Chapter 39 Awkward #2
"I was glad to be of service to the ladies, sir," Darcy said, "and I am also pleased to meet you."
"I saw them load that piece of refuse on the cart to carry into Meryton.
You boys chose an appropriate place to sling the villain.
Even after the cuts and tears heal, no one will be charmed by that pretty face anymore.
It will be some time before he can handle a weapon or ride a horse, either.
Even his boots took quite a beating, although they did protect his feet.
He howled like a beaten dog when they dropped him into the cart.
" The satisfaction in his voice was echoed by the expression on Bennet's face.
"The Colonel was taking him to the camp.
I plan to join him in making a complaint as soon as I hear how my Charlotte fares.
I understand the apothecary is with her now. "
"If you will wait until he has also had a chance to look at Lizzy, Mr. Darcy and I plan to join you. In addition, I have a written statement from Lizzy to present to Colonel Forster."
"Capital," boomed Sir William. "Forster will have no choice but to act this time." He walked to the desk and made his move on the chessboard, saying aloud what he had chosen to do. Bennet replied with his move, just as he had done with Darcy.
As Sir William made the play, put down the tweezers and headed to the open chair, he said, "I never played chess against your father, Mr. Darcy, but I was saddened to hear of your loss all the same. I have enjoyed more than a few games with your uncle, although not as many in recent years."
Darcy nodded and returned to his chair once Sir William was seated. "My father loved playing chess, although I think he found equal joy in the correspondence with all his partners in play. He said the games challenged his mind, but the letters broadened his horizons."
"A wise man, then," Sir William replied, nodding sagely. "That delightful little board of his has seen much use over the years. I think sometimes people come to visit Bennet instead of sending a message just so they can take a turn on it."
Darcy smiled. "I never would have thought of using it this way, but I think Mr. Bennet was correct when he told me it was an appropriate way to honor my father. I could see him having set up something similar in his study to share with visitors if he had thought of it."
Sir William nodded cheerfully. "Do you and the Colonel plan to stay in the neighborhood for long, Mr. Darcy? I did not feel right asking him with the business he had at hand."
"We may be here for an extended time," Darcy replied. "My friend Charles Bingley has let Netherfield Park and will be arriving in a few days. He has invited the two of us to stay with him for as long as we wish. I think we will be in the area at least until after Miss Bennet's wedding."
"Ah, capital. Capital. We have not seen enough of the Colonel in recent years. You certainly timed your arrival well. That is the second time he has helped those girls out of trouble on that path."
"I have heard some references to a downed bridge, but have not heard the story behind them," Darcy said.
Bennet grinned as Sir William said, "Let me tell you all about that," and launched into the tale of Richard's rescue of the two girls from the downed bridge and his subsequent "knighting."
They had moved on to the subject of the construction of the new bridge, which had not gone quite according to plan, when Mr. Jones arrived at the study door.
After greeting the three already in the study, he took his turn at the chessboard as well.
When Bennet had made his response, Darcy offered his own seat to the apothecary.
"No, no," Mr. Jones replied after thanking him.
"I will not be long. I can stand. The news is actually very good, although of course it would be better if they had not been injured at all.
Miss Lucas suffered a hard knock to the head, and she will have some bruising.
She also has some bruises on the hand and arm that were caught under her when she fell.
The fall could easily have resulted in a sprain or break, but I saw no signs of either.
The tenderness and swelling should go down over the next few days.
As a result of the blow to the head, she has a headache, dizziness and some nausea.
I recommend that she rest for the next few days and especially avoid any activities that could increase the dizziness and potentially result in another fall. "
"Should she stay here, or will she be fine to travel home?" Sir William asked.
"It is probably best she stay the night here. Even though the distance is short, the rocking of the carriage could increase the nausea. If she is stubbornly determined to return home, walking may be the best solution so long as she goes slowly and has a strong arm to lean on."
"It might take the strength of a certain colonel to help her on her way, even if she goes tomorrow," Mr. Bennet said slyly. The others smiled at his comment.
"As for the other stubborn patient," Mr. Jones continued, "despite her insistence that she is perfectly fine, I would recommend some rest for her also.
The bruising on her throat shows that her attacker exerted a great deal of force to hold her still.
Fortunately, she did not lose consciousness, but her breathing was restricted. "
"She coughed quite a bit after he released her and had trouble catching her breath," Darcy said. "It also seemed as if it hurt her to speak."
Mr. Jones nodded. "Yes, she says her throat is sore, inside and out and when she speaks her voice is hoarse.
I have left ingredients for a warm tisane she should drink to ease some of the pain and I recommend she not talk very much.
It might be best if she stays out of company this evening and someone else explains the situation to her mother first, so she does not have to answer a plethora of questions.
Of course, I know she will probably insist on coming down, so you must shield her as best you can. "
Bennet nodded. "I know just what to tell her mother. A suggestion that if Lizzy has to speak in company, it will ruin her voice and reduce her chances of making a good marriage should do the trick."
Sir William's laughter boomed around the room. "That it will," he said.
Mr. Jones spoke very seriously after the laughter died.
"When you speak with Colonel Forster, be sure to let him know the injuries from the attack could easily have been much worse or even have resulted in the death of one or both of the young ladies.
If he needs to hear it straight from me, I will be happy to call on him and say so. "
"We will definitely tell him," Bennet confirmed.
"Do you plan to go to the camp?" asked Mr. Jones with concern.
"I feel I must," Bennet insisted. "This is not an errand I will delegate. Sir William, Mr. Darcy and I are all leaving to join Colonel Fitzwilliam at the camp when your visit is concluded."
The apothecary nodded. "Very well, but I suggest you take that relaxing draught I prepared for you before you go and be sure to wear your brace."
"I will," Bennet agreed.
"Then I should be on my way, so you can be on yours. I plan to stop by both your houses tomorrow just to check up on the patients, but feel free to call me sooner if I am needed."
Bennet struggled to his feet, while Darcy and Sir William rose with more ease. They all shook hands with Mr. Jones and wished him a good afternoon. The apothecary left the room after insisting he could see himself out.
"I suppose I should take his concoction," Bennet said as they prepared to leave, "although I think I shall wait until the last possible moment, because it does make me somewhat woozy. Sir William, you know where the brace is. Would you get it out and help me adjust it?"
"Of course, my friend," Sir William said, heading to a cabinet under one of the windows.
From a drawer of his desk, Bennet took out a large bottle made of dark glass that swished with the sound of liquid inside, followed by a small vial, a funnel sized to fit it and a measuring spoon. Bennet considered the implements he had placed on the desktop for a moment before turning to Darcy.
"Mr. Darcy, your hands are surely more steady than mine.
Would you be so kind as to measure two spoonfuls of this draught into that vial along with four spoonfuls of that brandy there?
" He pointed to a half-filled cut-glass decanter displayed on one of the bookshelves behind the desk "Oh, and be sure to give that bottle with the draught a good shake before you open it. "
"Of course, sir," said Darcy. He set about his appointed task as Sir William assisted Bennet in donning a contraption made of straps and padding that was apparently intended to immobilize Bennet's left arm while holding it close to his body.
"If the brace helps reduce the pain, why do you not wear it all the time? Darcy asked after he had filled and stoppered the vial and returned the brandy decanter to its usual place.
"It is a helpful device," Bennet explained, "but when I wear it, I have no use of my left hand, and it tends to grow uncomfortable over time.
Several years ago, I had a version that was much easier for me to get in and out of on my own, while still giving me some movement with the hand, but the straps tended to dig into my right shoulder and leave bruises on my ribs.
It is a tradeoff of symptoms at best either way. "
Darcy nodded. He thought the brace was still an ingenious contraption, even if it did not completely solve Bennet's problem.
When all the adjustments were complete, Bennet accepted the vial, slipping it into his waistcoat pocket. He replaced the glass bottle and other implements in the drawer, saying, "Shall we go, gentlemen? I would like to leave before my wife returns."