Chapter 2
“Well, someone is either welcoming us or trying to send us away,” Mr. Gardiner jested.
“Intruders are rarely welcomed,” Elizabeth replied.
“Do not worry, there have always been dogs at Pemberley, but they are never aggressive. I remember even when I was a child,” Mrs. Gardiner added.
“I do not worry. I have never been afraid of any dog,” Elizabeth said.
The barking increased as they approached, and the horses neighed and threw up their heads with fear. The coachman tried to calm them, pulling the reins and calling to them, but one of the horses reared. The other one remained steady, but the movement caused a commotion, and the carriage left the road, rolling onto a grassy bank and leaning precariously to the side. Somebody called the dogs, and they immediately obeyed, walking away.
The horses, however, remained restless, shaking the carriage. With horror, Elizabeth saw her aunt trying to find support against the door, which opened, and the lady fell to the ground with a cry.
“Roll away from the carriage!” Mr. Gardiner cried desperately, and Mrs. Gardiner did so just in time; then the wheel broke, and one side of the carriage dropped heavily, throwing Elizabeth to the side. Jumping out nimbly, Mr. Gardiner hurried to attend to his wife, but Elizabeth was left in the still shaking carriage.
“Do not worry, I am well,” Elizabeth heard Mrs. Gardiner say. “I have only hurt my leg a little.”
“A little? There is a nasty bruise and lots of blood!” Mr. Gardiner replied.
“Oh come, my dear. Not lots of blood! I have had worse wounds as a child, and I am sure you and Lizzy did too,” the lady jested. “Help me stand up — it is nothing.”
“I am so sorry…I do not know what happened! I shall go and fetch help,” Elizabeth heard the desperate voice of the coachman declare.
“Lambton is less than five miles away,” Mrs. Gardiner said. “Take a horse and ride there. Find my cousins and tell them what happened. They will come and convey us to the inn in no time. There is no reason for panic.”
Gripping tightly to the doorframe and taking tentative steps, Elizabeth finally climbed down from the carriage.
“Lizzy, are you well?” Mr. Gardiner enquired.
“Perfectly so,” she answered, hiding her trembling hands behind her back. “Tell me, how may I help? What should I do?”
“Nothing, my dear. Just sit here on the grass and let us admire Pemberley while we wait for help,” Mrs. Gardiner replied, still in a better mood than the others.
The coachman worked to unharness one of the horses, and Mr. Gardiner tried to stop the bleeding on his wife’s leg. Elizabeth watched in silence, with a strange grip in her chest.
The barking suddenly resumed, as well as the horses’ neighing.
Through the trees, a man appeared, surrounded by the three dogs who had caused the earlier commotion. The man stepped forwards hastily, but then his pace slowed until he stopped. And so did Elizabeth’s heart.
Only a few steps away stood Mr. Darcy, wearing only trousers and a shirt, open at the neck, his hair in disorder, staring at her with his mouth and eyes widened in obvious disbelief. The sound of something heavy falling to the ground startled her, andshe noticed an easel, which he must have been carrying but had dropped in surprise. Next to the easel, several pieces of paper were spread across the grass. They were paintings — portraits of a woman whose identity made the grip in her chest tighten. Her image was there, at Mr. Darcy’s feet, while the real her remained still, breathless, gazing at him.
He immediately knelt and gathered the sheets, hiding them behind the easel, then finally stood up, whispering in a low and incredulous voice, “Miss Bennet?”
“Mr. Darcy…”
“What…? Why…? What happened? What are you doing here?”
“I-I beg your forgiveness, sir. I am visiting Derbyshire with my uncle and aunt. We were on our way to Lambton — my aunt’s relatives live there… We were just…our carriage broke…”
She watched Mr. Darcy frown. He was looking at her doubtfully, probably questioning the truth of her words. Then his gaze moved over her shoulder.
“I am afraid my dogs frightened you. They are usually friendly, only protective when they meet new people. I am very sorry…I shall fetch help immediately. And a doctor…”
“Oh no, sir, please do not trouble yourself,” Elizabeth heard her aunt’s voice declare. “We thank you for your kindness, but certainly there is no need for a doctor. My cousins own a shop and the inn in Lambton — where we are bound. Our servant will go and fetch him. We apologise for bothering you.”
“It is no bother, I assure you,” Mr. Darcy said with obvious agitation. “Miss Bennet, would you do me the honour of introducing me to your relatives?”
The request took Elizabeth by surprise, and she needed a moment to regain her composure. She performed the introductions hesitantly, noticing that all three of her companions looked equally uneasy.
