Emily Russell - Disruption at Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

W e should have left sooner.

Uncle Gardiner looked out the carriage window although little could be seen of the surrounding Derbyshire countryside in the dark. Rain lashed against the windows, rattling the thin glass. The carriage lurched uncomfortably from side to side as the wheels struggled to roll over the sucking mud and stones .

Elizabeth Bennet braced her hand against the carriage door to prevent herself from being thrown against it. Her other arm was around her Aunt Gardiner to hold her in place. She smiled gamely at her uncle .

These things happen, Uncle. We are not the first to forget the hour while exploring the beauties of nature. I am sure there are people all over the countryside right now rushing home and scolding themselves for being so captivated by hills and peaks that they neglected to notice the darkening sky .

Mr Gardiner grunted in response. He looked at his wife and niece, his brow furrowed with concern .

I shouldnt have you out so late, he said. These roads are not safe in the dark .

Its not your fault, Uncle, said Elizabeth. The carriage lurched again, and she gripped the door as she was almost flung from her seat. She took a deep breath. And remember, we would have been home much sooner if the carriage had not become stuck in the mud at Mam Tor. It must have taken you and Tom almost half an hour to pull it free, and the carriage hasnt moved as fast as wed like since then .

Mr Gardiner nodded distractedly and turned to look out the window again. Elizabeth knew he was desperate to see the lights of Lambton to let them know they were almost back to the safety of their inn. The innkeeper had mentioned rain as a possibility, but the family had decided to set out anyway, not wishing to lose a day of their holiday. And they thought they had cheated nature when the day continued bright and clear. Unfortunately, when the rain did come, it came in a deluge that shocked them and turned the untamed paths of the Peak District into muddy slides which took all the drivers skill to navigate .

At least the rain seems to be clearing off, said Aunt Gardiner. She had been quiet through much of the journey. For that, Elizabeth had been grateful. She could recognise her aunts anxiety in the tension of her body as Elizabeth held onto her, but unlike Elizabeths own mama who would have spent the journey shrieking and predicting their deaths, her aunt had sensibly recognised such displays would have served no purpose except to agitate her companions .

Elizabeth rubbed her aunts arm to comfort her. I believe youre right, she said. It is much lighter. At least we might see where we are going now. And the roads can only improve the closer we come to Pemberley She trailed off awkwardly. I mean to Lambton, she said, amending herself .

Her aunt and uncle did not notice the slip, a fact for which she was grateful. She had been horrified when her aunt and uncle changed their plans to visit the Lake District and proposed a visit to Derbyshire instead. And the village they had chosen as their base was naturally the village of Lambton as that was where her aunt had grown up .

Unfortunately, it was also within five miles of Pemberley. Elizabeth had never seen the estate, but by all accounts, it was magnificent and the finest in Derbyshire .

It was also the home of Mr Darcy. The man whose proposal of marriage she had rejected only a few months before when shed told him in no uncertain terms exactly what she thought of him. Only to discover she had been wrong about him on so many counts

Her aunt and uncle had mentioned a desire to visit Pemberley as her aunt had not seen it since she was a child. They were to visit the next day, and only the knowledge that Mr Darcy was not currently home, gave Elizabeth the comfort to agree to it. How strange it would be to visit the place she might have been mistress of if she had accepted Mr Darcys declarations of love and the offer of his hand .

We cannot be too far now, said Mr Gardiner. We have been travelling long enough, but I still cannot see anything except lots of trees. I wonder if we are near Pemberley Woods ?

Elizabeth felt her heart quicken at the mention of Pemberley. Thankfully, the carriage was too dark for her blushes to be seen. They must be on the outskirts of Mr Darcys estate or possibly on his land itself. What would he think if he knew she was here? She lay back against the seat and sighed. Thankfully, he would never know. He would probably not return to Pemberley for several weeks, by which time Elizabeth would once again be home in Meryton. Once she had left Derbyshire, it was unlikely their paths would ever cross again. They moved in far different circles, and as there was no hope that her sister, Jane and Darcys friend, Mr Bingley, who had developed an affection for one another when they stayed at Hertfordshire the previous winter would ever renew their attachment, it was unlikely that Elizabeth would ever see him again .

And that was precisely what she wanted .

We should be home within the hour, she said to assure her aunt and uncle. I am sure Mr Bridges has kept aside a good dinner for us. I cannot wait for some roasted beef and hunks of bread .

Stop it, Lizzy. Her aunt laughed. You will make us hungrier than we are. Even with the picnic Mrs Bridges provided for us, I am ravenous once again. There is something about the unspoilt country air that increases ones appetite tremendously .

That, and all the walking and climbing we have done, Elizabeth said. I do believe we moved about for five hours without sitting down. Naturally, so much fresh air and exercise has an affect on ones appetite .

Some tea would also be most welcome her aunt began, before her husband interrupted her by drawing in his breath sharply and tensing. The ladies only had a brief moment to notice before the carriage came to an abrupt stop, almost flinging the passengers from their seat .

What is it? asked Elizabeth. Her uncle was tense, his arm stretched across the two ladies protectively. His gaze was directed keenly at something outside the carriage. He put Elizabeth in mind of one of her own fathers guard dogs when they heard a strange sound at night .

Elizabeth could see nothing from her side of the carriage. As she leaned forward to see from Mr Gardiners side, she heard voices outside. They were slightly muffled, but it sounded as if an argument was taking place. She was about to ask if they had accidentally travelled over a farmers land when the sound of a pistol shot cracked through the air .

Fast as a whip, Uncle Gardiner clapped his hand over his wifes mouth to prevent her from crying out. Elizabeths own hand had flown to her mouth and she stared at her relatives, her eyes wide with horror. She slowly pulled her hand away, shaking slightly .

Has someone killed Tom? she whispered .

I do not hear him fall from his seat, her uncle whispered back. He took a deep breath. Ladies, I believe we may be about to encounter thieves. Whatever you do, do not look full into their faces. Whatever they ask of you, no matter how precious, hand it over to them. Nothing is worth more than your lives .

Do you mean they are highwaymen

A shadow passed outside the window and Elizabeth jumped, biting back the desire to scream. The carriage door was wrenched open. She only caught a brief glimpse of a shadowed face before her uncle was roughly pulled from the carriage. Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner cried out and tried to catch Mr Gardiner, but he fell to the ground before they could stop him. His head hit the stony ground with a thud that made Elizabeths stomach drop. Her rage overcame her fears and she shoved open the door on her side and leaped out .