Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam rode in silent defeat, their path lit only by the inconstant light of a spring moon. Clouds obscured the face of the distant orb but the two men could still see well enough to know they were nearing Longbourn.
“I cannot think of her passing the night with him Darcy. I am torn in half at the idea of him hurting her. I care not if her reputation is ruined, I love her still and will marry her as soon as I am able. We must find her before morning light.”
His cousin’s tortured words only added to Mr. Darcy’s own regret and recrimination. “We will see whether Aunt Catherine has had any news and set out again, Richard. And when we find them, I will see that Wickham pays before we turn him over to the magistrate or Forster.”
The colonel agreed though he knew he would need restraint when handling the lieutenant lest he murder the man.
Mr. Darcy had told the colonel of Miss Bennet’s tale of how Wickham had harmed her family in strictest confidence. “I do not wish that information to become common knowledge and I share it now only to show what the man is capable of and his character.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam sighed heavily. “I feel responsible for introducing him to Anne. I knew he had run up some debts and told Colonel Forster. He arranged for Wickham’s pay to be given over the course of months to some of the shopkeepers in Meryton. There are junior officers who do such things, but it is frowned upon.”
“Do not blame yourself, Richard. He seemed an amiable gentleman with a good sense of propriety until he frightened Anne with his passionate pleas that afternoon at Longbourn. We had no reason to think he might return for her…”
Mr. Darcy reined his horse in abruptly and fell silent as the sound of horses hooves in the distance near his home caught his attention. He and the colonel spurred their horses into action and raced ahead.
Elizabeth and her footman were halfway across the field when Mr. Darcy and the colonel caught them up. She could not see who gave chase at first and leaned down to grasp her small pistol.
Holding it steady in her hand out of view of the approaching horsemen, Elizabeth called out as the footman placed himself between her and the men. She noticed his hand was on his pistol as well.
“It is only us, Miss Bennet! Do not fear.” Colonel Fitzwilliam had removed his hat and Elizabeth breathed deeply in relief. Her heart was still racing as Mr. Darcy reined in his horse beside hers.
He noticed the pistol she held and nodded at it with approval. “At least you brought an armed footman along.”
The colonel shook his head at his cousin’s tease. He knew Darcy wanted to ask how she had managed to chase out into the darkness with only a footman. He would not be allowed to question her for Miss Bennet ignored him and lifted her chin in defiance.
“I thought about where they may have gone. I believe they cannot have left the area yet as Miss de Bourgh did not go willingly with Mr. Wickham,” she said and awaited Mr. Darcy’s reply.
She pulled her list from her pocket and presented it to Mr. Darcy. The colonel moved his horse closer to look over his cousin’s shoulder. The clouds had drifted away from the moon and provided them enough light to read her list. “How did you come to these conclusions, Miss Bennet?”
“Yes,” Mr. Darcy said, “please tell us why you think they may still be in Hertfordshire. Would not the lieutenant wish to go as far from the militia’s reach as quickly as he might especially if my cousin was his captive instead of his beloved?”
Elizabeth was relieved they had not laughed at her nor demanded she return home. “When I went to the place where your cousin was last seen by Hill, I saw marks in the soft earth of the recently turned garden. Footprints the size of a lady’s foot turned toward the house but the dirt held the single footprint of a gentleman’s boot, much larger than the smaller prints. Some of Miss de Bourgh’s footprints were covered over in what must have been the struggle to pull her into the lane.”
“But Hill said she saw Anne speaking with the lieutenant in the lane. That does not seem as though he made a kidnapping attempt.” Mr. Darcy was thoughtful as he spoke.
Elizabeth allowed him time to think about her discoveries before she spoke again. The colonel said that he thought Elizabeth might be right. His horse moved restlessly away sensing the agitation in his rider.
After a few moments while Mr. Darcy looked over her list again, Elizabeth spoke quietly to the man. “You know her much better than I could ever claim to, but your cousin is a kind and quiet young lady. She had a sense of right and wrong. She did not allow your aunt to bully her on the matter of Mr. Bingley and I do not believe she would have allowed Wickham to easily take her from her home.”
She glanced over her shoulder at the colonel and pity filled her heart. “He must be mad with worry. We cannot allow the night to pass without finding her. Gossip might spread no matter how we try to keep it quiet.”
Mr. Darcy looked up. “You make a fine point, Miss Bennet. I will search all the places you have listed. But you would have me search my own tenant farms first?”
“I would. There is a vacant cottage on your land if I am correct. One of the widows in town mentioned she saw the lieutenant out this way once when traveling to see her daughter who lives nearby.” Elizabeth’s eyes lit with hope as she spoke.
“There is one and I did not think of it! I will take the colonel and ride there now. If you are wrong, there are other places we might search thanks to your list,” he said as he folded it carefully and placed it in his pocket.
Elizabeth smiled with gratitude but her tone was serious as she asserted herself. “I would ride with you.”
Mr. Darcy held up a hand. “I cannot ask such a thing, Miss Bennet. You have been more than a help.”
She arched a brow and examined the man closely. The light of the moon hid some of his expression. “Mr. Darcy, you did not ask and I will not sit idly and await word. Earlier this evening, you called me dearest Elizabeth. Did you mean it? Have you been unable to forget your feelings as I have been unable to forget mine?”
He gazed at her for a long moment and looked down before looking at her again. She knew the answer to her question. “Then allow me to be present if we find Miss Anne. She will need a woman to comfort her and to speak about what happened to her. You will have the pleasure I wish were mine, to deal with Wickham the way men deal with one another.”
Mr. Darcy seemed as though he might speak but instead, he motioned for her to lead the way and followed behind with the footman and his cousin.