Chapter Five #3
“Yes, I know,” Jane said, looking over at Eliza and her mother. “Eliza confessed it all once we returned to Deming House.”
At that moment a solemn Eliza rose from the sofa and approached the sisters.
“Cousin Elizabeth, please forgive me. I promise you, I was only trying to help. I realise now that my part in forcing a compromise between you and Mr. Darcy was terribly wrong. But when I overheard Mr. Darcy speaking with Lady Eleanor in the courtyard, I thought that something needed to be done or you would lose your chance to secure him.”
“You overheard Mr. Darcy speaking with his aunt?” Elizabeth questioned with apprehension.
“Yes, I … I did. I am so sorry to have to repeat it, but maybe you will understand why I did what I did when I tell you.” She paused, looking back at her mother who motioned for her to continue.
“Please go on, Eliza,” Elizabeth said. “I must hear everything.”
“Very well. I was on my way from the garden to find Aunt Bennet. We were to meet Lydia and Colonel Forster so that we might facilitate a compromise between the two of them.” Again she paused, hanging her head in remorse.
“Eliza, I beg of you to continue. What is it you heard?”
“As I passed Mr. Darcy and Her Ladyship, I overheard Mr. Darcy telling his aunt that meeting your Hertfordshire relations had given him pause, and that his sense of obligation required him to walk away and forget he had ever met you.”
Elizabeth gasped with this revelation. She could not believe it.
William had decided against her before the incident in the garden took place.
And now, because of what her relations did, he was being forced into a marriage he did not desire.
The reality of what Eliza said made her feel suddenly ill. “Thank you for telling me.”
“I hope you can someday forgive me. I am so sorry.”
Too stunned to say more, Elizabeth merely watched as Eliza continued to hang her head and walked to where Kitty and Lydia were sitting. Though her cousins took her hands and attempted to engage her in conversation, Eliza refused to say another word.
“Jane, I must go to my room,” Elizabeth barely choked out. “I have a sudden headache and my foot is throbbing. Could you please ask for Sophia to come and assist me?”
“Yes, of course.” Then addressing Mrs. Gardiner she said, “Aunt, Lizzy is not feeling well. I shall ask Daniels to get Sophia, and we will see her safely to her room.” Jane immediately rose and quietly asked the footman to alert the maid.
“Lizzy?” Mrs. Gardiner questioned.
“Do not worry, Aunt,” she said with more composure. “I think it was too much for me to come down after all. My foot aches, and now that Eliza and I have spoken, it would be better if I rested in my room.”
“Yes, dear, I understand. You go on ahead with Jane, and after our guests leave, I shall be up to check on your ankle.”
Not long after, Sophia appeared at the door, and with Jane’s help the two women assisted Elizabeth to her room. Once Elizabeth was in her bed with her foot elevated and with only Jane at her side, she began to cry in earnest.
“Jane, you heard what Eliza said. Before the incident in the garden, Mr. Darcy intended to walk away. How can I marry a man who does not want me? How can I be a proper wife for him and a mother to his child?” she sobbed. “It is all too much.”
“Lizzy, you must not despair. He will be here later and all will be settled.”
“No, Jane. He is not coming,” she said, dabbing her eyes. “Uncle received a note from him earlier this morning saying Mr. Darcy left for Kent. An express from Lady Catherine was waiting for him when he returned home from the ball. His daughter is gravely ill.”
“Oh, dear.”
“Our situation will not be settled today, and knowing that on top of what Eliza overheard makes everything seem entirely hopeless.”
“Elizabeth Bennet, do not let me hear you say such a thing. There is always hope. There must be. What is it you often say about your courage rising to meet any situation?”
“Forgive me. I know you are right, but in this instance it seems impossible.”
“Oh, Lizzy,” Jane cried, hugging her sister.
“Forgive me, I promise I shall do better, but it is very difficult.” She pulled back a little, wiping her eyes.
“In truth, it is far worse for Mr. Darcy with his daughter being so ill. Jane, I did not tell you, but there is more sadness in his past.” She paused for a moment, dabbing her eyes again.
“Not only did Mr. Darcy’s wife die, but at that time, his son, a fully-formed babe, was stillborn with the cord wrapped around his little neck. ”
Jane gasped, squeezing Elizabeth’s hand not able to hold back her own tears. “‘Tis too sad. I had no idea he lost a child too.”
“He told me about it on the afternoon we were at the Royal Gardens. Apparently, his wife died of childbed fever and the poor babe never took his first breath. Mr. Darcy has lost so much, and if he were to lose his daughter I fear he might never recover.”
“Let us not entertain such thoughts. Come, we must pray for both of them.” The two sisters put their heads and hands together and prayed in earnest. Afterwards Elizabeth lay back on the bed while Jane stroked her hair and hummed a simple tune until her sister fell asleep.