Chapter 9
The following days passed in great trepidation and equal distress.
The preparations for the journey to the seaside were in full flow in each house. Darcy and Mr Gardiner met at Lady Kendal’s house four mornings in a row, spending hours together and with her ladyship’s solicitors.
Darcy was still anxious to understand the details of Elizabeth’s settlement with Lady Kendal and Lord Alveston. He was tempted to ask Bingley for more details, but he tempered his improper curiosity. It was not his right to intrude!
What he did discover—and Lady Kendal’s solicitors mentioned several times—was that after her wedding to the earl, Elizabeth would be granted full power over an impressive fortune.
Lady Kendal would keep her own money and two of the estates, but most of the decisions would belong to Elizabeth.
The solicitors were also worried about the complete trust her ladyship and the earl had bestowed upon Elizabeth.
If she was a dishonest, unworthy character, she could easily ruin them.
Darcy knew there was no such danger, and he heartily expressed his conviction on the matter.
Details of the Kendal holdings soon became clear to Darcy, but on matters of the heart, his bewilderment remained, as his own feelings defeated his reasoning and wit.
Rather often, Lady Kendal joined them, bringing Elizabeth with her. Even Lord Alveston participated in some discussions.
Elizabeth was thrilled and tormented by Darcy’s nearness.
During their encounters, she asked him several direct questions, and he responded kindly and patiently.
She noticed his caution in always putting some distance between them.
If she asked about financial figures, he gazed at the page from a few steps back.
That was even more obvious compared with his behaviour towards Lady Kendal, whose arm he often held to help her sit or stand, or he sat by her side so they could study the books together.
Elizabeth dreaded to speculate about the reason for his self-imposed coldness and forced her mind to ignore it.
She knew she had no right to think of him, except to be grateful for his involvement and support.
But that resolution met with constant failure.
On the morning of the fifth day, Darcy arrived soon after breakfast. Elizabeth and Jane, Lady Kendal, Bingley, and Lord Alveston were all gathered in the drawing room, and they greeted him. He bowed politely, meeting Elizabeth’s flustered face for a moment only as brief as a heartbeat.
Lady Kendal invited him to sit, but he declined.
“I shall only stay for a moment. Since we have finished our examination, I have made my conclusions and suggestions. We have already discussed much as we progressed, but I thought it would be helpful and easier if you had everything written down,” Darcy said, showing them several sheets of paper.
“How lovely and considerate of you,” Lady Kendal said. “This is exceedingly helpful! We are deeply thankful for your time, Mr Darcy. I imagine you stayed up all night to write everything down! You can hardly imagine how much we value your generous commitment.”
Darcy and Elizabeth looked at each other, both faces colouring slightly. Both recollected another instance when he had stayed awake all night writing to her.
“Mr Darcy, you must know that we are all impressed by your extensive knowledge as well as by your dedication to us,” Lord Alveston added his gratitude.
“I cannot thank you enough on behalf of Miss Bennet and myself.” He took Elizabeth’s hand and brought it to his lips briefly.
She looked at him, blushed, then withdrew her hand, glancing at Darcy again.
“Thank you, sir,” she whispered.
The small gesture by the man who would soon claim Elizabeth as his wife was devastating to him.
“None of this is necessary, I assure you. I only did what Bingley and Lady Kendal asked of me. Just as anyone would have done for a friend. Please do not speak of gratitude again,” Darcy answered, suddenly impatient to leave the room.
It was even more dreadful as he had come to understand and appreciate both Lord Alveston and Lady Kendal.
They did love Elizabeth, and she seemed to return their affection.
He had lost her, and there was nothing he could do to change the past.
“Mr Darcy, please give your notes to Elizabeth. She will study them. May we bother you with some additional queries, if needed?” Lady Kendal enquired.
Darcy stood still in the middle of the room.
Elizabeth rose to her feet and took a few steps, waiting.
She was flushed, he was stern, while the others watched them.
He walked towards her and stretched out his hand to offer her the papers.
She took them, and for just an instant their fingers touched.
Both startled and she almost dropped the papers.
Darcy hurried to grasp them before they fell on the floor and his fingers pressed into hers.
Their hearts and movements stopped, stealing another moment to linger in that thrilling sensation.
He then folded the papers into a neat pile and gave the sheaf back to her again.
“Thank you,” she repeated.
“You are welcome.”
“Could we bother you with more questions, if needed?” Lady Kendal repeated.
“Of course,” he answered absently.
“We look forward to seeing you again in Brighton. And perhaps you and your sister and betrothed will join us for dinner sometime. I promise we shall not bother you with any business questions,” Lady Kendal declared in jest.
Darcy showed a weak attempt at a smile.
“Yes. Of course. I wish you all a safe journey to Brighton and all my best wishes. Good day.”
And with that, he was gone.
∞∞∞
For the remaining days in London, Elizabeth did not see Darcy again, but her fingers were still burning with the recollection of his touch.
Disturbing thoughts troubled and embarrassed her.
She tried to keep them away by filling her time with all sorts of activities.
Lady Kendal’s solicitors called several more times to complete the settlement, which was ready to be approved by Elizabeth’s uncle and father.
Elizabeth was distraught by its contents—even the amount of her pin money was enough to provide her whole family with the same comfort as they were accustomed to for the rest of their lives!
Before their departure to Brighton, Elizabeth and Lady Kendal visited the two hospitals.
Dr Morton, who ran the first house, and Dr Godwin, the chief surgeon of the second, accompanied the ladies on their tour.
Despite her complete trust in the two gentlemen and the experienced doctors, Lady Kendal never trusted the reports alone.
She always wished to see and to judge with her own eyes, and she encouraged Elizabeth to do the same.
The hospitals were quite similar. They were nowhere near as large as the public hospitals, but the space was used efficiently. There were ten large chambers, arranged to provide comfort and care to as many as possible.
Four chambers were for adult patients with severe sickness. The doctor warned them against entering these room in only their day dresses, and Lady Kendal obeyed.
However, they walked through the other rooms with the doctors to scrutinise the cleanliness, the convenience, and the state of the patients. At their appearance, people recognised Lady Kendal, and each tried to move, bowing their heads respectfully. She responded with a warm, comforting smile.
Further rooms were for children of all ages. They watched them from the doorway, and the view was even more painful than that in the adult wards. Even from behind pain and illness, sweet angels stared at them with eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Elizabeth’s heart ached for the children lying in their beds fighting severe illnesses, and countless times she wondered what would become of them if Lady Kendal did not protect them.
A young woman almost jumped up from next to a bed where a small child was sleeping and bent in front of Lady Kendal, taking her hand and kissing it humbly as she sobbed.
“May the Lord reward your kind heart, my lady. My son would be dead if not for you. We pray for you all day long. We pray for our children and for you, my lady.”
Lady Kendal withdrew her hand and bade the woman stand.
“Please, my dear, you do not need to do that! Save your kisses and your tears for your son. With God’s will, he will be healthy soon,” her ladyship said kindly. “Go and take care of him.”
The woman withdrew, and the doctor closed the door.
Lady Kendal turned to Elizabeth, the emotion apparent on her face.
“When it comes to the children, I insisted that someone from the family stay and comfort them during their treatment. I was in a public hospital some years ago and I was horrified to see infants and small children crying alone in dirty beds, suffering from not only disease but also loneliness. I cannot allow that to happen here.”
“But that actually increases our expenses,” Dr Godwin observed.
“Oh, come now, Doctor! If we can feed thirty people, we certainly can feed fifty. We are such hypocrites! For a private ball we prepare at least five courses. These people are grateful for a bowl of soup. With the money we spend on one ball we could easily feed all the patients and their families for at least a week,” Lady Kendal replied with a certain severity.
The doctor appeared uneasy. “Your ladyship makes the decisions, and we simply follow your orders.”
“Only when it comes to expenses, Doctor. I appreciate your knowledge and your dedication, and I trust the way you manage those beneath you. But I do want to make sure the people who are in our care are treated well—in every way.”
“I understand your ladyship’s demands, and we are doing everything we can to comply with them.”
“I have no doubts about your success, Doctor!”