Page 56 of Master of Himself

While Charles agreed that the storm had intensified, their fortunes had not changed. After another rain-drenched session in the lane, he stared into the looking glass and found only disappointment.

Despite Henry’s constant encouragement, Charles was dangerously close to losing hope and was uncertain if he could withstand another failed attempt to switch with Darcy. Mr Hobbs had already been pushed to his limit, and had probably spent the better part of the past two days restoring Darcy’s clothes to order.

But what else could they have done? They had waited all this time for the rain to return and had to explore every possibility. Reversing the spell was now the highest priority. He didn’t want to lose hope, but they had repeated the same moves over a wide expanse of the lane to no avail. He was uncertain of how much longer he could endure this farce.

Caroline and Louisa had become insufferable this past fortnight with their constant sniping and complaints, but with all this rain, it was no wonder they were irritable.

Hobbs entered the chamber through the dressing room door. “Ah, you have been exploring again.”

“Don’t scold, Mr Hobbs,” Charles said. “There’s no telling what my host might require of me, and there’s no sense in telling me to refuse. After all his kindness to me, I can’t bring myself to deny him.”

“No, indeed, you ought not,” Hobbs said in a grave tone.

Charles knew he shouldn’t blame Darcy for the extra workload his activities had forced on Hobbs, but his situation had become desperate. He feared that if he didn’t find a solution soon, he might never do so. The risk to his future happiness increased with each passing day.

***

Monday 25 November

By Monday evening, Darcy suffered from a mixture of impatience, boredom, and anxiety. The storm raged that night with even more vengeance than the three days prior. The rain came down in torrents, the wind blustered, the thunder roared, and the lightning split the sky. There was little to do indoors, Charles’s sisters had become insufferable, and his repeated failure to reverse his misfortune had pushed him to the breaking point.

When the men discussed their plan of action after supper, Hurst insisted that if they were really serious about reversing the spell, they had to recreate the event exactly as it had happened on that terrible night, including the chaise, the coachman, and the horses.

Naturally, Darcy opposed this idea, as did Charles. It was one thing to involve Lockhart in the scheme, but to bring out the hired horses on such a tumultuous night must not be considered. He wouldn’t do so with his own horses, and certainly not with another man’s property.

But with Hurst’s persistence, Charles finally relented. “We must attempt every possible solution. It’s the only option we haven’t attempted yet and might very well be our last resort,” Charles said with a heightened sense of urgency.

Despite his misgivings, Darcy called for the chaise.

“Are you certain about this, sir? It’s a devilish night,” Lockhart said, shouting above the deafening storm.

“True, but we’ve been confined to the house for days and need a bit of a break,” Darcy replied. “Please drive us to the Meryton Inn.” They had agreed to visit the inn for a quick drink, then stop in the lane to perform their well-rehearsed moves.

They set off down the driveway, but the moment they left the pavement and turned into the lane, the chaise came to an abrupt halt.

“Now we’re in the basket,” Henry said.

“I’ll see what has to be done,” Charles said, then alighted.

Leaving his hat behind, Darcy quickly followed, sinking to his ankles in the mud. With rain pelting his face, he observed the frantic horses plunging wildly with all four carriage wheels hopelessly entrenched.

As the tempest continued to rage, he and Charles slogged to the horses’ heads and took hold of the leaders’ halters. Obviously, their plan hadn’t been as well thought out as they had supposed. Four days of rain had made the lane impassable.

Lockhart climbed down from his perch to lend his assistance. “The horses can go no further in this mud, Mr Bingley. We must release them from their traces and return them to the stable,” he said, shouting above the din.

Since this was the only sensible option available to them, Darcy regretted that their plan to reverse that fateful night had to be abandoned.

The four men led the four horses through the driving rain to the stable. After entrusting the horses’ care to the stablemaster, they recruited a groom to assist with retrieving the carriage. Drenched to the skin, they headed back into the storm.

This folly is well deserved, Darcy thought as they traversed the driveway. Had they really believed that their nonsensical plan would succeed?

Upon reaching the chaise, the four men positioned themselves at the wheels, with the groom at the front shaft. As the storm raged overhead, the men lifted and pushed, moving the carriage only a few inches. With no small effort, they persevered and managed to get the two rear wheels onto the driveway. With all five men lifting and pushing, the front wheels easily gained firm ground.

Although exhausted, they rolled the chaise up the driveway. By the time they reached the yard, the worst of the storm had passed, leaving only a light rain. Old Anderson ran out to lend his assistance.

Once the carriage was safely bestowed, Charles and Henry headed for the house while Darcy remained behind. “Mr Lockhart, I humbly apologise for pressing you into service on such a night,” he said, placing two crowns into his hand. “I assure you I shall not repeat the error.”

“Well, Mr Bingley, I reckon every young fellow needs at least one madcap adventure in his career,” he said with a hearty laugh.