Chapter 1.31 #2
“Yes, I know I have helped every time I was asked to because I was raised to be generous whenever it was needed. Every time I heard about a problem, I tried to solve it, but I never gave a second thought to either the persons or the situation. I helped because I could, and I knew it was just. But Mrs Annesley and Peter and Libby acted with generous affection without thinking of anything else but the person whom they helped! Dear Aunt, I love you deeply, but you are wrong. We—and others like us—do not value the true value, but the price, income, property, connection, and situation in life! We believe ourselves to be better and worth more than others around us—you cannot deny that! This is why Lady Catherine could conceive her horrible plan without thinking of the consequences. She demanded her will be obeyed because of who she was, and anybody who was in her way should disappear. Her wrong has cost her dearly—just as my wrong could have cost me my own happiness. And I cannot easily forgive myself as I cannot easily forgive her—God have mercy on her soul.”
Even the air had become heavy in the room, and a deep, burdening silence fell upon them. Finally, Darcy glanced at each of them and said, his voice low from exhaustion:
“I shall leave you now. I must rest. Hopefully, we shall see each other again soon. Bingley—have a good journey back to Netherfield if you must leave. James, Mr Aldridge will come tomorrow morning to discuss your request. I shall give you the amount you asked for, but you must stand in front of Mr Aldridge and explain to him that you wish to waste another thousand from your inheritance. And we will discuss a plan for you to visit your estates by the end of the month to see how things are going on and to think of how you can improve your income. I cannot and will not travel in the near future. And I shall certainly not steal from the time I could be spending with my wife just to take care of other people’s business. ”
James’s face darkened from shock. “Travel? What do you mean? But it is winter, roads are frozen, it is cold and… I cannot travel in such weather! Why do I need to do it?”
“You seem surprised that it is cold and roads are frozen in the winter. You might be pleased to find that travelling in the summer in hot, dry weather can be even worse, so cheer your spirits, Cousin. We shall speak again tomorrow. Now excuse me, I need to lie down.”
He stepped to the stairs hesitantly, helped by Stevens, while the others stared after him, unable to completely recover from the dreadful news and Darcy’s severe tirade.
Elizabeth glanced from her husband to her guests, uncertain how to proceed, torn between her heart and her duty. She met her relatives’ restrained smiles, Bingley’s large grin, the Fitzwilliams’ puzzled expressions, James’s incredulous gaze, and Georgiana’s shy look.
She breathed deeply and searched for a proper smile.
“I am grateful to you all for your generous care and for calling to support us today. However, I must leave you now. I am sure Georgiana will attend you properly. Please forgive my poor manners, but my husband needs me, and I have not an instant to lose.”
She curtseyed then hurried upstairs. Her heart had won.
Elizabeth entered her apartment and knocked on the adjoining door.
Darcy’s voice invited her in, but she stopped in the doorframe and gasped: her husband was being examined by Dr. Taylor, watched by Stevens.
He was naked from his waist up, and his entire torso—ribs, arms, and shoulders—were darkly bruised.
“Do not worry. It looks much worse than it is,” Darcy said as Elizabeth stepped closer, her eyes on his injured body. She glanced at the doctor, who shook his head in disapproval.
“That is not quite true, Mrs Darcy. I told your husband even yesterday that he needed to rest, to wear a tight bandage, and to stay still in bed. Fortunately, I believe he has no ribs broken, or else his life would have been in great danger by now. No effort is allowed for a few days! If he obeys my recommendation, he will improve in that time. ”
“Do not worry. I shall take care that your request is strictly followed,” Elizabeth answered.
She went to visit Peter and Mrs Annesley and returned to find her husband lying in his bed, cleaned, shaved, bandaged, and arguing with Stevens. She smiled to the loyal servant.
“Thank you, Stevens. I shall continue your argument with the master now. You may retire.”
As Stevens left, Elizabeth stepped to his bed, removed her shoes and lay beside him. He took her hand and kissed it briefly, then tried to pull her to his chest, but he moaned in pain. She withdrew a few inches and sat, wrapping the blanket around him.
“You are forbidden to move unless it is absolutely necessary. You will have no other choice but to obey my orders,” she said in earnest, and he brought her hand to his lips.
“I could by no means oppose your wish, Mrs Darcy.”
“I am glad to hear it!” She lay beside him, turned on her side to watch him. He was resting, unmoving, on his back. Only his head turned to her, and his fingers gently brushed her hair.
Elizabeth lightly stroked his cheeks, and her eyes tenderly caressed his handsome face.
“The things you said earlier to your family—I never imagined how much it affected you.”
“I felt the burden more painfully this last day since I realised how close I came to losing you—twice. I know I am correct in everything I said. I owe my present happiness to fate, which wisely corrected my foolish, arrogant error and brought you back into my life against my will, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth. How can I apologise for everything that you suffered from my family?”
Her eyes moistened and sparkled with tears. “Perhaps you are right about your faults and errors and fate, but all is over now. You must learn some of my philosophy: think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure. This is my first order that you must obey.”
“Then I have no choice but to agree. I shall think more of the present and the future.”
Elizabeth wiped a few stubborn tears from her eyes then placed a soft kiss on his lips.
“If Peter recovers and you feel better, let us go to Pemberley—just the two of us. I am sure Georgiana would not mind. I want you to show me your home. I want to learn together about the present and prepare for the future—only you and I.”
“I would wish nothing more! As soon as we are certain that Peter is well, we will leave. Do not worry about my wounds. I am well enough to go with you to the end of the world.”
She laughed in a burst of joy then rose and kissed him soundly—passionate, daring, and careful not to touch his body. His hands readily reached for her, but she pulled back.
“You shall sleep now, husband, and I will stay here to watch you. No disturbance will interfere until you are well again.”
“You are the most wonderful disturbance of my life, Elizabeth, and a moment with you is more powerful than any rest or medicine. I will sleep if you stay by my side. Your love is everything I need to heal.”