Chapter 7
Charlotte had slept most of the day, with little breaks in between where the maids attempted to feed her barley water and thin beef broth, to combat her deep dehydration.
However due to her throat being raw caused by constant vomiting, the process was slow and painful to both patient and attendants. She looked pale and very thin so Elizabeth could not help but worry about her good friend.
“Charlotte how are you tonight?” Elizabeth plastered a smile on her face as she tried to cheer her friend.
But Charlotte was Elizabeth’s oldest friend and even in a weakened state she still recognised the signs of distress.
“Eliza what is wrong?” Charlotte said with difficulty, “You seem unhappy.”
“Oh Charlotte, of course I am unhappy, how could I be otherwise with you so ill?”
Charlotte snorted, and then grimaced with pain, “Oh, my throat...”
Elizabeth chuckled, “That will teach you to laugh at me.”
“I was not laughing at you but I know you, Eliza Bennet. Besides, I might be sick but I am not a simpleton, I can tell when there is something bothering you... and it is not my health.”
Elizabeth looked away disconcerted.
“Go on,” Charlotte said, “you have always trusted me and I cannot be doing all the talking as it hurts. Please Eliza, unburden yourself.”
Elizabeth sighed but indeed unburden herself she did, and she felt much better for it afterwards, telling Charlotte of her anger at Mr Darcy.
“So Colonel Fitzwilliam gossiped about his cousin and now you will not hear Mr Darcy’s side of the story; interesting!”
Elizabeth glared at her friend, “Mr Darcy is the most odious man I have ever known, and he separated two people in love Charlotte. He had no business interfering! He had no right.” Her face flushed with passion.
Charlotte nodded and held her throat as she spoke softly to prevent more pain, “When Mr Collins proposed to me you were not happy, remember? In fact you tried to dissuade me by calling him ridiculous. Afterwards you pretended to be happy for me, but you were not. And if I had allowed you, you would have counselled me against him. Would you not?”
Elizabeth gasped and looked down embarrassed, “Charlotte, I...”
“Oh do not worry, I have forgiven you a long time ago and of course no harm came of it.”
“But you did not love Mr Collins and neither did he love you.”
“Oh hush child,” Charlotte chastised her gently, “how arrogant of you to decide how we felt towards each other.”
Elizabeth suppressed a sob, “I am so sorry, Charlotte.”
“As I said, I have forgiven you Eliza. But tell me, how is Mr Darcy’s interference in Mr Bingley and Jane’s attachment different from your attempt at interfering in mine and Mr Collins’ life?
” Charlotte looked at Elizabeth with compassion but continued undisturbed, “but I did not allow you to dissuade me despite, as you say, not being in love with Mr Collins... but Mr Bingley was supposed to be madly in love with your sister, was he not?” She added quietly.
Elizabeth gasped and covered her mouth to stop herself from sobbing loudly. She looked stricken and after a brave attempt to hold the tears at bay, she finally allowed herself to cry freely. She sobbed on Charlotte’s lap while her friend stroked her hair lovingly, like a mother.
“Shhh, hush now... This is not the end of the world. Just listen to the gentleman and offer him the same courtesy I offered you when you tried to break up my own prospect of marriage. And remember, Eliza, Mr Bingley is his own man; he is not a child to be led by the hand. Do not condemn one for interfering and absolve the other for allowing it.”
Elizabeth cried for a long time but eventually she sat up straight and dried her face with her handkerchief. Once her sobs subsided she asked feebly, “Are you happy Charlotte, I mean... with your choice?”
Charlotte pondered for a few minutes, “As you know, I am not romantic, I never was. All I wanted was a comfortable home where I would not be a burden to my aging parents nor to my oldest brother when he finally inherits Lucas Lodge. All things considered, I think my chance of happiness with Mr Collins is as fair as most people can boast on entering the married state.” Charlotte touched her neck and cleared her throat gently to sooth it, “I think I need some honey to sooth my throat... but to answer your question yes, I think I am happy. Now all I wish for is my strength to return and for my babe to grow healthy and strong.”
Elizabeth nodded.
At that moment a maid knocked and came in with fresh broth, so Elizabeth busied herself feeding her friend spoon after spoon, until Charlotte pushed her hand away.
“Enough... please. I feel bloated.”
“Oh Charlotte, half a cup of broth will not be sufficient to sustain you or your baby.”
“But it will have to do... for now. If I can hold this down, maybe I will be able to take a little more with each passing day until I fully recover.”
Elizabeth then adjusted the bed covers over her friend and kissing her forehead, said goodnight.
Charlotte fell asleep within seconds.
***
Elizabeth tossed and turned again for the second night in a row. Eventually she felt the sheer frustration of her predicament take hold and she threw the bedcovers away in utter disgust.
“This is insupportable! Something must be done.”
She got out of bed and quickly threw a bed jacket over her nightdress, “I must find a book to read, I simply refuse to spend another night in this miserable fashion.” She said as she turned the doorknob and walked out into the darkened corridor.
The library was on the ground floor among the public rooms. It was a long way from the guest wing. She went back into her room and lit a candle and returned to the corridor more determined than ever.
She found the library but to her surprise it was neither dark nor empty; Mr Darcy slept over his arm, his torso folded on top of the desk and there was a glass of brandy near his head, very near the edge of the desk.
One false move from him and the glass and its content would topple onto the plush carpet.
She thought about abandoning her intention of finding a book, and return speedily to her room, but her heart betrayed her and she felt sorry for Mr Darcy, gazing upon the proud man sleeping seated at a desk.
She walked stealthily towards him and gently grabbed the glass to move it from the edge when he opened his eyes and looked directly into hers.
“Miss Bennet?” He sat up straight and attempted to rub his face and smooth his clothing adjusting his cravat which was wrapped around his neck like a scurf. He tried to rescue some of his dignity, though clumsily.
“Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth whispered, “I beg your pardon sir. I did not intent to disturb you. I... I simply moved the glass which was about to fall from the desk.”
“Ah...” He said, in a stupor.
“I will leave you alone sir, please accept my apologies.”
“Why are you apologising Miss Bennet, have you done anything to warrant it?”
Elizabeth frowned, “I disturbed you, sir... it was not my intention.”
“What was your intention?”
“I was looking... I mean, I wanted to find a book to help me fall asleep.”
“I see... I came here to also find a book as well but I found the brandy instead... I seem to find the brandy a lot more appealing these days than a book.” He said sadly.
She winced, “Mr Darcy, this may not be the right place or time, but I would like to apologise for my treatment of you yesterday.”
He looked at her dumbfounded.
“Will you forgive me?” She said
He shook his head as if awakening from a trance, “Do you mean it? Will you listen to me as I give you my reasons for... well... for meddling in other people’s business?”
She smiled, “Yes, sir I will.”
His face split up in a beautiful smile that Elizabeth had never seen before. Since when does he have dimples?
“I will listen to you Mr Darcy, but not here, not now.”
“Yes of course, we should not be seen at this time of the night by ourselves...alone.”
“No we should not,” She confirmed. “But we can talk tomorrow, if you... well, if you feel recovered from your encounter with the storm.”
He frowned, confused, “What storm?”
She laughed, “Ask the Colonel tomorrow.”
With that she turned and walked back to the door but before she reached it Mr Darcy called her name, she turned back to him,
“Thanks Miss Bennet, I appreciate your forbearance.”
She nodded and smiled as she continued back to her room.
She realised she had forgotten to grab the book she had gone looking for, but as soon as her head touched the pillow she fell asleep and woke up only when she heard the maid lighting the fire, and the sun’s rays filtering through the curtains.