Part II
As the sun peaked out, the Darcy carriage pulled up to the parsonage. Darcy and the colonel emerged and found Elizabeth waiting on the steps, trunk at the ready.
"Good morning, good sirs."
They both bowed as Elizabeth courtseyed.
Darcy looked about.
"Is not Mr or Mrs Collins about, for us to take our leave?"
"It is very early, sir, and is not the idea of a quick start not to your liking?"
Darcy espied her dubiously and headed for the door. Elizabeth stepped into his path.
"Mr Darcy, if you knock on that door, I have no doubt you will beat, the sniveling poor excuse of a man, senseless. Would you not rather be merrily on our way?"
Darcy looked to the colonel then back to her.
"Will you promise to tell me why I should not knock?"
"I will be most delighted to, when we are too far away for you to turn back."
Darcy looked her over, she seemed well enough. Reluctantly he agreed and they set off.
Once inside Elizabeth was introduced to a young maid named Anna in Darcy's employ.
Darcy smiled at how at ease Elizabeth was with Anna, soon the two were giggling together and seemed like old friends.
After they had stopped to change horses Darcy asked the question most on his mind
"Will you tell me now why the Collins's did not see you off?"
Elizabeth looked towards Anna who was busy sewing.
"You can speak in front of Anna. Almost her entire family is employed with us. They are like an extended family and can be trusted."
Anna looked up and smiled.
"Very well, sir, as I did promise and might I be allowed to say how proud I am of you for waiting this long."
She turned to the colonel.
"Are you not shocked, colonel?"
The colonel chuckled, "I am indeed, I thought he would be chomping at the bit long before now."
"Mr Collins and I had a terrible row last night, once he found out of our courtship. Apparently some dunderhead informed Lady Catherine."
Anna looked up in shock and the colonel tried to cover his laugh.
"I was honorbound to inform her."
"My apologies, sir, I did not know you were said dunderhead."
"You very well knew who it was."
"I may have suspected, sir, but I, in fact, did not know for certain, so you cannot accuse me of a prevarication."
"Is all this simply a diversion to delay the telling of the pertinent parts of the story?"
"You are far too keen, sir. How will I ever get away with my schemes?"
Elizabeth could see Mr Darcy's patience was wearing thin. She took a deep breath.
"I was thrown from the house last evening, sir."
Darcy sat forward.
"Where did you sleep?"
"Under the stars, sir. It was a beautiful sky last night, do you not think?"
Mr Darcy became eeriely silent, Elizabeth thought.
"Before you begin blustering about, sir, let remind you that I currently sit before you relatively unharmed."
"You should have sent for me." Darcy said barely containing himself.
"I considered it, William, but then I thought there would be a commotion and Lady Catherine would be alerted. It seemed more prudent to bare it. Charlotte did come to my aid in the very early morning so I could wash and dress for today."
"If I ever see him again!"
Eventually Darcy calmed and they had a pleasant rest of day, until pulling into the inn they had intended to stay for the night, the carriage jolted unexpectedly and flung Elizabeth into the carriage wall. She cried out in pain.
"Elizabeth, what is wrong?"
Elizabeth took a moment for the pain to subside.
"It is just my shoulder, William, I should've been more careful."
"Whst is wrong with your shoulder?"
"It is just very sore from last night."
