Chapter 41: Gone

Elizabeth woke up the next day, unable to remember when she had slept. During breakfast, she asked Darcy.

"You slept while we were reading."

"Oh! Then.. you must have…"

"I carried you to your bed." Darcy said, looking at her blush. "Have you been sleeping well? Or do you still have nightmares?"

She had divulged to him about her nightmares a few days ago.

"I am sleeping better. I don't remember having one in the past week. And I do not feel sleepy during the day as I used to."

Darcy felt happy to know that she was sleeping better. He still felt very guilty about her sleeping on the floor for so many months.

After breakfast, he took her to his room. Elizabeth saw several boxes on his table.

"Elizabeth, I know you did not bring any jewels I gave you in London to Pemberley. I understand how you felt when I gave them to you. These are also my mothers. I will be honoured if you wear them. But, if you choose not to, we can buy new ones." He said, hoping she would accept.

"Are you angry at me because I left those jewels back in London?" She asked uncomfortably.

"Of course not. Considering what I have put you through, it seems fair enough that you did not want to touch them. But now, you know my heart. If my mother was alive, she would be very proud of the woman I married. Will you take these?"

"I will. Thank you." She said and smiled at him.

Darcy was elated. He knew she was not materialistic, but he wanted her to have everything in life.

Elizabeth made sure that she did not neglect Emma and Georgiana because of her blossoming relationship with her husband.

She could not believe how beautiful and meaningful her life had turned all of a sudden. She blushed whenever she was around Darcy. His gaze always unsettled her, and the kiss they shared the previous day made her long for more.

Her heartfelt lighter. After so many months, she felt she could come to terms with the loss of her father and move forward in life. She left Pemberley that afternoon for her weekly tenant visits.

In the past months, she had gained a lot of trust and respect amongst the tenants. Elizabeth had always been happy to help the tenants of Longbourn and Pemberley had so much more to do. She always beamed with pride when the tenants expressed their gratitude for their master. She realised how wrong she had been in her initial judgement of Darcy's character in Netherfield. The man she had judged to be proud, haughty and unreasonable, had proven her wrong in so many ways. It was her routine to make weekly tenant visits and assisted those who needed help from them.

The Darcy carriage reached one of the tenant cottages near the woods. The tenant was a young widow named, Mrs Carter. Elizabeth felt sorry for the woman and her children. The family was happy to see her.

"Mrs Darcy, it so kind of you to visit us." Mrs Carter said.

"It is always my pleasure to visit your family, Mrs Carter. Is the baby sleeping?"

"Oh! Yes! He is. But little Clara is playing in the garden. She will be happy to see you."

Elizabeth always enjoyed playing with the little child. She headed to the gardens in the backyard.

"Hello! Clara! How is my princess doing today?"

"Mrs Darcy! I am so happy to see you." The little child was excited.

Elizabeth liked the little cottage by the woods. It was a beautiful day, and she wondered if she could go to the treehouse once she was back home.

"Mrs Darcy, can we play hide and seek like last time. I will find you soon. I will tell mamma that I won."

"We can certainly play." Elizabeth hid behind a rose bush, and the little child found her soon.

They played a few turns, and Elizabeth thought it was time to leave.

"One last time Mrs Darcy. Please hide I will find you."

Elizabeth looked out for a new place to hide. She saw the trees leading to the woods close to the garden and quickly headed there. She went behind a huge tree and hid from the sight of the cottage. She smiled at the little child searching for her in the gardens. After a few minutes, she decided to go back to the house.

Poor Clara. That is enough now.

As she got up, she was shocked when a hand suddenly covered her mouth. She struggled hard to get away, but she could not. Within seconds, she was dragged into the woods. She tried her best to cry for help. She kicked at the man who dragged her and bit his hand. She heard him cry out in pain. With the few seconds she had away from his grip, she tried to run away, but he caught up to her and pulled her. He handled her roughly. She realised that he had torn the back of her dress, she was utterly mortified. When she finally saw him, face to face, she was shocked.

"Mr Wickham!" She cried in anger.

"You are finally mine, my darling." He said with an evil sneer.

Before she could yell, he dragged her into his carriage that stood in the clearing and bound her hands and legs with rope. Within minutes the carriage was speeding away through the woods, and Elizabeth knew that there was no way anybody could have seen her getting abducted. She hoped and prayed the little girl would inform her mother that she was missing. The look on Wickham's face had terrified her. Fitzwilliam, please save me!

Darcy finally set aside his work in his study. It was merely two hours since he had seen his wife, but he missed her. He smiled when he remembered how she had blushed during dinner. He had surprised her by giving a quick kiss on her cheek before Georgiana joined them.

He sighed thinking when the time would come for them to become man and wife in every way.

Just as he was about to leave the study, he heard a commotion outside and the door opened.

Darcy was unaccustomed to such behaviour from anybody in the house.

"What on earth is the matte…?" He asked, thinking it was one of the staff. Before he could complete the sentence, he was shocked when he realised who the visitor was.

"Richard? Good, God! When did you leave London?"

"Darcy, there is no time to lose. Where is Mrs Darcy?"

"Why? What is the matter? Is something wrong?"

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a young woman. Darcy stared at her in disbelief.

It was one face he could not forget in his lifetime. It cannot be true.

The woman who stood in front of him shook like a leaf. Somehow, she mustered the courage to speak.

"Sir…your wife is in danger." Dorothy said, hoping against hope that she was not too late.