Walk On

It was close to two o'clock when they started saying their goodbyes. The carriage had been brought from Pemberley earlier in the week. It was a large elegant black lacquered carriage. The entire carriage was spotless and sparkled in the afternoon sun from its dark red wheels to its polished door handles. It was pulled by four magnificent matched white horses with gleaming harness and fittings. The carriage could seat six in close quarters or four in comfort. The carriage was driven by a coachman and brakeman on the front seat and two footmen stood on small platforms on the back. Some of Elizabeth' luggage had been brought from Longbourn and loaded along with Darcy's on the coach.

The family members went to the carriage parked in front of the house to say their goodbyes to Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. Elizabeth kissed her sisters, Farther, Mother and Georgiana.

Mrs. Bennet was crying and said; "Oh Mr. Darcy I know you will but, may I ask that you please take care of my Lizzie."

Darcy bent down and kissed Mrs. Bennet on the check, smiled and said "Yes Mam, I will."

He shook hands with Mr. Bennet who was teary eyed and Col. Fitzwilliam and Charles who both smiled. He kissed Georgiana and Lady Fitzwilliam on the cheek. Elizabeth and Jane embraced and whispered to each other. They entered the coach and four assisted by the footman. The footman closed the door, folded the step, and mounted his back platform. The brakeman released the brake, the coachman said walk on and Elizabeth's life with Darcy started.

"A little conversation is required while riding in a carriage with one's wife. I may remark on the good weather and you may speak on the condition of the roads." she said laughing.

Darcy chuckled and thought back to the Netherfield ball all those months ago.

"The road I think has been a little rocky and uphill for us to get to this carriage ride." he replied.

She was sitting beside him and he turned and kissed her. He placed his arm around her and she leaned into him.

"Yes it has, a little. But my dear it's not the road behind; it's the one ahead I wonder. Where are you taking me?" she asked.

"The London House tonight and we will travel to Bath tomorrow." he replied.

He explained they could make it to Bath in two long days with good roads but would take three. They would have to change horses eight or ten times at coaching inns. As the carriage passed Longbourn she saw the barouche with her lady's maid, Mrs. Reynolds and Darcy's valet waiting to pull onto the road. Hill was standing at the door. She waved as they passed and Elizabeth waved back.

"I think you will miss Hill." he said.

"Yes I will, Hill cried as she dressed us this morning." she said.

"I usually don't give orders to a ladies maid but, during the breakfast I sent Mrs. Reynolds, Mildred, Hill and my valet to Longbourn with instruction to load your luggage." he said.

"Will I meet the servants at the London House tonight?" she asked.

"No, just the housekeeper and butler; we will be there one night and there isn't much time." He said.

Traffic on the road was light at first but the closer they got to London more and more horse and rider, carriages and even foot traffic was on the road. The coachman had to be an expert to maneuverer a coach and four on the road in traffic. Horse and rider usually were not a problem for the coachman. Wagons and coaches were more and more frequent passing in the opposite direction. They seldom passed a wagon as Darcy had ordered a slow steady pace to arrive at the London House by six or half past. The twenty miles could be covered in about three hours but traffic in London and getting to the London House could add forty five minutes to the journey. With a four, good roads, lightly loaded and light traffic the coachman knew he could make between seven and nine miles an hour. He knew the barouche following could not possibly keep that pace for twenty mile with five passengers and the luggage. They would have to slow, stop and change horses or lay over at a coaching inn.

They had traveled together for the first ten miles for safety reasons. A breakdown of a coach was a serious matter on the roads but highwaymen were also a small concern. The coachman, brakeman and footman were all discretely armed and the closer they got to London and heavy traffic the less likely a single Highwayman or highway gang would strike. Traffic ahead had picked up slowing his pace for the past ten minutes. The brakeman reported the barouche had dropped back. There was nothing for it. He would have to stop. After a quarter of a mile he pulled into the Holston Coaching Inn. The brakeman set the brake dismounted and held the horses. A footman jumped down to get the step and door. The coachman tied off the reins and stepped to the carriage door.

Darcy lowered the window and said; "Harold, are we making good time?"

He replied; "We were sir but freight traffic ahead is slowing the pace and the barouche has fallen back."

"How far back?" Darcy asked.

"A mile, mile and half. They may have stopped to raise the top because of the rain ahead." He said.

"At any rate, Sir I can't make the time. Were four forty now and nine miles from the edge of London.

That will be six o'clock just to London and another forty-five minutes to London House. But, we have to abandon the barouche to the road to make that time.

Elisabeth was watching and listening to the two men discuss the times, distance and problems. Darcy was not angry but he did look concerned. She wondered why he looked worried. He rose and the footman opened the door. Darcy stepped out and held out his hand to Elizabeth, he handed her out of the carriage. She heard him tell Harold they would wait ten more minutes for the barouche. If there was no sight of the carriage they would need to hire horses and go back for them and they needed to be armed. He asked for the coachman to make the necessary arrangements. Now Elizabeth was concerned.

"Dear, is something wrong?" she asked.

"I hope not." he replied.

"They may have had trouble or just stopped for some reason." he said.

"But why would you need to go back armed?"

"It is possible they were stopped by highwaymen.

We need to make sure they are safe."

He explained they were close to London and few highwaymen would risk such a bold move but a bold one had stopped and robbed a coach just three miles out of London last month. It was speculated he was probably a London rogue and not a true Highwayman.

The footman reported the barouche in sight just coming around the corner. They waited until the coach pulled in and Darcy walked over to the coachman and asked if everything was alright. The coachman stated yes, they had stopped to fix a dragging trace chain and couldn't catch up without taxing the horses. Darcy suggested they all retire to the inn for tea and rest the horses. He led Elizabeth and the ladies into the main entrance of the inn, coachmen and footman had their own entrance. Darcy and Elizabeth sat at a small table near the front window. Mildred, Mrs. Reynolds and Taylor sat at a table against the wall. They ordered tea.

Elisabeth asked Darcy if he had ever been robbed on the road. He stated he had not but said his mother and Lady Fitzwilliam had on their way to Rosings. It was at that time a five day trip because of the roads. A true Highwayman had stopped Lady Anne's coach on a narrow part of the road out of a small village at gunpoint. Harold at the time was a young postilion rider but was on the back platform, not on the left lead horse. The Highwayman stole mostly jewelry and some money. Harold had taken his pistol from the hiding place in front of him and managed to get it cocked. He pressed the pistol between his chest and the coach while holding his arms in the air. The Highwayman rode to the back of the coach to make his getaway. Just as he passed the back of the coach Harold shot him. He was knocked from his horse. The coachman and brakeman were on him and disarmed the man. He was placed on the floor of the coach and taken to York and turned over to the magistrate. Because he had robbed two titled Ladies he was patched up and hanged. However; it must be said he was a bold Highwayman to stop a coach and four with a coachman, brakeman and two footmen. Elizabeth asked if his father rewarded Harold. He said he had demoted him to stable boy. Although it was a brave move it had put the party at risk. He could have missed the shot and the return fire may have hit someone. Father said he could replace the jewels, money, coachman, brakeman or footman but not the ladies. He was promoted to footman a year later as he had become too big for a postilion rider.

Darcy explained they were going to be a little late. The barouche was carrying three passengers and a coachman and footman plus the luggage; it would not be able to keep up and he didn't want to abandon them on the road. He thought the best solution was to have Mrs. Reynolds and Mildred ride in their carriage and slow the pace of both carriages. Darcy paid the innkeeper for everyone's tea. The top on the barouche was raised and led out on the road followed by the coach and four. Harold posted a postilion rider on the left lead horse of the coach. Progress was slow on the road with traffic and a light rain began just as they reached the outskirts of London. It took another hour before they stopped in front of London House, at half past seven.