Trigger Warning: Attempted rape in this chapter

Chapter 11

My dear Elizabeth,

I am glad that the birthday festivities went well and that Miss Darcy enjoyed her gift. Your uncle and I have told you many times that you are very talented, my dear. I do not know why you are so surprised that Mr. Darcy noticed it too. I think it is a wonderful thing that he has sent some of your work off to a publisher. Be sure to tell me what Mr. Darcy hears from his friend.

I have heard so very much about Mr. Darcy from your letters, Lizzy. Could it be that you have formed a tendre for him? I have never heard you speak so much about a gentleman. And he is a very respectable, handsome gentleman. I so enjoyed meeting him in London. I would be very pleased for you if you had formed an interest in him. He could not help but fall in love with someone as lovely and vivacious as you. If he has been spending as much time with you as you intimate, it could be that he has those feelings already.

But I do not mean to give you advice you have not asked for. I am sure if you wish to discuss these things you will approach me with them yourself.

Elizabeth looked up from the letter from Mrs. Gardiner. Was her aunt right? Could Mr. Darcy possibly have romantic feelings for her? She didn't see how it could be so. And yet she had noticed he seemed more cheerful around her than around others. The gloom that had surrounded him in London was gone. But could he just be enjoying the company of a friend? They certainly had become good friends.

Did she have a tendre for him? She pondered the question. She remembered last week, when they had been making daisy chains. She had come to the realization of how much she admired and esteemed him. She had thought that she was in danger of falling in love with him. It seemed ridiculous to fall in love with a man who was old enough to be her father; and yet, more unequal matches were made every day. Did his age really matter all that much?

She still did not see how a man of such maturity and experience in the world could fall in love with her. Her Aunt Gardiner must be wrong.

It was two weeks into the house party, and they only had two more. She would have to observe Mr. Darcy closely to see if she could perceive any admiration on his side. If she could, maybe there was hope.

They had certainly protected each other from unwanted suitors on both sides; Mrs. Parkinson had been relentless in her pursuit of Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Althorpe simply would not leave Elizabeth alone. His insinuations had become more and more blatant, on the verge of being inappropriate. Did he want to marry her? She could not tell. This was not the way to go about courting a woman.

Miss Darcy, who had asked her to call her Melody, considered 'Miss Lizzy' to be her new best friend. She had shown her book about the "knight bear" to the other children, and they all clamoured for a turn to read it again and again. It seemed Mr. Darcy may have been right about its appeal to children, but she still was not certain it was good enough to publish.

Her reverie was interrupted by a male servant she had never seen before. He bowed before her, and presented a sealed letter. Curious, she thanked him for it, and waited until he walked away before opening it. She was in the sitting room with many of the other ladies, who were working on needlepoint or their correspondence as they waited for the gentlemen to get ready for dinner.

Inside was written in a strong, masculine, hand:

Miss Elizabeth,

I have received a letter back from my friend Mr. Pritchard in London. If you will, I would like to discuss it with you after supper. I think we can find some quiet space in the conservatory. If not, I will see you perhaps in the morning and we can go for a walk before breakfast.

Your servant,

F.D.

Elizabeth pondered this. She knew it was difficult for a lady and gentleman who were not married to find time alone at a house party. Jane had often complained about the problem. Elizabeth knew she and Mr. Cranfield had met in the conservatory privately on occasion. And if Mr. Darcy wanted to meet with her right away, perhaps it was good news. She put the paper away amid her other correspondence, deciding to burn it as soon as she returned to her room. It would not do to have someone discover that she was planning a rendezvous with a gentleman; her reputation would be ruined.

All through dinner she was in a state of nervous excitement. She could not decide if she was more excited about the letter from Mr. Pritchard or about seeing Mr. Darcy alone. True, she had taken walks with him before breakfast, but there were always servants or other guests about. This time they would be quite alone, and she was not sure what she was most excited about.

Unfortunately, Mr. Althorpe decided to stick to her like a leech as soon as supper was over. He offered her his arm, which she pretended not to have seen, and tried to lead her into the music room. "Perhaps you can play some more beautiful music for us this evening, Miss Elizabeth."

"No, thank you, Mr. Althorpe. I see that my sister is with her fiancé and I would not wish to interrupt her."

"Perhaps we can join the card table then. I see Lady Dunmore laying out cards for the evening."

In annoyance, Elizabeth tried to think of a way to get him to leave her alone. "Thank you, sir, but I am afraid I must visit the retiring room."

"Very well. I will wait for your return with bated breath."

Elizabeth just restrained herself from rolling her eyes as she curtseyed and then left the room. She did, in fact, visit the retiring room to take care of personal business before making her way to the conservatory. She had told Jane earlier that she was going to meet Mr. Darcy there, and Jane had been excited for the possible news she might hear. They had agreed to talk it over in their chambers that night before bed.

The conservatory was a grand, beautiful place, featuring plants of all kinds. There were vegetables as well as fruits growing, vines reaching up pillars and stone busts placed on the walls. Elizabeth even saw pineapples. She had tasted some of the tasty fruit at dessert during the house party, but she had never seen the plant. It was not a tree exactly; it almost looked like a bush that grew stocky leaves whorled around a central stem.

She was so busy examining it that she did not notice someone approaching until he was very close. She realized it must be Mr. Darcy and she turned around with a welcoming smile, only to find that it was Mr. Althorpe. She instantly felt annoyed. Had he followed her here?

"Ah, that is the type of welcoming smile I have wanted from you, Elizabeth," he said, stepping very close, and casting a lascivious look down her body.

She tried to step away but realized she was backed up against the wall. "Mr. Althorpe, I have not given you permission to address me so familiarly," she said. "I was not waiting for you at all. In fact, I believe I shall depart at once. It is inappropriate for us to be alone like this."

He ignored her words. "Surely you know I have been waiting for us to find some time alone," he continued smoothly.

"I know no such thing, Mr. Althorpe," said Elizabeth sharply. "Please step back."

"Oh, no. Not before I get what I am due," he said, and his eyes glinted dangerously. Before she could stop him, he had lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers.

She drew back her hand and slapped him in the face.

He drew back slightly, the side of his face red from her strike. He looked furiously angry. "That was a mistake, Elizabeth. You will pay for that."

He grabbed her wrists in one of his hands and forced them above her head as she struggled. With the other hand he pawed at her bosom, and forced a punishing kiss on her. Her father had taught her how to defend herself against male attackers, but she could not get her knee in the right position to jab him in the perfect spot. At her first attempt he turned so she hit the outside of his thigh instead, and it seemed to enrage him even more. She heard her dress rip and felt the cool night air against her exposed breasts. Horrified, she realized she was about to be raped. She tried to cry out, but his mouth against hers muffled the sounds.

Then, suddenly, she heard a short cry, and Mr. Althorpe was torn away from her. She watched as Mr. Darcy advanced on her attacker.

"Ah, so you were coming here to meet Dull Darcy, Elizabeth? I thought you had better taste. I bet the fellow can't even get it up."

Elizabeth did not know what he meant, but she was distracted by seeing Mr. Darcy punch Mr. Althorpe in the face. The younger man fell to the ground, covering his nose with his hand.

"How dare you attack Miss Elizabeth?" Darcy rasped in a low, deadly voice. "Take your filthy carcass out of here before I knock you unconscious."

Althorpe scrambled to his feet, blood oozing down his face from his broken nose, and then the coward turned and fled out of the room.

Elizabeth saw Mr. Darcy turn to her, and his face softened from its angry lines into gentle concern. "Are you all right, Miss Elizabeth?"

She was grasping the torn shreds of her bodice together, holding back tears. "He was trying to… He was going to…" She could not go on.

"Here, take my coat," he said, removing the garment and then turning his back so she could put it on. She let go of the edges of her bodice and put her arms through the long sleeves, then wrapped the front around her.

"Thank you, sir," she said, her voice muffled with tears.

He turned back around. "I am sorry he imposed himself on you, Miss Elizabeth," he said.

"Please, please do not tell anyone about this," she pleaded. "I will not be made to marry that man!"

"No, of course I will not," he said soothingly. "But I must tell Georgiana. Dunmore will have Althorpe gone from the property before morning. They will practice the utmost discretion."

"But how am I to get to my room like this, without anyone seeing? I shall be ruined!"

"I know a way. There are secret passages in the manor, from when it was built in the 1300's. Some of them are closed off, but one of them leads to the conservatory. I took it to get here, in fact. Come, follow me."

He led her toward the wall where a bust was perched. He twiddled with the base of the bust, and then a door before unseen opened in the wall. He had left a candlestick just inside, and lit it now. "This way, Miss Elizabeth," he said.

Elizabeth followed him, still in a haze from the horrible assault on her person. "That was not how I dreamed my first kiss would be," she said with a bitter laugh.

Mr. Darcy turned back to look at her, his eyes soft. "That was not a kiss, Miss Elizabeth," he said gently. "That was an assault. It is nothing to compare with a true kiss."

She held on tightly to his coat which swamped her. She could smell his fresh scent from it: a mixture of bay and something slightly spicy. She felt a bit better.

They walked for a few minutes, until they reached another door. Darcy opened it and they emerged into Lady Dunmore's study. "This is right by the mistress's chambers," Darcy said. "We should be able to get you to your room with no trouble."

Elizabeth followed him, even as she feared a servant or errant guests would come across them. Fortunately he was able to get her down the hall to the guest chambers with no one the wiser. Darcy opened her door and she slipped inside but he did not follow. Instead, he stood in the doorway. "I must go speak to Georgiana," he said. "Is there anyone I can call for you? Your sister, perhaps?"

"Jane! Yes, Jane! Please," Elizabeth cried, feeling that once her sister was there all would be well.

"Very well. I will send her up as discreetly as I can."

"Thank you, Mr. Darcy." She reached out and grasped his hand without even realizing she was doing it. It was large and warm, and to her surprise had some calluses on it. He laid his other hand on top of hers, and she felt comforted strangely.

"It is my pleasure, Miss Elizabeth. I am just sorry I could not come to your aid sooner."

"No true harm was done," she whispered.

"I will go get your sister," he said, pulling away.

"Thank you," she nodded and then went into her room, shutting the door behind her.

Jane was up within five minutes. Elizabeth was still sitting in Mr. Darcy's jacket, breathing in his scent, when her sister found her.

"Oh, Lizzy! Mr. Darcy said Mr. Althorpe attacked you! Are you all right, my dearest?"

Jane put her arms around her sister in a hug, and that was when Elizabeth finally lost her composure. She burst into sobs, and let go of the stress and horror of the evening. Jane just held her in her arms and rocked her back and forth, making soothing noises.

"Dearest Lizzy! Did he hurt you badly?" she asked once Elizabeth's tears had subsided.

"Not badly, Jane. He assaulted my mouth and tore my bodice, but did no lasting damage."

Jane looked relieved but still concerned. "Let me help you change."

Elizabeth had not called her maid, because she did not want the servant to see the state of her dress. Jane now helped her out of the torn garment and into a comfortable nightgown.

"Do you think you can sleep, Lizzy?"

"I don't – I don't know. I feel – I feel dirty," Elizabeth said with a little sob.

"I will order a bath for you at once," said Jane decisively.

Elizabeth was in too fragile a state to argue. Jane called the servants and they said the hot water would be up in fifteen minutes. Jane spent that time telling Elizabeth some anecdotes from the evening's entertainment to try to lighten her sister's mood. Apparently Mrs. Parkinson had been searching for Mr. Darcy quite avidly after dinner and was put out when she could not find him. Elizabeth gave a watery giggle when she heard this, and tried to imagine the red-haired widow looking behind statues and under tables for the extraordinarily tall Mr. Darcy.

Once the water arrived, Jane went to her room to change for bed, and Elizabeth got into the tub eagerly. She scrubbed until her skin was red, and felt a little better afterwards. She let Jane help her out of the tub and back into her nightgown.

"Will you stay with me tonight, Jane?" she asked. "I do not think I could sleep if I were left alone."

"Of course, dearest. You need not even ask."

Both sisters got into the big bed, and Elizabeth finally fell into a restless sleep.

Darcy's blood was boiling with anger. He had kept a calm countenance for Miss Elizabeth because that was what she needed, but he was overflowing with rage at the dastard who had dared to put his hands on the woman he loved. Althorpe did not even deserve to kiss the hem of her garment, and yet he had forced his mouth on her and ripped the bodice of her dress. He tried to conceal his anger as he went to find Miss Jane Bennet, and then sought out his sister. She was down at the card tables with her guests, and with an easy excuse he was able to get her and her husband away. Mrs. Parkinson tried to delay him with some excuse, but he shook her off and led Georgiana and Malcolm into Dunmore's study. There he told them all that had transpired, and both were horrified.

"The poor dear!" cried Georgiana. "Are you sure nothing of a more – serious nature occurred?"

"She said no lasting damage was done, and I believe her. He had not trespassed that far on her person when I found them."

Georgiana breathed a sigh of relief. "That is good. But what must we do about Althorpe? We do not want news of this to get out."

"He will be out of this house before the next hour has passed," said Dunmore sternly. He looked more unyielding than Darcy had ever seen him. "You said you broke his nose, Darcy?"

"I believe so," said Darcy grimly. "It was bleeding heavily at least when the coward scrambled away."

Dunmore looked pleased to hear that. "I will evict him quietly, so no one else knows the reason. Do you have any idea where he might have gone after he left you?"

"I have no idea."

"The servants might know. We shall inquire discreetly," said Georgiana.

"I shall look into it. Darcy, you will help me?"

"Of course," said Darcy.

"I had better go check on Miss Elizabeth," said Georgiana worriedly.

"No, I think you should leave her for tonight. She has her sister with her. I think your presence would only overwhelm her," said Darcy.

"But she is my guest. I –"

"You can check on her in the morning," Dunmore said, agreeing with his brother-in-law.

Georgiana gave in. "Very well. I should go back to our guests before they guess something is wrong. You will tell me the results when you find Althorpe?"

"Of course," said Dunmore.

They all left the study and the two gentlemen went to discreetly ask the servants if they had seen Mr. Althorpe.

It only took them a few minutes to track him to the gardens. A footman said he had seen Mr. Althorpe along with a woman, heading toward the daffodil patch. Darcy wondered if he was going to assault another woman, and hurried his steps.

Dunmore slowed him with a hand on his arm as they got closer. They could hear two voices speaking, and Darcy recognized both of them. It was Althorpe and Mrs. Parkinson.

"I did what you asked. You owe me the money now," Althorpe insisted, as if he had said this before.

"You were supposed to compromise her!" Mrs. Parkinson screeched.

"I did compromise her. It was just that old Darcy was the only one who saw it. He broke my nose! You cannot expect me to try again."

"I do. You will not get a farthing from me. You were supposed to compromise her in front of everyone! She should have been ruined! I can tell Mr. Darcy wants her, but he will not if she is ruined!"

"Well, I didn't get far enough to ruin her completely, but perhaps Darcy will see her as tainted now. You will get what you want. And I want the money you promised me."

"I told you, you will not get a farthing until –"

Darcy had heard enough. Both he and Dunmore strode forward. Mr. Althorpe and Mrs. Parkinson paled when they saw them.

"Mr. Darcy, this is not what it looks like," said Mrs. Parkinson quickly. "Mr. Althorpe and I were just –"

"I heard everything, madam," said Darcy grimly.

"And so did I," added Dunmore. "Althorpe, I want you gone from the manor before the next hour passes. You will never darken the door of any of my homes again, nor will I recognize you in public." He turned to the lady. "Mrs. Parkinson, you were never invited to this house party in the first place, but insinuated yourself here and took advantage of my wife's goodwill. I want you gone by tomorrow morning. You will never be welcome here again."

"Nor will you be welcome in my company," said Darcy. "You disgust me, madam. How dare you pay a ruffian to defile a gentleman's daughter? The sight of you makes me sick."

Mrs. Parkinson's face turned as red as her hair, and she blustered for a moment, but then burst out, "You must have misheard, Mr. Darcy. I would never do such a thing. Mr. Althorpe –"

"Oh, drop it, Mrs. Parkinson," said Althorpe. "As if any man would want an ugly old hag like you. You've lost. You might as well admit it." He turned to Dunmore. "I will go pack my things."

"I will just send a few footmen with you to ensure you leave peaceably," said Dunmore grimly. He called forward two burly footmen from the house, and they led Althorpe from the garden. As he passed, Darcy was satisfied to see that his nose was swollen and red, with a clear bump on the bridge.

"Do I need to summon footmen to help you too, Mrs. Parkinson?" asked Dunmore with deadly pleasantness.

"Mr. Darcy –" she appealed to him again.

"Get out of my sight, woman, before I truly lose my temper!" Darcy snapped.

Mrs. Parkinson's face turned pale, and then bright red again. "You will regret this," she said at last through gritted teeth, before stomping off towards the house.

"I will send some footmen to follow her, just in case," said Dunmore. "I cannot believe she would stoop so low."

"Neither can I," said Darcy, passing his palm over his forehead. "How do you think she deduced my interest in Miss Elizabeth?"

"Ah, so you are interested in her," said Dunmore.

"I am," said Darcy, not afraid to admit it now.

Dunmore slapped him on the back. "It will be a brilliant match," he said.

"You forget that she must accept me first, Dunmore."

Dunmore shrugged. "There is no trouble with that. Anyone with eyes can see in what esteem she holds you."

Esteem, maybe. But love? He was not at all sure.

He had had such good news for her tonight. Now it was all ruined. Maybe tomorrow Elizabeth would be feeling better, and he could share Mr. Pritchard's letter with her. He hoped she would be excited.