Chapter 3
As she returned to the cottage, the rain began, but she paid it no mind, her thoughts on the young man, their strange encounters, and the attack she had unintentionally witnessed.
The identity of both men was a mystery, but Mr Gardiner would certainly find out who the patient was.
Was the injury deep? Would it put his life in danger?
Her attempt at a bandage had certainly not been much help.
Would he bleed during his ride to the clinic?
Was her uncle there? Could he heal the young man?
So many thoughts spun in her head that she had no time to consider what to tell Mrs Gardiner.
As expected, her appearance — dirty with sand and blood, wet, and in great disorder — panicked her aunt and sister, who both accosted her with cries and enquiries, turning her this way and that to see whether she was injured in some way.
As difficult as it was, there was nothing to be said except the truth. Unlike her first encounter with the gentleman, this one could not be kept secret. Even though she had done nothing wrong, and she trusted her aunt implicitly, she was still hesitant to relate it.
“Dear aunt, I am perfectly well. Nothing is wrong with me. I just helped someone in a dire situation. That is all. I sent him to Uncle, at his office — I hope he arrived there safely.”
“But Lizzy, your petticoat is dripping, and it appears to be ripped! And you are so dirty — is this blood?” Jane asked in utter distress.
“Yes, it is blood — but not mine. I found a man injured on the beach, and I tried to bandage his wound to stop the bleeding, then he rode to Uncle’s office.”
She tried to keep her voice calm, but her aunt and sister grew even more troubled.
“An injured man? Where did you find him? I looked everywhere for you!” Jane cried.
“I went for a walk to the rocks, and he was there too…”
“To the rocks?” Mrs Gardiner repeated with a glare.
“We have discussed the danger of a young woman wandering alone many times, Lizzy, but perhaps my requests were not clear enough and they needed reinforcement. For now, I thank the Lord you are well. Now, please go and wash and change — we do not want to frighten the children.”
Mrs Gardiner’s obvious distress grieved Elizabeth, and she tried to apologise, but the lady had already left the room.
“Come, Lizzy, let me help you,” Jane said gently. “You frightened us again… I was so desperate when I could not find you, and when you finally appeared, you looked so ill… It is no wonder our aunt is angry. We only wish you to be safe!”
“I was safe, Jane. You should have known I am not as thoughtless as to put myself in danger. I have walked to the rocks alone many times, and I am always careful. My only error was that I should have left you a note. I am sorry for the anguish I caused you.”
They entered their chamber, and Elizabeth removed her gown with Jane’s help. She had just put on a clean dress when Mrs Gardiner knocked once, then entered.
“I have sent Gibbs with a note for your uncle. I hope he will write back to me about the injured man. Now, would you tell me what happened?”
“There is not much more to say than what I already told you, dear aunt. I walked there, I rested for a little while, and I was about to return when I saw two men fighting. One of them hurt the other one — with a knife, I believe — then left. I hurried to help the injured man, and that was all. He had a nasty cut on his shoulder, and it was bleeding. I offered to fetch help, but he said it would be too much trouble and that he could ride. He said his house is close to ours.”
Mrs Gardiner sat on the bed, taking Elizabeth’s hands.
“I am sorry I scolded you, Lizzy. You were kind and brave to help a stranger in distress. But, my darling, you must keep in mind that you are not a child any longer. You are a young, beautiful young woman, and such lonely expeditions might expose you to danger from all sorts of scoundrels. Even today, what if you were attacked too? Did that man see you? Could you recognise him?”
“He certainly did not see me. He rode east from the rocks and was gone before I made my appearance.”
“And the man you saved — do you know who he was? Did he tell you?”
“He only thanked me. I did not ask his name, and he did not tell me. Neither did I tell him mine. There was so much blood, and…we had no time for conversation…”
“Yes, I can imagine. I hope the attacker will be caught and sent to prison! I cannot bear to know such a man is near us! I cannot wait for your uncle to return home so we can talk to him. Now, try to rest a little, Lizzy. You have been brave and kind, as always,” she repeated with an affectionate smile.
After her aunt left, Elizabeth followed her suggestion and lay down on the bed.
She was not tired, but she needed some time alone — even without Jane — to reflect on what had happened and on the strange coincidence that her path had crossed with that man’s twice in a week.
She had so many questions, but the answers were few.
One thing was clear, though — now she had seen him in full daylight and knew he was young and handsome. And, most likely, he was a gentleman, considering the quality of his clothes and his saddle.
∞∞∞
Mr Gardiner’s return was eagerly awaited by all three ladies, so when he arrived in the late afternoon, he barely had a moment to rest before he was overwhelmed with countless enquiries.
As if teasing them, he delayed his answers, pouring himself a glass of brandy before inviting them to sit. He sipped from his drink, while three pairs of eyes scrutinised his every move, and finally said, “Well, this has been an exceedingly surprising day.”
“My dear, are you deliberately tormenting us?” Mrs Gardiner asked with a glare.
“No, I am just trying to find the right words to describe it. Can you imagine a man appearing at my office, his coat wrapped around him, blood dripping from his back, and declaring my niece sent him to me?”
Mr Gardiner spoke calmly, with a trace of a smile on his lips, while his wife and eldest niece listened, dumbfounded, glancing at Elizabeth.
“Was he badly injured, Uncle?” Elizabeth enquired. “From your composed expression, I assume you are not exceedingly concerned, so the wound must be less dangerous than I presumed.”
“Actually, your estimation was mostly correct. The cut was deep, and while it did not threaten the man’s life by itself, the bleeding would certainly have done so. We struggled for quite a while to stop it.”
“Oh dear,” Jane whispered.
“You probably saved his life, Lizzy, just as he proclaimed,” Mr Gardiner continued. “He insisted on me conveying to you his thanks and gratitude. You truly deserve them.”
“So he is safe now? Will he completely recover?”
“He should. However, there is still the danger of infection or further bleeding, and only time will tell. I shall clean and bandage the wound twice a day, and we shall pray for progress.”
“Good. I am relieved to know you took care of him, Uncle. So he will come back to see you tomorrow?”
“No, I shall go to his house. He lives quite close. I firmly insisted on him avoiding any effort for a few days — including walking and certainly not riding.”
Mr Gardiner took another sip of his drink before continuing. “Speaking of bandages, that was quite an innovative idea to use his coat, Lizzy. Not too efficient, but creative and certainly helpful. Much better than nothing.”
Elizabeth felt more at ease at her uncle’s half jest, and she replied in the same tone.
“I expect you, as an experienced doctor, to teach me how to bandage such a wound next time, using only a piece of ripped petticoat and a dirty, wet shirt.”
“Lizzy dearest, I pray to the Lord there will be no next time!” Jane said.
“I was teasing you a little, but you did an excellent job, Lizzy,” Mr Gardiner said in a more serious tone. “There was nothing more to be done under those particular circumstances.”
“So, my dear, did you find out who the man was? I expect as much, since you said he lives nearby,” Mrs Gardiner asked.
“I did. Would you care to guess?”
“Absolutely not! I am puzzled that you seem diverted by all this.”
“I am only diverted by the coincidence, my dear. You see, the gentleman Lizzy saved is Mr Darcy. Mr Darcy! Of all people!” he exclaimed, gulping the rest of his drink under the bewildered stares of the three ladies.
“Mr Darcy? Is it possible?” Mrs Gardiner asked.
“It is certain. He introduced himself the moment we spoke. Furthermore, the nurses recognised him. It seems he is a generous benefactor of the work Dr Crawford does here. And I have to say, he looks very much like his father.”
“The same Mr Darcy you were talking about earlier?” Elizabeth enquired, astounded, trying to wrap her mind around the revelation.
“The man himself. An exceedingly strange coincidence,” Mr Gardiner admitted.
“Did he recognise you?” Mrs Gardiner asked with impatient curiosity.
“Only by name, and after I mentioned my acquaintance with his late parents. How else could he know me, since we have never met before in person?”
“True. That was a silly question. All this is so disconcerting! How was he injured? Lizzy said a man stabbed him. Is it possible?”
“That was a knife wound — I have no doubt. I asked what happened, and he insisted it was an accident. He clearly did not want to reveal more, and I did not ask further.”
“This is a very strange story,” Mrs Gardiner replied, and Elizabeth only nodded.
The entire situation was bewildering. What were the chances that she would meet the gentleman who had saved her life again — and this time save his life?
Fortunately, her intervention had been timely and useful; Mr Darcy was safe, and her uncle would provide him with the best possible care, and that was the end of it.
Why Mr Darcy had chosen to conceal the truth about his injury was a puzzling and distracting mystery, but in the end, it was his choice and certainly not her business.
If they were to meet again, which was most likely, they would be properly introduced and carry on a pleasant conversation, as acquaintances do.
In order to avoid other similar distressing encounters with him or anyone else, she was determined to behave according to her aunt’s advice and never leave the cottage by herself again.
∞∞∞
Despite her best efforts, Elizabeth failed in her resolution not to think of Mr Darcy and not to fret about him. How could she do otherwise since Mrs Gardiner spoke about the Darcys at least once every day?
Elizabeth was distracted by her musings on the gentleman and troubled by all sorts of feelings she had never experienced before.
Mr Gardiner provided daily reports on the patient’s satisfying recovery, and after a week of treatment, he declared the danger had passed, but Elizabeth’s anxiety remained.
On the ninth day, Mr Gardiner returned home and handed Elizabeth a letter. She took it with bewilderment, waiting for an explanation.
“It is from Mr Darcy, Lizzy. He intended to come and introduce himself to you all, but some urgent business required his immediate presence in London. He left Brighton an hour ago.”
Elizabeth frowned, a strange tightness gripping her chest. She sat down and unfolded the letter with increasing disquiet.
In neat and elegant handwriting, it said:
Miss Elizabeth,
I intended to call and thank you in person, but unexpected news required me to return to town without delay.
Therefore, I have taken the liberty of writing this letter instead to express my gratitude for your efforts in saving me and my admiration for your courage and determination.
Such qualities and actions cannot be compensated, nor repaid, but I hope one day I shall have the opportunity to at least attempt it.
Until then, I have succeeded in persuading your uncle to accept a small gift that I hope will gratify a pleasure that I unwittingly interrupted two weeks ago.
A bathing machine will be placed in front of your cottage and will be at your disposal during your stay in Brighton, so you may swim at any time without intrusion.
Please accept my gratitude and best wishes,
Fitzwilliam Darcy
Elizabeth laid the letter in her lap and sat back, confused and distracted, looking at her relatives absently, uncertain whether she should smile or frown and ending up doing both.