Rachel stood looking out the window. Watching the direction Georgiana had flown in squinting into the darkness hoping to catch sight of her returning. There was a light knock on the door.
"Yes?"
"It is Mr. Wilkes."
Oh! She felt a flood of relief and rushed to open the door. "Have they returned?"
"No. They have not returned. But I thought you would like to know that Georgiana returned for Mr. Darcy so he will be with Miss Bennet by now."
"Good. That is good."
"I suspected you would still be up. I don't suppose it would do any good to tell you to get some sleep."
Tears sprang to her eyes, "Oh, please do not ask it of me. I couldn't sleep for worrying and Miss Bennet might need my help when she returns."
"Now, now, I am not the one to be giving you orders. I only meant that it would do you good. But as you are so set against it I will fetch us some tea and we can be foolish together.
He was gone before Rachel could protest. He ought not to be fetching tea for her.
When he returned with the tea, her hands were shaking so much she could barely pour. Without a word, he took the pot from her and poured for them both, a kindness she felt she so little deserved that she could not help mumbling something about not deserving tea.
"Surely Miss Bennet would not mind, especially as you are waiting up for her."
Her eyes teared, "It's my fault. I fetched the chocolate for Mrs. Young and then when Miss Bennet was so tired after drinking it I didn't think anything of it. I just helped her to bed and then went to bed myself."
"Rachel, that is the silliest thing I ever heard. How you, how could anyone, have possibly figured on the chocolate being poisoned?"
His tone of astonishment comforted her more than if he'd spoken gently but her lip still trembled, "Mrs. Young told me Miss Bennet wanted the chocolate. I ought to have checked with her before fetching it."
"And what if you had? Do you think Mrs. Younge would have given up the whole plan if Miss Bennet hadn't been in the mood for chocolate?"
"I at least should have noticed she was suddenly unnaturally tired. I could have alerted Mr. Darcy."
"And told him what? That after a long day of travel, Miss Bennet had some chocolate and fell asleep? Even a man like Mr. Darcy would think you a ninny for bothering him with no more than that."
"Even so..."
"There is no, even so, you did what any of us would have done. You are doing Miss Bennet no good with this nonsense. Drink your tea like a good girl and then you may keep some warm for when Miss Bennet returns.
"Oh, yes! Thank you. I am sorry to be so troublesome."
He shook his head with an indulgent smile, "Now do not start that, I know you only want to do your best for Miss Bennet."
"Oh, yes!"
"You enjoy working for her then. Were you not happy at Netherfield?"
"I was not unhappy, Miss Bingley was no worse than any other, and Mrs. Bingley is very kind. There is just something about Miss Bennet. Working for her makes me feel as if I am part of an adventure. And, I did a service for her once and she made me feel as if it were a favor rather than a duty, and she trusts me.
"That I can understand. Not the adventure part but Mr. Darcy has been good to me. I want to do the best I can for him because of it. I have been with him since he finished school and the only time he truly lost patience with me was on a particular occasion when I persisted in trying to thank him for a kindness he had done me.[i]" He chuckled softly, "I really believe I could throw his best coat into the fire and meet with better treatment than I did trying to say thanks."
This drew a smile from her and they continued to talk while she watched the horizon. Mr. Wilkes told her stories of life at Pemberly and of the other servants she would meet there. She enjoyed listening to him, it kept her from worrying so much about Miss Bennet. He wasn't a handsome man but there were times when he smiled that he almost appeared to be. It was kind of him to speak with her but she knew it was only because of the extraordinary circumstances. An upper servant like him wouldn't be bothering with her normally.
As the sun began to rise Rachel kept her eyes peeled even more sharply on the sky and was at last rewarded, "There!" She pointed, "Is that a bird or…?"
"Give it a bit. If it is Georgiana, we will be able to tell once she gets closer."
"If it is will she land on the roof?"
"Yes."
"I should go up in case, Mrs. Bingley said it was difficult to walk after her first flight."
"Only wait until we know it's Georgiana; you will have time enough before she lands."
They both stood watching a little longer until Mr. Wilkes said, "Yes. That is definitely Georgiana, you had better go on up. It will be Miss Bennet riding her. Mr. Darcy would not be coming back if she were not safe and a Griffin can only carry one."
Rachelle thanked him quickly and was on her way.
OvO
Now that Euphrosyne was with her Elizabeth enjoyed flying even more than she had imagined she would. The sun was rising, and her exhaustion and worries were forgotten as she marveled at the beauty of the landscape. Phrosy chirped with delight and Elizabeth was almost overwhelmed with gratitude for having her safe. At the moment it was easy to believe all would be well, and she would be flying again when Phrosy was big enough.
She was almost sorry to land but she was eager for Georgiana to bring Mr. Darcy back as well. She almost fell when she dismounted but Rachel was there to steady her saying, "I brought you a blanket and tea."
"Bless you. Have you been waiting up for me all night?"
"Yes, Miss."
"I hope you have had something herself."
"Mr. Wilkes brought me tea."
"Good." From her tone, it would seem she thought Elizabeth might be shocked by this information. "I am glad you had something. I am sorry I cannot tell you to rest now but we will be leaving as soon as possible this morning. I will need you to get everything ready."
"Of course, Miss."
"I will be down to dress soon. I am only going to rest here briefly."
And then in response to Rachel's expression, she added. "I am well. Mr. Darcy will be here soon. And speaking of Mr. Darcy you will be riding with us today."
"Miss?"
"It is nothing to be frightened of. With Mrs. Young gone, we will need you as our chaperone."
"Yes, Miss." She sounded doubtful but left to do as she'd been bidden.
Elizabeth sat cuddled in the blanket sipping her tea and watching the sky. She tried to tell herself it was too soon to look for Mr. Darcy, to convince herself that Georgiana would still be flying back to him but with each passing moment she became more and more worried until… "There!" It was Georgiana, and she could not be sure but, was that…? Yes, there was definitely a figure on her back. It could only be Mr. Darcy returning at last, only now that she knew he was safe could she allow herself to admit how worried he had been, though she hardly knew of what, that Mr. Wickham would be lying in wait for him with a pistol, that someone would recognize the nature of his wound an accuse Georgiana, that some unanticipated thing would have happened to him.
As Mr. Darcy dismounted her fears suddenly seemed absurd, as if they were part of a novel and one bad thing would follow another until the final page. Though she had to admit that between the morning light catching Mr. Darcy's hair and Georgiana's feathers, his tussled appearance, and the cut on his face, he looked every bit the hero of a novel. She on the other hand must look like someone the hero would toss a coin to on his way to greatness. The thought made her laugh.
OvO
Darcy turned at the sound of Miss Bennet's laughter half curious to know what had amused her and half alarmed that she was here at all. "Miss Bennet I thought you would be inside. Is anything amiss?"
"No not at all. I was only waiting to see you got back safely and resting a little while my legs recover."
Waiting for me? He felt as if his heart skipped a beat even while he warned himself that anyone would feel concern for another after what they had been through. He needed to focus on the matters at hand. He could easily imagine how sore she must be after flying so far for the first time. "I know how little you must wish to move but sitting still is actually the worst thing you can do after flying." He extended a hand, "May I help you up?"
She accepted his hand, struggled to her feet, and then took the arm he offered her. She leaned on him heavily and winced as she stepped forward, but smiled and said, "Shall we take a turn about the roof?"[ii]
He returned her smile, "I cannot assure you of it's being refreshing but it will do you good."
At first, she was practically limping letting him take most of her weight but after walking a little she seemed to improve. "I never realized flying would take such a toll."
"It is like any exercise; with time your muscles will grow accustomed and it will be no worse than a long walk."
"I should not be keeping you up here. You ought to be doing something about your wound."
Wound? Oh yes of course. "Wilkes will see to me soon enough."
"Are you in much pain?"
"On the contrary, I feel quite well."
Euphrosyne made a soft noise and Elizabeth spoke more seriously, "Mr. Darcy I, we, can not thank you enough for your quick action to bring us back together." She shuddered, "I do not wish to imagine what would have happened without you."
"There is no need to thank me. I would not have anyone experience the pain of being separated from their bonded least of all…" He barely stopped himself from saying you. "And you deserve much of the credit you…" He could not find the words to describe how brave she had been, how quick thinking, how very much he admired her.
She stopped walking and they turned to face each other. Her right hand was still on his arm and she reached out with the other touching him lightly on the hand. Euphrosyne stuck her head out and rested it against his forearm. Miss Bennet spoke softly, "Mr. Darcy I do not know how you and Georgiana bore being separated as long as you were, how you survived."
He swallowed, meeting her gaze but not speaking. There was no reason to say they almost hadn't survived. She knew. Out of the whole of his acquaintance, she was the only one who knew.
"And you were so young." Her eyes filled with tears. He wanted to say something to reassure her. To tell her it was not so bad, but it would not have been true. He stood holding her gaze feeling as if he were baring his soul.
Miss Bennet broke his gaze. "I am sorry. You must not like to speak of it. I should not pry."
"No, no, I do not mind, that is, I cannot seem to gather the words, but another time…"
"Of course."
"Thank you for waiting for me."
"I was worried. I do not like that Wickham got away."
"Neither do I, but the laws being what they are there was nothing we could have done without putting Georgiana in danger, perhaps even Euphrosyne." He had not said it to gain her support, he trusted her with Georgiana's safety. It angered him to feel so powerless.
"The law is so wrong."
"My uncle has been fighting it in parliament for years."
"Will your uncle help us?" Us! His heart skipped a beat again. Stop acting like a lovesick puppy.
"Perhaps he will. We must do something. I thought when Wickham tried to take Georgiana's claw he was motivated as much by jealousy of our bond as he was by greed, but his acting against Euphrosyne proves he is a danger to all Griffins.
"I may have antagonized him the last time we met. Knowing his lies I found it impossible to behave as if things were as they had always been and Phrosy hissed at him."
He smiled down at Euphrosyne and gave her a scratch on the head. Warmed by the memory of how she had let him hold her. "I know I ought to warn you against any displays of aggression, but it would be dishonest of me to say anything besides well done, little one, well done indeed." She purred loudly and he scratched her a little longer not wanting to break the spell between himself and Miss Bennet, but soon he said. For now, the best thing we can do is get to Pemberley.
"Of course." Miss Bennet stepped away. "And to that end, we had better go down."
"If you feel ready to travel."
"I am ready."
They went inside to dress and prepare for the Journey, and in Darcy's case, to let Wilkes fuss over his wound. If Wilkes wondered, as he dressed the wound, why under such circumstances his master was smiling, he did not ask.
i A few years prior to the events of the story Wilke's brother was injured and Wilkes asked for time off to care for him. Darcy not only gave him the time but arranged for a physician to see his brother.
ii The Inn they are staying in has a flat roof. Darcy would probably make a point of staying places where Georgiana can land easily.
A/N: I know many of you were disappointed that Wickham got away but they need a longer term solution than anything they could have done in the moment. Thank you for reading and for your reviews.