CHAPTER 16 The Call
Darcy lounged on the terrace, wondering what was happening at the parsonage.
He had spent the entire morning alone and wondered for the hundredth time if he should have gone there today.
Bingley was already there, of course, enjoying the company of Jane Bennet after days of rain without seeing her.
Richard and Anne were driving around in the phaeton, having planned a picnic at the folly; and his aunt was visiting Elizabeth Bennet.
A part of him wished to hear how the visit went, but another part did not, afraid that Elizabeth still despised him.
Perhaps she thought that the flowers he sent were too presumptuous.
He paced the terrace for a while then sat down again.
Afterwards he went inside and found a book he had been reading and began to read it.
It was interesting at first, but soon ceased to hold his interest. He put it down.
Becoming more anxious, he stood up abruptly and began to walk towards Hunsford.
But, instead of going to it, he chose his preferred lane deeper into the woods and sat once more on the fallen log he had sat on the day he proposed.
He sat there and pondered his future. He knew that Lady Catherine was right.
He would have to visit Elizabeth sometime…
and soon. Everyone else had done so and it would look odd if he was the only one who did not.
He decided to go the next day. Or at the very least, the day after that.
It all depended on what Lady Catherine said when she returned.
He looked towards the parsonage and saw, in the distance, Lady Catherine’s carriage parked just outside the front gate.
And then he noticed that it had begun to move.
Darcy ran after it, waving his arms and yelling.
The coachman did not appear to notice him so, not wishing to miss it, Darcy ran towards the front of it and attempted to grab the horses' reins.
It stopped abruptly and Lady Catherine leaned her head out the window.
“Darcy! What is the meaning of this? We almost hit you! What, in heaven’s name, has come over you?”
He opened the door and stepped into the carriage, taking the seat opposite his aunt. “How did your visit go with Miss Elizabeth?”
“Could you not have waited till I returned to Rosings?”
Darcy looked at her in frustration. “I apologise, Aunt, but I was in the woods and I saw your carriage…”
“And what, precisely, were you doing in the woods?”
Darcy closed his eyes, unable to explain himself.
“Yes?” continued his aunt.
“I was simply out for a walk…then noticed your carriage, and wished to know about your call. But if you would prefer not to tell me, then I shall walk back to Rosings…”
He was so tired after so many nights of worry and lack of sleep.
Yes, Elizabeth was better but everything remained unsettled.
And the only thing Darcy wished for was a brief respite from all the uncertainty.
And yet nothing seemed to work. Everyone seemed able to know what they wished for and how to attain it.
Except himself. Perhaps it would be better to simply return to Rosings and crawl back into bed.
He opened the door of the carriage and was about to jump down but was stopped by Lady Catherine.
“Darcy!” she said, making him look back.
“Yes, Aunt…” he said, suddenly deflated.
“Come back into the carriage.”
He nodded then closed the door again, realising how completely deranged he must have seemed to her. “I apologise for my erratic behaviour.”
Lady Catherine sighed and looked sympathetically at him. And then she surprised him by saying, “I apologise as well, Darcy. I should have known how anxious you would be to hear about my interview with Miss Elizabeth.”
“You understand, then,” he responded wearily.
“Yes, I suppose I do,” she said grudgingly.
“So will you tell me about it now?”
“Very well,” said Lady Catherine. “I gave her the flowers as you requested.”
“And? What did she say? How did she react?”
“She seemed surprised that the flowers came from you.”
He grimaced. “Oh…I see. Not displeased, I hope…”
“No, not at all. In fact, she was quite pleased and liked them immensely. By the time I left, they were in a vase on a table by her bed. And I am certain she will enjoy looking at them in the days to come.” Lady Catherine looked pointedly at him before adding, “And she likely shall think of you every time she does.”
They were silent for a time before Darcy said, “And how does she look, Aunt?”
“She looks fairly well, though paler than before. She actually needed to lean on a chair when she stood up. I suppose that illness will do that to you. But I tell you, Darcy, it is the perfect time to see her.”
“Why? Because she is weak and cannot run from me?”
Lady Catherine scoffed. “Will you please stop being so pessimistic! No, I meant that you could assist her. Perhaps have her lean on you as you take a stroll in the gardens. Kent is the garden of England, you know. And I am certain she shall appreciate being out of doors.”
“Yes, you are right. Perhaps I could assist her. I only wish to be of service, after all.”
“Yes, naturally.”
Darcy swallowed, then asked, “Did she say anything else about me?”
“She asked after your health and told me - twice, mind you - to thank you for the flowers.”
“Oh…that is good to know.”
“We also talked about love matches,” said Lady Catherine.
“Love matches?”
“Indeed,” answered Lady Catherine. “And you will be happy to know that Miss Elizabeth is in favour of them.”
“Oh…”
Lady Catherine smiled. “Thus, if she ever does accept you, you shall know that it is for yourself…and not for Pemberley.”
“Yes…I suppose so,” said Darcy. “But then again, I already knew that as soon as she turned me down.”
“True,” said Lady Catherine. “And yet, I tend to believe that the young lady is predisposed to liking you. She seemed to listen more…closely whenever I spoke of you.”
“Did she…”
“Indeed. Furthermore, I told her that you would call in the next day or so. I even suggested that you might like to walk in the gardens together.”
“Did you? And what was her reaction?”
“She did not seem to mind the prospect at all. In fact, she told me that she looked forward to it.”
Darcy let out a deep breath. Elizabeth would not mind seeing him. “Did she actually say that? That she looked forward to seeing me?”
Now Lady Catherine frowned. “Of course she did! Did you think I would lie about it?”
“Not precisely, but…perhaps you exaggerate a little?”
“I am not prone to exaggeration, Darcy, no matter who it is I am speaking to. You must get a hold of yourself and prepare to see her!”
“Yes, I should,” said Darcy quietly.
“As soon as possible.”
“Yes…I shall go tomorrow.”
Whereupon Lady Catherine cleared her throat and looked at him significantly.
“Thank you, Aunt,” he said, realising he had not yet thanked her.
“Hmmph,” said Lady Catherine.
When the carriage reached Rosings, Lady Catherine announced that she was tired and went to her rooms to rest. Darcy went to his rooms as well and contemplated his visit to the parsonage the next day.
The next morning, he and Bingley presented themselves at the parsonage at half past nine.
Mrs. Collins and Jane Bennet were there to greet them, Mr. Collins having already left to make his daily calls.
Shortly after that, Bingley and Jane went off to walk in the gardens after having invited Darcy to join them. Naturally, he declined.
“Elizabeth is feeling much better today,” said Charlotte, once they were alone.
“I am glad to hear it.”
“A pity she is still too weak to walk downstairs.”
Darcy frowned. Was Mrs. Collins hinting that he should not expect to see her? “Yes, it is a pity,” he agreed.
“But I could ask her if she is willing to see you in her room.”
“Oh! Really? That would be splendid. I mean…if Miss Elizabeth will permit it.”
Charlotte smiled. “I shall just go and ask her, shall I?
“Yes, thank you, Mrs Collins.”
He sat in the parlour, nervously awaiting Charlotte’s return. Thankfully, it did not take long for, less than a minute later, she was back, telling Darcy that Elizabeth would receive him.
He entered Elizabeth’s room and made a careful bow. “Miss Elizabeth, I am happy to see that you are better.”
She was sitting in a chair by the window, an open book face down on the table beside her.
She wore a thick, light blue dressing gown over the white cotton nightdress he had seen her in before.
She was pale but as lovely as ever. She smiled and said, “Yes, I am feeling much better. Thank you for calling.”
Darcy was glad to be in her company again. For she was actually conscious now and did not seem to mind his presence. That was something, at least.
He noticed that Mrs. Collins had left and was glad of it.
“Has Dr. Stephens seen you lately?” he asked.
“Yes, he came earlier today and has assured me that I shall make a full recovery. And I wish to thank you for sending for him.”
He nodded, having always been uncomfortable at being thanked, and resisted the urge to fiddle with his gloves. “Mrs. Collins tells me that you have not yet left your room.”
“No, not as yet. Unfortunately, I am not as strong as I once was.”
“I am certain you shall be…soon enough,” he responded, surprised by his own reticence.
Last time he was here, he had held her close and whispered into her ear.
And he felt almost as if he were married to her.
But now…he could hardly formulate a sentence.
Perhaps her unconsciousness had given him a certain amount of confidence.
“Yes,” she responded with a slight laugh. “I suppose I shall just have to walk back and forth in my room till such a time as I am ready to walk down the stairs.”
“But would you care to go downstairs…today?” he asked, surprising himself.
“I…do you think I could?”
“I do not see why not. And I would be happy to escort you…”
“It does sound tempting,” said Elizabeth. She looked out the window into the bright sunlight and added, “Yes, very well, Mr. Darcy. You have talked me into it. But…”
“Yes, what is it, Miss Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth looked down and answered, “I am still in my robe.”
“Do you think it will be too cold?”
“No but…it is not entirely proper, is it?”
He nodded, understanding her reticence. But she still looked so weak and pale. It would be a pity if she had to dress simply to go downstairs.
“You must not worry about that, Miss Elizabeth,” he reassured her. “No one else is about. Bingley and your sister are walking in the groves, and Mr. Collins is making calls.
She smiled hesitantly. “Very well…if you approve.”
She stood up and he immediately came forward and gave her his arm. She leaned heavily into him and he realised how weak she still was after so many days of lying in bed. He relinquished her arm and instead put his own arm around her waist.
“I just wish to catch you…” he explained, “in case you fall.”
“Yes, of course,” she murmured, looking away.
Darcy pulled her to his side as they walked towards the doorway of her room.
Then he thought of something and said, “Do you think that it might be better if I carried you?”
She looked surprised and asked, “Down the stairs?”
“Yes, for you are still quite weak.”
“Will I not be too heavy?”
Darcy recalled carrying her from the bed, then kneeling, and placing her into the ice bath - a little more than a week ago.
She was not too heavy then, and he doubted she would be too heavy now.
But of course he could not mention it. So he only said, “I highly doubt that you would be too heavy. Unless you do not trust in my ability to carry you and are afraid of falling.”
“No, I do not doubt you.”
Still, she continued to look hesitant, and so he added, “Perhaps if I carried you now - in this room - then you might see how easy it is for me to do so.”
“A trial run, as it were?” she said with a grin.
“If you like. Or…I could just sweep you up and proceed down the stairs.”
Now she laughed. “Perhaps you had better pick me up first…”
Without any further thought, he swept her up and stood there with Elizabeth in his arms. She felt even lighter than she did the night he had lowered her into the bath.
“You are not heavy at all,” he said, becoming slightly mesmerised by her dark eyes.
“I am glad,” she answered softly, “for I would not wish to incommode you.”
“I could carry you all day and everyday,” he said impulsively.