Chapter 13
Waiting for her uncle’s return, Elizabeth barely ate.
She felt Mr Darcy’s scrutiny of her, but she avoided his gaze, trying to conceal her nervousness.
His apartment was on the same corridor? How had she not known that?
Then again — why would she? They had been offered unoccupied rooms; in fact, Mr Darcy himself had suggested those particular chambers as being the most convenient.
That was all she had needed to know. Why would she be so anxious?
The location of Mr Darcy’s chamber was not her concern in any way.
Half an hour passed slowly until Dr Gardiner and Mr Jones appeared with long-awaited news. They were immediately asked questions, and Mr Bingley renewed his invitation for the gentlemen to have some breakfast — which was this time accepted.
“Things are not as good as I hoped but not as bad as I feared,” Dr Gardiner concluded. “Mr Jones has done an excellent job so far. I shall add some additional medicine to what he has already provided.”
“So? How are they?” Mr Bennet asked impatiently.
“Jane has a cold, but I expect her to recover from that in a couple of days. She has bruising, and several ribs are cracked, which is a serious concern. She must wear a tight bandage around her body and lie still for a few days.”
“Oh…but will she be well soon? Did I injure her further when I carried her?” Mr Bingley enquired, panic in his eyes. Dr Gardiner smiled at him.
“Rest assured, sir, that you did all that could reasonably be expected under the circumstances. And yes, Jane should recover quickly. It is Felton who gives me greater concern. It will be several months before his broken leg is fully healed and he can resume his usual duties.”
“I shall pay for his expenses, and he will be granted all the time he needs to recover, as I told his wife last night,” Mr Bennet said. “He has been a loyal servant for many years — he deserves as much.”
“I expected nothing less from you, Brother,” Dr Gardiner replied. “Still, his recovery is uncertain at this point. He was the most exposed to the cold and rain after the accident — he has a high fever and a nasty cough, which I expect to worsen before it gets better.”
“All that sounds most disturbing,” Mrs Hurst said with a frown. “Is it contagious? Could it put us all in danger?”
“I doubt it, madam,” the doctor replied with a hint of mockery that Elizabeth easily recognised.
“His illness was not contracted from others, and I do not expect it to be passed on that way either. But as a precaution, since he cannot be moved for the time being, I would advise you to stay away from his room.”
“Yes, but the servants attend to him. Mr Jones does too, and I understand even Miss Eliza visits him in his sick bed. Any of them could easily contaminate the rest of the household!”
“Not to mention,” Miss Bingley interjected, “that Mr Darcy’s apartment is on the same floor! He is in the greatest danger. He must move to the family wing immediately!”
“Miss Bingley,” Mr Darcy said in a calm yet cold voice, “while I appreciate your concern for my health, I beg you not to make changes to my accommodation. I am perfectly well where I am — unless Dr Gardiner plans to stay and would like to use my apartment to be closer to his patients.”
Elizabeth glanced at her uncle, who seemed surprised when he responded, “I do plan to stay until I can observe a clear improvement in both Jane and Felton. Mr Jones will continue to help me treat the patients, but he has other duties he must attend to. He will return home today, and I shall take his room. There is no need for anyone to go to any trouble.”
“I shall ask Mrs Nicholls to make the arrangements for you, Dr Gardiner,” Mr Bingley immediately said.
“Thank you, sir. Ladies, I assure you that keeping the household healthy is my priority,” Dr Gardiner addressed the Bingley sisters.
“Oh, my sisters are too fearful,” Mr Bingley said.
“I am not a doctor, obviously, but even my rudimentary understanding assures me that one who falls ill due to an accident or from being out in the cold cannot pass it to others. I injured my foot years ago, falling from my horse, and neither of my sisters suffered the same injury by contamination.”
Dr Gardiner and Mr Bennet smiled; so did Elizabeth, and she noticed Mr Darcy’s amused countenance.
“Dr Gardiner, am I not right?” Mr Bingley asked. “Can one catch a broken leg?”
“You are correct, sir — mostly,” the doctor responded. “There are some situations when symptoms of a contagious disease might be mistaken for those of a mere cold, but I can safely say that is not the case here.”
“You should not mock us for trying to protect our family and household, Charles,” Mrs Hurst answered in a reprimanding, angry tone. “You would perhaps share the same concern if your judgment was not affected by other considerations.”
Elizabeth immediately understood the lady’s meaning. As did Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy, judging by their expressions. The former turned pale, then red-faced, while the latter frowned, his jaw firmly set.
“If you feel your concern is legitimate, you have every right to protect yourself, Louisa. You and Caroline may return to London immediately in order to avoid any danger.”
The two sisters gaped, exchanging wide-eyed glances.
“That is not what I meant, Charles! We would not leave you and Mr Darcy alone here.”
“As I said,” Mr Darcy interjected again, “your concern for my well-being is appreciated but unnecessary. I have no doubt that Bingley and I shall be perfectly well here, while you would be completely safe in London.”
“Gardiner, I shall return home now,” Mr Bennet declared. “Would you care to come with me for a little while and put your sister at ease? She is rightfully worried to death. I expect her to doubt everything I say, but I hope she will trust you.”
“Of course. There is not much I can do here for the moment. Jane and Felton are both asleep. Lizzy, you should go and rest too — you look exhausted. And I hope you have eaten enough. I have barely noticed a few morsels pass your lips.”
“In fact, Dr Gardiner, Miss Elizabeth has barely rested or eaten since yesterday,” Mr Darcy intervened. “Mr Jones will testify to that, too, I am certain.”
Elizabeth cast a quick look at him, hoping he might notice her displeasure. “I beg Mr Darcy and everyone else not to be concerned about me. I assure you that I am as well as I can be.”
“I agree with Mr Darcy,” Mr Jones declared. “This is a real concern, Miss Elizabeth, as I told you last night. If you do not eat, the medicine will make you sick, and if you become weaker, your cold, which is now just trifling, could become much worse.”
Embarrassed by having all the attention upon her, Elizabeth glanced at her father, at Mr Darcy, then at her uncle, who shrugged.
“I entirely agree, Lizzy. You should know better, since you have been my loyal assistant on several occasions. I always insist on good food to help heal wounds and cure illnesses.”
“What do you mean she was your assistant, Dr Gardiner?” Miss Bingley asked.
“Elizabeth has helped me with my patients a few times. She is skilful and dedicated, even with difficult cases.”
“Truly? I find that hard to believe! What do you mean by help? As a nurse?”
“Yes. A nurse with knowledge and determination,” Dr Gardiner said with an amused look at Elizabeth. Her uncle and her father seemed diverted — which Elizabeth was decidedly not.
“I can second that from my own experience,” Mr Darcy replied, and all eyes turned to him. Elizabeth’s cheeks burned as she noticed the Bingley sisters’ scrutiny.
“My experience of what I observed yesterday,” Mr Darcy added calmly. “Miss Elizabeth guided us on what to do and how to carry her sister and the coachman, as if she were an expert. It was obvious she had some sound medical knowledge.”
“Yes, that is true!” Mr Bingley said.
“I cannot imagine why anyone would choose to work with sick people,” Mrs Hurst said.
“No offence, Dr Gardiner, but to me, any career is better than one that requires treating illnesses and all sorts of ghastly injuries. As a woman it is even worse. Such a notion is simply dreadful! One must be really desperate to become a nurse.”
Dr Gardiner maintained his polite smile, exchanging an amused glance with Elizabeth. Mr Bingley looked mortified, while his sisters seemed pleased with themselves.
“What a silly thing to say, Louisa,” Mr Hurst surprisingly interjected. “I shall remember what you said when you or Caroline are ill and in need of a doctor or a nurse. I expect they will charge you at least double their usual amount to punish you for such a statement.”
“Mr Hurst!” his wife cried, appalled and angry. But the gentleman did not say anything further, only sipped from his glass.
“In my opinion, one must be exceedingly clever, determined, and even brave to be an apothecary, a physician, or a nurse,” Mr Darcy declared.
“It is not a career for everyone, precisely because most people choose an easier one. Not to mention that most people choose not to do anything at all, if they can avoid it.”
“Let us hope neither Miss Bingley nor Mrs Hurst needs a doctor or nurse in the near future,” Dr Gardiner concluded. “As I said, I shall accompany my brother to Longbourn and return in a couple of hours. If I am needed earlier, please send for me. Lizzy, I count on you to do as you promised.”
∞∞∞
An hour later, Elizabeth was lying in her bed, lost in her reflections. On the table was a tray of food from which she had eaten a few bites.
The joy and relief of her uncle’s presence was combined with new reasons for distress concerning Mr Darcy, whose attentions towards her were increasingly puzzling.
Or perhaps she was confused not by his friendly and polite gestures but by her own confounding thoughts and feelings regarding him.
Despite her discomfort after the accident, she could not free her mind from the recollection of his hand upon her leg or from the image of him carrying her in his arms, of which she remembered nothing.
There were moments when her mind suggested the possibility that he might admire her, but it seemed hardly possible.
Her situation in life was so below his that it was dangerous to even consider such a notion.
Not to mention that they were barely acquainted.
Of course, Mr Bingley was just as newly acquainted with Jane, and his admiration and tender regard were obvious.
But Mr Darcy was not as easily charmed as Mr Bingley, and she was not as beautiful as Jane.
As distracted as she was, she could not help but smile as she remembered the conversation involving Mr Bingley’s sisters.
Both ladies were arrogant, rude, and presumptuous.
The scolding they had received from their brother, Mr Hurst, and Mr Darcy had been well deserved and excessively diverting.
The sisters would probably seek to construct obstacles difficult to overcome for the relationship between Mr Bingley and Jane.
If only Mr Bingley was determined enough to further oppose his sisters!
Or, better said, if only his admiration for Jane was strong enough to induce him to fight for it!
As for Mr Darcy, she wished she could control her mind to think clearly and consider him for what he was: a man of consequence and honour who treated her with politeness and consideration.
That day, Elizabeth rested for a while, then spent some time with Jane, talking and reading to her. Jane was feverish, and her cough was painful as it hurt her wounded ribs. But her spirits were high, especially when Mr Bingley asked permission for a brief visit.
In the evening, Elizabeth and her uncle joined the family for dinner, but both of them withdrew early and took the opportunity for a little bit of conversation.
“Mr Bingley seems like a fine young man,” Mr Gardiner said. “And quite fond of Jane and concerned about her well-being.”
“He is a good man, indeed.”
“How fortunate that he let Netherfield.”
“That is what Mama has been repeating ever since she heard the news,” Elizabeth said, laughing.
“He must be a good man since Mr Darcy considers him a friend. By the way, Lizzy, how was your reunion with Mr Darcy?”
“A little strange,” she replied, attempting to jest. “I hardly recognised him, and he hardly recognised me.”
“He is an excellent man, and I consider it a privilege that he behaves like a friend towards our whole family.”
“I know, Uncle.”
“I assume you have not revealed the secret of your previous acquaintance?”
“I have not. I only betrayed myself to Papa a little, so I told him I met Mr Darcy in Brighton three years ago. I did not mention any details.”
“So you intend to keep the secret forever?” her uncle joked.
“I might tell Papa, one day. But certainly not Mama! You know how she is.”
“I do know.” He laughed. “By the way, she insists on coming to see you and Jane tomorrow morning. I hardly managed to keep her away today, but there is no escape for tomorrow.”
Elizabeth sighed deeply, and her uncle laughed again. Then he left, demanding she rest. She tried to do so, but then she believed she heard Mr Darcy’s steps moving past her door, on his way to his apartment, and the distracting thoughts returned, driving sleep away until late in the night.