Chapter II

Elizabeth's Ankle

"Bran thought about it. 'Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?'

'That is the only time a man can be brave,' his father told him."

― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

Darcy spent a peaceful and quiet hour in the billiard room, but at least put down his cue and put his jacket back on. It was almost time to change for dinner. The rain was still falling heavily. He would go up to his room and read over his last letter from Georgiana, her spirits was still affected more than he would have liked. He had been hoping he could bring her to Netherfield for Christmas, but with Miss Bingley here that would not be a good idea.

He would have to decide what they would do, if he would go to London or if they should both go to Pemberley. Georgiana was staying with his aunt and uncle at the moment in London, he had hoped that the abundance of things to do in London would have distracted her from her melancholy. It did not seem that that had been the case.

Maybe he should have remained with her, rather than coming with Bingley to Netherfield. But that would not have helped, Georgiana needed time. He had not helped her with his moods and pacing, he found it very hard not to be doing something when someone he loved was in pain. It had been the same with his mother's long illness and his father's death. He had not been able to sit still for more than a few minutes at a time.

He was just heading up the stairs to his room when Bingley came into the hall talking to the butler.

"What time did they leave?" Bingley said.

"Just after three o'clock sir." Foster said, an edge to his voice that Darcy had not heard before.

"It is only around 3 miles to Longbourn and they should have returned by now, even in this rain." Bingley said thoughtfully, "Why did she not wait for me to return in the couch? The weather is terrible out there, indeed she should have dined with us."

"Miss Bingley was quite insistent that the young lady leave in the chase and not wait for you to return with the couch." Foster said as naturally as a butler can, when describing the lady of the house's actions to her brother.

Darcy turned as he realised what was being said and asked for confirmation. "The chase that took Miss Bennet home has not returned to the house?"

"Indeed sir." Foster replied.

"Foster have the stable ready my horse." Bingley said.

"Surely the carriage-" Darcy began to say, but Bingley cut him off curtly.

"The roads are in no fit state for a carriage any longer. It is possible that Miss Elizabeth Bennet safely home at Longbourn and the chase has got stuck coming back. But I thought rather be sure."

"Foster have my horse readied as well." Darcy said, hurrying up the stairs to put a greatcoat on, little protection that it would be against the forces of nature outside. Hardly five minutes had passed when Darcy and Bingley were in the stables and ready to go.

"I think we should head to Longbourn." Darcy said as they mounted. Bingley nodded his agreement and with nothing else to be said they took off into the wind and rain.

ooOoo

Elizabeth jumped at the noise, ended up putting weight on her ankle, and almost ended up on the ground, but at the last moment she managed to hang on to the nearby fence and steady herself.

One thing had become very clear in the last few minutes, the carriage was going nowhere anytime soon. The servants spoke to each other, before the driver approaching Elizabeth carefully through the rain and mud. The other two heading off to the horses.

"Miss Bennet, we are not able to be able to continue our journey to Longbourn in the carriage." He said gesturing towards to carriage. "We are only about a mile from Netherfield, Miss would prefer we can return there or we can continue to Longbourn?"

Elizabeth paused for a moment, not sure about which sounded worse, walking the 2 miles in this weather to be able to spend the night in her own bed or the shorter distance to Netherfield. If the weather continued like this it would make the roads impassable on the morrow and she would be unable to see Jane at all. She looked down at her boot, covered in mud, as streams of water made their way around her feet. She would not be able to cut across the fields as she had done this morning. No if she wanted to be able to see Jane again in the next days she would need to return to Netherfield.

"Netherfield, I believe would be best." She answered.

"I believe you are right miss. Why don't you take the black horse. He's not as gentle as a mare, but has a good temperament and is surefooted."

She started as she realised that they were not planning on walking back at all, but ridding. Or by the looks of it one of the servants was to ride with her and the other two walk.

"I am no horsewoman." Elizabeth said flatly.

"I'm sure you'll be able to manage Miss." the driver said, trying to look encouragingly at her, the effect was slightly spoiled by the wind choosing that moment to stealing his hat from his head. He turned to try and grab it and fell into the mud.

"He's a gentle soul." Said one of the footman, had he walked up towards them with the horse in question. He was the one without the head wound. The driver picked himself up and tried to brush the water and mud off his coat with very little effect.

Elizabeth looked at the creature. The water running in little streams down his side. His head held high and he snorted, he was far removed from the ponies she had ridden as a girl. Not that she had ever felt truly comfortable on a pony. She had nearly been killed when she was about twelve years old. She had fallen from the horse she was riding. Her father often took her out with him when he visited the tenants on the estate. She had enjoyed the time away from her mother, time with just her father. But that had all changed that one fateful morning. She had never been on a horse since.

"I am not going to be able ride him, however gentle he is." She responded with more composure that she felt.

Driver and footman looked at each other, unsure how to carry on.

"We ain't going to be able to get a carriage down here in this weather." The footman gestured to the road back towards Netherfield.

"Then I will walk." Elizabeth declared trying not to think about the pain in her ankle. As she took a step through the mud and water.

ooOoo

Darcy was wet to the skin within a few minutes, he would rather have stayed warm and dry inside the house, but his honour would never have allowed him to let Bingley go on his own. Most likely Elizabeth Bennet was safe and sound at Longbourn, and the chase was having some trouble returning to Netherfield.

They had had to slow their pace due to the state of the road. Visibility was poor. But out of the haze figures started to appear. One on horseback, three walking and a second horse walking without a rider.

"Hey There, is Miss Bennet with you?" Bingley called out.

The lady herself answered. "I am indeed Mr Bingley and very pleased to see you."

As they draw closer Darcy saw that Miss Elizabeth was not the figure on horseback put one of the three who was walking albeit with a limp. He swung himself down from his horse and went to her. Bingley followed suit.

"Miss Bennet are you hurt?" He asked her.

Bingley was speaking to one of the servants. The mounted man seemed to be slumped in his seat, with the remaining servant standing next to the horse's flank.

"Just my ankle, I must have twisted it when the carriage went over."

"Shall we get out of the rain then." Bingley said suddenly after his haste conversation with the servant. "We can discuss the details at length when we are back at Netherfield. Miss Bennet, John says you do not ride?"

"He is correct, I do not." She said in a tone that left little room for argument.

Darcy was surprised to hear this, from what he knew of her, he would have expected that she were a fine horsewoman. She could not walk back to Netherfield, she must ride.

"Miss Bennet you need have no fear." Bingley said, clearly as happy about the situation as Darcy.

There was a shout from behind them. As the slumped servant on the back on the horse fell forward and then off the side of the horse. The man next to him only just managed to catch him as he fall. Bingley and the other servant rushed to help.

Elizabeth gasped beside Darcy, her hands to her month. Darcy looked down at her. She looked so small and cold. Her face white. She took a step towards the men, and winced sharply, clearly she had forgotten about her ankle. He reached out to steady her.

"Miss Bennet you are not going to be able to walk back to Netherfield with your ankle."

She looked up at him then, he could see the tears in her eyes despite the rain. Before she lowered her head and nodded.

"I'm going to lift you up onto my horse." He warned her as she put his hands around her waist and lifted her into the saddle, when she was settled, he called over to Bingley.

"Bingley I'm taking Miss Bennet back to Netherfield. Should I return afterwards?"

"We should be able to manage. Get Miss Bennet back." Bingley called back.

He still had his hand resting on Miss Elizabeth's side to steady her, he gripped the saddle and pulled himself up behind her.