by Anne Louise
“We are very sorry to hear of this. Please keep us informed, and if we can help in any way, you can count on us.”
“They next escorted Mrs. Gardiner to the carriage and handed her inside before the driver started off.”
Back inside, Georgiana tried to calm her emotions. “Elizabeth writes how much she will miss both of us and said I am like another sister and she apologized for leaving with no notice given. Will her mother live?”
“I do not know, Georgie, but Elizabeth will do all she can.”
“She said she will write to me later and wished us a happy Christmas, but she also said that the Gardiners will not visit Longbourn this year due to the fear of others getting sick.”
Georgiana next went to her room but Darcy returned to his study. Christmas was going to be difficult, even without Elizabeth, but now it would be intolerable. No, he had to do something, but what? Darcy gazed at his table and saw the books he had given to Elizabeth and she had forgotten to take them. Might he ride to her home and deliver the books?
No, that was not a good idea. The only way that would work would be for Mrs. Bennet to recover, but that was not guaranteed. But what if I deliver the books to the local bookstore and paid the owner to hold them for Miss Bennet? She would not know that I have come, and in the event that her mother improves, I might see Elizabeth.
Darcy was missing her already and even more so knowing of this heavy responsibility she had assumed. There was danger to many when influenza rages and Elizabeth was exposing herself in helping her mother. Darcy was certain that she would help others if it was in her power, but who would protect Elizabeth? He could not dismiss the thought that she could die whilst treating the others and even with his great wealth and power, he was unable to offer assistance.
“That is the solution. I will speak to my doctor and accompany him to Longbourn to assist Elizabeth with her mother and the others. This will allow Elizabeth the rest she needs to keep herself from contracting the sickness.”
Darcy next went to see his doctor and the man agreed to ride with him in the morning and the two men prepared for being away for several days.
****
Back at Longbourn, Elizabeth went directly to her mother’s room. Jane and Mary had kept their mother comfortable but the woman had refused to eat.
“Jane, she is waking now and we must feed her. Mama, you must eat some soup and a cracker to maintain your strength. You do wish to see all of your daughters marry, do you not? Here, let me raise you up so we can help feed you?”
“I cannot eat, Lizzy.”
“But you have no choice, Mama. Here, this chicken broth will help, so sip it from this cup. Cook has added some rice and small bits of diced carrots and onions and celery. All you need do is take some sips and eat a cracker. There, you are doing well, Mama.”
Elizabeth slept in her mother’s chair all night and did not need to ask Mary or Jane for their help that evening, but her father checked in on his wife every couple of hours. The soup was kept warm all night and Elizabeth had only to come downstairs whenever she heard her mother awaken and she would return with whatever she needed and continue to feed her.
About two the next morning her mother awoke. “Lizzy, I feel so awful. Are you going to make me sip that soup again?”
“Yes, I will return with some warm soup, as before, and you will eat some and drink some cool tea.”
Short minutes later she returned and saw her father had come to visit. Papa, I can report that mama is being a good patient. Elizabeth’s eyes were trying to hide the happy tears, for hearing her mother even speak was a good sign. Elizabeth next gave her a few sips of the soup and followed it with a cracker and cool tea to wash it down.
“Oh, Lizzy, I still feel so weak and now everything is turning into a sore throat.”
She next sneezed several times and after Elizabeth blessed each sneeze she handed her mother a handkerchief.
“Mama, you are developing a very nasty cold. For your throat we will have you gargle with warm saltwater and later we will have you drink hot tea with honey.”
Things did not go so well, as now Mrs. Bennet vomited what she had just eaten and Elizabeth had barely got the bucket in place in time to avoid a big mess. After watching this and seeing his wife sweat profusely, Mr. Bennet took away the bucket to empty it and clean it and returned with two more. Once back in the room he noticed both women were sleeping, so he returned to his room.
Two hours later Mrs. Bennet again became sick but did not vomit, but now she was developing chills and Elizabeth added some logs to the fire and some blankets to wrap her mother. An hour later she awoke and was able to take some sips of soup and this time she ate most of two small crackers and had some hot tea with honey and fell asleep.
****
Early the next morning Darcy and Doctor Williams left in the Darcy coach for the ride into Hertfordshire.
“Now Darcy, you do not have to answer my question, but you have a powerful need to help this Mrs. Bennet, do you not?”
“Yes, Georgiana and I are friends with her daughter.”
“Darcy, I think I have this figured out. My wife attended a dance last Saturday and described seeing you dance with a lovely young woman. Is this the woman whose mother is sick?”
“She is, and I am afraid for her. So am I, Darcy, for influenza kills many people. We certainly must help this family. Does Georgiana know that you have feelings for Miss Bennet?”
“You are jumping to conclusions before you know any facts.”
“That may be, but I have been your in-town doctor for all your life and I have never seen you this way. I am pleased to help you and to help others and this certainly provides for an interesting diversion right before Christmas.”
“I just wonder how the household will react to our just showing up. Of course, we will stay in the little village of Meryton at the local Inn.”
“That will not be a problem, I promise.”
Darcy wondered why the man was not concerned, but at least the doctor assuaged his concerns that he might be turned away from Longbourn. They finally arrived in Meryton and took two rooms at the Inn at Meryton and next went directly to Longbourn. As the coach arrived on the circular drive both men alighted from the coach and were soon greeted by a man of a similar age to Doctor Williams. The other Bennet daughters watched from the door and wondered if their father knew these men. The younger man was tall and well dressed and was very handsome and this caused the two youngest sisters to giggle.
“Can this be true? It is my friend from university, Thomas Bennet.”
“Doctor Williams, I have not seen you since we were at Cambridge. It must have been over twenty-three years, has it not? Time does fly by, but you returned to Liverpool after graduating.”
“I did stay for a couple of years but then returned to town. And you married Fanny Gardiner, you lucky stiff.”
“But you are married as well?”
“Yes, two years out of school, Nancy Price and I married. We have three sons and all three live away from town.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“Excuse me Thomas, this gentleman is Fitzwilliam Darcy, and I am his doctor in town. He and his sister are friends with your daughter and heard that Fanny is quite sick and that your doctor is also sick, so I have come to help any way I can.”
“Please, both of you must come inside. Doctor, please follow me to Fanny’s room. My second eldest daughter is with her and has much experience in treating influenza.”
“Mr. Darcy, please wait downstairs and I will come down later. Oh, there goes my eldest daughter. Jane, this fine young man is Lizzy’s friend from town, and he has come here with his doctor to help your mother and others. Please make him comfortable and bring him and Doctor Williams some refreshments. I will return directly.”
A knock on the door brought Mr. Bennet and Doctor Williams inside. Mrs. Bennet was still sleeping when her husband introduced the man to his daughter.
�
�I hope that you have come to help us, sir? Doctor Jones has taken sick and already one man has died and others are sick. Pardon me, but how did you come to hear of our troubles?”
“I was advised by a friend of yours.”
“Yes, of course, Mr. Gardiner is my uncle.”
“You mean the man who owns the import and export company on the Thymes?”
“Yes, that is your man.”
“No, that is not the man, Miss Bennet. Mr. Darcy told me these things and I have come to help you and any others.”
Elizabeth could not control her tears as they escaped from her eyes and trickled down her rosy cheeks.
“Please forgive this outburst, but I have been a watering pot ever since I heard that my mother was very sick.”
What a treasure Darcy has found. I know she is emotional and is likely exhausted, but she is in love with Darcy and he is also in love with her. I bet they will be married by the spring.
“Miss Bennet, I can see you have been up with your mother all night. Why not refresh yourself and return downstairs and rest some?”
“But I must write and thank Miss Darcy for having her brother do this for our family.”
“That will not be necessary, I promise you. I believe your eldest sister wishes to speak with you.”
“Very well, I shall return shortly.”
“Thomas, I would pay to see the look on your Lizzy’s face when she sees Mr. Darcy.”
“How serious is this business?”
“If you mean this influenza, it is very serious. If you mean Mr. Darcy and Lizzy, that is serious as well. To be sure, Thomas, your Fanny is still very sick, but it appears your Lizzy is doing all the right things. I will speak with her later but I think she will feel much better after seeing her friend.”
“And what of the two of them, Doctor?”
“Now, I agree that looks quite serious, Thomas. I am not an expert on hearts, but you may have met your first son, by marriage, but what do I know? Still, the man is an outstanding gentleman.”
Elizabeth suddenly saw Darcy speaking with all her sisters but he rose and greeted her as she dropped a curtsey and he bowed.
“Lizzy, Mr. Darcy was telling of his sister’s reading your letter and that since Doctor Jones is sick, he and his doctor have come to help us.”
“Thank you, Lydia. Now sisters, please give me a few minutes to speak with my friend?”
The others gave them some time alone and Elizabeth invited him to join her for a brief walk in the garden, and Kitty volunteered to follow them.
“Miss Bennet, I hope you are not disappointed, but I did not want anything to happen to your mother or others affected and I worried that with no doctor available, that you might have been in danger.”
“But I am surviving.”
“Yes, but you will wear yourself out and in such a weakened state, you may become sick and unable to help yourself. I could not let you fight this fight alone. If necessary, I will work beside you to help others if you need me, but my top priority is making your mother well and keeping you well.”
“When I realized that you sent your doctor to help, I thought you were still in town. Seeing you here today warms my heart. Sir, it is colder than the night of the dance, so will you hold me?”
Darcy pulled her to him and held her tight. “Miss Bennet, I am sorry that this is happening so close to Christmas, but I had to be with you to help you and your family and friends. There is more. I needed to be near you and hear your voice and make sure that you and your family would not suffer the loss of your mother. Maybe we can prevent this from happening and also help others before it is too late.”
They did not stay in the garden long but next returned to the house. Elizabeth did not want Darcy to meet her mother so early and suggested he meet her a few days later when her mother might be improved. Darcy understood and preferred to meet the woman after she was feeling better and was more presentable.
Later, Doctor Williams met privately with Elizabeth and they discussed what she had done and other things she had learnt from Doctor Jones.
“Miss Bennet, Doctor Jones and I were at Cambridge and he graduated a year before me. Your father and I graduated the same year. I do not believe that your father and Doctor Jones knew one another whist they were at university.”
Doctor Williams next asked her about Doctor Jones and she told him that the man was slowly improving and he asked if they might visit the man on the morrow and she agreed. “Miss Bennet, I do believe your mother will recover, but she will need to be watched.”
Mr. Bennet had earlier asked the cook to prepare for his guests who would dine with the family that evening. During the meal Elizabeth sat next to her friend and he soon felt her hand press a note into his hand which he put away for later.
Elizabeth was tired and looked worried but her presence next to him was what he needed as much as what he wanted. He found her family friendly and expected to speak with her father later, but only to talk about his meeting Elizabeth and the Gardiners. He hoped that one day he would have a different reason to speak with Mr. Bennet.
Doctor Williams gave Elizabeth some medicine to help her mother sleep and otherwise said he and Darcy would return to their rooms in Meryton and would return to Longbourn in the morning.
When she asked the doctor if he had any recommendations to improve her care for her mother, he praised her and said he never had seen any doctor do a better job. He also was impressed with the care she took to prevent the spread of germs by the constant washing of hands and insisting on others never touching their eyes and adhering to good sanitary practices.
After another check on Mrs. Bennet, Doctor Williams and Darcy returned to Meryton.
Back in his room, Darcy reflected on his day. He had met Elizabeth’s family and helped them the only way he could. Doctor Williams knew Mr. Bennet at university but Darcy did not believe the doctor knew that Elizabeth’s father was who he would be visiting at Longbourn. He also wondered how Doctor Williams saw so clearly that he cared for Elizabeth, but he knew he had to help get her mother the care she needed. It was not like the family doctor could help, and he could not risk her falling sick and having this woman taken from him. When he first saw her in the parlor, he could see she was exhausted from lack of sleep and from worrying about her mother. He next sat down and read her brief missive.
Mr. Darcy,
I have never been more surprised than seeing you come here. I can guess that my aunt stopped by and delivered my letter to your sister and told that our doctor was sick. In any event, seeing you today has warmed my heart and deepened my feelings for you.
Doctor Williams and I will visit with my doctor on the morrow and discuss treating others. I hope you will come with us and I pray that all will go well for my mother and the others. You have done all of us a great service and have saved lives in the process. My family’s Christmas will be different this year but with my mother recovering and knowing of your kindness to us, my heart has never known such happiness.
I hope that you will return to be with your sister for Christmas, but for now I just want to be close to you.
Love,
Elizabeth Bennet
Darcy’s eyes watered almost the instant he read her missive. There is that word! Perhaps she is just emotional and who can blame her? Surely she might love the gesture of my coming with my doctor to help her and the others, but could she really love me?
That night he fell asleep with thoughts of Elizabeth and him at Pemberley. All of a sudden, things were settled. He would marry her one day, but he knew he could not push things. First, he had to be certain that he had won her heart and know that her family would accept him.
****
The next day saw colder weather and gray menacing clouds that brought an occasional cold wind. After breakfast the men returned to Longbourn where Mrs. Bennet was sleeping. Elizabeth said her mother had coughing spasms three or four times during the night and got little sleep, but she gave her hot tea with
honey as well as medicine the doctor had left to help her sleep.
Doctor Williams next spoke to Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, your mother will likely awaken in a couple of hours. Have you had breakfast?”
“Yes, sir, I had something earlier.”
“Then this might be a good time to visit Doctor Jones. We need to determine how many others have come down sick and we need to have a plan to treat them.”
“I will be ready shortly, sir, after I get my coat and speak to my father.”
“Presently he is in his library with Mr. Darcy.”
“Then I will tell Jane to stay with our mother.”
Soon Darcy came out of the room and joined the doctor and the three went to see Doctor Jones.
“My word, Miss Bennet, you have brought the militia to help fight this battle. Doctor Williams was a year behind me at Cambridge.”
“And Jones, I thought it might be you. What in the world is going on?”
“That is my question to you. How did you learn of this influenza scare, my friend?”
“Excuse me, let me introduce you to Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. He and his sister are friends with Miss Bennet and Mr. Darcy asked me to come help when he heard that the local doctor was sick. So, how are you doing?”
“I am not so well, but I am making progress. This is the nastiest influenza I have seen. Lizzy, pay special attention to not catch this. I expect to be fit to see other patients in another two days. My wife has taken down the names of those who we need to visit and has them listed in priority order. May I suggest you visit them to provide any help you can, and bring Mr. Darcy with you?”
“So Jones, I will report back on the morrow. Now catch some sleep and we can have a longer talk when you are feeling better. There is much we need to talk about after all these years.”
Mrs. Jones went over the list and Elizabeth said she knew where the people lived. That day they visited six families who had contacted Doctor Jones and next visited three other families that were sick. They spoke to each of the care givers and explained what they needed to do and the doctor treated them and said he would return each day and that Doctor Jones would return after he was improved.
