon as I can, I'll get help."

Darcy's eyes held hers. Finally, he broke the spell and croaked out, "Who?"

"I don't know. One is named Lowry," this name received no reaction, "and the other is named Wickham." This did receive a reaction; a strong one. Darcy tried to sit up, but Elizabeth easily pushed him down and whispered. "You have to stay still. If they find us, they'll kill us. And if you move you'll start bleeding again."

Darcy nodded and held her gaze again, until he couldn't keep his eyes open anymore. Elizabeth was torn on what to do. She knew from helping with an injured tenant that going to sleep in such a situation could be dangerous, but how could she keep him awake and still go find help?

There was a lot of shuffling and bleating coming near. Elizabeth instantly recognized the sound of a flock of sheep and her hope surged. She also heard the two men curse and the sound of running boots on hard road. Extracting herself from under the bushes, she ran for the sound of their salvation.