Page 50 of Until My Last Breath

A small ivy leaf tickled his nose. He opened his eyes and with another irrational wave of anger, he pulled it from the wall with all his strength, unburdening his frustration on the poor plant. But it did not matter how much he pulled it, there was always a root attached to the wall. He silently cursed the tenacious weed as his actions only caused his injury to hurt more. He groaned.

He should not be there. He should be with Richard searching forElizabeth.

Panting and huffing, he looked down at his hand still clutched to the stem of the ivy, tightening his grip, and pulling it again. “Let go you damned plant!” he shouted.

The ivy did not comply.

He stopped, turning the plant on his hand.

And a small smile grew on his lips.

He had been shot, punched in the face, tortured with a needle, and only God knew what else while he was unconscious, but he would never give up searching for her, even if it cost him his life. He looked back at the stone wall and the ivy. He would be like this miserable ivy and never let go!

With this fresh resolution, Darcy hurried back to the house and sat down beside Jane. “Miss Bennet, where is your father? I need to talk to him.”

“He was not feeling very well this morning after receiving the news about Lizzy. He must be still in bed. What is it, Mr Darcy?”

“I need to talk to him as soon as possible. Would you please inform me when he is awake? Or perhaps send him to see me. I will be in the library.”

About half an hour later, a still half-sedated Mr Bennet entered the library, where Darcy was writing some papers.

“Ah, Mr Bennet, please, sit down,” Darcy said. With no preamble, he informed Mr Bennet of the details of his and Elizabeth’s kidnap. Mr Bennet was making a great effort to follow his fast and anxious words, some of which did not make any sense to him at all.

“I love your daughter,” Darcy finally said, “and I need your consent to act as an interested party, as her betrothed, and do whatever is necessary to recover her. I need your blessing for our marriage.”

Mr Bennet blinked a couple of times. “You want to marry my Lizzy?”

“Yes, sir. With your blessing, I will be able to do more to find her.” Seeing the incredulity in Mr Bennet’s eyes, Darcy continued, “I love your daughter more than my own life. I cannot live without her. Please, sir.”

A hundred and one questions were on the tip of Mr Bennet’s tongue, but despite the fog still present in his mind, he noticed Mr Darcy’s determination. But above all, he saw the eyes of a man in agonising pain, and desperately in love. In a way, this realisation brought Mr Bennet more comfort than the draught Dr Alden had given him earlier.

Mr Bennet finally nodded. “I assume you have already asked her the same question.”

“Indeed, I have, sir. And she has accepted me.”

“Well, in this case, I have nothing else to say. I will entrust you with my daughter’s life, Mr Darcy. Not just because I cannot even dream about how to save her, but because as a man in love you will do whatever you can to bring her back.” As he spoke, he placed his hand on Mr Darcy’s good shoulder. “You have my blessing, son. Do what you need to find our Lizzy.”

“Thank you, Mr Bennet,” Darcy said, shaking hands with his future father-in-law. “I shall. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go.”

Darcy turned and bumped into his uncle’s large frame at the library door, almost sending them both to the floor.

“What you mean you need to go, Darcy?” his uncle asked, regaining his balance.

Darcy’s wince took time to dissipate, and when he spoke, his voice was pained. “I need to send word for my men to prepare my carriage. I am going to Portsmouth.”

~ ♥ ~

The uproar in the Matlock residence was like nothing else before. Protestation and raised voices formed a loud cacophony that only stopped when Mr Duncan and Mr Lynch — now sober, clean and shaven — entered the house. Mr Darcy was introduced to the men and thanked them both for all they had done so far.

“Your arrival is well timed, Mr Duncan,” Darcy continued, “for Iwould like you to accompany me on this trip. I believe your services will be highly appreciated.”

“Mr Darcy, please take me with you as well,” Mr Lynch asked, surprising everyone in the room. “I might be an old sea dog, but I am better than a bloodhound. Portsmouth is a place I know well. I know I can help.”

Darcy promptly accepted it; he would need all the help he could get.

Once more, Lord Matlock tried to dissuade Darcy from this mad idea of travelling so soon. His reply was the same old stubbornness he saw perfected through the years in the boys of his family. “Would you at least take Dr Alden with you? It would give us peace of mind,” he said trying a compromise.

Darcy finally agreed and the doctor was immediately summoned.

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