Page 2 of Elizabeth’s Choice

Her uncle laughed and continued, “All right, all right, Miss Fairfax! I do think this piece should be worth at least five pounds! But you have won many contests before, and I used your prior earnings to place a bet on your behalf and you are thirty pounds richer already!”

Lizzie’s jaw dropped and she commented in awe, “I’ve never heard of such a fortune. Thank you! I consider this my first official win in London and must practice diligently for the next one. Can we go home right now? I want to show papa my arrow.”

“Your father will be sad to have missed the competition. He would have been here if he did not catch a cold and had to remain in bed today. Gather your bow and arrows and give me five minutes while I speak with Lord Matlock and a few other gentlemen. Wait by the carriage, Miss Sabrina Fairfax, and I shall join you shortly,” Uncle Edward instructed.

After gathering her hair up again and placing her cap on her head, Lizzie carried her quiver and bow on one shoulder to walk towards her uncle’s carriage while ogling at her reward, but two teen-aged boys suddenly pushed her into an alleyway and laughed at her. “She’s just a frail little girl dressed like a boy, even if she beat grown men at archery. Give us your silver and you can keep your teeth in your mouth!”

The larger of the two boys pushed her down and held her by the collar with one hand while he raised his other fist in order to put the fear of God into her.

~*~

“Of all days, why today? Fitzwilliam Darcy groaned as he hid behind the hedgerows between houses, being able to see his townhouse across the wide lawn where dozens of people were leaving. It seemed some sort of an event had just concluded and he knew he was unfit to be seen by anyone in his current state of dress.

He and his schoolmates were having a bit of fun to celebrate the end of term and his eighteenth birthday the night prior. Darcy had been challenged to a drinking game and fell unconscious at the public house, only to awaken with barely his lawn shirt and breeches on him after his friends played a prank on him. He had to walk a full mile barefooted and knew that his father would tan his hide if he were caught by those of elite society in such disgrace.

As he drew closer to the park and hid behind several wooden crates between buildings to wait for the crowd to disperse, Darcy saw two larger boys holding down a smaller one, but as soon as the ruffian’s fist was raised, he shouted at him, “Stop it! What do you think you are doing?" and rushed to help the little one on the ground.

He pulled off the bigger boy and reprimanded him, “Why are you in the back alley to bother this boy? Are you related?”

The bully retorted, “It’s none of your business, you tramp! This ain’t even a boy and she’s got a silver arrow and I want it!”

“It’s mine and I won it! You can’t have it, thief!” Lizzie cried out. “You’re nothing but low-life crooks and will hang for this!”

Darcy towered over the young scoundrels who appeared to be about thirteen or fourteen years of age and glowered, “Run along now and do not bother anyone again or else I will have the constables toss you in jail.”

The larger boy defiantly pushed him away and swung his fist to try to fight but Darcy was faster and slapped him across the cheek. “That is for assaulting someone smaller than you. If I struck you with my fist, you would be on the ground unconscious and I will give you one more chance to get out of here.”

Both boys scampered in fear, seeing that they were no match against the tall man. Lizzie growled loudly as she stood up and readied her bow and arrow, pulling back the string as she aimed at the larger one in anger, but Darcy quickly pushed down the bow and admonished her, “If you are good enough to have won a silver arrow, you must know it is not honourable to shoot someone in the back. It is over and they are retreating so take a breath and calm yourself.”

Lizzie angrily replied, “They were going to strike me and steal my prize! Why can I not defend myself and put an arrow into his fat arse?”

Darcy chuckled as he answered, “You talk like a lad and look like one. Are you truly a girl? Well, they are retreating now but if anyone ever approaches you with an intent to harm you, only then can you defend yourself. My father taught me that brute force is the last option to protect yourself or your loved ones and peace is always preferred. You can kill someone with an arrow so I think you should learn to use your fist to punch them in the nose and your feet to kick them in their groin, and perhaps you might also learn to use a foil and sword when you grow up.”

“Perhaps I will!” she smiled, never cross for long with her easy disposition. “What is your name? I must thank you for coming to my aid.”

Darcy began to reply, “I am Willia…”

Before he could complete his answer, there was a shout from a short distance, “Sabrina! Where are you, Sabrina?” and Darcy lunged behind the crates again to hide himself from public view.

Lizzie laughed and whispered to him, “I don’t know why you are dressed like this but I can see that you don’t want to be discovered. I hope we meet again soon, because I’m going to marry you when I grow up. Thank you for saving me today, William,” and she placed the silver arrow into his palm and then ran to her uncle’s carriage.

Chapter 2

Ten years later

“I would rather not meet some unknown woman that my father arranged for me ten years ago!” Charles Bingley complained while sitting in Darcy’s study in Mayfair. “I know he meant well but his expectation for me to enter into courtship with someone I never met is ridiculous, even if it is with the daughter of a good friend."

Darcy consoled the younger man of five and twenty in years of age, “Your father truly wanted this for you and you cannot disregard it now, Bingley. He passed away six years ago but explicitly wrote of his pact with this friend in his will and you must at least meet this woman tomorrow. I know from firsthand experience what you will infinitely regret if you should disobey your father’s wishes. See her for five minutes and tell her you are nearly engaged to someone else to ease her expectations. It would be ungentlemanly to break your promise to your father and you will likely never see her again.”

“I completely forgot about tomorrow and promised the charming Miss Grantley a romantic picnic in Hyde Park and cannot disappoint her. I cannot be at two places at once and must either break my word to my father or to Miss Grantley.” He ran his fingers through his hair, “I agree that it would be quite rude if this lady is left waiting for hours, and even if I plan on disappointing her with my rejection, I would prefer that she does not continue to think I would marry her.” He looked at Darcy and his eyes grew wide, “What if… What if you, Darcy, now hear me out, my friend. I just had a wild idea and I think it is the perfect solution!”

Darcy scoffed, “Your ideas are always wild, Bingley.”

“But this one is a good one! What if you went in my stead to meet Miss Bennet? Do you recall I told you that my father’s friend had several daughters and one of them who is unmarried would show up at the Monument no matter what? If you were to meet her pretending to be me, you can frighten her away with just one menacing glare.” Bingley grinned while clapping his hands, “What is a hundred pounds to me to lose this wager? Father told me that his friend moved to some countryside when his father fell ill and I have never heard of them mentioned in town so she will not know you by sight. And who knows? She may not even show up herself. It is entirely possible that Mr. Bennet forgot about the date as well. You can help me solve this conundrum in just a quarter hour of your time!”

Darcy shook his head, “You know deception of any sort is an abhorrence to me! Why not just send a message that you could not attend? I cannot pretend to be you to meet a perfect stranger, Bingley! Do not be ridiculous.”

Bingley begged as he fell onto his knees, “Please, please, Darcy. If I send a messenger, I would still have to promise to meet this woman later and would rather get it done and over with one meeting to complete my task. I will give you… I will offer…” He thought for a moment and continued, “If you do this for me, I will sell you ‘Shakespeare’s First Folio’ that my father purchased before his passing.”