Beginning, Section II
Colonel Fitzwilliam wandered into the library at Glen Abbey in search of some amusement to occupy him while the household continued to look for James. He had dined with the Knights often enough to understand that the lad's disappearance around dinnertime was almost a daily occurrence and so thought nothing of the fact when his hosts left him alone to search the house. Indeed he was glad to have a few moments peace to think over the events of the morning.
The confrontation had been ugly and short. Laura had told her cousin exactly what she thought of him and ordered him from the house. After Francis had left, Laura believed she had effectively put an end to that gentleman's interference in her life despite his threat. Richard could not share her confidence. There had been something in Francis's eyes that he did not like.
The Colonel walked over to the window, which overlooked the drive leading up to the house. He rested his forehead on the cool glass and sighed. As long as Francis lived, he would probably never leave Laura alone... Not unless she was married to someone else... Someone who could protect her... He would do it. He would ask Laura to marry him tonight. Richard smiled suddenly. It was not as if he had not planned on asking her. He had meant to do it two days ago when Marcus so rudely interrupted him. He loved Laura. It was as simple as that. But now certain events had made it more urgent for him to propose and he would do it before the day ended, no matter what might happen.
Several shouts and the sound of a horse galloping down the drive caused Richard to glance up out the window. He was startled to see Laura riding away from the house. Now where is she going? Richard frowned. She had not been dressed in her usual riding attire so it was clearly an unplanned foray she was making. I wonder what could have made her take off like that? As he pondered this, he began to grow uneasy. He turned and quickly walked out of the library. He asked the housekeeper as to Mrs. Knight's whereabouts and was told she was in the gardens still looking for Master James. He made his way quickly outside and soon found the lady, who was quickly becoming annoyed at her youngest son.
"James!" Mrs. Knight called. "James this is no longer amusing! Come out at once! Your father will hear of this!" She turned to see Richard standing behind her. "Colonel Fitzwilliam!" she exclaimed. "I am sorry for the delay in dinner but James seems to have taken it into his head not to reveal himself."
Richard smiled. "It is quite understandable ma'am. I was a boy myself once. But I have not come out here to complain. I saw Miss Hayes ride out a couple of minutes ago and merely wondered why she suddenly left?"
Mrs. Knight looked startled. "Laura is gone? She did not say anything to me about it. I wonder if she told one of the servants or her uncle?"
The Colonel's uneasiness grew. "I think you should ask them."
The lady looked up at Richard's worried face. "You think something is wrong?"
"Yes I do."
"Come with me," Mrs. Knight commanded. Richard obediently followed her into the house. She made her inquires but no one knew why Laura had left so suddenly or where she had gone. "What do we do now Colonel?" she asked.
"I will go after Miss Hayes while you continue looking for your son," Richard replied.
"How will you find her?"
"There are a couple places that are favorite haunts of hers. I will begin there. After that, it will be sheer luck if I find her."
Laura reined in as she neared the edge of the forest and dismounted. She untied a sack from the saddle and opened it. Inside lay her father's two dueling pistols. She pulled them out along with some ammunition. She had needed these the last time she and Francis were alone and she did not intend to go with out them this time either. After carefully loading the pistols, Laura tried to find some way to conceal them. Unfortunately her gown did not offer much by the way of concealment. She finally resorted securing them to her waist with her sash. As she set out on foot towards the clearing, she only hoped the pistols would not fall out at an inopportune moment.
As Laura moved silently closer towards the clearing, she could hear voices coming from that area. It sounded as if James was crying. A minute later, she had a clear view of them both. Francis was pacing around in a circle, clearly agitated with the boy. James sat in the middle of the clearing, his face tearstained and looking extremely miserable.
Laura had hoped to somehow to get the boy away from Francis but that had depended in the element of surprise. With the pair situated directly in the center of the clearing, there was no way she would be able to reach James without Francis noticing. Well, she thought, if I cannot get James away by subterfuge, I will just have to confront Francis directly. She pulled both pistols out of her sash and walked boldly into the clearing.
James was the first to see her. "Laura-la!" he shouted and jumped up. He began to run towards her but Francis grabbed onto him and pulled him back.
"It is about time you came," the gentleman sneered. "I was beginning to wonder if you cared for the boy at all."
Laura brought her pistols up to aim at Francis. "Let James go," she demanded.
Francis gave her a haughty look. "And what if I do not?"
"Do not make me shoot you again, cousin. Let James go and I will let you walk away unharmed."
The gentleman laughed. "You will let me walk away? I highly doubt that." He pulled a knife out of his coat and pressed the tip into James's neck. "Throw away your pistols like a good girl and I will not hurt the boy."
Laura narrowed her eyes and began squeezing the trigger on one pistol. But she never fired off a shot as Francis swept the boy into his arms to use as a shield. The knife was quickly replaced at James's throat. "Throw them now!" Francis barked. "As far away as possible."
The lady knew that she had no other choice but to obey. She threw one to her right and the other to her left. Laura heard one crash into the underbrush of the forest and land with a soft thud onto the earth. The other did not have quite the force behind it and landed about twenty feet away. "What do you want Francis?" she asked.
"Merely to make a proposition," Francis said with a smirk.
"And that is?"
"Why only what I have been after all this time. Marriage of course."
"What makes you think I would marry you when I have repeatedly and emphatically stated otherwise? And kidnapping James will hardly induce me to accept your offer," Laura replied sharply.
"Ah but that is where you are wrong. You act as if you have a choice in this matter, my dear, but I shall relieve you of that notion now," Francis stated. "The three of us will be taking a journey together. Further north I believe. There we will find a church and be married. But in the mean time the boy will remain in my control. If you are quiet and obedient, then I will return him to his family after we are married. But show me one instance of bad behavior and I will take it out on the boy. Do you understand?"
Laura stared incredulously at the gentleman. "You are insane," she said.
"That may be but I am also perfectly serious. Now will you come along like a good girl or will I be forced to...ah...dispose of the boy?"
"Well?" Francis demanded. "What is your answer Laura?"
The lady glared at the gentleman. Francis's face paled when he saw the raw hatred in her eyes but he held his ground. Laura opened her mouth, about to tell Francis what he could do with his offer, when a small whimper from James stopped her. James. She saw the pure terror written in every line of the boy's face. He did not understand exactly what was happening but he did know the bad man wanted to hurt him. In that moment, Laura realized what she had been about to do and what it would have cost James. She forced herself to push the anger back. She would agree, could do nothing but agree if it kept her little cousin safe. Another time, she promised herself.
"It seems I have no other choice but to agree," Laura said stiffly.
"That is where you are wrong," a new voice said.
Both Francis and Laura whirled to see Colonel Fitzwilliam standing at the edge of the clearing and holding one of Laura's dueling pistols. It was aimed for Francis's head. "Let the boy go, Porter," Richard commanded.
Francis brought the boy up as a shield against this new attack and kept the knife at his throat. "Drop it," he snarled.
Laura reacted without thinking. Taking advantage of Francis's distraction she ran for the other pistol and swept it up off the ground. She allowed herself a tiny smile of triumph before saying, "Do as he says Francis. You cannot use James to hide from both of us."
Frances turned his head and his eyes widened as he caught sight of Laura with the other pistol in her hand. His mind raced, trying to think of a way out of the situation but found none. In the end he was forced to do what they said. He put the boy down none too gently and glared at the lady.
Laura ignored him for the moment. "James," she said, "Come here." The boy obediently walked over to her. "I want you to leave this place James," she told him and with her free hand she pointed to the north. "Run that way. Keep running and do not stop, no matter what. Do you understand?"
James wiped away several tears and nodded. "Yes Laura-la."
"Good." She gave him a small smile. "The Colonel and I will shortly be out to find you. Then we will go home. Now go." She waited until James was out of sight before moving closer to Richard, all the while keeping her pistol trained on Francis. "Thank you for coming Richard," she said.
"You witch!" Francis spat. "I thought I instructed you to tell no one."
"And she did not," Richard said with a cold smile. "I knew Laura had left and decided to search for her. Fortunately, you picked a spot well known to both of us. This was the first place I looked."
Francis's eyes narrowed as he digested this information. His eyes glinted maliciously as he drew his own conclusions. "Ah, I see how it is," he said with a wicked smile. "This lonely, secluded spot. A pair of young lovers. I always knew you were no true lady, cousin." He gestured towards the Colonel as he said, "And how many other gentlemen have you had before him?"
"Why you..." Richard growled angrily. He began stalking towards the other gentleman but Laura restrained him.
"Stop, Richard," she commanded. "He is only baiting us."
"Were you hoping to marry this man?" Francis continued, unmindful of the dangerous light in Richard's eyes. "What a pity... I am afraid no man would want to marry a harlot like you. All excepting myself of course. And I would never hold it against you-your money would see to that."
Laura arched an eyebrow. "You flatter yourself Francis. I have never said I would marry, let alone wanted to marry. But even if I were the most notorious harlot in the country, desperate for a husband, I would never marry you. I would rather be dead," she said scornfully.
"Now there is an idea!" Francis snarled. The destruction of all his plans combined with his humiliation and Laura's contempt sent him into a blinding rage. Quite without thinking, he rushed at Laura, his knives poised and ready to strike.
The explosion from two pistol shots shattered the stillness of the woods. Francis froze in mid-stride. He seemed suspended in inaction for one long moment before he toppled slowly to the ground. He lay there unmoving while blood seeped from the single bullet wound in his chest.
"Oh my God," Laura whispered. She threw down her pistol and knelt beside Francis. Reaching out to roll him onto his side, she pulled back when he flopped lifelessly on his back. "I killed him," she said softly, looking up at the Colonel. She was horrified. She had never taken a life before and had never thought herself capable of it. But what made it worse was the relief she felt-relief that Francis could never bother her again.
Richard knelt beside her. He took one hand into his and said, "You are not responsible. I killed him."
Laura looked up from Francis's body. "Did you?"
"Yes."
The lady stared at him, trying to read his expression. Laura wanted it to be true. It was selfish of her, she knew, but she did not want carry the burden of knowing she had killed someone. For a moment she almost believed it... No, she knew Richard too well. He was also uncertain as to who bore the ultimate responsibility and was trying to hide it. Tears welled up in her eyes and she let them fall.
Richard did the only thing he could, he took her into his arms and held her. "Shhhh... It is all over," he whispered. "It is at an end."
Laura closed her eyes and rested against his shoulder. Yes, everything has indeed come to an end... And she wept for the way things had been and for what she must face.
Glen Abbey erupted into chaos upon the return of Laura, Richard, and James. Mrs. Knight collapsed upon hearing of the danger her son and niece had faced. James burst into tears when his mama had fainted and Amelia unsuccessfully tried to comfort him. After sending for a maid to attend his wife, Mr. Knight had to restrain his eldest son from going out to the clearing to inspect Francis's body. At the same time, he and the Colonel were trying to decide what should be done about the situation. Servants went in and out of the room and the noise level was near becoming unbearable.
"Oh James, Mama will be fine. See? Mary has brought the smelling salts and she will be awake soon."
"Marcus! I thought I told you to stay in this room!"
"I was only going to the library Father."
"Bull! You were no more going there than to the moon! You will stay away from that clearing until Mr. Porter's body is removed."
"Awwwww... But why can I not see him Father?"
"Because it is not something you need to see, believe me."
"Sir, I think the only thing we can do is summon the magistrate. An inquiry is inescapable but I do not foresee any serious problems. Miss Hayes gave me the note he had written in which he admits to abducting James and then threatens his life."
"Yes, you are right of course. I will send a message to Mr. Harris at once. The sooner he is here, the sooner we can put this whole ordeal behind us."
The only island of stillness in the midst of all this confusion was Laura. After informing her family as to the earlier events, she had retreated to one end of the room and sat quietly in a comfortable armchair. She paid not the least bit of attention to the others in the room; her mind was completely occupied by other matters.
Francis dead... I cannot believe that I killed him. I never meant for it to come to this! D--- the man! If he had listened to me when I... But he gave me no other choice. I had to do it...did I not? I only wish...
Laura smiled bitterly. Wishing would do little good now. Francis had acted foolishly and had unfortunately paid for it with his life. He tried everything in his power to force her into marriage and failing that, he had settled for revenge-outright murder. He had not succeeded there either but with his death, he had revenged himself on her.
Yes, Francis, you have cost me something very dear. I never led what anyone would call a normal life and now I never shall... She fought back her tears as Richard's face appeared in her mind's eye.
"Laura?" a voice asked softly, recalling her to the present. Laura looked up to see the Colonel gazing worriedly down at her. "You have not said a word for the last half-hour... Is something the matter?" he asked.
The lady tried to force a smile but failed. "Besides the obvious you mean?" she replied. "No, there is nothing." She looked away.
Richard frowned. She was hiding something, he knew it, but now was not the time for confidences. And besides, he thought while trying to suppress a smile, I will be offering her something which will make her very happy. When I can get her alone that is... Then I will make her tell me what is wrong. But first to get her alone.He cleared his throat. "Um, Laura..." The lady turned back to him. "I would, ah, like to discuss something with you. Could we, ah..." He tilted his towards the door, indicating that he wanted to leave.
Laura's face remained calm but inwardly she was dying. No! He cannot mean to propose now! Oh God has this day not been terrible enough? I cannot face him today. Not with the answer I know I must give... Somehow I must put him off... And suddenly she had the answer. She let the fatigue she was feeling show in her face and posture. "Richard, I do not have the energy for a discussion. I was just thinking of retiring to my room and putting an end to this horrible day. I am sorry. I do not mean to disappoint you but it is only..."
The Colonel waved that away. He could easily see that she was tired and though he regretted it, he agreed to put of the business for today. "But I must talk to you tomorrow then," he said urgently. "Please."
Laura could do nothing but agree. "Tomorrow at three o'clock. Out in the garden." At least I have tonight to think on what I will say to him.
Forever searching... Never right... I am lost in oceans of night... Forever hoping I can find... Memories... Those memories... I left behind...
Laura stood at the edge of a cliff, a strong wind tossing her wild hair about, her arms reaching out to the stormy sky...
Fear gripped his heart as he ran towards her...
Even though I leave... Will I go on believing... That this time is real... Am I lost in this feeling... Like a child passing through... Never knowing the reason...
She faced him, her eyes filled with tenderness... His heart swelled with love... He knew that look was reserved for only him... He reached out to embrace her... She pulled back, her expression on of longing and anguish...
I am home... I know the way... I am home... Feeling oh, so far away...
Before his very eyes she began to fade... Now insubstantial as the mist... Now gone entirely... He cried out in despair...
Someday...
Richard awoke with a start. His heart was racing and his breath came in short gasps. It took him a minute to orient himself but when he found that he was indeed in his own room and not on some distant cliff, the Colonel lay back against his pillows with a sigh of relief.
What a nightmare! Why I have not had this particular one since I first met Laura... He turned onto his side and closed his eyes. Good dreams... I hope I have good dreams for the rest of the night.
When Laura entered the garden, she found the Colonel already waiting for her. She noticed the way he smiled as he looked up at her and had it been another time, that smile would have melted her heart. But today it only caused her exquisite anguish because she knew that by the time the interview was over the joy and love in his face would disappear.
"There you are!" he cried as he walked over to her. Taking her hand, Richard led to her a small bench situated nearby. He seated them both and gazed at her for a few moments. He was shocked at how fatigued the lady looked but in light of yesterday, he understood it. "Laura," he said, " I know this has been a terrible ordeal for you and now might not be the perfect time for me to ask this, but I promised myself not to let another day go by without..." He glanced down at their interlocked hands. "I love you Laura. I have from the first moment I saw you. I never thought that I would have the good fortune to fall in love, especially with a woman such as yourself. You are the sort of woman I never knew for whom I was looking." He looked beseechingly into her eyes. "Marry me?"
Much to Richard's astonishment, tears began sliding down Laura's cheeks. They were not tears of joy for the lady looked so sad-one could say heartbroken. Richard's mouth went dry as he remembered last night's dream and suddenly he had an awful feeling...
Laura wiped away her tears and stood. She walked a small distance away before turning back. "I would give anything in this world to say yes...but I cannot." Richard started to speak but she held up her hand and said, "Please. Let me continue." The gentleman nodded reluctantly. "This is difficult," she began, "more so than I had imagined... Richard, I do not feel that it would be prudent for us to marry. I am not like the other ladies. I am not refined, not accomplished, and many would say too independent for my own good. This did not bother me since I have never expected to fall in love and let alone receive a proposal of marriage. The consequences of my actions would only reflect on myself if I remained unmarried and I was content to keep it that way." Her eyes softened. "But then I met you and everything changed. In you I found a man who was not intimated by my behavior, who saw beyond it and loved me for what I was. Two days ago I would have joyfully accepted your proposal with only a passing thought for the effect I might have on your reputation. Two days... Is it not strange how a life can alter in so short a time? You told me yesterday in the clearing that you were the one who shot Francis. But you lied Richard-I could see it in your eyes. You are not at all certain."
"Maybe I am not," the Colonel replied, "but it does not matter. I love you still the same!" He stood and walked over to her. "Do you think it matters to me which one of us killed Francis? He was trying to hurt you Laura and he would have kept on until he finally succeeded. Death was the only way to stop him. And as for the rest of it, what do I care for people's opinion of your behavior? None of it means anything to me, only you."
"You care more than you would believe. You were raised in a genteel society, so how could you not? Though they love me dearly, even my aunt and uncle disapprove of my behavior. I know I have caused them some embarrassment already," the lady said. "If we married, you would expect me to act as a married woman should. It would stifle me and I would not be the Laura you fell in love with. I do not even think I am the same Laura anymore. You might be able to live with the idea that one of us took a life, but I have yet to live with myself." She looked up at him, her eyes pleading. "Do you not understand? As time went on, our differences would distance us and the love that we have would fade. In the end, we would be trapped and miserable. I would rather die than to see that happen."
"This is what you truly believe then... How could you think this of me?" Richard asked angrily. "How could you think that I would become so callous towards you? You do not know that we would be unhappy! But this I do know... By refusing me, you are condemning us to misery, unless you never loved me in the first place."
"I do love you!"
"Then marry me!"
"I cannot!" Laura cried.
Richard stepped back from her. His face had hardened into a mask of anger and displeasure. "Very well," he said. "I shall not take up more of your time. Good-day Miss Hayes." He bowed coldly and stalked from the gardens.
Laura sadly watched him go. It is for the best, she thought. But somehow she was not comforted.
"I am leaving tomorrow," Richard suddenly announced at breakfast. It was four days after his proposal to Laura.
Elizabeth, Georgiana, and Darcy all exclaimed at the suddenness of his resolution. "Why on earth are you leaving now Richard? You did not give us much notice! Is it necessary to leave so soon?"
"I feel it is time for me to leave. I intend to go to Matlock first and then on to my regiment. I have been away for far too long."
"But what about Miss Ha-" Georgiana started to ask. She stopped herself when she saw the mixture of anger and pain on Richard's face.
Darcy and Elizabeth saw it also. They exchanged significant glances and then Elizabeth stood. "Georgiana, I need to speak with you for a moment. Would you come with me please?
Darcy waited until both ladies had left the room before turning to the Colonel. "Now what is this all about Richard? You have been brooding about this house for the last few days. You have not been out and we could hardly get a civil word out of you. And now you are leaving."
Richard glared down at his plate. "She refused me Darcy."
"She? You mean Miss Hayes?"
"Who else did you think it was?"
"Ah. What were her reasons?"
"Some nonsense about her being to unsuitable for marriage."
"And you are just giving up?" Darcy asked incredulously.
"Laura is very stubborn, Darcy. She has got it into her head that she will make me unhappy and there is nothing I can say to change that."
"I see. Did it ever occur to you that she would make a terrible wife?"
Richard bashed his fist on the table, causing the dishes to rattle. "I do not care about that!" he nearly shouted. "I love...loved her!"
Darcy did not press the point further since it seemed to be a very sore issue with his cousin. "Well you cannot just up and leave Richard," he said. "You should at least pay a farewell visit to Glen Abbey-you owe the Knights that bit of courtesy. We will go this evening."
"I do not think-"
"Maybe the lady has had second thoughts."
Mrs. Knight knocked on Laura's bedroom door. "My dear," she pleaded, "will you not come down for dinner?"
There were several moments of silence and then a muffled reply. "No thank you Aunt, I am not hungry."
"Laura it has been four days and you have hardly eaten a thing. You must come down." Mrs. Knight waited but received no answer. She sighed and walked down the hallway where she met her daughter.
"Is Laura not coming down again?" Amelia asked.
"No." The lady's face was lined with worry. "I do not know what is wrong with that girl!" she exclaimed. "I have tried talking to her but she just retreats into herself. Colonel Fitzwilliam has not visited during this time and I am beginning to believe that they quarreled. What else could make Laura act so?"
"Do you want me to talk with her, Mama? She might confide in me," Amelia offered.
"Would you?" Mrs. Knight asked in relief. "It would put me at ease to know what is troubling her. Then we can set about helping her."
"Of course." Amelia squared her shoulder and walked down to Laura's room. She knocked once before letting herself into the room. She spotted Laura curled up in an armchair, staring moodily into the empty fireplace. "Laura?" she called tentatively.
"What is it Amelia?" Laura asked without looking up.
Amelia crossed the room and seated herself in an armchair across from her cousin. She wondered if there was a subtle way to bring up the Colonel but decided against it. Subtly would give Laura a chance to avoid probing so she decided to be straightforward. "What did you and Colonel Fitzwilliam quarrel over?" she asked.
Laura's head snapped up and she gaped at her cousin. "How did you find out about that?" she demanded.
Amelia shrugged. "It was not too difficult to guess. The Colonel has not been to see you in four days and you taken to being a hermit. So are you going to tell me what it was about or will I have to force it out of you?"
Laura's shoulders sagged as she looked away from her cousin. "Richard asked me to marry him-"
"That is wonderful!"
"-and I refused."
"Why?"
"For a couple of very good reasons. I would rather not speak of it, Amelia. It is still too painful." Laura gave her cousin a small smile to take the sting out of her words. "I will tell you one day, but not now."
Amelia wanted to protest but knew it would do no good. "Do not be too long about it, Cousin," she said as she left for dinner.
It was near dusk when Laura heard hooves clattering up the drive. She rose and went to her window in time to see Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam dismounting from their horses and climbing the short flight of stairs to the front door. She gasped.
What is he doing here? I cannot face him! I must leave before I am summoned below...
Laura whirled and ran to a small dresser. She wrenched open one of the drawers and pulled out her usual riding attire. After picking up her boots, she quickly made her way to the door. She opened it and peered down the hallway.
No servants yet. Good.
She went into a nearby guest room and changed from her gown to the breeches and shirtsleeves she so favored. She left the boots off so as to make no noise while going down the back stairs and outside. There was no one to see her going to the stables. She saddled her horse quickly and was away before Mrs. Knight was made aware of her absence.
Richard rode alone back to Pemberley, having left Darcy to discuss some business with Mr. Knight. He had made his visit as short as civility would allow since there was no Laura to keep him there. It was disappointing. He had hoped she would be there, ready to tell him that it had all been a mistake, that she would marry him. But she had not and it finally drove home the reality of her refusal. There had not been much reason to stay after that.
A quick motion teased at the corner of the Colonel's vision and he turned his head to see what it was. A rider with long, flowing hair was galloping in his direction, jumping over fences and fallen trees with wild abandon. Just as I first remember seeing her, Richard thought. The rider caught sight of him, slowed, and came to rest a dozen yards away. Richard bowed in his saddle and said coldly, "Miss Hayes."
Laura felt her heart racing but managed to look composed. She nodded. "Good evening Colonel Fitzwilliam. What brings you out this way?"
"I had come take my leave of the Knights. I am leaving tomorrow for home and then my regiment."
The lady's face paled. "Leaving?" she gasped before she realized it. She cursed herself inwardly afterward. Of course he would be leaving. Did you actually think he was going to stay?
Richard watched her reaction with interest. He had wondered what the knowledge of his leaving would do to her. Hopefully it would bring her to her senses.
Laura "I wish you a good and safe journey then," she said in a shaky voice. She urged her horse forward.
The Colonel was shocked. He had expected more of a reaction than that. How can she be so cold? Anger boiled up inside him. "Wait!" he commanded harshly. Laura reigned in and turned back to face him. "Is that all you have to say?" he asked incredulously.
"What did you expect?" Laura replied.
"A bit more feeling! After all that we have been to each other, all you can say is 'Have a good and safe journey'? I wonder if you ever cared for me at all!" Richard spat. He regretted those words almost as soon as they were out.
Laura fought back the tears that threatened to fall. I cannot go home like this. I must get away from here. She turned her horse back in the direction they came and spurred it on. Now the tears did fall.
Richard watched her go. He had hurt her terribly and nothing he could say would undo it.
The tears were falling fast. Laura could hardly see but she kept on riding. It was imperative that she put distance between herself and the Colonel...then she could grieve openly. She was vaguely aware of the fallen tree in the middle of the road for she had jumped it earlier. She felt the horse gather speed and prepared herself for the jump... Only it never happened. Her horse reared, refusing the jump. Laura was pitched forward. As she landed, she felt a sharp pain coarse through her chest and heard a loud 'Snap!' as her body slammed into the tree. The force of the impact threw her back and she rolled up into a sitting position.
Some part of Richard's mind screamed at him to move, do something to help her, but it was all over so quickly. Laura looked up at him, her expression dazed, as she clutched at her chest. A red blot appeared on her white shirt and quickly grew. Much to Richard's horror, her face blanked as she slowly toppled to the ground.
"Laura!" he cried hoarsely. He threw himself from his saddle and ran over to her. Kneeling over her, he saw what caused her to bleed. The fallen tree had many dried and broken branches were still attached. One had pierced Laura's chest when she had landed and had broken off inside her. He pulled her into his arms. "Laura! Oh God, Laura open your eyes! Please Laura!"
"Richard," she moaned softly, her eyes opening slightly. "What are you yelling for?"
The Colonel half sobbed, half laughed as he held her tightly. He was out of control and he knew it. "I am sorry, Laura. This is entirely my fault. But you will be fine. I shall get a doctor and then you will be better," he rambled.
Laura coughed violently. "Richard, stop, please."
"But I must-"
"No, Richard. It will not help."
The gentleman stared down at her, letting the full implications of her words sink in. "NO!"
Laura smiled sadly. "Yes. I am afraid so." She coughed again, her eyes clouding over with pain as her body jerked with each one. "I love you Richard," she said after the last of them died down. "No matter where I am, I always will. Do not doubt it."
A tear slid down Richard's cheek. "I know," he said. "In my heart I never did."
"Thank you." Laura sighed. "I will see you again. Someday..." she whispered.
"I will hold you to that," Richard replied through his tears.
Laura gave him a weak smile and closed her eyes. Her breathing grew shallower with every breath as she slowly slipped away. Minutes passed as the evening fell and Laura was gone with the setting of the sun.
Author's note: This last bit is dedicated to Tabbi W. patiently put up with all my whining and self-doubts through the whole story. Thanks for editing this woman and for giving me a kick in the pants when I needed it! *grins*
"Uncle Richard, look at what I made!" a small girl exclaimed proudly as she dropped a jumble of brightly colored string and twigs on his lap.
Richard bestowed one of his rare smiles on the girl. "It is lovely, my dear. Thank you. I shall put right here on the night stand where I can see it better." The little girl beamed at him.
A tall gentleman appeared at the Colonel's bedroom door. "Laura! What are you doing in here?" he asked. "I though I told you not to bother the Colonel." Laura looked down sheepishly but was not at all apologetic.
"I do not mind James," Richard replied, patting the girl fondly on the head. "She always brings a bit of sunshine into an old man's life. And besides, I never could resist a lady bearing gifts."
James Knight-Hayes smiled. It was true that little Laura's presence always had a brightening effect on the Colonel. She had since the day she was born. In the years after the elder Laura's death, the Colonel had become morose and withdrawn. It was even more marked when he returned home from the fighting on the Continent. It was whispered that Richard had lost the will to live but had not the inclination to do himself in. And so it was he took unnecessary risks in the war against Napoleon, hoping that someone else would do him the favor of ending his misery. That someone had certainly tried their best. He received grave wounds while in action and almost died from them. Almost. His injuries did have a terrible price and he returned to England, destined to live out the rest of his life as an invalid.
For reasons very few people could understand, Richard asked to stay with the Darcys at Pemberley instead of with his family at Matlock. Darcy and Elizabeth took pity on him since they did know the reason behind his request-he wanted to be near Laura. James had much reason to be grateful to the Darcys for their decision. Richard's residence at Pemberley resulted in his family visiting there quite often and that was how James met his wife. Lady Samantha Fitzwilliam was the youngest daughter of Viscount Stephan Fitzwilliam, Richard's eldest brother and now the Earl of Matlock. Many members of the ton had been shocked that the Earl would have allowed their marriage since Lady Samantha could have made a brilliant match with a gentleman of the nobility. Younger sons of country gentlemen, with no prospects save that of an occupation, should not have been able to offer for an earl's daughter. But when James reached his majority, he had two things most younger sons did not-a comfortable home and an income of four thousand pounds a year. It was Laura's last and greatest gift to him.
Upon leaving her homeland for England shortly after the death of her father, Laura's thoughts tended toward the morbid. When she arrived in London, she sought out her uncle and engaged him to find a lawyer to draw up her will. Mr. Knight was thoroughly shocked that his niece would be thinking of such things, especially at her young age, and was even more so when she announced who her heirs would be. He tried to talk her out of it, stating that she had many years let to live and that she might marry and have children someday but Laura was adamant. Her father had left his estate in England, which had come into his possession after he migrated to America, and the bulk of his money in her complete control. She never meant to marry anyway and so had to leave it to someone who was not Francis Porter. Mr. Knight gave in and the will was drawn up. In it she had bequeathed Marcus a sum of two thousand pounds, mostly as a remembrance since he was to inherit his father's estate. Amelia was to have ten thousand pounds in addition to the five thousand she would receive upon her marriage. To James went the rest of the estate, which included Moorsdale, her ancestral home. When he received his inheritance, James had also taken Laura's surname to honor her memory and to continue the Hayes family line.
All of this had given James the courage to offer his hand in marriage to Lady Samantha and she had readily accepted. Theirs was a marriage of love and little Laura was the only child of their union so far. The day she was placed into Richard's arms, was the day that gentleman had produced his first genuine smile in many years. He was honored when James asked him to become her godfather and she was soon his favorite among all his nieces and nephews. When the Hayes came to visit Pemberley, the first words out of Richard were "Where is my little niece? Where is Miss Laura?"
"Woolgathering James?" that very same gentleman asked, breaking into James's reverie.
"Yes, I suppose so," he answered, wondering just how long he had been standing there. "What was I doing?"
Richard's faded eyes sparkled with suppressed mirth. "You came to retrieve this little rascal of yours," he replied.
"Ah yes! My wife was looking for her earlier." James's reached out and took his daughter's hand. "Say goodnight to your uncle, Laura."
"Goodnight, Uncle Richard," said the little girl.
"Goodnight Laura. Thank you for the gift," replied the gentleman, holding up the lump of string and twigs.
Laura broke from her father's grip and climbed up onto the bed into Richard's lap. She gave him a hug and kissed his cheek. "Your welcome!" she exclaimed happily before jumping off the bed and running out of the room with James following close behind.
Richard smiled after them and then picked Laura's gift off his nightstand. He settled more comfortably down into his bed and chuckled over the little girl's handiwork.
She is a clever one, he thought. That girl is turning out be more like her namesake every day, though I fervently hope that she has a better fate...
From there, his thoughts moved on to the Laura of old. He ruminated, as he had done many times in the years since Laura's death, on what had been and what might have been. These well-worn thoughts were not enough to keep him awake and he found himself slowly drifting off to sleep.
The next morning brought much sorrow to the people of Pemberley. Colonel Fitzwilliam had died in his sleep, still clutching the young Laura's gift.
Laura Hayes struggled out of her backpack and dropped to the ground with a sigh of relief. Its weight had become unbearable, as she had biked the fifteen miles from Moorsdale to Lambton. I wonder what possessed me to do this anyway? It's not like Grandma refused to drive me or anything. Man, I'm going to sore tomorrow, she thought. She peeled off her thin jacket and spread it on the ground. Slowly, she sat down on it with a sigh. You know why you did it. This is something you have to do yourself. She stretched out her legs and looked around at her surroundings.
The small church off to her right was an old gray stone building sitting in the middle of a green lawn, surrounded by a low wall made of the same stone. A quite neighborhood bordered one enclosure and a road passed on the other side. It too was quiet except for some occasional traffic. Behind the church was a small cemetery and it was for this Laura had traveled. It was then she turned her attention to the two headstones in front of her. They were worn with time but she was still able to read the inscriptions on each.
Col. Richard Fitzwilliam
b. 1782
d. 1847
Laura gazed at the markers and felt a kind of wondering awe. She had heard so much about these two. Their story passed down through generations of the Hayes family, taking on mythical proportions as it went. But sitting there, looking at those headstones made it all real and Laura began to think of these two tragic figures as people, not some character out of a story. For the first time, she was proud that her father had adhered to the tradition that James Knight-Hayes began of naming the first-born Hayes daughter Laura. It kept her family history, and the memory of the woman who had given the family that history, alive.
Not that Mom was necessarily happy with it!
Rosalind Hayes had chosen another name for her baby daughter and was upset when Orrin insisted upon following the family tradition. He pointed out that he had agreed to live in the United States to stay near Rosa's family instead of settling in England to be near his family. The least she could do was allow her husband the small favor of naming their daughter. Rosa had given in at last but not very gracefully.
So intent Laura was upon her thoughts that she did not hear someone approach behind her until he spoke.
"There's an interesting story about the two people buried there."
Laura yelped with surprise and turned to see who was speaking. She found herself looking up at a tall man who looked to be a few years older than her, not handsome, but did have an infectious smile. His eyes danced in amusement at her reaction, almost as if he meant to surprise her. "Pardon me, did I frighten you?" he asked, his smile growing wider.
"Y-yes you did!" Laura panted, her heart still pounding from the shock.
"I'm sorry, I won't do it again."
"I'd appreciate it," Laura replied. "Now what did you say?"
"Only that there's an interesting story about those two," the man replied, waving at Laura and Richard's headstones. "Very sad but romantic."
"How do you know about that?" Laura asked. As important as the story was to her family, she didn't think it was that remarkable to spread beyond it.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam was an ancestor of mine-a distant cousin I think," the man replied. "Anyway, the story's been passed down in my family for generations. My mother still gets all teary-eyed when she hears it."
"An ancestor... Who are you?" It was rude of her, but Laura couldn't think of a better way to ask.
The man grinned. "I should have introduced myself before. Rick Fitzwilliam." He held out his hand.
Laura took it and said, "Nice to meet you, Rick. I'm Laura Hayes." She enjoyed the look on his face as the name registered in his mind. Payback, she thought smugly.
"You're pulling my leg, right?" Rick asked.
Laura shook her head. "Nope."
"Strange coincidence then..."
"Not really considering that the other Laura was my ancestor and that I was named for her."
Rick stared at her for several moments before he burst out laughing. Laura grinned before she too started to laugh. "Well I shouldn't be surprised," Rick, said, "I knew there were some of the Hayes family still running about in the world." He cleared his throat and looked at his watch. "Well since it's late afternoon, I suggest we grab a bite to eat and have a chat."
Laura arched an eyebrow. "Do you always ask out strange women who you just met in a cemetery?"
"Strange? Well you might be at that but if you mean the two of us being complete strangers, then I'll have to disagree with you."
"Oh?"
"We are very distantly related through marriage after all and family can never be strangers." Rick smirked triumphantly.
Laura gazed at him helplessly and threw her hands in mock defeat. "Ok, ok you win! I see there's no use arguing with you."
"I think you will find out how true that is once we get to know each other better."
"That sounds like a threat."
"It was. Now, where shall we go?" Rick asked, helping Laura to her feet.
"Well there was this small café that looked interesting..." she replied as they made their way out of the cemetery and onto the road. Their talk and laughter eventually faded away as they moved down the road, leaving the church and graveyard quiet once again.
A filmy figure, clad in a Regency style gown separated itself from the shadow of the church. It was soon followed by two other figures as insubstantial as the first. The lady glanced up at the taller of the two gentlemen and said, "After all this time, they finally have a chance at happiness."
The tall gentleman smiled down at her. "They deserve it Elizabeth."
The other man in their group nodded fervently. "That they do. Do you think they know..."
"Who they really are?" Darcy finished. "I doubt it James."
"It does not matter I suppose. I wish them all the luck in the world."
Elizabeth and Darcy said nothing as they watched the two figures retreat in the distance. Then as quietly as they had appeared, the trio returned back into the shadows.