Darcy's Voyage: A Tale of Uncharted Love on the Open Seas (2 page)

The gentleman looked out the window and then back to her. “This is where I get off. I see the carriage from my country home is already here.” The door was opened and he looked out and then back at Elizabeth. “I enjoyed travelling with you. I confess I was not looking forward to this ride when I first boarded the carriage. But you have, somehow, made it pass most pleasantly and I thank you.” He stepped down and looked back at Elizabeth as if he was about to say something else, then turned away as if he had changed his mind.

Elizabeth blushed at his words of praise and smiled. “It was my pleasure,” she said softly to herself.

As the carriage pulled away, the gentleman thought to himself how odd it was for him to be drawn to a woman like her. Perhaps it was because she was so unlike most of the women he had met over the years. He turned to watch as the carriage continued down the road, and then walked slowly toward his own. He realized he had not even asked her name.

“Good day, Barstow. It is good to see you.”

“Good day, Mr. Darcy. Sorry to hear about the other carriage. Hope it was not too much of an inconvenience taking the one for hire. I shall get you home in no time.”

Elizabeth sat still in the carriage, her heart beating wildly as she furtively turned back to watch him easily step up into his own carriage. Why was she feeling this way? She had to admit he was one of the most handsome men she could remember meeting. Something inside of her ached at the thought of never seeing him again. She was not sure why, when he was obviously a man who would never lower himself to the likes of someone such as her. Why someone of his wealth and station even bothered to talk with her she was not sure. For one short carriage ride, she enjoyed his presence and he acknowledged her, yet she did not even know his name.

Two years later

Elizabeth Bennet walked into the parlour at her Aunt Madlyn and Uncle Edmund Gardiner’s empty home in London. She and her father had spent the day travelling from their home in Hertfordshire and were now spending the night at the Gardiners’ home in Cheapside, where they would both depart early the next morning for the harbour on the River Thames. Elizabeth would board a sailing ship, which would take her from her England homeland to America. Her aunt and uncle were already in America, where they had been these past three months, so this evening they had the house to themselves.

Mr. Gardiner’s business had taken on additional work that spanned the two countries separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Elizabeth understood only that it involved some importing and exporting details that needed to be worked out on the American side. The Gardiners had expected to remain there between six to nine months. Elizabeth planned to visit them for the remainder of their stay. The Gardiners and their four children had all made the crossing together, taking advantage of this opportunity to see some of the sights in the New World.

With her uncle’s work taking him to New York, Elizabeth understood that she and her aunt would have sufficient time to tour the area together. When her uncle’s work was completed, they would all travel back together to England.

Elizabeth’s only regret was that her sister, Jane, was not able to join her. She had also been invited, but due to Jane’s tendency for severe motion sickness, she declined. She knew from a past experience on a boat in the English Channel that four to five weeks on a ship out on the ocean would be exceedingly difficult for her. Consequently, Elizabeth was setting off by herself, much to her father’s consternation.

When the letter from her aunt had arrived, the discussion between herself, her mother, and father had been typical of the conversations that took place in the Bennet home. Elizabeth tried to remain calm as she gave her reasons for desiring to go. Her father was adamant against it and her mother wavered back and forth, giving her nerves full rein as one moment she saw no reason why her daughter could not go, and the next, changed her mind.

It was Elizabeth’s steady, calm, and rational argument that finally persuaded her mother. She knew it would take more to convince her father to allow her to travel unaccompanied, but she knew she could appeal to their mutual love of history, geography, and books. To pass up an opportunity such as this to see America would be something she would always regret if she did not do it now. She appealed to his trust in her character, her wisdom, and her maturity, and in due course, he gave in.

Elizabeth sat down on one of the chairs that occupied the Gardiners’ sitting room. She thought nostalgically of all of the times she had come here to visit her aunt and uncle over the years. She was extremely fond of them and considered them practically a second mother and father. She closely identified with her aunt, and as a young girl scrutinized her closely and tried to imitate her ways. She had never understood her own mother’s ways and knew at a very young age that she did not wish to grow up to be like her.

The Gardiners’ home in London, although neither exceptionally fashionable nor elegant, was very warm. Elizabeth always found it to be a respite from her own home. The Bennet home in the village Longbourn was, by society’s standards, neither modest nor extravagant. Situated in the country on a good parcel of land, it did give Elizabeth a chance to enjoy her favourite pastime, which was to walk. Their own home was a good distance from their nearest neighbour, while her aunt and uncle’s was located on a busy street in Cheapside. Yet she felt the Gardiners’ home was more tranquil because of their easy nature and that of their children. It was far too often that the Bennet household resonated with the nervous ranting of her mother and the uncontrolled outbursts from her youngest sisters. She enjoyed every visit she ever made here. Now, she was looking forward to seeing them again, this time in America.

She pulled out the letter that her aunt had written to her and her sister and read it again. From the moment she first read the missive, she knew she had to go.

“Well, my Lizzy, are you still determined to do this?”

Elizabeth looked up. “Yes, Papa. I am so looking forward to it.” She stood up and walked over to him, taking his hand in hers. “Do not worry. All shall be well with me.”

***

The next morning, Elizabeth pulled her wrap tightly around her as the carriage carrying her and her father drew them closer to the harbour in London. She shivered, not so much because of the cool, foggy mist enveloping them, but because of her realization that the day had finally come. She could admit to herself, but not to her father, that she was indeed nervous about all that was in store for her.

The only way Mr. Bennet had agreed to allow Elizabeth to travel alone was for him to take her onto the ship himself and put her under the protection of the ship’s captain until she reached the foreign shore. But even then, he felt very troubled. The journey would take from four to five weeks, depending on the weather, the winds, and a multitude of conditions. He had heard too many tales of ships that never made it across, sickness spreading throughout the passengers and crew, and other adversities that could befall them. But he also feared for his daughter arriving in this new world and the type of people she might encounter there. He absently shook his head.

“What is it, Papa?” asked Elizabeth.

He turned to her with a sad look in his eyes. “You know what it is, my dearest Lizzy. I would give anything to talk you out of this right now and turn this carriage back around to the safety and security of Longbourn.”

“But Papa, this is an opportunity that I may never get again! Think of it! All of those places I have only read about. Aunt and Uncle Gardiner certainly would not have asked us to come if they did not think it was safe. Do not worry about me. I shall be well.” Elizabeth smiled to reassure him. The only betrayal to her words and her smiling face was her rapidly beating heart.

They soon saw the tall masts of the ships docked along the harbour on the River Thames. One of these very ships would transport Elizabeth out to the eastern coast of England and down around the English Channel. From there it would sail out into the open seas of the Atlantic Ocean, farther from any source of land than either dared comprehend.

“Elizabeth, if anything were to happen to you…”

Elizabeth quickly put her hand over her father’s. “Nothing will happen to me, Papa. Please try not to worry.”

The smile he returned to her was weak. Elizabeth noticed, but did not comment on, the tears that welled up in his eyes. He quickly turned his head to look out the window of the carriage. She knew this was difficult for him, and she wanted to do all she could to set his mind at rest. She could think of nothing else to say. She knew he would not rest easy until she was back here in his sight, in a few months.

In a very soft, sad voice he suddenly said, “We are almost to the port. Are you sure, Lizzy, that I cannot talk you out of this?”

“This is something I
have
to do.” Elizabeth looked out the window. She saw the masts of the ships, some with sails completely unfurled and already sailing, and others with the sails still furled tightly about their masts. Elizabeth’s heart skipped a beat as she suddenly felt a wave of excitement pour through her.
Yes, this will be a life-changing adventure. I will not be the same when I come back!

As the carriage pulled up as close as it could to the dock, Elizabeth and her father kept their eyes on the ships they passed for the one on which they had booked her passage. It was one of the first of the packet ships that were being used to travel at regular intervals between London and New York. Her father had done much investigating into the ships offering passage to America and was most pleased with this particular one. Even though they could not afford a private room for Elizabeth, they understood that the steerage accommodations in this ship were among the best.

Despite Elizabeth having to sleep with many other women and children far below the deck for the next month, he was sure she would be in good hands. His only consolation was in believing that his second eldest daughter was not one to shrink from discomfort, draw back in fear, or yield to adversity. She would face anything head on, speak her mind if she felt any injustice, and would stand up to anyone who provoked her. Of all of his five daughters, he had to admit that Elizabeth was the only one he felt was confident enough to make this kind of trip without some kind of mischance occurring. She was also his favourite, however; if anything happened to her, he would never be able to forgive himself.

His eyes took in the tall ship. There was a flurry of activity as the crew climbed up the masts and readied it for an imminent voyage. In an area just off the gangway, he saw carriages pulling up and unloading passengers and freight. The Bennets’ carriage pulled up behind the last carriage and came to a halt.

Elizabeth had brought along one large trunk, which would be stowed down below in the ship. She had packed enough other items in a large, heavy duffel, which she would keep with her in her accommodations.

When they stepped down from the carriage, her ticket was checked and her trunk taken. She was given her bed number and instructions on how to get down to the steerage deck.

Mr. Bennet tightly gripped Elizabeth’s arm and escorted her toward the ship as their coachman went ahead of them with her duffel. It appeared that there were many people making this trip, and that was comforting to Elizabeth. Surely they felt everything would be all right.

As they approached the ship, Mr. Bennet inquired of one of the crew where the ship’s captain might be.

“He is inside greeting everyone. Just step right on in and you will not miss him.”

“Thank you.” Mr. Bennet looked down at Elizabeth. “Seems like a nice young man.”

“Yes,” Elizabeth laughed. She knew her father must have been scrutinizing everything and everyone on this ship. She felt that the captain would get the fiercest scrutiny. She only hoped he would live up to her father’s expectations, or she was certain he would haul her off this ship without one further thought.

When they stepped inside, there were several crewmen helping the passengers find their quarters. In the centre was an older gentleman, obviously the ship’s captain because of the uniform he was wearing. Elizabeth thought to herself,
Older is preferable; that means much experience and maturity.

A crewman, standing by the captain, asked Mr. Bennet if he required assistance. Mr. Bennet politely declined, stating that he preferred speaking with the captain. He and Elizabeth waited until the captain was free and they stepped up to him.

“Good day, sir. I am Captain Wendell. How may I be of assistance to you?”

Mr. Bennet introduced himself and Elizabeth. “My daughter is making this journey without anyone to accompany her, as much as I dislike the idea. I had been informed that, under these conditions, I might put her under your protection for the trip. Would you be willing, sir, to accept that responsibility?”

“I have done it many times before, Mr. Bennet, and you can be confident I will do it again, especially for this young lady. I would be most happy to. We frequently have ladies who have to make the trip alone for one reason or another.”

Mr. Bennet looked somewhat relieved, but a lingering touch of nervousness spurred him to vigorously rub his hands together.

The captain turned to Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, I will do everything in my power to assure a safe trip for you.” He glanced at her ticket. “You may proceed down to steerage area for the ladies and children and get settled in there. Mr. Bennet, you need not worry. Once we are safely out at sea, I will be going down to give all of the ladies some commonsense guidelines.”

Elizabeth and her father walked down the steps that took them first to the deck that accommodated people in private cabins. They followed the signs and proceeded down another two sets of stairs that took them to steerage. The steerage section had been divided; one side was for men and the other for women and children. They walked in and glanced around. It appeared clean enough, but very dark, with no natural light coming in save for the hatchway, which was now opened. Elizabeth was sharp enough to realize that in bad weather it would be tightly closed. The room was filled with bunk-style beds, many of which already had a person or parcels upon them. They walked down the rows, looking for bed number twenty. That would be Elizabeth’s bed for the next month.

They found her bed and she was grateful it was a lower bunk. There was a small wooden chest next to each bed, where Elizabeth determined she would stow most of her possessions. Her large duffel would be stowed under the bed. They greeted a few people, and Elizabeth was amazed at how many children were sailing. As they left to return up to the main deck, Elizabeth made a mental note of where the bath chambers were.

She knew, as she walked up the steps with her father, that each step was taking them closer to their inevitable moment of parting. Her arm was wrapped tightly around his as they came up and once again stepped into the sunlight. Word was being sent out among the passengers that all non-passengers would be required to disembark shortly.

Mr. Bennet turned to Elizabeth and cupped her face in his hands. “I will be praying for you each and every day, Lizzy. You can count on it.”

“Thank you, Papa. I appreciate that.”

“And it would not hurt for you to say a prayer each day, too. When you see the sun rise, thank God for taking you through the night. And every night, when you see the sun set…” He stopped, choking on his words. “When you see the sun set, thank God that he took you through another day.”

“Yes, Papa, I promise.” Elizabeth hugged her father and kissed his cheek. It seemed an eternity before he let go. Finally, as they were given the last call for visitors to leave, he turned slowly and walked away. She noticed his shoulders rise and lower in a huge sigh. With one last look back at her, he exited the ship.