Chapter 47

"Col. Fitzwilliam's man sent me to fetch you. Miss Fitzwilliam and Miss Bennet are strolling in the park. He took over my watch of them," the footman exclaimed as soon as he was shown into the presence of Darcy, Bingley, Littleton and Col. Fitzwilliam at Darcy House. Before the men could say anything else, the footman added, "he said you must hurry."

"My man was watching the de Bough residence. He would only have left with good reason, likely to follow Lawton Sr. if he showed up," Col. Fitzwilliam said grimly.

"Where in Hyde Park did you leave them?" demanded Darcy standing up.

"Near the West entrance, they was strolling toward the North enterance, slowly. Not with Miss Fitzwilliam's usual strides," the footman reported. "A few passerbys had hailed them. Not many considering the time, the park was nearly deserted. They had stopped to exchange greetings with each before continuing on at their same pace. After an older gent greeted them is when they slowed down. I wasn't sure what to make of it until Col. Fitzwilliam's man came up out of nowhere and sent me for help."

"Come on," Col. Fitzwilliam said brusequely. "Time is of the essence. My man will likely be able to slow Lawton down, assuming it is him. But he may not be working alone and my man, while good in a fight, might be out numbered. We need to get there and get Lissy and Miss Bennet before we lose them."

The gentlemen headed out of Darcy House and towards Hyde Park. Littleton, as he and Bingley ran after Darcy and Col. Fitzwilliam, called for the footman to get the Earl. Pedestrians gasped in surprise to see the gentlemen coming barreling out of Darcy House and cross the street to Hyde Park at a run through the West entrance. Cutting through the woods they reached the North entrence of the nearly deserted park, since most of the ton where at home preparing for dinner, Darcy's heart studded to a stop. Col. Fitzwilliam's batman leapt at a man that stood behind Elizabeth and Jane ugring them to climb into a carriage. The older man was taken surprise and knocked to the ground. When the coachman jumped down to assist his employer, Elizabeth and Jane together attempted to stop him, but the man was burly and grabbed a hold of Elizabeth, shoving Jane to the ground roughly.

Elizabeth attempted to twist out of the man's hold, but he effortlessly lifted her off the ground. Then she heard him harshly demanding that the man on the ground move away from Mr. Lawton or it would go ill for her. Col. Fitzwilliam's man was distracted by this and seeing Elizabeth in the man's grasp ceased wrestling with Lawton for the gun, freezing. Lawton began to stand up an pointed the gun towards his attacker., Col Fitzwilliam's man. Before anything else could happen though, a large male form barreled into Elizabeth and her captor, yanking her out of the man's arms and craddling her to his own familiar form. While another jumped on Lawton, subduing him with a quick punch that knocked him out. Elizabeth found herself in Darcy's grasp and glanced over just in time to see Littleton take her captor by surprise, who had been knocked off balance as Darcy had yanked her into his own arms. Bingley was nearby, tenderly assisting Jane to sit up as others near by rushed to offer assistance.

Darcy clung tightly to Elizabeth, to out of breath to speak, clutching her to him. When he had seen the man grab Elizabeth, in a rush of adrenaline, he had ran faster, his only thought being to remove Elizabeth from the other man's grasp. Luckily his cousins and Bingley had been right behind him and Col. Fitzwilliam had not hesitate in going for Lawton Sr, who as the one with the gun, possed the most danger.

Gasping for breath, Col. Fitzwilliam said, "Darcy you love sick fool, once again you go straight for Lissy rather then averting the greater danger. What did you plan to do after he shot you? A gun can do just as much damage to you as a horses hooves and then where would she be with you hurt and the danger still present?"

"Father should be here soon," Littleton gasped trying to catch his breath and slow his racing heart beat. He recognized that it had only been the element of surprise and lucky timing that had allowed them to succeed in rescuing Elizabeth and Jane. Around them a handful of people that had been out on the street near enough to witness the confrontation had started toward the commotion, offering help and exclaiming in surprise.

Darcy merely nodded. He recognized the sense of what Col. Fitzwilliam said but knew he would always seek to go for Elizabeth first even when it would be more logical to take out the greater danger. Where she was concerned his heart, not logic ruled him. it was lucky that Col. Fitzwilliam had been present in Kent to grab the horses reins and here to subdue Lawton.

Bingley having assisted Jane to sit up began loosening his carvat and said practically, if a bit out of breath, as he took it off, "We had best tie the miscreants up. Your neckware should do nicley." He began to bind the hands, none to gently, of the man that lay unconscious that had shoved Jane. Col. Fitzwilliam removed his own cavarat and did the same with Lawton Sr. While a nearby man asked nervously if a constable should be fetched.

"Attempted kidnapping in Hyde Park of two gentlewomen," Littleton said grimly ignorong the small mingling crowd. "They will both hang for sure."

Elizabeth, who had been quiet with Darcy's arms holding her tightly, began to laugh. When the others looked at her in concern she merely laughed harder. Jane looked at her sister and began to giggle as well.

Finally calming down, Elizabeth said, "And you thought it would be both dangerous and scandalous to climb a tree in Hyde Park, Jane."

"You wanted to throw acorns down at unsuspecting passerbys," Jane said through giggles. "Though that would have certainly been less adventurous then this. Next time I think I shall allow you your simple adventure, if it means we can be spared a more harrowing one."

"Not just any unsuspecting passerbys, Jane, only the insufferable ones," Elizabeth argued making a face at her sister.

The gentlemen chuckled in amusement at Elizabeth's playful nature since all were aware she had only been teasing Jane and relief that the ladies seemed unaffected by their near kidnapping. Col. Fitzwilliam realising that once reality set in the two would likely go into shock was relieved to see his father hurrying their way. The group quickly left the park and returned to Matlock House. Elizabeth and Jane were bundled into Lady Matlock's care while the gentlemen gathered in the study to question the prisoners.

Lawton having regained consciousness realized his fate was sealed no matter what he said or did now, bitterly told them everything. Boasting at times of his own cleverness and railing at his brother-in-law, Sir Mortimer.