Page 13 of Shields and Roses

Lizzy loudly answered, "Charlotte and I were on the bridge, intending to cross back over to the Longbourn side of the bank to finish our walk for today. Some of the supports must have rotted away because the bridge suddenly swayed to the side and then broke apart. Charlotte fell through the planks as they separated and became caught between some rocks. I couldn’t help her get free because this big section of the bridge broke loose as I fell. Fortunately, it slammed against me instead of rushing over Charlotte. I have been holding it back, but the post at the other end of the boards is loose and threatening to break as well and the river just keeps pushing it my way. I am not strong enough to lift it over her." Richard could hear panic in her voice.

He stripped off his socks and dropped them next to the boots. Then he quickly ran to the bank and stepped over the edge into the river. Thankfully, it hit only just above knee height on him. He swiftly picked his way across the rocky riverbed to Lizzy.

"Let me slip in and take your place holding the boards back, Lizzy," he instructed. "You will then be able to free your friend." Richard got a good hold on the wood, being careful not to push so hard that he would cause the one remaining support to break or dislodge as he did.

Lizzy let go with a grateful sigh. She picked her way to Miss Lucas and reached down under the water to see if she could shift the rocks holding her in place. Miss Lucas cried out in pain even as Lizzy said triumphantly, "I've got it!"

As she helped her friend stand, Richard heard an ominous cracking from the supporting post and felt the boards he held start to shift. Apparently, despite his care, the planks would soon break free. "Hurry!" he said to the girls. "The support is starting to go!"

Miss Lucas whimpered slightly with each step as Lizzy helped her move towards the shore. Richard started working his way closer to the damaged support, hand over hand. With a great crack, it broke off and Richard shoved the newly freed section of planking away from him as it did, guiding the planks so they would miss the girls as they floated off downstream. More bits of the bridge broke off and floated away as well, but they were nowhere near the three young people in the water.

Now free of his burden, Richard sloshed his way over to the two girls, who still had several feet to go before they reached the bank. "We need to get you out of the water and tend to your injury," he said as he came up next to them. "Put your arm around my neck, Miss Lucas, and I will carry you to the bank."

"Oh, I…I think I will be fine," she demurred, but as she took another step she slipped on the rocks and would have fallen if Lizzy and Richard had not caught her. With tears of pain in her dark brown eyes, she agreed to accept Richard's help.

He got her settled into his arms and carefully made his way to the bank, with Lizzy walking alongside to make certain the sodden skirts of Miss Lucas's dress did not tangle in his legs and trip him up. After setting her carefully down on a grassy spot on the bank, Richard, now as wet as the two girls, clambered out of the river followed by Lizzy.

"Thank you, Richard," Lizzy said. "You arrived just in time. Oh, may I present my friend, Miss Charlotte Lucas. Charlotte, this is Richard Fitzwilliam. I know I have mentioned him to you before."

Richard bowed, while Charlotte nodded acknowledgment of the introduction, looking very self-conscious and embarrassed. She winced as she shifted in place, prompting Lizzy to kneel at her side.

"Turn around, please, Richard," she said. "I want to check Charlotte's injuries."

He did as requested, returning to the spot where had left his boots and socks. He debated over whether to put them back on, knowing he was still dripping wet and had no good way to dry himself first. Prudence won out when he realized he would need to carry or, at least, help Miss Lucas home and would not be able to carry his boots at the same time. He sat down on a large rock and pulled on the socks and boots. As he did, he heard Lizzy exclaiming over cuts and bruises on Miss Lucas's lower legs. When he heard the sound of fabric ripping, he suspected Lizzy was tearing her petticoat to make a bandage.

"Do you need any help?" he asked as he finished getting his second boot on.

"Not with this, I think," Lizzy replied. "I have bandaged the largest cut. The others seem to have closed up in the cold water. I think she ricked her ankle in the fall and there is a nasty gash right through her shoe into her foot, although we are not sure if it was from the broken wood or from one of the rocks. I am afraid if Charlotte walks on it the gash may start bleeding again."

"Oh, I am certain I can make it if the two of you help support me," Miss Lucas protested.

"It might be better if Lizzy or I go for help," Richard suggested, knowing Miss Lucas was embarrassed to require assistance from a stranger. Apparently, the idea of sending for help, and the fuss it would cause, bothered her more.

"Oh, please do not," she begged. "I know I can make it with just a little help."

Richard rejoined them, taking a surreptitious look at Miss Lucas's bandaged foot. He had his doubts about the wisdom of allowing her to walk on it, but he also realized that no matter what happened someone would have to help her out of this area. It was too closely wooded for a cart or carriage, and even a horse might have trouble on parts of the path he had followed. Given how long she had been in the cold water, the sooner they got her home, the better.

"Very well," he agreed, "but you must lean on us and allow us to take as much of your weight as possible. Do you agree?"

"Yes, I agree," she said. "May we go now, before anyone else comes looking for us?"

Richard helped her stand, taking his place on the side with the more seriously injured leg, while Lizzy moved to her friend's other side and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Remember, Charlotte, I am strong. Do not be afraid to lean on me," she instructed.

The trip to Lucas Lodge seemed to last forever. They moved slowly and carefully along the path by the river. Richard could tell Miss Lucas put nearly as much effort into not crying out as she did into the actual task of walking. She was determined, however, and insisted on continuing every time he tried to convince her to let one of them go for help.

He felt a great deal of relief when the house was in clear sight. Richard sent Lizzy ahead to knock at the door so there would be no delay getting Miss Lucas inside or sending for the apothecary.

Lizzy had a few words with the maid who opened the door and then came running back just as Miss Lucas said, "I want to thank you for all your help, Mr. Fitzwilliam. I really was in terrible trouble. Even if you did not come riding up on a white charger, you were my knight in shining armor today."

Richard would have offered her an exaggerated bow to jokingly cover his embarrassment but could not while supporting her. He responded by simply saying, "You are most welcome, Miss Lucas."

Lizzy laughed as she returned to her place of support on Miss Lucas's other side. "I agree with Charlotte. You were our brave knight today, Richard. From now on, I will have to call you Sir Richard."

Richard joined in her laughter. "Only between ourselves," he warned. "I would hate to have anyone thinking I was taking on honors that were not properly mine."

Before they could say anything more, several people rushed from the house. A woman that Richard suspected was Lady Lucas fussed and fretted but did nothing to help the situation beyond offering a few contradictory orders to the servants and suggestions to her husband. Sir William Lucas, who Richard had met on previous visits, had things well in hand despite his wife's agitated state. He told Richard and Lizzy that he had already sent for the apothecary even as he motioned Richard aside and picked up his daughter. As Lady Lucas uttered exclamations on the dangers of walking in the woods, Sir William offered his thanks to Richard and Lizzy for bringing Charlotte home.