Chapter 18
After the previous night’s anguish, the excitement of seeing Darcy on the road to recovery kept Elizabeth, Jane and Georgiana awake long after the rest of the family had retired to Netherfield.
Miss Darcy visited her brother briefly, but Dr. Cooper did not allow her to spend more than a moment near his bed, declaring all of them needed peace, quiet and sleep.
Elizabeth was anxious to see him too, but she did not dare take such a liberty.
Visiting a patient was one thing; entering the chamber of a sleeping man in the middle of the night was something completely different.
However, a few hours of rest allowed her to wake up early, restless and in high spirits. She struggled to keep her hopes under good regulation and barely permitted herself to consider the reason for her excitement.
Never being in love before, nor even favouring one man over others, the novelty and the power of the new feeling excited her.
Only a month ago, Mr Darcy was the last man in the world who she could think of in a tender way.
That they would grow from enemies into friends was hard to imagine; but to consider they could be bound by mutual admiration and affection was truly unbelievable, even laughable.
She and Mr Darcy, two people who disliked each other so utterly?
Could it be real? How did such a change occur? When?
Her mind told her heart to be prudent, to search her own wishes carefully and not to presume his feelings without solid proof.
But her heart responded that she thought of him as she had no other man before, that touching his hand gave her shivers, that his illness was a time of great sorrow for her.
That her heart was broken when she found him fallen from his horse and that she ran through the rain for him without a second thought.
And that he had called her name during his suffering. Her name only.
Torn between so many reasons for distress, Elizabeth chose a dress that she knew would become her and arranged her hair with much care. She blushed as she admitted to herself that she wanted to look pretty–for him.
As Jane was still asleep, she knocked at Georgiana’s door then entered.
The room was empty and Elizabeth had no doubts about the girl’s whereabouts.
She went downstairs but in the hall she stopped, suddenly reluctant to enter the chamber where she had been countless times lately.
Should she dare? Inside, there was certainly a conversation between brother and sister going on.
Had she any right to interfere? Was she welcome in their proximity, now that the danger was gone?
Eventually, she knocked and entered only after she heard the invitation.
Georgiana was sitting on the bed and Darcy was sitting up, supported by the pillows. Both met her with a genuine smile.
“Forgive me for interrupting you; I came to see how you both are this morning.”
“We are fine, thank you. And you?” Georgiana asked, her face finally free from the shadow of sadness.
“Miss Bennet, please come closer. Would you like to join us for a little while?” Darcy enquired, inviting her with a gesture.
Elizabeth smiled in agreement, looked around, then took a chair and placed it near Georgiana. Sitting on the bed, next to Darcy, was completely unacceptable under the present circumstances.
“You do look well, both of you,” she said lightly.
“And we owe it to you…and to your family, of course. But we know that without you, things would be tragically different now,” Darcy declared.
Elizabeth blushed. “Please do not be so solemn, sir. I did far less than you did for us. So let us call it a truce. Or even,” she offered. “And let us be content that we are all safe and sound.”
“You are right, of course,” Darcy admitted. “But I must be allowed to express my gratitude as soon as I escape from this bed.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks and neck were burning. “You should not even dare to consider leaving the bed until Dr. Cooper allows it. I barely know him, but I can see he is not a man to trifle with,” she teased him.
Darcy laughed. “I have known him all my life and I still do not dare upset him.”
“He almost threw me out of your room,” Georgiana complained in jest.
“But he told me that Miss Bennet opposed him quite decidedly. He was impressed with your determination, Miss Bennet. And he is rarely impressed. But then again, I am not surprised to hear that,” Darcy uttered, his eyes holding hers.
Elizabeth laughed sheepishly. “We had a little disagreement in the beginning. But we soon reached an understanding. We are grateful that he is such a remarkable doctor. That is all that matters.”
“True,” Darcy approved, still looking at her with a meaningful gaze that made her quiver. “I am afraid he insisted I should stay still for a few more days. My ribs might be broken and he is concerned that any movement could be harmful. So I fear you will have to endure my presence a little longer.”
“Oh, I am sure we can manage it,” Elizabeth replied lightly. “Although, I am not sure you will be able to endure our company, now that you are awake and alert.”
“I am sure I will enjoy it very much,” Darcy declared. “And spending more time together, perhaps I will find a way to show my gratitude at least to your family, since you are determined to reject it.”
“Be careful what you wish for, sir,” Elizabeth laughed.
“I heard that your mother gave up her room for me. That is truly impressive,” Darcy spoke in earnest. ”I was touched by such generosity and I am ashamed to admit I did not expect it.”
“My mother was genuinely worried for you, sir. You should not be surprised. She might not behave properly all the time, but she is goodhearted and caring by nature.”
“I noticed that the first moment I met Mrs Bennet,” Georgiana confessed. “She might be intimidating, though in a different way from Dr. Cooper, but her caring and considerate disposition are apparent.”
“Unfortunately, I was too busy acting proudly and thoughtlessly to notice the good traits of the people around me,” Darcy admitted. “I hope I will have the chance to talk to Mrs Bennet and thank her personally later today.”
“Mama will be pleased to talk to you, I am sure. And let us agree that we all were unable to notice the good traits in people when we first met,” Elizabeth suggested. “None of us were flawless.”
“Let it be as you wish but I am aware the biggest share of the fault is mine. Miss Bennet, may I ask you something delicate?” he enquired and she startled. What could it be? And in the presence of his sister?
She nodded in approval and he continued with a large smile.
“Did I dream this or did Mrs Bennet kiss me while I was asleep?”
Elizabeth stared at him, mortified, dumbfounded, unsure what to say. If he remembered that moment, did he recollect everything else?
“You did not dream it, sir. But she did not kiss you either. She checked your fever by pressing her lips to your temples. Mr Jones testified it is a proper method,” she answered, trying to provide enough details to explain her own gesture.
“I see. Nevertheless, I was moved by such warm care,” Darcy said, with a sudden change in tone. Elizabeth suspected he referred to her, and became nervous again.
“Miss Bennet, I spoke to my brother about the encounter with Mr Wickham. And about our conversation regarding my past dealings with him,” Georgiana whispered with her usual shyness. She seemed troubled by the subject, but she wore a little smile.
“Oh…” Elizabeth looked from one sibling to another, waiting. How should she respond?
“My sister told me how protected and safe she felt thanks to you and Mrs Bennet. For that, I am even more grateful,” Darcy added, bowing his head slightly.
“On this matter, I truly did not do anything, I assure you. I should have warned Miss Darcy about Wickham. But I never imagined his presence mattered so much. Had I known…”
“How could you have known?” Darcy replied warmly. “You protected her as much as was possible.”
“Mostly my mother did,” Elizabeth concealed her anxiety behind her laughter. “I doubt Mr Wickham has ever been scolded so harshly.”
“I heard that. I would say Mrs Bennet was more severe to Wickham than I would have ever been in public,” Darcy declared with half mockery. “But now it is my duty to settle this situation properly. I should have done it long ago,” he added in a low and grave tone.
“What do you mean, brother?”
“Nothing to worry you, dearest. All is well. I would kindly ask you to leave now–I need to rest. Please send Stevens,” he asked gently.
“Very well,” the girl tentatively accepted. She seemed keen to enquire more but did not dare, so she rose to obey his request and Elizabeth followed her silently. She sensed a heavy tension in the chamber, but could not interfere between the siblings.
She startled at the sound of his voice calling her.
“Miss Bennet…” She turned to look at him. He was gazing at her intensely, quietly. She hesitated to move, gazing back at him, waiting.
“I am sorry we did not have the chance to meet as we planned. The subject I wanted to discuss is of no importance now, considering how things have progressed. But I still regret the lost opportunity.”
“More opportunities will arise soon, I am sure,” she responded.
“Yes, they will–hopefully soon enough. And…Miss Bennet?”
“Yes?”
“That medicine you gave me the other night…the taste was horrible, but I did enjoy it very much. It served me well, it seems.”
Her eyes remained locked with his while she held her breath. His words sounded light and proper but their hidden meaning made her dizzy. He wished to tell her he remembered the moment when she touched and parted his lips.
Unconsciously, she licked her own lips and her eyes left his, as their dark intensity was almost unbearable.
Her glance lowered onto his face that she had touched several times, then for the first time moved to his shoulders and his torso.