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Prologue

Posted on Thursday, 22 January 2004

Note : This is a flight of imagination. I am fully disregarding 150 years, the French Revolution and the law of Regency times. Not sure yet whether it will work out I attempt to make my two favourite couples in fiction meet – the Darcys and the Peyracs. If you do not know Anne Golon´s “Angelique” I fiercely recommend that you read it, although I’ve heard that the English translation is not brilliant.

Lydia and Wickham! Elizabeth Bennet shuddered when thinking in whose hands her silly little sister had given her fate – and that of the whole family – voluntarily.

Elizabeth had accompanied her father to London. Together with Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Bennet had finally managed to find Lydia and Wickham, unmarried of course. They had tried to bring a marriage about - despicable as the man was this was still the only solution – but Wickham was asking the completely inconceivable sum of 10000 pounds.

Mr. Gardiner had tried his best but their combined efforts only brought together about 6000 pounds, no temptation for Wickham.

To top this dismal farce Lydia refused to see reason and, although confined to the top floor of the Gardiner’s house, disturbed everyone with her wailing about her disappointment. Mr. Bennet had never been a violent man but now frequently had the urge to shake his youngest until her brain cells assembled in a remotely sensible manner.

Lizzy felt all the relaxation and contentedness her tour of the Lakes with the Gardiners had brought on wane quickly. The trip had been a splendid one – natural beauties combined with the pleasure well suited travel companions could give each other had made their time spent together wonderful until Jane’s letter had reached them.

As they passed Derby on their way to Longbourn, Elizabeth mused about what would have been if she’d accepted Mr. Darcy’s proposal. He would certainly have the means to bribe Wickham into marrying Lydia but would he want to use them? And even though Elizabeth felt sure that she couldn’t love him, his letter and her subsequent revision of their acquaintance and her opinion of him had brought on enough respect, esteem even, for Mr. Darcy that she was certain to have offered him a termination of their engagement. And he would have accepted it, if only for the sake of his sister.

The flurry of activities at Longbourn and later in London had prevented Lizzy from all too gloomy thoughts but now they came back in full force.

When she pictured their future life in Longbourn – outside shunned by their neighbours, inside no solace to be found, Mrs. Bennet would have her nerves, Mr. Bennet would hide in the library even more and her beloved Jane would whither away between her attempts to help everybody as much as possible and her own grief about Bingley – Elizabeth felt nothing but the deepest despair.

When she found herself snapping at her innocent Gardiner cousins she apologized full of shame and took the next opportunity to get out of the house alone. After having delivered a message to her uncle in his warehouse, Lizzy accompanied two trusted employees of Mr. Gardiner’s down to the piers.

While they were arguing with the harbour master, Elizabeth eagerly drew in the fresh if somewhat spicy air coming from the sea and watched the anchoring ships. One drew her particular attention, a streamlined, beautiful ship, not built to carry heavy loads but for speed, and in all her admiration Lizzy could not miss the hatches for cannons.

When one of the employees came to tell her that there would be a further delay she assured him that she didn’t mind and asked after the “Toulouse”, as the ship was called.

“Aye, Miss, that’s an interestin’ one, isn’t she? She belongs to Mr. Peyrac.”

After seeing that this revelation brought not the desired effect with Elizabeth he continued

“Surely you’ve heard of ´im? ´E´s living in New England and –“ he lowered his voice to a whisper “ – is said to have made his fortune as a pirate.”

“Oh! No, I haven’t heard.”

With new interest Elizabeth watched the proceedings about the “Toulouse”. When she saw a tall, dark-haired man on the bridge she wondered whether that was the infamous Mr. Peyrac or whether she’d only noticed him because he resembled vaguely another tall, dark-haired man.

This thought brought back Lizzy’s darker musings about how life at Longbourn would be after Lydia was irretrievably lost to her family and society.

Five years onward Elizabeth pictured herself as hardened and cynical, spending a lot of time in the library and taking long, lonely walks. Well, she would be able to bear it tolerably well. Lizzy had never had high hopes of marrying due to her conviction only to marry for the deepest love but had rather seen herself as maiden aunt to Jane’s children.

Jane! Her elder sister never complained but Lizzy was sure she suffered in her own quiet way. Yes, she herself would be able to bear the fate that awaited them all but what of her sisters?

Jane would inexplicably weary herself when attending to her mother and trying to keep a cheerful appearance. Her goodness made her vulnerable to the spiteful contempt they had to expect from their neighbours.

Mary too. The middle sister had – despite her still annoying habit of quoting Fordyce – lived up to her own preaching and been a valuable help during this trying time. She, who placed virtue and propriety above anything else, would be very much hurt too by having to partake in the whole family’s fall from grace, to be tainted by Lydia’s actions.

Also Kitty would feel the effects most grievously. A good tempered enough girl when not near Lydia, she would feel the loss of her girlfriends most heavily, especially Mariah Lucas. Lady Lucas might have enough sense not to hold Lydia’s behaviour against Kitty but still couldn’t she allow her own daughter’s reputation to be tainted by the association.

Back in the warehouse Lizzy searched frantically for a way to escape this fate for her sisters. Sitting on a window sill in the deserted ledger room she fought back tears and looked back at the mastheads of the anchoring ships.

She mused “To think that not 200 yards away a pirate – or former pirate – should be!”

This thought brought back a memory from about 8 years earlier. Lizzy had fallen asleep on a window sill of her uncle’s library while reading. The curtains had concealed her presence and only when Mr. Gardiner and some friends had retired to the room for brandy and cigars had she awoken but stayed put in her hiding place. At first they spoke only of politics but soon the conversation ventured elsewhere.

Elizabeth by then had read a few books about the Orient but the topic still astonished her. The men talked about the slave market in Kandia and how a French marquise had been sold there – presumably to a harem - for the unbelievable sum of 30,000 pounds.

Now Lizzy had quite a clear picture of what happened in a harem and thought along the lines that if a woman had to succumb to the attentions of a husband she didn’t love in a harem there where at least other women to divert him. To be honest she had to admit to thinking living in a harem preferable to being married to Mr. Collins – and as his only wife.

At the same meeting, as Elizabeth remembered now, the gentlemen had also discussed Mr. Peyrac whom her uncle had called Comte Peyrac. While some of his friends had brought up the rumours of Peyrac being a former pirate, Mr. Gardiner had defended the man and professed his conviction that Comte Peyrac was an honourable man, always fair in his business dealings and that he would not listen to slander.

A thought began to form in Elizabeth’s mind. At first she was frightened by the recklessness of her plan but on rethinking it over and over and looking at it from every angle she could not find fault with it:

She would sell herself to a harem, for at least 4000 pounds, and Peyrac was the one to help her with doing so.

Chapter 1

Posted on Wednesday, 28 January 2004

She would sell herself to a harem with Comte Peyrac’s help and thus have enough money to bribe Wickham to marry Lydia and spare her family a cruel fate.

True, the plan had many pitfalls. Peyrac for instance could refuse to act, as the law clearly forbade selling an English citizen. Even if he would agree – there Lizzy harboured a secret hope that maybe he really was a former pirate and therefore not overly strict with abiding to the law, she was not of age.

Elizabeth knew that her courage would leave her if she didn’t act quickly and therefore told one of the passing employees that she would take a look at the garment storage and be back at the usual time her uncle would leave for Gracechurch Street.

She could be reasonably sure that no one would bother to check whether she’d really be there, the only problem remaining was to slip out and reach the pier undetected. Lizzy left her bonnet and drew her shawl about her head in a manner she’d seen in books about India and took her chance.

No one noticed her and soon Lizzy reached the plank that lead from the pier about the "Toulouse".

There a fierce looking guard accosted her. Elizabeth held her chin high and said in her most determined voice

"I’ve come to speak to your captain on business."

The seaman called to another one patrolling the deck in a language Elizabeth couldn’t understand, it seemed to be a mixture of the languages spoken on the shores of the Mediterranean. The second seaman vanished for some moments returning to give his colleague a wave. He stepped aside and motioned to Elizabeth to walk on board.

She was lead to a lavishly decorated salon and told to wait.

Taking in the decor Elizabeth began to question the wisdom of her coming hither. Never had she seen anything like this. There were no chairs, only a low table with some pillows strewn around. Her experience from her uncle’s warehouse told her that the thick carpets, curtains and wall coverings were of the finest wool and silks available.

Elizabeth suddenly felt incredibly stupid. If she was to enter a harem she would have to get used to this. She must not be frightened by the absence of chairs. Lizzy thought of Jane and the anguish she could save her beloved sister if staying calm now and carrying her plan through.

A door Elizabeth hadn’t noticed before opened and through it stepped a tall, dark-haired man, the same she'd seen earlier aboard. His features were sharply chiseled; he had a Roman nose and lively black eyes. Elizabeth was about to relax when she noticed the scar that went from his left brow across his cheek. Drawing in her breath sharply she nevertheless tried not to show any fear. The captain of the „Toulouse” was clad in black leather breeches, a velvet waistcoat of the same colour and a white shirt.

His ironical smile showed that he had sensed her fear and hesitation on beholding his scar.

With a perfect bow he spoke, with hardly any accent.

“Allow me to introduce myself, madam. Joffrey de Peyrac de Morens d´Irristru at your service. »

Elizabeth managed a curtsey.

“Elizabeth Bennet. I thank you for receiving me on such short notice.”

Upon a barely perceptible flick of her host’s wrist the curtains opened and a huge black man in a shimmering livery appeared without a sound.

“Kouassi-Ba, can we have tea please, and will you ask my wife to join us?”

With a bow he disappeared as silently as before. Elizabeth inwardly scolded herself for being so missish and the true country bumpkin. Hadn’t she seen people from all around the world at her uncle’s before? And wasn’t the Orient all the rage of fashion at the moment? Maybe even Mr. Darcy had such a salon.

She noticed her host’s attempts to make small talk to make her feel more at ease and flashed him a rueful smile.

“Ah, your true spirit is re-emerging. I didn’t think a single young woman who voluntarily enters a pirate’s ship was to be intimidated by my trusted Kouassi – Ba or the lack of chairs in here.”

Elizabeth only put on her haughtiest appearance and was about to seat herself on the cushions with as much dignity as she could muster when the door opened again and a woman of striking beauty entered. She had reddish-golden hair and green eyes and a slightly tanned skin that seemed to radiate light.

“My wife, Angelique Comtess de Peyrac – Elizabeth Bennet.”

Lizzy curtsied again, more set at peace by the Countess´ presence.

“Miss Bennet has come on business. – Do you agree to my wife’s being here as well, Miss Bennet?”

“Yes, thank you. Shall we have this conversation in French?”

Madame de Peyrac spoke for the first time

“That won’t be necessary. We always try to speak the language of the country we’re in.”

After having sipped at her tea Elizabeth started her tale. She told of her family’s situation in general, of Lydia and Wickham. Then she hesitated. She couldn’t tell the couple she believed them to be pirates – despite the Count’s earlier remark – could she? So Lizzy took them along her line of thinking this afternoon, told them of the conversation she’d overheard years ago and ended with

“If I have offended you with my tale I apologise, that was never my intention. If you think however that, er, that in Kandia I might be,er, sold for at least 4000 pounds I beg you to enter in a contract with me - you make Wickham marry my sister and I give myself into your power completely.”

Mme de Peyrac had stiffened at this and had shot her husband a questioning look. Something in his countenance seemed to reassure her however and she relaxed again. With bated breath Elizabeth awaited Peyrac’s answer.

“What makes you think that I will honour my side of the contract? Inside a harem you won’t be in a position to do anything.”

“My uncle has spoken highly of your integrity in business matters, I trust his opinion.”

“Well. One more thing – what about your fiancée?”

“I have none.”

“Then admirer. You can’t convince me that no man in England has noticed and appreciated the courage and spirit you showed by your coming here and making this astonishing proposition.”

Elizabeth thought of Mr. Darcy. Even if he had continued to admire her after her refusal he couldn’t do so after hearing of Lydia’s disgrace. He couldn’t wish to be so closely associated with Wickham. She answered

“Even if I had one, my sister’s infamy will have extinguished any feelings he might have for me.”

Peyrac seemed doubtful, but stated nevertheless

“My proposal is this, Miss Bennet, I will make my enquiries after Mr. Wickham and your sister and if I find the situation as your described it and he’s still willing to marry her for 10000 pounds, we will have a contract. If a marriage is still possible I will have a white ribbon tied to the masthead and if you are still willing to proceed in the fashion you suggested you will come aboard tomorrow at six in the evening at the latest, as we will leave on the evening tide. – Let me warn you though, Miss Bennet. Living dead in society’s eyes in the country in England is still preferable to living in a harem, the total submission that is required there you will find very hard to bear, you will have to bow to the wishes not only of your husband but to those of the guards and the elder women as well.”

“For me it might be preferable, but what of my sisters? That way they’ll have a reasonable chance to live tolerably happy instead of withering away in misery and shame.”

“As you wish, Miss Bennet.”

With that he rose and they bade her farewell.

Chapter 2

Posted on Wednesday, 4 February 2004

“Joffrey, you do not mean to sell her, why didn’t you tell her so?”

Angelique knew that out of principle he never participated in slave trade, Joffrey did not even do business with anyone who had an interest in that particular vein of trade. He had been known to buy whole families on markets like Kandia but only to give them their freedom back.

And eight years ago he had made the highest bid ever made – 30,000 pounds – and rescued Angelique from the clutches of her captor, D´Escrainville, a cruel pirate.

“Ah, ma chere, did you think her a simple English country miss?”

“Basically, yes, albeit very frightened and desperate.”

“I did not tell her that I would never sell her because she would not budge from her desperate plan. She would have gone to somebody else and quite possibly would have found someone who wouldn’t act as honourably as we will. You have been an outlaw for too long, Angelique, you cannot imagine any longer the intricate workings of the mind and heart of a simple English girl.”

Angelique felt a little bit of indignation rise although deep down she knew he was teasing her.

“Oh, yes, but you do. You know your way into every woman’s heart and mind?”

“I’ve found my way into yours, haven’t I, and you’re the most intricate woman I know.”

Angelique had seen the gleam in his eyes and had heard, although his words were spoken with the utmost appearance of confidence, the question in them. She drew her husband closer.

“You have, Joffrey, you have.”

As he bent down for a kiss he murmured

“Could you imagine even the spirited Miss Bennet to be engaged in such activities in broad daylight?”

(Dwiggies know better of course … )

Laying content in her husband’s arms, Angelique posed her question anew.

“What plans do you have for Miss Bennet?”

“In truth, they are not fixed yet. All I know is that she is spirited, clever and full of courage; just the right disposition for becoming a valuable friend for us in America. I only think she needs a little bit of time to lose her wild ideas about entering a harem. If presented with better opportunities I am quite convinced that she will see reason, besides, she cannot run off until we reach the American coast. Anyway, the money to bribe this worthless Mr. Wickham to marry her sister is well invested. If I am mistaken we will put her ashore in New York and let her fend for herself.”

Elizabeth had gone back to the warehouse undetected and tried her best all evening not to betray anything. She didn’t sleep all night, writing and rewriting letters to her father, her aunt and to Jane. Coming up with a convincing explanation was not easy so she kept the letters short and begged that they shouldn’t look for her.

Lizzy packed a small bag, taking with her only a second dress, a volume of Shakespeare’s sonnets and, after some deliberation, Mr. Darcy´s letter. She spent the morning with her father and her aunt and the children, sometimes nearly breaking her heart at the thought that after today she would never see them again.

There was no chance to slip out and run over to the warehouse to see if the white ribbon was there so all she could do was taking her bag and try her luck. Hiding her luggage under her cloak, Lizzy told her aunt that she’d take a stroll in the park. With a heavy heart she traced her way through back streets to the piers, always avoiding lanes where there was even the remotest chance of running into one of Mr. Gardiner’s employees.

Simply clad as she was, carrying a bag, Lizzy could have been mistaken for a maid on an errand and therefore attracted no attention save a few catcalls which were embarrassing enough. Some minutes after five she reached the plank and was taken aboard immediately. There was a white ribbon on the masthead!

The countess appeared and led her to a small, yet still comfortably furnished cabin.

“Please make yourself comfortable, Miss Bennet. If you need anything just ring and Koussi-Ba will attend to your every wish. We will leave in little over an hour. Dinner will be served when we’ve left the docks behind us.”

“I thank you, madam.”

The ship was a flurry with last minute activities although everything seemed to proceed with precision. Elizabeth knew better than venturing outside only to stand in the way of the seamen and therefore contented herself with looking out the window.

The same day, mid afternoon in Darcy´s townhouse

“Mr. Richardson to see you, sir. He says it is urgent.”

Darcy felt dread rise. Richardson was his trusted family lawyer and had only once before called unexpectedly on him in his townhouse. He immediately thought of Wickham; that the scoundrel had come up with yet another scheme to extort money from the Darcys.

When Richardson was led into the study, Darcy was shocked to see him thus altered and feared for the worst. The lawyer had always been the epitome of a distinguished lawyer. Age, experience and decades as one of the most prominent members of his profession had lent him a supreme air of calm confidence.

Now the man looked aged beyond his years and very unsure of himself.

Darcy bade him to sit down and, without asking, poured him a brandy which the lawyer gladly took. At length Richardson spoke.

“Do not fear for Miss Darcy, sir, my errand now is in no way connected to her. Yet, I came to you because it involves Mr. Wickham and as you mentioned the last time we spoke that you’ve seen him recently in Hertfordshire I have hopes that you can provide me with information. With this information I hope to salvage the situation I find myself in.”

“Please continue, Mr. Richardson, I will help you, of course, to the best of my abilities and assure you of my secrecy.”

“That is another aspect that bothers me greatly. Never in my whole career did I feel I had to betray a client’s confidence but in this instance I feel it is of utmost importance to do so as my client is about to do something very foolish and dangerous. There were no specifics mentioned and as you are well aware I am not prone to flights of fancy I nevertheless fear that a horrendous thing is about to happen. I will leave the names of the parties out at first.”

After a heavy sigh Richardson continued.

“Yesterday I was approached by a foreign business man to act for an young English lady and himself and to draw up a contract that makes Mr. Wickham the recipient of about 10000 pounds, or what is left of that sum after paying his debts and obtaining a new commission with the regulars in Newcastle if he is to marry a certain young lady. It appears that the bride’s sister is somehow putting herself in the businessman’s hands in exchange for the monetary compensation Wickham is to receive.

Now you are well aware that the English law forbids anything of that kind and it may well be pure conjecture on my side, and of course it is not written down as such, but … considering the businessman’s reputed past – he is said to have been a pirate in the Mediterranean – I fear the worst. There is also a passage to Kandia mentioned in the contract and that is what triggered my alarm bells. All the circumstances put together have left me to fear that the sister of Wickham’s bride is trying to sell herself at the slave market in Kandia with P – er, the pirate’s help, it is the only possibility for a young woman to raise that kind of money. The keepers of harems pay a lot for European ladies.”

Darcy sat stunned. At first he was tempted to dismiss Richardson’s tale as unbelievable but a nagging doubt remained. The lawyer had always shown discernment in his judgement. Darcy was quite sure that only the deepest concern would have moved him to act like this now.

“I have noticed Wickham to be friendly with a family of five sisters in Hertfordshire amongst other families. I assume that the 10000 are necessary to bribe him to marry?”

Richardson nodded.

Darcy knew he had to ask.

“Is the prospective bride of the name of Bennet?”

The elder man’s head perked up.

“Yes, her name’s Lydia Bennet!”

Darcy went white. He thought Lydia Bennet entirely capable of running off with Wickham and he had no uncertainties as to who the sister would be. While Jane Bennet would possess enough generosity to sacrifice herself she would not have the courage or the imagination even to think of something like selling herself to a harem. Nor would Miss Mary or Miss Kitty.

Oh, Elisabeth, what have you done!

He hung his head in misery. He could have prevented it! Through his conceited pride, he had kept his dealings with Wickham private, he had left the scoundrel free to harm other young women. Over the past weeks, after dealing with the initial anger and mortification Miss Bennet’s refusal had brought on Darcy had come to see reason in many of her accusations. Consequently he had striven to better himself. He had even tried to talk to Bingley but found him to be away for an extended stay in the North with his family. Therefore Darcy had written to his friend and half expected him to be on his way to Hertfordshire already.

“Did you see the lady in question?”

“No, I didn’t. The contract was brought to her for signature by a messenger.”

“Who is the business man in question?”

“Comte Peyrac, of New England.”

The men sat in silence for a while, both deep in thought. At length Darcy spoke.

“You have advised me long ago to make Wickham´s character publicly known, I should have heeded your advice then, this couldn’t have had happened but for my abominable pride.”

“Do not be too harsh on yourself, Mr. Darcy, you wanted to protect your father in the last days of his illness, there’s nothing wrong with that.”

“My father is dead this five years. You will not talk me out of this – mine is the fault and mine must be the remedy. Mr. Richardson, I must insist that you leave the matter in my hands from now on.”

Richardson argued this point for quite a while but had to see that Darcy wouldn’t budge. At last he had to give in but urged Darcy to be careful. Darcy had taken the newspaper to look when Peyrac´s ship would leave and had ascertained that it was bound for New York. This fact also contributed to calm the lawyer somewhat.

“You see, Mr. Richardson, if we do not come to an agreement here, there’s plenty of time to do something about the matter, as the “Toulouse” is going to America first.”

“If the young lady is indeed aboard.”

“That remains to be seen.”

Chapter 3

Posted on Tuesday, 10 February 2004

Darcy bade farewell to a very relieved Mr. Richardson and them quelled his urge to run for the pier immediately. The ship would leave in about two hours, not enough time for him to find out where Elizabeth’s relatives in Cheapside lived. He had to proceed on the assumption that the lawyer’s gut feeling was right and that she was indeed aboard the “Toulouse.” If not the consequences for himself would be humiliating at least but he had to take that chance.

He hoped to find Peyrac a reasonable man and was prepared to offer him the double sum – or more - of what he could gain for Elizabeth on the sale. Darcy’s whole being was repulsed at the thought of putting his love up for sale, he felt a white hot anger rise against the unknown count who had agreed to such a deal.

If he could get Elizabeth free, then Darcy had to realize with no small regret that this would ruin even the small hopes he had of finding happiness with his beloved. He had thought of seeking her friendship after Bingley´s wedding, an event which would throw them into each others company often, and then try to earn her love by showing her that he’d taken her reproofs to heart.

But if he bought her now her own pride would forever stand between them, her sense of honour would forbid a union between them. Nevertheless, he had to proceed as planned and try to live content with the conviction that he’d spared her a most cruel fate.

Darcy changed into his best walking clothes and after some deliberation decided against taking his own carriage. Although he knew he could trust his servants the utmost secrecy was required in this case and his calling on a supposed pirate would inevitably cause gossip. He had to ensure that Miss Bennet’s reputation remained intact.

He stopped a hansom and soon found himself at the pier. The “Toulouse” was bustling with last minute preparations but still Darcy was shown into the same salon as Elizabeth before him and made to wait. Unbeknownst to him Comte Peyrac was watching him through the two-sided mirror from the adjoining room.

Joffrey thought at first that Darcy wouldn’t present much of an opponent, he appeared to be the usual Englishman, polite, well bred - and without an ounce of passion. Yet, Joffrey had learned the hard way never to underestimate an opponent and had to consider the possibility that he was wrong; if this Mr. Darcy was indeed here on Miss Bennet’s behalf there must be more to him than meets the eye.

The Comte was annoyed too, `No admirer´ had Miss Bennet said. Now her lie had brought disturbance in the last hour before leaving for New York. Joffrey was indeed in a sour mood when he entered the salon.

At first Elizabeth willed herself not to look out of the window. Somehow this would make her adventure – or rather her folly – more real. The Peyracs seemed pleasant enough but they couldn’t be people she understood or who could understand her, could they? She already began to feel terribly lonely. Lizzy desperately tried to quell that feeling as she was perfectly aware that the loneliness would increase enough on its own in a harem, without her dwelling on it. She paced up and down the length of the cabin, only glancing out when turning in front of the window.

Suddenly a movement outside caught her attention. There, on the pier she saw a familiar figure.

Mr. Darcy! And he was talking to the guard at the plank. Elizabeth followed his movements with her eyes as he was led aboard as long as she could see him. What was he doing here? Somehow an explanation of him doing business with Comte Peyrac didn’t have a sound ring to her ears. He must be here on her behalf! But how could he have learned of her plan? – Her plan! Darcy´s interference would ruin everything! She would be dragged from the ship,disgraced, and nothing achieved for her sisters! Elizabeth knew she couldn’t let this happen, she had to stop Darcy.

Darcy, who had been standing, looking out the window, turned around when he heard the door. He tried to assess the captain of the “Toulouse”, the man who supposedly would sell his beloved, and worked hard to keep his temper in check. Time was precious and he simply had to stay calm if he wanted to achieve anything.

“Fitzwilliam Darcy.”

“Joffrey de Peyrac. You told my man you came in business?”

“Ah, yes. – May I ask a question first?”

Peyrac nodded.

“Is Miss Bennet on-board this ship?”

“Are you her fiancée or her guardian?”

“No, I am not, but I am prepared to go a long way to ensure her safe return to her family.”

“Suppose her to be aboard – what if she came of her own free will?”

Darcy fumed inwardly, the pirate wasn’t making this easy for him.

Joffrey began to enjoy the encounter. His annoyance with Miss Bennet´s omission faded, so much did he like taunting Darcy. The man was madly in love with Miss Bennet, that much was clear by the way his voice had caught when talking about her. What remained to be seen was how far he would go. What would it take to break through this façade of proper and gentlemanly bearing, what would it take to make him crumble, to have him begging?

Darcy must have some sense if he was able to appreciate Miss Bennet. The man had also shown a steadfastness that counted in his favour given he had pursued her until he found her here. Many men would have already thought her lost to the world for coming to this ship. But would his love have the depths to truly understand Miss Bennet’s motivation for her desperate stunt and not to hold it against her? Was somewhere in this man the passion hidden it would take to make a partnership with her? Peyrac thought not, but he would see.

The Comte was not a cruel man, but he was used to making quick assessments and harsh decisions. Considering the origins of his crew anything else would have brought on the ghost of mutiny soon. Most of the seamen were loyal to death to their captain, but not all of them, and even those who had been with him for years expected him to reign with a tight leash.

Darcy’s attitude, although he tried to hide it, irked Peyrac. Pride he could not abide and he saw all too clearly how disgusted the Englishman was to have to make a deal with him, a supposed pirate. Peyrac had been the richest man in France until the King’s jealousy had robbed him of everything - his family, his title, his worldly possessions and very nearly his life, too. He had lived as a fugitive for a long time but he had managed to find his family again and had made a new start in New England.

Twenty years ago the likes of Darcy, a mere landed gentleman, would have been thrilled to be admitted to Peyrac’s court in Toulouse. No, if there’s one thing that tried the Comte’s patience severely it was pride and condescension.

He would have his fun with Darcy.

"Miss Bennet may have come aboard out of her free will, but her coming here might be brought about by a family situation she saw no other way out than this course of action. If offered another possibility she might as well reconsider."

Peyrac decided to go a step further.

"Miss Bennet does not strike me as timid, or a person with false modesty, if she were inclined to accept your help wouldn’t she have approached you rather than me?"

This drew the expected reaction from Darcy.

"So it’s true! She’s here!"

Darcy could hardly keep himself in check, he wanted to search the ship and rescue his Elizabeth. Peyrac watched him carefully and then administered the last blow.

"She may have many assets but easy compliance is surely not amongst them."

The stress on assets, the thinly veiled innuendo, was not missed by Darcy. Through the white hot anger that washed over him he could only perceive it as his opponent appraising her suitability for a harem.

Nothing more was required to drive him over the edge.

Although Peyrac had vowed to himself not to underestimate the younger man he was not prepared for Darcy moving with such speed. In a moment he found himself in a stronghold, Darcy´s pistol aimed at his temple.

"You abominable scoundrel! I’d rather see us all dead than allow you to sell Elizabeth into a harem. Now let her be brought here! You will accompany us off the pier, when she’s safe I may let you go."

The Comte had had found himself in worse situations before, on a stake at the Parisian Place du Greve, for example, and had escaped, therefore he was not particularly worried. Besides that he had noticed something Darcy had obviously missed - the "Toulouse" had began to draw back from the pier, now he only had to play for time and wait for a chance.

"We’ll see, Mr. Darcy, we’ll see."

Darcy knew that his chances of succeeding were slim but he was beyond caring. With a twinge of guilt he thought of Georgiana.

"Send for her!"

"Very well."

Just as Peyrac wanted to call for Kouassi-Ba the door was thrown open and Miss Bennet barged into the room, followed by the apologetic servant. Her sudden appearance startled Darcy for a second which was all the chance Peyrac needed. A quick turn of his shoulder brought him out of the range of the pistol, a punch with the elbow into Darcy’s stomach made the man double over and another one in the neck rendered him unconscious.

Chapter 4

Posted on Saturday, 14 February 2004

Peyrac kicked the pistol away and addressed Kouassi-Ba

“See to it that he’s safely locked up.”

As Darcy was carried away, Elizabeth, who had stood frozen while watching events unfold, made a move towards him.

“Kindly remain here, Miss Bennet. I think we have something to discuss.”

She turned back.

“No fiancée, no admirer did you say? Well, your omission nearly cost me my life.”

Elizabeth still trembled, not able to utter a word. Neither had she expected ever to see Mr. Darcy again, nor with a pistol and then thus beaten. She scraped together all the dignity she could muster and pledged, nearly inaudible

“Sir, I hope you will allow me to postpone our talk and let me retire, now.”

Peyrac looked at her for a while, his mien unreadable. Then he dismissed her with a nod and left the salon.

Elizabeth knew not how she’d made it back to her cabin where she cried bitterly. The realization that she’d set herself up for something way too big for her to handle hit her full force as she contemplated Mr. Darcy’s fate. The ship had left the harbour, they were already nearing the Channel and although she hoped that Peyrac meant to put him ashore somewhere she had an inkling that the captain wouldn’t take this attack on his person kindly.

She had to keep her wits together and concentrate on getting Mr. Darcy safely off this ship. Dinner was brought to her on a tray and, although Lizzy had thought it to be impossible to sleep at all, the gentle swaying soon induced her into a deep slumber.

Darcy opened his eyes only to see absolutely nothing. After a moment of panic, he remembered what had happened. The throbbing in his head after he tried to sit up helped the memory. His last conscious thought had been of Elizabeth. He had seen her! She was aboard and had appeared to be well. Darcy knew he had to be content with that for now.

Carefully he began to search the room he was in. It appeared to be some sort of a storage compartment deep down in the ship. It was reasonably dry, only the air was somewhat stale. He had no illusion about what was to happen to him. The captain was the law on board a ship, an attack on him was most severely punished and Darcy did not think that a pirate – or former pirate – would make an exception from this rule.

The sway of the ship told him that she’d left London.

As a boy Darcy had been fascinated with ships. His father, aware that the situation on the continent would prevent his son from going on a Grand Tour, had indulged his fancy for two summers and allowed him to sail between Dublin and Liverpool and Southampton on a friend’s ship. So Darcy was able to admire the sleek and powerful built of the “Toulouse”, the precision the very mixed looking crew had worked with and he had also noticed the hidden cannons when coming aboard.

He could only wait.

Angelique knew that her husband was disturbed by something but knew better than to approach him until they were alone. Late that evening, when he came to their cabin she was nearly asleep. His slow movements when undressing spoke of his distraction so she reached for his shoulders when he laid down beside her, to ease the tension.

“Will you tell me, mon cher?”

“That blasted English! I am afraid, save for you, women aboard do indeed mean bad luck.”

Joffrey couldn’t see Angelique’s raised eyebrow, but he could sense her disapprobation.

“Quite right. It is I who brought on this mess, I shouldn’t have taunted Miss Bennet´s admirer, and of course I shouldn’t have underestimated him. Nevertheless I could have put him ashore somewhere but unfortunately one of the crew saw him threatening me with a pistol, he alerted the second in command and by now everyone knows what happened. I cannot let the matter go unpunished, not with such a long journey ahead. He has to be hanged when we reach the open sea.”

Angelique was perfectly aware of the necessity of keeping a tight reign over the crew who was made up of freed slaves, former pirates and other outlaws. They were good seamen and knew how to use their sabres and pistols, but they were used to the strict law of the Mediterranean, too, and had a simple but keen sense of justice. Joffrey would endanger the safety of the whole ship if he let Darcy go unpunished.

“Can’t you tell the crew that they could get ransom money for him?”

“They know that I’d never do something like that.”

“Then it’s not to be helped.”

“No.”

Angelique sensed that he had to bear this guilt alone so she made no attempts to talk him out of it but only drew him closer.

The next morning Elizabeth had breakfast brought to her cabin. After fortifying herself she did her hair with care and concentrated on her confrontation with Peyrac. The countess was present too which calmed Lizzy somewhat, although her sombre and sympathetic mien did not bade well.

“Today’s your sister’s wedding day, Miss Bennet.”

Elizabeth’s features lit up briefly. She had been thinking of Darcy only, Lydia had completely slipped her mind. She meant to answer but managed only a nod at first. After some deep breathes she was able to say what she’d prepared.

“I have not seen Mr. Darcy for months nor been in contact with him. Whether he came on my account or not, he is a good man.”

Peyrac pondered this for a while.

“Well, it seems we had the misfortune to choose a talkative lawyer, perhaps one intimately connected with the Darcy family, although it’s not easy to conceive a lawyer breaking his client’s confidence.”

Elizabeth thought on this for a while. “If it is indeed the Darcy’s family-lawyer he could have approached Mr. Darcy because of Mr. Wickham. I am sure that Mr. Darcy didn’t tell any lawyer of his about me.”

She then proceeded to tell the Peyracs about Wickham’s connection with the family – leaving Georgiana out – and how Mr. Darcy had on previous occasions paid for Wickham’s debts and generally felt a certain responsibility for him. Peyrac nodded his agreement.

“A plausible explanation.”

Then he seemed to hesitate.

“Miss Bennet, you’ve been witness to the attack on me by Mr. Darcy. I might have overlooked this offence but my crew is aware of it, if I were lenient in Mr. Darcy’s case this would endanger the whole ship. He will be hanged as soon as we are out on the open sea.”

Everything in Elizabeth froze. And she had worried about humiliating forms of punishment on ships she’d read about, like whipping in public! But of course – it was crucial that a captain’s authority wasn’t questioned at any time. Yes, in her rational mind she understood that an attack on the captain must bring on the death penalty for the offender but inside her everything revolted against the thought of Mr. Darcy being dead. She summoned all her strength and excused herself.

After Miss Bennet had gone Joffrey looked at his wife.

“A remarkable woman.”

“Yes, quite. There are few who could have stayed as calm.”

“I wonder why they haven’t reached an understanding, they seem to be ideally suited. Although she’s not as madly in love with him as he with her, she certainly cares a great deal about him.”

Angelique shook her head doubtfully.

“I am not sure, but in any case that feeling seems quite recent to me.”

A call from his steersman prevented Joffrey from answering to that and Angelique resolved on giving Miss Bennet as much support as possible under the circumstances.

Elizabeth knew not how she’d made it to her cabin. She felt the need to scream and tear something apart, or at least to cry but was unable to shake the complete numbness that engulfed her.

What a perverse turn of events!

She had ceased to hate Mr. Darcy long ago, after the initial shock from reading his letter, she’d understood his motivations. And even if the manner of his proposal was still not to be borne she was not insensible to the great compliment he had paid her with his addresses.

In her weakest hours, she’d let the memory of his fervent declaration warm her heart, had acknowledged that indeed they would have suited each other remarkably well – he would have benefited from a lively wife and she from his greater knowledge of the world. That he was handsome Elizabeth had owned even when she’d still despised him and every time she was re-reading his letter the phrase `utmost forces of passion´ sent a tingle down her spine. When they’d carried the unconscious form of Mr. Darcy away, he had looked so very young and vulnerable. Elizabeth would never be able to marry without loving the man in question, but now she had to realize that indeed she would have been able to love Mr Darcy, in time. His coming after her showed that he’d taken her reproofs to heart, that he’d shed all false pretences of his dignity and his standing.

Lizzy knew that Mr. Darcy had been aware of what he’d been doing and if she were looking for somebody to blame she would have to start with Wickham, but nevertheless now she fervently wished to be able to turn back time. No suffering of her family was worth Mr. Darcy´s life, even more so, as they were partly to blame for their misfortunes. Lydia wouldn’t have been such an easy prey for Wickham hadn’t her education been so neglected by her parents, namely her father. Elizabeth realized that she had to take her share of the blame as well, she had seen what went wrong with Lydia and still not devoted time to correct her ways; had always preferred a walk to spending some time with her younger sisters.

Should she try to talk to Mr. Darcy before his - - - she couldn’t bring herself to think the word. Would that be selfish? Elizabeth was beyond that question, she simply felt the need to see him, to talk to him.

Chapter 5

Posted on Tuesday, 17 February 2004

The „Toulouse“ had reached the Irish Sea by now. They would sail between Ireland and England and then take the north route to America. It was less traveled and in this time of year not yet dangerous because of arctic ice.

Joffrey had been down in the storage room where Darcy was kept. The man had taken the news of his fate with composed dignity and only expressed a wish to be allowed to talk to Miss Bennet before, if she consented. Joffrey, of course, did not refuse this plea, he didn’t mind how much time the two spent together; he only wanted to ascertain through Angelique whether Miss Bennet was ready for such a meeting.

After giving her some time after receiving the devastating news, Angelique had gone to look in on Miss Bennet. The young woman had been as composed as could be expected and asked her for an opportunity for her to see Mr. Darcy. Angelique assured her to speak to her husband about it and went to see him.

“Joffrey, Miss Bennet asked to see Mr. Darcy.”

“Excellent, he expressed the same wish and I am of a mind to let them spend as much time together as they like. I do not think he would do anything rash like taking another hostage or attempting to drown himself.”

“Nor do I, but maybe you better get his word on this.”

Comte Peyrac sent down to Mr. Darcy a set of fresh clothes and a servant with water for washing and then asked the prisoner to be brought to the map room behind the steering wheel.

Darcy was elated because of two things. Firstly, Miss Bennet had obviously agreed to see him and secondly, after two days deep down in the ship, he craved light and fresh air.

He was led into another of the captain’s rooms, with a large table covered with maps and nautical instruments. Peyrac addressed him as Darcy was still squinting in the bright light.

“Mr. Darcy, Miss Bennet expressed a wish to see you before I could tell her of your similar wish. You may stay on deck if you promise not to do anything rash.”

“You have my word.”

Elizabeth was unable to sit down and think properly. Her tears seemed to be spent, only a dull headache was left. She had asked to see him but now could not think of a single word to say to Mr. Darcy. Maybe it was a good thing that there was a knock on her door before she could fret any longer.

---

Her muffled and thoroughly dispirited “Come in” tore at Darcy´s heart. He had no real plan of what to say to her. He only wanted to reassure her that he didn’t blame her for his fate. And he wanted to tell her how grateful he was to ever have met her.
Darcy gave a nod to Kouassi-Ba and opened the door.

Elizabeth’s reaction was unexpected. She looked at him, mouth agape, then blinked as if to assure herself that her eyes were working. Darcy caught his own reflection in a mirror on the wall – unshaven and in a quite unusual set of clothes.

“Dear me, I look like a pirate!”

This brought the ghost of a smile on Miss Bennet’s face, if only for a brief moment. Then she took in Darcy’s pale visage and started to cry anew. With two strides he crossed what little space divided them in her small cabin. He took both her hands in his and led her to the single chair standing below the porthole. After a short moment of hesitation he sat down on her bed, only relinquishing one of her hands, to offer her his handkerchief.

Darcy felt a desperate urge to draw her closer but thought it prudent at least to try to distract her. This were truly times of trial for both of them but losing their heads completely wouldn’t help.

As Elizabeth made not attempt to take his proffered linen Darcy very gently dried the tears on her cheek and asked

“Will you tell me how you came to be on this ship?”

She calmed down eventually. Not able to meet his eyes Elizabeth told him of Lydia’s folly, of how she’d watched her sisters’ grief and how her own desperation had grown. Then she proceeded to tell Darcy how by chance she’d noticed the anchoring “Toulouse” and how that reminded her of an overheard conversation from years ago – about pirates, harems and a slave market.

As she did not go on, Darcy at length spoke.

“Forgive me, Miss Bennet, you are surely the most free spirited woman I know. How on earth did you think of something like becoming a member of a harem, the very symbol of submission? Can you have even the remotest chance of ever reaching contentedness, happiness, in such surroundings?”

Elizabeth withdrew her hand and started pacing the room. Finally she placed herself in front of him, hands locked behind her back in a defiant gesture and looked him squarely in the eyes. She seemed to start speaking but then again stopped herself. – Lizzy had wanted to tell him that women had to sell themselves anyway, that in her family’s situation she’d have to take whoever came along but she stopped herself. Darcy had once cared for her enough to offer her his hand, pointing out such things would be unnecessarily unkind. Nevertheless she wanted to be honest with him.

“My friend, Charlotte.”

Darcy looked utterly puzzled.

“Somehow I cannot imagine Mrs Collins giving you such advice.”

“Of course not, the decision was solely my own. But, although she insists on having made her decision to marry my cousin with her eyes open, I cannot help but feel that she sold herself, too. In a harem there are at least other women to deflect the, er, attentions of the, er, master.”

Darcy remained doubtfully.

“In a harem there’s also total submission required, there’s petty jealousy –“

“That may well be. I was not so naïve not to think of all that. But Lydia married today. Jane will not wither away because she cannot come to terms with our neighbours cutting my family off, she will not have to weary herself out tending to our mother – you must know that my elder sister is simply unable to draw a line from other people’s demands even if she risks her own health. Mary will cope better, too. Her moralizing borders often on the point of the ridiculous but she tries very hard to live up to her preaching. Being disgraced in society’s eyes because of her sister’s folly would hurt her deeply. And Kitty will have a chance to turn into the good-natured girl she is, now that Lydia’s influence over her is removed.”

He looked at her earnestly.

“Miss Bennet, never did I doubt your intentions. Of course, I know you acted solely to benefit your family. How will they explain your vanishing?”

“I wrote to my father that I went to join a convent in France. That may seem farfetched but I stated the very one Heloise was abbess, my father knows how much I admire her. I cannot be sure to convince him, even more so as he will see the connection between my vanishing and Wickham’s change of mind. But I can’t help it. To neighbours, I asked them to tell a tale of that I am accompanying a friend of my Aunt Gardiner’s to America as a companion.”

“The destination is no lie, we’re bound for America.”

This astonished Elizabeth somewhat.

“You mean we are not sailing to the Mediterranean?”

“No, quite the opposite, we are in the Irish Sea right now.”

“I haven’t asked Mr Peyrac, I just assumed –“

She let that trail off, something made her not want to discuss her being sold with Darcy. Elizabeth came up with a question of her own.

“How did you come to be on this ship?”

“Our family lawyer approached me because he heard of Wickham being involved in yet another horrible scheme. As he knew I would be interested in preventing any harm Wickham could cause, he came to me.”

“So you came solely because of him?”

Darcy tried to evade a direct answer to this question, and to the other implied one - had he come because of her?

“After Ramsgate, or even some time before that, Mr. Richardson, that is the lawyer, advised me to make Wickham’s profligacy public. He offered me enough ways to do so and keep Georgiana’s reputation intact. I did not heed his advice.”

“You wanted to protect your sister.”

“That might have been foremost on my mind, yes, but I did not spare one thought of how other young women could be spared Georgie’s fate. You were right then in Hunsford, when accusing me of selfish disdain for the feelings of others . I – “

Elizabeth could not bear to hear this any longer.

“I was blind and prejudiced then. And angry, I – “

“Justifiably so, I shudder to remember the manner of my proposal, how I must have hurt and insulted you.”

“Only my pride was hurt, not my feelings, as your assurances came so very unexpected to me. You had insulted me, yes, with your attitude and manners, but in retrospect some things you said about my family proved to be right. Just look at Lydia.”

“Miss Bennet, no! Do not say so. Miss Lydia is very young and Mr. Wickham’s powers of persuasion are considerable.”

Hard as this conversation was for her, Elizabeth was not to be deterred from getting an answer to her earlier question.

“Did you know Lydia was involved?”

“Mr. Richardson came to me to find out more of Wickham’s prospective bride’s background because I had mentioned to him earlier that I’d seen Wickham in Hertfordshire. He suspected something was going on, he knew one of the bride’s sisters to be involved also and, although the contract indicated nothing specific , he feared the worst, considering Peyrac’s reputation and the amount of money involved.”

As her gaze lasted on him piercingly, Darcy saw he had to come clean.

“When Richardson told me of Lydia, I feared you might do something, er, desperate to save your family. I had to make sure and try to talk you out of it.”

Lizzy had suspected him being here on her account but hearing her suspicion confirmed brought on fresh tears. This time Darcy didn’t restrain himself from comforting her. Very gently he took her by her shoulders. As a sudden wave brought them even closer Elizabeth did not resist any longer to lean on to his shoulder. She was unable to face him anyway when saying what she was about to say.

“Mr. Darcy, I did not, I never wanted you to be hurt and now – how I wish to be able to turn back time! That you should lose your life because my father didn’t raise Lydia in the proper manner and the rest of her family did nothing against it!”

Darcy drew his arms around her. He nearly lost himself in the sweet scent emanating from her but he knew that his being able to convince her not to blame his death on her was crucial for her future wellbeing. Softly he spoke.

“Please listen to me, Miss Bennet. My sister did lack nothing in her education and still only chance prevented her from being in the same position as Miss Lydia. If you want to blame someone, blame Wickham. About the other, er, aspect you mentioned – I knew the consequences of my attack on the captain of the ship, after all I sailed for two summers. By letting my temper get the better of me I failed you grievously, and Georgiana, too. But it cannot be helped now. Please, Elizabeth, do not blame my death on yourself, please promise me that.”

His soft tone, the emotion he conveyed to her, the feeling of his arms around her, his use of her given name – Elizabeth would have promised anything to Darcy right now.

“I promise, Fitzwilliam, I promise.”

With a sigh he let his cheek rest on the top of her head and after a while she felt a tear trickle down.

Chapter 6

Posted on Saturday, 21 February 2004

Neither knew for how long they stood thus embraced. When another wave made them lose their balance, they were thrown against the little bedside table, sending the Bard’s sonnets skittering along the floor.

Elizabeth withdrew from Darcy’s embrace. Her feelings were a complete turmoil. While in her rational mind she’d known, now for awhile, that they would suit each other remarkably well the last hour had made her feel an almost tangible connection between the two of them. It had felt completely right to be with him, to talk to him, to hold him.

But would she feel the same if it weren’t sure that she’d lose him for good in a day or two? Elizabeth didn’t know.

Darcy bent to retrieve the book. A letter fell out. His letter! It was obviously well read, it’s creases thin. He looked at Elizabeth who was overcome with the deepest blush. The cabin seemed very small all of a sudden, it was so fraught with tense emotions. Darcy stood straight and, after handing her book back and the letter addressed her

“Would you care for a turn on deck, Miss Bennet?”

With a small, grateful smile she nodded her approval and took his proffered arm. Darcy had been given a shirt only, so Elizabeth could feel the warmth of his skin on her bare arm, as she wore a simple, short-sleeved summer dress. It was important to her to be able to ascertain he was alive and well. Elizabeth dreaded the moment she would have to relinquish his arm; somehow she felt as if nothing could harm them if only they held on to each other.

On deck they made their way to the bow where they would be in nobody's way. For the first time since being aboard the “Toulouse”, Elizabeth took in the ocean around her. She had never been on a ship before and found herself fascinated by the seemingly endless sky above and water around them, by the skill of the crew, by the smells and sounds. Her cheeks had gained colour again and with sparkling eyes and – so Darcy assumed - a little envious sigh she turned to him.

“So you sailed!”

He had to smile at her enthusiasm.

“Yes, fortunately so. I can see you understand why it was my dearest wish at fifteen. Luckily my father indulged me for two summers.”

The sun was shining warm on their faces and, as Elizabeth wanted to hear more about his sailing experiences, they settled on a roll of ropes. Darcy told her about his early fascination with ships and explorers, then about the reality of being the youngest crew member, the knots, the songs, the absolute freedom of being in the masthead.

“My mother had died that spring, maybe this was another reason my father allowed me to go. He was much affected, yet a very private man. I think he wanted to grieve without feeling the need to have to keep up appearances; he didn’t want to burden me with his grief. Up there, high above the deck, I sometimes thought I heard her voice. In any case I felt closer to her there than anywhere else.”

Elizabeth had laid her other hand over his during this speech; she experienced a fierce protectiveness for this man. They didn’t speak for a while until she said

“I fear I am often impatient with my mother but I couldn’t imagine her not with us.”

“No one could doubt your mother’s affection for her daughters.”

Darcy very much hoped that this hadn’t sounded like criticism to her.

“Indeed not. I think she somehow blames herself for not having borne a son and therefore wants to make up by marrying her daughters off as quickly as possible. I thing she’s right in that we cannot rely on Mr. Collins’ charity.”

“Probably not. He’d throw you out to starve in the hedgerows, if only to give his esteemed patroness room enough to meddle with Longbourn's closets.”

Elizabeth’s laughter rang out over the ship. She couldn’t get a grip on herself for quite some time. Darcy enquired, somewhat miffed

“Surely Miss Bennet, you must have had an inkling that I am able to see my aunt’s less endearing character traits as clearly as anyone else.”

“Yes, I have, Mr. Darcy. And I noticed how ashamed you were for her sake when she wanted to send me to Mrs. Jenkinson’s room to practice. What has made me laugh was that I never would have expected you to use the same expression as Mama. Mr. Collins and starving in the hedgerows is one of her favourite complaints, followed by a rant about `those scheming Lucases, finished off by a glare at me.”

As soon as those words were spoken Lizzy cursed herself for letting her tongue run off like this. She didn’t want to ruin their afternoon by bringing up Mr. Collins. Darcy looked at her, then understanding dawned on him.

“You mother wanted you to encourage him more?”

Elizabeth nodded.

“But she can’t have thought you to have a chance to be happy in such a union.”

“My happiness in her way of thinking would have stemmed from saving Longbourn. Luckily my father would not even consider such a match.”

Darcy shuddered.

“I am glad.”

As the easy mood from before was gone anyway, Darcy took the chance to bring up the subject of his letter.

“Miss Bennet, I want to apologise for my letter, it was written in a bitter spirit I fear.”

“The beginning perhaps but the adieu was charity itself. Do not apologise where it is not necessary. Your letter gave me some painful moments of self-recrimination but not more than I deserved. I am very glad that you still thought me worth of your taking the trouble of opening my eyes.”

“That was not my motivation, I am afraid. You give me too much credit there. My sole wish then was to defend myself against what you laid at my door. In the meantime I have learned a lot about myself and how I am viewed by people with whom I am not closely acquainted. You have done me a great service, Miss Bennet, please believe me, I would not want to have missed one moment of our acquaintance, not one.”

Elizabeth was again overcome by emotions at his words. How could she not have seen his true character sooner? Luckily Kouassi-Ba approached them just then, enquiring whether they would join the Peyracs at dinner. This gave her time to compose herself again and as Darcy shot her a questioning look she nodded her approval.

When Kouassi-Ba had left Darcy tried to think of something to cheer her up.

“Elizabeth, I do not want to raise your hopes, but I think there’s a good chance that your mother will be very happy shortly, along with your sister, Jane.”

Her countenance brightened in understanding.

“You told Mr. Bingley of Jane’s feelings?”

“Not as quickly as I should have, but yes. By the time I came around from feeling very full of self-pity to trying to amend my ways, he unfortunately had left for a lengthy visit to the North. I wanted to tell him of my interference in person, so I waited for his return. When he postponed it twice I wrote. He should be on his way to Hertfordshire right now.”

“That is wonderful!”

A few moments later however, Elizabeth remembered Lydia and her face fell.

“But what of Lydia?”

“Charles will learn that she’s made an imprudent match. That’s nothing to deter him from pursuing Miss Bennet’s hand. Even if Miss Lydia weren’t married, that would mean nothing to him. The only thing that matters to him is whether your sister cares for him or not.”

Elizabeth was earnestly searching his face for a confirmation. When he sensed that she’d decided to share his optimism he added

“You see, all will be well.”

To Darcy’s dismay Elizabeth started weeping again, addressing him with vehemence

“Nothing will be well! You will be dead in a day!”

Saying that aloud made her realize that indeed nothing would be ever well again if she lost him. As long as he was alive and well in this world she might be able to bear her lot, but not when he was dead.

This time Darcy didn’t hesitate to draw her in his arms, not giving a straw that they were in plain view for everyone aboard.

“Hush, Elizabeth, please don’t cry.”

She only clung more fiercely to him.

“You called me vain once. That may well be true, but I’m not vain to that extent that I prefer you crying over me to you not crying.”

This did the trick. Elizabeth tried to compose herself and looked up. She had to be strong, he must not spend his last day worrying over her.

“Forgive me, it does no good if I lose my head.”

With and effort to lighten the atmosphere she continued

“Must you remember every ungracious sentiment I ever uttered? – And did you just try to tease me?”

“I am afraid I did. And I didn’t consider it to be ungracious, quite the contrary, I was thoroughly intrigued by you not fawning but throwing yourself wholeheartedly into our battles.”

With shame Elizabeth remembered her own motivations for their sparring but then checked herself – she would try to make their last day as pleasurable as possible, she would have time to grief her life long.

“I fear I did. Let us not talk about past unpleasantness.”

Darcy had to laugh. Elizabeth hadn’t heard him laugh before and thought it the most beautiful sound she’d ever heard. Right this moment she knew that she loved him.

“Do not fret, Miss Bennet, your words gave you away but I can also see your resolve.”

Elizabeth blushed heavily.

Darcy felt his breath catch in his throat. When she was finally able to look up Lizzy was startled by what she saw in his eyes – an unerring devotion, gentle yet passionate, and an understanding of her feelings. She leaned closer to him just a fraction, it seemed the most natural thing to do. Darcy fought some moments longer but finally leaned down for a kiss. Their lips touched very tenderly, yet both felt the effect most acutely. Time was suspended and Elizabeth began to feel very light-headed. Never would she have suspected a simple kiss to have such an impact. Darcy may have been slightly more experienced than her but he too was overwhelmed by the feelings of finally kissing the woman he’d loved for so long brought on.

The laugh from a crew member high above them broke the spell. Elizabeth snuggled under Darcy’s chin with a small contented sigh as he drew his arms around her more firmly.

“Elizabeth?”

“Mmm.”

“Will you marry me?”

Lizzy looked at him with the most dazzling smile, one he had longed for so long to see directed at him.

“Yes, I will, I will gladly.”

Chapter 7

Posted on Tuesday, 24 February 2004

Elizabeth only nodded, overwhelmed by the enormity – the same man who would give them to each other would be the means of tearing them apart soon. First he would declare them husband and wife only to make her a widow a day later. She turned away to hide her distress. Darcy seemed to sense it anyway but he only laid his hand on her shoulder very gently, pretending to look out at the sea.

After a few moments however Elizabeth felt him growing tense. She looked at him.

“What is it?”

“Do you see these clouds over there in the west?”

“The fluffy ones?”

Darcy had to smile despite himself.

“Yes, the very ones, although I’d call them ragged.”

“Ragged they shall be, I will not have our first argument as betroths over clouds. Why do they worry you?”

He recognized Elizabeth’s attempts to keep the atmosphere light but couldn’t fight the emotions welling up in him. How well she read him already! Not looking at her, only pressing her shoulder, he answered

“They predict a storm, a storm that can get quite nasty in this part of the Irish Sea.”

“Shouldn’t you warn the captain?”

Again she astonished him. Nearly every other woman he knew would have lost her head over the storm.

“Mr. Peyrac seems a very experienced sailor to me, although we cannot know how well acquainted he is with this part of the sea. I will talk to him about it.”

Just then a servant appeared to summon them to dinner. They were let in the salon they already knew.

Comtesse Peyrac was present.

“My husband will be with us shortly. I apologise for the early dinner but it seems we are to expect a storm later.”

Angelique offered them a glass of wine and soon they were joined by the Comte.

“Miss Bennet, Mr Darcy, my regrets for the untimely summons but later it is going to be difficult to serve soup.”

“Never mind, Mr. Peyrac, I must confess I am quite hungry.” Elizabeth answered, then looking at Darcy to take over. As he took her hint immediately, she marveled at how they understood each other perfectly.

“I agree about the soup. The storm will be a nasty one.”

Peyrac’s interest was peaked.

“Do you know your way round this waters? I must confess I am not familiar at all with them.”

“I sailed for two summers as a young man, mainly between Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin.”

“Excellent. So can you give us some advice?”

“I wouldn’t presume as much. Only be aware that storms in the North Channel can be much more fierce than one expects. And from the looks of it, I think it to be here in two or three hours. What I cannot tell is whether the “Toulouse” will be much affected by the gale, I used to sail on merchant vessels with much more tonnage. They took it rather well as long as we managed to keep their bows against the wind.”

“I thank you, two hours is earlier than I expected.”

Peyrac called for his second in command to relate the facts Darcy had told to him and then turned his attention to Elizabeth, looking rather somber.

“Miss Bennet, I have every confidence that we’ll survive this storm without much harm done but just in case we’re all drowned by tomorrow I want to tell you something.”

As Elizabeth nodded he continued.

“I never even considered selling you into a harem, I abhor slave trade as a matter of principle. But then I got the impression that you were desperate beyond reason and would attempt to find somebody else to, er, do the deed. So I didn’t tell you up front that I had no intention of bringing you to Kandia.”

Elizabeth experienced a myriad of feelings – relief, anger, bewilderment and shock.

“But what of my sisters?”

“Miss Lydia is married to Mr Wickham, just as I told you.”

“But how am I ever to repay you?”

“You are not to repay me, I thought of it as an investment. The courage and imagination you showed by conceiving and actually carrying through such a plan is worth a lot in America.”

Angelique took over.

“We have some business interests in New York which you can oversee until you can stand on your own feet. If you think being in trade beneath your station, we would have another suggestion as well. Our sons received a good education at Harvard but there is no comparable place for young women to go, maybe you could help with establishing a college for women?”

Elizabeth had no words for awhile, so Peyrac spoke up

“Take your time to consider these options. As to you Mr. Darcy, I am very sorry that – “

Darcy interrupted him there.

“I was quite aware of the consequences of my actions, let us not speak of it any longer.”

Peyrac knew that Darcy would not have acted that way had he not angered him to the extreme but had to respect the other man’s wish not to pursue that matter further, presumably to spare Miss Bennet.

Both Joffrey and Angelique could see that the other couple’s attitude towards each other had changed, that in fact they seemed to be a couple now. So they weren’t surprised by Darcy’s request that the captain marry them in the morning, if the ship’s state after the storm would allow it.

Joffrey, of course, consented and congratulations poured forth. Angelique vowed to herself to do anything to spare Elizabeth the fate of being widowed after one day of marriage. She knew she didn’t need to appeal to her husband because he would be working on a solution as well, as he had no real desire to hang Darcy, if only sparing him wouldn’t war with his responsibilities as captain. They proceeded to the dining room.

After having duly praised the first course, a bouillabaisse – fish soup – Elizabeth attempted to overcome the lull in the conversation by asking Angelique after their sons.

“They are currently finishing their education at Harvard, very unwillingly I am afraid, as they prefer to roam the woods of Maine with their native friends.”

“Do you have other children, too?”

“A daughter, Honorine, who is four. So you see, plenty of time to establish a college. I fear she would not bear her lot well in a convent school, having spent most of her childhood either on horseback or on a ship.”

Here Darcy cut in.

“The young lady is to be envied. Your children obviously enjoy their new home but do you never miss Europe?”

Angelique looked at her husband, unsure of how much to reveal. Joffrey answered the question.

“We do not have much of a choice here. Neither my wife not I are particularly welcome in France. Twenty years ago, when we were married, we lived in Toulouse.”

As Peyrac saw that Darcy´s eyes had gotten wide in recognition he continued with a wry smile

“Yes, you’re guessing right. I thought you too young to remember.”

“My father was very interested in foreign affairs and used to talk to me about them. He thought King Louis´ conduct concerning you outrageously unjust.”

“Well, perhaps, although understandable from the point of view of a very young and frightened King who then had a lot of enemies inside France. I was no enemy to him but rich enough to pose a threat and, so I have to admit, I enjoyed flaunting my riches to his face, even though I was aware of the King’s feelings.”

“How did you escape the stake?”

Darcy had been so captured by Peyrac´s tale that he was not aware of his terrible blunder until he heard Elizabeth gasp.

“I am sorry, Miss Bennet, Madame Peyrac, this is unforgivable.”

“Never mind, Mr Darcy, I can hear the tale with equanimity by now, and I think your fiancée is more annoyed by the suspense than shocked.”

“Madame Peyrac is right. Please continue.”

“King Louis didn’t want to take my life - rank, wealth and reputation were enough, so he arranged for me to be swapped on the way to the stake, someone who had died in prison burned in my place. I was to be imprisoned but managed to escape.”

Darcy and Elizabeth sensed that this was all they would hear about it and readily answered their hosts questions about their own families and homes.

Even in the dining room it could be felt that the wind had picked up considerably so after coffee Peyrac didn’t linger long. It was then that Darcy addressed him.

“Sir, I noticed that you are a man short at the fock-mast. Will you allow me to be of use during the storm?”

The Comte considered this proposal only for a moment.

“Yes, I’d be glad to have you. See me at the steering wheel in a few minutes.”

Elizabeth and Darcy went back to her cabin. Darcy shed his boots, jacket and waistcoat. Elizabeth watched his preparations with anxiety.

“Will it be very dangerous?”

“No, dearest, It would be more so with me staying down here and them a man short. How could I risk my neck when I am to be married tomorrow?”

Never having heard Darcy speak in such a flippant manner Elizabeth drew her own conclusions – it was dangerous but he didn’t want to extol on it. And she sensed that a small part of him was thrilled to be a seaman again.

So she only drew him into a close embrace. Darcy hid his face in her hair, desperately trying to be thankful for their present good understanding but dangerously close to breaking down – he didn’t want to die, he didn’t want to lose his life now when his most fervent wish had come true, he didn’t want to leave Georgiana. A storm was just the thing to take his mind off all this.

He kept his eyes closed when he kissed her, she must not be frightened by the despair in his eyes. Without looking at her again he left.

Elizabeth sat down to cry from sheer emotional exhaustion. When she felt the wind gathering more and more in strength she secured everything in her cabin and knelt down to pray – for the safety of ship and crew, for her family, and for a miracle to prevent her lover’s death.

Since kneeling in front of her bed while holding on to its frame was the only position Elizabeth could keep her balance in the now full blown storm, she stayed there and thought about her life so far and about her future. She felt as if she was shedding layer after layer until she stood there naked, her very core. The events of the last few days may have robbed her of nearly all her pretensions about herself and people around her but they also made her see her very own strengths. And she would use them to support Darcy in the last day they had and she would use them to look after Georgiana.

Chapter 8

Posted on Friday, 27 February 2004

After what seemed like hours the storm abated somewhat and Elizabeth climbed into her bed with stiff limbs. She longed to know how Darcy had fared but had no way of learning of his fate.

Just when she was about to drift off she was roused by a knock. An unknown seaman stood in the door, pulling his forelock.

“Sorry, ma’am, we were told to bring `im in `ere. Should be all right in a few `ours, but you’d better get him dry.”

With that he pressed a bundle of clothes into her hands and two other seamen rather unceremoniously dumped an unconscious Darcy on the floor of her cabin. Elizabeth stood frozen for a few moments after they were gone but then dropped on her knees beside him, calling his name. When she got no response she turned the light up and looked him over closely.

Save for a cut on his forehead Darcy seemed to be all right, if completely drenched.

After only a moment’s hesitation Elizabeth decided to heed the seaman’s advice. She turned the light down again and started to undress her beloved. Trying to suppress thoughts that came to her mind unbidden, she worked as quickly as possible. After a while she stopped fighting off these thoughts just for the sake of propriety. Hadn’t she thought him handsome even when she hadn’t liked him? So there couldn’t be anything wrong with admiring his physique now that she loved him and was to be his wife, as long as the admiring didn’t prevent her from getting him dry and warm as fast as possible.

Her own towel soon proved to be inefficient, so Elizabeth took off her dress which had gotten damp anyway to use it as a towel. After she had managed to get Darcy into the shirt and breeches provided she put on her nightgown and tried to hoist him into her bed. That endeavor soon turned out to be impossible so Lizzy rolled the still unconscious form of her lover over, dragged the mattress of her bed onto the floor and rolled him back on. By then quite exhausted she wrapped her blanket around the two of them and snuggled closely to Darcy, in order to keep them both warm.

When Darcy woke up slowly the first sensation he noticed was something tickling his nose. Elizabeth’s hair! Then he felt a soft and warm body draped half over him. Squinting in the dim light he recognized her cabin and their position on the floor. Then he remembered that, when the storm was already abating, a sudden wave had thrown him against something solid. The other crew members must have brought him to Elizabeth’s cabin.

The realization that it was indeed Elizabeth whose body seemed to mould with his perfectly brought on feelings Darcy was unable to suppress. Conflicting emotions warred in his breast. – They were not married but Darcy was quite sure that his beloved would not be too fastidious, she would not mind if the consummation of their marriage took place a few hours before their vows. A weightier argument on his conscience was that he must not take advantage of her. Even if he could assume that her passion would have eventually matched his, she was now in all likelihood quite ignorant and innocent, and could not know in what position her desire to keep him warm had put him.

As her breathing grew less deep Darcy knew her to be waking up as well. She seemed for a moment to be puzzled by her position as well but when she snuggled back into his arms with a content little sigh Darcy felt like crying.

After some minutes Elizabeth stretched carefully.

“Fitzwilliam?”

“Hmm.”

“Are you all right? You were unconscious last night.”

“I crashed against the fock mast I am afraid but I am well now.”

She propped herself up on her elbows and reached for his face. Very gently she traced the cut on his forehead and was relieved to find that the swelling from last night had nearly vanished. Darcy felt himself blushing under her scrutiny. Could she read his thoughts?

Maybe, because she leaned down for a kiss. It was the first one she’d initiated and Darcy was fully content to let her proceed. Her lips seemed to take great delight from tenderly and thoroughly exploring his. Elizabeth paid great attention to the corners of his mouth, she trailed little kisses down his jawline. When she felt him tense, she stopped.

“Shall I stop?”

“If you continue I cannot guarantee my, er, my behaviour.”

“I love you, Fitzwilliam, and I want to be your wife in every regard.”

He cupped her face between his hands and Elizabeth rather felt than saw the expression of heartfelt delight that diffused over his features.

“I love you too, Elizabeth.”

The next kiss was mutual and soon deepened. Darcy wrapped his arms around Elizabeth and turned them on the side. She stroked his cheek during their kiss and then let her fingers trace along his collarbone into his open shirt. Darcy had caressed her shoulders and bare arms, coming dangerously close to the sides of her breasts. When in one fluid motion she drew his mouth on her lips again and arched her body toward his hand Darcy dropped all restraint.

Oh yes, he would be gentle with her, but he wouldn’t let them be inhibited by notions of maidenly reserve or gentlemanly behaviour.

He could feel that Elizabeth’s nightshirt had traveled up to her thigh during her sleep and when he felt her trying to reach farther into his shirt he sat up and got rid of it. She let her eyes travel over his upper body unabashedly, only blushing when he indicated she remove her nightgown with a motion of his head. Elizabeth sat up too, carefully arranging the blanket around her waist. Then she gathered the hem of her dress in her hands and – after a bashful smile – drew it over her head.

Darcy had fantasized many times of how she might look, had taken his clues from the creamy white complexion of her skin and the coral red of her lips, but nothing could have prepared him for the actual view. He drew in his breath sharply, not daring to touch her.

When she made a gesture to cover herself with the blanket he caught her hand and leaned over to kiss her again. Feeling skin on skin was an exhilarating experience. Elizabeth had tried to match her lover’s actions step by step but now had to give over to the sensations that overwhelmed her. She let herself sink back, knowing somewhere that he would be catching her in every sense. When his caresses trailed down from her neck she lost all restraint, the only thing of importance was to feel him as close as possible.

Darcy´s hands and lips seemed to be everywhere and evoked feelings she didn’t know how to be able to experience. In contrast to her going all mellow and limp there was a tension building up deep down in her only his touch seemed to be able to relieve and unconsciously she arched her body nearer to his.

After what she could not have said how long her mind was able to take over again and she looked at Darcy in wonderment. He looked back with an expression she had never seen on his face, a smile so tender and loving, and a little bit proud, too. She let her hands wander over his bare back, let them travel down to his hips, all the while bestowing his face, his neck, his chest with the gentlest of caresses. Fitzwilliam lay very still, Lizzy knew not what to do. Did he resent her actions? Apparently not, she heard him murmur her name, as if in deep concentration. Maybe he was going to that magical place she had been before. How she longed to be there with him!

Chapter 9

Posted on Tuesday, 2 March 2004

Elizabeth woke up to wracking sobs. Although he had done his best, trying to muffle the sounds in the mattress, his shaking shoulders told her that Darcy finally was breaking down. She could not know how far they were on their journey, if he would be dead today or tomorrow. Up until know she had been cracking and he had held her up, now it was her turn. She wrapped her still naked arms around him, stroked his shoulders and murmured words of love. After a while he let himself to be turned around, hiding his face on her chest. Lizzy knew that she could not say anything to make their situation better, just hold him, love him, help him overcome this crisis.

When his breathing had become more regular Elizabeth felt him going tense and withdrawing. Somehow she sensed why and hastened to reassure him.

“My love, do not shut me out. And do not be embarrassed. It is in good and in bad times we should turn to each other.”

He raised his head to look at her with still teary eyes and said with a cracking voice

“I only wish our time wasn’t to be so short.”

“Fitzwilliam, I could not stay calm would I let myself even consider how much time I wasted with my stupid prejudices, how many `what-ifs´ there are. We will have each other for as long as possible and I am still not prepared to lose hope.”

Darcy drowned himself in her eyes and answered with a kiss only, and drew her closer.

“You are right, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. I do not know what I’ve done to deserve you.”

“It is I who does not deserve you. – Hush, do not argue with a lady.”

They lost themselves in their embraces again.

The next awakening was of a different sort. Her soon-to-be-husband was tickling Elizabeth’s nose with one of her curls.

“Are you ready to get married, my love?”

“Hmm.”

“Ah, you’re trying to outwit me, I will rephrase my question. – Are you awake enough to get married?”

“Hmm.”

Although the previous night might very well have been his last it had also been the best of Fitzwilliam Darcy’s life and he was in a fabulous mood. Tickling his bride seemed just the thing to do.

“Fitzwilliam, please, I am quite sure the captain is about the ship to examine her after the storm, we must not expect him to spare time for marrying us just now.”

“Ah, your mind is wide awake already.”

“I would not oversleep on my wedding day, it is just that I do not want to give up my present position, I cannot imagine a place I’d rather be now than in your arms.”

With that Elizabeth snuggled still closer to him and Darcy felt a wave of tenderness threaten whatever little composure he had. He took in the lovely picture she presented – her long dark lashes, her mouth curled up in a content smile, her hair tumbling loose over her creamy white shoulders. Darcy wound his hands into her locks and kissed her.

“May I disturb your state of contentedness, Elizabeth?”

Lizzy was still in awe how much of a caress her name sounded when he addressed her thus.

“Please do.”

Elizabeth had to chuckle at their appearance on their wedding day – clothes rumpled and salt-stained, Mr. Darcy unshaven and her own hair tousled by the wind again after some moments on deck. When they rounded the corner however and saw nearly the whole crew assembled below the bridge they stopped in their tracks. They were just north of Belfast! Peyrac couldn’t mean to hang Mr. Darcy today, could he? Darcy took hold of Elizabeth’s hand firmly and they proceeded forward.

A sailor was talking to Peyrac, cap in hand. To Elizabeth the captain appeared to be as calm as ever but in the countess´ rigid stance she detected signs of apprehension. As several of the crew shot guarded glances at Darcy, Lizzy feared that they were demanding something of their captain concerning her love.

Darcy had halted their progress. They could not make out the words of the sailor very clearly, he was talking in a French dialect about someone called Jean-P’tit, about danger and about a nephew. As she could not understand what went on, Elizabeth chose to watch Angelique de Peyrac closely. She had gained the impression that the countess – even more than her husband – would rather spare her being widowed after a day, and therefore meant to get clues from her behaviour. Indeed Angelique relaxed visibly after a while, the corners of her mouth curling up a little bit even.

The captain addressed the whole crew in French whether they were in agreement with Jean. When they all somberly nodded, he thanked them, then said something about the English being rather unpredictable when it came to love matters which drew laughter from the crew and bade them to stay. Turning to face Elizabeth and Darcy, Peyrac switched to English

“Miss Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Jean here came with a request on behalf of the crew to me. I have been told that you, Mr. Darcy saved Jean-P´tit´s life risking your own during the storm when he was threatened to be swept over board. Jean-P´tit is the ship-boy and Jean’s nephew. The crew is in total agreement that I should spare your life. I have granted their request, of course.”

Elizabeth could feel Fitzwilliam trembling beside her. She could not hold back her tears of joy but she knew how Darcy would loathe to lose his composure in front of everybody so she linked her arm with his in an attempt to calm him. Peyrac went on

“We can put you ashore in Belfast. Do you still want to be married today?”

Lizzy looked up at Darcy with a beautiful smile.

“Do you still want to marry me?” he asked her.

She could only nod.

The count addressed his crew.

“We will anchor here. Cook, prepare for a wedding banquet, you need not spare any expenses, we can take on new supplies in Belfast when we drop off our newlyweds.”

When Elizabeth threw her arms around Darcy’s neck he could not but forget a lifelong habit of proper behaviour. He whirled her around and then kissed her soundly to the cheers of the whole ship.

The “Toulouse” bristled fairly with activity. One half of the crew was doing repairs while the other prepared for the wedding. Angelique had drawn Elizabeth aside to let her choose one of her gowns, Kouassi-Ba was at the same time attempting to make Mr. Darcy presentable. The women busied themselves with altering a dress – while the sailors were quite able to look after their own clothes, Angelique would not trust them with fine silk.

Joffrey could not forget the look Angelique had bestowed on him when it had become clear that the affair would have a happy outcome. He knew he didn’t deserve her thankfulness, pure chance and his own daring had saved Darcy but Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s story made him once again thankful for Angelique and him being together – fate had conspired against them often, it was a miracle that they were together now. As there was no chance to find Angelique alone and tell her how much he loved her, Joffrey thought he could as well apply his time to re-planning the journey. There in the map room Darcy found him.

"Sir, I would like to know your expenses concerning Mr. Wickham, I want to reimburse you."

Peyrac raised an eyebrow.

"May I caution you? I think you are heading for the first fight of your married life. Miss Bennet might be able to take this as a gift from my wife and me but if you were involved, wouldn’t that raise her ire?"

“If that were the only or even the main reason for my paying you back. But as it is I should have ensured that Wickham was not allowed in polite society a long time ago. That he was able to impose himself on Miss Lydia is solely my fault and mine must be the remedy. If you do not want to take the money I could make a donation towards the college the countess is so adamant about?”

Darcy knew he had Peyrac cornered there and was mightily pleased by that fact. Indeed the count threw up his hands in defeat.

“By all means, do. But let me warn you even if this might sound old-fashioned – my wife received her education at a quaint little convent and still she had Kings and Sultans at her beck and call. I do not dare to think what she would have been able to do had she attended university.”

Darcy thought it better not to mention that his Elizabeth had had neither a governess nor attended a school.

They shook hands and Darcy went in search of his beloved. He was forestalled by the countess who advised him to be patient. He would have married Elizabeth in a coal sack but seeing her in that claret coloured gown took his breath away. Their hosts had changed too and had Darcy had eyes for it, he would have noticed that the sailors also had made attempts to dress in a festive manner – a new bandanna there, a laundered necktie here.

Peyrac had presented them with a ring he told them to be of Maya – origin, a gold band with emeralds. It had a wild, heathen quality to it and was nearly too heavy for Elizabeth’s slender fingers but it seemed a perfect symbol for how they had ended up together, finally.

The captain kept the ceremony brief and to the point and then they set down to a splendid wedding breakfast, together with the whole crew. Neither Elizabeth nor Darcy knew half of the dishes they were served. Equally foreign was the music – one sailor played a doudouk – an Aramean oboe –, another the fiddle and Mr. Peyrac himself the lute.

It was lucky for Darcy and Elizabeth to be of country origin so they recalled the steps of the bourree and other quite old-fashioned dances. Following these were some dances from all over the world that were danced in lines or circles by men only. Elizabeth did not let more than a smile escape her lips but knew she would forever cherish the image of Mr. Darcy trying to manage the kasatchok with some dignity.

When the tide turned, the festivities were over and the anchor lifted. The “Toulouse” headed for Belfast and Elizabeth went to pack her meager belongings. Mr. Darcy ventured below deck to pay his farewell to Jean-P´tit who had suffered a concussion during the storm. Directions were exchanged with the Peyracs and with many well wishes and the crew standing guard the Darcys left the ship.

Epilogue

Nearly as soon as they set foot on Irish soil, Elizabeth and Darcy sent expresses to their families. They decided to not tell the whole truth about their adventure; rather that Mr. Peyrac had offered to bribe Wickham into marrying Lydia in exchange for Lizzy setting up a women’s college in America. At least that’s what Mr. Bennet, Col Fitzwilliam and Mr. Richardson were told, the others just learned of an elopement via ship and as most people thought Mr. Darcy too proud to simply elope to Gretna Green like anyone else they found the story quite believable.

Elizabeth and Darcy had another ceremony in Longbourn's church and Jane and Mr. Bingley made up and were married not half a year later.

As George Fitzwilliam Geoffrey Darcy was born nine months after the storm his parents amused themselves with the thought that he had been conceived on a pirate’s ship. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Peyrac did quite a lot of business over the years but due to the seven more children the Darcys had, it was nearly twenty years later that they finally made the journey across the Atlantic to visit the Peyracs.

The End