Chapter 17- A Misstep
As soon as the first carriage was out of Netherfield's gates, Georgiana realised that she had forgotten something.
"William, ask them to stop the carriage, I forgot something." She cried.
"What is it, Georgiana?"
"William, I wanted to take my painting set, Lizzy said we could paint a picture of the lake. Please ask them to stop."
Darcy stopped the carriage; he saw that Elizabeth's carriage had left the gates.
"William I am so sorry; I will get it quickly."
Before Darcy could stop her, Georgiana got out of the carriage. She started running towards the house.
"Georgi, please wait. I can get it for you." He shouted once he saw her running.
What happened next was something none of them expected.
While running, Georgiana missed her step and fell into a puddle of water that had formed during the storm. Her dress was soaked beneath her hip and she was shocked. Both Darcy and Jane saw what happened and rushed to her side.
They helped her to her feet.
"Oh! William. I am so sorry; I ruined our plans. I can see that Lizzy's carriage has already left."
"Georgi it is all right, please go and change, we can easily catch up to them."
Jane consoled her and took her upstairs to change. The men were already leaving for their ride.
The colonel saw Georgiana and teased her. "So, you painted yourself before you attempted the lake, huh Georgi?"
Georgiana smiled feebly.
"Miss Darcy it is all right. We can catch up to them." Jane assured her.
Georgiana tried to change as quickly as possible. But a good amount of muddy water was on her and her clothes. She washed herself and got into a new dress. By the time they were into the carriage, half an hour had passed.
Darcy had hoped the other carriage would come back. But it had not.
He was worried. He then instructed his driver to speed up the horses.
As they started the journey, Georgiana was very guilty for what had happened. She held her painting set close to her. She cursed herself for leaving it behind.
Jane noticed that the Darcy siblings were upset. She felt sad for Georgiana.
Darcy hoped to see Elizabeth's carriage in front of them in time.
Half an hour passed in their journey and Darcy sensed that their carriage was slowing down. He looked outside the window and saw Elizabeth's carriage ahead of them. He breathed a sigh of relief.
His happiness lasted only for a few seconds.
He knew immediately that there was something wrong with the other carriage. The carriage was stranded on the road. He saw the footmen lying on the ground. His heart started beating fast.
He asked Georgiana and Jane to stay inside and not get out until he got back to them.
He got down and ran towards the carriage. He saw the footmen tied up, lying unconscious on the road.
The driver looked injured. Darcy could not fathom what had happened. He had never imagined Hertfordshire woods were prone to highwaymen. The thought of Elizabeth being hurt made his heart sink.
He opened the carriage door with trembling hands, fearing the worst.
But what he saw, he never expected to see.
The carriage was empty.
There was no sign of Elizabeth, Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst.
Good God! Elizabeth! Where are you?