How insufficient are all my pretensions to please

by vlammetje1

Collection of drabbles, scenes, shorts, odd bits, that do not currently fit anywhere else. Inspired by all of Jane Austen's works, but the cross over menu seems to allow only two. Since the majority will be based on P&P, I chose to post here instead.

16. A knight and his steed

Miss Elizabeth Bennet had been used to walking out alone, quite alone, for most of her life. In the quiet area around Meryton and especially on her father's own estate, this was deemed safe enough by almost everybody. Not by one Miss Bingley, new to the neighbourhood and quite vocally disapproving of every little thing Miss Elizabeth did.

Quietly disapproving was Mr. Darcy, who silently agreed a young lady should not be out alone, but who also admired a Miss Elizabeth who was flushed by the exercise and whose fine eyes appeared ever so bright.

Therefore Mr. Darcy compromised in his own mind, and took to watching over Miss Elizabeth during her walks, when Mr. Darcy himself was out riding.

With the infallible logic of a man struggling mightily against admiring an unsuitable lady, he decided that he did not need his best steed for the task, because he would be going slow and because a less prominent horse would be less likely to attract Miss Elizabeth's - or anybody's - attention.

That fateful morning, when everybody had arrived at their usual positions within view of the trail to Oakham Mount, an unwanted third party appeared. Lieutenant Wickham, egged on by his ever-festering resentment against Mr. Darcy, had decided to avail himself - forcefully if need be - of all the delights Miss Elizabeth had to offer. After all, if he could ruin one more chit that Darcy cared about, he would do so gleefully.

When he advanced on Miss Elizabeth, she did not immediately perceive the danger and thus allowed him to come close. Too close. When the Lieutenant grabbed her, she did hear yelling and the sounds of a horse in the distance, but no help appeared. Miss Elizabeth fought valiantly against her attacker, scratching the Lieutenant in the face and kneeing him in the groin. This last manoeuver proved the best, as Lieutenant Wickham collapsed, gasping, and Miss Elizabeth ran away from him as fast as she could.

Lieutenant Wickham was in between her and her home, so she went up to Oakham Mount instead.

She had long made it to the top of Oakham Mount when her would-be rescuer arrived, his mount labouring up the incline.

She watched in surprise as Mr. Darcy appeared, her knight on a middling horse.