“I will send an express to London.” Darcy immediately stated. “I will have my personal physician attend her.”
“Mr Darcy, forgive me for making such a suggestion, but I believe it might be best if we were to take Miss Elizabeth to London. There is a surgeon who is well versed in head injuries from the battlefield. By the time we would send expresses, and the surgeon and physician arrive, we can arrive and meet them quite a bit earlier in Town.” Mr Jones stated.
“Then we will use my carriage. I will have it prepared immediately. Mr Bennet, you and Miss Bennet are welcome to accompany us as well. And you are welcome to stay at my home in Town. Whatever is needed for Miss Elizabeth, I will see that it is done.”
“Are you certain, Mr Jones? Would the travel cause her more harm?” Jane asked. “The risk of greater harm from travel, as compared to quicker treatment by a specialist, should be weighed. I believe the threat of harm is far below the need for the treatment. If we position her in the carriage carefully, I believe there will be no risk of further injury.”
“While you men see to Miss Elizabeth’s care, I will see to Wickham’s arrest. I will send word to you in Town as to what happens. And I will send a detail to collect the remains of Denny and Woods.” Colonel Forster said, as he made his way from the room.
Another knock was heard at the door just moments after the Colonel had left. This time, Jane went to the door to learn the identity of the visitor. Mr Bingley was standing before her, nervously anticipating what he was to learn.
“Bingley, good, I need you do some things for me. First, I need you to have my carriage made ready for me immediately. Have it brought here. I will be traveling to London with Mr Bennet and his two eldest daughters. Miss Elizabeth has been injured and we need to take her to the surgeon for treatment. Do not let your sisters know anything until after we are gone.”
Bingley nodded his head. “Do you need me to send expresses to your housekeeper and to your cousin?” Darcy smiled. “You are reading my thoughts, Bingley. Yes, if you would. Let my housekeeper know to have several rooms prepared for guests, and inform Richard that Wickham is involved. We will need the surgeon from the military hospital, as Miss Elizabeth has suffered a head injury.”
“If Mr Bennet would allow me to use his desk, I will prepare the letters immediately.”
“Of course, Mr Bingley, and I can send Fred to have the carriage prepared for Mr Darcy.”
“Thank you, Mr Bennet. Darcy, will you require your trunks packed before leaving?” Bingley asked. “I believe my valet can achieve the packing and meet us in Town later.” Bingley nodded. “When I return to Netherfield, after you have left for Town, I will have Billings pack your belongings. He can travel in my second carriage.”
Mr Bennet showed Bingley where the writing supplies were as he quietly gave his future son in law the basic information of what had happened that morning.
“Thank you, Bingley. Now, Mr Bennet, you and Miss Bennet should pack some belongings to take with us, and, perhaps, some clothing for Miss Elizabeth as well.” Darcy stated, wincing as Mr Jones was working on his wounded shoulder.
~~ ** ~~ Darcy was assisted into the carriage before Jane and her father, and lastly, Elizabeth was carried to the carriage and handed over to Darcy. Mr Jones then entered the carriage last. At first, it was thought to have Elizabeth placed between her father and sister, allowing them to keep her in the seat. Mr Darcy did not approve of this suggestion. “With all due respect, Mr Bennet, I intend to marry your daughter as soon as I can. I would ask to be allowed to hold Miss Elizabeth in my lap, as I did in your study. I believe it will be the most comfortable for her.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Mr Bennet nodded in agreement. “I wish for Lizzy to be as comfortable as possible. It would, also, protect her from any further bumping of the head.”
As the carriage pulled away from Longbourn, Elizabeth began to stir. She was mumbling, her words unclear and slurred. When she finally opened her eyes, she was unable to communicate any better. Her left hand was outside the blanket that was wrapped around her, and Mr Bennet noticed she appeared to be trying to use her hand, but to no avail.
“Mr Jones, what is wrong with my daughter?” “I believe there is a break in her skull and the blow caused bleeding in the brain. This is why I wished to get her to a surgeon immediately. To save her life, it may be necessary to operate. At the very least, they will need to drill holes to release the blood which is causing pressure inside her skull.”
Listening to the words of the apothecary, Darcy’s grip on his beloved grew. He whispered in her ear that all would be well, and that she would recover soon enough. He spoke of their future together, of Pemberley and the beauty of the estate. When her words could not be understood, Elizabeth became agitated. “Dearest, please remain calm. It will not be long before we arrive at Darcy House and the surgeon will arrive to make you better. If you understand my words, please squeeze my hand.”
It took several moments, but she finally made an attempt at squeezing his hand. He could feel the tremors from her body, and his concern grew. The horses were changed quickly at the first stop. Wishing to travel quickly, no one exited the carriage and they were soon on the road again.
~~ ** ~~ They finally pulled up in front of Darcy House, and the carriage was quickly emptied, with Darcy exiting last, still holding tightly to the woman he loved.
“Mr Darcy, we have the rooms in the family wing ready, as requested. I have taken the liberty of preparing your mother’s suite for the injured lady, as Mr Bingley stated you were engaged to her. It is also the best suite, as there are the adjoining rooms which can be utilized by the physician or nurses.”
“Mrs Jenkins, you have always impressed me with your wisdom.” Darcy climbed the steps to the next level, and entered the rooms of his mother. He placed Elizabeth gently on the bed, and asked Mrs Jenkins to bring fresh water and some cloths. “And we will need a maid to assist in preparing Miss Elizabeth for the surgeon’s arrival.”
“Your cousin has sent word that he will be arriving soon with the military surgeon. He received word from his commanding officer stating that they would allow the surgeon, as the young lady was injured by men from a militia regiment.”
“Bingley has been thorough in his messages.” Darcy smiled. Leaning over Elizabeth, he spoke calmly to her. “I will step from the room, allowing the maid to assist you into a night gown. Your sister will assist you as well. Once they have you situated, I will return. I will not be gone long.”
Elizabeth gave a clumsy squeeze of his hand. This brought a smile to Darcy’s lips. She could hear him and understand him.
By the time the maid and Jane had Elizabeth’s clothing changed, Darcy heard his cousin coming up the stairs. “Richard, I cannot thank you enough.”
“William, this is Doctor Josephson. He is the leading surgeon on head injuries for the army. Doctor, this is my cousin, Fitzwilliam Darcy.”
“And this is Miss Elizabeth’s father, Mr Thomas Bennet. His eldest daughter, Miss Jane Bennet, is in the room with her sister at the moment. And this is the apothecary who first attended Miss Elizabeth, Mr Jones.”
“Mr Jones, what can you tell me of the patient?” Mr Josephson asked. Seeing the maid open the door to the bed chambers, the two men entered, with Darcy close behind them.
“Miss Elizabeth was beaten by several young men, as they subdued her for their own purposes. She was unconscious for nearly three hours, and since has had difficulty with speaking and moving her hands. There has been no breathing difficulty so far, nor bleeding from the ears. She seems to understand what is being said to her, she has responded to Mr Darcy by squeezing his hand.”
“That is a good sign. But it sounds as if there is bleeding in the brain. Has she worsened since you have been with her or remained the same?”
“I have seen no worsening, and slightly improved when she regained consciousness.” Mr Jones stated. “Good, good, then let us examine her.” Mr Josephson suggested.
The surgeon placed his bag on the bedside table, opening it and extracting several instruments. He performed a thorough examination, and concluded that there was bleeding, most likely on the left side of her brain.
“I believe that we should watch her carefully over the next few hours. At any sign of worsening, we will need to drill holes in the skull to release the pressure the blood pooling is causing. As there are risks from such actions, I wish to delay it until I am absolutely sure it is necessary.”
“How long a wait is needed to know?” Mr Bennet asked. The group had moved from the hall into the sitting room which connected the Master and Mistress suites. Mr Bennet sank into a nearby chair, becoming quite pale.
“The next four and twenty hours will be the most critical. I suggest you prepare yourself for a long day and night.”
Mr Jones approached his friend. “Mr Bennet, Doctor Josephson studied at the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh, under the esteemed Doctor Benjamin Bell. The reputation of Doctor Bell was extraordinary, and his son is carrying on his father’s legacy. Doctor Josephson has also been an army surgeon for over twenty years. His vast knowledge is why we came to London. Lizzy could not be in better hands.”
“Thank you, old friend. I trust in your judgment.” Mr Bennet stated. Mrs Jenkins returned to the room, with a tray of refreshments, placing them on the table near Mr Bennet.
“Sir, I suggest you have something to nourish you while you wait. You cannot be of service to your daughter if you take ill from ignoring your own needs.” She chastised the gentleman.
Mr Bennet chuckled. “Yes, Mrs Jenkins, I will do as I am told. Lizzy would be quite upset with me if I did not.”
Darcy returned to Elizabeth’s room, taking his seat in the chair next to her bed. Holding her hand, he raised it to his lips. “I love you, Elizabeth Bennet. And I am telling you now, I will not tolerate your leaving me. So you had best come to the conclusion that you will be recovering.”
Elizabeth tried to smile. “Yyyyessss, missser Darrrrcccc.”
“William, my love, I wish you to call me William.” Again, she tried to smile. Her exhaustion was clear, and Darcy knew from the surgeon that it was common with head injuries. They would keep her stimulated, keeping her from slipping back into oblivion. She could not be given anything for the pain, as they needed to keep her alert so they could determine any changes.
Colonel Fitzwilliam entered the room. “Forgive me, Miss Elizabeth, but I do wish to be introduced to you. You have stolen my cousin’s heart and I cannot delay in meeting such an extraordinary woman.”
Darcy shook his head. “Dearest, this is Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, second son of Lord Matlock and a distinguished war hero. Richard, this beautiful lady is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, second daughter of Mr Thomas Bennet, and the love of my life.”
“Ah, Miss Elizabeth, I can see now that we second born must stick together in the world. So you are not allowed to leave me to fend for myself against all first born.” Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled.
“Yyyyyyeeeesssss ssssiiirrrrr.” She agreed.
“Now, if you do not mind, I need to speak with my cousin for a moment. I will not take him for long, but it is vital.” Richard informed her.
“JJJJJaannnnneee.” Elizabeth held a frightened look in her eyes.
“I am here, Lizzy.” Jane spoke from across the room. “I will stay with you while the men speak.” Elizabeth smiled. “Kkkkkkk”
~~ ** ~~
Richard did not wish to speak so openly to his cousin, with Mr Bennet in the room as well. “Should we go to your study?” he asked.
“No, I remain here.” Darcy stated. “Besides, Mr Bennet is involved, as the attack was against his daughter and on his estate.”
“Darcy, they have captured Wickham.
Unfortunately, he says that he fled the area in fear for his life after you killed Denny and Woods. He claims they came upon you, that you had injured Miss Elizabeth and they came to her defense. And he claims that you killed the other men in a fit of rage due to their interrupting you.”
“Why am I shocked that Wickham would turn this against me? He has done everything in his power to hurt me. You would have thought all he did to Lawson’s sister would have been painful enough, as she was the sister of a close friend and Wickham believed I cared for Miss Lawson.” Darcy stated. “He is determined to destroy me.”
“But my daughter will be able to tell them the truth.” Mr Bennet stated. “Unfortunately, Miss Elizabeth has suffered a severe head injury. It could be turned against Darcy, that he has told her what happened and what to say rather than her remembering any of it.” Richard explained.
“This cannot be.” Mr Bennet exclaimed. “How can anyone believe such nonsense with regards to Mr Darcy?”
“Darcy has always been withdrawn from society, Mr Bennet. Some believe he looks down his nose at everyone, others think that he has been living a secret life. We are facing the possibility of this being taken to the courts. At the very least, it will be posted in the papers by tomorrow morning.”
Mr Bennet was furious. “What if we were to tell our version before the lies become known?” “This is a delicious scandal with one of the most eligible and sought after bachelors in all of England. Many would use it as justification as to why their daughters were overlooked by the man, and others would try to capitalize on Darcy’s troubles, wishing to make him more legitimate. Those sorts would sell their daughters to him, giving him protection and they would have access to his wealth. There are many desperate families in the upper circles of society, due to mismanagement of their estates or the lifestyle of the family in gambling and overindulging.”
“I cannot believe this is happening. Is it not enough that I am sitting here, waiting word as to my daughter’s health? These blackguards nearly kill her and then it is turned against the man who rescued her? No, no, Mr Darcy, you must know that I will stand beside you all the way.”
“My thanks to you, Mr Bennet, and I pray you know how dearly I love Elizabeth.”
“I look forward to the day when I can call you my son.” Mr Bennet stated. “So what happens now?” “The general will be coming here himself to learn more of the dealings from all parties. Wickham is being brought here by Colonel Forster. From what was sent in the letter, Colonel Forster stated Denny and Woods had been on guard detail overnight, and the attack occurred less than two hours after they were relieved from their duty. The claim is that the men did not have ample time to find Miss Elizabeth and do all that Darcy claims before the men were killed. They say that the only way the evidence of the rope at the scene, tying Miss Elizabeth after beating her, tearing her clothes and such, can match the timeline is if Wickham’s version is believed.”
“Does the fool not think that Wickham had plenty of time to prepare for the attack, bringing the other two as they finished their duty?” Darcy stated. “Forster is a fool, if he chooses to believe the lies being set forth by Wickham.”
Jane stepped out of her sister’s room. “Papa, Mr Darcy, the surgeon wishes to speak with you.” The look on his eldest daughter’s face told Mr Bennet something was not right. Before Mr Bennet could even stand, Darcy was at the door and entering the room.
Mr Josephson was leaning over Elizabeth, checking her progress. He looked up when he heard the men enter. “Gentlemen, I believe that the bleeding is worsening. She is having greater difficulty trying to speak, and cannot grip my hand at all. If we do not act quickly, I am doubtful of her survival.”
Terror nearly overwhelmed Darcy, as he dropped to his knees beside the bed. Taking hold of her hand, Darcy began pleading with Elizabeth not to leave him.
Mr Bennet stood still, watching the love the young man held for his cherished daughter. “Darcy, it is my opinion we should allow Doctor Josephson to do what is needed to save Elizabeth. As her betrothed, do you agree?”
Tears were streaming down Darcy’s cheeks as he turned to the father of his beloved. “I am not her betrothed, Mr Bennet, as you wel
l know. We are courting.”
“As of this moment, I believe there is no doubt in my mind, you and Lizzy are betrothed. Do you wish to disagree with me?”
Darcy shook his head. “I agree with your judgment. Doctor, what will you need?” “I assume that this is the Mistress’ suite, correct?” Darcy turned red as the truth came out. He nodded his head in acknowledgement. “I then assume there is a birthing room nearby?” Again, Darcy nodded.
“Then I suggest we use the birthing room as an operating room. Your housekeeper has already gone to gather supplies that will be needed. We will need to shave the left side of Miss Elizabeth’s head, and drill several holes for the blood to drain out. I must warn you, the blood will appear different than most injuries, as it will be darker. This is normal. And it will appear to be huge volume. Head injuries bleed more than other injuries, do not be alarmed. I will be keeping a close watch over the quantity. With all good luck, the swelling inside her skull will be relieved and she will recover. We will need to watch for how long the bleeding continues, for that could mean there is still bleeding going on inside. Hopefully, once this is drained off and the pressure is released, we will find the bleeding in her brain stops.”
Mr Bennet turned quite pale and Darcy hurried to his side to guide him to a chair. “Elizabeth would find some sort of tease to make fun of losing her hair for the time being.” Mr Bennet said, trying to ease the tension. “She has always followed her own style, perhaps she will find a way to start a new fashion.”
~~~~~~~ ** ~~~~~~~
CHAPTER 9 Mrs Jenkins and a maid were to assist Doctor Josephson in his work. The housekeeper was saddened by the need to shave the beautiful curls of dark chocolate from her head. The young lady was beautiful, even with all the bruises on her face. And it was obvious that her master was in love with the young lady.
She had been the housekeeper of Darcy House since Master William was six, and she had never seen his heart so touched by anyone. Silently, Mrs Jenkins said many prayers for the survival of the young lady before her.
Meet Me at Oakham Mount Page 8
