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FITZWILLIAM WOKE WITH the first light of dawn, and when he looked down, he found Lizzy still sprawled across his lap, sleeping against him. His gaze moved to the woman who shared the space with them, and he was certain she had passed. Her skin was pale, and when he reached forward, it was waxy and cool to the touch. He let out a sigh of regret at the loss of life before turning his attention to Lizzy. “Miss Bennet, you need to wake now.”
Her eyes opened slowly, and she smiled up at him with warmth that made his stomach curl in a delightful fashion. Only heavier matters distracted him from the urge to bend his head and kiss her. “Our fellow survivor is no more.”
Sleep cleared from her eyes, and she blinked as she moved back abruptly, obviously realizing she’d fallen asleep in his arms and remained there for the night. If she was embarrassed, she didn’t reveal it when she focused her attention on the young woman. They looked through her things, but unlike for poor Mr. Pennyworth, they found no identification. She was wearing a simple cross with an inscription on the back that read: “Eternally yours, N.” Lizzy removed it from her and placed it in her bag, hoping it might help identify the woman at some point.
She seemed to refuse the idea they might not be rescued, and Fitzwilliam tried not to dwell on it, since the island was tantalizingly close now. It was still too far away for him to feel comfortable trying to swim for it, but if the boat seemed like it would take them the wrong direction, and they couldn’t overcome the ocean currents, he was confident that within a few hours, they would be close enough to make the attempt safe. There was reassurance in that, as long as the boat stayed the course for those remaining hours.
Together, they lifted the woman’s body over the side of the boat, once more saying a prayer for her. Lizzy seemed to be in a dark mood. “If you outlive me, Mr. Darcy, please do not say the Lord’s prayer when you drop me into the ocean. I do not find comfort in it. It is a stark reminder of what trials and tribulations one might face before reaching the next life.”
His lips firmed. “I shall not recite the prayer, and you shall never be in that position. You are going to survive this, Lizzy. We both are.”
She blinked. “You have used my first name.”
He flushed. “I apologize. I was impassioned by the moment.”
She smiled. “It seems rather ridiculous to be worried about such things, does it not, Mr. Darcy?”
He shrugged. “At the moment, it does. You may call me by my first name if you would like, Miss Elizabeth?”
She smiled. “Lizzy is fine, Mr. Darcy, but I do not know your first name.”
He laughed, a startled sound that made her jump in reaction. “No, I do not suppose you do. Charles fondly calls me Darcy, as do many of my acquaintances. Perhaps it is because they know I do not like my first name as well.”
She tipped her head slightly. “Now you have me dreadfully curious, Mr. Darcy. Whatever is it?”
His lips twitched, enjoying her amusement and the way it distracted her from reality. “Perhaps I shall make you guess, Lizzy.”
She tipped her head. “That is a fine idea, Mr. Darcy. It will surely occupy the time until we are close enough to the island to swim for it.”
He frowned slightly, realizing she wasn’t as distracted as he’d hoped. Of course, she wasn’t. She was an intelligent woman, and she recognized the peril of their situation, even if she was willing to indulge in a light bit of play to divert them from that. “What is your best guess?”
“Bartholomew.”
He grimaced, finding that name even more objectionable than his own. “Decidedly not.”
“Horatio?”
He shook his head. “My father had a dear friend named Horatio, who was a giant bear of a man. He did enjoy his sporting and drink, much to his detriment. He combined the two one day. He was quite inebriated when he went out hunting for grouse and stumbled off a cliff.”
She winced. “How horrible.”
“Indeed. That is not my name though.”
“James?” He shook his head. “William?”
He grinned. “You are close. Perhaps a clue?” At her eager nod, he said, “It starts with an F.”
She frowned. “I am afraid I can think of no name that starts with F and contains William.”
He grimaced. “Indeed, and that is part of the reason I so dislike the name. It is too unusual. The cursed moniker is Fitzwilliam, though my close acquaintances often call me Darcy, and my sister calls me Will.”
Lizzy nodded. “I see. Which would you prefer I use, Mr. Darcy?”
There was a lump in his throat as he imagined her saying the diminutive his sister always used for him. Georgiana spoke it with a caring note, and he wondered how it would sound coming from Lizzy in such a fashion. “Will shall do fine, Lizzy.”
“Very well, Will.” She smiled at him. “How much longer do you think it will be before we can swim for the island if the boat isn’t going to take us there?”
He looked at the sky and then at the island. “I do not know, but hopefully only a few hours. It would be better if we can keep the boat, but if not, I think we will soon be within a safe distance to swim.”
***
THEY WERE UNABLE TO keep the boat in the end. The wind whipped up and started pulling them the other direction, so together, they jumped into the ocean and swam. He admired how strong a swimmer Lizzy was as they reached the island thirty minutes later, both breathing heavily before collapsing onto the wet sand. He glanced over at her, waiting until he could catch a breath before he said, “I am surprised how well you swim. Most ladies of my acquaintance do not possess such a skill.”
Her lips twitched, though she was still obviously trying to get a deep breath. “I have no doubt the ladies of your acquaintance are quite accomplished in different tasks, including drawing, modern languages, and all the rules of decorum and etiquette.” Said like that, it managed to sound almost insulting.
He shrugged. “Perhaps, but swimming is certainly not among them.”
She smiled. “Growing up in the country has many advantages, including our own spring. My sisters and I spent many summers in the water before Mama deemed us too old for such things.”
His lips twitched. “Even after your mother forbade you, you still swam upon occasion?”
She seemed unrepentant as she rolled onto her side to face him. “I swam every chance I got, Will. It is something I truly enjoy, and I have not a bit of regret for defying her, since it likely saved my life.”
He nodded, leaving it unspoken that it might’ve saved his as well. He never would have left her behind, but trying to tow her with him across the distance might’ve been enough to leave them both drowning before they could ever reach land.
Sometime later, the water started to wash over them, and it roused Fitzwilliam enough to sit up. He looked at Lizzy, who was doing the same. “I suppose we should see what is available to us, and how we can survive on this place.”
She nodded, licking her dry lips. “I hope there is water.”
“If you would like to make yourself comfortable in the shade, I shall search for it.”
“I can come with you.”
He waved a hand. “You should rest.” No doubt, as a lady, she’d exceeded her strength by vast margins. Even Fitzwilliam was feeling depleted, but it was his duty as the man to look after her and ensure she had water if he could find it.
Fitzwilliam moved into the interior of the island, unsurprised to find a wild jungle. He heard animals ahead of him, though they fell silent each time he approached, likely sensing an interloper in their midst and wanted to hide their presence. He felt similarly, hoping any life on the island was small and shy, wishing to stay away from them rather than be aggressive. Without even a weapon, an animal attacking was a frightening prospect.
Though his energy was flagging, Darcy pushed on, walking until he found a freshwater source a couple of kilometers later. There were no animals around, and the water looked clean and cool. He could clearly see the stones in the shallow end. He had no container with which to retrieve it, so he looked around before finding a section of bark he thought might hold enough to be worth the trip back. He quenched his thirst and washed the vessel as thoroughly as he could before filling it with water. Holding it carefully, he slowly returned to where he’d left Lizzy on the beach.