Chapter Eight
Poor Miss Elizabeth.
They had heard the news the previous evening when a group of local gentlemen came for billiards and dinner with Bingley.
Georgiana had immediately determined to go the next morning to offer what comfort she could. “But, Brother,” she had then said after declaring this, “shall I be welcome? Poor Lizzy must be in such a state.”
That had made Darcy ache for Miss Elizabeth’s likely feelings. It was too soon since his mother had died for him to feel anything but grief and a sense of understanding for anyone else losing a parent.
“True friendship, care, and an expression of honest feeling will rarely go amiss,” Darcy had told his sister.
Georgiana had nodded.
When their scheme was disclosed, Darcy found that Bingley had already formed his own plan to take the carriage to Longbourn to offer his good wishes and condolences.
“Poor Miss Bennet! After all that she has suffered, to lose her father in such a way. It is not fair—I shall hope that he recovers despite the doctor’s prognosis. What does he know?”
Of course, Emily also wished to come. She had been asking about when she would see Miss Lizzy again and reminding everyone several times a day that her friend had promised to call on them again, now that she could walk easily.
The week she had stayed at Netherfield had been enough for Elizabeth to become a person whom Emily thought of with great fondness. But that was natural; Miss Elizabeth had a joy when she played with the girl, and great patience.
“No, sweet,” Darcy said to his daughter. “Elizabeth’s father is extremely ill, and it would not be polite to bring a young child to his house while he is in such a state.”
“Want to be impolite!”
Emily’s reply did not change Darcy’s choice, but when he arrived downstairs with Georgiana after dressing, Emily presented Mr. Nananoo and herself to them at the door, in coat and shoes, saying, “Going to see Miss Lizzy with you!”
“No, sweet,” Darcy said again, knowing that his child was about to dissolve into tears.
“Yes. I’m going to see Miss Lizzy.”
“No, you are not.”
Emily, realising that her father was serious, sobbed for the next five minutes, inarticulately saying, “Miss Lizzy. Miss Lizzy. Want to see Miss Lizzy!”
“Yes, yes, you do,” Darcy agreed. “But you cannot.”
This did not quiet her. However, this was a matter of politeness, and Darcy knew it would be wrong to bring the girl and all her noise to the house. He was firm. But he did not wish to hand her to the nurse and drive away in the carriage while she sobbed.
Thankfully, Bingley showed no signs of impatience as he was also made to wait.
Darcy held Emily for some minutes, filled with a familiar mix of the strongest affection and gradually increasing irritation with the unreasonableness of the child.
And then, as tended to happen, the storm suddenly ended.
Emily tearily agreed that she wanted to take a long walk around the park with Rose and that she would draw many, many things to take to Miss Lizzy when she was allowed to see her.
Rose retrieved Emily’s portfolio at the command of her little charge, and then Emily gave Darcy several sheets on which she had drawn extensively to gift to Miss Elizabeth.
It was explained to him with great seriousness which of the stick figure images were Miss Lizzy, and Darcy promised with equal seriousness that he would describe the scene drawn with all the details when he gave the page to her.
Finally, only fifteen minutes after they had stepped out of the door, they set off.
The whole way, Darcy was anxious, and he could not help but think about how Miss Elizabeth had always spoken with great affection and happiness about her father.
Longbourn was a solid building of red brick with a small wilderness surrounding it and a village immediately adjacent.
The door was opened, and they were led into the drawing room.
Miss Elizabeth sat in conversation with a young clergyman who placed himself a little too closely to her for Darcy’s liking. Also present were Miss Lucas, Miss Elizabeth’s two youngest sisters, and Mrs. Bennet, who spoke with another woman and frowned at him.
Bingley immediately approached Miss Bennet and sat next to her, speaking in soft and anxious tones, while Georgiana ran to Miss Elizabeth, who rose and took his sister’s hands.
Georgiana embraced her and exclaimed, “I am so, so anxious for you! Is there anything I might do? I shall happily sit here with you, or—I do not know. But, Lizzy, anything.”
“I thank you very much,” Miss Elizabeth said stiffly. “I do thank you—friends mean a great deal at such a time.”
Darcy saw that she was near tears. The eyes of Mrs. Bennet the two youngest Miss Bennets betrayed that they had also been crying.
“How does your father progress?” Darcy asked in a low voice. “Is there anything that might be done for him? I can call for a physician from London. An eminent man who treated my own father. He will know if there is anything that can be attempted that your physician has not thought of.”
“I thank you kindly,” Miss Elizabeth said, but she shook her head.
“It is unlikely to amount to anything. And Dr. Cliff has been a friend of Papa’s for many years.
He has been bled several times, and I understand that there is no other treatment besides time and hope in such a case.
He woke this morning able to speak lucidly but very slowly and in a slurred way.
He was awake for two hours before falling back asleep.
Oh, his face! He could not lift the arm on the affected side.
But we are well. It is only that he is likely to have another attack, so we should feel little hope and always be prepared for the worst.”
The man that Miss Elizabeth had been speaking to when Darcy entered the room stood, bowed deeply, and enquired of her, “Lovely cousin, might you be so excessively kind as to make an introduction of me to your friends—it is a principle upon which I have built my life, that expanding one’s acquaintance is always a worthwhile endeavour, and furthermore, my patroness would approve of me doing so. ”
Miss Elizabeth made the introductions, but as she spoke Darcy’s name, Mr. Collins’s eyes lit up.
“Mr. Darcy of Pemberley? My dear, dear sir! It is such good fortune that we have met! I can inform you, sir, that your noble aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh was in good health two days ago when I called on her at Rosings Park before departing to visit my relations here. I did not anticipate that I would find such a grievous situation upon my arrival. But, as a man of the cloth, I consider it my particular duty to always stand ready to speak words of comfort to those who are facing the loss of the persons whom they hold dearest in their hearts.”
“I see.” Darcy frowned, disliking the thought of Lady Catherine. “It is good that she is well. I would not wish ill upon her.”
Georgiana said to Miss Elizabeth, “Emily was extremely disappointed that we did not bring her with us to call upon you. She even dressed herself to come, but my brother thought, I mean we thought, that a noisy child would not be welcome when visiting an invalid.”
“Yes,” Darcy said solemnly. “But I have brought several drawings from her, and I have promised to explain the whole scene portrayed on them to you.”
“Poor girl!” Miss Elizabeth replied. “I promised that I would call frequently, and it seems I cannot. I would have liked to see her. It would have been good for me. I shall ask Papa when next he wakes whether he minds. I cannot help but think that some joyous voices would be good for him, and Emily can be quiet enough if she knows she must. We can take her out of the house to let her run about if necessary. Do bring her if you call again. I would dearly like to see her.”
It was impossible for Darcy not to smile at hearing this speech.
Mr. Collins looked at his cousin with admiration.
“Your kindness will make you an excellent mother and the best of wives one day. As Lady Catherine told me once, there is nothing so important in a woman as a fondness for children. But temperance, a concern for economy, and a quiet and modest manner are of great benefit as well.”
The expression on Miss Elizabeth’s face at this speech was odd.
Her lips froze; they appeared to be fighting a frown.
Then she took a small breath and looked at Mr. Collins with a wide, welcoming smile that did not reach her eyes.
“I do look forward to being a wife and mother one day. I hope soon. I do so hope Papa’s illness does not prevent that. ”
Mr. Collins smiled back at her with complaisance.
A worm gnawed viciously upon Darcy’s guts.
He saw clearly what Miss Elizabeth was about. He had moved in society enough.
Mr. Collins showed every sign that he meant to marry one of the daughters of the house, and Miss Elizabeth showed every sign that she was willing to be the sacrificial lamb.
Darcy lapsed into silence while the conversation continued about him.
After half an hour, the Bennet daughter who had been absent thus far, the plain one who played the pianoforte, came into the room and informed Miss Elizabeth that her father was awake again and asking after her.
She immediately rose, and Darcy rose with her. “I think it is time for us to depart since I can offer no useful aid.”
“Oh,” Miss Elizabeth said glumly. “But you have not yet explained Emily’s drawings.”
Darcy took them from his coat pocket and handed them to her. “I believe the chief point is that you frequently appear in them, along with me, lions, a rabbit, and a great castle.”
“All very clear!” Miss Elizabeth laughed as she studied the sketches with a furrowed brow.
“Would you like us to call again tomorrow?” Georgiana asked.
“Yes. And please bring Emily. I promise to play with her. And I shall show her about the shrubbery if the weather is at all sunny.”