A Chance Encounter Chapter 4, a pride and prejudice fanfic

A/N

So, onto chapter 4, hope you all enjoy.

Thank you once again for all your engagement with this story. Your comments, appreciation and suggestions keep me hard at work :-). I already have the basic blocks of this story in my mind and am filling the rest with dialogues, but some of your suggestions/speculations are so interesting that I might think of them whenever I plan a new story!

To readers Lisa, ghauodgdsojahg – Thanks you once again for all your help. I know it is quite tedious to make a list of typos and then post them as reviews, but your help is making this story better and I am grateful. I do hope you guys stay with me all through this journey :)

And finally, I am still looking for a beta reader, if any of you is interested or can give any other suggestion, would be grateful.

A Chance Encounter

Chapter 4

Less than a quarter-hour later, Darcy dismounted his horse in front of the supposed 'inn' and looked at it in some trepidation. While it was going by quite a grandiose name of "The Red Lion", to Darcy it appeared more like a small village tavern than an inn where he could procure suitable lodgings for them all. Although the rain had now reduced to a drizzle, he was understandably in a hurry to get Elizabeth and Millie dry and comfortable. The landlord came hurrying out at his call and Darcy briefly narrated the fix they were in, finishing by stating his requirements. Unfortunately, Jones, the owner of 'The Red Lion' while being eager to help, soon confirmed what Darcy had feared.

"I will directly send a cart with some able-bodied men to fetch that poor woman and the coachman, just as you want, sir. I will also offer him a bed when he comes." The innkeeper then shook his head regretfully. "But I am that sorry, sir, I do not have lodgings fit for you and your lady wife. I have but one room in this establishment, and it is already taken by a weary traveller."

"Is there any other inn nearby?" Darcy asked although he was not at all hopeful.

"No, sir, but you can try your luck at Mrs Webster's farmhouse less than a mile away. She has the space for sure, however, I am less confident about your welcome. "

When Darcy raised his brow inquiringly, Jones answered readily enough. "The good lady has recently been having some trouble with strangers and has naturally become leery of them. Although it is fortunate that you have your family with you. They just might assist in getting Mrs Webster to lower her guard somewhat." Jones glanced askance at Elizabeth and then sighed. "I do hope that Mrs Webster takes pity on your poor missus, for she is considered quite a magician in treating sick and injured." He added with a compassionate smile.

Darcy nodded and thanked Jones for the intelligence and his willingness to help with the coachman. Once some coins had changed hands for the innkeeper's troubles, Darcy hurried back to his newly acquired 'family', quite eager to move on and find refuge.

He wanted to confer with Miss Bennet regarding Mrs Webster but decided against troubling her after one look at the shivering woman in front of him. Pain and cold had finally taken their toll and she was leaning back against him with her eyes closed, an expression of acute misery on her face. With an anxious frown, he urged Poseidon to go faster.

As his faithful horse gathered speed so did Darcy's anxious musings. One more concern had started to worry him in addition to the challenge of convincing the eccentric Mrs Webster to offer them sanctuary. Now that they were to stay in someone's household, the anonymity that an inn in a small, out of the way village would have afforded them was no longer theirs. He was undecided on how to ensure that no stigma attached to Miss Bennet for travelling alone with an unconnected gentleman.

For a moment a mischievous inner voice whispered in his ears that he could get his heart's desire if stigma did attach to her name, but he immediately suppressed it with a disgusted huff. A Darcy did not stoop to conquer. He also could not forget how her first utterings today had revealed her dislike of him. While his interactions today with Miss Elizabeth had reinforced what he had acknowledged when he quit The Swan - she was the stay in his heart. Yet, he would never want her to accept him due to compulsion. If she ever agreed to have him, it would be of her own free will.

With a deep sigh, he turned his mind to the problem at hand. If this lady- Mrs Webster would allow only a family to stay in her home, then maybe that was the solution to both of their problems. A young family would be the one seeking shelter from her this evening. To prevent even a whiff of their identities to escape, he would offer fictitious names. Darcy, who had always abhorred deceit in any form was quite disconcerted to realize that for her, he was more than prepared to engage in some dissembling of his own!

The rain had stopped completely by the time he noticed the gate to the farmhouse to his left. In the failing light of the overcast sky, he would surely have missed the gate, half-hidden by thick vines, had Jones not warned him of that very thing. Mentally thanking the innkeeper for his conscientiousness, Darcy got down from Poseidon to open the gate and led him inside, keeping his arm protectively around its precious cargo. Only when he had mounted back, with Elizabeth once gain nestling protectively in his arms did he allow himself to look around. The discerning eyes of the experienced landowner did not miss the few signs of neglect. At a little distance from where they were, the wooden fence bordering the state appeared to be broken. The attempts to repair it were insufficient and amateurish at best. 'Maybe, Mrs Webster has reasons for her suspicions,' he mused, his brow furrowed in concern.

A few minutes later he was dismounting in front of a country house somewhat smaller than he had expected it. He was in the process of picking up Millie and help Miss Bennet dismount when the front door of the house was flung open. Darcy stopped what he was doing and turned to greet their purportedly reluctant and unwitting hostess. The words of greeting died on his lips at the fantastic image that met his eyes. Framed in the doorway stood a tall but slight woman of around sixty years of age, pointing a hunting rifle straight at his heart. Disconcerted, he took a step back, his fascinated eyes glued to the hand on the trigger.

"Who are you and why are you here?" The woman asked belligerently.

He had opened his mouth to answer when an old man came rushing out from behind the house, wielding a pitchfork! Darcy closed his mouth and stared at both the would-be assailants in amused amazement. Had he come harbouring ill-will, it would have been a child's play for him to disarm the two. The woman appeared frail, and the man was sporting a bandage in his right arm. He was still wondering on how to appease the ferocious duo when little Millie did that job beautifully by letting out one loud, childish wail.

The rifle was lowered immediately, and the old woman came hurrying forward. "Oh, the poor wee thing! And your wife is injured, young man. What happened to her? By the by, I am Mrs Webster."

Darcy pondered on what and how much to tell the old lady as he turned to pick up Millie and help Miss Bennet dismount. 'The Fitzwilliam family it would have to be,' he thought, but changed his mind as soon as his eyes fell on the petulant look on Millie's small face. It reminded him of that very uncompromising "NO HOSS" of just hours ago. Unbidden, an image came to his mind- of their hostess once again pointing her rifle at him after Millie's equally emphatic "NOT PAPA", and he shuddered. It was just his luck that he was surrounded by not one but three unpredictable females! At least with Miss Bennet he had some hope of her agreeing to the subterfuge, but how could he expect it of the little moppet? There was nothing for it but stick to the truth about her and hope that Mrs Webster continued to feel as sympathetic.

"I am Alexander Fitzwilliam, ma'am. We all were for London. While I chose to ride, my wife, our friend Mrs Dawson and her granddaughter Millie were travelling in a carriage. Not too far from here our carriage suffered an accident in which my wife and the coachman sustained injuries." Darcy waited anxiously for a moment to gauge Miss Bennet's reaction to her sudden plunge into matrimony. When none was forthcoming, he heaved a sigh of relief and continued, "Millie here was more lucky." Fortunately, Mrs Webster was quick to understand what he left unsaid about Mrs Dawson. While her expression turned sympathetic, all she said in response was, "Oh!"

"Yes… well, we came to your village in search of help and lodgings. Jones at 'The Red Lion' was good enough to arrange assistance for our coachman. Unfortunately, he could not offer any accommodation for us. However, he did suggest that we might seek your assistance."

Mrs Webster gave all of them a searching look, then smiled as she ushered them inside her home. "Please come in. John will stable your horse and bring in your things." Darcy glanced at the man with the pitchfork and was relieved to see that pitchfork was now resting against a nearby wall. He nodded to the man and said, "There is only my valise in the saddlebag. Unfortunately, rest of our things are still in the carriage. Jones did promise to get them sent to wherever we seek shelter."

Mrs Webster nodded and then addressed John, "Please inform Mr Jones that the Fitzwilliams are staying with us."

"Aye, Missus." John replied as he led Poseidon away.

Darcy followed Elizabeth and Mrs Webster inside that kind lady's home, and noticed that she was limping slightly, a fact he seemed to have missed when she came rushing out to meet them.

~~~§~~~

Mrs Webster allocated a room on the first floor for their use. " Martha will show you to your room, Mr Fitzwilliam. Go and get yourself into some dry clothing while I see what I can find for your wife and this little angel."

With a nod and a bow to their hostess, Darcy followed the maid out of Mrs Webster's parlour.

Once the maid had left, Darcy took stock of the room he found himself in. It was a big enough room, with good quality furniture that had started to show signs of age. Although the room was very clean, a musty smell of disuse clung to it.

He noticed that his valise was kept on a small table near the bed and with a sigh of relief went to take out some dry clothes. Banes, an excellent valet by any standards, always kept a set or two of change of clothes in his master's valise to deal with any eventuality that might befall him. Sure enough, there were two sets of shirt and pants in valise apart from some other odds and ends for grooming. Fortunately, the dual protection of the saddlebag and the valise had managed to keep them dry.

As he went about the business of getting himself into blessedly dry clothes, he tried to figure out something that had been preying on him since he had presented Miss Bennet as his wife - their sleeping arrangements. Apart from the question of principles one more reason he had always stuck to telling the truth was the hassles that came with dissembling, he thought ruefully as he glanced at the furniture with more purpose than before. In the centre of the room was a four poster that very fortunately came attached with a truckle bed. The maid had laid out both with fresh linen. 'The truckle bed would do nicely for Millie, that would leave the four poster for Miss Bennet.' He concluded with some satisfaction as he searched for a place where he could lay his head. He was resigning himself to spend the night in the easy chair placed near the bed when his gaze fell on the couch sitting near the windowsill. 'Ah! This is quite fortunate,' he muttered to himself. Although his feet would most certainly dangle from one end, the couch would still be much more comfortable than spending the night in a chair. Having achieved a credible solution for one of his major worries, he went down to meet the ladies with a lighter step.

~~~§~~~

He followed the sound of Millie's sweet voice to the dining room, where everyone seemed to be gathered. For some time, he stood in the doorway unnoticed by the occupants of the room.

Martha and Millie were the first to fall in his line of sight. The moppet was now dressed in the raiment of a small boy of her age and still managed to look angelic. The maid was in the process of feeding Millie her supper which the little girl seemed quite eager to swallow. Either the food was delicious, or the child was really hungry. Darcy smiled at her antics, and then turned his attention to the remaining two occupants of the room. As soon as his gaze fell on Miss Bennet his heart gave an odd flip. She was sitting at the foot of the dining table and was wearing a dress in some shade of dark red. Although the gown appeared more serviceable than fashionable, the colour brought out auburn highlights in hair which was falling in loose waves over her shoulders. While he could only see her profile from where he stood, the striking picture she made rendered him breathless. He shook his head to clear his thoughts and directed his attention to what Mrs Webster was doing. Some jars full of salves and other paraphernalia required for first aid were strewn on the dining table and the good lady had just finished tying the bandage on Miss Bennets wound. She looked up as she completed her task and saw him standing in the doorway.

"Come in, Mr Fitzwilliam. You have come down at a most opportune time. Although Elizabeth here is being very brave and is insisting on eating her supper downstairs, anyone with eyes in their head can see that she is all done in. Please take her upstairs and Martha will bring in your trays in a short while." Darcy brows rose at the informal way Mrs Webster addressed Miss Bennet. The two ladies seemed to be on excellent terms if the manner in which they exchanged smiles was anything to go by. 'Miss Bennet could charm birds from trees if she was so inclined.' He thought in amusement.

"Mrs Webster is quite right, my dear. Ah… come, let us go upstairs." He said a little awkwardly as he nodded to Miss Bennet.

She gave him an unreadable look but to his relief got up without any comment. Mrs Webster nodded approvingly. "Good girl. You go along with your husband. As promised, I will send you a nourishing broth with some of my special herbs. It will keep away the chill from reaching your lungs and also give you some relief from the pain."

Elizabeth bid their hostess good night and made for the door. It was only then Darcy noticed that the gown she wore was too long for her and trailed behind her as she walked. May be that is why she was walking so carefully. Despite that she tripped before taking too many steps.

"Careful!" He exclaimed as he steadied her.

"Mr. Fitzwilliam?" Mrs Webster called out to him.

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"I believe you did not suffer any injury today as you were riding alongside the carriage?"

"You are right, Mrs Webster." Darcy replied, puzzled.

"Then I do not quite understand what is preventing you from picking Elizabeth up and carrying her upstairs? Don't you think it would be faster and more convenient all around?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Darcy said in a constrained voice and then threw a helpless look at Elizabeth as he bent forward to pick her up in his arms.

" I do not know what is wrong with you young people these days. Had my Harry been alive today, he would have had a few things to say to you about your deplorable lack of chivalry, Mr Fitzwilliam." Mrs Webster jested.

"I believe you are being too harsh on my dear Alex, ma'am. Don't you think some concession must be shown to those of an advanced age." Elizabeth smiled impishly at their hostess who gave a surprised crack of laughter and shook her head.

Darcy did not know whether to be amused or indignant at Miss Bennet's impudence. Deciding to ignore her outrageous barb about his age, he carried her out of the dining room.

"Alex?" He raised his brow at her as he started climbing the stairs.

"Yes, Mr Alexander Fitzwilliam. Since I found myself married so unceremoniously, I could do nought else but play the doting wife." Although Elizabeth kept her voice neutral, Darcy could make out that she was not happy with the turn of events.

In the interest of fairness, he tried to explain the compulsions that had started him on the path of this deception. "I am truly sorry Miss Bennet that I did not consult you before making claims about our marriage. But the way Mrs Webster welcomed us did not leave me much choice. I can assure you I was guided only by a desire to protect your good name and to ensure that Mrs Webster did not refuse us shelter. Jones had mentioned that a family seeking shelter from our hostess might have a better chance of it being offered."

Elizabeth gave him a searching glance then sighed, "I… I did hear most of what Mr. Jones told you at the inn."

Darcy was surprised at how easy it had been to convince her of the necessity of the charade. Smiling in relief he said, "I must confess, Miss Bennet, that when I told the story of the accident and proclaimed us to be married, for a moment, I was deeply worried that you would call me out for the falsehoods I was telling."

In response she gave him a sardonic glance. "You were quite right to be worried, Mr Darcy. I was almost on the verge of calling you out when my glance fell on the rifle Mrs. Webster was still holding and I suddenly recollected what Mr Jones had said. Frankly, sir, when it came to choosing between being thrown out of this place on our ears and a warm comfortable bed, I am ashamed to say I chose comfort over candour."

Darcy smiled at her jesting words as he kicked open the door of their room. "Then I can only thank my stars, Miss Bennet, that your intelligence is backed by a strong dose of pragmatism. Otherwise, I do not know where would we be now."

Elizabeth sighed deeply and then added, "To tell you the truth, sir, I am not at all comfortable in repaying our hostess with lies for her kindness. All I can say in my defence is that I was cold and miserable, and my head ached abominably. The very idea of being thrown out from here was insupportable at the time."

Darcy lowered her gently on to the bed, "I told you once that I abhor deceit of any kind but today I could do nothing else than what I chose, for the reasons I already shared." He looked into her eyes as he spoke, willing her to understand.

The intensity in his eyes made her catch her breath, and as she stared at him, his face so near her own, she felt a strong frisson of attraction. 'What are you about, Elizabeth! How could you be attracted to… to Mr Darcy! This man ruined your sister's happiness and cheated his childhood friend out of his inheritance," She thought, exasperated with herself. 'But how could a man who would walk miles to assist an orphaned little girl and a woman who spurned him, be anything but good and kind? Another voice whispered in her ears. She was already feeling frustrated with her inability to overcome her confusions, and now these strange emotions that his nearness engendered in her, left her totally unnerved.

"I would like to rest for a while." She told him shortly as she closed her eyes, willing him to move away and leave her in peace.

"Of Course, Miss Bennet." Came the quiet response. The next instance she heard a whispered sound and felt the duvet being arranged around her gently. Then he moved away as she had wanted, but she could still feel his presence with every fibre of her being.

~~~§~~~