Chapter 2

As Darcy prepared to pull the bell outside the parsonage door it was opened by a wide eyed frantic maid. "Mr. Darcy," she gasped recognizing the gentleman.

"Is Miss Bennet," Darcy started to say and then catching himself said, "Are the ladies at home?"

"My master is at the church and my mistress is out on parish buisness and Miss Bennet has been banished," the maid said breaking into tears.

"Miss Bennet? " Darcy asked alarmed.

"Lady Catherine had a row with her and had her coachman drag her out to her carriage. Said she would put her on the first post chaise out, not caring where it goes, but that she would not spend another night here. Miss Bennet will be all alone, headed to who knows where, with nothing but her dress she has on and I know not what to do!" she finished with a distraught wail. "She has always been naught but kind to me and she does not deserve such rough treatment or abuse from her ladyship. The way they threw her, it was vicious, and for no good reason other then petty jealousy." Realizing she had just spoken to Lady Catherine's nephew, she said, "I am sorry sir, I did not mean to insult your aunt, I just do not know what to do for Miss Bennet and fear for her safety."

"I will deal with my aunt later," Darcy said attempting to reign in his emotions. His first concern was to see Elizabeth was safe, everything and everyone else had become secondary. "How long ago did she leave with Miss Bennet?" he demanded harshly.

"Just over a half hour, maybe three quarter hours, Sir."

"Good. I will follow her. Miss Bennet will be fine. Pack her a few things for overnight quickly, my coachman will be by to pick them up," he said reassuring the upset maid before striding off back to Rosing's stables. Darcy was incensed at his aunt's actions and feared that after retrieving Elizabeth from what ever post coach his Aunt had put her on, the parson would follow his aunt's wishes and refuse to allow Elizabeth to stay another night, luckily Darcy owned a small property about a day's ride away north. He kept it staffed and knew Elizabeth would be much safer and comfortable there for a night then the inn near Hunsford.

Darcy had decided after seeing Elizabeth that first day at the parsonage, that as soon as he had his aunt's estate buisness completed, he would spend a few days courting Elizabeth before announcing their engagement. He had been unable to forget her and his life would be incomplete without her. Finding out she would be in Kent, it had taken all of his self control to wait until his scheduled visit to arrive. He had multiple times considered arriving ahead of time. He had hoped that seeing her again, would show him that she was not as marvelous as he remembered, that he had built her up in his mind. He had quickly realized that he had truly not done her justice in his mind. His aunt must have detected something in his manner last night to send her to the parsonage today.

Once at the stable, Darcy called for his horse to be saddled. While a groom saddled his horse Darcy gave instructions to his coachman to have the horses hitched to his carriage. He sent a note to his valet to pack an overnight case for him. He informed his coachman that he would leave his direction at the post inn, once he knew which direction his aunt had sent Elizabeth. Darcy mounted his horse and headed out determined to retrieve his beloved and see to her safety.

…

Col. Fitzwilliam paused in the hall as he caught the whinning tones of his cousin Anne de Bourgh and the answering tones of his aunt. He went to turn around to avoid their unpleasant company but hearing Darcy's name he tiptoed closer to hear better. He would not put it past his aunt and cousin to attempt a compromise and if that was the case he intended to put a stop to it.

"I suppose I won't care if Darcy sets her up as his mistress once we are wed. She certainly would be cheaper then a high flyer from town, leaving more in our coffers for my own use," Anne said with petulance.

"A mistress is likely all Miss Bennet will be suitable for, if she ever comes back," Lady Catherine said with authority.

"You are sure she is on the post coach?" Anne demanded.

"Hush my pet," Lady Catherine said. "She is, the first one available. I left her no opportunity to subvert my parson's household for help, removing her immediately. She is quiet alone and friendless headed to God knows where. I decided after dealing with her in the parsonage that her word that she would not agree to an engagement with Darcy was likely not good enough. The lower classes are such grasping creatures. I am sure she will find some method of surviving her little adventure. "

Col. Fitzwilliam sucked in a breath and whirled around. He could not believe the audacity of his aunt, to put a gentlewoman alone on a post chaise with no knowledge or care where it went. He could not allow such a travesty to happen. Her reputation would be ruined. He strode towards Darcy's rooms, intending to alert him to Lady Catherine's actions. Darcy valet, Manning, was in them packing with efficiency. When the colonel asked about his cousin's location he was suprised when Manning informed him that he did not know but that Darcy had requested his carriage and a small overnight bag be sent immediately to the posting inn near by. Manning was to pack the rest of his master's belongings, along with retrieving Miss Bennet's remaining belongs from the parsonage and be prepared to travel with the bags as soon as Darcy sent a coach to retrive him and them.

Col. Fitzwilliam stopped by his room to give his batman similar instructions and was about to head to the stable for his horse and a confrontation with his aunt's coachman, when he ran into Mr. Collins.

"Col. Fitzwilliam," gasped Mr. Collins. "It is most fortunate and blessed that I have encountered you my good sir. My dear wife, Charlotte, is persuaded that such entiment gentlemen as you and your illustrious cousin are, will be inclined to assist us in a most grevious matter. I am most astounded and concerned by a reccent event in my humble adobe. To have my once great patroness act in such a way is entirely at odds with her once noble and great character. I know not what to make of her actions today, they are an aberration and cannot be countananced."

Interrupting the parson, who was likely to go on in this fashion, Col. Fitzwilliam said crisply, "To the point man."

"Ah yes," Collins said with a gulp. "My sister-in-law and the maid of all work have informed my wife and I of the most grevious happening. This morning your aunt, both were quite certain it was her, has exiled my cousin Elizabeth from my home and sent her off on a post chaise, of no known location. My cousin may be obstinate and headstrong but she resided at the parsonage under my protection and care. I cannot condone the behavior of sending a young gently reared lady off alone, even in one so great as my patroness. Exspecially when my young cousin gave her the promise she requested. I am at a loss and my good wife, after being aquinted with the particulars, bid me to seek you or your cousin out to assist me," the cleric finished saying, wringing his hands, clearly distressed. To find his idol had feet of clay and to have failed in his duties to provide one of the young ladies in his care with proper protection had left the usually pompous man adrift.

Knowing that Mr. Collins' wife was far more sensible then Mr. Collins, Col. Fitzwilliam decided that it would be best to interview the ladies at the parsonage before setting out after Elizabeth. If they had additional information, it might prove useful in bringing Elizabeth back safely.

…

Maria looked towards Col. Fitzwilliam with red rimmed eyes as she told her tale for him, her sister rubbing soothing circles on her back. Sniffling she said, "I had returned without Charlotte to the parsonage to retrive something left behind when I heard raised voices coming from the parlor. Lady Catherine had been berating Elizabeth and calling her such terrible things. I cannot repeat them."

"The maid as already mentioned them to the colonel," Charlotte said. "You need not."

Nodding Maria continued, "Lady Catherine was demanding Lizzy promise not to become engaged to Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth on hearing it was Mr. Darcy the lady did not want her to be engaged to, quickly agreed since she disliked him as much as he disliked her."

Col. Fitzwilliam startled at this, but gave her a nod of encouragement and said, "Please continue."

"Well of course Elizabeth would not get herself engaged to Mr. Darcy. He treated Wickham in an infamous manner, denying him his inheritance. And then after Lizzy said she would never consent to an engagement with him because of his conceit, arrogance and selfish disdain for others. Lady Catherine left the parlor. I was terrified she would yell at me next, even though I have never talked to Mr. Darcy or danced with him like Lizzy, so I hid. Then Lady Catherine came back in with her coachman. She slapped Elizabeth and told her coachman to grab her. He did and then he dragged her outside. I was so scared I swooned until Molly found me and don't know what happened next but Molly said that he threw her so hard into the carriage that she likely could be dead," Maria finished and began to sob again.

Col. Fitzwilliam gently thanked Maria for the information she had provided. He carefully instructed Mr. Collins that he needed to keep his wife and her young sister close. He believed that his aunt's ire was likely only directed at Elizabeth but thought it better to be safe then sorry. He urged the Collins to seek temporary refugee with the Lucas family in Hertfordshire to be on the safe side. He then departed for the stables at Rosings for his horse and to find his aunt's coachman, that Molly had described acurrately, for information about what post chaise he had put Elizabeth on.