Chapter 19: A shock for Darcy

As the carriage left, taking Elizabeth away, Mrs Hurst felt sick to her stomach. She was shaken. She knelt by the tree.
Oh! God! That poor girl. She put herself in danger to protect my child and me. What will I do if something happens to her?
She started weeping uncontrollably. She wanted to run out of the woods and untie the footmen. But she could not move. She thought Miss Bingley might come out in search of her, then she laughed. As if she will.
The sheer thought of looking at her sister again disgusted her beyond measure.
She knew her sister was selfish, she never thought she could be cruel.
She tried to listen for the sound of the other carriage.
Where are they? They should have followed us? What if something had happened to them as well.
She sat there contemplating. She felt tired and weak. The thought of Elizabeth being alone with the thugs made her feel guilty. She did not know how the time passed. In some time, she heard the sound of another carriage.
Mrs Hurst got up and hid behind a tree. She tried to see who it was. She saw Darcy running towards their stranded carriage. A wave of relief hit her.
Darcy, on the other hand, was agitated to find the carriage empty. Where are they? Where is Elizabeth?
"Miss Elizabeth Where are you?" He started shouting. The footmen tried to aid the injured men lying on the road.
Darcy heard a noise from the carriage. He opened the door and saw Miss Bingley stand up behind the seat.
"Good God! Miss Bingley what happened. Where is your sister? Where is Miss Elizabeth?"
He helped Miss Bingley over the seat, and she tried to cling on to him, he deftly pushed her away and made her exit the carriage.
"Miss Bingley please say something. What happened?"
"Highwaymen, Mr Darcy. Highwaymen. I told Charles not to come to this wretched country. Thank you so much for coming to save me. I knew you would come for me."
Darcy was annoyed beyond measure.
"Where is Miss Elizabeth? Miss Bingley, will you for God's sake tell me what happened to
them?"
"They took away Miss Elizabeth and my sister. Oh! It is all her fault. She must have known how dangerous these woods were. She could have cautioned us."
"Where did they take them? Which direction did they go?"
"I do not know. I only heard them drive away. Oh! I was so scared Mr Darcy. I feel like fainting."
She acted as she was about to faint on him and Darcy moved away allowing a footman to help her. Just then he heard a noise behind him. He turned and saw Mrs Hurst emerging from the woods.
Miss Bingley is wrong. She must have been mistaken. I am sure Elizabeth escaped as well.
He ran to Mrs Hurst.
"Mrs Hurst are you all right? Where is Miss Elizabeth?"
He helped her on to the road. Jane and Georgiana joined them. They were shocked to see the state of affairs. They were extremely worried when they could not find Elizabeth.
"Mr Darcy, you need to find her. They took her. Maybe half an hour ago. They went in that direction. Please, find her. She helped me escape and put herself in danger." Mrs Hurst cried.
Darcy's hopes of Elizabeth being safe died. Georgiana began to cry, and Jane was in tears as well.
"Tell me what happened. Did they ask for money or jewellery? Why did they take her?"
"No, they did not want those. They were very specific. They had come to kidnap Miss Darcy. They asked for her. Miss Elizabeth said she was Miss Darcy and they took her away."
"What? They wanted Georgiana?" Darcy could not believe his ears.
Georgiana was shocked as well.
"But why did Elizabeth have to do that?"
"She wanted to save Georgiana. She saved me as well. She made me hide on this side and ran on the other side and got caught. They tied her hands and dragged her to the carriage."
Mrs Hurst was now crying uncontrollably.
"She saved me. The men wanted to take me also to demand a ransom. Elizabeth
helped me escape. I will not forgive myself if something happens to her."
Darcy's heart broke.
Elizabeth, why would you put yourself in danger? What will do if something happens to you?
"Tell me, did they mention where they took her?"
"Elizabeth tried to tell me. She shouted that they were taking her to a cottage. She also said that somebody called Wickham would meet them there."
Darcy and Georgiana froze when they heard Wickham's name.
Wickham you scoundrel, I should have killed you in Ramsgate. What nerve you have to do this again?
Darcy was furious.
Georgiana started to weep.
"Georgiana do not worry. I promise you. I will find Elizabeth. I will find her."
"William, I do not know what I have done to earn her friendship. She has put herself in danger knowing the consequences. It is all my fault."
Darcy did not understand.
"What do you mean?"
"She knows William. She knows."
Darcy never understood what Georgiana was referring to.
"She knows about Wickham. She knows about Ramsgate. She knows everything. I told her a few days back. She put herself in danger knowing what he is capable of. Oh! William, what do we do?"
Darcy was stunned.
Oh no! What have you done Elizabeth? How can you be so selfless and sacrifice yourself for your friendship?
He never realised that Elizabeth had done it not only for friendship but for her love as well. Her love for Darcy.
Yes!
Never.