The Journey Read Online Free Page B

room contained neither bed nor quilt.
    I suddenly shivered, cold and fearful of the night to come. How would we manage? What would we do to stay warm? The room did not have a fireplace, and it was early December. I turned and faced Mr. Darcy, my apprehension evident.
    “Miss Bennet, I know our circumstances appear formidable, but we can survive this.” He walked across the room and stood before me. “Do you think you can untie these knots?”
    “Of course. I should have done so immediately.”
    He turned his back, and I struggled with the rope tied in multiple knots around his wrists. When I could not loosen it, I reached for a hairpin. My bonnet had been lost long ago, and I became conscious that most of my curls streamed down my back, but I did find two or three pins still remaining and, with one, pried open the tight binding.
    “Resourceful.” Mr. Darcy rubbed his wrists. “Now, we must make something of a plan.”
    “A plan? What kind of plan? We can see there is but one way out of this room, and it is locked. We are at the mercy of desperate men, sir! There is nothing we can do.”
    “We can stay alive, and that is of the utmost importance. The first thing we must do is consider how to represent ourselves as a married couple.”
    “How . . . how do we accomplish that?”
    “For one thing, we must address each other by our Christian names. Would not husband and wife speak thus?”
    I barely nodded. I had been astounded at how imaginative he had been during the entire situation. I recalled how Mr. Darcy had teased Mr. Bingley at Netherfield concerning his air of humility, going so far as to call it deceitful. Yet now his careful attention to truth seemed to have vanished, for he had conjured up one tale after another at lightning speed and all in order to prevent harm to Mr. Bingley’s sisters and to me. I could not imagine portraying his wife and yet, within a heartbeat, he had declared me to be just that. Now he proposed that we enact those roles.
    “And perhaps you should stand closer to me when the highwaymen are present, as though you wished to cling to me.”
    “I am not the clinging type, Mr. Darcy, and I have observed few married people engage in such manner while in public.”
    “Of course not in the society we are accustomed to, but these are extreme circumstances, and they call for unusual measures. Would not a frightened wife cling to her husband in the company of ruffians such as those in the other room?”
    Again I nodded slightly, somewhat put off that he had placed himself in control of both of us and yet grateful for his earlier intervention. Still, I felt uncomfortable at the thought of his suggestion. I sank down heavily on one of the chairs and immediately regretted it, for a slight moan slipped out unbidden.
    “Are you unwell?”
    “No, no, it is nothing,” I felt my cheeks grow warm.
    “What is it, Miss Ben — Elizabeth?”
    “Truly, it is of no significance. I am not used to riding a horse for such a lengthy time.”
    He smiled slightly and turned his head aside. I rolled my eyes, wondering how I had come to this point in my life where I must confess to the last man in all of England I wished to converse with that I had a bruised derriere! I decided to speak of another matter.
    “Will the earl truly provide the ransom funds?”
    “My uncle would not hesitate to secure my freedom with whatever monies are requested. The only problem may be whether he believes this gang actually has me in their possession.”
    “Why should he doubt that?”
    “It depends upon how the ransom is requested. If they demand it for the release of myself and my wife, he may suspect it is counterfeit.”
    “Oh.” Dismay filled my heart.
    “Do not be disheartened,” he said, pulling out the remaining chair and sitting across from me. “My signature on any written note may be enough to win my uncle’s approval, and surely the remainder of our party will soon be found, and they can testify to our