Create Your Own JAFF Adventure – Part 7

Thanks for joining me on our Create Your Own JAFF Adventure! Just starting? You can catch up on previous posts collected here: https://austenvariations.com/category/sarah-courtney/ . Last week, Elizabeth saw Mr. Wickham at the park and told him about her dance at the Netherfield Ball with Mr. Darcy, then returned to the Gardiners’ and greeted Colonel Fitzwilliam and Miss Darcy. When she spoke with Miss Darcy, readers voted that she should tell Miss Darcy about meeting an acquaintance at the park, and so that is where we will start this week!

If you’d prefer the third person version, you can read it here. There’s a link at the bottom of the intro part that will jump you to the newest part. Just don’t forget to come back and comment to tell me what Elizabeth should do next!

“In fact, although I know very few people here aside from my aunt and uncle, I saw an acquaintance from Meryton in the park.”

“I hope . . . I hope it was a pleasant meeting.” Miss Darcy looks down at her feet. “I would not have thought . . .” She trails off.

“You would not have thought?” you encourage her.

“From what my brother had said, I would not have thought many of your neighbours in Meryton would spend time in London, especially during hunting season.”

Of course Mr. Darcy would speak of the few connections of people in Hertfordshire. “It was a lieutenant in the militia, Mr. Wickham, who is currently stationed in Meryton.” Mr. Wickham spoke fondly of his days with Georgiana in her youth, but you wonder if the girl will acknowledge the acquaintance now. From what he said, you have the impression the girl has grown too proud to speak of a steward’s son.

Miss Darcy blushes. “Mr. Wickham! I did not realize you knew him.”

“A little.” You cock your head, considering. From Mr. Wickham’s words of her pride, you had not expected this reaction, but rather something more like irritation or disregard. Her blush makes you think of Kitty’s reaction when Lydia teases her about Mr. Denny. Perhaps Miss Darcy seemed proud and distant to Mr. Wickham because she has a little schoolgirl infatuation for him?

How much does Miss Darcy know about Mr. Wickham’s lost inheritance? Does she know what her brother did? Likely not. Brothers never share much with sisters about such things, especially not when there is such a difference in age between them.

“Would you care for some tea?” you ask. “Or would you prefer to see your room? I would go up to change for dinner soon, but I suppose you do not have your things, do you?”

“I do, in fact!” the younger girl says. “I was ready to rush to my brother’s aid when I heard he was injured here, but my cousin forced me to wait an extra few minutes while he asked my maid to follow with some clothing for me, and now I am glad he did, if I will be staying until my brother is well. I would like to go to my room, please. I shall hope my maid has arrived with my trunk.”

You lead her upstairs and show her the room before retreating to your own, thankful that the Gardiners have enough spare rooms that you do not have to share with Miss Darcy. Much as you like the girl, it would be uncomfortable for you both since you just met.

The meal is a quiet one. Aunt Gardiner speaks of the physician’s suggestions, and Colonel Fitzwilliam suggests sending his father’s physician to examine Mr. Darcy as well. You bristle for your uncle at the suggestion that his physician is somehow lacking, but Uncle Gardiner takes it in stride, cheerful agreeing that a second opinion might be valuable.

You do not linger long downstairs after dinner. Miss Darcy goes upstairs to be with her brother, Colonel Fitzwilliam soon following, and you are too exhausted after a long day to stay with your aunt and uncle for long. You fall asleep quickly, although you wake several times from dreams of Mr. Darcy dying en route to London or being in the carriage and covered in his blood.

The next day passes quietly. After breakfast, Colonel Fitzwilliam goes back to his regiment, and Miss Darcy spends much of the morning with her brother. After some time, however, she comes downstairs.

“I appreciate your hospitality,” she says, her eyes flicking from you to Aunt Gardiner, “but I have an important appointment I must keep. I believe my cousin brought my brother’s carriage here?”

“Yes, it is at your disposal,” Aunt Gardiner assures her. “But you are not going out alone, surely! Would you like Elizabeth to accompany you?”

“Oh, no, I would not trouble her for such a little thing,” Miss Darcy says, but you notice that her eyes slide away from your aunt. “My maid will come with me, and I will return in a few hours. My brother is sleeping, so I know I can safely leave him in your care.”

“My dear, I believe we should speak with your brother first. I cannot in good conscience let a young lady of fifteen go out into London with only a maid for escort.”

Miss Darcy looks up, her eyes showing a startling amount of fire for the quiet girl. “Not even to see her own aunt? Mrs. Gardiner, I mean no offense, but it is not your place to question me.” She stalks off, and you and your aunt exchange a look.

She is right, though. Neither Aunt Gardiner nor you have the right to stop the girl from doing as she pleases, as you are not her guardians or even related to her. Mr. Darcy is sleeping, and by the time he could be wakened, the girl will be long gone. Surely she is safe enough traveling to her aunt’s house—this is Colonel Fitzwilliam’s mother, is she not?—although perhaps you might ask if the aunt could send a carriage to retrieve her next time.

You find yourself pondering over Miss Darcy’s words and attitude. She is very eager to go out without anyone else, except a maid, and she did not bring her companion to Gracechurch Street. She is generally quieter and better-behaved, but you have a vast deal of experience with younger sisters, and Miss Darcy’s mulish determination to go out reminds you of Lydia.

Still, the Darcys are none of your business, aside from what is necessary for Mr. Darcy to recuperate under the Gardiners’ roof. He will be in his room upstairs for a few days and then depart. You have no reason to concern yourself with any of their affairs.

In the afternoon, you walk to the park again with Miss Hammerlin and your cousins, although this time, you do not see anyone you know.

After you return to the house and hand the children over to their mother and governess, you find Mr. Darcy alone in the drawing room.

“Georgiana?” he asks, looking past you.

“She is still out?” you ask, taking up the book that you had left on a side table.

“She was not with you?” He looks bemused. “Your aunt mentioned that you had both gone out.”

“Oh! No, she went out earlier in your carriage to an appointment of some sort. I went with the children to the park.” You watch him, curious what he knows of Miss Darcy’s appointment.

“Appointment?” He stands up quickly, and a pained look comes across his face. He puts his hand to the back of his head. “What appointment?”

“To her aunt’s, I believe she said. Is that Colonel Fitzwilliam’s mother?”

“Oh. Of course. She went out with Colonel Fitzwilliam.” He lowers himself back into his chair, his hand still to his head.

“I am afraid not. He went to his regiment today. My aunt did try to dissuade Miss Darcy from going out alone with only a maid, but she was . . . determined. And we had no authority to stop her.”

Mr. Darcy’s face darkens. “I have that authority. You could have wakened me!”

“By which time she would have been long gone, as we could not physically restrain her, and the carriage is your own and thus hers to command.”

With a huff of air, Mr. Darcy says, “At least she has only gone to my aunt’s home. Lady Matlock is beginning to introduce Georgiana to important acquaintances in preparation for her coming out, although I would have preferred Georgiana have her companion accompany her. I suppose there is no room for her?”

“I believe we have taken all of my aunt and uncle’s spare rooms,” Elizabeth admitted. “Someone would have to share.”

“Ah.” He frowns. “Nonetheless, I cannot like her going out alone. She was supposed to be safe here. I will speak with her when she returns.”

You look at the book in your lap, then back at Mr. Darcy. You held off on your curiosity for an entire day, but it seems impossible to wait another moment now that you are alone. You will have no better opportunity.

“Mr. Darcy, what happened to you yesterday? Why were you on the road? And why were you so anxious to get to London?”

You have read in books of a person’s face becoming “closed off,” but you have never seen it before this moment.

He is silent for so long that you are sure he will tell you that it is none of your business. “I cannot tell you exactly,” he says. “I was set upon by two men, although they did not say why.”

“Were you on the way to London?”

“I was still at Netherfield.”

Your blood runs cold. You always assumed that he was on the road when he was injured. “You were injured on Netherfield property? You were in riding gear; we assumed you had been riding to London.”

“I had been riding, but on Bingley’s property.”

“Is that why you did not want to return to Netherfield Park?”

“It was part of it. I was also anxious to get to my sister.”

“Were you concerned she would be worried for you?”

His eyes are distant, unfocused. “Yes, and . . . well, yes.” It is not a complete answer, but he does not elaborate.

“Have you written to warn Mr. Bingley?”

Mr. Darcy’s attention turns back to you. “Warn Mr. Bingley?”

“Of the danger! You would not leave him unprotected when there are dangerous men attacking people on his lands.”

There is something odd about this. Mr. Darcy’s response is too slow. Because of his head injury? Or is there another reason? “Of course,” he says slowly.

Maybe there is a reason Mr. Darcy does not seem worried for Mr. Bingley’s safety. Maybe Mr. Darcy knows that he, and he alone, was the target.

It would make sense. He is wealthier than Mr. Bingley, and from what Mr. Collins said, he has wealthy and titled relatives. He could be ransomed for more than Mr. Hurst or Mr. Bingley. But no, kidnap for ransom does not make sense. Mr. Darcy was found injured far from where he was attacked. That meant that either ransom is not their design, or that he somehow escaped his kidnappers.

“You will warn Mr. Bingley?”

“I will tell him what he needs to know.”

He is certainly holding something back. He would not assume Mr. Bingley is safe from the danger unless he somehow knows for certain he is the target. Even if that is the case, why is he not anxious to assure his friend of his safety? If he was attacked on a ride, they must be worried for him at Netherfield!

Unless he suspects that someone from Netherfield Park is involved, or maybe wants to keep his survival a secret. But why? Is there something more nefarious about Mr. Darcy than any of you suspect?

You need information, and you need to know what is going on back in Meryton. Is Mr. Darcy even telling the truth about the attack?

Should you

confront Mr. Darcy with your suspicions and ask him for the truth about why he was attacked

or

write to Charlotte Lucas asking what people were saying and what is happening at Netherfield?

Cast your vote in the comments below! I am going to take a week’s break as I am working on an audio release and need to get some writing done, but I will have the next part for you in two weeks.