This chapter also has an account of Anne's captivity. If you don't wish to read of it, skip past the first portion of the chapter.
The second time Anne awoke, she found she was not alone. She sat up on her cot and looked at the woman who had been her companion for nearly a year. On her right stood Fred, and on her left another man who Anne did not think she had seen before. Her head seemed heavy, and she had trouble focusing her eyes.
"Good morning, Miss de Bourgh," said the Mrs. Younge with a false cheerfulness.
"Good morning," said Anne, supposing that it would do her no favours to be rude to her captors.
"I need you to write a note, dear," said Mrs. Younge.
"A note?" she asked, her head still fuzzy, "to whom?"
"Why, to your relations, of course," said Mrs. Younge, "They must be mightily worried about you. You've been gone for some time."
"Where am I?" asked Anne.
"In a cellar," said Mrs. Younge.
"Here," said Fred, handing Anne a piece of paper, a pen, and ink. Mrs. Younge dictated while Anne wrote.
Dear Lord Matlock,
i write to you From where i am confined. i have not been mistreated in anyway, excepting my confinement. i have food, water, and a place to Rest. the people who hold me request my dowry of twenty thousand pounds to be released to them in Exchange for my freedom. if you refuse, i will be taken to scotland and forced to wed one of my captors.
follow the Directions of my captors carefully,
love,
Anne de Bourgh
When Wickham and Lord Barlow arrived at Rosings, Colonel Fitzwilliam rushed out to meet them.
"A ransom note has come," he exclaimed.
"Pray, let us see it," said Lord Barlow. He read it quickly then passed it to Wickham.
"Clever girl," said Wickham.
"What?" said Lord Barlow.
"Look at the capital letters," said Wickham, handing the note back to Lord Barlow.
"D-L-M-F-R-E-D-A-B," listed his lordship, "What does it mean?"
"Just look at the body of the note," said Wickham.
"F-R-E-D," said Lord Barlow.
"Where is Fred, the groom?" asked Wickham.
"In the stables, I imagine," said Colonel Fitzwilliam.
"Let's find him and see what he knows," said Wickham
"Darcy," said Lady Matlock, "You seem despondent."
"Should I not be?" said Darcy coldly, "My cousin is being held for ransom."
"That is not what I mean. It is something else," said her ladyship.
"It is not as important as getting Anne home safely," said Darcy.
"Perhaps not," said her ladyship, "but will you tell me of it?"
"I know you don't approve of Miss Elizabeth…" began Darcy.
"Who said I do not approve of Miss Elizabeth?" asked Lady Matlock, an eyebrow raised in a manner that reminded him very much of the lady they were speaking of.
"Lord Matlock called me a fool for pursuing her. He called her a 'penniless country chit' or something of that sort," said Darcy.
"You will find that my husband and I do not agree on all matters, Darcy," said Lady Matlock, "I liked your Miss Elizabeth."
"You approve?" asked Darcy.
"Would I prefer it if her connections were better and her dowry greater? Assuredly, I would. Yet, I will not disapprove on those grounds alone," said Lady Matlock, "If she were not a gentleman's daughter, I might have something to say about the match. Even then, you are your own man. It is not for me to approve or disapprove of anything you do."
"I thank you, Aunt," said Darcy.
"May I ask why you are in London and she in Hertfordshire at the moment?" said Lady Matlock.
"Anne…," said Darcy.
"I am certain that a dozen family members and an entire regiment out looking for her is enough."
"I cannot just leave while my cousin is missing," said Darcy.
"So, you prefer to pace the floor in worry instead of occupying yourself with your Miss Elizabeth?" said Lady Matlock.
"I may be needed," said Darcy.
"Darcy," said Lady Matlock, "I am sure that your cousins, your uncles, and the regiment can do whatever is needed. Go to Hertfordshire. We can send an express rider with updates as they occur."
"Do you really think I should go?" asked Darcy, "It feels…wrong."
"It feels wrong because you are used to every responsibility falling upon your shoulders," said Lady Matlock, "This once, let someone else take care of it."
Elizabeth entered Longbourn the next day after her morning walk to find a very unexpected sight.
"Mr. Darcy!" she exclaimed.
"I have only just arrived last night," said Mr. Darcy.
"Mr. Darcy had a most important question to ask of me this morning. It seems he could not bear to wait until normal calling hours," said Mr. Bennet, "I gave my approval, pending my confirming that you had, indeed, agreed to a courtship with this gentleman."
"I did, Papa," said Elizabeth.
"Very well, then," said Mr. Bennet, "Do tell your mother at a time when I am in my study, so I might not be required to hear her raptures."
Then Mr. Bennet quit the room, leaving the door open for propriety's sake.
"You are returned," said Elizabeth, "Is your cousin well?"
"My cousin has not yet been found, to my knowledge at least," said Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth was confused as to why he was then not in London.
"My Aunt Elinor – that is, Lady Matlock- practically ordered me out of London. She made the point that with an entire regiment out looking for my cousin, I was hardly doing anyone any good by pacing the floor in my study."
"I am glad to see you, but I am sorry that your cousin has not yet been found. Did you know that Mr. Wickham has gone to assist? It seems he is familiar with the Younges."
"I did. Lady Matlock had received a letter from her sons saying that Lord Barlow meant to seek his help."
The pair sat awkwardly opposite each other. Elizabeth called for tea and then subsequently poured for them both. They ate and drank their tea, neither daring to move the conversation much past inquiries after mutual acquaintances. Several of Elizabeth's sisters passed by the door to the room, each looking in as they did so. They heard Kitty and Lydia giggling once after seeing Lydia pass by, no doubt sharing a joke at their expense.
"I missed you," said Elizabeth quietly when she was certain that none of her family was nearby.
"I missed you as well," said Darcy. He smiled at her, joy overtaking him as her words had given him reason to hope that she was not entirely indifferent to him. "I missed you very much, in fact. I thought about writing to your father, but I dared not. I wrote to Bingley, but I do not suppose he shared any of the contents with you."
"He only said that you were well and asked after my family," said Elizabeth.
"I suppose that is the gist of what I said, but I hoped he might read portions to you, for I liked to think of you hearing my words," said Darcy.
Elizabeth smiled shyly, looking down into her tea and blushing.
"It was enough, for I knew at least that you were well. I worried that you might find yourself in some danger," said Elizabeth.
"Is it wrong for me to feel slightly encouraged that you worried for me?" asked Darcy with a chuckle.
"Perhaps not," said Elizabeth, "For I do mean to fall in love with you. It shall only take time."
"You can take as much time as you need, my dearest Miss Elizabeth, so long as someday you agree to be mine."
Mary sat on the ground in the Longbourn nursery, playing with the youngest of the Gardiners' children as the others ran about them. Her aunt sat nearby, watching the children play with Miss Breadford and Miss Kelly, the Gardiners' governess.
"You are very good with the baby," said Aunt Gardiner, handing her a cloth so the baby would not spit up on her clothes.
"I thank you, Aunt. I have always enjoyed playing with the Lucas children when they were very young."
"Do you think you should have your own soon?" asked her aunt.
"I am not yet expecting, I do not think, if that is what you are asking," said Mary.
"It shall happen soon enough," said Mrs. Gardiner.
"What if it does not? George has expressed a wish for more children," said Mary.
"If it does not, then it does not," said Mrs. Gardiner, "You have only been married a few months. It does take a few years sometimes. Why, my cousin was wed for five years with no children. Then she bore identical twin boys. Six years later, she bore another set of twins— girls that time. I think it is simply different for everyone."
"That must have been a surprise!" said Mary.
"Both times it was!" said her aunt, "Most welcome surprises though."
"It is normal then?" asked Mary, "I suppose I heard so many tales of ladies who laid with a man once and became with child that I thought it would happen quickly."
"It is normal, my dear," assured her aunt.