Darcy's Voyage: A tale of uncharted love on the open seas Read online

  Darcy's Voyage: A tale of uncharted love on the open seas

  Kara Louise

  A Tale of Uncharted Love on the Open Seas

  In this enchanting and highly original retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet sets out for the new world aboard the grand ship Pemberley's Promise. She's prepared for an uneventful voyage until a chance encounter with the handsome, taciturn Mr. Darcy turns her world upside down.

  When Elizabeth falls ill, Darcy throws convention overboard in a plan that will bind them to each other more deeply than he ever could have imagined. But the perils of their ocean voyage pale in comparison to the harsh reality of society's rules that threaten their chance at happiness. When they return to the lavish halls of England, will their love survive?

  To Kathy Pryor and her daughter, Christina Comiskey, who first introduced me to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and thus began for me this new journey of writing.

  Prologue

  Elizabeth stood patiently with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner at the post station where they awaited the carriage that would take her from London to her home in Hertfordshire. Her journey would take about a full day, including having to transfer to another carriage that would convey her to Meryton, where Elizabeth’s family’s coach would be waiting.

  It was the end of summer, an exceptionally warm day, and she had just finished spending a month with her aunt. Her uncle’s trade had taken him to Bath for an extended time, so Elizabeth joined her aunt to help her care for their four young children. It had been a little more difficult than anticipated, as she had the misfortune to sprain her ankle just before leaving for London and was still favouring it.

  As the time for the departure drew near, Elizabeth kissed her aunt and uncle goodbye and slowly limped to the carriage. She took care to step on her sprained foot gingerly.

  It appeared that there was only one other person leaving London at this particular time. Elizabeth had earlier deemed this gentleman, whom she had noticed while tarrying at the station, to be fine and tall with dark, handsome features. By his dress, she concluded that he was a man of wealth, so his taking this carriage for hire seemed curious, indeed.

  As she turned back to wave one last time to her dearest relatives, she felt a bump and was almost knocked to the ground by the gentleman who had likewise been waiting. He had charged abruptly for the carriage and seemingly did not see her, colliding with her and sending her off balance.

  Elizabeth let out a cry and made a mental note to add to her quick judgment of him: preoccupied and interested only in himself.

  He quickly reached out and retrieved her, pulling her back up and steadying her. But her foot was now painfully sore, and she most assuredly let him know with a frowning glance up at him.

  She reached down for her foot, and her aunt and uncle came running over.

  “Dearest Elizabeth, are you all right?” Her aunt took her arm and looked into her face, noting her wince.

  “I shall be fine, Aunt.” She looked directly at the gentleman and stated, “I shall just have to be more careful to watch where I am going!”

  The gentleman narrowed his eyes at her and shrugged off a quick and seemingly insincere, “I am sorry, miss.” He took a deep breath and briskly ran his fingers through his hair. With what seemed to come from a source of guilt rather than civility, he offered, “Allow me to lend you a hand, please.”

  Elizabeth, keeping her eyes directed on him, replied curtly, “My uncle will assist me, thank you.”

  The gentleman turned abruptly and extended his arm toward the carriage to allow her to enter before him. Mr. Gardiner took her arm, as she now limped to an even greater degree, and he helped her in.

  “Are you sure that your foot is all right, Lizzy? You are limping a vast deal.”

  “I am well, Uncle. But thank you for your concern.”

  The driver loaded her luggage and the gentleman’s in the back as Elizabeth pulled herself in, and she slid over as far as she could to the other side of the carriage. The gentleman followed her in. Immediately he turned his face away and stared out the window on his side. She was quite convinced that he was most unhappy with his travelling arrangements, as well as his companion. Upon making a sly glance back at him, she resolved further that he had uninviting manners, most likely due, she was sure, to his inclination to associate only with those of his own superior society.

  Her overactive imagination, stimulated by his fashionable dress and stiff manner, credited him with intolerance toward anything and anyone not his equal in consequence. He most likely was one who felt that his wealth and status in society secured him anything he wanted and he would definitely not give the time of day to someone he deemed beneath him or of little advantage to him.

  There! She had him figured out. An easy subject, he was. As she finished her scrutiny of him, he turned back and met her startled glance with a discerning perusal of his own. She was not expecting this and felt a sense of uneasiness as she realized he had caught her staring. She quickly turned to look out her window.

  The carriage finally began to pull away from the post station, and Elizabeth gave one last wave to her aunt and uncle. When she could no longer see them, she turned back and saw that the gentleman continued to gaze upon her. He seemed to be about to say something, so Elizabeth waited. When no words came forth, she turned her attention to the book she had brought along.

  After a few minutes of silence, he finally spoke. “I am truly sorry, Miss, for my inattention back there.” The words did not seem to flow out easily. “I was not watching where I was going as I was only intent on getting on this carriage. I needed to depart London early today and my own carriage was unfortunately in need of repair. It has been most inconvenient for me to have to take a post carriage. It is not something I normally have to do.”

  So that explained why he was travelling in this carriage. She simply smiled and arched one eyebrow as she considered his overwhelming plight. “I imagine not. It must be most disagreeably inconvenient for you.”

  Most disagreeably inconvenient! He shifted in his seat, as he realized how she had taken this. He turned to the window again, tapping the fingers of his left hand against the window well. He turned to her again, making an attempt at civility, and asked, “What happened to your foot? How did you hurt it?”

  “I sprained it. It only hurts when I step on it wrong… or take a spill.” The look she gave him emphatically reminded him he was the cause of the pain she was again experiencing. The smile that then appeared on her face revealed to him she did not harbour resentment toward him.

  With a long ride ahead of them, he continued attempts to be civil. “How did you sprain it?”

  The question caused Elizabeth to sigh heavily, and she averted her eyes from him. She wondered whether she should own the truth to him. He would laugh; of that she was certain. Or he would scoff at her for her impertinence and unladylike behaviour. But she never allowed anyone to intimidate her before and would not this time. She boldly looked at him and declared, “I was climbing a tree, sir, and I fell!”

  Elizabeth had a difficult time keeping the smile off her face as she saw his reaction. He arched one eyebrow and shook his head in the most infinitesimal manner; all the while he pursed his lips in a vain attempt to hide a smirk. Elizabeth, however, noticed the disapproving furrowing of his brow. It took him a moment to respond, and Elizabeth thought perhaps he had been rendered speechless.

  He finally said with a sly smile, “Certainly if you fell from the tree as a young girl, I doubt that you sprained your foot if you are still limping on it. You must have unknowi
ngly broken it.” He stared at her, waiting for her to respond.

  Elizabeth took in a deep breath. His statement indicated an assumption on his part that a lady would not have climbed a tree, certainly not someone her age; therefore she must have done it years ago. He was mocking her, but she refused to give him the upper hand. “I beg your pardon, sir, but I did not do it when I was a young girl. I did it just a little over a month ago.”

  This time he openly smirked and nodded his head, as if confirming to himself that indeed, this lady had engaged in a very unladylike manner.

  “Delightful diversion for a young lady such as yourself.”

  She felt indignation rise up within her as she felt his mocking censure. Elizabeth suddenly blushed and ignored his comment. Delightful diversion! She echoed his words to herself as she turned back to look out the window on her side. She had prodded herself to try to astonish him with the truth; now why did she suddenly regret that she had?

  The gentleman made a concerted effort to reconcile this image with that of the young lady sharing the carriage with him. He estimated that she was close to twenty and apparently was an accomplished tree climber. She seemed refined enough, well mannered, and nicely, but moderately, dressed. She was commonly attractive, her figure light and pleasing but not altogether striking. Her hair was attractively styled, but not overstated.

  He continued. “Do you often climb trees, then?”

  Elizabeth blushed and dropped her eyes to her lap, but resolved not to back down. She cast her eyes toward him. “Only when they afford me a better view or…” She paused and then added, “Or they give me a better chance to hide than the ground does!”

  “And what, pray tell, was the occasion this time? Was it a better view or a better hiding place that prompted you to climb this tree?”

  Elizabeth seriously wished that she could bring this conversation to an end, but she finally decided to tell all, knowing it would most likely shock him further. She reasoned that it really did not matter, as she would never see him again.

  “This particular time, I climbed the tree to hide from someone who was coming up the road.” She said this without taking her eyes off him, with a forced sort of audacity. She would not look away. She would not let him think she was discomfited.

  “Pray tell then, from whom were you hiding?” Elizabeth noted his apparent amusement.

  Elizabeth took a deep breath and continued. “From an unsolicited suitor, sir, whose attentions I was in no mood to receive! I could not endure one more meeting with him, so when I saw him coming—and I knew he was looking for me—I scurried up the tree!”

  The gentleman smiled, as if conjuring up this image in his mind. “And did it do the trick? I mean, were you able to stay out of his sight?”

  Elizabeth laughed unexpectedly. “Most definitely! The tree spared me at least one unwelcome walk with that man.” Thinking back to the incident made her laugh even more, and he eyed her more acutely as the smile brought a sparkle to her eyes and illuminated her face. The gentleman was caught off guard by the magnetizing effect this had on him. He had to make a conscious effort to pull his eyes away. She seemed oblivious to his plight and continued to laugh.

  He looked back at her again, this time more cautiously. “What is it that is so humorous? I cannot imagine your fall causing you so much mirth.”

  “It is merely that… he knew I had been ahead of him and he looked all around for me, calling out my name. He had no idea I was above him watching. I had to keep my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing aloud. I cannot imagine what he would have done if he had looked up and seen me.”

  “Perhaps if he had seen you up that tree, it would have discouraged him from pursuing you any further.” He paused. “Or perhaps he would have climbed up to join you.” A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth and his eyes crinkled, causing Elizabeth much consternation within. For a moment, his severe countenance eased and was almost inviting. His next words sent her reeling even more. “I think perhaps I might have been tempted to climb up there with you.”

  Elizabeth blushed as she imagined this gentleman discovering her up a tree and wondered whether he truly would climb up to join her. “He would never have done that!” she replied.

  “And then how did you fall?”

  Elizabeth shook herself out of her reverie to answer his question. “After he had passed by a considerable distance, I started down the tree. My foot stepped on a small branch, which broke, and I fell to the ground.”

  “How did you get back home?”

  “I hobbled back on my own.”

  “I see. It was not far, then, that you had to walk on your sprained ankle?”

  “It was close to a mile.”

  “What were you doing walking that far from home? No, wait. Do not tell me. You were trying to put distance between you and this gentleman.”

  “Why, a mile is not far at all. I actually enjoy walking. I do it all the time. I prefer it exceedingly to riding when I have the chance.”

  He tilted his head at her comment, wondering at the dichotomy of this young lady. She was pretty, indeed, but obviously of country breeding and most likely had little to offer a man in terms of wealth or connections. He did give her the benefit of the doubt and in his estimation proclaimed her to be a gentleman’s daughter. For some incomprehensible reason, however, he was strangely drawn to her. “You prefer walking to riding then.” He repeated it as if he was making a mental note of it. “Would that be on horse or in a carriage?”

  “Both, actually. I definitely prefer it to riding horses, but I also prefer it to riding in a carriage when it is an easy distance to walk.”

  She was now uncertain whether the conversation on his part had been patronizing, critical, or simply courteous. They rode in silence for a while, but Elizabeth noticed him occasionally glance up at her.

  She set her attention back to the book she was reading when she noticed the gentleman straining to see its title.

  “It is Richard III in case you were wondering.”

  “‘Now is the winter of our discontent; made glorious summer by this sun of York,’” he quoted. “I have read it. It is very good. You enjoy reading, then?”

  “When I am not climbing trees, I do.”

  He could not stifle his smile. “Have you read other works by Shakespeare?”

  “Several of his sonnets. A few of his plays. My father loves reading as well, and he has a small library. He is fond of Shakespeare, and this is one of his own that he allowed me to take with me on my visit to London.”

  The two of them began a discourse on literature. His knowledge far exceeded hers in the extent of what he had read, but her discussion on what she had read equalled his. He enjoyed the fact that she was willing to question his views, even disagree with his opinion. They settled into an easy parlay of words, and before they knew it, the carriage was slowing down and pulling into a livery station.

  She watched as the gentleman began to gather his things. She smiled inwardly, convincing herself that he was probably used to fashionable women from polished society who would never walk across a street on their own accord, let alone climb a tree. His heart was not likely to be touched by a poor country girl such as herself. He was most likely eager to get off this carriage for hire that he had just shared with a decidedly inferior woman who had the impertinence to challenge his every thought.

  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.

  Chapter 1

  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.