Page 52 of To Love And To Cherish
Kitty glanced around and pointed. "The churchyard, it’s walled. Look there. Behind the church is a wood. We can hide there."
They ran across the street, hand in hand, and ducked behind the churchyard wall.
"Did you say the wood behind the church?" Georgiana panted.
"Yes, there’s a path. If we follow it, it joins another that runs along the stream. It skirts the back of Longbourn, all hidden by woods."
Just then, footsteps approached. They crouched low against the wall, hidden among the hedges. Wickham strode past, casting a glance within, but did not pause.
"Let’s go," Kitty whispered.
"No," Georgiana breathed. "Let him get further ahead."
Kitty nodded. "He’ll backtrack when he finds nothing."
"You’re right. We should go."
They hurried through the garden, and behind the church flung themselves into the wood, where they soon found the hidden path that followed the stream. Neither spoke, their stepssoundless upon the mossy ground. When the terrain dipped into a meadow, they finally began to run.
The hermitage came into view, a small structure on the edge of the Longbourn estate. They ran inside, rested a few minutes to catch their breath, and, finding no one nearby, ran to the back entrance of the house and up the stairs to Kitty’s room.
They fell onto the bed, breathless, tears of relief running down their cheeks.
After about twenty minutes, Kitty whispered, "What now?"
“Call Bessie,” Georgiana said. “I shall write a note to summon my brother. Bessie must send Joseph to Netherfield with it at once."
Kitty ran to find Bessie, while Georgiana penned a quick note:
Fitzwilliam—
Wickham is in Meryton. He found me in the street and threatened me. Kitty and I escaped through the shop and woods. We are safe at Longbourn. Please come.
Georgiana
Kitty returned with the maid, who was promptly dispatched to the stables. “Bessie will send your groom to Netherfield,” she said. “Let us wait in the rose garden; we can watch the road without being seen.” She lowered her voice. “Thank goodness Mamma is visiting Aunt Phillips, or she would be prying every detail out of us."
“Yes,” Georgiana said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. “Everything is falling into place.”
They crept down and crouched behind the courtyard wall. At last, two horsemen appeared.
Georgiana broke into tears. She ran to the road and threw herself into her brother’s arms.
“Fitzwilliam! He’s here, Wickham is in Meryton. He saw me and was following me. But Kitty and I escaped.”
Darcy held his sister close, his arms steady around her trembling form. When her sobs had quieted, he spoke gently.
“Can you remain here with Miss Kitty? We must keep this between us if possible. Go up to her bedchamber and remain there. Say you’ve a headache. Miss Kitty, what say you? May Georgianna remain here for a little longer? Wickham may not yet suspect you're at Longbourn, but we must be cautious.”
"Where will you be?" Georgiana asked.
“With Colonel Forster. I’ve purchased many of Wickham’s debts and now have the means to see him transported to Australia. My hired runners have searched for him in vain, yet by some twist of fate, he appears here. This is the opportunity I’ve long awaited.”
She clung to him. "Don’t let him harm you, Fitzwilliam. He’s angry, and he blames you for his miserable existence."
"I’m not going after him myself. I’m going to speak with his commanding officer. Forster is capable. These are ideal circumstances; the military will handle the matter. Joseph and I will return once everything is settled. Now go inside. I’ll remain here until I see you safe in the house."
She hastened to the back entrance and glanced back only once before disappearing through the doorway.
