Darcy awoke with a splitting headache that felt as if it encompassed his entire body. He was lying on something hard and his arms were pulled behind him in a painful position. Someone was gently dabbing his face with a damp cloth. He groaned.

"Mr. Darcy?"

He slowly opened his eyes. Even the dim light was painful and he squinted to make out the figure kneeling beside him. "Miss Bennet?"

"Mr. Darcy, thank God you are awake. I feared…" her voice cracked and she did not continue.

Darcy struggled to sit up. Miss Bennet tried to prevent him but when he insisted he was well enough she leant him her support. He had been lying on a wooden bench set into the wall. He tried to move his arms.

"I am afraid your wrists are bound, Mr. Darcy."

"Where are we?"

"I do not know. I think it may be an old army barracks but I did not get much of a look at the place. We are in some kind of cell. I think the door must be barred on the other side it will not budge."

Darcy was quiet while he absorbed the information but could not make sense of what she was saying. His eyes were adjusting and he saw that they were in a very small room with one little window too high to be reached. There was a hole in the opposite corner the purpose of which was evident from the smell. "How did we get here?"

"I hardly know. We were walking toward your carriage when we were set upon by three men. One hit you in the head and they put us in your carriage and brought us here."

"Did they hurt you?" He noticed Miss Bennet wince at his tone and he felt a shooting pain in his head. He had not meant to speak so harshly.

"No. I am well."

Darcy was silent again. If only his headache did not make it so difficult to understand.

"But how did you come to be here? You could not have come willingly."

"One of them had a pistol."

He tensed making his head hurt more but he forced himself to speak gently. "Are you sure they did not hurt you?"

"Yes, I am sure. I cooperated in order to prevent it. Mr. Darcy, there is some water here would you like some?"

He tried again to move his arms, "Can you release my hands?"

"I am sorry. I cannot. It would require a key."

"Then no, I thank you but I will not have any water."

"That is foolish you need to drink." Miss Bennet held the water to his lips and he made no attempt at further argument.

After a few swallows he insisted on her drinking some as well and they finished the water between them. When that was done he did feel a little better and asked, "Did these men who took us give you any idea of their purpose?"

"No. I tried to ask what they wanted but they were not inclined toward conversation."

"They are probably holding us for ransom." Darcy glanced around the cell again. His confusion was giving way to anger. "That they should retain me is bad enough but to subject a lady to such conditions is appalling behavior and to lock you in here alone with a man who is no relation is atrocious!"

"They think I am your sister."

Whatever more he would have said in defamation of their captors' characters was forgotten in his astonishment, "Why would they think so?"

"I was with you. They must have assumed it was the case."

"Could you not have sparred yourself by correcting the error?"

Miss Bennet averted her eyes as if embarrassed. "Perhaps I could have but I was afraid the information would endanger Miss Darcy."

For a moment Darcy was too affected to speak. "You…" his voice broke and he had to clear his throat before continuing. "You refrained from correcting them in order to protect my sister. I do not know what to say. I am profoundly grateful. More grateful than I can hope to express."

"You give me too much credit, Sir. I acted without thinking."

"That only makes your actions more commendable. But, surely my sister is safe by now. As soon as someone comes we can tell them the truth."

Her eyes flew open in alarm. "Mr. Darcy we cannot tell them now! If they are looking for ransom it would only be admitting that I have no value and they are hardly likely to simply let me go!"

"You are mistaken, Miss Bennet, your value is beyond compare."

The look on her face was impossible to discern and Darcy was afraid he had spoken too openly. He quickly added, "However, you are probably correct that it would be unwise to disabuse them. We will allow them to believe you are my sister."

"Thank you, Mr. Darcy."

They were quiet for some time. Suddenly Miss Bennet broke the tension that had been building between them by pulling a pin from her skirt and saying, "Perhaps I can use this to open the lock."

He glanced at the door before realizing she meant to free his hands. He turned sideways to give her better access and said with a smile, "Do you have a talent for picking locks Miss Bennet?"

"Not that I know of but one must always make the effort to improve one's self."

"If you achieve proficiency I will be forced to admit that the picking of locks is an accomplishment far superior, in a Lady, to any other. It is the only one I could wish you to possess."

One small ray of sunshine was coming through the window. As Miss Bennet worked it slowly made its way across the floor. When it started up the wall Darcy said, "Miss Bennet, I am afraid we are achieving little more than breaking your pins," for she had broken several, "they are simply not strong enough."

"I may as well keep trying until my skirt has been entirely let down. My petticoat must be very dusty so there is no reason to show it off and without my needle work I must find some means of employment."

Darcy thought the lightness of her tone sounded forced but he was glad she sought to support her spirits. He answered in like manner. "Perhaps I should take this opportunity to engage in the sport of trying to kick down the door."

He had turned to face her as he said it and was rewarded by a small smile. "Do you feel well enough for such activity? How is your head?"

"Sore but better than when I first awoke. The exercise will do me good."

Darcy proved to be no more capable of kicking down the door than Miss Bennet had been of picking the lock. Nor did throwing his shoulder into it, shouting for attention and, in a moment of frustration demanding of the door that it open, meet with better success. His efforts intensified his headache and, when Miss Bennet expressed her concern for his welfare, he was forced to admit defeat and return to his seat.

Instead of trying again to pick the lock Miss Bennet stood before him, removed her gloves, and placed her cool finger tips on his temples, rubbing gently. "Does this help?"

"Yes. I thank you." He spoke softly as if he might scare her off. He could hardly believe she would touch him so intimately and had to remind himself to breath.

"Jane does this when I have a headache."

"My mother used to do the same. I did not remember it until now."

How much time passed as she continued her ministration Darcy did not know. It could have been hours or only moments that had gone by when a slot was opened at the bottom of the door. Bread and water were pushed through. Darcy tried to speak to the person on the other side of the door, to get answers or at least better accommodations for his "sister" but the slot was closed with no acknowledgement.

This time Miss Bennet simply lifted the water to his lips, and placed a piece of bread in his mouth without giving him the option of refusing. The bread was stale, tasteless and stuck to the room of his mouth but he was hungry enough to be grateful for it and her feeding it to him rendered it more appetizing. After a few a bites he realized she was giving him bigger pieces.

"Miss Bennet, I beg you to eat as much yourself as you feed me."

"You are larger than I am."

"That hardly justifies a greater assault on my palate."

She laughed softly at this and took a larger piece but he noticed her next bite was a little smaller and she gradually decreased the size of her own portions. It was in his mind to object but then he considered it might be cruel to deprive her of doing what she meant to be a kindness and kept his silence.

When they had eaten half the bread she asked, "Do you think we should save the rest? We do know when they might feed us again."

"It hardly seems worth saving but if you are not too hungry I think we should. There is a handkerchief in my coat pocket if you would like to wrap it in that." He knew she had used her own handkerchief on his face earlier and it would not be dry.

"That is a good idea, I will get it."

The handkerchief was in the inner pocket of his tail-coat. She began undoing the coat in order to gain access to his pocket then stopped. The deepest blush spreading over her face she said, "That is, if you will forgive me the liberty of retrieving it?"

"There is nothing to forgive. You may take whatever liberties you wish with me, Miss Bennet. I place myself entirely in your hands."

She averted her gaze and he wondered if he had spoken too freely. He had felt an intimacy between them as she fed him and her modesty combined with her willingness to do what was needed was so charming as to disarm his usual reserve. Miss Bennet put on her gloves, which she had left off in order to feed them, and fished out his handkerchief with no further comment. Once the bread was wrapped she made a few more attempts at the padlock but the light had changed and there was no place that she could work on it that was not in shadow. After that they simply sat next to each other in companionable silence. Time passed and the silence seemed to deepen between them and there was almost a sacredness in it that, under different circumstances, Darcy would have found pleasing. He did not know many people who could truly be still.

As more time passed and he regretted drinking the water. It had not been much but they had been in here a long time. Miss Bennet shifted wincing briefly, as if she were in pain and said, "Mr. Darcy, as it does not appear we are to be given any privacy I am forced to ask you to turn your back."

"Of course." He stood in order to comply and noticing her acute embarrassment added. "The lack of privacy must be an attempt to intimidate us but I know your courage always rises on such occasions."

Before he turned away he saw her smile and lift her chin with a look of defiance.

~.~

"Thank you Mr. Darcy. You may turn around now. Elizabeth returned to her seat on the bench wondering if he were also suffering from the lack of privacy. She felt her face warm at the thought of asking him but, though he did not complain she knew the way his arms were chained must be causing him pain and there was also the blow he had taken to the head, she did not want him to have any additional discomfort if it could be avoided and she knew he would not mention it himself.

She took a breath strengthening her resolve and said, "Mr. Darcy, my mother takes great pride in having raised us to be completely useless in domestic matters but during my visits with the Gardiners I often helped to care for my young cousins and performed tasks some might consider the purview of the nursery maid."

"I see."

From the tone of his voice she guessed he was wondering why she was telling him this. She would need to be more clear, "If you need to… if you need assistance with anything of a personal nature I… I can help you."

"That is very kind but, your experience with children notwithstanding, I could not ask you to do that."

"Then it is just as well I have already offered."

"I thank you but I have been too many years out of the nursery to accept."

He had not said he did not need her help and —though she tried not to notice— from the way he was sitting she rather thought he did, but it would be indelicate to press him further.

After a short silence Mr. Darcy said, "I take it some of your young cousins are boys."

"They are."

"But they must have been babies or very young when you cared for them. They were not yet breeched?

"They were very young, not breeched."

"Then you would have had no experience with," he glanced down at his lap, "a fall front."

She followed his gaze, "It does not look overly complicated."

He nodded and was again silent for a few moments before saying, "It would not just be a matter of undoing me. I need to…aim."

"I believe I can manage. I will leave my gloves on of course."

He made no reply and after a brief pause Elizabeth spoke again, "It will be dark soon. If you are at all inclined to accept my assistance it might be wise to do so while I can still see. I would not want to …make a mistake."

"You make a compelling case. If you are sure it will not be too disagreeable for you then I will gratefully accept your offer."

"I am sure." This was not, strictly speaking, true. She found it an awkward business, and yet, there was something about his being so vulnerable, so completely dependent on her, that created in her feelings of amazing tenderness toward him. Wishing to spare him what embarrassment she could she did her best to act as if she were not bothered.

~.~

Miss Bennet's touch was gentle but Darcy could not repress a shiver. After holding him in the appropriate position for a short time she said, "Try to forget I am here."

"Under the circumstances I believe that to be impossible." But his amusement at the idea allowed him to relax and all was soon set right. She put him back together, he thanked her, and they returned to the bench in silence.

As the last of the light faded away Darcy's embarrassment lessened as he contemplated her extraordinary kindness in rendering him a service she must have found distasteful. He remembered her coming to nurse her sister at Netherfield and how his own mother had nursed him when he was ill as a child, refusing to leave him to the care of a servant when he was unwell. He could easily imagine Miss Bennet as a mother, caring for his children with a mixture of humor and good sense… He forced the image from his mind. It was useless to wish for such things unless he could change her feelings toward him and there was little chance of that until they could be free of the current situation. Here he was nothing but a burden to her.

The day had been warm, and Miss Bennet was dressed accordingly but the cell was damp and it had been growing colder. Even without being able to see Darcy was aware that she was shivering.

"You are cold. I would gladly give you my coat if you could find some way of removing it."

"I thank you for the thought but I do not think I could remove it."

Of course not. It had be a foolish thing to say it only exhibited his inadequacy. He knew what he had to do. "Miss Bennet, I do not mean any disrespect in what I am about to suggest but if you would like, that is if you would not find it too unpleasant to put your arms around me, you could perhaps put them inside my coat. Please understand I only suggest it because I can think of no other way to keep you warm."

"You would not mind?"

"Not at all, it is the least I can do."

She hesitated briefly but then took his suggestion. He moved as far back on the bench as he could, leaning against the wall to give her room, and it did not take her long to find as comfortable a position as possible. At first she held him very stiffly but with the passage of time she seemed to become more at ease and relaxed against him.

More time passed and Darcy thought she had fallen asleep when she said timidly, "Mr. Darcy?"

"Yes?"

"I must confess my courage is not as great as I would wish it to be. To be honest I am very frightened."

Never in the course of the day had Darcy resented his restraints as much as he did in this moment, for he would have given anything to put his arms around her but he could only nuzzle his cheek against the top of her head and say, "You have been very brave Elizabeth, braver than anyone could ask, but all will be well. I am sure all will be well. Even now my family may be arranging for our ransom."

"With your sister safe they may think any ransom demand a trick."

"With me missing they would not take the risk and I am sure they will talk with the Gardiners and piece together what happened."

"Even if they do they will have no reason to ransom me."

She could be right. His family could not know her importance to him, unless his cousin had guessed it. Colonel Fitzwilliam was not stationed far from Pemberley. Surely Georgiana would send word to him immediately.

"Miss Bennet, you cannot possibly think so ill of me as to imagine I would leave you here. If only I am ransomed I will insist these men let you go and you can explain the situation to my family."

She was quiet a moment before asking, "And if your family does not believe me?"

"You will have to convince them. You can tell them… that as a boy I had a toy pony named Othello… and that I use to sneak into the nursery when Georgiana was a baby and recite Latin to her or sing her a lullaby."

"What did you sing?"

"Whatever came to mind."

"I think if I am to be believed I must know what you sang." Her tone held less fear and more of her usual liveliness.

"You understand I was twelve years old and it was only intended to be heard by a baby."

"I will make allowances."

"Very well." He felt extremely silly but exposing himself to ridicule was a small price to pay if it would please her. He sang, "Go to sleep my little darling, like a little baby starling, while you are sleeping, I will be keeping, a watch over my baby si-is-ter."

"That is sweet. But the tune seems rather lively for a lullaby."

"She made no objection."

Miss Bennet laughed softly and he it made him feel warm inside to have cheered her.

After a short silence she said, "Even knowing the lullaby I think it would be more sensible for you to go. You have more resources and could better work for my release than I for yours."

"That may be quite rational but I could not bear to leave you here so there is no use our speaking of it."

He had spoken more harshly than he'd meant to but she showed no sign of offence and only said softly, "Thank you, Mr. Darcy."

It was not until Miss Bennet had drifted off to sleep that Darcy realized he had called her "Elizabeth". The name had fallen so naturally from his lips but he did not want to give her the idea that he thought any less of her for the intimacies she had honored him with in this place. If anything he respected her all the more. He almost imagined he could still feel her cool fingers on his temples, the accidental brush of her hand as she worked the buttons on his pantaloons, the thin fabric of her glove as she held…

If he kept thinking like this he was going to be in a great deal of trouble! Darcy forced his mind away from Miss Bennet and imagined instead what he would do to the men who were holding them once he got free. He had no doubt his family would pay whatever had been asked and once he was free he would find these men and ruin them. How long would it take to Ransom them? Colonel Fitzwilliam would have access to some of the resources kept at Pemberley, Lady Anne's jewels and such, but would he put those to such a use or contact his father? Would the Earl travel to Pemberley? Even if an express was sent today it could not be expected that he would arrive before mid-day tomorrow. It would probably be later. Unless the Colonel acted on his own they would be here for most of the day tomorrow, possibly longer. What kind of people were these men? These were intolerable conditions for a lady even if she had been his sister. In some ways it would be worse at least with Miss Bennet… no, he could not think that way, he could not allow himself to hope that a day would come when it would be natural for them to share the intimate touches of a husband and wife. To improve her opinion of him, to show her that her reproofs had been attended to must be all he could aspire to.

Miss Bennet snuggled against him in her sleep and once again Darcy caught his mind drifting in a dangerous direction. It was going to be a long night.


A/N: The info I found about treatment of head injuries at this time didn't say anything about keeping the person awake so I'm assuming Lizzy wouldn't think she needs to keep Darcy awake (she does anyway but that's unintentional). In a way I find it ironic to write JAF and include things Austen would never write about but I hope the way they are responding to the situation is in keeping with her characters. I like that they are each putting the others comfort ahead of their own embarrassment/discomfort. I make no promises about how quickly I will update – it all depends on how much time I have, but I do have a rough outline in my head for where things are going.

Thanks for reading!