Chapter 36
They made their way back to Longbourn, Darcy never leaving her side, while her father rode beside them on his horse. Initially, Elizabeth had been relieved and yet, now she could not help crying for what reason she knew not. But all of a sudden everything had become too much and now she was completely overwhelmed by so many emotions she could not even say which.
Now that there was no need for fear anymore, she felt scared, her mind wandering to what Georgiana must have felt when she had been violated by Wickham. Had he intended to do the same to her? Why had she been targeted anyway? And how did Wickham know she was to be in Darcy's carriage? For she was certain that he had not been surprised in the least when seeing her within instead of the master of Pemberley. How had he managed to ambush two men?
Snuggling closer into her betrothed's arms, her mind reeled and reeled, and she knew she would not be able to rest unless she had at least some questions answered.
They had barely reached Longbourn, when she was once again confronted with the whole house in an uproar and once more Lydia was the source of it, eagerly joined by her mother.
"You never let us go out these days!" the young girl accused, and it was clear that her governess was on the receiving end of her tirade.
"Well, you obviously did get out yesterday, when you sneaked out of the house when you should have taken care of the herbs in the still room, Miss Lydia."
"La, how else was I supposed to get to Meryton, when you all but lock us indoors? It is not fair, is it, Mama?"
"No, not at all. You are much too stern with my poor little Lydia – and you always single her out for punishment, too!"
"Enough!" her father shouted, and never in her life had Elizabeth seen him lose his temper so. "I have had enough of your antics, Lydia. If you went to Meryton yesterday, I dare say I hardly need to ask if you happened to see Lieutenant Wickham, do I?"
Lydia looked stunned for only the shortest of moments.
"Oh no, I did see him, and you know what? He said that if I get so mistreated as I am at present, that he will take me away. So!"
It was a sad testimony of how naive she was, that she did not even realise that this alone was justification enough for her to be locked up in her room. Mr Bennet, however, did do so.
"That you even dare say such a thing, is proof enough that you cannot be trusted to go into Meryton on your own, or anywhere really."
"Oh, Mr Bennet, how can you say so?" his wife started up, but for once he had none of it.
"Silence! With your indulging our youngest's every whim, you, Mrs Bennet, have spoilt her to a point where she is close to being unmanageable – as have I in turning a blind eye. But let me assure you, that if you carry on with taking her side when you should oppose her behaviour, I will have her sent to join Miss Bingley, is that understood? Oh, and before I forget, I will withdraw her account at the milliner's – and dare you, Mrs Bennet advance her anything. Unless she learns how to behave properly, she will not go into society and consequently does not require new clothes."
Mrs Bennet was about to protest, but at seeing her husband's expression, contented herself with pressing her lips together in disapproval.
But Mr Bennet was not finished: "To your information, Mr Wickham was the very reason why Mrs Younge and I thought it better for you not to go into Meryton, for he is a criminal."
"No, he is not!" Lydia interrupted him. "He cannot be."
"He is. Just now Mr Wickham has tried to abduct Lizzy and had Lieutenant Denny not warned us about it, he might even have succeeded. I think you should perhaps go to your room and contemplate over what your disobedience has caused."
There, at last, silence enveloped the house, at least until Kitty and Jane rushed forward to embrace their still crying sister, while Mrs Younge escorted a surprisingly downcast Lydia up the stairs and to her chamber.
"Come, Lizzy, you need to rest," Jane said softly, while Catherine only clung to her, giving as much comfort as she herself was receiving from holding onto Elizabeth.
"No, Jane, I first need to know what exactly has happened. It all went so quickly that I cannot recall much of it"
Looking at the coachman and footman pleadingly, both nodded and soon found themselves in the parlour either looking decidedly uncomfortable to be treated like proper guests. But Mr Bennet had insisted on them to take some tea with the rest of the family, while Mrs Bennet had, not knowing what else to do, conveniently fainted and been brought up to her room.
"It is easy enough to explain, Miss," the coachman started, carefully holding the china cup in his hands as if it were a raw egg. "We were just rounding the first bend over yonder when suddenly Higgins got knocked over the head and fell off the back of the carriage and when I turned to see what was going on, I, too, was bashed over the head and fell backwards. In no time that criminal threw fishing nets over us and though we struggled to free ourselves, the more we did so, the more entangled we became. When he saw that we would not stop fighting, we were knocked over the head another couple of times, not that that would have been necessary, for by then we were as helpless as any new-born babe. What happened after that, I am not certain of, for I could not see much of what was going on inside the carriage, and besides I was very drowsy. Thank goodness I have a solid head, though it does still hurt mightily. Then I heard Mr Darcy's voice and a shot – and I so hoped that that wicked Wickham was dead. But I guess it is better that he is not, for your sake, Sir."
"Perhaps it is. Aside, I think that justice is better served cold – much like revenge. But if you are still suffering from a headache, I will send for the apothecary and have you looked over," Darcy said, seemingly recalling his own recent concussion, for subconsciously he reached up to touch the fading scar.
"That will not be necessary, Sir," both footman and groom replied bashfully, still sitting precariously on the comfortable sofa as if putting their combined weight could make it collapse.
"It is necessary. You are in my employment and with that under my care. It is the least I can do. I will brook no opposition."
"Mr Darcy is right," Mr Bennet interjected. "But for now, please, be my guests. It does not fall to your lot that Mr Wickham is such an unpleasant sort of man – and neither to yours, Mr Darcy, and rest assured in that situation either of us would have been completely blindsided. I know that spot very well, and it is a well- known local legend that a little more than two hundred years ago it was the favourite haunt of a part-time highwayman named Charles Goulding – the younger brother of Sir Henry Goulding, who happened to be a magistrate. He ended up condemning his own brother - a gentleman by day and a robber by night..."
As a young girl, Elizabeth had always heard that story with some fascination, particularly since it related to some of their acquaintances' forefathers, pining over the untimely end of the poor sod Charles while being incredulous at how a brother could condemn his own kin to be hanged drawn and quartered. But now, knowing what it was to be on the receiving end of a man who had no scruples in taking what he wanted, all charm had been lost and her compassion lay with Sir Henry instead of his brother. What must that poor man have felt? What must Darcy feel at seeing his childhood friend being bound and in all likeliness hanged? After all, at one point they had been companions.