An Accidental Elopement

Chapter Two


Having quickly changed horses, Fitzwilliam Darcy's carriage was once again heading back toward Lampton.

'What a horrible morning', thought Darcy as he turned slightly to catch a glimpse of the woman now seated as far away from him as possible and not relinquishing the cane she had grabbed off his person to "protect" herself with.

Once the screaming had stopped, the young woman demanded she be returned to her aunt and uncle, and no despicable highwayman was going to get away with kidnapping her. Holding his split and bleeding lip, Mr. Darcy assured the young woman that he wanted nothing of the sort from her.

Darcy's initial shock wore off quicker than he assumed possible when he realized that if this young woman was here, heaven only knew where his sister was. Elizabeth observed the unknown gentleman's expression change from one of shock to one of utter panic which somehow frightened her even more. The young man quickly reassured the furious, and now armed, woman that he had no interest what so ever in her and was now only thinking of how scared his sister must be. This comment cause Elizabeth to lower the gentleman's cane that she was pointing at him.

"Your sister? Is that who you thought I was? You honestly haven't stolen me for some nefarious purpose?" questioned Elizabeth.

Darcy had now recovered himself enough to return to his normal cold and commanding outer appearance.

"Stay put," he commanded to Elizabeth with a significant amount of fury and forcefulness that even she didn't wish to disobey, for the moment.

Jumping down from the carriage he was quickly greeted by his driver and footmen wishing to know what had upset Miss Darcy. Elizabeth could hear and see through the window as the footman tried to explain how a totally unknown woman ended up in place of his sister. The footman's story was plausible to Darcy but it did little to lessen his ire or worry. Not only that but now they were drawing a crowd. Not that Gretna Green was unused to seeing unmarried men and women arriving together, it rarely caused such a commotion.

Having ordered the change of horses immediately, Mr. Darcy jumping back into the waiting carriage to access if the woman in there had purposefully entrap him in such a manner as this. He had escaped for years from scheming, manipulative women and was not about to be caught by one.

"What is your name," Mr Darcy ask with a forcefulness that left little option but it answer.

Elizabeth, not to be intimidated, raised her chin up in challenging his attitude.

"Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. And who may I ask are you," she said narrowing her eyes and pointing the gentleman's cane at him.

"I am Mr. Darcy of Pemberley as I'm sure you know," he challenged back.

Elizabeth startled at that statement as her mouth dropped open slightly. Had that man really just insinuated what she thought. That she had sought him out?

"For your information Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, until this moment the extent of my knowledge of you is that you are the master of an estate with some mildly pretty ground which I have never laid eyes on. In fact until you had accosted me, I thought myself to be in my uncle's carriage."

Elizabeth knew she was not being completely honest. Her aunt had raved about the glories of Pemberley's grounds and Elizabeth was rather unhappy she would have to miss it for her uncle to attend his business. But she certainly was not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that one of her most dearest relations was inthralled with his home. Especially when she with all her heart thought herself to be in her uncle's carriage!

Darcy was insulted. Pemberley had some of the finest grounds in the country! Clearly this woman had no idea of what she spoke. How could she have been to Pemberley and not sing its praises. There is no way she could have been there. But then if she truly had not attended the tour of his home and grounds which would have taken her through the gallery with his portrait, how would she have know who he was? Perhaps someone from town had pointed him out.

Decided it was best to dwell on this later, he would have an ample amount of time on the ride back, he chose to change topics.

"Pray tell me and be honest, is there any reason I have to fear my sister is being mistreated?"

His worried tone and intense gaze caused Elizabeth to lower the cane once more.

"I assure you sir, if your sister and myself have truly just switched placed then she is currently with the kindest and most thoughtful people of my acquaintance," she replied.

This caused Darcy to release a breath he had not realized he was hold.

"Sir the horses are ready," announced the driver.

"We leave immediately," barked Mr. Darcy and the carriage was swiftly turning around to head back to Lampton. "Hopefully we can lessen the damage caused by your inattention."

Elizabeth was too incensed to answer back and decided instead to sit and openly glare at the insulting young man across from her. Darcy, feeling unsettled by the woman's fiery eyes, turned away from her to stare unseeingly out the window.

The two reluctant traveling companions continued on this way for well over an hour.

Growing bored of glaring, Elizabeth determined she had the perfect opportunity to observe this stranger. His clothing and arrogance spoke of his wealth and level in society. This Mr. Darcy owned a splendid carriage so if she was forced with his unpleasant company at least she was comfortable. As for his person he was tall, no very tall, and handsome. She figured he would be even more so when he was not wearing such an unpleasant scowl. His eyes were a piercing blue and his inky black hair was thick and wavy. Having just spent hours crammed into a carriage sleeping, the man looked like he had just stepped out of his dressing room.

Typical. Just like her sister Jane. One could roll her dear sister down a hill covered in grass and mud and at the bottom everyone would tell her how exquisite she looked. This thought brought a small smile to her face.

Not one imperfection on this man... except...

Elizabeth could not help but to notice the split in his lip that was still bleeding slightly. She had caused that. She bit her own lip and finally turned away from her subject of observation. She partly felt bad for causing the injury to the gentleman but another part was rather proud for making the rude, self righteous man slightly less then perfect. Having never been this far north, Elizabeth was delighted with the beautiful scenery they passed and promptly lost all interest in the man across from her.

Darcy was thankful that the angry young woman had finally turned her focus outside as he was growing increasingly uncomfortable under her watch. He now was able to cast glances to better access what kind of person he was trapped with.

From the first glance he gathered she was a gentleman's daughter though not an overly wealthy one and only tolerable looking. Her cloak was similar to his sisters but a far lower quality, though he couldn't necessarily blame his footman for not being able to discern the difference. He sighed in frustration at his current circumstance and ran his fingers through his hair willing himself not to look at that hateful woman again.

That of course did not last long. On his second glance Darcy had to admit his angry had slightly colored his first opinion. She was actually quite beautiful though not in the classic sense. Her eyes that originally appeared brown actually had some flecks of hazel when the light hit them. And her thick brown curls that had spent the last night and early morning randomly freeing themselves from their confines made her appear like a woodland sprite.

The lady must have been grown increasingly warm as she finally relinquished his cane to the bench beside her and decided to shed her low quality cloak. This action caused Darcy to openly stare for a moment before he quickly and loudly snapped his attention out the window.

The woman's figure left little more to be desired. While not voluptuous, as many of the Ton flaunted, it was light, pleasing and very womanly. Darcy shook his head to clear this line of thought. It would not do well to continue on till his admiration became evident.

'Why on earth did women's current fashion leave so little to the imagination,' though Darcy.

His sudden movement startled Elizabeth from her current pursuit. She wondered what had caused such a violent reaction from young gentleman. Looking back at him she once again noticed that his lip was still bleeding and he had not yet attended it.

Pulling out her own handkerchief and dipping it in the water jug next to her, she handed it toward the gentleman. Darcy, determined as he was not to look at the young lady, continued to gaze outside.

Elizabeth cleared her throat gaining Darcy's attention. He looked questioningly at what was being currently offered to him.

"For your lip sir."

Darcy cautiously nodded his head in acceptance of the peace offering and placed it on him lip but remained silent.

"Come now sir we must have some conversation," said Elizabeth.

Mr Darcy remained silent, unsure of what to say. After all he was awkward at starting conversations among people of his acquaintance. How was he to start one with a complete stranger that he had been unwillingly thrust together with?

"A very little will suffice," she continued. "For instance you may comment on the size of the carriage or the number of small towns."

"Do you talk by rule then when being abducted," replied Darcy also trying to lighten the rather absurd situation they found themselves in.

This caused Elizabeth to laugh lightly. "Yes it seems I must. After all it would look strange to travel a full day with a gentleman and not have any conversation."

"Do you enjoy reading?" asked Darcy after a few minutes pause.

"Ah yes I do. Since we are not in the middle of the ballroom I find books to be an acceptable and safe topic," joked Elizabeth.

The next couple hours passed pleasantly as was possible between two strangers.

Darcy was delighted to learn this Miss Bennet was well read even if they did disagree on almost every topic. Although at times it did seem as though she would pick the opinion opposite of himself just to see his reaction. He always hated that the ton felt the only education young women needed was applied to catch a husband and not to improve their mind through extensive reading.

"So you enjoy the Odyssey? I don't know many women who like stories of adventure."

"Then you must not know many women Mr. Darcy," smiled Elizabeth. "Anyways I always thought of the Odyssey as more of a romance."

Darcy raise an eyebrow in challenge.

"After years of war and countless obstacles and struggles, Odysseus just wants to return home to his wife who is fighting off men awaiting her husband's return. Do you not find that romantic?" Elizabeth challenged back.

"Perhaps" replied Darcy and the two fell into a somewhat comfortable silence.

As they sat quietly both absorbed in their own thoughts Darcy began to worry. No one had seen the young woman in his carriage at Gretna Green but had someone seen her at Lampton? Would he be forced to spend the rest of his life with a woman he just met? His parents had been an arranged marriage but they at least started off as mutual friends and acquaintances, then grew into a loving couple.

Darcy try to swallow past the lump in his throat. Hopefully he wouldn't have to worry about that at all. Although what a fine joke fate had played. He saved his sister from an elopement just to be caught in one himself.

Glance back at Elizabeth just as the sun highlighted her glossy curls he thought to himself with a small smile, it could be worse.

AN: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! Your reviews mean to much to me so again thank you. Also again travel time in this story is unrealistic so if it bothers you they're going to be traveling for the first few chapters just so you know. :) Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: Pride and Prejudice belong to Jane Austen. This story is protected under copyright law and is not allowed to be used, copied, or republish without written consent from the author.