Chapter 2.11 #2
She giggled and cuddled to his chest, her eyelids growing heavy. “I trust you will find a way. You always do.”
∞∞∞
The sunny morning woke them early, but they lingered in bed for another hour, embraced, and held hands, their bodies still wearing the warmth of their passionate night.
Being home alone again was a comfort they had deeply missed.
However, they were also eager to visit Lady Matlock and to finally be reunited with Georgiana. Despite the delight of spending the first weeks of their marriage by themselves, they both looked forward to having their small family complete.
Even more, Elizabeth made plans to host a large dinner in a week’s time for all their relatives in London.
Darcy encouraged her yet demanded to know what “all the relatives” meant as he professed being frightened by Lady Ellen’s influence in that area.
Elizabeth laughed and placed a kiss on his cheek, and he knew he would not be able to refuse her—even if she intended to invite four and twenty families as Mrs Bennet did at Longbourn.
With teasing and smiles, they went to breakfast. Before they could fill their plates, their joyful chatting was interrupted by Mrs Hamilton, who entered hesitantly, apologising at each step.
The housekeeper looked more distressed than usual, and she was rubbing her hands together as she tried to speak.
“Mrs Darcy, forgive me for intruding; there is something I wished to talk to you about. I did not want to disturb you last night as you were already tired from your journey.”
“Do not worry, Mrs Hamilton. Tell me what worries you.”
“Maud. She is unwell—has been unwell for more than a week. She fell in the kitchen. I fetched the doctor, and she confessed to him that she had been feeling ill all this time but concealed it from us because of shame. Since you put me in charge, I took the liberty of seeking assistance for her. Many other mistresses would have thrown her out, but I knew you would not do so.”
“Throw her out? Why would anyone do such a thing? You said she is working hard and that you were pleased with her.”
“I am indeed, ma’am, but the doctor discovered Maud is with child...
has been for about five months. It seems the days spent in the cold affected her.
The doctor said the child might have died…
inside…she…we are not certain what will happen.
The doctor is giving her herbs, and he bled her, but she is not well. ”
“She is with child? What do you mean ‘died’? This is so unexpected. I thought she had improved before we left London. Oh, dear Lord! What can be done? Poor girl…”
Elizabeth glanced at her husband, astonished, worried, and pale.
“The doctor will come to speak to you if you approve.”
“Of course.”
The housekeeper left the room, and Elizabeth’s pallor increased.
He caressed her hand then brought it to his lips. “My love, I am sorry to see you so distressed.”
“There is no need to be sorry for me, my dear. I am just…I did not expect. But it seems you were right again: that was the reason for her being thrown out in the first place. What a terrible fate she has to bear.”
“True…I confess I am uneasy about the entire situation too. I know it is a common situation—a maid being left with child then abandoned. But I never met with such a case in our family or with anyone in my immediate acquaintance. I do not know anyone who would do such a horrible thing, except—”
The doctor entered and interrupted their conversation. Darcy invited him to sit and asked for a report.
“I understand Mrs Hamilton briefly described the situation to you. For now, we can do little except palliate her pain and reduce the fever. She is well enough to eat a little, drink tea, and take her medicine. She even wished to perform her duties, which, of course, was a silly request.”
“Can we not do something more? I shall go and talk to her. She will be forced to keep to her bed until you advise us otherwise,” Elizabeth added, and the doctor shook his head.
“If there were another solution, my dear Mrs Darcy, I would have used it by now. We do not know for certain either her situation or that of her unborn infant. Please rest assured that I am doing everything possible. And I confess I find your interest and your generosity in saving this girl quite astonishing and unusual. It is indeed remarkable.”
“We only do what we consider to be our duty,” Elizabeth replied.
“We will expect you again tomorrow, doctor,” Darcy added as the doctor took his leave.
“Of course, sir.”
A few minutes later, when they were alone again, neither had any interest left in the meal.
“William, I would like to check on Maud if you do not mind.”
“As you wish, my dear. I shall be in the library. Elizabeth, the doctor was right. You are remarkable, indeed.”
Elizabeth smiled with sadness while she hurried downstairs, thinking it was easy to be remarkable when she had everything and others had so little.
∞∞∞
Late in the afternoon, they went to greet the Matlocks and to retrieve Georgiana. Their reunion was affectionate and enthusiastic. Miss Darcy had all her belongings prepared and was eager to return home and begin life with her brother and new sister.
Contrary to the Darcys’ joy, Lady Matlock was truly sad to separate from her niece.
It was the first time she had a young lady’s company for so long, and she had greatly enjoyed the experience.
They separated with the promise of meeting again in a couple of days, and Elizabeth conveyed an invitation for dinner, which Lady Matlock gladly accepted.
“And Elizabeth, please mark your calendar: on the fourth Wednesday of April, you will attend your first ball at Almack’s.
You will be my guest, but hopefully we will soon secure you a voucher.
I was assured that your admittance would be approved.
It is one of the first steps toward full acceptance within the ton.
That will make a tremendous difference for your children’s future and even for Georgiana’s position once she comes out.
I am not struggling without reason,” Lady Matlock said, speaking mostly to Darcy, whose face showed his lack of enthusiasm.
“Thank you, Lady Ellen, I look forward to it. I confess I have heard many things about it, but nobody in my acquaintance has ever been invited. I understand its importance, and I am very grateful for your support,” Elizabeth answered.
“I am glad you appreciate it. Unfortunately, the attendance of the Gardiners or the Bingleys at Almack’s is out of the question, at least for the time being. We will see whether anything can be done in the future.”
“I am aware of that; as much as I love my relatives, I know that at times they will not be able to join me. We are all aware of the differences attached to our present situation, and we try to cope with them as well as we can. Again, I thank your ladyship for being so thoughtful.”
“Your efforts are greatly appreciated, Aunt,” Darcy added.
“Very well, I shall fix some appointments with the modiste; you need some new and appropriate outfits to make a well-deserved impression.”
Elizabeth hid a smile, considering that her mother would have said exactly the same.
She noticed her husband rolling his eyes behind her ladyship and Georgiana covering her lips with her gloved hand to hide her giggles, so she hurried to take their farewell before Lady Matlock could observe their lack of consideration.
∞∞∞
The first dinner together was pleasant but also distressing. The entire staff appeared genuinely happy with Miss Darcy’s return, and the housekeeper even took the liberty of embracing the young mistress.
It was Elizabeth’s daunting task to inform Georgiana about Maud’s sad story and to share their concerns. As Elizabeth feared, her sister was deeply impressed, and she struggled with her tears the whole time and kept asking what could be done to save Maud.
Elizabeth went downstairs regularly to check on the maid herself, but she did not allow Georgiana to accompany her, as the situation was too difficult for a girl of such a young age and with such an emotional disposition.
Maud, fighting the high fever and intense pain, kept apologising to Elizabeth for all the trouble she had caused and constantly thanked her for the care they bestowed upon her until Elizabeth demanded she not say another word about it.
Another maid was assigned to watch Maud during the night, and Mrs Hamilton declared she would stay nearby to supervise her.
Over the night, the patient’s state worsened, and Dr. Harris was fetched again.
Elizabeth went to bed very late, and she could find little rest in the caring arms of her husband. They spoke more than slept, and for the first time since they married, they were kept awake not by passion and desire but by worry for a stranger wholly unconnected to either of them.
The next day brought little relief, and the tension within the house increased. The entire household, as well as the master and the mistress, were affected by the distress. Dr. Harris declared himself less and less confident of a positive conclusion to the tragic situation.
Darcy was troubled by his wife’s obvious distress more than anything else and knew not how to comfort her.
It was one of the few circumstances in which he felt helpless.
He was well aware that their emotional involvement was unusual.
The best thing any other mistress would do for a servant in need would be to provide some medical assistance.
But Elizabeth’s kind heart could not remain unaffected, and her generosity led her to do more than others.
And he could not argue with that as it was one of the reasons he loved her so profoundly.
On the second day, Darcy was surprised to receive Lady Matlock and Colonel Fitzwilliam for an impromptu visit. Her ladyship declared that she made a call in the neighbourhood and took the opportunity to have a cup of tea with Elizabeth and Georgiana.