Chapter 6 - Friday, September 18, 1812
The next day, Elizabeth made an effort to be active during the day. She went for a walk with Georgiana, wearing her warmest dress, and spent some time talking with her about Meryton and her sisters. As it got closer to time to dress for dinner, she yawned and rubbed her arm above the splint. When Georgiana finally asked her about it, she stated that she thought she had been overdoing it today and begged off on dinner. She told Georgiana not to bother her maid that all she wanted to do was to sleep and avoided saying that she would see her in the morning. It was duplicitous enough what she was to do that night, she did not want to add lying to her list of sins.
Elizabeth wanted to leave a note for Georgiana. She felt bad enough to be sneaking out like a thief in the night and she did not want Georgiana to think that she did not appreciate all that had been done for her over the past fortnight. So she wrote,
Dear Georgiana,
Please forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye to you and your brother. Everyone at Pemberley has been so kind to me that I could be tempted to stay here forever. But, I must get home for my sister's wedding to Mr. Bingley. I know not why you have not heard back from my family, but they must be worried about me and I must return to them as soon as possible.
Do not worry about me. I have a stout constitution and am sure I can get to London with fifteen shillings.
Please thank your brother for his kindness to an unworthy stranger, he truly is a Good Samaritan as the bible bids us all to be.
Best wishes for your health and happiness, God bless you,
Elizabeth Bennet
As soon as she thought she could leave the house unseen, she left the note on the vanity in her room, put on her warm cloak, took her portmanteau, and left via the servant's entrance for the five mile walk to Lambton. It was not an overly cold night for September, but she was not looking forward to a ride on the top of a mail coach to London.
When she reached Lambton, she searched for the resale shop and finally had to ask the old porter at the mail coach station for directions. She then set off for the shop, hoping she could earn enough coin to travel to London, even if she was not to be inside the coach.
As she expected, she could only raise one pound from the sale of her possessions. That would have to do. She found that she had almost four hours to wait until the mail coach would arrive. She knew that if she was not at the mail coach stop when it arrived, she would be left behind. She dared not wander too far, but she felt uncomfortable sitting in the coaching yard by herself. She found a copse where she could see the arrival of the coach, but not be subjected to scrutiny by the local citizens. Surely the fewer people who saw her, the less likely it would be to raise gossip. She would be very sad if any gossip of her flight was to be bandied about, or worse yet, reflected badly on the good people who had rescued her. God Bless the Darcys, she thought warmly.
She was glad that she had her warmest travel cloak and boots with her as she waited for the mail coach. She hoped that Georgiana would not be disappointed in her for not saying goodbye. She tried not to think what her brother would think when he found out that she was gone. Surely he would be glad to have this burden lifted from him. He had much to keep him busy with his grand estate; one less imposition would likely be appreciated. The maid would likely not find her note until breakfast time and she would be halfway to Leichester by then and he would surely forget about her.
When the mail coach finally approached, she hurried to the mail coach station to procure her ticket from the porter she had talked to earlier. Fifteen shillings bought her a seat on the top of the coach. The coachman looked askance at her when she replied that she had no luggage. It was difficult for her to climb to the top of the coach with a splint on her arm, but she was glad that there was only one other traveler on the roof and she would have a seat to herself. She did not wish to be rude to the other passenger, but thought it best if she kept to herself and did not make herself memorable to anyone. The fewer people who knew how she traveled, the better.
It was going to be a long, cold, uncomfortable ride and the sooner it was over, the better. She tucked her cloak around her tightly, put her head down and pretended to fall asleep. As if anyone could fall asleep on the top of a coach; she had to hold on for dear life with her one good hand, at the speed the mail coach traveled.