“Yes,” said Mr. Darcy, bowing to Mrs. Bennet. “Greetings, madam, and I am sorry for the occasion that marks our meeting.”
“It is absolutely dreadful, isn’t it?” said Mrs. Bennet. “Why, I have been unable to eat or sleep for weeks. All I can think about is my sweet Jane. What a darling she has always been. But now, I have been in an awful state. The way that I suffer, it is most horrendous. And there is no one who can comfort me, not that anyone tries. Why no one is tending to me at all.”
Bingley cleared his throat. “Mrs. Bennet, I was given to understand that you had come to tend my wife. She is the one who is sick, after all.”
“Oh, of course,” said Mrs. Bennet. “But you cannot think but to say that it doesn’t affect me, can you? She is my oldest girl, my very first child. For her to be thus, it is calamity. Oh, I cannot but think of it, and my heart begins to pound so. I can hardly stand.” She threw herself at Mr. Bingley, who caught her, making a sour face.
Elizabeth appeared in the foyer at that moment. “Mama? What are you doing here?”
Bingley managed to extricate himself from Mrs. Bennet. “She has been here every day for some time,” he said.
“I’m here to help tend Jane, of course,” said Mrs. Bennet. “And when did you get here, Lizzy? I am happy to see you, I must say. My anger toward you over refusing Mr. Collins has abated somewhat, but I am not entirely ready to forgive you.”
Elizabeth pursed her lips. “Yes, Mama, well, I suppose that I could not expect much else. Come, Jane is sleeping. Let us head for home now, so that Mr. Bingley might have a chance to rest as well.”
“Leave?” said Mrs. Bennet. “We almost always stay for the evening meal.”
“Not tonight,” said Elizabeth. “We mustn’t impose any longer.”
Mrs. Bennet sighed. “Oh, well, I suppose that I shall go and collect Lydia and Kitty, then.”
“Lydia and Kitty are here as well?” Elizabeth was incredulous.
“But of course they are,” said Mrs. Bennet. “You would hardly think they would allow me to go to Netherfield without them, would you? No, if I had but suggested it, they would have been beside themselves, and I should never have heard the end of it.”
Elizabeth turned to Bingley. “Thank you so much, sir, for your great hospitality to my family during this difficult time. I cannot express how much it says about your deep love for my sister that you have borne such circumstances.”
“What does that mean?” said Mrs. Bennet.
Elizabeth rounded on her mother. “Go and collect my younger sisters, and let us be gone at once.”
Mrs. Bennet sighed again, but she left the foyer.
“Thank you, Miss Bennet,” said Bingley in a low voice. “I do appreciate the, er, peace.”
Elizabeth smiled. “You don’t have to be polite about it anymore, Mr. Bingley. We are family. My mother and younger sisters are dreadful. I should know. I live with them. I shall get them out from underfoot for tonight at least and do what I can to keep them from invading you again. I am sure they have been no help to Jane whatsoever, but only caused discomfort for everyone.”
Bingley cracked a bit of a smile. “Well… well… yes.” He chuckled softly. “When I married your sister, I’m afraid I was so besotted that I paid little attention to her family. Jane is worth all of it, of course, but with her in such decline lately…” He swallowed, casting his face downward.
Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, it is all quite awful. I was surprised to see how changed she is.”
“So, it is as bad as you had feared?” Darcy spoke up quietly.
“It is… very bad,” Elizabeth allowed.
But at that moment, her mother and sisters appeared, and there was no more talk for any of them, because they couldn’t get a word in edgewise between the chattering of the other three.
* * *
Elizabeth had to listen to her mother’s complaining the entire way back home and then also once they arrived.
“Oh, we are going to lose our sweet Jane,” her mother wailed as she settled into the couch in their own drawing room. “And if one of the other of you had but married in the meantime, or if Jane had at least been able to have a child, it would be better, but we shall be back in exactly the same situation we had been in before. Mr. Bingley will marry again, and we shall be kicked out of this house when your father dies to make way for Charlotte Lucas.”
“Collins, Mama,” said Elizabeth. “Charlotte Collins.” Trust her mother to make every disaster into her own disaster. She was quite self-centered.
“And if it weren’t for Jane’s illness, then the girls might be walking to Meryton to see the regiment, but that is dashed, and none of them will find husbands that way, so we are ruined. Ruined. Just when we had been saved. And—oh, my darling Jane. She is the sweetest and the prettiest of all my girls. My first baby girl. I cannot bear the thought of losing her. It cannot happen. I must do something to save her. I will go back to Netherfield and spend the night at her bedside—”
“No, no, Mama,” said Elizabeth. “You’re in no condition to undertake something of that magnitude. In fact, I think you are so upset that you should probably take to bed early tonight.”
“Oh,” said Mrs. Bennet, turning to her daughter, “oh, Lizzy, I have missed you. You are here to look after your poor mama. Yes, you are right. I am overwrought. I must to bed immediately.”
“Yes,” said Elizabeth. “And I shall speak to Hill about mixing the drink for you that calms you so.”
“Oh, indeed, I should like that,” said Mrs. Bennet. She got to her feet and staggered across the room. “I shall lie down at once.”
“Yes, Mama, do,” Elizabeth called after her. She had spent a long time under the roof of her mother, long enough to know that her mother must be mollified or she would demand to be the center of attention, whipping herself into a frenzy of tears and moaning that couldn’t be ignored. But a fit of that magnitude would have worse effects on her mother’s mood, and might literally make her ill. Then they’d have to tend to her and wait on her hand and foot for a week, maybe more. It was easier to nip things in the bud.
As for the drink that Hill made, it was little more than a mixture of honey and strong drink, and it had the immediate effect of making Elizabeth’s mother fall asleep, which was welcome.
Elizabeth’s own worry was for Jane, not for her own future. But as she made her way through her house to find Hill, she couldn’t help but admit that she had been counting on the idea of staying with Jane during at least some point of her spinsterhood. With Jane gone, her future would not only be bleak, but heartbreaking as well. She loved her sister more than life.
There had to be something that could be done for her. Some way to restore her to strength. Elizabeth would stay here tonight, and she would make certain that her mother and sisters stayed away, but she would go back to Netherfield in the morning, and she would not rest until she had nursed Jane back to health or died trying.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Once Mrs. Bennet and her daughters had gone, it was only Darcy and Bingley again, and it was frightfully awkward. Darcy attempted to start some conversation between the two of them but was rebuffed. He offered again to sleep elsewhere, but Bingley was insistent that it was better that he stay here, so he asked to be shown to his room and resolved not to come back until dinner.
He was settling in with a book when he heard the arrival of a coach. He got up and went to the window to see that Caroline had arrived, along with Mr. and Mrs. Hurst. Wonderful, thought Darcy sarcastically. Just like old times.
He didn’t want to eat with them at all, and he thought of begging off the entire business. But the truth was that he was famished. It had been an exhausting day, and he’d had little to eat or drink, and he was in need of sustenance. Perhaps if he paid enough attention to his food and ignored everything else, he would be able to avoid much interaction with them at all.
He dressed for dinner with trepidation, however. The thought of seei
ng Caroline again made his insides feel hollowed out, mixed up, and scooped back in out of order. He was angry for what she’d done to him. He was angry because he was helpless against it. He wanted anything but to be forced to marry her. And yet, that was to happen, and probably sooner rather than later.
If he hadn’t insisted on getting Elizabeth back here, maybe he could have put all this off. But he couldn’t regret anything he did for Elizabeth.
When he had first clapped eyes on the woman, she had affected him physically, drove him to distraction with the way he wanted her. But his feelings for her now were far more than mere lust. He admired her—her wit and her spirit and her loyalty and her goodness. She was lovely both inside and out. He would gladly do anything he could for her, no matter what it cost him.
The meal was tense.
No one much spoke.
Mr. Hurst attempted to engage Mr. Bingley in a conversation about cards, but Bingley’s one-or-two-word answers didn’t seem to satisfy Hurst, so eventually, he fell silent.
Mrs. Hurst delicately picked at her food with her utensils, but seemed to put little of it in her mouth.
Caroline, on the other hand, was attacking and devouring every course with much the same gusto as Darcy was doing. The only good thing he could say about being back at Netherfield was that the food was good. However, he strongly suspected anything remotely nourishing would have been delicious to him at the time.
Caroline paused to smile at him across the table. “It is very good to finally see you again, Mr. Darcy, I must say. I had not expected you to be in attendance here.”
“He brought Miss Bennet back from Hunsford to see her sister,” said Bingley.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet?” said Caroline sharply, her face going still.
“Yes,” said Darcy.
Caroline’s nostrils flared and she went back to her meat, sawing at it with great enthusiasm. “Well, that is no surprise, is it? You are always at her beck and call, are you not, Darcy?”
“Yes, I suppose so,” said Darcy in a flat voice. “She is quite an honorable woman. She would not dare to attempt things that some others might to get what she desires.”
Caroline narrowed her eyes at him. “Yes, and you are honorable too. To a fault. Which is why you must honor your promises to me.”
“Honorable, sister?” said Bingley. “He is anything but honorable. He deceived us, you most of all.”
“Let’s not speak of that,” said Caroline. She turned to Bingley, eyes wide. “Do tell us instead about dearest Jane. How is she?”
Darcy could almost believe she was sincere, even though he doubted she cared a jot for Jane.
Bingley set down his fork and stared into his plate. “Not good at all, I’m afraid. It has been many weeks since she was well enough to get out of bed.”
“But what has been done for her?” said Darcy. “What doctors have seen her, and what treatments have they prescribed?”
“With an illness like this, there is naught to be done,” said Bingley. “She must fight or not. If she is strong enough, she will get through to the other side.”
“But it has been some time, has it not?” said Darcy. “How many weeks has she been ill? Most stomach ailments of this sort have cleared by now.”
“Indeed,” said Bingley. “And that is why I am having trouble holding out hope.”
“Perhaps we should get a second opinion,” said Darcy. “Bring in some other doctors. Someone from town, or—”
“I don’t need your advice, Darcy,” said Bingley, picking his fork back up. “And it is most certainly not a group effort. She is my wife. I’ll thank you to keep your own counsel.”
Darcy went back to his meal and resolved to keep his mouth shut. It wounded him that things between himself and Bingley had been so destroyed, but he saw nothing for it. He was still hungry, anyway.
Bingley turned to Caroline. “You will be renewing your friendship with Mr. Wickham now that you have returned? Or will your fiancé keep you busy with some attention for once?”
Darcy’s head snapped up, thoughts of eating forgotten. “Friendship with Mr. Wickham, what is this?”
Bingley smirked at Darcy. “That’s right. You had some quarrel with him, did you not? You were always so vague about it. But knowing your character as we now do, undoubtedly you were in the wrong. At any rate, you cannot be too bothered by my sister’s association with him, not when you have ignored her for months.”
Darcy had to admit that he had never told Bingley the story of what had occurred between Georgiana and Wickham because Georgiana had begged him not to. His sister had a girlish affection for Bingley. When she was only ten years old, she had gone about pronouncing that she and Bingley would be married, and Georgiana was now mortified to think that Bingley might hear of her poor judgment. She might still even carry a bit of a torch for him, though he was married to someone else now, and it could only be a girlish fancy.
Caroline had gone white as a sheet. “Stop it,” she said to Bingley.
“What?” said Bingley. “I didn’t think it was such a secret, not when you danced with him at every ball we attended in the winter.”
Darcy did not know what to make of any of this.
Caroline’s lower lip trembled. “Pray, excuse me. I find a headache is coming on quite suddenly.” She stood up, scooting out her chair with an echoing screech. Then she turned and fairly fled from the room.
Bingley turned on Darcy. “There, now look what you’ve done.”
“I?” said Darcy, quite confused. “It was your words that chased her from the room.”
“And your lack of attentiveness that broke her heart,” said Bingley. “I am losing my wife, and I have already lost my dearest friend, and my sister has become little better than a doxy. I sometimes wonder why I bother to get up in the morning.” He stood up from the table as well. “You know, I find I am afflicted with a sudden headache as well. Please excuse me.” He turned on his heel and stalked out of the room.
It was silent.
Mr. Hurst spoke up. “So, Darcy, have you played any good games of chance as of late?”
* * *
Elizabeth was stopped on her way to find Hill by her father, who she had yet to greet. He was pleased to see her, and said that he had feared it was too soon to write her, but after visiting Jane that weekend had seen how ill she had become and knew she must come home.
“My dear,” he said, eyeing her. “We had a letter you had injured your ankle. Ought you be up and walking in this manner?”
“It is nearly healed,” she said. “And after I have seen to my mother, I promise I shall retire and rest it.”
“See that you do,” he said. “I need both of my girls whole.” He gave her a small, sad smile. “I know Jane will recover. I refuse to say anything otherwise. But she needs your strength, Lizzy. We all do.” He inclined his head. “Furthermore, I’ve not heard a word of sense out of any mouth in this household since you left. You have been gone for far too long. You must promise me not to leave for that long again.”
She laughed a little. “I promise. I think you will have my company for quite some time now.”
“Good, I am glad to hear it.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Now, see that you rest that ankle, my dear.” And he moved on down the hallway toward his study.
After that, Elizabeth was unencumbered on the rest of her journey, and eventually arrived in the kitchen of her household. But Hill was not there. Only the cook was, and she was in a bit of a tizzy, wandering around murmuring to herself that she had not thought the family would be back for dinner, indeed they had dined at Netherfield for nigh on a fortnight, and now how was she to get together something for everyone to eat on such short notice?
Elizabeth did not want to distress her further. Indeed, the woman did not even seem sensible of Elizabeth’s presence. However, she was desirous to know of where Hill was, so she cleared her throat. “Pardon me?”
The cook looked up and was startled. She bobb
ed in a tiny curtsy and her face colored. “Oh, begging your pardon, Miss, I didn’t know you was standing there. Is there something I can do for you?”
“I am seeking Hill,” said Elizabeth. “My mother is in one of her fits, and she is desirous of that drink that Hill prepares for her.”
“Oh, Miss, it’s me that prepares that drink,” said the cook. “I’ll have it ready in a jiffy and send it up with one of the housemaids, if you please.”
“Thank you, that would be most helpful,” said Elizabeth.
“Well, of course, Miss.”
“Listen, I know that you are concerned about preparing something for all of us to eat, but I’m sure it needn’t be anything too involved. You were doubtless going to make something for both my father and Mary. Whatever that was to be would certainly be adequate if there would be enough.”
“Oh, you mustn’t mind my mutterings, Miss,” said the cook, growing pink again. “I can have something ready that you’ll be most pleased with, I’m sure. Leave it to me.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Of course.”
And that moment, Hill burst into the kitchen. “Mrs. Barker,what are you about?” she addressed the cook. “The mistress is in a fit, and we must have—” She broke off. “Oh, Miss Elizabeth, I didn’t realize you were here.”
“I am just leaving,” said Elizabeth. “Barker has been most helpful.” She nodded at them and prepared to take her leave.
“If you please, Miss Elizabeth,” said Hill, “have you seen our Jane?”
Elizabeth sighed. “I have. It’s not good.”
“Oh, dear,” said Hill. “That is as I feared. I have inquired from the other girls and your mother, but I haven’t gotten much from them. I am not even sure what the nature of her malady is.”
“It is something with the stomach,” said Elizabeth. “She is afflicted with strong vomiting, and she can keep nothing down. She is wasting away before our eyes.”
Barker spoke up. She was busy mixing honey and brandy together in a mug. “Begging your pardon, Miss, but is it the smell that is causing her troubles?”
The Unraveling of Mr Darcy Page 14
