Chapter 17 #2
He lifted her and carried her up the stairs to the unused mistress’s room, then placed her on the bed and covered her with a blanket. Before she surrendered to sleep Anne said in a whisper, “Ask Jenkinson about Mr. Gilroy.”
* * *
When he returned to the drawing room, Elizabeth looked up from her conversation with Mrs. Jenkinson.
“I just learnt why your aunt subjected Anne to such an arduous journey. Lady Catherine has refused to give her inheritance to her until she has married you. Your aunt saw no need to prepare her daughter to take the reins of Rosings because she maintained Anne would be living at Pemberley after you were wed. Lady Catherine came here to force your hand. Perhaps she did not believe we were really married and thought she could convince you to marry your cousin. Anne’s clothes are intentionally made too large for her because your aunt believes it makes her daughter look healthier. ”
“If Anne came to Pemberley as my wife, Lady Catherine would continue to control her estate as long as she was alive. My aunt has no right to deny her of what is rightfully hers. According to her father’s will, Rosings legally became Anne’s when she turned five and twenty, which was years ago.
That woman is greedier than I ever imagined—her hunger for power has nearly killed her only child just so she could continue to rule Rosings.
” Darcy paced while he turned his attention to the lady seated beside his wife.
“How ill is she? Is there anything we can do to improve her health?”
Mrs. Jenkinson sighed. “Anne has always been weak, but her condition seems to be worsening. This trip has been. . .well sir, it has not helped.”
“Who is Mr. Gilroy? Anne told me to ask you about him.”
“He is an apothecary in Hunsford whom she and I met a few months ago. We were riding in her phaeton and stopped to speak to him. He could easily see she was unwell and suggested some tonics that might improve her strength. Anne asked him to come to Rosings as soon as possible, but when he arrived, Lady Catherine refused to allow him in the house. She claimed only she knew what was best for her daughter.”
“Did Anne ever see him again?” Elizabeth asked.
“Mrs. Darcy, your husband can confirm that Lady Catherine only hires sycophantic servants who are well paid to be fiercely loyal to their mistress. It took some doing, but I arranged for us to meet Mr. Gilroy while we were out driving. He gave us a few vials; not certain the medicine would be effective. I secretly gave her the tonic every night, and by the fifth morning”—she stopped to wipe the tears from her eyes—“my dear Anne had colour in her cheeks for the first time in many years.”
She no longer retained that improved appearance, and his aunt was likely behind it. “Why has she not continued to take the medicine?” Darcy was aware his voice sounded suspicious.
“Sir, you know your aunt well. When she saw how much healthier Anne looked, she knew her daughter had gone behind her back to seek medical treatment. Since then, Anne and I have not been allowed to leave the house without several of your aunt’s spies accompanying us and as a result, we have had no further contact with Mr. Gilroy.
Her health has deteriorated more every day. ”
He wiped his hand over his face. It was as bad as he expected.
“Would it be possible to ask Mr. Gilroy what was in the medicine he gave Anne? Surely, our local man can duplicate it. On second thought, I shall send my carriage to Kent and bring Mr. Gilroy here. If there is a way to improve Anne’s health, Mrs. Darcy and I shall do anything we can to help. ”
“How can I thank you? I have Mr. Gilroy’s direction, and if you could write to him, it could save Anne’s life.” The poor woman could not control her tears, and Elizabeth took her hand.
Darcy’s heart swelled with pride when Elizabeth said to Mrs. Jenkinson, “We only have the one room for Anne, but I should be glad to sit with her at night and her maid can also watch over her. We shall arrange for you to stay at the local inn, and a carriage will pick you up in the morning to bring you here.”
“Mrs. Darcy, Anne was correct when she said you are a kind woman. If I may, I shall look in upon her before I leave.”
* * *
“How did you know to come back here so quickly?” Elizabeth asked.
“Based on past experiences, whenever Lady Catherine stormed into the house, Mrs. Reynolds would send a footman to find me as quickly as possible. In this case, he told me it was urgent that I return to the cottage.”
“I cannot believe a mother could be so cruel to her own child.”
“I told you my aunt was tyrannical, but this time she will not have her way. I shall send an express to Mr. Gilroy today and send a carriage for him—I pray he can help Anne.”
“Fitzwilliam?”
Elizabeth bit her bottom lip, and Darcy sat beside her. “What is troubling you, my dear? Is Anne being here too much bother?”
“No, Anne is as welcome here as my own sisters. It is just something your aunt said about the archbishop having our marriage annulled. She cannot do that, can she? Can she take my baby from me?”
“My love, you must learn not to believe anything my aunt says. She falsely imagines her self-importance allows her to control the lives of others. We are married, and nothing or no one can ever change that.” He placed his hand on his unborn child.
“Nor will anyone ever take our baby from us. Do you believe me?”
“Yes, but it all happened so suddenly and was so upsetting. One minute I was sewing a baby blanket and the next thing I knew, this termagant in the ugliest hat I have ever seen was yelling at me and calling me names. Your aunt said she would pay me to leave you and give my baby to Anne. She said your mother would be disgraced by me being your wife.” Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears, and he became angry because the woman he loved had suffered such pain at the hands of his aunt.
He reached out and drew her close to him.
“More of her nonsense—my mother would have absolutely adored you for all the same reasons I do.”
“Mayhap my mother is not so bad after all—even she would never behave as your aunt did.”
“Feel better?”
“Yes, all is well.
“Elizabeth?”
“Yes?”
“I hope you will allow me to ‘impose’ on you after our heir is born.”
“Sir, I assure you—it will be no imposition at all.”
* * *
Later that night
Darcy found Elizabeth asleep in a chair next to his cousin’s bed.
She looked so peaceful that he could not bear to wake her.
He signalled Anne’s maid to move closer as he lifted his wife, then the maid took the seat.
He carried Elizabeth to their chambers. Darcy then gently placed her on the bed and, after he removed her slippers, covered her with the counterpane.
His heart was full as he watched her sleep.
His beautiful wife had lovingly cared for Anne, a complete stranger, from the moment she met her, unlike his aunt.
How could he ever be embarrassed by anything the Bennet family did when due to his aunt’s desire to maintain control, she may have killed her own child?
When he pushed an errant curl off Elizabeth’s face, she reached for his hand in her sleep.
My dearest wife, how could I love you more than I do at this moment?
She was the mother of his child—a child created from their love, not mandated by a contract as it would have been with Lady Beatrice.
My sweet Lizzy—meeting you is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
* * *
Four days after Anne’s arrival, Darcy entered her chambers with Mr. Gilroy. She had grown weaker every day, and they all began to fear the worst.
“Anne, I am grieved to hear you are not well. I hope I can help you.” Mr. Gilroy removed a brown vial from his satchel and, as Darcy held her in a seated position, she swallowed the medicine. “Rest now, and I shall look in on you in an hour.”
“Thank you for coming, John,” Anne said in a soft murmur.
* * *
Downstairs, Mr. Gilroy’s anger could not be contained, and he raised his voice. “Why would a mother not provide her child with the medicine she needs? All those so-called experts from London did nothing but worsen Anne’s health!”
“Sir, what is wrong with my cousin? Is there any hope?”
“Mrs. Jenkinson told me of Miss de Bourgh’s improvement after the five doses I provided to her.
Observing her present condition, I believe she suffers from a specific deficiency in her blood.
The medicine I gave her in Kent was an iron supplement, and I have given her another dose today.
I hope we are not too late, and that she can recover from her deteriorated state. ”
* * *
A fortnight later
The ladies sat near the fire: Anne reclined on the chaise and Elizabeth sewed in a chair beside her. The sun shone through the windows, and the room was warm and cosy.
“Elizabeth, how can I ever thank you for your care these past weeks?” asked Anne.
“You and Darcy have saved my life. I pray I shall be strong enough to return to Rosings soon and dispatch Lady Catherine to the Dower House where she belongs. Darcy is helping me hire a new steward since I intend to learn how to run my estate. Mrs. Jenkinson will be in charge of replacing all my mother’s spies—they can continue to work for the old dragon in her new residence, if she can afford them, but as far as I am concerned, they can all leave Rosings Park without a character. ”
“I am glad you have serious plans for Rosings. We could not be more pleased with your progress. Pray stay as long as you like; you are a very dear part of our family.”
“I wrote to Richard, and he said he would visit me as soon as he can. I suppose learning to manage his own estate is taking up a great deal of time.”
“Has he written of his engagement?”
“Yes, and I am so pleased for him. Have you met Jane Horton?”
“Prepare yourself to be surprized—Jane Horton is my older sister.”
“What? How did that happen?”