Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley (22 page)

He laughed and glanced across at
her, his eyes glittering strangely. He was like a stranger to her, and she did
not like what she saw. He ignored her protest and waved to his friends who were
riding along beside. ‘Do not look so anxious, Miss Bennet, I’m an excellent whipster,
you will come to no harm with me. It will be capital fun, my cronies have
wagered a small fortune on the event. You shall be home before dark, never
fear.’

With that he turned his attention
to his driving and she was left to hang on as best she could. At least it was
small comfort to know she was unrecognizable inside her dark cloak. She had
thought when she had first seen him this morning that
Mr Fox, in his many caped driving coat, his
beaver pulled down low over his eyes and his muffler tied several times round
his neck looked a trifle rakish, but she had dismissed this as nonsense. She
bitterly regretted her decision to accompany him.

The first flakes of snow began to fall as he drove his curricle after
the two phaetons, and Jane called out for him to stop but her words were
whipped away by the wind. Too soon they had left the safety of London and were
out into the countryside. The snow, after the first flurry, had stopped and the
road was clear. The riders were ahead, the racing carriages almost out of
sight. But a curricle pulled by matching greys edged closer. Jane’s heart
skipped a beat. Surely the driver did not intend to overtake on such a narrow
road? She screamed a warning and Fox looked round, to her horror, instead of
giving way he slapped the reins and cracked his whip urging his team faster.

Suddenly Jane found herself a passenger in a second race and knew it
might end in disaster for one or both of the vehicles. Frantically she grabbed
at his hands trying to make him give way, but he shook her off.

‘Relax, enjoy the experience, there are not many ladies who will have
had the opportunity you’re getting. Concentrate on staying on the seat, I
should hate you to the thrown out, I should not be able to stop and collect you
until the race is over.’

For a moment Jane thought he was serious, then he laughed at her shock,
but did not rein back, in fact urged his team faster. Jane glanced sideways and
froze, almost losing her grip. The curricles were racing wheel to wheel, the
slightest error on either driver’s part and they would all be killed.

She thought it better to close her eyes and pray, there was little else
she could do of any benefit. The noise beside her lessened and she risked a
look, Mr Fox had beaten his rival, they were pulling ahead. Thank God! Now
perhaps he would agree to turn back, would listen to her pleas, remember he was
a gentleman and not behave in this wild manner.

Then the carriage lurched and she was hurtling through the air to land
in a deep ditch upon a soft bed of snow. As she lay there catching her breath
she heard several carriages thunder past and was not sure if she was
scandalized or relieved that they did not stop to enquire if anyone was
injured.

 
Carefully she flexed each limb in
turn and was pleased to find them undamaged. She rolled over on to her knees
and scrambled up, she could not see out of the ditch and found it was too steep
for her to climb out unaided. She remembered the last thing Mr Fox had said to
her and shivered.

A gaunt face appeared above her. ‘I say, I am most dreadfully sorry. We
hit a pothole, and before I could take hold of you, you vanished. Stretch up
your hands, I shall have you out in a jiffy.’

Her fear vanished to be replaced by justifiable anger. She thought she
had better wait until she was safely out of the ditch before she told him
exactly what she thought of him. He was irresponsible, reprehensible, and she
never wished to see him again.

Safely on the road she shook the worst of the snow from her person and
glared at Mr Fox. She disliked being cross, but would make an exception in his
case. She drew breath to begin that he forestalled her.

‘Do not look at me like that, as though you hate me. I deserve it, I have
behaved appallingly. I cannot imagine what came over me, please will you
forgive me?’

He looked so wretched, she had not the heart to chide him. ‘I accept
your apology, Mr Fox. However, I wish to return home at once, you might not be
aware of it but it is snowing. If we do not set off immediately we might be
unable to get home.’

They had been travelling a little over fifteen minutes when the blizzard
arrived. Within moments the visibility was reduced to yards and Jane knew it
was becoming dangerous to proceed. ‘Mr Fox, it is getting thicker by the
minute. Do you not think we should find somewhere to shelter until it stops?’

‘I am not leaving my cattle out in this weather, Miss Bennet, so I
suggest unless you see a coaching inn, or somewhere with a barn, you resign
yourself to travelling in the snow.’

‘I can scarcely see my hand in front of my face, how do you intend to
drive safely if you cannot see?’

‘I have told you already I am an expert, I should be grateful if you
would remain silent and allow me to concentrate. If we come to grief because of
your constant complaining you shall only have yourself to blame.’

 
* * * *

Charles went round to speak to Lord Rivenhall at his lodgings in
Albemarle Street in order to arrange a time and date suitable for both parties.
As Darcy was the challenger Lord Winterton had the advantage of being able to
select his weapons of choice. Pistols were decided on but the date was not
settled.

‘It would be better to leave matters until the snow has cleared, don’t
you think, Rivenhall?’

‘Winterton is out-of-town at the end of February so it has to be before
then.’

‘Shall we say two weeks from today? Has your man any suggestions for the
venue? I have never been involved in such an enterprise before and have no
notion where it should take place.’

‘Winterton has written the directions out for you. This is a bad
business, I sincerely hope your friend Darcy comes out of it in one piece.’

‘He is an excellent shot, it is Lord Winterton who should beware. Shall
we
bring the doctor?’

‘Do that. Now that unpleasant business is out of the way, would you care
to share a bottle of claret with me at the club?’

Charles thought it would be helpful to learn more about Darcy’s
adversary and the best way to achieve that end was to provide Rivenhall with
drink, when he was bosky he might let something of importance slip. ‘Should be
delighted, I have my carriage outside, I can give you a ride.’

All he had discovered by the time he returned home was that Winterton
had fought three duels and come out the victor in each. Two of his victims had
recovered, one had died several weeks later when his wound putrefied.

Although he had bragged about Darcy’s ability he was certain he had
never used a weapon against a human being. When it came to it, would he be able
to pull the trigger and watch a bullet enter another person?

It was too late to repine. Two weeks hence he must accompany Darcy to a
deserted woodland on the outskirts of the city and stand by whilst someone was
injured, possibly fatally. He blamed himself for not having prevented the
challenge being issued, Darcy blamed Wickham; he prayed that his friend would
emerge unscathed and would not have to flee the country for killing his
opponent. He had not known how formidable Darcy could be when his family’s honour
was impugned, and was relieved that it was not he who would be fighting .

 
* * * *

The snow was falling more heavily but still Mr Fox drove on. Jane caught
a glimpse of something through the whiteness and tugged at his sleeve, when he
looked round she pointed.

‘Mr Fox, I think I see a building just ahead, could we not stop there
until the worst of the snow has passed? Twice now your horses have slipped,
surely you do not wish to risk them breaking a leg?’

‘You are right, I believe there might be some sort of dwelling ahead. I
shall get down and lead my team, you remain here and try not to fall off
again.’

With this brusque comment he hooked the reins over the post and jumped
down. She could hear him talking softly to his horses, it was obvious that he
cared more about their welfare than he did hers.

With collar of his coat was turned up, his muffler wrapped around his
face leaving only his eyes visible, his driving gloves protecting his hands he
was scarcely recognizable. Indeed, Mr Fox was
not
the kind of gentlemen
she had supposed. She could see he was using the end of his whip to probe the
road ahead, checking it was safe to proceed.

Enough was enough. Sitting on the box she got the full force of the
blizzard in her face, she would be far better off walking beside the carriage
as he did. She had stout boots on her feet, she would come to no harm on the
ground. The carriage lurched and halted momentarily giving her the opportunity
to scramble down before it moved off again.

Jane felt her way forward until she could grip on to the traces and
steady herself. Perhaps it would be of help if she led the second horse? Her
appearance beside Mr Fox so startled him he pitched forward into the whiteness
leaving the team to walk over him. She eased the carriage to a standstill, the
horses were so demoralized by the conditions they showed no desire to continue
without guidance.

She hurried back to find Fox spread-eagled in the snow, for a moment she
thought him injured but then he was heaving himself up to his knees.

‘I beg your pardon, Mr Fox. I could not see you in the blizzard.’

He spat out a mouthful of snow before answering. ‘Good God, Miss Bennet,
what are you thinking of? You should not creep up on a fellow, you scared me
half to death. What are you doing down here anyway? Did I not tell you to stay
where you were?’

‘I thought I might be of more use leading the other horse.’

He brushed himself down angrily, but did not answer. Jane was unsure if
she should try and placate him, or leave him to recover his temper. She did not
like to be at odds with anyone, even someone like Mr Fox.

‘How much further do you think it is to the dwelling?’

‘Another two minutes at the most, if you are ready, Miss Bennet, we must
press on.’

This was exactly the news she had been hoping to hear, the sooner they
were inside the better. She was numb to the bone, his horses would be in a
worse state. They were up to their hocks in snow, they were prime blood, not
built to withstand this sort of weather. They needed to be out of the blizzard
if they were going to survive this experience. She counted her footsteps in her
head, having calculated it would be in the region of twenty paces to the farm.
The horse she was leading was tiring, it’s head low, breath heaving in its
chest. The farm had better be close, she doubted if any of them could continue
for long in these conditions.

Suddenly the horses increased their pace and she was almost swept from
her feet. A large black shape emerged from the swirling snow and she knew they
had arrived. Thank God. It was a barn, not a dwelling, but it was ideal for
their purpose.

Clinging desperately to the cheek strap of the horse she was leading,
she prevented it from surging forward. Only one door was open, the carriage
would be smashed if they tried to enter.

‘Hang on, Miss Bennet, I shall have the door open in a second.’ The barn
had little snow in front of it, the blizzard was blowing from the rear, Mr Fox
wrenched the door wide and the horses rushed in carrying Jane with them.

Inside it was gloomy, but she could see at once that the roof was sound,
the walls well maintained, and even better, there was a thick bed of straw
across the far end of the structure.

‘Miss Bennet, could I ask you to help me with the horses? It is
imperative that we get them warm, we shall not get back to town without them.’

By the time the animals were comfortable and contentedly munching on an
arm full of sweet smelling hay Jane was warm enough to remove her cloak. Mr Fox
had ventured outside again to fill a pail with snow, he had said it would soon
melt in the warmer temperature inside the barn.

Her hair was tumbling down to her shoulders, her bonnet hanging by its
ribbons, she was hot and dirty, but did not care. It was enough to be out of
the elements and to know that the horses would not perish after all. Perhaps
she had been mistaken about Mr Fox, he had been under great stress after all.
Since they had arrived he had been everything he should be, enquired after her
health, and praised her for her fortitude.

A cloud of snow blew into the barn as he returned from his errand.
Triumphantly he waved his bucket. ‘It is melting already, Miss Bennet, I shall
be able to water the horses in a little while.’

Jane relaxed, her charming companion was restored to her, the unpleasant
hectoring stranger gone. ‘It was fortuitous the farmer had left empty sacks in
here, they are not pretty but serve to keep the animals warm.’ She pointed to a
space she had cleared. ‘I have put the rest down there, we shall have somewhere
dry to rest whilst we wait for the weather to clear.’

‘An excellent plan, I am decidedly fatigued after all this unaccustomed
exercise.’ His teeth flashed white in the darkness. ‘I declare, Miss Bennet, I
much prefer building snowmen.’