Elizabeth Bennet's Excellent Adventure: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary by Regina Jeffers

lift his weight, and the man caught Darcy’s arm to lend his support.
    “My ribs,” Darcy hissed as the pain claimed his breath again.
    “Me wife’ll tend them. Me name be Tearlach Rogue. I own a piece about a half mile removed.”
    Darcy nodded his understanding.
    “I can walk a half mile.”
    He prayed that was true for Elizabeth deserved better than to be left at the altar. He owed her a very public apology.
    * * *
    Surprisingly, her father was sympathetic to Elizabeth’s plea.
    “Time away from Longbourn might be best in this situation, but I will not have you travel by public coach unescorted. You will have my carriage.”
    Elizabeth did not like the idea of providing her father a deception, but if she did not seize this opportunity, she would spend a life in quiet solitude with no opportunity for travel or for marriage.
    “I would not wish to deny you the use of your carriage. I do not mind the inconvenience of a public coach.”
    Her father countered, “How often do I have need of the carriage? With your mother taken to her bed, the coach is free. Moreover, how long will it take to travel to London? A few hours each way. I could be better spare the coach than a servant to accompany you.”
    “If I recall,” Elizabeth said coyly, “Aunt and Uncle Gardiner mean to journey to the northern shires soon. Mayhap, I could go to London and travel with them. I am certain uncle would see his way clear to assist. Uncle Gardiner appeared quite incensed by the outcome of Mr. Darcy’s courtship.”
    Mr. Bennet’s scowl deepened.
    “Your uncle felt responsible for permitting Darcy his manipulations.”
    Elizabeth did not wish to ask, but she needed to know the truth of Mr. Darcy’s complete abandonment in order to close that particular door.
    “Then there is no word from the gentleman?” she asked through a small voice.
    “ Gentleman is not the proper word for the wastrel,” Mr. Bennet hissed. “And I pray you change your mind regarding my claiming a portion of Mr. Darcy’s fortune for your future. With Longbourn entailed upon Mr. Collins, you must have an allowance upon which to live.”
    Elizabeth never thought of Mr. Darcy’s fortune, not in the way many women did. She knew him wealthy, but Elizabeth knew after giving the man her heart that she would accept Mr. Darcy even if he were one of the tenants upon Pemberley estate, rather than the property’s master.
    “I shall consider your suggestion, but for now, I wish to hear no more of Mr. Darcy.”
    “Then this is farewell.”
    Mr. Bennet rose to gather Elizabeth in his embrace.
    “You are my most precious Lizzy. If I could bear your pain, know that I would claim it gladly.”
    * * *
    Even after Darcy reached the Rogue’s cottage, it was another day before Rogue departed for Town with a message for Darcy House. With Rogue possessing no more than a donkey cart to his name, Darcy contented himself with the idea that someone from his home would come for him post haste when they received news of his recovery.
    Rogue’s wife tended Darcy’s many wounds and fed him simple meals, but Darcy would not know contentment until he could offer his excuses to Elizabeth. His intended never left his mind. He thought once their engagement became known that his obsession to claim the woman would ease, but Darcy erred. Elizabeth’s essence clung to him like a second skin.
    “Yer betroth be pretty?” Mrs. Rogue asked as Darcy crawled across the straw mattress to claim a bit of rest.
    “Many believe Miss Elizabeth is not as fair of face as her elder sister, but I find the lady the most handsome woman of my acquaintance.”
    Mrs. Rogue chuckled.
    “Ye be the only one who matters to the lady, and she to you.”
    * * *
    Restless to reunite with his family and Elizabeth, Darcy was awake when Rogue returned to the cottage well after dark.
    “Ye’ve a fine home, Mr. Darcy,” Rogue announced when Darcy joined the couple in the large room, which served as parlor and kitchen.