Chapter 7

Jane pushed Daisy forward hoping and praying that they would make it to Netherfield before the rain hit. She could not understand why her mother would not let her use the carriage when there was rain on the way. Glancing to the west, the storm clouds were rolling in faster and she swiped her cheek when she felt a rain drop. Sighing, Jane knew that she was going to show up to tea looking like she fell in the pond.

The rain started coming down faster and soon the road in front of her was not visible anymore. She knew that daisy would be able to find her way, but the rain was coming down so hard that she was not sure if Daisy would be able to find the way to Netherfield in the rain. Pushing her wet hair out of her face, Jane felt Daisy's weight shift under her and soon both the horse and rider were laying in the rain. Sitting up on her elbows, she wiggled fee, and yelped as pain shot up her left leg. Crawling over to check on her horse, Jane realized with a start that Daisy's leg was sticking out at an odd angle. "Well girl looks like we are both in trouble."

Stroking the mare's mane, she shivered against the cold rain pelting her back. Was this how she was going to perish? Her family thought her safe at Netherfield by now, while the Bingley sisters were waiting for her arrival. No one knew that she was laying on the side of the road with an injured horse and a hurt ankle. Was Mr. Bingley worried about her? Was he in love with her? Was she in love with him? Shaking her head she pushed that thought aside. She knew she was not in love with him yet, but Jane wanted to encourage his attentions so Mama would quite fretting that they would all land in the hedgehows.

Jane knew that everyone thought her the beauty of Hertfordshire and she thought well of everyone, but there were a few times when she wanted to snap at her younger sister's foolish behavior. Lydia would be the ruin of them all if someone did not step in and rein her in. Jane had tried to argue her point to her father one night, but he dismissed her and told her to be the good girl she was. She wished she could stand up to her family, but she was nervous about what they would think of her. Her sister Elizabeth even thought she was the perfect with no flaws, but not even she knew what laid beneath the surface of her calm and serene demeanor.

Pulling her spencer around her closer, she shivered, and gave up the effort when everything was soaked through. Huddling closer to Daisy, Jane shut her eyes, and prayed that someone would come along and find her.

The sound of a bridal jingling reached her ears a short time later and her eyes shot open. Turning her attention to where she thought the sound was coming from, she opened her mouth to speak, but her teeth would not stop chattering long enough. Rider soon came into view and she found herself gazing in to the concerned eyes of a gentleman in uniform. "Help me," she whispered and was not sure if there were tears running down her cheeks or if it was just the rain.

The gentleman quickly dismounted and knelt in the muddy road beside her. Moving the hair out of her eyes, he asked, "Are you hurt?"

Not quite sure what to make of his hand on her cheek and the warmth that spread through her body, she nodded her head, not trusting her voice.

"Where are you hurt? Can you stand?" he asked quickly before his eyes landed on Daisy. Seeing the bent angle of her leg, he slowly shook his head back and forth. Turning his attention back to the young woman, he saw her looking at the horse with sadness in her eyes. "I am sorry miss, but I will not be able to save her."

"I know sir. I think my ankle is either broken or sprained. It hurts when I move it," she replied trying to move it since it was falling asleep but the pain caused her to wince.

Laying a hand on her shoulder, he stilled her movements. "Do not try to move it. It will only cause you more pain, miss. Do you live far from here?"

Gazing into his blue eyes, she gave a small smile. "My home is not far from here. I was on my way to Netherfield when the storm hit and Daisy must have slipped in the mud. I will have to break the news to my father and sisters. We grew up learning how to ride on her."

"I promise that I will not let her suffer. First I will get you safely to your family and then come back to Daisy." Glancing over at his horse, he was glad he was trained so well to stay where he left him. "I am going to lift you up into the saddle and then climb up behind. You will have to tell me which way takes you home."

Getting to his feet, he made sure he would not slip in the mud, and held out his hands to the young woman. Pulling her to her feet, he quickly slipped his arms around her and picked her up. At her soft gasp, he looked down into her pale face, and found himself staring into a pair of pale green eyes. "Are you alright?" he asked clearing his throat when it got a little husky.

Laying her head on his shoulder, Jane whispered, "you startled me is all." She was tired, so very tired.

Carrying her over to his horse, he looked down again, and noticed that her eyelids were fluttering closed. "I need you to stay awake, miss."

Slowly nodding her head, Jane's eyes fluttered open long enough to get in the saddle. Soon she felt him climb up behind her and wrap his arm around her waist to keep her from falling back in the mud and hurting herself more. "Take this road north until you come to a small estate back in the trees. That is my home Loughbourn," she said quickly before her eyes closed and her head buried further into his greatcoat.

Turning Diablo towards where the young woman said she lived, he spoke softly to the horse urging him to hurry, but to also be careful on the slippery mud. Tilting his head down to look at the young woman in his arms, he wondered what she was doing out in a storm like this on horseback. She should have been safe and dry in a carriage and not shivering and wet in his arms. She really was a beautiful woman and he knew that when she mentioned her home as being Loughbourn, she had to be one of the five Bennet girls. He knew she wasn't Lucas's girl since her hair and eye color did not match his description of her. Pulling her a little closer when she started sliding off, he smiled slightly when she buried her head deeper into his coat.

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Pulling the quilt tighter around her, Mary tried to concentrate on the book in front of her, but for some reason she kept reading the same passage over and over. Closing the book in frustration, she turned to look out the window and laid her head on the glass. The rain was still coming down in sheets and she prayed that Jane had arrived safely at Netherfield. Watching the rain come down, she squinted when a horse and rider walked into the yard.

As the horse came closer to the house, Mary gasped when she noticed that the bundle the rider was holding had blonde hair. It has to be Jane she thought as she quickly tossed the book aside not bothering to pick it up as it landed on the floor. Yanking her bedroom door open, she rushed down the stairs.

"Mary why are you running on the stairs? You are going to fall and break your neck," Elizabeth admonished when she saw her younger sister rush from her room.

"There is a horse and rider coming into the yard and I think he has Jane with him," she yelled behind her as she made her way to her father's study. Opening the door, she found him once again absorbed in one of his books. "Papa there is a rider bringing Jane into the yard." Not bothering to see if he actually put down the book, Mary made her way to the front door, and pulled it open.

Looking out into the rain, her face paled when her suspicions were right. A gentleman in uniform was carrying eldest sister up the steps. Ushering him into the house, she quickly led him to the parlor, and showed him where to lay Jane. After he had laid her on the settee, the mysterious gentleman bowed and turned to leave. "Wait sir, we cannot let you ride back out into the rain without getting dry first and a bite to eat."

"Your sister has either a sprained or broken ankle. I did not see any other injuries. I am sorry miss, but I am expected somewhere. I am already late," he said and bowed to the room full of occupants. He wanted to take care of Daisy before heading to Lucas Lodge to see Michael. He could get dry and fed when he took care of what he promised Miss Bennet.

Mary and Elizabeth walked him to the door and thanked him for bringing their sister home. Watching him gallop into the rain, they both puzzled over who he could be. Closing the door, they walked back in to the parlor and found Mr. and Mrs. Bennet worriedly gazing at their daughter.

"I have called for the doctor Mrs. Bennet. We need to get our daughter out of these wet clothes and into something warmer. Have Hill bring extra fire wood in so the room stays warm to get Jane dry." He quickly stated before retreating to his bookroom. He would let the womenfolk handle it and he would wait for the doctor. He knew in his gut that he should have listened to his daughters about letting Jane take the carriage to Netherfield instead of Daisy. Now he might be paying for that mistake.

Author's Note: Hey everyone! So let's see who you guys think is the mystery man.