Suddenly Mr Darcy

by Anne Louise

  “Be kind to him, Miss Bennet, for he is to carry us back to the house.”

  Despite her desire to walk, he hoisted her into his arms and upon Sampson before mounting the horse and they headed toward the house.

  On the return to Pemberley, the ride back was surreal. Elizabeth found it hard to fathom that she could be sitting in the arms of Mr. Darcy on his stallion, and began to giggle at the thought they would be trying to sneak back into the great house without being seen. It was well past midnight and she could feel his arms around her and felt a thrill of being with him, when an hour earlier she feared that he might be dead. She was exhausted, but not as much as Darcy, and her happiness was great.

  This had been the worst day in her life, but it had also been the best, and though she was sleepy, there was no reason to doubt the comfort that she felt in his strong arms and how proud she was for his risking his life to save the young boy. His voice assured her he was happy being with her, and when he spoke, she felt all tingly and could feel goosebumps and felt the hair stand up on her neck and arms. Elizabeth was also proud of herself for what she did and she knew that at that moment when she saw Darcy come out of the shelter, that she had never been happier.

  “Miss Bennet, I do apologize for my conduct at the shelter, but I did miss you very much and to see that you would go to such lengths as to walk all the way to Lambton, I would never have thought that possible. You must know that I am grateful for all that you have done and for caring enough about me to risk the censure of society. A young woman can be ruined for much less than you did. We both know our time together is a violation of propriety, so I have to thank you for what you did to find me. You are indeed the best friend that I have ever had.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. It is late enough that we can enter Pemberley and go to our rooms before we can be discovered. I can just imagine how upset my uncle would be to know what I have done. He would likely insist that we marry and I am certain that my father, and most assuredly my mother, would promote such an alliance.”

  “Let me see now, Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley are to marry. That has a good sound to it, Miss Bennet. Have I told you that my favorite woman’s name is Elizabeth? That is the truth. At least if we had to marry, I believe that we would get on quite well.”

  Elizabeth hardly knew what to say, but this man had captured her heart and stirred her senses. Does the man actually consider marriage to me as a possibility? He even chuckles. Everything is moving too fast. And what are these stirrings all about? I must be a wanton woman because I actually wanted to see him drop his blanket. At least I am fortunate that he stopped the kissing just in time. All of a sudden I feel that I am in danger around him and that if he wanted to seduce me, I might let him. No, I must be strong, though I cannot look into his eyes without being vulnerable. I do love him, but I want his respect as well as his love.

  She next responded when he hugged her closer and asked for her thoughts. “Well, Mr. Darcy, I consider you my best male friend and I like you very much. The only thing that I would concern myself with is that I am so below your station and likely would never make you happy, though I am certain that you would make me happy.”

  “Miss Bennet, at this moment, what will make me most happy is to enter the house unseen, and then I wish us both to get some sleep. I will always remember our ride back on Sampson, and your closeness. It is possible that you and the Gardiners will be able to leave in a few days, unless we have more rain. You may have noticed that the men have retrieved the carriage that was damaged earlier and it is back at Pemberley?”

  “Yes, I did see them early yesterday.”

  “Again, it is unfortunate that we are so restrained by propriety, but if needed, I shall certainly validate your conduct and the goodness in your heart. I will always treasure that you took the time and risk to your own safety and reputation to find me. We have arrived and will enter from the side, but you must wait here quietly as I take care of Sampson.”

  Short minutes later, Darcy returned. “Miss Bennet, we can make our way up to our rooms using the servants’ stairs. Goodnight my love,” he softly spoke, before she smiled at him and entered her room.

  For Elizabeth, those were words that brought on a myriad of feelings, but she was exhausted. It was nearly five in the morning when she fell asleep dreaming of Darcy and his kiss and she thanked God for saving him and for Darcy saving the boy. She awoke to a sunny day, having dreamed that she and Darcy were married.

  Darcy rose before eight and greeted Mrs. Reynolds, but he provided no details of the previous day, except to say that he arrived after midnight. Both he and Elizabeth had practiced their stories earlier. The Gardiners then came down for breakfast.

  “There you are, Mrs. Gardiner. How are you and Mr. Gardiner today? Did I not say Mr. Darcy would return later?”

  “Yes, you did, Mrs. Reynolds. I never doubted you, and thank you for asking, but I feel well rested. Good morning, Mrs. Reynolds, I believe we are happy to see the sun again. I too am well rested. Look, here comes Mr. Darcy.”

  “Good morning, everyone, but where is Miss Bennet?”

  “I heard her stirring about. She will join us directly,” replied Mr. Gardiner. And just as he replied, Elizabeth appeared.

  “Did you sleep well, Lizzy?”

  “Yes, Aunt, once my head hit the pillow I fell asleep. There was no doubt that Mr. Darcy would return later. I hope all went well for you, Mr. Darcy. We were all worried.”

  “I will tell you that there was flooding in Lambton, and I could not go there because the bridge was taken out. Also, the Inn at Lambton had five feet of water inside. These things I learned by speaking with some men working on the bridge on the Lambton side of the creek. Later, I shall tell more, but it is good to be back.”

  Darcy watched Elizabeth as he said these things and thought she might reply but he next caught her grinning after his speech.

  Both of them managed to continue the charade, but Elizabeth next complained of a headache and returned to her room. As for Darcy, he later locked himself in his study to attend to important business, but that business was a three hour nap on his leather sofa.

  Later that day, Darcy and Elizabeth took a long walk and laughed at their plans to get some much needed sleep.

  Finally, they looked in the distance to see a rider approach at a fast speed, but he was not returning directly from Lambton but from another direction.

  “Mr. Darcy, you are alive. We all had thought you had been carried away to the river and drowned.”

  “I was fortunate to be pushed to the edge and caught hold of a branch and used it to pull myself free, or it is likely that I would have drowned.”

  “You saved the Wallace boy and many did not believe you had survived. I am returning to Lambton, or at least the parts not underwater.”

  “But do you need to rest? I mean, it is at least seven miles further taking the long way here?”

  “No, Mr. Darcy, I am actually energized seeing you have survived and look well for the wear. There are many, many people who have been praying that you would survive and I cannot wait to get back and share the good news. In particular, there is a little boy and his family who wish to thank you.”

  With that done, the man rode away as Elizabeth turned to Darcy and smiled. “You see, sir, you are quite well thought of in these parts. I can imagine that you would want to live in no place but at Pemberley, is that not so?”

  “You just about have it right, Miss Bennet. I do prefer Pemberley and always have, but now that I am older and I have to manage my late father’s estate, there is a lot of work that I need to do in town. There is still another reason that I am happy to have Darcy House. Being in town I will be much closer to you.”

  “That is one of the sweetest things I have ever heard. I do not know if it is from hearing that the boy you saved wants to thank you, or hearing your words, but I am about to cry, and I am not myself.”

 
; Darcy looked back and saw the servant girl had given them much room, so Darcy and Elizabeth found a nearby beach to sit on. “When I return to town, if you are still there, I want to introduce you to my sister. I have already taken the liberty to write to her and tell all about you, but I have not finished it.”

  Elizabeth gave him a glaring look and next smiled. “Certainly, you did not inform her that you kissed me, or that you embraced me wearing nothing but a blanket and that we were all alone and it was early in the morning in the woods at Pemberley?”

  “No, that is something that we will speak of only when we are together and away from others.”

  “You know, we cannot exchange letters, Mr. Darcy, but after I meet your sister, she and I can write to one another.”

  “Well, then, I will return to town and introduce you to Georgiana the next day.”

  “Good, because I will return to my home the following day.”

  “Mr. Darcy, I do have one thing more to ask you.”

  “Of course, Miss Bennet, you may ask me now.”

  “It must sound funny to you, but did I kiss bad or good, or what?”

  “I am not certain, but let me see. Your eyes were open but as I began to kiss you, I remember that you closed your eyes.”

  “And then I heard you moan and next I felt your nearness and I wanted to never leave you.”

  Best that I not tell you about what I wanted. “Miss Bennet, may I suggest that we meet in my study later this evening? Though we will leave the door open, no servants nor anyone else will be nearby and we can practice our kissing.”

  “That is a good idea, Mr. Darcy, if I can stay awake.”

  They had walked for nearly three hours and both were getting tired. In fact, Elizabeth was not even sure that she could stay up for her kissing lessons. She would certainly go to the study and choose a book to read, but it was just as likely as not that she would fall asleep right there. What she really wanted was to fall asleep in her bed and dream of Darcy again.

  Elizabeth was finally getting the confidence that she never had with any man. Perhaps this was because they were spending more time with one another, but she really believed that he enjoyed her company. No man had ever smiled at her as much as he did and certainly no man had ever induced such stirrings and other feelings the way he did. She may be tired this evening, but she wanted his kisses and if she could not have that, she would choose to be near to him.

  Later that evening Darcy had a glass of brandy but Elizabeth rejected his offer of a glass of port. Shortly thereafter, she noticed Darcy was coughing and saw he was feverish.

  “Mr. Darcy, I am afraid that you have got yourself a very bad cold, or worse. Bad things happen when a body is subjected to a lot of stress, much like you have for the last few days. I saw this the first day you returned from helping the Gardiners. You were wet and stayed that way a long time. If that was not enough stress, we have your ordeal yesterday. You nearly died.”

  “It was nothing, Miss Bennet.” He again coughed.

  “You saved a boy and yourself and walked wet several miles to find your way back and nearly exhausted yourself. You may not believe it, but I am in a position to help you. I have had much experience in our own home and in the company of our doctor to deal with others who have had bad colds, or pneumonia. Now let us get you to bed and the morrow we shall begin to make you better.”

  Darcy knew he was unwell. Normally he would have protested leaving for bed so early, but even in her room, Elizabeth could hear him coughing. Earlier she had felt his face and told him that he had a fever. She wondered just how long it would be before he summoned Mrs. Reynolds to help him. The last thing she wanted to think about was that this man she had fallen in love with, might die of pneumonia. So many things were on her mind now that she thought it unlikely that she could sleep even a few hours. Earlier she had thought that would not be a problem. Now she was certain that Mr. Darcy would not be able to return to town before she left for Longbourn.

  Finally the coughing stopped and she was able to sleep, but later she was awakened as she heard Mrs. Reynolds knocking on Darcy’s door. Elizabeth assumed they were talking about his coughing but could not overhear them. Moments later she heard a soft knock on her door and Mrs. Reynolds came in. “Miss Bennet, I have just spoken with Mr. Darcy and he said that you may be able to help him with his cough and his cold. He told me of falling in the water and saving the Wallace boy and barely saving himself and arriving home past midnight. Is there some way that you can help him until we can arrange for the doctor to come and check on him?”

  “That will not be a problem, Mrs. Reynolds. I have experience in treating colds and influenza and even a little experience with pneumonia. Please do not worry. We will not let anything happen to Mr. Darcy. We will need hot tea and honey for his throat and his cough and we must keep him warm for now. Still later, he will have spells where he has chills and needs to be warmed, and at other times he will perspire a great deal and we will need cold compresses to keep him comfortable.”

  “Miss Bennet, I am very concerned for him because he was wet for a long time when he found your relatives, and then yesterday near Lambton. You can see that he puts all this stress on himself. He seems to be relaxed more with you than I have seen of him since his father died. I should like to help you if you will just tell me what you need or what I can do to help you? We can get started right away if you wish.”

  “Thank you Mrs. Reynolds, I believe that I can still hear him coughing, so let us get some hot tea and honey and sit by his side and see how he does. The very best thing that we can do for him is to let him rest and insure that he eats regularly and drinks a lot of fluids to remain hydrated.”

  “Very well, Miss Bennet, I shall leave you to dress and will return to my room to do the same and will meet you at Mr. Darcy’s door when you are ready.”

  Things had changed, but Elizabeth was not surprised that Darcy was ill. She had watched him as he continued to push himself the last few days and she had asked him not to go to Lambton, but she never expected that he would end up nearly drowning. If it were not for saving the Wallace boy, he would have returned to the house and might not be sick. In any event, he was back home and it was her turn to help make him well. She looked at her face in the mirror and could see that her fingers and hands were shaking, and she felt as if she might be getting a cold.

  Because of the flooding, it would be a few days before the doctor from Lambton could see Darcy, so she and Mrs. Reynolds were the only people who could help him at this time.

  As she and Mrs. Reynolds entered Darcy’s room, she had never seen such a large bedroom. It was definitely decorated for a man and had large walnut furniture and red drapes. The view from his windows would be grand, but she would have to wait for daybreak to see it. The room was not solely decorated for a man. Although the room included a large bed and a night stand and two dressers and other cabinets, the sitting area was decorated gender neutral and included a sofa and two chairs, a small table and a desk. This seemed a good choice for it was an area adjacent to a ladies room. Elizabeth could imagine that one day Darcy’s wife would sit with him and later the two would pass between the doors and sometimes sleep in his bed are in his wife’s bed.

  As she approached Darcy, she could see that he looked very tired and restless.

  “Miss Bennet, I am very glad that you are here and hope you can help me. All of a sudden I have hit a wall and feel completely exhausted. Of course, I also have this nasty cold and I feel a pain in my chest.”

  “Well, I am certain that we can make you better and it starts with having some warm tea and honey.”

  “Miss Bennet, do you believe that I have pneumonia?”

  “Mr. Darcy, I am not exactly sure, but what I can tell you is that you are not yet old. It also appears that you are an active individual and do not lead a sedentary life. With the exception of this cold, you seem to be very healthy. It is the elderly who are most in danger of catching pneumonia. As for t
he treatment, I believe that Mrs. Reynolds and myself can look after you until the doctor can be summoned from Lambton.”

  “What can I do to recover if it is pneumonia?”

  “Normally a person will have a fever the first week, but it should go away. After a month any mucus and chest pain will subside. You may also experience breathlessness along with a cough and you will be tired for near six months.”

  “Yes, I understand what you are saying, but listen to me now!” Darcy looked angry and was getting impatient. “Just answer me and tell me what I need to do?”

  “The most important thing is to get a lot of rest. I can see that you are physically active, but Mrs. Reynolds told me that you get very little sleep. You have told me the same thing, Mr. Darcy. If we can suppress your cough, I feel we have a good chance to see you improve in a couple of weeks; however, there are several things that you have to dedicate yourself to. First, you shall drink plenty of liquids. Just as important, I insist you must get more rest. I understand that you are busy with estate matters, but there will not be a Darcy as the next Master of Pemberley if you continue to live like this, for you will likely die young.”

  “So you are recommending that I take a wife and start a family before I die from pneumonia?”

  “That is not funny. If you continue to work yourself to death, and refuse to sleep at least seven hours a night, you will likely die young, and I will lose my best male friend and Georgiana will lose her brother.”

  “Miss Bennet is correct,” replied Mrs. Reynolds. “Now take the tea and honey and do as she says and stop staring at her!”

  Darcy looked at Elizabeth again. “I am sorry, Miss Bennet, but it seems you have not put your hair up in a bun the way I have seen you all these other times. You do have beautiful hair. Don’t you think she has beautiful hair, Mrs. Reynolds?”

  “Of course, Mr. Darcy. Miss Bennet is a lovely young woman who is very intelligent and kind. I just hope she can bring you to your senses and persuade you to take things in stride. You need to stop and smell the roses. It is not just for yourself that you need to do these things, but also for Georgiana and the others who love you.”