Chapter 20: A shock for Elizabeth
Darcy tried to console Georgiana. Jane helped her as well. Jane and Mrs Hurst did not intrude on their privacy and ask about Wickham.
Darcy was angry beyond measure. I will kill him if he lays a hand on Elizabeth.
He tried to gather all the information he could, from the footmen. Mrs Hurst told him that they were taking Elizabeth to a cottage.
Darcy asked the footmen if they knew where the cottage was. He understood from them that there were many abandoned cottages in the woods. They told Darcy that the road split into different ways and they would not be able to tell in which direction Elizabeth's carriage had gone.
Darcy wanted to mount a horse and find Elizabeth himself. But he knew that it would not be fruitful. He did not know the woods of Hertfordshire, and he knew without help, he may never reach Elizabeth on time.
He made plans. He sent one of his men to ask Richard and the others to get back to Netherfield immediately.
He helped the ladies into the carriage and set off to Netherfield reluctantly. He needed help and he needed a plan. He had so many questions on his mind. How did that scoundrel get to Hertfordshire? How did he know our plans?
Then it struck Darcy. He had heard from his sources that Wickham was planning to join the militia.
He knew that Colonel Foster's regiment was at Meryton. He realised that Wickham must have been one of the officers in his regiment.
There must be someone in the regiment who can give me information on his location. I will find him. I will make him pay.
The carriage ride back to Netherfield was agonizing for Darcy. He knew he was moving away from the woods, in the opposite direction of Elizabeth. He felt sick, thinking about the safety of Elizabeth.
During the ride, Darcy noticed how Mrs Hurst had not spoken a word to her sister. She was sitting next to Jane. Jane looked deeply troubled. Darcy understood how she must feel for Elizabeth. He promised Jane that he would bring Elizabeth back safely. Just as they entered the gates of Netherfield, the carriage taking Elizabeth reached its destination in the woods. The men dragged Elizabeth out and took her into the cottage.
Elizabeth felt tired and weak. The carriage ride had been very uncomfortable for her.
She did not protest when the men dragged her out of the carriage. She knew that she could not fight them physically. They shut her in one of the rooms on the upper floor. She thought they might untie her, but they did not.
The room was smelly and dark. She tried to free her hands, but she could not. Elizabeth felt helpless. She did not want to cry, but tears poured down her eyes.
What if I never get out here alive? I have lied to them. They will furious once they know I am not Georgiana. What if they kill me? I will never be able to see Mr Darcy again? She thought.
She suddenly froze. I am worried about not seeing Mr Darcy again. What is wrong with me? I did not even think about papa or Jane. Oh! God! Why did Mr Darcy come to my mind first?
Elizabeth was agitated. She knew that she had begun to favour his company. But she did not realise how far her heart had gone. She thought about her actions. She had assumed that she had done everything only to save Georgiana, for her friendship, but she realised the truth now. She had done it for Darcy. She had done it for his happiness. She had done it to keep his heart safe from sorrow. She understood now.
The mysterious feeling that she had, when she was around him had a name. Love.
Yes! I love him. Good, God! I never realised it until now.
She realised that her heart belonged to him. She respected him and admired his intelligence. She had felt warmth and happiness around him. She analyzed all her conversations with him. She understood the deeper meaning in his words. The look in his dark eyes. Everything made sense to her. She realised that her feelings were not one-sided. She remembered the look on his face when they had parted. She could not make it out then, but now she realised that it was a look of pain due to separation.
This sudden realization shocked her beyond belief.
She could not name the hour or the day, but she knew she loved him and yearned for him. The feeling overwhelmed her and all she wanted now was to see Darcy. She tried to remember the feeling of comfort she had experienced when he held her hand. She was angry with herself for not realizing it sooner. He had changed himself just for her sake. She wanted to tell him that she had been quick to judge him and was sorry for her harsh words.
Her heart ached at the thought of not seeing Darcy again. All her life she had believed in true love.
She believed that she had found it. She was happy and terrified as well.
Do you love me as well, Mr Darcy? How I wish I am right about your feelings for me. Do you love me?
She never realised that she would get a reply to her question the same day, but she would not be in a state to rejoice in the answer.
Yes! Never!