Page 15 of Roses from Pemberley
“I was not certain that I heard it myself...”
“She said your name, Mr. Darcy,” said Mrs. Collins deliberately, “and then she told you not to go. And, though youhave no understanding with her, she appears to derive comfort from your presence.”
“Do you think so?” he asked quietly.
“I cannot explain it in any other way.”
He nodded. “And how is she?”
“She has not yet awakened but at least her fever is lower. Dr. Stephens is just giving Jane more detailed instructions on the medicine he is giving her.”
“Thank God!”
Charlotte studied him curiously before saying, “I must return upstairs now but would like to ask you to call on her tomorrow.”
“Of course! I would like nothing more.”
She nodded somberly and said, “Thank you, sir. I shall see you tomorrow.” She turned, walked up the stairs and disappeared from view.
Less than a minute later, Jane Bennet appeared in the upper hallway, walked down and joined him in the vestibule.
“Good evening Miss Bennet,” he said with a bow.
“Mr. Darcy,” she responded, “I just wished to thank you for helping my sister tonight. And also for writing to Mr. Bingley and asking him to bring me here.”
“Did he tell you why I wrote the letter?”
She nodded. "Because Elizabeth needed me." She was quiet for a moment, then added, “Charlotte tells me that you shall call tomorrow...”
“Yes,” said Darcy, “I shall be here tomorrow…or rather…later today.”
“Good, Mr. Darcy…very good.” She smiled softly. “Until tomorrow, then.”
Not long after that, the doctor came down and they began their quick ride to Rosings. The doctor told Darcy that he washopeful and Darcy wondered if he was only saying this to bolster his spirits.
“But, have you ever encountered such a high fever in a patient?” he asked.
Doctor Stephens thought about it for a moment before saying, “I have but…I must admit that it is somewhat rare…”
And what happened to these other patients?” asked Darcy. “Those whose fevers were as high as Miss Elizabeth’s?”
“I have to admit, Mr. Darcy, that some of them did not…live.”
Darcy swallowed. “How many?”
Dr. Stephens frowned. “More than half.”
They rode on in silence and eventually arrived at the stables and were divested of their horses. In the front hall they bid each other goodnight and Darcy trudged up to his rooms. It was almost dawn and he looked out the window and saw that the sky was not as pitch black as it was before. He lay in bed but could not sleep. Two hours later he arose, was shaved and dressed then went down to the breakfast parlour, still not having slept. There he sat for an hour, lost in thought. Eventually, Bingley came down and Darcy immediately suggested that they go to the parsonage.
“Allow me to eat first,” said Bingley, looking at him in astonishment, “then we shall go.”
“Yes, but eat quickly, Bingley.”
Bingley nodded but said nothing more. He began to butter his toast and cut up his ham, then proceeded to eat as quickly as he was able.
“I heard voices in the hallway last night,” he said a few minutes later. “Do you know anything about that?”
Darcy kept his eyes forward, recalling the sounds of Elizabeth’s wailing as he lowered her into the tub. “Dr. Stephenswas called to the parsonage because Elizabeth’s fever was worse,” he explained, then added, “I went with him.”
